Empire Furniture
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.
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Feathers
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Giltwood
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Paper, Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Onyx, Bronze
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Feathers
Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1920s Czech Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Metal
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Canvas
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Gesso, Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Wool
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century British Empire Furniture
Brass, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Gold Leaf
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Beech, Upholstery
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Wood, Lacquer, Paper
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Ormolu
1940s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Pine, Paint
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Wool
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1930s Swedish Vintage Empire Furniture
Beech
1850s Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Sheet Metal
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
1810s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Mirror, Oak
20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Gold Leaf