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
Period: 20th Century
Egg style Faberge folding photo holder Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on engraved tripod with octagonal folding photo holder for 6 photos inside, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated, with translucent fired enamels on guilloché and pure gold “pa...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
Marvelous MARBRO Mid Century Polished Brass Table Lamp! Huge Showpiece Lighting
Located in Peoria, AZ
SENSATIONAL!
MID CENTURY
MONUMENTAL
BRASS MARBRO LAMP!
MID CENTURY DECORATION ICON!
DUAL PULL STRING SOCKETS!
POLISHED BRASS
ORIGINAL SHADE & BRASS FINIAL
DIMENSIONS: 40" x 21"
In the forties and fifties, decorators would choose the most impressive lamp they could obtain and place it in a home's "picture window" so that all passerby and visitors could glimpse just how well the occupants lived!
Picture windows started disappearing in the late sixties, but demand for monumental lighting...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Gold
$4,000 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Round Marble Top Mahogany Column Pedestal Cabinet End Table Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Round Marble Top Mahogany Reeded Column Form Pedestal Cabinet End Tables - a Pair. Item features single cabinet door, brass door pull, white Italian marbl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Empre Style Coffee Table W/ Green Marble
Located in Astoria, NY
Exquisite mid-20th-century French Empire-style coffee table, sourced from Provence. The piece features a graceful oval top in deep green Italian marble with striking white veining, b...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Empire style large chandelier
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant style makes this fixture highly desirable.
It has a crown at the crest and has brilliant crystals
That cascade downward in an arc shape that attach
To a large bowl forming a...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
$13,200 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century Black Ebonized Empire Style Swan Bench
Located in Houston, TX
20th Century Empire style bench featuring Neoclassical style carved swan frame newly padded and upholstered in a Chanel style chuncky tweed.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Antique French Empire Solid Mahogany Ball Foot Curule Bench Seat Low Stool
Located in West Chester, PA
Wonderful antique bench with curved seat and solid mahogany curule frame on ball feet.
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
French Empire style mahogany bronze mounted leather top writing desk. C 1940.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire style mahogany bronze mounted, leather top writing desk. C 1940.
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
China Dinner Service for 6 by Richard Ginori Black Onice Rim, Gold Trim & Verge
Located in Roma, IT
A Tableware set in very fine porcelain made in Italy between the 60s and 70s by the Doccia factory "Richard Ginori".
Richard Ginori is an historic Italian ceramic's factory founded in Tuscany, in Sesto Fiorentino, near Florence, of which Gio Ponti was creative director for 10 years.
This dinnerware is part of a Manufacture collection inspired by the elegant lines of the Empire style and which was out of stock for a long time.
Now, the new ownership of the brand, recently purchased by the Gucci Group, has included the Contessa collection back in the range but without the subtle tone-on-tone trim that embellished the gold encrusted rim.
We could say that this vintage dinner service...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$1,798 Sale Price / set
20% Off
French Empire Style Baloon Chandelier, France Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
French Empire Style Chandelier, France Early 20th Century.
Small French balloon chandelier, in gilded and chiseled bronze with Empire palmet...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Brass
Lovely Pair of French Style Black Lacquer Side Tables
Located in London, GB
A Striking Pair of French Style Side Tables with Black Lacquer Finish and Floral Decoration
Lovely Detail
Dated C20th
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Lacquer
Box handpainted miniature on guilloche and musical movement by Reuge S.A. inside
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal box in 925/1000 sterling silver, gold plated with translucent fired enamels and featuring a handpainted monochrome miniature on guilloche of a sailing ship on the lid, depi...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
French Empire Style Marble Topped Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A vintage Empire style side table handcrafted in France. A wonderful square piece of emerald green marble featuring black veining and hazy white patterns sits atop a cast iron base w...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Iron
Vintage Kodak Instamatic 133 Camera - 2Y218
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Capture a piece of photographic history with this vintage Kodak Instamatic 133 camera, a classic from the iconic brand that revolutionized amateur photography. This compact and light...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
$149 Sale Price
55% Off
Four Italian Dining Chairs Empire Style Red Gold Upholstery 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
A set of four solid walnut chairs in the fabulous Empire style with ormolu decorations, made in Italy in the 20th century, in good condition.
The walnut frame is beautiful in color ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$1,902 Sale Price / set
50% Off
French Bronze Chandelier With Crystal Beaded Cup Early 1900s
Located in Milano, MI
Early 1900s French Bronze And Crystal Entrance Chandelier with the reflective body composed of an inverted dome of English pearls with a sloping diameter. The frame of this Empire-st...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
English Plant Flower Pot Holder Cachepot Jardiniere Lion Head and Paw Feet
Located in New York, NY
An English copper plant or flower pot holder cachepot jardiniere with lion head and paw feet design, circa early-20th century, England. Dimensions: 8" Diameter x 6.94" Height.
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Copper
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine Baccarat Crystal Harcourt Serving Piece
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful, luxurious Baccarat Harcourt serving piece makes a perfect gift and an elegant addition to any dining table. It is an ideal vessel for caviar at an intimate dinner, wo...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
1940s Carved Gilt Wood Swan Barrel Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, carved wood swan club chairs on castors set you could hope to find. In the style of George S...
Category
1940s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Italian Empire Classical Sterling Silver 5-Light Candelabrum
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire sterling silver 5-light candelabrum. Raised socket on ovoid shaft to which are mounted four leaf-mounted arms terminating in same. Sockets bellied on wax pan. Shaft mo...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Thomasville Georgian Burled Walnut Marble Top Four-Drawer Dresser
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful French Empire or Louis Philippe style four-drawer dresser or chest of drawers
By Thomasville
USA, Late 20th Century
Gorgeous burl wood, with thick beveled marble top, ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
1930s White Opaline Huge Murano Flowers Drops Green Beads Empire Chandelier
Located in Firenze, Toscana
ONE OF A KIND!! Housing 4 lights, will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the Unites States and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. One of a kind...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
French Empire Chandelier with Opaline Glass 16 Lights
Located in New York, NY
1930’s French Empire chandelier with swans, cherubs and lions. Opaline glass inset. 16 lights
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$16,000 / item
Sterling Silver Box Striped Fire Enameled Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Sterling silver Jewel box with Rectangular rounded corners gold plated with translucent fire enamel stripes on guilloche and hand engraved with late Russian Empire style ornament app...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Large Russian Imperial Brass Samovar Set
Located in Germantown, MD
A gorgeous, early 20th century large Russian imperial brass samovar set.
Tray and bowl included. Measures 16" in width, 16" in depth and stands 22.5" tall.
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Crystal and bronze chest
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Crystal and bronze chest
Empire style chest
Crystal and gilded bronze materials
Origin France Circa 1920
Excellent condition
The Empire style (in French: style Empire) is a dominant ...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade, Late 19th / Early 20th Century
French double inkwell figural bronze desk lamp, comprised of a central winged bronze cherub...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,940 Sale Price
70% Off
Pair Patinated Bronze Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Bronze Empire style column table lamps. Ready to use. Nice condition. Very good quality. Very heavy. 30” top of finial,
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,100 / set
Empire Bronze Figural Swan Chandelier
Located in Barcelona, ES
Very Fine Empire Style Neoclassical Six-Arm Bronze Swan Chandelier, France, 1930s
Gorgeous six lights bronze chandelier with foliage and figural motifs.
Rare French Empire style bronze tole chandelier...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$4,747 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Three Candelabras Bouillotte Lamp Tole Shade
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical bronze three candelabras Bouillotte lamp with two Edison sockets and dark forest green tole shade.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte
By Sitzendorf
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte by Sitzendorf, in porcelain, hand-painted.
Detailed example of the Emperor, dressed with bicorn hat,
green uniform with medals, draped with a coat.
On the...
Category
Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Wonderful French Empire Dore Bronze Regency Petite Five-Arm Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Empire Dore Bronze Regency Petite Five Candelabra Light Chandelier, This Fixture Comes With Shades That Maybe Removed
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Vintage Wooden Bed Italian Manufacture, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage wooden bed entirely hand made and realized in Italy in he early 20th Century.
Can be also used as a sofa.
Good condition.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$3,663 Sale Price
30% Off
119-Piece Silver Plated Flatware for 12 Persons by SFAM Model Sans-Gêne Empire
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful set of silver plated tableware from the French brand SFAM (Société Française d'Alliage de Métaux). The cutlery is beautifully decorated in Empire style. SFAM ceased to exis...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Baker Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below.
Shipping Quote Information
The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Category
1960s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,516 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian Empire Style Elegant Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Introducing this elegant Italian desk dating back to the 20th century. An extremely refined desk, inspired by the Empire style.
Featuring a linear design with black ebonized column ...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Chandelier, 1920's
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Charming French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1920s.
This lovely piece has an ornate bronze frame hung with prisms of crystal glass.
The crystal glass pr...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Regency Bronze Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical / Regency bronze and graduating crystal basket form chandelier with medusa heads and six candelabra sockets around the outer frame and a beau...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style brass and crystal glass basket chandelier.
Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has an or...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
1920's Hollywood Regency Empire Style Armchair
Located in Houston, TX
Hollywood Regency Empire Style Armchair with ebonized frame and gold gilt accenting and Lions Head detail. The fabric is Scalamandre
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Bronze Glass Dish Light
Located in New York, NY
Empire style pendant light chandelier featuring a diamond textured cast glass dish. Main pendant body has been done in black and features bronze f...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Steel
French Empire Style Mahogany Daybed with Ormolu Mounts and Velvet Upholstery
Located in Chicago, IL
20th century French Empire style mahogany daybed on casters with ormolu gilt bronze mounts in floral/thistle decoration and original wood jo...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$8,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Baker Furniture Regency Paw Foot Pedestal Extension Dining Table, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Empire, Regency, or Neoclassical style pedestal extension dining table
By Baker Furniture
USA, Circa 1980s
Beautiful book-matched cherry wood, with rosewood banding and...
Category
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Birdcage Model of Chateau de Luneville, Early 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The wood and wire birdcage faithfully depicting the chateau.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$16,000 Sale Price
20% Off
NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Hanging Chandelier Pendant
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Empire style chandelier pendant with cast glass dish and bronze details. These elegant lights graced many of the main corridors of the NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Steel
Rarity Low Plafonnier Basket Chandelier Crystal Empire Brass Lustre Antique
Located in Berlin, DE
Presenting our exquisite basket chandeliers, meticulously restored to their former glory with love and care in Berlin. The electrical wiring has been upgraded to work seamlessly in t...
Category
1930s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Early 20th century empire revival Swedish birch bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century empire revival Swedish birch bookcase circa 1900.
Superb quality piece of Swedish made furniture with influences from Biedermeier and empire periods.
Stepped top...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Maitland-Smith Empire-Style Pedestal Jardinière Planter, circa 1980
Located in Miami, FL
A very handsome vintage jardinière in the Empire style manufactured by Maitland Smith in the 1980s with cylindrical polished-chrome planter trimmed with brass over a cast and fabrica...
Category
1980s Asian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Chrome
French Empire Sword Bench Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French gilt Empire sword bench with ultra sueded fabric. Beautiful carving details. Leave as is or have your upholstery shop recover and tighten frame.
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Arrow Wall Sconces Lamp Featuring Goddess Ceres
Located in Toronto, CA
This exquisite pair of Empire style gilt bronze wall sconces effortlessly blends classical grandeur with subtle Art Deco influences, making them a rare and elegant addition to any in...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
English Regency Style French Empire Silver Plated Large Urn Table Lamps - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Contemporary English Regency Style French Empire Silver Plated Large Urn Form Table Lamps with Twin Handles - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 35" H (to finial) x 26" H...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
c1910 French Empire Gilt Metal Framed Cut Cascading Crystal Form Basket Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1910 Pair of French Empire style Gilt Metal Wall Sconces. In the cascading crystal to form tent bottom - that is this style. Bronzse framed Rair pair.
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
$1,072 Sale Price / set
46% Off
Grand French Empire Style Bronze Mahogany Bibliotheque Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent French mahogany bibliotheque style bookcase cabinet crafted in the Napoleonic French empire taste. Constructed on a grand scale the cabinet features three pairs of storage do...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Newly Upholstered & Painted Iron Empire Daybed from Paris
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Classic French Louis XVI Neoclassical French Empire daybed newly reupholstered with modern plush bolster pillows. Bed frame is solid painted iron turn of the century from France and ...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique Angel Motif Sterling Silver Snuff Box
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. The lid and sides are covered in an intricate floral design with musical instruments and a scene of two playing cherubs in its ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
A Pair of Empire Style French Bronze Gueridons with Black Marble Tops
Located in London, GB
France, 20th century
A pair of mid twentieth century Empire style circular gueridon, the black marble tops with polished brass rims, all supported on tripod bronze bases with cross...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Brass, Bronze
French Antique Etched and Faceted Crystal Lidded Boxes with Bronze Ormolu, Pair
Located in Doylestown, PA
Pair of French antique etched and faceted cut crystal lidded boxes with ormolu mounts, c. early 20th century.
Gorgeous gilt bronze mounted boxes with intricately etched crystal of f...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Egg style Faberge Blue Sapphire Enamel Medium Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, Russian Empire style inspired by Carl Fabergè eggs late 1800s, early 1900s. Measurem...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique French Empire Regency Rams Head Small Bronze Column Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Regency Rams Head Small Bronze Column Table Lamps with Adjustable Height Finials - a Pair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 25.5"- 27.5" H (to finial) x...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Crystal Chandelier
Located in Austin, TX
Antique chandelier from France made with cut crystal elements (cabochons and pendants) on a brass structure. It has been newly wired to fit US standards.
The current overall height i...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
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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