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
Beautiful Pair of French Empire Gilt and Dark Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Knivsta, SE
A beautiful pair of French Empire gilt and dark patinated bronze candlesticks from the 1820s. Decorated with flower baskets and bunches of grapes and a dark patinated column.
Wear ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Bronze
19th Century birch empire oval center table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Oval 19th century birch empire center table circa 1860
Beautiful swedish birch center table. Oval top surface with matched birch veneers and striking grain. Deep freize with singl...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
French Empire Style Carved Figural Marble Top Center Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: Height: 27 in Width: 40 in Depth: 40 in
This vintage French Empire style carved figural marble top coffee table/center table is of the highest quality! If you look at th...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair Antique Early 19thC French Empire Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine pair of antique early 19th century gilt bronze French Neoclassical Empire period candlesticks, circa 1820.
The candlesticks having removable sconces and globular capitals...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Maitland Smith French Empire Iron Bronze Figural Maiden Plant Stand Jardinière
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive cauldron or planter by Maitland-Smith, circa 1990s. Made from iron and bronze in French Empire styling. Features a tessellated marble plater or bowl over a figured scro...
Category
1990s Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Danish mid 20th century burr walnut desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Danish mid 20th century burr walnut desk circa 1950.
We are please to offer this desk which is of the highest quality.
Stunning top with a single veneer covering the whole writing ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
EARLY 19th CENTURY FRENCH PORCELAIN CLOCK
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant biscuit watch with an allegory of pure love. The spring-loaded watch features an enamelled dial with double Arabic and Roman numerals, and a crown set with zircons cut like d...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Early 20th Century empire revival painted scandinavian day bed
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century empire revival painted scandinavian day bed circa 1900.
Grand sized swedish day bed featuring scrolled end supports. Pine frame has been later painted white, sta...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Pine, Paint
Dessin Fournir French Empire Style Mahogany Ebonized Gold Leaf Romney Side Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Dessin Fournir Romney Side Table, circa late 20th Century. Drawing inspiration from Louis XVI, Neoclassicism and Empire styling. Features an oval top made from mahogany with 22k gold...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Rare Pair of Early 19th Century Cylinder Side Chests
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of European empire commodes, early 19th century. Each has a single drawer surmounting the columnar single door. Commodes also each feature two ebonized and partial gilt columns,...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique American Empire Style Mahogany 4 Section Stacking Barrister Bookcase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Style Mahogany 4 Section Stacking Barrister Bookcase. Item features carved paw feet, 4 glass doors, stacking form, very nice antique bookcase. Top 2 sections ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Late 19th C. French Overmantel Mirror
Located in Houston, US
This is an impressive classically styled yet restrained overmantel mirror and frame, painted with gilded decorative elements. Fluted pilasters are topped with a classical urn with pe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair of Mid-Century French Empire-Style Brass Candle Sconces, 1950s
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of 1950s French Empire-style brass two-candle sconces.
Finely detailed throughout. Cast form features a flaming torch motif embellished with an acanthus wreath and rippling r...
Category
1950s British Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Restauration Antique Mahogany Cylinder Roll-Top Desk circa 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
FINE RESTAURATION PERIOD ORMOLU-MOUNTED FLAMED MAHOGANY BUREAU À CYLINDER
France, circa 1830
Item # 403ZGP18C
An exceedingly fine bureau à cylinder from the Restauration period in F...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
Narrow chest of drawers, early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Narrow chest of drawers on straight legs with three drawers and a gray stone top. The key plates are in the form of flower bouquets in gilt bronze. The chest of drawers is mahogany v...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Stone, Bronze
French Empire Style Ebonized Bookcase
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This handsome Empire style open book shelf has a recent ebonized finish. This antique has the rounded column fronts of the empire style raised on paw feet. The interior is fitted wit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Marge Carson French Empire Regency Style Gold Upholstered Library Arm Chair
By Marge Carson
Located in Dayton, OH
French Empire style arm chair by Marge Carson. Features a mahogany finished and distressed frame with an intriguing brown / gold foliate upholstered seat and back. Crest rail is cont...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very stylish 19th century Empire style 'Bouillotte' table lamp in gilt bronze, lit by three curvaceous 'swans head' arms and topped with a green lacquered metal (tole) shade adorne...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Grand Dining Room Table Set
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite furniture piece set from an estate in Greenwich, Connecticut. The set includes a table with four leaves and a total of twelve chairs, eight armless and four with arms. The chairs, crafted from medium-tone wood with lattice backs, showcase a sophisticated brown and tan checkered seating...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Empire Sofa Schumacher Sabi Tiger Velvet
Located in Houston, TX
Early 19th Century Empire sofa. This handsome burl veneer sofa features ebonized and gilt columns, urn finials, with two hidden drawers, all newly upholstered in Schumacher abstract ...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Burl
English Crown Derby Porcelain Potpourri Vessel, early 19th century
Located in New York, NY
An English porcelain potpourri vessel with gold gilt god-like heads and lion paw feet, Empire design, by Crown Derby, circa early-19th century, England. Red makers' mark date range c...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Beautiful pair of Empire Table Lamps, originally candlesticks from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful pair of Empire Table Lamps in gilt Bronze. Originally a pair of Empire candlesticks from the 1820s, converted to table lamps in the early 20th Century.
Newly rewired elect...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Onyx Jewelry or Decorative Box
Located in New York, NY
A substantial Italian green onyx marble and gold gilt metal jewelry or decorative box, in the Empire style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Onyx is a combination of green hues finishe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Marble, Metal
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in bronze, early 19th Century France, originally candlesticks.
Includes new black lacquer lampshade with gold details, giving the lamp a warm and ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Bronze Dore Two-Light Candelabra Table Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a desk or library with this elegant antique three-arm candelabra converted into a table lamp. Created in France, circa 1860, the fixture sits on a triangle base embellished ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Elegant pair of French turn of the century woos sconces ( Empire style )
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant pair of French wood sconces, Empire style, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Brass Firewood Log Holder
Located in New York, NY
A brass firewood log holder with paw feet and adjustable handle, circa mid-20th century. Dimensions: 21" x 12.75" x 9 Height (or 16" to top of handle.)
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Empire “Kissing Settee” with Privacy Screens
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful French Empire walnut “kissing settee” with carved swan arms, crests, and corners, privacy screens which raise up on each side, adorned with striped satin upholstery and s...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Pr of Reduced French Empire Yew Wood Banquette Tables Designed by Jacob Freres
By Jacob Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Age: 1800 - 1850
Furniture Style: French Empire (Napoleon) (1805 - 1815)
Overall Dimensions: Width - 60" Depth - 18" Height -18"
Pair of French Empire Yew Wood Banquette Tables De...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Yew
Empire Psyche, France around 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Large standing mirror with rotating mirror in an arched frame. The mirror is held by lateral columns which end in fire-gilded bronze urns. The bases are also fire-gilt. The psyche st...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Empire Style Marquetry Inlay Chest Commode
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Empire Style Marquetry Inlay Commode Chest of Drawers
Gorgeous French Empire style commode/chest of drawers featuring intricate inlaid marquetry with a finely detaile...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Transforming Table by Martin-Guillaume Biennais, Consulat Period, France circa 1
By Martin Guillaume Biennais
Located in New York, NY
Transformation table, on high square pointed legs with brass sabots and curved table top including intermediate shelf with gilded gallery rail. The middle part of the table top can b...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Orologio a Vaso Francia Primo Quarto XIX Secolo
Located in Milano, IT
Orologio a vaso in bronzo dorato poggiante su un plinto ornato con motivi a foglie susseguenti poggiante su quattro piedini a sfera. Il corpo dalla caratteristica forma a vaso biansa...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Bronze Travel Clock, late 19th Century or Early 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire style bronze travel clock, late 19th century or early 20th century.
Empire style bronze travel clock with double patina, late 19th or early 20th century, (movement to be revi...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Daybed & Bed Crown
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous French Empire mahogany alcove daybed and bed crown hand-crafted in France in the 19th Century. A rare lit de repos made of mahogany most likely from Cuba or the Antilles and fitted with brass and ormolu figurines...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Marble Bronze Statue Ormulu Black Mantel
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style ornate white marble mantel with black figural statues positioned on each side and bronze ormulu details. This was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Co...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Large Rectangular Empire Floor Jardinière Planter, France 1810-1830
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Period French Empire Floor Jardinière in Amazing Wooden Veneer and Period Zinc Insect, circa 1810-1830's.
Classic plant stand with removable galvanized zinc liner. This stand has the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Zinc
Pair French Empire Style Gilt Metal Sconces with Sunburst Motif
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique gilt metal sconces in the French Empire style with sunburst motif, candelabra size sockets and white candle covers, modern wi...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Dutch 19th Century Empire Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome Dutch Empire buffet made of walnut with ebonized details. The top of this cabinet is made of walnut and has two extending shelves on each end for additional surface area. ...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Porcelaine de Paris -Gilt Ajour Centerpiece Coupe
Located in DELFT, NL
Gilt Porcelaine de Paris Openwork Coupe Centerpiece to be placed centrally on the table, for fruit or flowers.
Empire period, French, 19th century center basket with reticulated rim,...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire Style Bronze Ewers, Late 19th or Early 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An important pair of Empire style bronze ewers, late 19th or early 20th century.
A pair of Empire style patinated bronze ewers with marble base, late 19th or early 20th century.
H: ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Bronze & Crystal Tent & Basket Chandelier, France, Circa:1910
Located in Alexandria, VA
This armless tent-and-basket chandelier was hand crafted in the Empire style in Paris in the early days of electrified light fixtures. Inside the bronze frame, hidden by the tent of ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Chandelier Vintage Crystal Brass Pendant Lighting With 3 Light Points, France
Located in Bastogne, BE
Adorable Crystal Chandelier with Brass Frame, for 3 light points.
Richly Decorated chandelier with decorative elements and pendants made of transparent crystal.
One of the main ad...
Category
1970s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Mid 19th century Swedish birch chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish birch chest of drawers circa 1850.
Good quality Swedish empire commode made in birch and pine,
Rectangular top with rounded corners and moulded edge. Belo...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
French Empire Period Antique Buffet
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet from France made of solid walnut with bronze detailing adorning the detached columns and two dovetailed drawers. There are also two doors that open to interior shelving.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze from the 1820s.
Located in Knivsta, SE
A very Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Richly decorated in period design.
Wear consistent with age and use
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
20th Century Empire Style French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Three stylized horn-formed rolling candlesticks.
(T-Mr-14-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Style Console Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire style mahogany console table with a marble top, circa 1900. With a rectangular grey and white marble top with slightly rounded front corners, a frieze drawer with a we...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Empire Swan Faucet, Circa 1820
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique French faucet tap dating to circa 1820, this highly detailed spout has the appearance of a swan with a craned neck. Swan motifs were sometimes see...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Set of 4 early 19th Swedish mahogany empire dining chairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Set of 4 early 19th Swedish mahogany empire dining chairs circa 1820.
Good quality set of Karl Johan period Swedish dining chairs. Shaped roundel backs adorned with decorative bra...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Set of Eight Empire Style Gondola Dining Chairs
Located in Austin, TX
Set of eight dining chairs from France in the Empire style. This set is made of Cuban flamed mahogany and finished with a lustrous French polish. They are strong and comfortable with...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century French Empire Daybed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Empire daybed. Great for living room, guest room, library, or bedroom. Mattress and boxspring not included. Some chips on one of the small urns and round part of ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
Mahogany Empire Chest Of Drawers, Stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée, Paris c. 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Empire chest of drawers stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée
Paris
Mahogany
around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 92 x 131 x 63 cm
Description:
Four carved, bronze-patinated paw feet supp...
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Walnut Round Leather Top Polychromed Center Table in the Classical Form
Located in Milford, NH
A nice example of a walnut polychromed round center table with leather top in a craquelure finish with beaded edge in the classical form, with center round pedestal supported by thre...
Category
20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
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
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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