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
Period: 19th Century
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Commode
Located in Houston, TX
The rectangular gray and white marble top above a conforming case
Having three recessed long drawers, flanked to either side by an ormolu-
Mounted pilaster, raised on turreted fee...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Canopy Bed Napoleon III 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire Canopy bed
France
Napoleon III
From the 19th Century,
In mahogany wood with appliqués in gilded bronze and classical figures.
Fluted columns with Corinthian capitals.
Ceilin...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Title: Secretaire "a Abbatant"
Date/Period: 19th century
Dimension: 147cm x 105cm x 51cm.
Material: Mahogany wood
Additional Information: Secretaire "a Abbatant" French, Empire Style...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful Empire clapper secretaire is made of burr walnut. It has very elegant detached columns with Fine chiseled bronze elements on top and bottom of each column. Inside of the secretaire there is leather desk and several drawers including a secret drawer...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique French Balustrade Lamps
Located in Sheffield, MA
Great looking pair of shaped column form on round base. Made of antique cast stone balustrade from French Chateau. Lamps comes with Belgium linen shades. Lamp sockets are two differ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cast Stone
Continental Marble and Gilt Eagle Console Table
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Empire late 18th Century / early 19th Century console table with a variegated marble slab and gilt caved acanthus leaves wooden top supported on a gilt carved base depicting ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Gold Leaf
19th Century Large Antique Leather Traveling Luggage with Brass Accents
Located in Wichita, KS
This beautiful 19th Century large scale Antique leather traveling bag or luggage is truly a special piece. The bag opens and all of the bra...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
EARLY 19th CENTURY PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN IN UNIFORM
Located in Firenze, FI
Splendid oil portrait on canvas of a gentleman in uniform, identified as Professor Moses Bosisio, mayor of Monza, who died in 1846, as reported on a plaque on the back of the paintin...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Wood
19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A rare pair of heliocodal French Directoire library bookcases in solid walnut. This type of bookcases is also known as 'boiseries de Bibliothèque' a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Empire Bedside Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome mahogany French Empire bedside table from the 19th century. This stunning bedside has a beautiful top, made of St. Anne marble, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Silk Velvet Altar Frontal
Located in Canterbury, GB
Antique French Altar Frontal / Valance
Finest quality silk velvet. Decorated with gold metallic braid . Edged with the most opulent gold metallic tassel trim
Backed with glazed cot...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Velvet
19th Century Belgian Antique Fireplace Surround
Located in Beervelde, BE
This is a very unusual oxidized original antique fireplace mantle in Green marble from the Empire period with lion claw (griffon)
The front has 2 diamond point details.
The Marble is Vert Maurin with provenance from Hameau de Maurin in the Alpes-De-Haute-Provence ( France ). This marble was also used for the Grave Monument of Napoléon Premiér, in the Invalides...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century Gold Green Painted Giltwood Empire Trumeau Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
An old French Directory period, hand-carved trumeau mirror in gilded wood and painted in green, and its base in off-white. The mirror glass is origina...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 17" X 13"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wool
Gorgeous Pair of French Empire Carved Walnut Armchairs with Dolphin Armrests
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome pair of classic French Empire walnut square back carved armchairs with stunning dolphin armrests.
Measures: Seat height 17.5
Arm height ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique Empire Style Black lacquer Mirror Table with original mirror
Located in Wichita, KS
This beautiful Antique Empire style table is one of a kind and a stunner. Antique mirror and Black lacquer wood trim. it would make a gorgeous entry table or dining table and so much more. the patina of the mirror is original and truly amazing.
To view all of our listings at Tiffany Farha Design, scroll down and click on VIEW ALL FROM SELLER. Also follow us to be notified when new items are posted. We also have a brick and mortar...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
French Empire Mahogany and Bronze Queen Bed
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style mahogany and bronze and gilt trimmed queen size bed with swan design (includes: headboard, footboard, rails). (19th Century reproduction of Josephine Bonaparte's swan bed...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century
50cm x 26cm x 15cm
good condition
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Palatial French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood Carved Eagles Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine and Palatial French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood Carved Figural Center Table with Figures of Winged Eagles and Wreaths, the center medallion with a figure of a bull and and raised on lion paws over a sphere, fitted with a veined verde d'alps marble top (Marble top is recent and not the original - Gilding restored with 23.5 cart...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Empire Candelabra with Green Marble Bases & 4 Candle Holders
Located in Atlanta, GA
These pair of Empire candelabras feature angles holding 4 candleholders atop a green marble base.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Empire Mahogany 3-Fold Screen with Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
French Empire style (19th century) mahogany 3 fold screen with bronze trim.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Swan Faucet, Circa 1820
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique French faucet tap dating to circa 1820, this highly detailed spout has the appearance of a swan with a craned neck. Swan motifs were sometimes see...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Antique Rustic Swedish Original Painted Empire Table Mirror
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish antique Empire rustic vanity mirror / table mirror.
The Mirror has original paint in colorful color.
This orginal painted mirror ha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine
Empire-Style Curule Stool with Upholstered Seat
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An extremely elegant 19th-century Empire-style curule stool standing on veneered, curved X legs linked by a turned baluster-shaped stretcher and terminating in lion's paws. The padde...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Antique Corinthian Column Brass Floor Lamp with Fringed Lampshade, England, 1890
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
Antique corinthian column brass telescopic floorlamp, Hinks pattern, with wonderful handmade fringed lampshade. Made in England, in the style of James Hinks & Son in 1890.
The lamp ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Chest of Drawers with Granite Top, France, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire chest of drawers in cherry with lateral pilasters with blackened caryatids on lion's paw feet. The black granite top complements the ebony carved details beautifully. The fitt...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite, Brass
French Empire Style 1870s Mahogany Three-Drawer Commode with White Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style mahogany commode from the late 19th century, with white marble top, three drawers and gilt accents. Created in France during the third quarter of the 19th centu...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique Bergère Caned Victorian French Armchair
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an Antique Bergère Doouble Caned Victorian French armchair
French double cane 19th century.
Mahogany & bronze accents with original patina. New cane, wood fin...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Set of 14 Dining Chairs, Empire Period
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very smart set of fourteen solid and elegant dining room chairs dating from 1820' s between the Empire and the Restauration period.
Although very similar...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
EARLY 19th CENTURY EMPIRE BLOND WALNUT SIDEBOARD
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant sideboard in solid blond walnut, finely carved. The linear design of the sideboard is enriched by two half lateral columns, ending with gilded bronze capitals that give a tou...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Fossilized marble cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Fossilized marble cabinet. This wonderful demi lune shaped cabinet is raised on four Mahogany block fe...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
Empire Mahogany Desk Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The desk chair with carved diamond motif on crest and richly carved griffin wings above articulated paw feet with tan colored leather upholstery. Height: 30" Seat height: 17" Depth: ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Italian Empire Dining Chairs From Early 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A pair of Italian early 19th Century Empire dining chairs in solid walnut.
This Tuscan pair of chairs, with swan decoration on the back, was likely crafted in the city of Lucca. This...
Category
1820s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Rare early 19th century American Late Empire inlaid mahogany Bowfront Chest
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
A rare and important Antique American mid-Atlantic region Late Empire Inlaid mahogany large Bowfront Chest of Drawers with checkered inlays, rosewood crossbanding (inlay), half-turne...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair Of Pink And Gold Empire Lamps 1800 Italian Carved Wood Vases
Located in Milano, MI
Pair Of Italian Empire Lamps 1800 Lacquered Wood Vases in Pink and Gold with oval lampshade, the bases are two antique palm holders lacquered in soft pink tones. The body of the pa...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Fabric
Pair of Empire Style Marble Top Mahogany Parcel Gilt Demilune Consoles
Located in Milford, NH
A fine pair of Empire style marble top mahogany parcel gilt demilune consoles with triangular bases and gilt accents, including gilt carved paw feet. The pair are probably French in ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very stylish 19th century Empire style 'Bouillotte' table lamp in gilt bronze, lit by three curvaceous 'swans head' arms and topped with a green lacquered metal (tole) shade adorne...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th century Swedish gilt and eglomise ornate wall clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish gilt and églomisé ornate wall clock circa 1840.
Fine quality swedish wall clock of the empire period circa 1840. Beautifully carved, surmounted with doves. 2 si...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Giltwood
Antique Flame Mahogany Empire Tea Caddy Wooden Casket Box 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Rectangular shape mahogany veneered casket made in first half of 19th century presumably in Europe. High quality work of applied arts in Neoclassical (Biedermeier) style. The fork of...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Napoleon III Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A fine large sized flat desk otherwise referred to as a "bureau de ministre" or ministers flat desk.
In mahogany and mahogany veneer flamed on all sides, beautiful ornamentation of...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Small 19th century Swedish empire birch sofa
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small 19th century Swedish empire birch sofa circa 1860
Good quality Swedish empire period birch sofa upholstered in kalim woven fabric.
Small sofa or a very comfortable single cha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Antique French Empire Gold Gilt Overmantel Mirror
Located in London, GB
A good sized Gilt Empire antique mirror with applied decorative motif gilt work on a rectangular frame, lambs tongue design inner slip. Mirror in good condition. Original boarded bac...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Cool and unusual composition between gilded and dark patin...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs Attributed to Francois Linke
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs Attributed to Francois Linke
Dimensions : 36.5" Tall X 25" Wide X 21" Deep SH - 17.5" AH...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Fine quality early 19th century flame mahogany bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine example of a Regency period bookcase circa 1820.
Very much in the manor of thomas hope. Matching flame mahogany veneers from top to bottom. Comprising of 3 sections, lower ca...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Sublime 19th Century French Empire Chandelier
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Sublime French Empire chandelier.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tôle
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Library Chairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An excellent quality pair of 19th century mahogany
library armchairs, in the French empire taste, having
swept back and moulded scrolling arms with C-scroll
supports raised on elegant moulded sabre legs
(A relative typical design in the early to mid-19th century
these chairs are in the French Empire taste which was most
popular at the time, with the added benefit of being much
more sturdy and practical than the English Regency Chaise...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Restauration Antique Mahogany Cylinder Roll-Top Desk circa 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
FINE RESTAURATION PERIOD ORMOLU-MOUNTED FLAMED MAHOGANY BUREAU À CYLINDER
France, circa 1830
Item # 403ZGP18C
An exceedingly fine bureau à cylinder from the Restauration period in F...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
Late 19th Century French Empire Arrow Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1900's Empire style sconces with two Roman warriors on black backplate.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant. Mahogany with mahogany & oak secondary wood. Ingenious hidden drawers & locking mec...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Elegant and useful Wall Shelf in brass in Empire style from the 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant and useful Wall Shelf in brass in Empire style from the 19th Century. Perfect in the kitchen for vinegar and oil or in the hallway for gloves or keys.
Wear consistent with a...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Very Tall 8' Antique Empire Style Mirror, Italian, Walnut, Marble, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an extraordinary 8' tall antique Empire Style console mirror. An Italian extended pier mirror in walnut with a marble plinth, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1860. Of impressive stature and exceptional craftsmanship, this piece is ideally suited to grand reception rooms or palatial entrance halls.
Striking proportion at 99.5'' (253cm) in height, creating an unmissable focal point
Beautifully figured walnut stocks, displaying deep caramel hues and rich grain interest
Topped with a delightful crown pediment, finished with gilt relief moulding for an elegant flourish
Original mercury glass mirror plate, with charming foxing and light, age-related character
Fascia adorned with gilt artistry, elevating the warm walnut tones beneath
Cool grey marble tabletop sits at 85cm, perfect for display or utility in a hallway setting
Serpentine pilaster supports, a classical touch, terminating with darling gilt hoof foot mounts
Stands upon a plinth base with deep apron, grounding the mirror with architectural poise
Presented in two parts for ease of placement, and secures to the wall with brass fittings
Maximum mounting width of 99cm (39'') across the rear edge of the plinth
This antique Italian pier mirror...
Category
1860s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century Empire French Semainier Commode
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Semainier,
Mahogany,
France, 1825-1830
,,The Empire style is an early-nineteenth-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other de...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Candlestick
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century French candlestick is a stunning example of French craftsmanship, made of brass with intricate detailing. The candlestick features a textured body resembling scales...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Mahogany Queen Bed
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19/20th Century) mahogany queen size bed with gilt bronze trim and upholstered panel on headboard (includes: headboard, fo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf, Bronze
19th century French empire revival mahogany armchair
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century french empire revival mahogany armchair, circa 1860.
Single french armchair made in mahogany. Shaped back linking to the padded armrests and scrolled arms. Front scroll...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
Empire Marquetry Sofa in Mahogany with Satinwood Inlays, circa 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A lovely and well-proportioned marquetry sofa with arched back, scroll arms and short Grecian curved legs in mahogany embellished with inlays of festoo...
Category
1810s Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Satinwood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Tulipwood
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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