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
Pair of Antique Brass Empire Style Andirons
Located in Sheffield, MA
Classic pair of Empire style antique brass andirons with aged patina. Wonderfully handsome, will add style and character to any fireplace.
OAL ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$2,100 / set
19th Century Berlin Oval Plate Table on Carved Foot Dining Table Mahogany German
Located in Epfach, DE
19th Century Berlin Oval Plate Table on Carved Foot
A magnificent and rare 19th-century dining table, crafted in Berlin, featuring a solid mahogany oval tabletop supported by a rema...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard Credenza
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard Credenza
This credenza measures: 66 wide x 19 deep x 32.5 inches high
We take our photos in a controlled lig...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Cherry
Pair of 19th C. French Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Torchieres/floor lamps
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Large Pair of 19th Century Empire Period French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mounted Torchieres. The patinated bronze base is decorated with hand-chassed and hand-c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Pair of French Reverse Painted Profile Silhouettes Art
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This charming set features framed silhouettes of a young woman and young man from the 19th Century on reversed glass. Wonderful addition to add to an existing collection on a wall or...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Paper
Antique Empire Sewing Table, Paris, circa 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid oak, Cuba mahogany veneer. Fire-gilt fittings. Hinged cover plate with intermediate compartments. Slip-in drawer on four full columns with four fire-gilded capitals and bases.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$7,971 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Table Centrepiece (Surtout De Table) Paris 1825–1830 Fire-Gilded
Located in Epfach, DE
Table centrepiece (surtout de table), Paris, c. 1825–1830
This extraordinary centrepiece was created in Paris around 1825/1830, at a time when French table culture was experiencing ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Italian Walnut Gueridon Table with Trifold Base & Lock Drawer
Located in Houston, TX
A remarkable piece of 19th-century craftsmanship, this Italian Walnut Round Wooden Table boasts both functionality and beauty. Its round top, crafted from rich walnut wood, showcases...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Fine Empire Period Bronze and Mahogany Desk Chair by Jacob Freres
By Jacob Frères
Located in Montreal, QC
Fine Empire ormolu-mounted mahogany desk armchair upholstered in gilt-tool leather. Signed: "Jacob Freres, rue de Meslee" Provenance: Partridge Fine Arts, New Bond Street, London.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Desk
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire style mahogany desk with gilt bronze mounts, circa 1890-1910. This desk has very fine quality gilt bronze mounts.
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$3,900 Sale Price
49% Off
Pair of gilded columns in Empire style - Italy, 1980s
Located in Vicenza, IT
Elegant pair of turned and carved columns in the round, made of wood and fully gilded with pure gold leaf, with a particularly brilliant and rich finish. The columns are inspired by ...
Category
Late 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Italian Empire Style 19th Century Oval Cherrywood and Ebony Dining Room Table
Located in Firenze, IT
This simply stunning antique 19th century Tuscan large oval dining room table has a gorgeous shape, thanks to its soft and sober lines- ty...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Ebony
$22,267 Sale Price
25% Off
Antique French Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A Superb Antique French Empire style gilt bronze and patinated bronze 8 light chandelier of fine quality. This unique neoclassical chandelier is embellished with figural masks and ne...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Ormolu Mounted Marble Fireplaces with Cast Iron Insets
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique French ormolu mounted marble fireplaces with cast iron insets
French, Late 19th Century
Fireplaces: Height 112cm, width 152cm, depth 33cm
Iron inserts: Height 89cm,...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Statuary Marble, Iron, Ormolu
$49,602 Sale Price
20% Off
Empire Style Side Table
Located in Austin, TX
Gueridon, French, in the Empire style. This piece has three swan legs on a triangular base supporting the top covered with a veined black marble top (professionally repaired).
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
$1,500
19th Century Swedish Gilded Wall Clock with Dolphins, Signed Ericsson Stockholm
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Fine and decorative Swedish Cartel clock. Very elaborately carved wooden case flanked by two sculptural dolphins. The dial signed P. Ericsson Stoc...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
$10,688 Sale Price
51% Off
Russian Crystal, Cobalt Glass and Gilt Bronze Chandelier Attributed to Zekh
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare and important Russian late 18th Century twelve candle crystal chandelier attributed to the renowned firm of Johann Zekh. Crafted in Sa...
Category
Late 18th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
French Empire Potheau Mahogany and Gilt Center Table
By Potheau
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire mahogany & gilt bronze trim round center table on 3 legs with a revolving inset brown leather top and pearl medallions over 6 drawers with a stretcher (stamped: POTHEAU).
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Two-Light Wall Torchère Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of French empire style gilt-bronze two-light wall torchère sconces. Each elongated gilt-bronze applique with central twin-tassels supporting a pa...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$5,950 Sale Price / set
63% Off
Pair of Empire Style Black Stone and Ormolu Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Each candleholder of columnar form surmounted with ormolu stiff-leaf capitals and with acanthus-wrapped base, on pedestal bases with outswept scrolling feet. Fitted with two brass bulb sockets. Adjustable. Later mounded as a lamps. With duck blue...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Stone, Brass, Ormolu
Gilt-Bronze and Malachite Empire-Style 'Aux Caryatides' Table After Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in London, GB
A gilt-bronze and malachite Empire-style 'Aux Caryatides' centre table after Desmalter
French, 20th Century
Height: 82cm, diameter: 109cm
This ma...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
$71,647 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Impressionist Oil Painting, Original Frame, Eugene Delacroix, 1830s
By Eugène Delacroix
Located in Berlin, DE
Oil painting (framed)
Artist: Unknown (style of Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863).
Date: 19th century Title: French lieutenant on horseback leading a Bedouin cavalry.
Medium: Oil on...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Wood
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
Empire period bronze and ormolu Grecian style pair of classical urns, circa 1830
Located in Central England, GB
This superb quality pair of French Empire classical twin handled urns is very stylish and cast in very heavy solid bronze with alternate sections highlighted with original ormolu whi...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Italian Empire Walnut Psyche Table Mirror with Gold Gilt Swans and Ebony Inlay
Located in Encinitas, CA
Impressive Italian 19th century Empire style "psyche" table mirror. circa 1830.
The oval walnut swivel mirror frame is suspended between a pair of gold gilt carved swans with acanthus vestments, resting on hoofed feet mounted to the base.
Octagonal marquetry of walnut burl veneers on the oval frame's reverse is embellished with ebony and linden floral inlay. The mirror glass is accented by a gilt beaded border, and the walnut veneered pediment-shaped base is trimmed in gilt palmette.
The mirror tilt...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
$3,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Elegant Sliding-Lid Box in mahogany for candles or cutlery. Empire, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Very elegant Sliding-Lid Box in mahogany (Swietenia mahogoni) for candles, cutlery or other long narrow items. French Empire, 1820s-1830s.
Wear consistent with age and use
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Gilded Tole Toleware Mirror Vintage, Italy, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Stunning Empire style toleware mirror. The gilded resin or plastic frame surrounds a glass mirror. Made in Italy, circa 1950s. Beautiful mirror for any room or your hall entry. Nice ...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Resin
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
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
Empire Style Balloon Chandelier with pendants
Located in Paris, FR
Large Empire-style hot-air balloon chandelier with tassels and ormolu mount with palmettes. It is lit by eight lights in the lower part and four more in the upper crown.
The name Mo...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
Set of Eight French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Neoclassical Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite set of eight French Empire style gilt bronze figural neoclassical wall sconces. Each sconce is structured with a central backplate featuring a prominent male mask, model...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century French Empire miniature sample commode with four dovetailed drawers. Made of burl of walnut veneer with oak and pine as secondary woods. Working locks with ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Exceptional Northern European Empire Daybed
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Finished on front and back, having solid mahogany scrolled ends with intricately carved acanthus leaves flowing up from a rams head base. The upholstered interior with Larsen pleated...
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Impressive Pair of Northern European Empire Consoles
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Marble tops set on a veneered flame mahogany frieze with finely carved acanthus leaf molding. Supported by a pair of superbly detailed solid mahogany swans flanking a veneered stretc...
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$35,000 / set
Neoclassical Empire Rectangular Gold Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Empire style handcrafted mirror. Rectangular hand carved wooden structure with gold foiled finished.
Category
1870s Spanish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique English 19th Century Walnut Two Door Glazed Cabinet C.1850
Located in London, GB
Antique English 19th Century Walnut Two Door Glazed Cabinet C.1850
A walnut cabinet, mid-19th century, in the French style, with applied gilt brass mounts, on a shaped plinth base.
...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Pair of Meissen Snake Handled Vases 19th Century
Located in Hudson, NY
A large and decorative pair of Meissen porcelain vases, of ancient Roman krater form, with handles shaped as entwined serpents.
Highly ornamental, these vases represent an interesti...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
$4,500 / set
1910's Persian Sarouk Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
79285 Antique Red Persian Sarouk Rug, 02'06 x 04'10. This hand-knotted wool antique Persian Sarouk rug is a rare jewel of early 20th-century artistry, a precious masterpiece that whi...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
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
Large French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze 18-Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This 19th century French chandelier is designed in the Empire style and wrought from gilt bronze and strings of cut glass. The chandelier features a lower dome-shaped body below an o...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
$49,602 Sale Price
20% Off
Empire Glass Ewer Jug Vase Ormolu French Urn
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing an eye catching green cut glass jug in the Empire manner
Good size at almost four feet tall - 112 CM
The body is crafted from richly colored, translucent green glass,...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French 1810s Empire Console Table in Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Ulm, DE
This refined French Empire console table, crafted circa 1810, showcases the sculptural clarity and symmetry typical of early 19th-century design. Built from beautifully grained mahog...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A pair of Empire candlesticks, silvered bronze
Located in Stockholm, SE
This exquisite pair of Empire-period candlesticks, likely of English origin, showcases a striking neoclassical design. Crafted with an intricate attention to detail, each candlestick...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,840 / set
Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Sconces
Located in Locust Valley, NY
Pair of gilt bronze three-arm Empire sconces with leaf detail.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,800 / set
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
Pair of Empire girandoles, France, early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of French girandoles made of burnished and partly fire-gilt bronze, on a red marble base over spherical decoration. The candelabra figures, designed as Apollo and Diana, carry...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Cent Ebony Empire Commode or Nightstand, Refinished, Bronze Mounted
Located in Manhasset, NY
19th Century, Hollywood Regecny Style Commode, Chest or Nightstand. Bronze Mounted Empire Commode or Nightstand, Refinished in a fine ebony finish to suite the Hollywood Regency Decor of any home.
19th century Empire commode or nightstand. This fine commodes...
Category
1860s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Mid-19th Century French Empire Carved Painted "Tabernacle" Wall Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and petite antique vitrine was crafted in France, circa 1860. Originally used as a tabernacle in a church or chapel, the hanging cabinet features a dome top over a singl...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Bronze 8 Light Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome 19th century French Empire style bronze chandelier with 8 lights. Beautiful decorative detail on the base and arms. A classic fixture that is sure to impress!!
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$5,920 Sale Price
20% Off
A Pair French 1st Empire Period Ormolu & Verde Antico Marble Figural Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A Fine and Unusual Pair of French 1st Empire Period Doré Bronze and Verde Antico Marble Figural Neoclassical Five-Arm Candelabra. Each candelabrum features a tall central shaft issui...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze & Crystal Chandelier by Baccarat.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze & Crystal Chandelier by Baccarat. 6 lights.
France, circa 1930.
Dimensions: Height 40" Diameter 24"
CW5535
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of three-drawer Empire Style commodes by Lineage
By Lineage
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a pair of Empire style mahogany commodes by Lineage.
The commodes have brass pulls and 3 drawers for storage.
price is for the set.
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
1900s Empire Style Crystal Urn Vase
Located in Skien, NO
Empire Style Crystal Vase from 1900s
This striking Classic Empire-style vase from ca. the middle of the 20th century showcases exceptional craftsmanship in high-quality crystal. The...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
19th Century Atrium Form Dutch Fruitwood Gilt Metal Mantel Clock
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The top tier with the clock works decorated with a pair of gilt putti above a gilt garland, and outer enamel dial. The corners with gilt herons and leaves. ...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster, Brass
19th Century French Empire Style Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A French Empire style light chandelier with blue painted dish having Empire style cast bronze mounts and detailed cast bronze charioteers, suspended ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century Neoclassical ‘Old Paris’ Porcelain Vases
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine pair of early French Empire porcelain vases, (unsigned but attributable to either the Nast or Dagoty factories in Paris). Each vase has a large gilded satyr’s heads to the sid...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Flame Mahogany Cabinet
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a stately French Empire flame mahogany cabinet. The top has a straight edge above a frieze with a pyramidal architectural feature. The c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Empire miniature commode. A well executed miniature chest made of walnut and veneer of walnut with two large drawers below a smaller top drawer and with solid walnut columns. Inscription written in ink on the back of each of the large drawers: Don D...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Petite Empire Neoclassical Mahogany Commode with Marble Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
This wonderful Empire mahogany commode was hand crafted in 19th century France; four drawers and neoclassical details comprise this outstanding chest of drawers or commode. This case...
Category
1860s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
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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