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
Russian Mahogany Gilt Eagle and Bell Flower Garland Rope Wall Mirror, C. 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
Russian mahogany gilt eagle wall mirror with lambs tongue, beading, bell flower garland, and rope twisted border wall mirror. Mirror retains the original spotted glass...
Category
Early 1800s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany, Giltwood
Empire Bronze Crystal Chandelier, with Fire-Gilded Swans, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Extremely decorative, heavy and high quality Empire chandelier,
19th century.
No replica. Staffed with five magnificent, fire-gilded bronze swans.
This chandelier impresses with its uniqueness.
The swan is the symbol animal of the Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$142,510 Sale Price
33% Off
French Empire Style Marble Top Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) round mahogany center table with bronze classical heads over 4 legs and trim on apron resting on an inla...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Urn Form Lamp Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This detailed bronze urn form lamp features gilt bronze highlights including lepard head handles, and acanthus leaves.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Painting, Oil on Canvas, Portrait of a Man, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Painting, oil on canvas, portrait of a man, Empire Period"
Beautiful 19th century portrait of a man, oil on canvas, Empire Period fr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Paint
French early 19th century Empire st. white Carrara marble and Ormolu clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality French early 19th century Empire st. white Carrara marble and Ormolu clock, signed Veibel a Lyon. This stunning clock is raised on Ormolu topie shaped feet supporting a rectangular marble base. The base is decorated with finely chased Ormolu plaques on three sides, in the manner of Clodion, and with delicate beaded frames. Standing on the base are four Ormolu Doric columns leading up to the Carrara marble entablature decorated with Ormolu pegasi and finely chased beaded trim bands. From the entablature hangs the enameled clock face and mechanism, adorned with a delicate Ormolu frame and richly chased hanging drapery featuring a foliate movements, mythical creatures, and a lovely female mask atop the wonderful sunburst pendulum. All original gilt throughout.
Veibel a Lyon, also known as "Weibel", was an 18th century master clock maker based in Lyon, France. Established in 1783, Veibel began his career by crafting exceptional table clocks and pocket watches. Later he specializes in astronomical regulators...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Empire style mantel in Rouge Griotte marble, bronzes ( attributed to Thomire )
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This Empire-style fireplace is made of Rouge Griotte marble, known for its deep color and highly prized under Napoleon I.
The gilded bronzes that adorn the fireplace are attributed ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
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
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French 19th century Empire st. flamed mahogany, ormolu and fossilized black marble Buffet. The buffet is raised by elegant circular feet below striking architectural colum...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Old Paris Porcelain Reticulated Cherub Compote
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Old Paris Porcelain: a reticulated gilt glazed compote featuring a kneeling cherub .
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Column with fire-gilt Appliqués, 2nd Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Fluted column in mahogany veneer, with a white marble top and fire-gilt appliqués in the fluting. The chest of drawers stands on a round, multi-profiled base over gilded paw feet. Th...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Italian Empire Style Walnut Chest of Drawers, 19th Century, One of a Pair
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large-scale Italian Empire period three drawer chest with beautiful figural walnut veneers, and having original gilt bronze hardware. Excellent antique condition with some recent r...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
$54,000 / set
1980s Empire Style Sculptural Daybed Bench Ottoman
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, versatile piece you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the be...
Category
1980s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
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
Pair of vases Barbediene foundry France Napoleon III
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pair of Barbadians of Napoleon III
Pair of vases with enamel Barbediene French foundry
Very good condition (some natural wear)
Gilt bronze and enamel
Attributed to Louis Constant Sevin...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
$2,080 Sale Price
20% Off
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
A Pair of American Gilt-Bronze Three Light Wall Lights
Located in New York, NY
Pair of gorgeous twisted cornucopia sconces by Edward F. Caldwell & Co. Three scrolling cornucopia supports joined by a scroll form rose with tudor rose style on and off switch, hard...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th Century Black French Antique Wrought Iron Napoleon III Candelabra
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black antique, late 19th century French floor candle holder, candelabra hand crafted in very ornate fer forge work with wrought iron scrolls and seven candle holders, in good condi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron
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
Antique Leather Top Austrian Empire Desk
Located in London, GB
A stunning and very rare antique leather top Austrian Empire desk, dating from around the 1830-1850 period.
This has a beautiful and very useful design, the quality is outstanding. ...
Category
1830s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Exceptional armchair, Empire around 1800/10 Walnut
Located in Münster, DE
Exceptional armchair, Empire around 1800/10, solid walnut, carved armrests with dolphin-shaped finials, new upholstery with black fabric cover
Height: 81 cm, width: 60 cm, depth: 56...
Category
1810s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Nutwood
Mahogany Tea Caddy Wooden Casket Box w Antique Glass Empire early 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Rectangular shape mahogany veneered casket made in first half of 19th century presumably in Europe. Cast glass vessels are intact at their original place. Candy sugar bowl along with...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Cut Glass, Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Candleabra
Located in Westwood, NJ
Pair of French Empire bronze doré three-light candelabra with nautical motifs, dolphins and shells.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Late 18th Century Golden Painted Eagle Statue
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A late 18th century gold painted papier mache eagle with wings spread and on a rectangular wooden base. Originally from Birr Castle, Ireland.An impressive late 18th century gold pain...
Category
Late 18th Century Irish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
Very Fine 19th Century French Empire Bronze Chandelier
Located in Richmond, VA
Incredible 19th century French empire bronze chandelier, now electrified. 10 patinated arms separated by gilt decorated bronze terminating into leaves.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th century Biedermeier Empire/Neo-Classical st. Desk by Francois Linke
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality Continental 19th century Biedermeier Empire/Neo-Classical st. Burl Walnut, Ebonized Fruitwood, Giltwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat by Francois Li...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Bronze Mantle Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Of majestic scale with the ormolu gilding in very good condition in working order.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Elegant Early 20th Century Empire-Style Crystal Beaded Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This refined Empire-style chandelier exudes understated opulence with its graceful silhouette and cascading strands of faceted crystal beads. Likely of French or Northern European or...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Pair of Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze Chandeliers
Located in London, GB
Designed to mimic the appearance of a star-studded celestial globe, theses Empire style chandeliers are simultaneously charming and outstandingly beautiful. Each chandelier is design...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Metal, Bronze
$19,840 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Early 20th Century French Empire Bronze Dore Six-Light Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Brighten an entry or a powder room with this sophisticated six light antique chandelier. Crafted in Paris, France, circa 1920 and built of bronze, The lighting fixture features an in...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
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
French 1825 Hand Written Letter Artwork in Burl Wood Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Custom burl wood framed art that features an antiquarian handwritten letter in French, dated "Paris Le 6 Novembre 1825". This versatile artwork and can be displayed in any living roo...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paper, Burl
Antique Empire Style Twelve-Light Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
This chandelier combines an understated crisply cast dark bronze body with wonderful quality two-tone gilding. Of classical inspiration, the theme is leafy, repeating borders of anth...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$12,800 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Mahogany Console Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular original marble top over a frieze with drawer, all supported by parcel gilt columns joining a shelf, block feet.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Painted Commode with Marble
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant 19th century French Empire painted commode with black Belgian marble top. Nice patina and loads of storage. A great piece!
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
$6,240 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Gueridon
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine 19th century French gilt bronze and marble gueridon with gilt bronze eagles heads and pawed feet.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Figural Lamp Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This fine quality lamp base features a gilt classical frieze, and a patinated bronze figure of a classical maiden.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Danish Mahogany Empire Cabinet
Located in San Marino, CA
A remarkably elegant 19th century Empire cabinet that features beautiful crotch mahogany veneer. A drawer above one door that encloses three stationary shelves as well as a drawer be...
Category
1820s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Mahogany Armchair
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely empire style mahogany armchair from the end of the 19th century
Very good quality bronze and beautiful mahogany
Very beautiful armchair which can be used as a library chair or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Gilt-Bronze & Variegated Green Marble Desk Set, c.1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
The base is composed of variegated green marble with a pen tray, ormolu trim and patarae motif. The ormolu well with lid is beautifully decorated with laurel wreath garland surround...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century Restored Empire Mahogany Living Room French Seating Set, 3pcs
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
French Empire three-piece suite.
Made of mahogany wood.
Completely restored, new upholstery included.
Surface was done by shellac polish.
Sofa dimensions:
Height: 92cm
Seat h...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany, Upholstery, Wood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century Paris Porcelain Vase
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A Paris porcelain urn with swan’s head handles; beautifully painted frolicking cupids to the front, and matte and burnished framed musical motifs to the back. Some rubbing consistent...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$1,920 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Bronze Bookends Sculptures with Horn and Ram 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
Pair of decorated bronze bookend sculptures in the shape of a horn and ram, made in the 20th century
Ø cm 20.5 Ø cm 11 h cm 20.5
Aries is rich in symbolism, intertwining astrologic...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Six Light Chandelier Floral Decoration
Located in Sweden, SE
A fine Empire style gilt bronze six-light chandelier of European origin, authentic second half 19th century period piece. The central body and six elaborate candle arms are richly de...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Pendant from Stockholm
Located in Ljungby, SE
High-class Empire pendant from Stockholm around 1800-1810. It features six beautifully decorated candle arms with acanthus leaves. The central decoration includes a female figure sta...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Iron
Pair of Empire Coffers Lucca First Quarter Nineteenth Century
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of walnut-paneled Empire chests of drawers, Lucca first quarter 19th century. Contoured Green Alps marble tops, ebonized under-top band, three drawers on the front, hermetic upr...
Category
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu and Leather armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most handsome Continental 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu and Leather armchair. This wonderful chair is raised by curved Mahogany legs leading to a c...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Three Light Interior Lantern Empire Style
Located in SAINTE-COLOMBE, FR
French Three Light Interior Lantern Empire Style
This lovely brass and painted lantern is suspended from the ceiling rose by an acanthus decorated ceiling rose and adjustable chain....
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Ormolu Table Clock, Bacchant Sitting On Wine Barrel, Paris, Around 1840
Located in Vienna, AT
Fire-gilded bronze table clock: a childlike bacchanal seated on a wine barrel under an arched vine arbour, holding grapes and a wine glass in his hands, on an oval base with an appli...
Category
1840s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Lion Armchair
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Empire style lion armchair
Imperial stylish lion armchair in Empire style.
Finely detailed carving work on solid ebonized beechwood....
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Beech
Waldorf Astoria Brass & Crystal Empire Wall Sconce Qty Available
Located in New York, NY
Large scale 20th Century brass and crystal Empire style wall sconces. These were retrieved from the Vanderbilt Room which was located off the right side of the main lobby entrance on...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
1920 Caldwell Gilt Bronze Empire Style Sconces
Located in New York, NY
pair of 1920's Caldwell Empire style bronze double light sconces
Category
1920s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$3,800 / set
French Empire Duchesse Brisée Armchair in Parcel Gilt
Located in London, GB
A fine early nineteenth-century French Empire period duchesse brisée armchair with accompanying footstool. This set is in the original paint with applied gilded highlights. The restr...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine
19th Century Italian Empire Walnut Side Table with Brass Gallery
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome 19th century Italian Empire style walnut side table with brass gallery. A quality piece with a beautiful finish. Perfect for the...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Charming Reproduction of a Painting by Maurice Vlaminck - Fauvism - 2Y83
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This charming reproduction captures the vibrant and expressive style of Maurice Vlaminck, a prominent figure in the Fauvism movement. The piece depicts a stranded boat in bold colors...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas
$480 Sale Price
55% Off
Antique Chandelier. Imposing giltwood and alabaster chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent giltwood and alabaster Russian chandelier in the Empire style
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster
French Empire Guéridon and Marble Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany and bronze guéridon table on triple swan leg platform with stretcher, gallery, and green marble top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Mahogany Console Table
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze and mahogany console table
French, early 19th Century
Height 92cm, width 120cm, depth 51cm
This elegant console table is a superb example of French Emp...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
$13,227 Sale Price
20% Off
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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