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.
to
886
2,626
2,058
4,603
151
110
197,551
113,814
42,870
32,797
16,115
11,793
10,568
10,488
9,719
8,886
7,266
6,715
6,380
6,314
6,137
5,658
4,864
3,739
253
2,943
1,407
261
474
341
214
105
19
89
51
45
46
70
51
58
25
2,601
2,006
1,433
1,003
816
3,986
2,739
423
265
239
4,864
4,777
4,800
40
30
25
18
12
Style: Empire
19th Century Empire Style English Roll Top Desk with Bronze Mounts
Located in Queens, NY
19th century Empire style English dark-brown wooden desk with roll top that opens to reveal drawers and letter holders and a gold embossed leather desk surface, topped with a bronze-filigree framed tray, and supported by two columns of drawers, each with a gold drawer pull...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Pair Empire Dore Bronze Winged Putti Candelabras
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Wonderful pair of French Napoleon III Empire style gilt doré and patinated bronze neoclassical four-arm candelabra with finely cast decorated detail. Each lamp features a classical w...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th C. French Overmantel Mirror
Located in Houston, US
This is an impressive classically styled yet restrained overmantel mirror and frame, painted with gilded decorative elements. Fluted pilasters are topped with a classical urn with pe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Charming Large Vintage Chandelier in Gilt Bronze Deknudt Belgium
By Deknudt
Located in Bastogne, BE
Very Beautiful Vintage Ceiling Chandelier in Bronze by Deknudt, Belgium.
Circa 1970s.
A very nicely chased vintage six light chandelier in bronze with...
Category
1970s Belgian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
Set of Empire Armchairs / Chairs, Maple Wood, Paris, 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Seat group made of maple wood with rosewood intarsia, France, presumably G. Alphonse Jacob, the last of the famous Eben family, probably second quarter of the 19th century. Semi-circ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Maple
Rare French Empire Mahogany Bookcase Library Jacob Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Large and very unusual French Empire bookcase in beautifully figured mahogany veneer. Four glazed doors (original glass), interior with original shelves (two on each level allow an adjustment for larger...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Mahogany Empire chest of drawers, France, circa 1880.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Mahogany Empire chest of drawers, France, circa 1880.
Currently under renovation.
Wood: mahogany
dimensions: height 95 cm x width 120 cm x depth 55 cm
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
A.Carrier French bronze 19th Neapolitan musician playing a tambourine.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible A.CARRIER bronze 19th Neapolitan musician playing a tambourine.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Display Cabinet Mahogany Bijouterie, 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French Empire Style mahogany display cabinet.
circa 1880
This Excellent Quality Cabinet Stands Upon Fluted Tapered Legs With a Fluted Frieze.
The Single Glazed Door Featuring Ormo...
Category
1880s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Neoclassical Empire Style Ormolu and Lapis Lazuli Table
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical Empire style ormolu and lapis lazuli table with patinated bronze mounts,
French, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 74cm, diameter 100cm
Finely wrought in the French N...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Ormolu
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
A Pair of French Empire Style Ormolu and Bronze Candelabra, Late 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of French Empire Style Ormolu and Bronze Candelabra, Late 19th Century
Provenance: ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Late 18th C Italian Empire Double Pricket Chandelier
Located in Charleston, SC
A late-18th century Italian empire chandelier featuring two tiers supporting twelve arms. Fine chains of crystal swags hang from the candle arms, bobeches, and decorative metal leave...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Tôle
A Gilt-Bronze Mounted Empire Style Mahogany Settee
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Gilt-Bronze Mounted Empire Style Mahogany Settee.
France, Circa 1890.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Mid-19th Century Fruitwood Side Table with Doric Column Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite French Empire style fruitwood side table from the Mid-Century features a rectangular top supported by four Doric style wooden columns, with a characteristic entasis bu...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Six-Light Bowl Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful bowl chandelier is designed in the Empire style, which flourished in France in the period 1804-14, when Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor. The style is defined as a phase...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze Candlesticks, circa 1830
Located in Central England, GB
A superb pair of early 19th C French empire bronze candlesticks.
This very fine pair of early 19th century French candlesticks are...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian empire style table stand in finely crafted brass and bronze early 1900s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Table stand in finely crafted brass and bronze, early 1900s
Table stand with double display, in brass and bronze. The two brass rod displays are adjustable. The structure is...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
A Palatial 19th Century French Second Empire Ormolu Mounted Bronze Garniture Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An Palatial 19th Century French Second Empire Ormolu Mounted Bronze and Green Marble Three Piece Garniture Set
circa 1820.
Origin: France
Measures: Clock
Height 32"
Width 21"
Dept...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century French Parisian Vases
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine pair of antique porcelain vases, dating from the early 19th century in the Empire period, set on a square base and spreading socl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Empire Desk
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Large Empire mahogany desk,
France 1890-1900
Large Empire mahogany desk, veneered and with gilded bronze applications. Straight, rectangular body with central knee compartment, flan...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th-Century Flame Mahogany Mantel Clock by Breguet Raised by Lion Paw Feet
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
An extremely rare mantel clock with a figured mahogany-veneered case by A-L Breguet
Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), who was of Swiss origin, is undoubtedly the most celebrated clockmaker of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in France. He is responsible for the invention of the self-winding watch, the tourbillon and the sympathetic watch ( a watch that is placed in a cradle of a special clock. It is then linked by means of a pin fixed behind the clock dial. Built into the motion work which, when released by the clock, automatically sets the hands to the clock's time as well as correcting the watch's regulator necessitated by any degree of inaccuracy registered at the moment of synchronisation) and many other horological improvements and developments. Around the year 1807 Breguet brought in his son, Antoine-Louis (born 1776), as a business partner, and from this point, the firm became known as Breguet et Fils. Breguet had previously sent his son to London to study with the great English chronometer maker John Arnold...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Pair of French Reverse Painted Profile Silhouettes Art
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This charming set features framed silhouettes of a young woman and young man from the 19th Century on reversed glass. Wonderful addition to add to an existing collection on a wall or...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Paper
Pair of Second Empire Heavy 2 Light Bronze Sconces Wall Lights Late 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of second Empire heavy 2 light solid polished bronze dore sconces, light fixture, wall lamps from the late 19th century.
Depict face motif in the middle a...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair Bronze Candelabras - Large French Cherub Manner Clodion
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French Empire style bronze cherub candelabras
Good size to them at three feet - 91 cm - tall
Classic French Empire look, great interiors driven pair
In the manner of...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
pair of French 19th century Empire st. Rouge de France marble and Ormolu urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most decorative pair of French 19th century Empire st. Rouge de France marble and Ormolu urns. Each wonderful lidded urn is raised by an Ormolu rimmed circular marble base supporti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Empire Style Walnut Tub Chair in the Manner of Jacob Desmalter
Located in Montreal, QC
Empire Style Walnut Bergere Chair in the manner of Jacob Desmelter with nicely carved rams head resting on articulated hoof feet.
Category
1850s American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French 19th century Empire st. flame Mahogany, Ormolu and Leather desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. flame Mahogany, Ormolu and Leather desk. This exceptional desk is raised by eight Mahogany legs with superbly detailed Orm...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Antique Swedish Empire Candlesticks Made by Hand in Solid Birch
Located in Kramfors, SE
Pair of Swedish empire candlesticks from around 1840 to 1850. The candlesticks are made by hand with a frame in solid birch with elements of birch root in the candleholders and foot....
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Mahogany Empire Chest Of Drawers, Stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée, Paris c. 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Empire chest of drawers stamped Jacob Frères Rue Meslée
Paris
Mahogany
around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 92 x 131 x 63 cm
Description:
Four carved, bronze-patinated paw feet supp...
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Sèvres Porcelain Centerpiece
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fabulous Empire porcelain centerpiece.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire girandoles, France, early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of French girandoles made of burnished and partly fire-gilt bronze, on a red marble base over spherical decoration. The candelabra figures, designed as Apollo and Diana, carry...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of two-body bookcase sideboards in carved walnut - Veneto, early decen
Located in Vicenza, IT
Elegant pair of walnut sideboard-bookcases from a historic Venetian villa, where they furnished a reception room. Dating from the early nineteenth century, they are distinguished by ...
Category
Early 1800s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Nutwood, Fir
Antique French Empire Style Flame Finial Brass and Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Flame Finial Brass and Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair. Circa Early to Mid 20th Century.
Measurements: 20" H x 9" W x 16" D.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Matched Pair of French Empire Armchairs, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality near pair of French Mahogany Empire influenced armchairs. Each being upholstered in a classical damask patterned burgundy fabric, polished back rail, Dolphins carved t...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Mid 19th century Swedish birch chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish birch chest of drawers circa 1860.
Good quality Swedish commode, fitted with 3 near equally sized drawers that open on the key.
Rectangular top with moulde...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top.
Timeless elegance for your interior.
Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Brass Candelabra Lamps, 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of very fine quality 19th century brass candelabras, now converted to table lamps.
Professionally re-wired.
These have their ori...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Beautiful pair of 1940's French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Antique French Empire Period Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
These fine and large French candelabra date from the Empire period of the 19th century and beautifully contrast the different finishes of gilt ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Brass Marble Top Coffee Table
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique French brass marble top coffee table, dating from around the 1930’s.
This is of exceptional quality, the solid brass frame is beautifully designed with intricate ...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Rare Empire French Fire Gilded Center Piece Tazza Warrior Horses Harp
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
More than 200 years old showpiece for on the table. Made from glass, fire-gilt bronze and green veined marble. Beautiful horses with a warrior and mythological figures with harp and ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of John Somers 'Copo de Whisky' pewter cups
By John Somers
Located in Raleigh, US
John Somers Brazilian Pewter – Pair of 'Copo de Whisky'
Elevate your barware collection with this elegant pair of Copo de Whisky cups, crafted by the celebrated Brazilian pewter ar...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Pewter
Romantic Italian Empire Style Iron and Frosted Glass Chandelier
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Romantic Empire style iron and frosted glass chandelier having delicate draping necklaces of glass and 6 arms.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
18th Century Italian Empire Style Repousse and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional 18th century Italian Empire style Brass and crystal basket style chandelier. Featuring glistening crystals and a repousse' Greek key design around the base. Stunning!!
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
French Empire Patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Griotte Marble Vase
Located in London, GB
A magnificent quality French Empire/Directoire urn in superb original condition. Constructed of lovely patinated bronze, fire gilded Ormolu and griotte marble. In the gout d'Egypt or...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Austro-Hungarian Empire 1880 Budapest Vesta Tinder Box In .900 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
An Austro-Hungarian mechanical vesta tinder case.
Beautiful antique fusee vesta tinder case, created in Budapest Hungary around the 1880. It was crafted during the Austro-Hungarian ...
Category
1880s Hungarian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Pair of French Empire Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style malachite and gilt bronze pedestals
French, 20th Century
Height 115cm, width 35cm, depth 35cm
This pair of 20th century French pedestals is crafted fro...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Empire Style Chest of Drawers with Painted Trompe L'Oeil, France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Tall French Empire-style commode. The pine wood is painted in a faux-bois trompe l'oeil imitating mahogany. Wood columns on either side are painted a darker color.
The chest is in ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
French Empire Hand Carve Wood Painted Meridienne Daybed 18Th. C.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Empire Periode Painted Meridienne, Daybed, late 18Th C.
This Meridienne can float in a room as the back is also upholstered or be against the wall.
This fabulous large daybed...
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Chandelier. Empire style chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite and rare Empire style chandelier with elaborate gilt bronze frame and crystal pyramids and pendalogues. France, circa 1900.
Dimensions: Height 58" Diameter 34"
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Gilded Classical Wooden Column / Pedestal, 20th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
This exquisite hand-carved wooden column, adorned with gleaming gold leaf, exudes timeless elegance and grandeur. Standing at an impressive 43.9 inches (111.5 cm) tall, the column fe...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Style Patinated and Gilded Bronze Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This impressive pair of candelabra made in the era of Napoleon III in France circa 1870 are very powerful and impressive. Heavily cast with references to the classical past and profu...
Category
1870s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
Beautiful Pair of Russian Imperial Glass and Ormolu Mounted Tazza Centerpieces
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of Russian Empire Imperial Glass Manufactury and ormolu mounted white opalescent tazza centrepieces, each white opaline bowl beautifully hand cut and hand polished in flutted design with ribbed border; the Ormolu very finely hand chisseled and finished in two tome dore bronze gold...
Category
1830s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Table Box Enamel Miniature Moscow Kremlin and Red Square Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular shaped table box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fine hand-engravings fire enameled hand-painted like lapis lazuli stone and beautiful hand-painted enameled ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
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
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Vintage Metal Wagons
Wiener Werkstatte Textile
Wood Handrail
Wood Tobacco Figure
146 X 12
18th Century French Bronze Putto
18th Century Copper Bowl
1960 Wrought Iron Dining Table With Glass
19th Century Italian Marble Clocks
5 Ft Sofa
606 Art
7 Ft Mirror
77 Etched
A G S Mirror
Albert Dammouse
Altar Fruit
Angel Table Marble
Anri Italy