Empire Furniture
EMPIRE STYLE
From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.
Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.
Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine.
Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.
Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Empire
Tall Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Westwood, NJ
Chest of drawers showcases Empire-style grandeur with walnut veneer and solid brass accents. Its classic white marble top adds a luxurious touch, making it a striking focal point.
W...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair Empire Style Enameled and Velvet Upholstered Scroll Armchairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair Empire Style Enameled and Velvet Upholstered Scroll Armchairs.
Measures 22" in width x 22" in depth x 34.5" in height . Seat height is 20".
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Upholstery, Paint
Swedish 19th Century Empire Trumeau
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This Swedish Empire style trumeau exudes a simple refinement in its symmetry and composure. A simple pediment sits atop a painted black and decorative gilt cornice...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
18th Century Antique Florentine Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century Antique Florentine Tapestry Pillow 19'' x 18''
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Rare French Napoleonic Empire Sienna Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A very important 19th century (circa 1820) French Empire Sienna marble fireplace with elaborate ormolu enrichments to frieze and jambs. The flu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Siena Marble
Antique Dutch Empire Burl Wood veneered desk or sofa table
By Chapuis
Located in Den Haag, NL
Superb Dutch Empire Burl Wood -veneered sofa table ,On Iron casters
On four shaped scroll feet joined by a baluster turned beech stretcher, the top ...
Category
1820s Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Burl
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France . A pair of French silver plated candelabras. Decorated with leaves and flowers.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
French 19th Century Paris Porcelain Wash Jug and Bowls
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An elegant, three-piece set of old Paris porcelain in the style of Lebon-Halley with a pitcher, bowl, and deep plate in creamy porcelain accented by luxurious gold trim. The undersid...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
Pair of Early 19th Century French Boulle Cabinets
By Etienne Levasseur
Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland
An important pair of early 19th century French cabinets, made by Pierre-Étienne Levasseur.
gilt bronze mounted ebony and ebonised, cut-brass, pewter and faux tortoiseshell marquetry cabinets in the Boulle style. The rectangular top with brass-mounted rim over decorated ormolu frieze above four reeded brass inlaid pillars with brass capitals, the exceptional centre door profusely decorated with ormolu scrolls and head mounts, flanked by two glazed doors decorated in red boulle and silver inlay, the interiors fitted with shelves, the base with four Bacchic masks terminating on turned tapering toupie ormolu-mounted feet.
Provenance: Kilkenny Castle, Ireland. Purchased new by either, Walter Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormond, (2nd creation in the Irish Peerage, 1770-1820) or James Butler...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Double-Arm Brass Chandelier With Flame Shades, France, Circa:1890
Located in Alexandria, VA
This striking Empire style fixture is made of hand-cast brass components with 2 frosted glass flame shades. The design is inspired by the oil lamps of the ancient Romans. It would be...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Armoire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional French 19th century Empire St. three door armoire in satinwood and mahogany with beveled mirrors. All highly decorated with fire-gilded ormolu mounts. Inside lays fift...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Magnificent Pair of Russian Imperial Ruby Glass Vases w/ Gilded Bronze Mounts
Located in New York, NY
While Napoleon's armies never conquered Russian, French taste did, and in a big way. This pair made at the Imperial Glass Workshop, under the Sponsorship of the Imperial Family would have been at home in a Paris drawing room as easily as in St. Petersburg.
The Intense Ruby Red color of the Crystal is created by adding large quantities of gold to the molten glass before the object is created. The resulting color is dense yet full of light just like its namesake the precious jewel. The Dore bronze mounts use motifs taken from antiquity. Likewise, the shape of the handles is inspired by Greco-Roman amphora...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th C. American Empire Carved Winged Paw Foot Mahogany Large Box Stool Ottoman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C. American Empire Carved Winged Paw Foot Mahogany Large Box Stool Ottoman. Item featured is a very rare model, shapely raised box form, beautiful crotch mahogany veneer, black ...
Category
Early 1800s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Very Fine Gilt Bronze & Crystal "Basket" Chandelier by Baccarat
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze & Crystal "Basket" Chandelier. The main and top circles with Anthemia and rosettes. Graduated chains of crystal octagon beads a...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
1920’s French Empire Small Chandelier 3 Lights
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1920’s French Empire style small chandelier with swam’s heads. Unusual 3 lights. Green color
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair French Early 19th Century Hand Carved Giltwood Empire Style bird Ornaments
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful pair of handcarved giltwood bird fragments.
France circa 1805-1820 . Weathered and small losses
Measurements individual and include the wooden base.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Pair Antique Paris Porcelain Golden Mantle Vases Made in France Circa 1830
Located in Katonah, NY
We are pleased to offer this pair of golden Paris Porcelain mantle vases made in the Empire style, circa 1840. The gilding on these vases is dazzling. The delicate band of flowers an...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique French Brass Napoleonic "Le Grand" Snuff Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique French Brass Napoleonic "Le Grand" Snuff Box
Step back into the glorious era of the French empire with this stunning Antique French brass Napoleonic "Le Grand" snuff box. A ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Style Walnut Dining Table with Leaf
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Style Walnut Dining Table with Leaf will bring understated elegance to your dining experience! Hand-crafted from sumptuous walnut, it features six tapered legs...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large 19th Century French Empire Period Floor Candelabrum
Located in Forney, TX
An extraordinary period Empire gilded gold dore bronze rolling floor candelabrum.
Born in France, the stunning Neo-classical style architectural antique...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Maitland Smith French Empire Figural Phoenix Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Monumental late 20th century Maitland Smith Empire style Bouillote / Budoir lamp. Made from brass with a pierced and paw footed base over an acanthus wrapped column leading to a figural winged Phoenix / Griffon candlestick...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Le Tallec Golden Bees Porcelain Demitasse Cups and Saucers, circa 1957 Set/11-12
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Exquisite neoclassical demitasse set comprised of fine porcelain and 24K gold by Camille Le Tallec. The pattern is from the Abeilles Collection featuring Napoleonic golden bees hand ...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
Pair, French Empire Gilt Bronze Crane Motif Candlesticks Circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, circa 1815.
This exquisite pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, crafted circa 1815, embodies the opulence and grandeur of the Empire style. Each candlestick feat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in bronze, early 19th Century France, originally candlesticks.
Includes new black lacquer lampshade with gold details, giving the lamp a warm and ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design.
Wear consistent with age and use
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Danish Empire Mahogany With Inlay Arm Chairs
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant Danish early 19th century empire armchairs.
Crafted in mahogany with ebony and satinwood marquetry on backrest and apron.
Apron and upper part of backrest decorated...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Mahogany, Satinwood
French Gilt Bronze Pedestal Plant Stand Empire Style
Located in New York, NY
A substantial French gold gilt bronze pedestal column plant stand, in the Empire design style, attributed to maker, Maison Jansen, circa 20th century, France. Round top is a copper g...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
An Empire Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode, Marble Top, French, ca. 1820
Located in Banner Elk, NC
An Empire Commode in figured mahogany with a Belgian black fossilized marble top above a frieze drawer and three uniform drawers flanked by two squared columns, each with ormolu moun...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Style Hot Air Balloon Chandelier In Gilt Bronze And Crystal
Located in BARSAC, FR
Hot air balloon chandelier in gilded bronze decorated with crystal garlands, Empire style decorated with palmettes and pine cones.
Illuminated by six lights.
Beautiful and very ele...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Regency Ebony Inlaid Cross-Banded Crotch Mahogany Fold Top Table
Located in Germantown, MD
19th Century Regency Empire Ebony Inlaid Crotch Cross-Banded Mahogany Fold Top Table.
Measures 36" in width, 17.75" in depth and 25.75" in height. Closed. Open, it is 35" in. Depth.
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Ebony
Louis Seize style sideboard, 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Demi-lune sideboard in Louis Seize style with red and white marble top and two doors and three drawers. The doors are framed with brass profiles. The sideboard is veneered in mahogan...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Elegant pair of Empire Table Lamps, originally candlesticks from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Table Lamps in silver-plated bronze. Originally a pair of Empire candlesticks from the 1820s, converted to table lamps in ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Sofa Bench Settee
Located in New York, NY
French Empire settee late 19th century 1870- 1890. Ebonized mahogany frame, French polished (Black) with captivating carved female heads under armrest, legs terminating into animal...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Picture Frame internal border with enamelled leaves Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Behold the epitome of elegance and craftsmanship: a square table photo frame, meticulously crafted from 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver. This masterpiece features translucent fi...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Empire Gilded Bronze 5 Light Petite Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A charming and fine, petite, 5 light, gilded bronze Empire chandelier with chain and canopy. 3.5" off-white wax candle sleeves.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Large Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Fireplace
Located in London, GB
Large Neoclassical style gilt bronze and malachite fireplace
French, 20th century
Measures: Height 124cm, width 218cm, depth 58cm
Crafted from the timeless combination of malachite ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th century French Mahogany Empire Desk
Located in Troy, NY
Stately Empire desk on four monopodia legs painted a dark verdis gris, joined by two stretchers. Top inset with a tooled black leather writing surface and slide outs (16.5 inches eac...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Bohemian Cut Crystal Tiered Basket Chandelier Circa 1920
Located in Hastings, GB
A truly breathtaking and sumptuous antique basket chandelier, resplendent in hand cut, multi-faceted Bohemian lead crystal, with 8 lamp holders in bronze with embossed decorative flo...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Original Engraved Print by Pierre Joseph Redouté, 1802, Les Liliaceés
Located in New York, NY
A stunning original engraving from The Lilies (Les Liliaceés) by P.J. Redouté, considered the greatest botanical artist of all time.
Produced between 1802 and 1816 under the patron...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
Antique North German/Danish Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1815
Located in Miami, FL
From the Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany, once part of Denmark, a very handsome Empire secretary with bookcase in ash with inlays and marquetry silhouettes of neoclassical Roman images. Cylinder top opens to a pull-out desk which offers a felt-lined lectern or writing surface flanked by sliding storage compartments, as well as a series of small drawers and a central cabinet. Above desk, are three cupboards and below, there are three long drawers. Northern Germany or from the Danish Jutland region, circa 1815.
Note: Green baize on writing surface can be replaced with leather.
Measures: 46" wide x 21" deep x 83" high (With desk top open...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ash
Antique French Empire Mahogany Commode with Lion Paw Feet, French Polished
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Commode with wonderful lion paw feet, in the Empire style, although we have seen this style referred to as restoration as well. Old plank has a history of purchasing anything with animal related feet and especially the lion paw style. Just take a peek at our lion paw sofa...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
1920’s French Empire Chandelier with 3 lights
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920’s French Empire three lights chandelier with swans and beaded crystals
Category
1920s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Picture Frame with two-tone enamel stripes on guilloché Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with two-tone enamel stripes on guilloché and fine hand engravings French Empire style. With 2 oval photo holders, internal ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
18th Century French Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 25'' X 13'', handmade 18th Century Piece
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
French 19th Century Empire Neoclassical Mahogany Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Impressive Empire mahogany commode hand crafted in 19th century France; four drawers and neoclassical details comprise this outstanding chest of drawers. This case piece has patinate...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Pendant Light
Located in New York, NY
Cleaned and restored. Small quantity available at time of posting. Please inquire. Priced each. Please note, this item is located in our Scranton, PA location.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
Mid 19th century center table with writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century center table with writing slope circa 1860.
Fine quality empire period Swedish flame mahogany center table. Oval top with the unusual feature of having a fitted wr...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Bergere With Blade Leather Upholstery
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
French Empire Mahogany Bergere With Blade Leather Upholstery. Circa 1810.
Gorgeous piece purchased in France. Beautiful proportions.
Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos.
Messa...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
French 1st Empire Period Dore Bronze Grouping of Lovers, Att. Thomire A Paris
Located in New York, NY
An Exceptional Antique French 1st Empire Period Dore Bronze Grouping of Lovers, Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire a Paris. Exceptionally cast, hand-chiseled and further burnished and matted with two-tone gold, this dore bronze grouping of two neoclassical lovers is of the upmost quality and craftsmanship. As Pierre-Philippe Thomire is regarded as one of the greatest bronzier's of the late 18th century and early 19th century, this dore bronze piece could only be made by someone with his artistic talents. The lovers are seen with the man seated on a cushioned bench with tasseled...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Elegant Table Lamp in bronze. Originally an Empire candlestick from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Table Lamp in bronze. Originally an Empire candlestick from France made during the 1820s. The middle part in the form of a column. Richly decorated with leaf and period Empir...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian Neoclassical Giltwood Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Italian Neoclassical giltwood mirror. Antique gilt carved mirror with scrolled acanthus surround, leaf-tipped outer edge with cor...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
19th Century Table with Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
19th century beech gueridon with 3 legs on wheels. Legs are detailed with black lacquer at the top and at the base of each column.
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
Antique 19th Century Dutch Empire Oak and Gold Leaf Trumeau or Sideboard
Located in Casteren, NL
This elegant Empire sideboard was made in the Netherlands in the early 1800s and is also known as trumeau.
It was made in the finest quality watered oak an...
Category
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
French 1st Empire Brass Candlesticks
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This pair of brass candlesticks are a wonderful find! Crafted in the distinctive style of Claude Galle during the 1st empire period in France, circa 1810. T...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Isaac Pearson Reading PA Walnut Tall Clock with Rare Jacob Kunsman Case, C 1845
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Empire walnut veneered tall clock with swan’s neck split pediment crest with bullseye rosettes and three wooden ball & spire finials surmounting an arched front glass door...
Category
1840s American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
24-Karat Gold Leaf Giltwood Empire Beveled Mirror
Located in Barcelona, ES
Elegant Spanish 19th century gold leaf giltwood rectangular mirror with beveled glass.
Empire style.
Made of carved wood, gesso and 24-karat gold leaf finish. It has a nice aged pa...
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century French Empire Desk
Located in Nashville, TN
Mahogany veneered French Empire desk. Leather insert top. Brass hardware on column legs and bun feet. Very unique and good quality period French des...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Fine quality early 19th century flame mahogany bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine example of a Regency period bookcase circa 1820.
Very much in the manor of thomas hope. Matching flame mahogany veneers from top to bottom. Comprising of 3 sections, lower ca...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Empire furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Europa Antiques, Baker Furniture Company, and Gherardo Degli Albizzi. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $56 and tops out at $955,603 while the average work can sell for $4,296.
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