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
Throw Pillow Made from 16th Century Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
16th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow 20" x 20", Authentic 16th Century piece handmade
Category
16th Century Turkish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
Pair of Early 1800s Empire Baccarat Crystal and Bronze Tazza Centerpieces
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
This pair of Empire-style tazza centerpieces showcases a sophisticated blend of finely cast bronze and Baccarat crystal in a striking three-tier structure. Each tazza is grounded by a solid bronze base, supporting tiers of Baccarat crystal bowls...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Very Important 19th C Empire Cut Crystal and Gilt Bronze Palatial Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
One of the finest 19th century Empire palatial 36 light chandeliers on the market today. Fine gilt bronze Empire details with two tiers of 36 light...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Low Huge Flush Mount Crystal Chandelier Empire Big Palace Lamp Chateau Lustre
Located in Berlin, DE
Montgolfière Style Chandelier: Tailored Empire Elegance
Introducing our new Montgolfière style chandelier, a magnificent embodiment of Empire splendor adorned with exquisite lead cr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Antique Swedish Empire Gilded Marble Pedestal or Geridong
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gilded empire pedestal or geridong from the mid 1800s, around 1840. The pedestal is from Sweden and is gilded with a white marble top in Carrara...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
Empire-Style Brass Chandelier with Frosted Glass Shade, Early 20th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Antique Empire-Style Brass Chandelier with Frosted Glass Shade, Early 20th Century
Exquisite antique chandelier crafted in the Empire style, featuring an ornate brass frame with gra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire / Biedermeier Solid Plum Wood Swan Armchairs
Located in Darmstadt, DE
A pair of Empire / Biedermeier plum wood from circa 1815, newly upholstered with new fabric in classicist style. The armrests, backrest and seat are upholste...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Biedermeier Louis Philippe Burl Walnut Chest Dresser with Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Biedermeier/Louis Philippe Burl Walnut Chest Dresser with Mirror (No marble top). Item features 5 dovetailed drawers, turn carved bun feet, beautiful wood grain, great antiqu...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Pair of Tall Bronze Sconces with Quiver, Arrow and Eagleheads. Circa 1920
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice pair of tall wall sconces is made of bronze. The wall lights are decorated with a quiver, an arrow and eagleheads. This is a French work in the Empire style. Circa 1920
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century, French Empire Gilt Bronze Centrepiece
Located in IT
19th Century, French Empire Gilt Bronze Centrepiece
This refined centerpiece stand was crafted in France in the early 19th century, during the Empire period, from finely chiselled an...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Corner Console Table, France 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
This elegant little Empire corner console table is embellished with mahogany veneer and pretty brass decorations.
It is in very good, professio...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Antique Empire Barrel Box in Hardwood
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
19th Century Antique Empire Barrel Box in Hardwood. Charming piece as a decorative piece on a desk or library shelf and additionally could be used to hold jewelry on a dresser or nig...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Extension Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Style extension dining table with carved pedestal, inset fold-out leaves, scrolled tri-base, and carved claw feet, with radiating veneer top. The table seats up to nine people...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Wing-Back Armchairs
Located in Troy, NY
Exceptional Pair of late Empire Period Chairs, of Comfortable Size and Flowing Movement of Form. The accentuated wings beautifully complementing th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Woven Pond Tapestrty 7.35X5.45
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
19th Century Jewelry Box in Leather with Diamond Pattern
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Rectangular Leather Jewelry Box on small brass balls with diamond pattern.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Claude Galle, (1759–1815, master in 1786) is one of the most renowned bronziers active during the Napoleonic period, such as Pierre-Philippe Thomire, André-Antoine Ravrio and Louis-S...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks on Hoofed Faun Feet
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of French empire style gilt bronze candlesticks on hoofed faun feet, late 19th century.
A pair of fine French Empire-style gilt bronze candleholders. A fluted column rises on three cloven-hoofed hocked faun legs and feet. These antique candleholders...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Maitland-Smith Empire Style Brass & Chrome Pedestal Jardinière Planter
Located in St. Louis, MO
1980s vintage jardinière in the Empire style manufactured by Maitland-Smith with cylindrical polished-chrome planter trimmed with brass. Planter connects to cast tripod brass base with claw feet by Directoire style intersecting chrome rods with brass disc at intersecting points. In fine condition, some scratches to base, light marks to interior of planter, appears never to have had live plants inside...
Category
1980s Hong Kong Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Chrome
19th Century French Faux Bamboo Burl White Marble Chest Drawer Sideboard
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A good antique 19th century French Empire faux bamboo & white marble pine small sideboard /chest of drawer. The chest having the original veined white marble top above four drawers, ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
IMPORTANT PAIR OF EMPIRE SHELVES Napoleon III 19th century
Located in Madrid, ES
IMPORTANT PAIR OF EMPIRE SHELVES Napoleon III 19th century
French, 19th century 19th century,
clad in rosewood wood,
with three shelves,
gilded carvings.
Small defects.
Dim.: 1...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilded and darkpatinated bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A beautiful Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilded and darkpatinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Richly decorated with leaves and other period ornaments as well as a dar...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Medusa Rondanini and Eagle Mounted French Empire Bronze Gasolier / Chandelier
Located in Charleston, SC
This Magnificent 19th century French Empire Eagle Mounted Bronze Gasolier / Chandelier has three Torch decorated lights with Greek Key Trump Shades. This Grand Imperial Chandelier / Gasolier has an elegant two tone Patinated Bronze and Ormolu finish in a Classical Design. The Corona is two-toned and crowned by six Gilt Leaves of which three are Anthemion and three are Fern. Below the Corona is the Patinated Bronze Gasolier pipe with Gilt Bronze Foliate Tulip Cups at the top and bottom of the pipe. The center of the Gasolier pipe has a Patinated Bronze Sphere with three Ormolu Classical Roman Medusa...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Porcelain and Brass Table Lamp with Gold Lion Horse Design, Small
By Luc Lanel
Located in New York, NY
A small French porcelain table lamp with brass base, in the Empire style, circa early-20th century, France. This small French porcelain lamp, ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Brass
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
By Baccarat
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
Napoleon III style French silver and glass jug
Circa 1930 Origin France
Excellent quality cut crystal, could be baccarat
The silver part ha...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Silver
19th Century Black French Pair of Empire Pinewood Cabinets, Antique Sideboard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French pair of cabinets made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The detailed commodes are supported by four short arched feet, consisting its origi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Large European Low Cut Crystal Glass Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Most likely an English bowl with floral decorations and unbeatable wear. Very versatile piece that is both form and function, standing alone on a coffee table or used as fruit bowl o...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
French Empire Style Beige Painted Trumeau Mirror with Carved Gilt Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style beige painted trumeau mirror from the 20th century with gilded décor. This exquisite French Empire style trumeau mirror from the 20th century is a testament to ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Candelabra with Tripartite Lion Paw Feet
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of bronze five-light candelabras was produced in France in the early 1800’s, during the Empire period that coincided with the rule of Napoleon. Under Napoleon’s decree that...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Сrystal Tazza Two Tone 19th century Russian Imperial Factory Fruit Vase
Located in Sweden, SE
Antique and absolutely exclusive, fully hand crafted at Russian Imperial Glass Factory in first half of 19th century. Beautiful combination of colors and unique shape and architectur...
Category
1830s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Empire Marble Pedestal Stand Column Table
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Wonderful French Empire style marble pedestal stand column
Great for displaying decorative pieces such as busts or vases
Also great for the garden
The bronze statue showed not includ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique 19th C Empire Star & Shield Coat of Arms Dining Chair
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th C Empire star & shield coat of arms dining chairs
Priced each.
Additional information:
Materials: Mahogany
Color: Olive
Period: 19th Century
Styles: Empire
Numb...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiseled details.
The backplate of this sconce is a central round plate wit...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Armchair with winged Caryatids and yellow Silk Fabric, France circa 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Empire fauteuil in mahogany and yellow silk morée upholstery with red piping and carved winged caryatids, France c. 1800. Lit.: J. Mottheau, Meubles et Emsembles Directoire Empire, T...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
19th Century French Silver-Gilt Pair of Dishes, Odiot, circa 1890
By Odiot
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late 19th Century French rare and important Empire style pair of solid silver dishes, each of circular form with very fine acanthus leaves borders and chased with a frieze of...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
1930's French Empire Lion and Swans Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930's French Empire bronze sconces with swans and lions head backplate.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Custom Painted Sofa
Located in New York, NY
Custom painted Empire sofa. Sofa has a down filled seat cushion. Legs and frame has carvings.
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Wool
Pair of Wall Sconces Bronze Empire Style, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Solid brass or brass wall lamp Empire style with two arms.
This wall sconces Empire style white rigid appearance, solid and basic geometric shapes. Decorated with acanthus leaves ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century, Silver Dredging Spoon
Located in Copenhagen, K
Danish silver dredging spoon from circa 1820.
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
Photograph Frame Large Imperial Style White Enamel on Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver shaped photograph frame with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and rich friezes in Louis XVI French Empire style. External measurements...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century Two Piece Set of Brass Fireplace Tools
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
These Danish fireplace tools makes a wonderful addition to any fireplace surround. This two piece set was found at a market down town Copenhagen, Denmark. This set can be used in any...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron, Bronze, Brass
19th Century Black French Antique Wrought Iron Napoleon III Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black antique, late 19th century French floor candle holder, candelabra hand crafted in very ornate fer forge work with wrought iron scrolls and seven candle holders, in good condi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron
FIRST HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY EMPIRE LENS MIRROR
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant circular lens mirror from the Empire period. The mirror is characterized by its carved and gilt wooden frame, enriched with delicate decorative geometric engravings on all fo...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Early 19th Century Pendule Portefaix, Mantel Clock, Paris and Brussels, c. 1810
By J. J. Hanset Bruxelles 1
Located in Greven, DE
Empire Pendule Portefaix
Paris, Brussels
Bronze, enamel
Empire around 1810
Dimensions: H x W x D: 36 x 28 x 11 cm
Description:
Beautiful, fire-gilded and patinated bronze mantel c...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
Mid 19th century Swedish birch empire stool
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century birch empire stool circa 1850.
Scandinavian empire period stool made in birch. Shaped support handles which flow through to the 4 splayed legs. Original floral ta...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tapestry, Birch
Elegant 19th Century French Empire Napoleon III Commode
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French Empire style mahogany commode, 19th c., having marble top, hidden frieze drawer, over three additional drawers, flanked by turned columnar supports, rising on block feet. All ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Beautiful decorated with flowers and a dark patinated column in the center of the cand...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 19th century French Empire drop front secretary with black as a marble top and side columns with bronze mounts, three drawers below and one drawer above. Double brass locking syste...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Empire Style Lion Kanapee Sofa
Located in Berlin, DE
Imperial stylish lion Kanapee in Empire style.
Finely detailed carving work on solid ebonized beechwood. Gilded. Winged, protruding lions heads in bronze.
(B-Sam-60).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Beech
Pr. of Old Paris Miniature, Gilt Decorated Footed Urns With Garden Scenes, c1800
By Old Paris
Located in valatie, NY
Pair of Old Paris Miniature, Gilt Decorated Footed Urns with garden scenes, c1800. Miniature urns of this type are rare and the decoration is exceptional. The urns have bolted construction with scrolling handles and molded face mask terminals. The beautiful hand painted panels are of a seated young man and woman in traditional dress in a neoclassical garden with classical urns, landscaping, architecture and a fountain. Fine condition with mild typical wear to the gilt.
Trent Antiques has been a respected name in antiques for...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Mahogany Round Library Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Pie Crust Mahogany Round Library Center Table. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 29" H x 30" Diameter.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Mid 19th c. Early French Silvered & Dore Bronze With Honey Alabaster Vase
Located in Louisville, KY
For those with discriminating taste for French antiques, this 19th century French Silvered and Dore Bronze with Honey Alabaster vase is nothing short of magnificent! Created in the style of Edouard Lievre, this vase is masterfully crafted with cast bronze with areas that have been silvered to showcase the intricate detail and texture. The side handles are silvered bronze with wreath hangers. At the base of the honey alabaster stone vase is a cherub face with silvered leaf head...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster, Silver, Bronze
Circa 1850 Antique Needlepoint Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique Needlepoint Tapestry Pillow
Category
1850s Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Pair of Tall Italian Torchères, Likely Naples, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A refined pair of Italian torchères made from mahogany, dating to the early 19th century and likely originating from Naples. The torchères rest on tripod bases with elegantly curved ...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Empire Parian Napoleon Bust
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (late 19th Century) life size Parian bust of Napoleon on blue porcelain socle and square ormolu base (signed HOUDON, 1805)
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
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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