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
Vintage Tapestry Ddepicting Royal Emblem 3.8X3.9
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
1920s Antique European Portuguese Arriolos Rug 15'7'' X 12'1''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Arraiolos rugs represent the epitome of the Portuguese textile industry, but their origin dates back to a place far from their namesake. To understand what makes these sought-after r...
Category
1920s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Textile
Antique Khotan Samarkand Rug-8'8'' X 5'8''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is an antique Khotan Samarkand Rug with birds designs on a red background.
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Circa 18th Century Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow Ca. 18th Century
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century Vintage Tapestry
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
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Charming vanity mirror, table swivel mirror, bronze marble, Empire, 1820, France
Located in Wien, AT
Charming table mirror, a high quality work, made around the 1820s in France.
The stand is out of bronze with a red marble base. The bronze stand is very delicately worked, with man...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Tapestry Depicting a Hunt 6.8X5.3
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
1990s Savonnerie Area Rug-10'0" X 8'0"
Located in Los Angeles, US
21th Century Authentic Savonnerie Area Rug 10'0" X 8'0", handmade and hand-knotted, wool on cotton foundation, reproduction
Category
Early 1900s Asian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Woven Crest Tapestry 7.6X6.3
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
French Empire Style White Painted Tole 6-Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-Style (20th Century) distressed white painted tole 6-light chandelier featuring an elaborate urn form base with draped beads, branching out to 6 scroll candelabra.
...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
White Painted French Mirror
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French neoclassic style white painted and rubbed mirror with a molded cornice, paneled uprights each with flowerhead reliefs and with a beveled mirror.
Dimensions: 52" W x 4.5" D...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
1900s Antique Decorative Samarkand Rug-4'2" X 2'7"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is an antique Samakhand rug. This is an Uzbek tribal design rug with a red design throughout the rug.
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Mid-17th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow - 18" X 7"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-17th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow - 18" X 7", Authentic Woolen Tapestry Pillow
Category
Mid-17th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
Alabaster Pendant
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt bronze and hand carved Alabaster pendant. 4 lights.
Dimensions: Height 39" diameter 29 1/2" France, circa 1930.
CW3174.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster
1900s Antique Khotan Samarkand Rug-2'5'' X 4'7''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is an Antique Khotan Samarkand Small Rug
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Large French Neoclassical Mahogany Roll-Top Desk
Located in Troy, NY
French mahogany Empire desk of stately proportions, with a roll top, revealing a double row of total six drawers under an open shelf, as well as a sliding writing surface with inset ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
1920s Antique Indian Rug - 14'10'' X 11'7''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Indian Rugs – Not all the rugs that were woven in India are easy to categorize. That is why we created this antique Indian rugs section. Here you will find Indian rugs of whi...
Category
1920s Asian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
French Antique Empire Style Buffet
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet, French, in the “return from Egypt” Empire style. After the Egyptian campaign Napoleon asked his “ebenistes“ to incorporate stylistic elements i...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty 7.2X5.4
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
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Fairfax, VA
Early electrical gilt bronze and crystal empire chandelier.
This chandelier has been professionally rewired and ready for install...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
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
Mid-Century Turkish Hereke Rug 12'8'' X 8'10''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Hereke Rugs – Hereke rugs represent the ultimate in finesse and delicacy within the antique Turkish rug production of the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Insp...
Category
1920s Unknown Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1920’s Antique Swedish Flat Weave Killim Rug-9'6'' X 6'7''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique rugs that are called “Kilim rugs”, primarily refer to a type of flat weave rug that was produced without knotted pile. Because these antique rugs are found across the globe, each region has a different pronunciation and spelling of the name Kilim. Homers Iliad and Egyptian tomb paintings, from the same time period, depict weavers producing rugs and carpets of this kind.
Since this is one of the oldest methods of rug production, it is considered to be primitive...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Picture Frame large size Red Enamel on Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large shaped photograph frame in gold plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamel on guillochè with borders and laurel frieze in Louis XVI French Empire style. Exte...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Set of Six Porcelain Bird Teacup Trios
Located in New York, NY
Set of six porcelain bird teacup trios. Strikingly modern looking antique set of six BFB Worcester trios of six teacups and six coffee cups with six sh...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Fitz and Floyd Reagan White House Dinner Plate by Robert C. Floyd, 1983
Located in Gardena, CA
Fitz and Floyd Reagan White House Dinner Plate, 1983
A cobalt blue ground and gilt Great Seal of the United States to top central rims. Gilt acce...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Photo Frame Large Imperial Style White and Green enamel on Sterling Silver Salim
Located in Firenze, FI
Large shaped frame for photographs in gold plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent two-tone fired enamels on guillochè and rich friezes in the French Empire Louis XVI style ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1900s Antique Indian Rug - 16'2'' X 12'0''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Agra Rugs Agra has been a major center of area rug and carpet production since the great period of Mughal art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When the carpet indu...
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
18th Century Antique Florentine Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Florentine Tapestry Pillow 18th Century
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
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
French Empire Style Cocktail Table Speckled by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical round coffee or cocktail table lacquer speckled by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The table is made in the French Napoleonic empire style featuring bronze mounted ...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty 8X6.5
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
Antique 19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow 21'' X 21''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique 19th century French Aubusson tapestry pillow. 21'' x 21''
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
1900s Antique Indian Agra Rug - 12'5'' X 11'10''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Agra Rugs Agra has been a major center of area rug and carpet production since the great period of Mughal art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When the carpet indu...
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century Vintage Tapestry
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
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1900s Antique Indian Agra Rug - 12'0'' X 8'9''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Agra Rugs Agra has been a major center of area rug and carpet production since the great period of Mughal art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When the carpet indu...
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Ca.1880 Antique Collectible Savonnerie Rug 6'1'' X 3'4''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Savonnerie Carpets – During the early seventeenth century, a weaver named Pierre DuPont traveled to the Levant. Upon his return, he claimed to have discovered the technique of creati...
Category
1880s Spanish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century French Extendable Dining Table, Demi Lune, Walnut
Located in Greven, DE
Extendable antique dining table for 8 people
France
walnut
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 79 x 116 x 70 cm
extendable to: H...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
21th Century Authentic Wall Hanging Tapestry 7'4'' X 6' Ft
Located in Los Angeles, US
Est. Delivery from Los Angeles, CA
Category
Early 2000s French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Pair of French Empire Brass wall Sconces
Located in LYON, FR
An exceptional pair of brass Empire two-light sconces from early 20th century, France. This pair is designed with a swan motif. The two brass arms are fashioned out of swans with the...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
1900s Antique Indian Amritsar Rug - 10'6'' X 7'9''
Located in Los Angeles, US
During the period of Colonial rule over India, Amritsar rugs began to reflect Western influences in their design. The craftspeople of Northern India took their chance to profit from ...
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1900s Antique Indian Amritsar Rug - 11'10'' X 9'6''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Amritsar Rugs – The spectacular rugs of Amritsar capture the exotic style of India while incorporating a subtle colonial influence. This convergence of eastern and western st...
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Angel 6.7X5.6
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
Vintage Bird Tapestry 9X2.4
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
1900s Antique Samarkand Rug-4'7'' X 2'7''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up For Sale Is An Antique Samarkand Uzbek Tribal Rug
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century Antique Figural Pictorial Baloutch Rug 4'11'' X 3'0''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Baloutch Rug Made for a Noble Man 4'11'' X 3', handmade and hand-knotted, inspired by the story of beauty and the beast
Category
Early 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Antique Turkish Oushak Floral Rug 10'x7'10''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Turkish Oushak Floral Design 10'x7'10''
Category
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century Vintage Tapestry 5.35X5.7
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
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Beautiful Maitland Smith French Empire Magazine Rack Canterbury
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1990s Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Importante Torchere (108cm) - Bronze And Marble - Pp Thomire (attb.) - Empire -
Located in CANNES, FR
"Importante Torchere (108cm) - Bronze And Marble - Pp Thomire (attb.) - Empire - France - XIX Th"
Important Empire torchiere with six lights in gilt b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique Indian Agra Rug - 11'4'' X 9'0''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Agra Rugs Agra has been a major center of area rug and carpet production since the great period of Mughal art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. When the carpet indu...
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Children at Play 10.3X7.4
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
Vintage Woven Tapestry 9X2.4
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
Antique Chinese Floral Design Rug - 5'4'' X 7'11''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Chinese Rugs, as opposed to most of the antique rug productions, were woven almost exclusively for internal consumption. Since they were mostly sheltered from European and We...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1900s Antique Samarkand Rug-4'5" X 2'8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is an antique Samakhand rug. This is an Uzbek tribal design rug with a lighter pink throughout the rug.
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depciting a Royal Vase 6.2X2.3
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
Early-19th Century Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug-7'5'' X 4'6''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Early-19th Century Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug from Uzbekistan
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
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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