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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
Impressive French Empire Chandelier, Firegilded Bronze with Alabaster 1830s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Impressive fire-gilded Empire chandelier with very fine imperial and classicist ornaments, which are shade is made of alabaster, The lamp body is framed by a surrounding leaf frieze,...
Category

1830s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

Pair of Paris Porcelain Campagna Form Table Lamps with New Shades
Located in Essex, MA
With a classical scene on a campagna form vase with handles.
Category

1840s European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Wall Mirrors, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of pillar mirrors in gold-patinated and stuccoed frame with profiled molding. The mirror panes are divided in the upper third. Patination is rubbe...
Category

Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

French Empire Style Bronze Dore Eagle Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze dore chandelier having 6 arms with eagle heads emanating from a 6 sided tapered center post with a bottom acorn finial.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Wedgwood Jasperware Black and White Urn Form Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Antique Black and White Wedgwood Jasperware Urn Table Lamps. Item features porcelain urn form bodies, wooden base, dual sockets, white ...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Malachite Centre Table
Located in London, GB
French Empire style ormolu mounted malachite centre table French, 20th Century Height 77cm, diameter 100cm Wonderfully crafted from a selection of high quality materials, this Fren...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century French Large Scale Bronze Empire Style Chandelier with 16 Lights
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th Century large scale French Empire style chandelier is crafted from Bronze featuring a striking Black and gold color. It boasts an impressive design with 16 lights, making i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair Empire Style Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of bronze candlesticks feature Classical motifs including acanthus leaves and reeded tapering shafts.
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet France, 1830 Cherrywood, This early nineteenth century French Buffet is constructed of solid Cherrywood. Three drawers of dovetail con...
Category

1830s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Cherry

Vintage Haviland Limoges Set of 4 Dinner + 4 Salad Plates Rivoli Pattern
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage set of 4 dinner plates and 4 salad plates was made by Haviland, Limoges in rare Rivoli pattern. The decor consists of a wide band of leaves and berries or flower buds in war...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Early 19th Century French Walnut Buffet with Original Fossilized Marble Top
Located in Richmond, VA
Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Buffet with Original Fossilized Marble. The buffet or credenza features three cabinet doors enclosed by bronze mounted columns and stands prou...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Marble Console Table
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Marble console table, from the Empire period, and following the Empire style. The shape of the legs make this console table very original; Its originality comes from the shape of the...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French Empire style leather top mahogany writing desk, C 1890
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire style leather top mahogany writing desk having bronze mounts, claw feet and resting on slabs of green marble (optional) C 1890.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Vintage 3 Arm Brass & Tole Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique French Napoleonic tole lamp has gold toned brass base and arms. Arms have ornate s curve structures. Each arm has candlestick style bulb socket at ends. Top of lamp has eagle...
Category

20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Rare Classical Empire Finely Carved Cellarette in Mahogany, circa 1830
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful form carved Classical Empire cellarette in mahogany with gadrooned edges, hinged top, zinc lined interior, and small brass decorative...
Category

1830s English Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Zinc

French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock by Deverberie a Paris, Fire-Gilded
Located in Berlin, DE
French Empire mantel clock from DeVerberie a Paris. Fire-gilded. Age-related condition.
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Painting, Oil on Canvas, Portrait of a Man, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Painting, oil on canvas, portrait of a man, Empire Period" Beautiful 19th century portrait of a man, oil on canvas, Empire Period fr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Paint

French Empire Figural Bronze Gueridon/side table w/ Pietra Dore Top
Located in New York, NY
A 19th Century French Empire-Style Pietra Dura Top Table/Gueridon with Gilt Bronze Maiden Base. This table features a gilt bronze caryatid support and an octagonal pietra dura top. ...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

1930s Empire Gilt Bronze Swan Head Sconces three lights
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1930’s gilt bronze sconces with swan’s head and three lights
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Armchairs Fauteuil White Carved Back 1800s 1900s Antique Empire
Located in Lewes, England
Unusual Late 1800s early 1900s French antique pair of armchairs in original white paint with carved backs and beautiful curved arms and legs. They hark back to Napoleon's favorite Em...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

A Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Empire Style Two Tier Pedestal
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Empire Style Two Tier Pedestal The Vert marble with a reticulated bronze gallery top leading to a tripod of legs headed by Egyptian bron...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Majestic 19th Century French Empire Marble Top Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Found in the South of France, this exquisite burled walnut commode from the early 19th century features a dark grey marble top over four drawers. The lower three drawers are recessed...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Bing & Grøndahl Empire Sauce Bowl in Hand-Painted Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Bing & Grøndahl empire sauce bowl in hand-painted porcelain modelled with seahorses. Early 20th century. Measures: 23.5 x 15 x 11 cm. In excellent condition. Stamped. 2nd facto...
Category

Early 20th Century Danish Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Irish Cuban Mahogany Acanthus Carved Sideboard. Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Irish Cuban mahogany three drawer sideboard with carved scrolled gallery, gadrooned molded edge, carved eagle heads, flanking lower cabinets, original brasses, and terminating on acanthus carved...
Category

1840s Irish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk. Item features 2 part construction, beautiful tapered capitol, brass hardware, mother of pearl keyh...
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Bronze Mounted Cut Crystal Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cut crystal. Bronze mounted. Swan motif. Finely chased. Measure: Base is 3.5" by 3.5".
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair of Empire Period Mahogany Fauteuils, France ca. 1810-20
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Empire Period French carved mahogany fauteuils from the early 19th century. Each with a rectangular padded back with downcurved reeded arms, the bow front upholstered seat...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Mid 20th century framed Italian bisque Taglio
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 20th century Italian framed bisque Taglio. This Greco Roman style bisque porcelain medallion is framed in a gold leaf shadowbox frame with pink interior and gold detail...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Empire Style Sofa, XX th, Mahogany, Gray
Located in Nice, FR
Empire style sofa Structure in solid mahogany with brass medallions Renovated upholstery, thick cotton fabric, gray color. The large seat cushion is ...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19th C. French Empire Onyx & Bronze Ormolu Revolving Statue Column Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C. French Empire Onyx & Bronze Ormolu Revolving Statue Column Pedestal. Item features a revolving top, bronze ormolu, beautiful green and beige onyx stone, and timeless classica...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

Baltic 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality Baltic 19th century Empire st. ormolu, patinated bronze and crystal chandelier. The two tiered eight arm twenty four light chandelier is centere...
Category

19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu

Empire Style Mahogany Library Tub Fauteuil de Bureau or Desk Chair
Located in Nashville, TN
Of generous proportions and presence . The front mounted with well cast bronze mounts (of some size and weight ). The top with French interpretations of the Greek Caryatids (very att...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Russian Baltic Brass Bound Marble Top Empire Style Center Occasional Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Russian Baltic Empire style occasional table is a striking example of neoclassical refinement, crafted with timeless artistry and elegance. The circular top is fitted with a ric...
Category

1870s Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Candelabra, circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Candelabra, Circa 1890.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Sconces Two Wall Lights Gold Bronze Crystal Drops Beads, France, 1950s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage sconces bronze with gilding, crystal from France, mid-20th century, each with two lamps, very beautiful and festive! The crystal droplets are stunning, different shapes and...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Italian Fruitwood Dressing Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Antique Empire fruitwood dressing mirror with neoclassical giltwood details and original glass. Newly restored, Italy, circa 1800. Dimension: 21.5" W x 16" D x 36.5" H;19.5" W at base.
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

19th Century French Empire Double-Side Lectern on Cabinet with Carved Eagle
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an office or study with this monumental One-of-a-Kind "Lutrin" (or lectern) over an attached cabinet. Crafted in France circa 1810, the bookstand is a striking piece that re...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Museum Court Empire Armchair circa 1830, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum court Empire armchair circa 1830, mahogany Solid mahogany body. Empire beginning of the 19th century. Armrests, curved volute-shaped, ending in carved dolphins. Rectangular b...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large Pair Of Covered Vases In Damm Porcelain From Aschaffenburg
Located in BARSAC, FR
Exceptional pair of porcelain vases from the Damm factory in Aschaffenburg, featuring a rich purple monochrome decoration of gallant scenes and landscapes, the handles gilded with fi...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Swedish Empire Centre Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Fine and unusual 19th century Swedish Empire centre console table with Italian pink Calacatta marble top, Ca 1830.
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Four Doors Cabinets, Armoire or Dry Bar
Located in Firenze, IT
These imposing solid mahogany cabinets with gilt bronze mounts in the style of the Louis XVI French Empire furnished the luxurious Intercontinental Paris Le Grand Hotel. It has recen...
Category

Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Paris Porcelain Vase with Landscape Scene, France c. 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Paris porcelain vase of good quality, almost two feet in height. The body with painted figural and landscape vignettes on opposing sides, contained by acid-etched gilt border...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

A fine 19th century French Empire gilt bronze plateau
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century French Empire gilt bronze mirrored plateau
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Napoleon III Carved Griotte Marble and Ormolu Mounted Fireplace Mantel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Important French Napoleon III carved Rouge Griotte Marble and ormolu mounted figural fireplace mantel chimneypiece. The rectangular carv...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

STUNNING PAIR FRENCH EMPIRE STYLE GOLD DETAILED BURR WALNUT BEDSIDES NiGHTSTANDS
Located in Pulborough, GB
Antiques of London We are delighted to offer for sale this Stunning Pair Of French Empire-style bedside Nightstands. They exude opulence and sophistication. Crafted from beautif...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Gardener’s Delight, Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Beehive Model Encrier
Located in New York, NY
Great fun for a gardening afficionado - a delightful desk accessory wether you're planning a beautiful garden, tending a beehive, ordering new seeds for the season or wish for a an uplifting reminder at your work space of the bounty and beauty of nature... France, 19th century This fabulous antique French gilt bronze inkstand has a beehive central well with a hay stack cover, several bees on the surface, flanked by two bronze baskets with covers laden with fruit, flowers and wheat sheaves, at the base of one sits a bird leaning over a large basket with a container for sand in the shape of a large bunch of wheat tied with a rope and a bird perched on top as a cover. The back of this fantasy is composed of a group of garden implements which include a sickle, a spade, a trowel, a scythe, ring pliers and a pitch fork tied with an attractive bow and hung with garlands of flowers, masses of grapes, wheat forming a support for a quill. The base designed as naturalistic wood logs topped with rustic wood...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair Antique French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Tall three light electrified wall sconces with various decorative motifs top to bottom in a French inspired design. The eagle crest is perched atop clouds with an inscribed shield (t...
Category

Early 20th Century European Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Regency Empire Two Tier Flame Walnut Gueridon Table With Elegant Reeded Legs
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Beautiful Regency Empire Two Tier Flame Walnut Gueridon Table With Elegant Reeded Legs Finished With Brass Detailing. The veneer top is a real eye catching centrepiece. Height bet...
Category

19th Century British Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
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

French Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Pediment Wall Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th/20th Century) mahogany wall mirror with gilt bronze ormolu mounts and a shaped pediment top with a bevelled glass.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Empire Style Lamp
Located in Sheffield, MA
Ultra elegant classical Empire style dark green tôle with oil reservoir encircled by bronze band raised on cloven hoof tripod feet over incurved base. Once an oil lamp later converte...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Marble Top table with bronze mounts
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant tall side table made of mahogany with black marble top. It Is well made with exceptional bronze dore gilt mounts in the empire Style with a tapered leg ending in bronze dore ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Timothy Outlton, Empire Style, Wall Sconces, Steel, Crystal, 1990s
Located in Manhasset, NY
A pair of Niermann Weeks style three light crystal and metal wall lights by Timothy Oulton. Each in the Empire style with aged metal and crystal design. Part of a large collection of...
Category

Late 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Metal

French Empire Style Marble-Top Mahogany Fall Front Desk Abbatant, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
French Empire style marble-top mahogany fall front desk, late 19th c., projecting frieze drawer, fall front panel, interior gallery with small drawers, inset writing surface, over do...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of French Empire Period Fauteuils with Vintage Upholstery, Early 19th C.
Located in Morristown, NJ
A fine matched pair of French Empire period fauteuils, each with a rectangular padded back, removable cushioned seat, and elegantly reeded and carved arms. The mahogany frames displa...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Vintage brass sunburst mirror 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century brass sunburst or flower mirror with convex glass. This mirror fits in most interiors and is a perfect add-on for a regency style interior. Good condition. France - 19...
Category

1970s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Portrait of the Marsh Family Twins, by Arrowsmith, circa 1830
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th Century Portrait of the Marsh Family Twins, by Thomas Arrowsmith (English: 1772 - 1834), circa 1830, an oil on canvas group portrait of the celebrated five children of the Marsh family of Boston. The two pair of twin girls and their younger brother became well known on both sides of the Atlantic in their day, because sets of twins were pretty rare, and these children were so ridiculously cute. Apparently the greatest artists of their day were all clamoring to paint their portraits. The Magazine Antiques ran an article on the children and their popularity about 20 years ago. The short hair cuts sported by the girls are quite striking, and are actually not as odd and rare as many people assume. While longer hair enhanced with ringlets and other curls were very much the popular fashion, a good number of parents did boldly break away with these daring short bobs. Perhaps they were the "bohemians" of their day. The style grew in popularity, even among adults, following the French Revolution: dubbed "Guillotine Haircuts" they declared sympathy for the deposed royals. In this particular instance, I believe the short hair was chosen because it focused more attention on the beautiful faces, and lessened the variations in height and hair color to make them all look even more alike. A delightful painting, slightly Romantic School, a touch Folk Art, in excellent condition and signed on the reverse. Thomas Arrowsmith was a highly regarded artist who worked almost entirely in miniature. Such artists who created such amazingly detailed tiny portraits on ivory...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Antique Empire Gilt Carved Painted Beech Wood Swedish Trumeau Wall Mirror
Located in Munich, DE
This beautiful beechwood trumeau features fine carvings of two columns and a basquet filled with fruit and flowers. The high relief woodwork is partially guilt and has retained it's ...
Category

1810s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Beech

Bleached Fruitwood French Swan Leg Side Table
Located in Houston, TX
This bleached fruitwood French swan leg side table from the early 20th century showcases elegant craftsmanship with its gracefully curved legs resembling swan necks and inset Carrara...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Antique Empire Style Mahogany Tufted Parlor Sofa Newly Upholstered in Leather
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Style Carved Mahogany Tufted Back Parlor Sofa on Casters Newly Upholstered in Full Grain Espresso Italian Leather This antique Empire styl...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

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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