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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
Elegant pair of French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of 1940's French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Important First Empire Period Ormolu Sconces
By Percier & Fontaine
Located in Essex, MA
Period ormolu sconces in First Empire, imperial Russian, realistic lion mask form --Percier and fontaine designed lion mask being impaled by th...
Category

Early 1800s Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Russian Dore Bronze Mounted Amethyst Crystal Scalloped Rim Tazza
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic quality 19th century Russian Empire period Dore bronze mounted amethyst crystal scalloped rim tazza/cache-pot. The crystal is of a beautiful rich amethyst purple color. The crystal is beautifully hand-cut and shaped with a scalloped rim. The crystal is mounted on an incredible dore bronze base with the finest quality. The base is all hand-burnished and matted with an acanthus leaf design and is resting on a square plinth with an acanthus leaf border. The Crystal is easily attributable to the Imperial Russian Glass...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Antique French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Couch
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze couch French, late 19th century Dimensions: Height 107cm, width 192cm, depth 72cm This beautiful canapé style couch...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely French 19th century Empire st. verdigris patinated bronze and ormolu chandelier. The patinated bronze base is decorated with an ormolu inverted finial and acanthus leaves an...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Style Walnut Console W/ Carrara Marble
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite mid-19th-century French console table in the Empire style, sourced from Provence, France. Expertly handcrafted from walnut, it features a stunning, thick Carrara marble ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble

1840s Empire Veneered Mahogany Wood Sicilian Round Tilt-Top Table
Located in Catania, Sicilia
This Sicilian tilt-top table is a distinctive piece of furniture, reflecting the design aesthetics of the Empire style popular during the early to mid-19th century, it's a testament ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Sicilian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

A French Empire style giltwood and gesso mirror, C. 1880.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stately French mirror featuring a carved giltwood and gesso frame with classical corner detailing. This mirror reflects the grandeur and symmetry characteristic of the Empire aesth...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gesso, Mirror, Giltwood

19th Century French Empire Green Marble Top Carved Mahogany Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique console in an entry or hallway. Crafted in France, circa 1880, and built of mahogany wood, the console stands on scrolled front legs ending in paw feet, wi...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Vintage French Empire Brass Tole Metal Candlestick Bouillotte Desk Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Brass Tole Metal Twin Candlestick Bouillotte Desk Table Lamp with White Painted Metal Adjustable Oval Shade. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 26" H ...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Haviland Limoges Set of 4 Dinner + 4 Salad Plates Rivoli Pattern
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage set of 4 dinner plates and 4 salad plates was made by Haviland, Limoges in rare Rivoli pattern. The decor consists of a wide band of leaves and berries or flower buds in war...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Vintage French Empire Style Large 30" Cast Iron Urn Form Garden Planters - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage French Empire Style Large 30" Cast Iron Urn Form Garden Planters - a Pair. We...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Iron

Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style gilt bronze sconces French, 20th Century Measures: Height 88cm, width 38cm, depth 35cm This elegant pair of sconces is wrought from gilt bronze in th...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Verde Marble cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive pair of French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu, and Verde Antico Marble cabinets. Each four drawer two door cabinet is raised by two fr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Fine Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mahogany Center Table inthe Manner of Jacob-Desmal
By Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Sheffield, MA
A fine Empire style gilt bronze mahogany gueridon or centre table  With a verde antico marble top.  In the manner of Jacob-Desmalter,  circa 1880 Height 31 1/4 Diameter 35 in.   A very fine Empire style gilt bronze-mounted mahogany guéridon after a model by Jacob-Desmalter, the circular verde antico marble top above a mahogany frieze mounted with laurel leaf banding in between rosettes and anthemions, supported of the heads of three finely cast gilt bronze female caryatids, each facing outward with hair in plaits, bare feet and arms crossed, wearing arm bands and a low cut diaphanous dress gathered up toward her breast, the stretcher centred by a chased covered urn flanked by three elegant crouching winged sphinxes wearing Nemes headdresses and plaits tied at the front. The design for this superb guéridon is based on a famous table-console or ‘console double face’ by the celebrated firm of Paris ébénistes Jacob-Desmalter which was itself based on designs by Napoleon’s chief architects and ornamentalistes Charles Percier (1764-1838) and Pierre François Léonard Fontaine...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Mirror With Frame Made In Mahogany With Marquetry From 1890s
Located in Lejre, DK
This pair of mahogany mirrors with marquetry from the 1890s is a splendid example of late 19th-century craftsmanship and design. Each mirror features a beautifully crafted mahogany f...
Category

1890s Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Putti Empire Chandelier Crystal Gold Basket Antique Brass Classic
Located in Berlin, DE
Elegant Vintage Chandelier with Charming Putti – Lovingly Restored in Berlin This stunning chandelier is a true masterpiece, combining timeless elegance with delightful details. Fea...
Category

1940s European Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Wire

19th C. French Empire Style Walnut Bouillotte Table with Black Fossil Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French bouillotte table was crafted circa 1870 in the Empire style and features a rich walnut cylindrical body topped with a round fossil black marble surface. The marbl...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Baccarat Crystal Clock Garniture, French Empire with Gilt Bronze
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
French Empire clock garniture with gilt bronze and Baccarat crystal. An important French Baccarat cut-crystal and ormolu mantel clock with four Corinthian style columns. The cut-crystal features a cross hatched diamond patterns throughout. The clock comes with two large Baccarat crystal and gilt...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

French Empire Style Mahogany Buffet With Ormolu Handle Pulls & Trim
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
French Empire Style Mahogany Buffet With Ormolu Handle Pulls & Trim Beautiful piece purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Empire Dore Lantern Chandelier, Frosted Etched Glass, 19th Century, Solid Bronze
Located in Manhasset, NY
Empire Dore Lantern Chandelier, Frosted Etched Glass, 19th Century, Solid Bronze Pendant A finely cast dore bronze lantern pendant having etched frosted g...
Category

Early 20th Century European Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century, French Gilt Bronze Buillotte Lamp
Located in IT
19th Century, French Gilt Bronze Buillotte Lamp This elegant table lamp model buillotte was made in France in the early nineteenth century, classic taste with decorative elements Em...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Couple of Candlesticks Style Empire
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Couple of Candlesticks Style Empire Empire style Marble and golden bronze Origin France circa 1900 Very good condition. Natural wear.
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Chair Kohn Nr.321, since 1906, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state. Perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. New upholstery surface on the original core.
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Empire Giltwood Carved Frame
Located in New Orleans, LA
Period Empire giltwood frame.
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

Pair Empire Period North European Ormolu, Cut-Glass, & Tôle-Peinte Cachepots
Located in New York, NY
An extremely rare and unusual Pair Of North European Ormolu, Cut-Glass, and Tôle-Peinte Potted Hyacinths/Cachepots, Possibly Baltic, Circa 1815-1825. Each Modeled As A Tôle-Peinte Sp...
Category

Early 19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu, Tin

Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks Signed Gérard-Jean Galle, Paris, 1810s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Magnificent Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks Signed Gérard-Jean Galle, Paris, 1810s A rare and exceptionally fine pair of French Empire candlesticks in mercury-gilded bronze...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Vanity Table in Mahogany, Probably Denmark, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Danish Biedermeier dressing table with adjustable mirror with an architectural layout and fire-gilded fittings. The dressing table is equipp...
Category

1830s Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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

Seated Female Figure in French Fire-Gilt Clock from Empire Era
Located in 263-0031, JP
A French fire-gilt clock depicting a seated female figure - Urania, I presume, judging from the iconography. Empire Era, 1800-1815. The gilding sh...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Napoleon I French Giltwood Trumeau Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
Giltwood Trumeau with Beautiful Lyre Trophy
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Giltwood, Mirror

20th Century French Mahogany Empire Style Vitrine, 1920s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful 20th century French mahogany Empire style vitrine from the 1920s. This vitrine has a music scores compartments. Brass net finish. Brass hooves...
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very architectural pair of French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu mirrors. The pair of mirrors display mirror plates flanked by two Mahogany columns. The columns have a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

X-Design Bed, 20th Century
Located in San Marino, CA
An Empire bed in queen-size, (king also available) headboard and footboard with a crisscross pattern, four tapered posts ending in bracket feet and finials.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Empire Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

C1872 French Painting of Gypsy Woman with a Parrot
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
C1872 French Painting of Gypsy Woman with a Parrot Beautifully Painted. Very Crisp. Unique piece purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos. Message us with any...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Paint

Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810 Semi-circular body, one door in the middle flanked by full columns and one drawer each above and below. An extremel...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Superb 19th Century French Empire Escritoire
Located in Dallas, TX
Marvelous 19th century French Empire three-drawer escritoire with lovely Breche africaine marble top. Having detailed bronze mounts in urn and floral motifs, columnar supports with p...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique 19th Century Dutch Solid Oak Empire or Louis Seize Cabinet
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful Empire style or Louis seize cabinet that was made in the Netherlands, circa 1820s. This high quality piece is completely made in the finest European oak. There are three stepped drawers in the lower section. The drawers are fitted with authentic Dutch cast brass drawer pulls and key plates. All drawers are equipped with a working lock and key. The upper part of the cabinet has two doors with raised panels, chamfered corners and original cast brass key plate with working lock and key. The interior of the upper cabinet houses three drawers below, all with original brass drawer pulls. Above a fixed shelf with two cutlery drawers underneath. Above the mid shelf is a half shelf...
Category

Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century French Empire Walnut Corner Consoles with Grey Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate two small corners with this pair of antique consoles, crafted in France, circa 1820, each tall fruitwood table stands on a single car...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Empire Style French Mirror with Porcelain Gold Frame, 1950s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Luxury mirror Massive figured frame made of porcelain, covered with enamel and painted with gold. Beautiful floral decor. There is a possibility...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Mirror

19th Century Swedish Candelabra
Located in Allerum, SE
Pair of fine 19th century Swedish Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra, circa 1830, Stockholm, Sweden.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Biedermeier Style Napoleon Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood. Gilded chimeras. Finely engraved bronze fixtures. (L-Sam-252).
Category

20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Empire-style Salon in Mahogany and gilded bronzes
Located in Paris, FR
An imposing Empire-style salon comprising a mahogany sofa and eight chairs. They are richly adorned with gilded bronzes, with a rectangular pedimented back decorated with laurel leaf...
Category

1860s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Trouvailles Metal and Brass Side Tables with Swan Necks and Doors, Frenc
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A PAIR OF FRENCH PATINATED STEEL AND PARCEL-GILT GUERIDONS Each with removable galleried top above two cupboards on turned legs headed by swan-neck-shaped handles 21½ in. (57 cm.) h...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Plate, Brass, Steel

20th Century antique Empire Style Lion canapé Sofa beech bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Imperial stylish lion Kanapee in Empire style. Finely detailed carving work on solid ebonized beechwood. Gilded. Winged, protruding lions heads in bronze.
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Beech

Pair French Empire Green Marble Gilt Bronze Urn Pedestal Pillars
Located in New York, NY
Standing at an impressive 6 feet tall, they were procured from an esteemed estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, which adds a layer of history and significance to the pieces. They are pr...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Vintage Alabaster and Brass Lamp Base with Lampshade - 2Y227
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Condition: Pre-owned Comments: In good condition. The lamp is functional, but the electrical wiring is not up to modern standards. The lampshade has small stains, a slight tear, and ...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Alabaster, Brass

20th Century Magnificent, Classical Swedish Ceiling Crown, Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent, classical Swedish ceiling crown, chandelier Polished brass. Curved, star shaped body with teardrop-shaped, faceted glass hangings, starti...
Category

20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Pair of Early 19th Century Darte Brothers Porcelain Plates
Located in Basildon, GB
Pair of antique Darte Brothers cobalt blue porcelain plates magnificently painted with the French countryside, featuring cows, goats and sheep, decorated with gold rims. Each with th...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique French Empire Mahogany Draw Leaf Dining Table with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Mahogany Draw Leaf Dining Table with Bronze Mounts exudes elegance, and is extraordinarily versatile with two leaves that are always there when you need them, t...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French mid-19th century Empire style mahogany and ormolu mounted pair of armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet and e...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Candlesticks France Empire Gilt Bronze
Located in New York, NY
A pair of candlesticks made in France during the late Empire period. Made from gilt- bronze. Standing on a round foot with a baluster shaped stem. Loose cuffs.
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

A Pair of Early 19th Century French Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of early 19th Century French tole sconces. Converted from oil lamps with classical gilt figures and Directoire imagery. Circa 1820s.
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair Of Antique Empire Silver Candle Holders, by Viennese Master, Dated 1804
Located in Vienna, AT
Two elegant, plain silver candle holders on a round stand, foot laterally profiled, centred raised smooth shaft, in the lower third constriction by profiled bead ring, shaft widening...
Category

Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Silver

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce 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

Pair of Italian Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Consoles from Naples
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational pair of Italian mid 19th century Empire st. freestanding flamed mahogany consoles from Naples, Italy. The consoles are raised by double mottled rectangular bases with b...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Pair of Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of neoclassical style gilt bronze and marble vases French, early 20th century Measures: Height 52cm, width 21cm, depth 19cm Each vase in this pair, crafted from gilt bronze...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

Antique French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style glass and gilt bronze chandelier French, Late 19th Century Height 32, diameter 42cm This French 19th century chandelier is crafted in the Empire style. ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Early 19th Century Plateau Mirror
Located in Copenhagen, K
Plateau mirrors was used on the dining or dressing table, in front of guest of honor, to put flowers or candles on.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century Plateau Mirror
Early 19th Century Plateau Mirror
$379 Sale Price
30% Off
Pair of Charles X Ormolu and Bronze Candelabra Lamps
Located in New York, NY
With acanthus-wrapped fluted columns on scroll-form feet and triangular base. Lamp shades not included. Height to socket is 20" - height can be adjusted with different harps.
Category

1830s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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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