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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
Miniature Portrait Painting of Napoleon Signed by Prévost
Located in SAINTE-COLOMBE, FR
Miniature Portrait Painting of Napoleon signed by Prévost from the nineteenth century. The frame is in solid mahogany and is dished and...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Dutch Fireplace Scuttle Bucket Delft Handle
Located in New York, NY
A small Dutch copper and brass fireplace scuttle bucket with lion head design and blue and white Delft dandle, circa early, 20th century, Holland. Handle is adjustable up/down/side t...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Copper

Pair, French Empire Gilt Bronze Crane Motif Candlesticks Circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, circa 1815. This exquisite pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, crafted circa 1815, embodies the opulence and grandeur of the Empire style. Each candlestick feat...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Elegant 19th-Century Brazilian Empire Bench - Settee - Recamier
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Elegant 19th-Century Brazilian Empire Bench with Cane Seat and Rare Provenance A refined and architectural 19th-century Brazilian bench, exquisitely crafted in solid tropical hardwoo...
Category

1850s Brazilian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Empire Chest of Drawers with Granite Top, France, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire chest of drawers in cherry with lateral pilasters with blackened caryatids on lion's paw feet. The black granite top complements the ebony carved details beautifully. The fitt...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Granite, Brass

Egg style Faberge Blue Savoia Enamel Medium Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, Russian Empire style inspired by Carl Fabergè eggs late 1800s, early 1900s. Measurem...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Mid-20th Century French Tole Shaded Cast Iron & Brass Table Lamp
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-20th century French tole shaded cast iron & brass table lamp. Empire taste with tri-form base, acanthus leaf with ball & claw & further acanthus motifs. Some minor shade wear. 23...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Late 19th Century Empire Style Side Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Late 19th century Empire style jewelry side table.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Large French Empire Ebony Black and Gold Carved Giltwood and Gesso Mirror
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Large scale Empire gold gilt and ebony black mirror is a large statement piece. The giltwood finish is complemented by a lovely ebony black washed gesso patina. The neoclassical embo...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Gesso, Mirror

Antique French Empire Style Walnut Dining Table with Leaf
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Style Walnut Dining Table with Leaf will bring understated elegance to your dining experience! Hand-crafted from sumptuous walnut, it features six tapered legs...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Rare Set of Four Empire Rams Head Carved Mahogany Armchairs, Bergeres
Located in New York, NY
A spectacular suite of four Empire period carved mahogany armchairs custom upholstered in close nailed fine crimson leather with down filled seat cushions. Each stamped Jacob on the ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Style Metal Opaline Noire Glass Electrical Converted Oil Lamp
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style tall large oil lamp that was converted to an electrical one. It consists of a cylindrical long chimney lamp clear shade attached to a brass burner holder; this in turn is connected to a semilunar shaped milk glass font joined to a faceted opaline noire glass conical shaped body. A gold metal band are between both glass parts. There are two long gilt metal scroll formed handles adorned with a relief of acanthus leaves at the upper and bottom part in each side of the conical body. Also, there are a relief of flowers and branches of leaves in the center of it. This conical body is supported by a patinated heavy metal pedestal embellished by acanthus leaves, gilt metal ornaments...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Opaline Glass

Swedish 19th C. Empire Style Butler's Chest w/Nice Architectural Details
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Empire style chest with secretary from the 19th century. This antique case piece from Sweden has been designed in Swedish Empire style with a wonderful architectural appear...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 20" X 14"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wool

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 15" X 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wool

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 14" X 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wool

17th Century Flemish Pillow 20" X 14"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wool

French Empire Bronze Swan Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style 20th century bronze doré 2 swan arm round base bouillotte table lamp with oval green tole shade.
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Commode with Beautiful Inlay & Bookmatched Veneer, Early 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire commode with beautiful inlay and book-match veneers, from the early 19th century. This antique chest from France features a rectangular-shaped, book-match veneer top, with banding inlays defining the perimeter. The case below houses three graduated and dove-tailed drawers, with draw fronts adorn in the same inlay fashion as the top above, and fitted with a pair of decorative ring pulls and escutcheon at center. Each side continues the elegant bookmatch veneer stylings, which create a diamond shape design, and outlined in banding inlays. This piece is presented on squared, tapering legs. This French period Empire commode, with its clean lines and sophisticated bookmatched veneers...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

French Empire Style Alabaster and Gilt Bronze Domed Plafonnier, 20th/21st C.
Located in Morristown, NJ
Late 20th C./Early 21st C., a large and imposing French Empire style plafonnier from Spain featuring a rich cream alabaster bowl suspended by three gilt-bronze supports with classica...
Category

Early 2000s Spanish Empire Furniture

Materials

Stone, Alabaster, Metal, Bronze

High-Quality Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, France, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
High-Quality Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, France, 1820s An exquisite pair of Empire candlesticks in finely chiseled gilt bronze, likely crafted in Paris during the 1820s...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

1920’s French Empire Chandelier with 3 lights
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920’s French Empire three lights chandelier with swans and beaded crystals
Category

1920s European Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

1930’s French Empire Three Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930 French empire style three lights sconces with swan heads
Category

1930s European Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
Grey marble top above a single long drawer, two columns with gilded detailing on either side of fall-front desk enclosing six small drawers surrounding one larger drawer and original...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut, Giltwood

Eutrope Bouret Signed Antique French Bronze Sculpture of Boys Riding a Tortoise
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This whimsical antique bronze sculpture was done by Eutrope Bouret of France in approximately 1890 in the period Empire style. This very well executed bronze sculpture depicts two yo...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Jean-Joseph Chapuis Rare Pair of Empire parcel-gilt japanned Fauteuils
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Despite his long life, very little is known about the general production of menuisier (chairmaker) Jean-Joseph Chapuis and even less about his use of bent laminates, which must be viewed as the most advanced of its kind until the appearance of Michael Thonet’s work of the 1830s. The profound reverence for the classical world in enlightened circles in early nine-teenth-century Europe and the United States often resulted in the archaeological resurrection of the art, architecture, and design of ancient Greece and Rome. No chair employing the innovative technique of bending wood more boldly expresses this allegiance to the past than this armchair painted in le style antique and based on the ancient Roman sella curulis (folding stool); With a curved toprail decorated with putti supporting a medaillion and flanked by scrolling acanthus, the arms with ball finials, above a caned seat, on curved supports terminating in foliate gilt-metal sabots. This merger of technological innovation with fashionable aesthetics parallels the work of the American Samuel Gragg...
Category

Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

Set of Four Swedish Empire Side Chairs by F. Pettersson, Mid 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of four Swedish Empire side chairs from the mid-19th century by furniture maker F. Pettersson. These antique chairs from Sweden have an elegantly curved backs, with straight wo...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Giltwood, Wood

Monumental Hollywood Regency French Cut-Crystal Beads, Gilt 19-Light Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Stunning extra large impressive Empire cut crystal and gilt brass 19-light chandelier with crystal drops. Measures: Diameter 37.8 in/ 96 cm Height 35.5 in / 90 cm Weight 44 lb/20 Kg ...
Category

Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Elegant brass table lamp in the form of an amphora urn, late 19th century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant brass table lamp in the form of an amphora urn, from the late 19th century Striking and elegant table lamp in polished brass, shaped as a classical amphora urn with sweepin...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th century Swedish empire elm marble top console table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish elm marble top console table circa 1860. Fine quality console table of grand proportions.  Shaped marble top standing on an elm base.  Single concealed draw...
Category

1860s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Schumacher Toile De La Prairie Pillow in Blue
Located in New York, NY
This pillow features Toile De La Prairie with a self welt finish. A meadow’s worth of songbirds, butterflies, blooming branches, and seed pods intermingle...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Pair 19th Century French Empire Period Gilt Bronze and Marble Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique French Empire period gilt bronze campana form vases, each 13 3/4 by 6 7/8 inches, circa 1810, with flared neck with gadrooned bronze rim, decorated with Bacchic putti...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Henredon Flamed Mahogany Empire Dining Table Natchez Collection Banded Top
Located in Toledo, OH
Henredon flamed mahogany banded top dining table. Empire style part of the Natchez collection. Two pedestals with bun feet. Very nice condition. 86" long x 52" wide x 30" tall. One e...
Category

20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Japy Frères et Cie Empire Marble & Bronze Mantle Clock
Located in North Palm Beach, FL
Introducing the Japy Frères et Cie Empire Mantle Clock, a remarkable timepiece with a rich history and exquisite craftsmanship. This antique clock is a true representation of the Empire style, showcasing the exceptional artistry and design prevalent during the 19th century. The movement of this clock is a testament to its prestigious heritage, bearing the registered mark Grande Médaille d'honneur 1855, earned at the renowned Paris Exposition universelle of 1855. This recognition signifies the superior quality and precision of the clock's movement, a hallmark of Japy Frères et Cie's dedication to horological excellence. The clock's case is crafted from black Belgian marble, displaying medallions featuring the Arethusa head type, inspired by ancient Greek coinage, specifically the decadrachm from Syracuse, Sicilia, minted circa 400 BC. These historical motifs, combined with the Empire style's characteristic elements such as tiger feet...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

Empire Style Ebonized Cross-Sword Bench with Gilt Highlights
Located in San Francisco, CA
the rectangular upholstered seat above an ebonized wooden frame raised on splayed swords with gilt handles; newer upholstery
Category

1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood

French Empire Mahogany Carved Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire mahogany pedestal base center table with 3 carved swans on a base supporting a round black veined top with an molded ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Eight-Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This chandelier is a French Empire eight-light fixture made in 19th century from patinated and gilt bronze. The design features classical elements from the Empire period, including ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Hexagonal Empire Gilt Bronze & Etched Glass 3-Light Lantern or Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Antique French Empire cast bronze lantern. Gilt bronze and etched glass shade with 3-light. Measures: Diameter 12 in/ 30 cm Height 20.5 in (10 in, chain)/ 75 cm (25 cm, chain) Weight...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Unique & Rare Collection, Straw Marquetry Bottles, 18Th. C. Set of 7
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this rare and exceptional collection of seven French 18Th C. Straw Marquetry Bottles. These were made by convicts in the 18Th century. This is a very rare collection, you ...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Straw, Blown Glass

Pair of Tall French Empire Bronze Doré Six-Arm Candelabra as Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
A large pair of French Empire period chased, gilded bronze six-arm candelabra converted into table lamps. The bases rise from triangular plinths supporting three winged sphinxes with...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French Ormolu Bronze Malachite and White Marble Gueridon Table, circa 1870
Located in Queens, NY
A French Ormolu bronze malachite and white marble Gueridon table, in the Empire style, circa 1870 The circular top supported on three bronze winged female...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze

Vintage French Empire Style Brass Cannonball Column Form Branch Foot Andirons
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Brass Cannonball Column Form Branch Foot Andirons - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 24" H x 10" W x 17" D.
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

French Empire Bureau Plat Desk 1880 Directoire
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French Empire Bureau Plat desk circa 1880 in the Directoire manner Top quality mahogany with a finally tooled leather top Five drawers and round graduated legs are embellished with o...
Category

1880s Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Carrara marble and Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of Empire period Carrara marble and gilt bronze candlestick lamps.
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century Italian Empire Small Antique Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We offer this fantastic small antique Italian desk dating back to the early 19th century, during the sumptuous Empire period. This desk, crafted from fine walnut, is characterized b...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Lion and Tiger Bookends
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Pair of French Lion and Tiger Bookends A pair of bookends. Each bookend features a metallic sculpture of a big cat, with one being a lion and the other a tiger. The sculptures are mo...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Metal

Pair Of Antique Gilt Bronze Empire Style Wall Sconces With Swan Support
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Exceptional pair of French Bronze Swan form wall sconces Large tall and heavy bronze sconces. The backs in the form of arrows at the bottom with bow wrapped shafts above and palmette...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Italian 1820s Empire Walnut Guéridon Table with Three Drawers and Rams' Heads
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Empire walnut guéridon table from the early 19th century, with three pop-out drawers and gilt rams' heads. Born in Italy during the first quarter of the 19th century, this...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Giltwood

French Empire Style Round Accent Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Early 19th-century French design anchored by a quartz top with a refined moulded surround, this table balances classical elegance with luxurious materials. Its bold brass frame featu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture

Materials

Quartz, Brass

Empire Mahogany Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A mahogany veneered console table with two drawers. Fine geometric herringbone inlays throughout and raised on tapering square legs and a Y-frame stretcher. Dimensions: 54" W x14" D...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Style Bronze Dore Caryatid Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze and dore trim 8 scroll arm chandelier with 4 caryatid females.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Bronze and Quartz Swan Table Lamps
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire style (1940s) gilt bronze and rose quartz table lamps with 3 swans at base (PRICED AS Pair).
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French Empire Silk Bergère Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire mahogany bergère (armchairs) upholstered in red silk with scrolled back above winged caryatid arm uprights & a loose seat cushion, (early 19th century).
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Silk, Mahogany

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

French Empire Style Chandelier with Frosted Glass Flame
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Empire style chandelier with gilt bronze arms, neoclassical mounts, ornate chain and canopy. The central body is dark green painted wood, surmounted with a frosted glass flame...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Dressing table mirror in Empire style
Located in Delft, NL
19th Century Dressing table mirror in Empire style A dressing table mirror with tiltable mirror, which is fixed to the side with 19th cent...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Nutwood

Selection of Black and White Abstract Prints
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of black and white abstract prints. From left to right, they are: 1) Abstract lithograph by Terry Haan, circa 1960s. Pencil s...
Category

1820s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

antique empire chandelier
Located in Kiel, SH
high decorative antique bronze candelier from the empire. I guess the chandelier was electrified later .
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Bronze

French Empire Style Mahogany Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany and bronze trimmed rectangular center table with winged females, open stretcher, and onyx top.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

Early 19th Century Russian Empire Opaline and Bronze Chandelier
Located in Charleston, SC
This chandelier was made in Russia in the first half of the 19th century, circa 1805. This piece features four anthemions on the top rim above four bronze chains attached to an urn-s...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

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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