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
Antique Late Empire North German Corner Cabinet In Polished Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The antique Senempire corner cabinet from Northern Germany, made of polished mahogany and dated to the 1840s, is a splendid representative of the elegance and sophistication typical ...
Category
1840s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$3,320 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Bronze French Empire Three-Arm Eagle Chandelier Light Fixture
Located in Toledo, OH
Gorgeous French Empire bronze chandelier with Eagle. Eagle with outspread wings sits atop three vines. Bronze shades holders have raised flowers. Each arm holds a flower form shade...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Walnut Marble Top Bedside Cabinet
Located in London, GB
A wonderful antique French walnut marble top bedside cabinet, dating from around the 1880-1900 period.
It is of superb quality and it is a very use...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
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
Copper and Brass Ice Bucket with Lion Head Design
Located in New York, NY
A copper and brass ice bucket with lion head design, in the Empire style, circa mid-20th century. This copper ice bucket with lid has brass lion head and loop design on sides (or fro...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Copper
$380 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Pair of American Empire Mahogany Corner Console Tables
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of American Empire mahogany corner console tables with scroll legs (PRICED AS Pair)
Antique condition. Has some wear and tear."
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Commode Empire France Napoleon III, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Commode Empire France Napoleon III 19th century
Wood and marble
Perfect condition - Original
Measures: 88cm x 63cm x 130cm
Never restored.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
$3,325 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire 19th Century Painted Wood Four-Drawer Commode with Gilt Busts
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style painted wood four-drawer commode from the 19th century with ebonized columns, carved giltwood female busts and bracket feet. Step into an era of refined eleganc...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th-Century French Empire Bronze Napoleon Commemorative Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire (19th Century) bronze inkwell in the form of Napoleon's casket covered by a shroud with a crown finial top and resting on a tiered base with...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Neoclassical Empire Rectangular Gold Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Empire style handcrafted mirror. Rectangular hand carved wooden structure with gold foiled finished.
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique American Empire Walnut Leaf Carved Pier Wall Console Mirror
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Walnut Leaf Carved Pier Wall Console Mirror. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 38" H x 22" W x 4.5" D
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Wood and Bronzes Empire Console Table with Marble Top Antique Mirror back
Located in IT
Empire console in wood, antique mirror and original gilded bronzes. The top pf the table is in marble.
Conservative restoration of the wooden part.
Size 60x137 xh90 cm
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique 19th Century Empire Black Opera Chairs with Tiger Upholstery, Pair
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning pair of antique Empire hand carved walnut hall chairs, painted black, with gorgeous tiger velvet upholstery
USA, Circa Mid-19th Century
Measures: 17"W x 13.5"D x 33.18"H...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Upholstery, Paint
French Folk Art Oak and Marble Eagle Figure
Located in Queens, NY
French (19th Cent Napoleonic Era) folk art carved oak life size figure of an eagle with out stretched wings perched on a round globe with a marble base.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Large French Planters
By Rouen
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pair of large French planters.
Origin France, circa 1900.
Attributed roun.
Excellent condition. Material: porcelain.
No restorations
In 1644, Nico...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$1,520 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Bronze and Green Empire Wall Lights with Beige/Green Shades
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Pair of bronze and green Empire wall lights with beige/green shades.
Category
1980s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century, French Empire Gilded Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire crystal and gilt bronze nine candle bell shaped chandelier of the highest quality; the circular corona surmounted by palm shaped fin...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Empire Console Tables
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A large pair of Empire console tables with green marble tops and large scale ormolu mounts.
With symmetrical eagle motifs on the legs an...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
$30,588 / set
Pair of Restored Empire Side Tables, Yew-Tree, Revived Polish, Austria 1820s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This elegant pair of console tables, designed on the border of Empire and Biedermeier, comes from Austria from the early 19th century. They are made of yew veneer and have undergone ...
Category
1820s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Lacquer, Wood, Yew
19th Century Italian Cheval Mirror
Located in London, Park Royal
An elegant and imposing, 19th century, Italian cheval mirror made in solid mahogany. Belonged to a well known Italian actress of the golden age o...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Square Coffee Table Scagliola Art Top wooden base Handmade in Italy by Cupioli
Located in Rimini, IT
Handmade coffee table with artistical decoration on the square top and carved edge made precious by gold leaf finishing. Hand painted wooden central base formed by 4curved elements, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Scagliola, Wood
Beautiful Czechoslovakian Crystal Beaded Empire Dome Chandelier circa 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light, will be rewired and ready to hang. We use certified UL US sockets and appropriate sockets for all other countries. Strands and strands of crystal beads from tiny t...
Category
Early 1900s Czech Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Savonnerie Carpet ( 8'x13'6" - 243x412 )
Located in New York, NY
Early 19th Century French Savonnerie Carpet from Empire Period
(8' x 13' 6" - 243 x 412 cm)
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
$19,875 Sale Price
25% Off
pair of 19th century Empire Period Giltwood and Marble consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most impressive pair of Continental 19th century Empire/Restauration Period Giltwood and Fleur de Pêcher marble consoles. This stunning pair of consoles is raised o...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Wonderful French Empire Gilt Doré Bronze & Cut Crystal Round Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French empire gilt doré bronze & cut crystal round centerpiece bowl raised on paw feet
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Small French Empire Style Bust of Napoleon I
Located in Queens, NY
Small turn of the century French Empire style bronze bust representing Napoleon's uniformed likeness propped upon a white marble pedestal base adorned with a bronze letter "N."
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage brass sunburst mirror 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century brass sunburst mirror with convex glass.
This mirror fits in most interiors and is a perfect add-on for a regency style interior.
The mirror is made from gilt metal.
I...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Late Empire Column Table Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The late Empire column table from the 1840s is a magnificent example of furniture craftsmanship from that era. Crafted from rich mahogany, this table exudes elegance and sophisticati...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Mahogany Chest of Drawers with a Dark Gray Stone Top
Located in Dallas, TX
An early 19th century French Empire mahogany commode with bronze mounts and a dark gray stone top. The chest of drawers is very handsome and functional and is in very good condition...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Stone, Bronze
1900s Empire Style Urn Vase Pot, Rudolf Wächter, Germany
Located in Skien, NO
Elegant Vintage Empire-Style Urn Vase by Rudolf Wächter, 1960s
A stunning Empire-style urn vase or jardinière pot in glazed porcelain, adorned with exquisite rose decorations encirc...
Category
20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Empire Style Commode With Marble Top
Located in Houston, US
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Commode With Marble Top. Constructed with burled veneer, commode flanked with columns capped with brass decorations. Features ormolu mounts ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Very Important 19th C Empire Cut Crystal and Gilt Bronze Palatial Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
One of the finest 19th century Empire palatial 36 light chandeliers on the market today. Fine gilt bronze Empire details with two tiers of 36 light...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Empire Console
Located in London, England
Empire style French mahogany console table with original marble top.
Circa 1870.
H 86cm x W 82cm x D 39cm
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
$1,956
Perod Signed White and Gold Porcelain Cup
Located in Roma, IT
Perod Signed White and Gold Porcelain Cup
Beautiful fine white porcelain bowl
Features beautiful eighteenth-century Venetian hand-painted figurines taken in a pose of rare eleganc...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Candelabra with Tripartite Lion Paw Feet
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of bronze five-light candelabras was produced in France in the early 1800’s, during the Empire period that coincided with the rule of Napoleon. Under Napoleon’s decree that...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Period Gilt and Painted Wood Three-Piece Salon Suite
Located in London, GB
Empire period gilt and painted wood three-piece salon suite
French, c. 1820
Sofa: Height 101cm, width 213cm, depth 72cm
Chairs: Height 101cm, width 61cm, depth 56cm
This exquisite t...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$38,579 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Grand French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
Constructed in bronze, patinated and gilt; the rectangular form case supported on engraved oblate spherical feet, the frieze dressed with a row of female masks capping pillars, linke...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Russian Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
Russian (18th Century) mahogany secretary bookcase with brass gallery pediment and trim with 2 front doors revealing 3 drawers and shelves ...
Category
Late 18th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
$3,251 Sale Price
52% Off
French Bronze Sculptural Side Table by Jules Moigniez - 1 of 2
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
French Bronze Sculptural Side Table by Jules Moigniez - 1 of 2 Available.
Category
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Viennese Empire Beds, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of Viennese Empire beds in walnut veneer. The beds have been expertly restored and polished by hand.
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$5,937 / set
pair of French 19th century Empire st. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Empire st. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu candelabra lamps. Each three arm candelabra mounted into a lamp is raised on a square O...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Original Empire Set of a Sofa 2 Armchairs and 1 Table Mahogany with Bronze Figur
Located in Berlin, DE
Original Empire sofa circa 1860-1870 from an Empire room.
Massive mahogany cast with Empire caryadites bronze.
The armchairs are made of a different fabric than the sofa and should b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Porcelain Cartographic Cabinet Plate
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A beautiful French Empire style porcelain cartographic cabinet plate made circa 1825 featuring a map of North America highlighted with an apple-green an...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
Two French Empire Armchairs, 19th Century
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Fine quality French Empire cherrywood armchairs.
Carved arms in shallow relief with acanthus leaves, elegant saber legs, beautiful patina color.
To coat however you like.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cherry
$2,375 Sale Price / set
37% Off
Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkstand 'Encrier'
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular base mounted with a round lidded ink pot with a porcelain container and a sand pot, each raised on winged lion feet, centered by a ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Hand Blown Murano Glass Semi Flush Fixture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Gorgeous Large Hand-Blown Italian Glass Semi Flush Fixture. Ribbed salt glass bowl with elegant pale pink ruffle trim. Dramatic addition to any room.
...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Thomasville Georgian Burled Walnut Marble Top Four-Drawer Dresser
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful French Empire or Louis Philippe style four-drawer dresser or chest of drawers
By Thomasville
USA, Late 20th Century
Gorgeous burl wood, with thick beveled marble top, ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces Set by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details.
The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché and an hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the e...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Mahogany Centre Table in the Empire Style
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th Century French mahogany centre table in the Empire style, having a wonderful decorative segmented top with engraved brass moulding, the ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Italian 19th Century Empire Period Giltwood Decorative Swan Sculptures
Located in Firenze, IT
This magnificent pair of hand carved wood and gilt with gold leaves swans sculptures represents an extraordinary example of Italian Empire period sculptural decorative art. Masterful...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique Empire Silver Lidded Jug With Cockerel, Germany, Circa 1810
Located in Vienna, AT
Empire silver lidded jug with a stepped, funnel-shaped foot on a square plinth, a large fluted ring decorated with acanthus leaves, in which the smooth, raised bulbous vessel rests, ...
Category
1810s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Napoleon III Bronze and Ormolu Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Napoleon III bronze and ormolu table lamps columnar form.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,240 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Cast iron coat racks
Located in PARIS, FR
This coat rack and umbrella stand has a very pretty burgundy red patina.
It is in very good condition.
Alfred and Emile Corneau founded their foundry in Charleville in 1846, speciali...
Category
1880s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
$4,631
Large Pair, Empire Style Sconces, 18-Karat Gold Plate, 3 Lights, Black Shaft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Larger pair of Empire Looking style sconces They are of hi-quality lost wax Bronze castings with fine detailing . With polished 18-karat gold plated finish in Antique. Center sha...
Category
1990s American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Burl Walnut, Ormolu, and Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and large scale French 19th century Empire st. burl walnut, ormolu and white Carrara marble console. The console is raised by elegant circular mottled supports below a mos...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
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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