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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
French Early 19th Century Empire Neoclassical Style Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular French early 19th century Empire style mahogany, ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble center table. The most impressive circular center table is raised by three stunning ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair of French Empire Bronze and Marble Urns
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of urns feature neoclassical motifs, including acanthus leaves, egg and dart borders, and Bacchus mask handles. The Verde antico marble plinth bases are mounted wi...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Empire Octagonal Mahogany Sunburst Inlay Pedestal Base Side Table w/ Paw Feet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 19th C. American Empire Octagonal Mahogany Sunburst Inlay Pedestal Base Side Table with Paw Feet. Item features an octagonal central column with satinwood pencil inlay, tripo...
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Finely Carved Mahogany Settee Loveseat Empire Claw Feet Tall Back CLEAN
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Finely Carved Mahogany Settee Loveseat Empire Claw Feet Tall Back CLEAN
Category

20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19thc French Empire Cascading Cut Crystal Chandelier attributed to Baccarat
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Absolutely Beautiful 19thc French Empire Cascading Cyt Crystal Bag and Tent Form Chandelier attributed to Baccarat France. This is an exceptional piece, the detailed crystal elements...
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal

French 19th Century Empire Bedside Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome mahogany French Empire bedside table from the 19th century. This stunning bedside has a beautiful top, made of St. Anne marble, ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Danish 19th Century Antique Leather Klismos Chairs, set of 2
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
A beautiful 19th-century oak Klismos chair, crafted in Denmark in the around 1860s. The design, featuring a wide, curved backrest and sabre legs, harkens back to Ancient Greece (5th ...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Faux Leather, Beech, Oak

Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, an...
Category

1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of 20th Century Wood Italian Cantù Empire Style Night Stands, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Pair of Italian bedside tables from the mid-20th century. Cantù-made furniture in Empire style veneered in burl, mahogany and beech. Bedside tables with two doors and a drawer of goo...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant fruitwood chest of drawers was crafted in France, circa 1860. The traditional commode sits on round columnar feet over a straight bottom plinth, and is embellished on both sides by carved round columns with decorative bronze rings at the neck and base. The cabinet features three drawers across the front with the original bronze pulls and key holes escutcheons, and a fourth additional drawer under the marble top. The surface is dressed with the original black marble top. This chest is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, and adorns a rich walnut patina. The Empire style cabinet...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Commode Empire, France, vers 1860.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Commode Empire, France, vers 1860. Très bonne condition. Dimensions : hauteur 104 cm / largeur 178 cm / profondeur 59 cm
Category

1860s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

19th century Swedish gilt and eglomise ornate wall clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish gilt and églomisé ornate wall clock circa 1840. Fine quality swedish wall clock of the empire period circa 1840. Beautifully carved, surmounted with doves. 2 si...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass, Giltwood

Pair of Austria Blown Glass & Bronze Hanging Bell Jar Hall Lanterns R. Wien 1850
By Wien
Located in Charleston, SC
Rare pair of Austria blown glass and bronze hanging bell jar hall lanterns, Signed R. Ditmar Wien, Austria. Mid 19th Century
Category

1850s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Russian Imperial Cut Crystal and Doré Bronze Centerpieces W/ Masks
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of hand diamond cut Russian crystal and doré bronze mounted oval shaped centerpieces in the Louis XVI style, attributed to the Imperial Russian Glass Manufactory, early 1800s. Each beautiful hand diamond cut crystal bowl...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Antique Empire Period Gilt Bronze Clock by Pierre-Philippe Thomire
Located in London, GB
Antique Empire period gilt bronze clock by Pierre-Philippe Thomire French, Early 19th Century Height 45cm, width 29cm, depth 19cm This superb gilt bronze clock, created by the renow...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Fabulous Demi-Lune Console, Jardiniere, Mirror available, 1810, Empire, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
Wonderful demi-lune console, usable as jardiniere, made around 1810 in Austria, an original of the Empire era. This wonderful wall console has a faceted mirror in the lower area. Th...
Category

1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Sheet Metal

An Antique French Empire Style Gilt Brass And Patinated Bronze Lantern
Located in London, GB
A large Empire style lantern in patinated bronze with gilt brass accents. Four curved glass panels, decorative scrolled inner branch arms. Gilt br...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Pair Of Antique Brass Peacock Wall light, Spain, 1960s
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful brass wall lights with crystal glass beads. Manufactured in the 1960s in Europe, Spain. The lights are in the  shape of a peacock. With crystal beads between the b...
Category

1960s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

French Pair of Empire Patina Dore Bronze Winged Lady Victory Candelabras
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful pair French Napoleon III Empire style gilt doré and patinated bronze neoclassic three-arm candelabra with finely cast detail, each featuring a classical winged lady victory...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Tole Table Lamps, 19th Century
Located in Doylestown, PA
A unique pair of 19th century French tole oil lamps from the end of the Empire period, decorated in yellow painted finish with transferred lithograph scenes of country life, electrif...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Tin

Pair of 19th Century Italian Ebonised Commodes
Located in London, GB
Pair of Italian Ebonised commodes in Empire style form circa 19th Century.
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Montgolfiè Antique Lok Crystal Chandelier Empire Sac a Pearl Lamp Chateau New
Located in Berlin, DE
Montgolfière Style Chandelier - Empire Elegance with Customizability Introducing a new Montgolfière style chandelier that exudes the charm of the Empire era, reimagined with modern ...
Category

2010s German Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Rare Gilt-bronze French Empire Charles X Sunflower Mantel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Gilt and patinated bronze. The original movement has been cleaned and revised and is in perfect working condition (runs for around one week). Overall authentic condition with its ori...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Baltic Mahogany Long Bench - Antique Empire Silk Sofa, Canapé
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique Baltic long bench with two pillows made of hand carved Mahogany, in good condition. The three seater sofa, settee is stand...
Category

Mid-19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany

Tavolino Marmo Intarsiato, Base Legno, Fatto a Mano Italia Cupioli Disponibile
Located in Rimini, IT
Tavolino Marmo Intarsiato, Base Legno, Fatto a Mano Italia Cupioli Disponibile Cream marble round dining table or gueridon table size: diam. 80 cm h. 74 inches 31.50 h. 29.13 This t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French Empire Style Mahogany Roll Top Desk with Bronze Gilt Trim
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany roll top desk with bronze trim.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Neoclassical Marble and Glass Swan Vases
Located in Den Haag, NL
Pair of neoclassical marble and glass swan vases.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Circa 1850 Antique Portuguese Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique Portuguese Pillow
Category

1850s Portuguese Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Antique Empire Salesman Sample Chest of Drawers
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire mahogany and birch salesman sample chest of drawers, circa 1820. With a rectangular birch top, a protruding frieze drawer, two larger lower...
Category

1820s European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Green Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style parallelogram shaped emerald green glass heavy inkwell. It’s guilt bronze mounted with a scene of sphinxes statues, bell shaped vases, and maidens moving and ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass

19th Century Italian Empire Style Gilt Metal and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Stunning 19th century Italian Empire style gilt metal and crystal chandelier with 6 lights. Beautiful basket shape with gorgeous crystals. Creates an elegant image!
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Metal

French Empire Gilded Bronze and Metal Chandelier with Palmettes, circa 1870
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style gilt bronze and metal six-light chandelier from the late 19th century, with palmettes and profiled links. This exquisite French Empire style bronze and metal ch...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Empire Style Burlwood Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Mid 20th century Empire style leather top desk constructed with hardwood and burl wood veneers featuring ormolu, three drawers and stretcher.  
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French Empire Mantel Clock of Two Cupids Signed Coeur
Located in London, GB
exceptionally rare French Empire mantel clock of two cupids signed Coeur fils Rue St Honore No 140 a Paris. This small mantel clock of exceptional q...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Early American Classical Empire Period Flame Mahogany Sewing Stand Work Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare fine quality Federal period American Empire flame mahogany sewing stand work table from the early 19th century. Exquisitely hand-crafted in the northeastern United States, most likely Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1820, having a hinged top, opening to reveal contrasting Birdseye maple marquetry oval cartouche inlay, a fitted maple divided compartment interior, the front having two nicely shaped curved drawer fronts, consisting of a faux drawer front over a single dovetailed ogee drawer, above a vasiform pedestal standard, molded stepped platform base, rising on bracket feet, resting on casters. Attractive highly figured crotch cut swirl mahogany with striking grain patterns, rich and deep antique wood color...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Mahogany

Empire Clock, "Cupid & Psyche"
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb gilt and patinated bronze Empire clock. Rouge griotte marble. Signed bled a Paris. Silk thread suspension. France, circa 1804 Dimensions: Height 32" x width 21" x depth 11...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Porcelaine de Paris - Empire Centerpiece Reticulated Coupe
Located in DELFT, NL
Gilt Porcelaine de Paris Openwork Coupe Centerpiece to be placed centrally on the table, for fruit or flowers. Empire Style. French, 19th century center basket, rond form with reticu...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique French Blue Opaline Glass Table Lamp
Located in Rochester, NY
1930's French blue opaline glass table lamp w/ brass fittings. 40" h to top of brass finial / 25" h to top of electric socket x 6 1/2" diam...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Galle, Rue Vivienne À Paris
Located in Warsaw, PL
This is a beautiful antique French Empire mantle clock was made of gilded bronze and marble. The clock is placed on a rectangular marble pedestal...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Empire Antique Mahogany Marble Top Pier Console Table
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE MAHOGANY PIER TABLE WITH MARBLE COLUMNS Continental, circa mid-19th century Item # 109OYP14M A good 19th century pier table with a gray marble top situated over a squared apron with flamed mahogany veneers raised over sienna marble columns capped with exquisitely chiseled ormolu mounts and stretched with a broad lower shelf over bun feet. The center features an old mirror framed...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Vintage French Napoleonic Table Lamps Tripod Base Lion Paws Empire Lamps a Pair
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Vintage French Empire Table Lamps Style: Vintage Antique, Empire, Napoleonic, Traditional, Classic, Baroque, Design: Traditional Napoleonic Column lamps in the manner of Chapman, He...
Category

1970s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Period Candelabras
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning pair of period Empire gilt patinated brass and bronze candelabras. Born in France in the early 19th century, fine quality and detailing, elaborately decorated, unique d...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire Dining Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Empire style table can easily adapt from an oval center table to an oblong dining table, having the ability to extend to 110” long by four, foldable legs to support the e...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Late 19th Century Empire Style Childrens Chair
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An elegant and rare childrens 'Bergère chair made in Empire style. Made of finely carved beechwood. At the top swan heads, which is a typical ornate of the Empire style. Upholstered ...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Small English Rectangular Mahogany and Gilt Wall Mirror, Scandinavian
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Rectangular antique wall mirror in Mahogany and gilt inner frame This Scandinavian mirror is on the smaller size, but totally charming with regards to the warmth of the wood and the ...
Category

Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Mirror

"The Artist in his Studio", Oil on Canvas, Italian School, circa 1810
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A wonderful circa 1810 Italian school oil-on-canvas painting of an artist or painter in his studio seated legs-crossed in a chair facing the canvas on easel with palette and brush in...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Giltwood, Paint

Picture Frame with enamel on a sunburst guilloché Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Embrace a timeless treasure that echoes grandeur: an exquisite oval-shaped photo frame, sculpted from 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver. Its translucent enamel adorns a sunburst g...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Empire Pedestal Mahogany Cabinet with Faux Tortoise Columns, Denmark, circa 1810
Located in Miami, FL
A handsome and unusual form, this Empire pedestal cabinet in mahogany with line inlays has carved acanthus capitals on tapered torch-like columns that are in rich birch wood and have...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Mahogany

Pair of French Empire Fauteuils in Mahogany with Bronze Doré Ormolu, circa 1810
Located in Miami, FL
An exquisite pair of Empire armchairs/ fauteuils in fine mahogany with bronze dore´ ormolu mounts decorating the upper crest and lower back splat, with rosettes and palmettes on legs...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Neoclassical Style Figural Maiden Candelabra Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Neoclassical Style Figural Maiden Candelabra Table Lamps - a Pair. Lamps feature flame finials, 6 candle arms, black patinated metal female figures with water j...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Woven Scene Tapestry 6.9X5.5
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Beautiful Empire French Period Trumeau
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Beautiful Empire French period Trumeau.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mercury Glass, Gesso, Wood

Empire Secretary Desk, Germany 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
German Empire Secretary Desk, circa 1810–1820 – Walnut Veneer, Brass Details, Shellac Finish This elegant early 19th-century Empire secretary desk was crafted in Germany between 1810 and 1820. It features exquisite book-matched walnut veneer with rich, natural grain patterns that highlight the refined craftsmanship of the Empire style. The lower section includes two paneled doors that open to reveal three spacious interior drawers, offering ample concealed storage. The upper section features a fall-front writing flap, which opens to a well-organized interior with several small drawers and open compartments—ideal for correspondence and personal items. Above this is a wide additional drawer for extra storage. Two striking full-length columns with brass capitals and bases frame the piece, adding a classical architectural touch. The entire desk has been beautifully restored with a traditional hand-applied shellac polish, enhancing its depth and sheen while preserving its historic character. Key Features: Authentic Empire period desk, Germany, circa 1810–1820 Book-matched walnut veneer Original architectural details: brass-mounted columns Writing flap with interior drawers and compartments Large drawer above writing section Fully restored with hand-applied shellac polish Ships from Germany – shipping to Boston included This antique Empire secretary desk...
Category

1810s German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Empire Victorian Bronze Ormolu Walnut Vatican Wall Clock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Victorian Bronze Ormolu Walnut Vatican Wall Clock. Item features a glass dome front and bronze ormolu. Has not been tested. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurement...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Important French Empire Early 19th Century Armchair
By Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An impressive Napoléonic Empire mahogany armchair, attributed to Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841). With a pedimented top rail above a rectangular padded back and seat covered in red and g...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

English Needlework Pillow 1850 - 21" x 16"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

1850s Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Mid. Century vintage elegant neoclassical style lamps/pair
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a pair of mid-century vintage Neo classical style table lamps. These lamps have a copper undertone with a beautiful patinated distressed green patina. These lamps have a hand...
Category

1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Copper

French Empire Bronze Lion End Tables
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style bronze end table with 4 legs ending in lion heads holding rings with a round inset black marble top and shelf.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

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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