Empire Furniture
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.
Late 20th Century Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Cotton, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Linen, Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Persian Empire Furniture
Wool
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Paint
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Wood, Paint, Paper
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Belgian Empire Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Ormolu, Bronze
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Persian Empire Furniture
Wool
20th Century Dutch Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Mirror, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Bronze, Iron
1970s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Onyx, Travertine, Gold, Gold Plate
Mid-20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Wood
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Bronze
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Metal, Bronze
20th Century Empire Furniture
Crystal
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Glass, Oak
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Copper
1930s Unknown Vintage Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century Hungarian Empire Furniture
Pine
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Beech
1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
1970s Vintage Empire Furniture
Cotton, Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Crystal, Metal
20th Century Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s Antique Empire Furniture
Glass, Mahogany
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Wood
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Alabaster, Brass