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
19th c, French Empire Table Clock
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century French, Charles X bronze, brass and sienna marble table clock from the Empire period. Signed Ravrio Bronzier, ca 1820 France.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal, Brass, Bronze
Pair of Empire Armchairs, France ca. 1810
Located in Leimen, DE
Pair of Antique Empire Armchairs from France, Circa 1810
Discover this exquisite pair of Empire armchairs, crafted in France around 1810. These elegant chairs feature rich mahogany ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top.
Timeless elegance for your interior.
Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Wall Light Sconces in Gilt Bronze, Set 2, Empire Style, France, 1930s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Antique Paired wall sconces in beautiful gilt bronze from the French manufacturer, 1930s.
These two arm bronze candlestick wall sconces feature foliate designs.
The Empire style is...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
21st Century Italian Sterling Silver Gianmaria Buccellati Caviar Bowl
Located in VALENZA, IT
Important bowl for caviar by Gianmaria Buccellati. The body was made in two parts, cup and base. The welded edge with small leaves characterizes the Classic Empire style.
A wire circ...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
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
Necessaire antique XIX century Napoleonic period
Located in Torino, IT
very rare writing set in original condition and never used, belonging to an aristocratic production of the mid-19th century.
The finish and great quality of execution attribute its a...
Category
1840s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
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
Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Brule-Parfums in Manner of Thomire 19th Century
Located in Essex, MA
A pair of Empire style gilt bronze Brule-Parfums in manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire, 19th century
each openwork cover with an acorn finial above the body having a rim cast to show...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Late Empire Antique Mirror Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
This antique mirror, crafted from rich mahogany wood, dates back to the late Empire period around the 1840s. It is a stunning example of the elegance and craftsmanship characteristi...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
1810s Bergere Armchair
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An impressive 'Bergère' armchair in solid wood, dating from the First Empire period (early 19th century) and generously upholstered throughout in alternating stripes of deep pink and...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
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
Royal Copenhagen, pair of Blue Fluted candlesticks. 1962.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Royal Copenhagen, a pair of Blue Fluted candlesticks in porcelain.
1962.
Model 1/15.
Marked.
In perfect condition.
First factory quality.
Dimensions: Height 22.5 cm x 7.8 cm.
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Style Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French Empire style bouillotte table lamp with decorative three-light cast brass candleholders and adjustable height red tôle shade. New candle covers. Wired and in working order. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Tôle
Antique Secretary, Scandinavia, Around 1870, After Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the end of the 19th century.
Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 210 cm ...
Category
1870s Norwegian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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
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 French Midcentury Steel and Glass Side Tables
Located in London, GB
A good pair of steel and glass side tables, made in France in the 1960s.
Made with an empire design, with pine cone finials and flower details.
Simple, elegant, mid century cra...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Steel
Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Cut Glass Dish Pendant Light
Located in New York, NY
Empire style pendant light with a cast glass dish and bronze decorative frame. These elegant lights graced many of the main corridors of the Waldorf Astoria. This requires three stan...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Gilt Bronze Table Lamp, Signed Moreau, Late 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant French gilt bronze table lamp signed Moreau depicts Erato, the Greek goddess of music, dance and song. She is represented holding a lyre while her left arm is leaning upon an open book that rests upon a fluted column. Trailing ivy extends down the upper portion of the column. She carries the lyre in her right hand which hangs down to her right hip. There is a serene and pensive expression on her face as she looks down and to her left. She stands on an indented and canted, lacquered black base with a gilt metal wreath...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
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
1930's French Empire Silver Plated Chandelier with 6 lights
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French silver plated finish empire style chandelier with 6 lights
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal centerpiece. This stunning centerpiece is raised by a circular Ormolu band with an intricate s...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Empire Style Painted Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Empire Style Painted Armchairs ~ Bergere with Fauteuil with cut silk velvet recalls the glory days of Napoleon and Josephine creating wha...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silk, Walnut, Paint
Empire Armchair, Pierre-Benoît Marcion, France, c. 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Armchair by the French ébéniste Pierre-Benoît Marcion with carved lion's heads and paw feet. The frame is made of polished mahogany. The backrests and seats are newly upholstered in ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
French Gilt and Marble Occasional Table in the Empire Style
By Jacob Frères
Located in London, GB
A fine gueridon in the Empire manner after a model by Jacob Freres.
Based on designs by Percier and Fontaine.
Of circular form, constructed in Amboyna, rising from giltwood bun feet, the platform base of tripartite incurved form, centered with a fire gilt bronze waisted vase...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Empire Armoire, Walnut Veneer, Full Columns, Brass, Austria, circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant original Empire / early Biedermeier Armoire in walnut veneer and brass fittings from Austria, Vienna around 1815.
The large armoire has a beautiful book-matched walnut veneer, which has been hand-polished with shellac (French polished).
The doors inside are counter veneered in polished cherry wood.
Two ebonized full-columns with wonderful corinthian brass...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Tole Painted Metal Shade Brass Bugle Table Lamp, circa 1950s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delivery needs! They offer a reasonable flat-rate fee for delivery and set up to the ground floor of your home. They deliver to the vast majority of the lower 48 states. They offer a flat rate for most of our items with exclusions for the largest or most complex items such as breakfronts or crystal chandeliers or other items of greater complexity. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase as these rates are different from our stated pricing. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase. Most deliveries to the East Coast will be 295.00, to the mid-west and Southern mid-west 395.00. To the areas west of Kansas 495.00 and the farthest points to the West coast will be 595.00. Again, some areas we can't cover, however we can deliver to most of the lower 48 states so please inquire to be sure! Delivery times range from as fast as 1-4 weeks for the east coast to 5-9 weeks to the farthest areas of the west coast, sometimes longer and sometimes even shorter. If it is a time sensitive purchase, we may be able to accommodate you for a higher price. It is our goal to please each and every one of our customers with the highest standard of service possible. You must realize and accept that we are shipping antique, vintage and quality used furnishings to your home. We cannot control traffic, weather, and acts of God. There will be times when additional patience will be necessary
This is a beautiful French 1950s table lamp...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Settee, France 1810, Manner of Jacob Desmalter (1770-1841)
Located in Leimen, DE
Empire Settee, France 1810
Step back in time to the opulent era of 19th-century France with the exquisite Elegant Empire Settee, crafted in 1810. This resplendent sofa is a testament...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian, Sicily, Empire Center Table, Walnut & Giltwood & Ebonized, Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian, Lucca, empire center table, walnut & giltwood & ebonized, marble top.
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French Empire Demi Lune Buffet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Empire style bowfront flame okum veneered and oval pollard oak burl panel inlaid side cabinet or buffet, the brass bound top above three frieze drawers above four cabinet do...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Italian Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Italian gilded and painted console table from the Empire period in it's original condition. Ca 1810, Italy.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Empire Marble and Gilt Bronze Pedestal
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century Empire gilt bronze and marble pedestal. Fine gilt bronze female head with gilt bronze Empire bronzes.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century, Four Tuscany Curule Wood Stools
Located in IT
19th Century, Four Tuscany Curule Wood Stools
These four elegant stools were crafted from fine wood in Tuscany, Italy, during the early decades of the 19th century. The distinctive...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
1960's Italian Marble Bronze Urn Table Lamp by Marbro
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Gorgeous Italian purple marble urn lamp with golden bronze handles, base and hardware.
Made by the artisans of Marbro Lamp CO. No issues or damage.
Very heavy piece, 55 lbs +.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Mid-19th Century Empire Mirror by Testolini, Murano for Empire Hapsburg Vienna
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Important Mirror Made by Verreries Artistiques Testolini Venice, for Empire Hapsburg Vienna. The precious mirror is carved by hand and entirely decorated with gold leaf, copper and s...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mirror
Fine Pair of Late 19th Century to Early 20th C Empire Parcel Gilt Benches
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine late 19th century to early 20th century Empire mahogany and parcel gilt pair of benches. Tufted upholstery.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Gueridon in the Manner of Jacob-Desmalter, circa 1880
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Empire style gilt-bronze and mahogany gueridon, with a Verde antico marble top, in the manner of Jacob-Desmalter.
French, circa 1880.
The circular Verde antico marble ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Pair Of Wall Lights, Circa 1960 in Chiseled and Gilded Bronze, France
Located in Bastogne, BE
An elegant Pair Of Louis XVI style Wall Lights Circa 1960 in finely chiseled and gilded bronze with two light arms.
Fake opaline candles.
Manufactured in France, 1960s.
They're op...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Fine Large Antique Empire Revival Mahogany and Marble Top Circular Center Table
Located in New York, NY
This extraordinary antique Empire Revival mahogany center table measures an impressive 70.5" across and 32" tall (179 cm by 81 cm) and features four pairs of gilt Greek caryatid figu...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Original Antique French Empire Sofa Mahogany Veneer with Columns
Located in Berlin, DE
Original French Empire sofa, circa 1800.
Mahogany,
right and left, each with columns and fire-gilt bronze fittings.
Some bronze are missing.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Empire Portal Clock, France, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Portal clock on a rectangular, stepped base in mahogany veneered with small bun feet. The stepped architrave is supported by four smooth columns, the capi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Drop Leaf Sewing Work/Side Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Carved Flame Mahogany 2 Drawer Drop-Leaf Sewing Work/Side Table
This gorgeous 19th century balanced and proportioned drop-leaf sewing work/side table is crafted from ...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Black Empire Era Pedestal Made in Austria, 1800s, Original Condition, Pearwood
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Unique Art Deco pedestal.
Source: Czechia
Period: 1920-1929
Original well preserved condition.
Category
19th Century Czech Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Pearwood
Antique French Empire Brass Bronze Urn Finial Slender Column Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brass Bronze Urn Finial Slender Column Andirons with Desirable Patina and Branch Feet - a Pair. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 22" H x 11.5" W x 18" D.
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Fine French Neoclassical Russian Baltic Empire Doré Bronze Crystal Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful French Made Elegant Russian / Baltic Empire / Neoclassical Style Doré Bronze And Crystal 8 Candelabra Light Chandelier, Wiring Is Up To Date.
...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Wonderful French Neoclassical Large Empire Bronze Crystal Glass Bell Jar Lantern
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French neoclassical large Empire bronze and crystal adorning glass bell jar lantern fixture with 6 candelabra lights.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair, Late 19th Century Gray Swedish Curule Stools
Located in Round Top, TX
This romantic pair of Empire style painted wooden Curule stools are from Sweden, late 19th century. Noted style elements include out-scrolling and decorative base.
It is the lovely ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Antique French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Buffet with Bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire mahogany marble top buffet with bronze is an exquisite example of fine French cabinetry, with the emphasis on the finest mater...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Incredible Russian Gilt Bronze Gueridon with a Granite Top, 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
An Incredible Russian gilt bronze Gueridon with a granite top, 19th century.
The circular black painted top within a turned wood border frieze painted with laurel leaves and pink ri...
Category
Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite, Bronze
Empire Style Four Light Green Painted & Gilt Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire style, green paint decorated four-light colza form chandelier, having gilt bronze foliate accents, with torch-form arms. France, circa 1900. 4 lights.
Dimensions: Height 26",...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Set of 6 American Empire Style Carved Wood Gondola Dining Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 6 American Empire wood dining chairs in mahogany veneer with sloped gondola backs with an openwork, urn-form center topped by a carved foliate neoclassical crown...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Italian Pietra Dura Empire Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pietra Dura Empire table. Malachite, amethyst, lapis lazuli, citrine and sienna marble inlaid in white marble. Wood is Tineo. Made in Italy early 20th Century.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchair
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire mahogany armchair with carved lion heads to the arms and lion's paw feet to the legs, upholstered in French Emp...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Swedish Empire Green Stripe Club Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Swedish Empire-style (20th Century) gilt club chairs with green lacquered claw feet and stripe upholstery (PRICED AS Pair)
Category
20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Vintage Russian Soviet Classic Large Crystal and Silver Circular Bowl, ca. 1945
Located in New York, NY
A Russian Classic, silver and hand-cut crystal circular serving bowl of unusually large dimensions, manufactured in Moscow, circa 1945. Silver rim features repeating oak leaf design,...
Category
1940s Russian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Silver
A 19TH Century Blue Painted Commode
Located in London, GB
France, circa 1820
An early nineteenth century blue painted Empire commode with three drawers, bronze lion mask handles, all supported on simulated crocodile feet, with black marble ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated and Mahogany Veneered Wood Gueridons
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of Empire gilt and patinated wood and mahogany veneered Gueridons, early 19th century.
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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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