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
Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Wall Sconces, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire gold bronze wall sconces, circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Painted Iron Bench, 19th Century, French
Located in El Monte, CA
A highly decorative and unique 19th century French empire painted and parcel gilt cast iron upholstered bench.
Parcel gilt border is of a rich gold with warm red undertone painting jester...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Empire Bronze and Glass Chandelier with Beliers
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Empire bronze and glass chandelier with beliers.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
a Pair of Newly Upholstered French Empire Armchairs One Stamped J. Louis
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic pair of French Empire period open armchairs in well figured and carved mahogany; each with a square back topped by a bow shaped carved frieze featuring folliate rosettes and downscrolled arms. Where the arms join the chair rail there are carved anthemians and palmettes. These two chairs are presented in the green Empire fabric...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of large Empire style Giltwood Upholstered Armchairs Fauteuils
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage (20th century) hand-carved giltwood armchairs in the French Empire style with lovely red upholstered seats, seatbacks and armrests with petit point embroidered flora...
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century Metal Cookie Cutter, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish early 19th Century metal double-sided cookie cutter.
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Empire Style Four Light Green Painted & Gilt Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire style, green paint decorated four-light colza form chandelier, having gilt bronze foliate accents, with torch-form arms. France, circa 1900. 4 lights.
Dimensions: Height 26",...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Magnificent French Empire Napoleonic Sevres Porcelain Gilt Bronze Pedestals Pair
Located in New York, NY
An exceptionally large and magnificent pair of French Empire Napoleonic Sèvres porcelain gilt bronze mounted pedestals. These are a exceptionally beautiful pair of 19th century 24-karat raised gold decorated, gilt bronze-mounted, onyx and Sèvres porcelain pedestals...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Mid-19th Century, French, Gilt Bronze Monkey Chef
Located in London, GB
A fantastically modelled gilt bronze monkey chef, he stands proudly on a black polished stone base.
Category
1840s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Pewter Plate with Handle – "Les étains de la tour" - 2Y225
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Condition: Pre-owned
Comments: Good condition for its age. Shows signs of use with scratches throughout and some oxidation. Needs polishing. Please refer to the photos for more detai...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pewter
$274 Sale Price
55% Off
Antique French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Buffet with Bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire mahogany marble top buffet with bronze is an exquisite example of fine French cabinetry, with the emphasis on the finest mater...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in bronze, early 19th Century France, originally candlesticks.
Includes new black lacquer lampshade with gold details, giving the lamp a warm and ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of First-Empire Period 2-Handled Porcelain Vases with Westall Venus Scenes
By Porcelaine de Paris, Richard Westall
Located in New York, NY
An incredible and rare pair of French Paris Porcelain First-Empire Period Winged Sphynx-form double- handled porcelain vases with mythological scenes of Venus and Cupids after Richar...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Wood & Marble Pedestal, C.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late 19th century French ormolu mounted Empire-style pedestal, cast and figurine depicting a Greek goddess along with sculpted heads overlaid with flora. The middle design de...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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
$2,080 Sale Price
20% Off
Empire Centre Table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Empire Centre Table
A large French Empire centre table in figured mahogany with ormolu mounts, bronze feet and the original dished yellow-veined da...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$12,747
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
$1,616 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine and Rare French Empire Clock of Cupid as Magician Uncovering Flaming Hearts
Located in London, GB
Fine and rare French Empire ormolu clock of Cupid as magician, uncovering flaming hearts with the 3 cup trick. The shaped base with four tal...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Birch and Morocco Leather Pedestal Desk in the French Empire Manner
Located in London, GB
A pedestal desk in the French Empire manner
of freestanding breakfront form with everted angles, constructed in birchwood, and burr birchwood, having bronze accents drawn from the...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Italian Empire cabinet from the early 19th century
Located in Cesena, FC
Antique Italian Empire cabinet from the early 19th century
Small empire cabinet, particular cabinet from the empire era (circa 1840).
Italian, with entire column, ebonized and brass...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Empire Green Patinated Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of late 19th Century French empire style double lights sconces, green patinated bronze.
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
$49,613 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Large Fuseau Vases in Porcelaine de Paris, Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Large pair of painted fuseau vases in Porcelaine de Paris from the Empire period. The neck and the pedestal of the vases are in burnished gold and feature laurel crowns and stylized ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
C1810 Petite French Empire Commode with Grey Marble Top & Ormolu Mounts
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
C1810 Petite French Empire Commode with Grey Marble Top Ormolu Mounts
Unique piece purchased in France.
Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos.
Message us with any questions.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Balkans Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Mahogany Nightstand
Located in Forney, TX
A rare antique Balkans Empire style marble-top bedside cabinet. circa 1830
Born in Southeastern Europe in the first half of the 19th century, most like...
Category
Mid-19th Century Balkan Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Handsome Empire inspired leather and iron table lamp by Maitland Smith
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a vintage empire inspired leather and iron table lamp by Maitland Smith. This table lamp has the classic three arrows forged together in the center with a rope design. The tr...
Category
Early 2000s Philippine Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
19th Century French Empire Dore Bronze Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Empire doré bronze clock, France, 1880s.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Gilt Antique Friezes from France
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Pair of antique golden friezes with olive branches. They are from the French Empire period and are perfect.
ref. O/7147.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
$1,791 / set
Large Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux 1872 bronze "Le genie de la Danse" france.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible rare and large bronze for JEAN-Baptiste CARPEAUX 1872 representing "Le GENIE de la Danse".
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage 20th-Century Large Watercolor Signed Samuele 92 - 2Y185
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This stunning large watercolor painting, signed by Samuele in 1992, beautifully captures a serene landscape of a river surrounded by a lush forest. The artwork showcases the artist's...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
$155 Sale Price
55% Off
Pair Of French Faceted Flower Decorated and Signed Opaline Table Lamps
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of antique French faceted flower decorated and signed opaline table lamps
These are 19th century oil lamps converted it electrified table lamps.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Opaline Glass
$912 Sale Price
73% Off
French Empire-Style Bronze Column Table Lamp with Gilt Detailing, Circa 1840
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Empire-style table lamp began its life circa 1840 as a finely cast bronze column, likely part of a decorative candlestick, architectural mount, or garniture element. Now ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Period Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Psyche Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most detailed French 19th century Empire period ormolu mounted mahogany Psyche mirror. The mirror is raised by an impressive ormolu support below a thick mahogany b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Gueridon
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This amazing large Gueridon tripod is made of flamed mahogany with gilt claw feet and inlay.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$8,180
An Empire Style Table de Salon, with Tiger's Eye Gemstone Top
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Table de Salon, with Tiger's Eye Gemstone Top.
The rectangular top is veneered in Tiger's Eye gemstone in radiating geometric patterns. ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Vintage French Empire Mahogany Side Chairs with Bronze "Sphinx" Ormolu - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Side Chairs with Bronze "Sphinx/Lion" Ormolu - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 35.5" H x 18" W x 20" D x 19.5" Seat height.
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Brass Candelabra Bouillotte Desk Lamp w/ Tole Metal Shade
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Brass Candelabra Small Bouillotte Desk Lamp with Burgundy Painted Oval Tole Metal Shade. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 21" H (to finial) x 11" H (to li...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Danish Giltwood Armchair by Gustav Friederich Hetsch
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very decorative and large giltwood armchair after a design by the famous Danish Architect Gustav Friedrich Hetsch, (1788-1964). The German born architect worked mostly in Copenhage...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Fine Quality Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A highly decorative pair of 19th century French Empire gilt bronze and patinated bronze lamps on square base. Each of the four sides of the base having a reef design. The rest of the...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
$10,240 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Russian 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Deux-Corps Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and grand scale Russian 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu Deux-Corps cabinet. The cabinet is raised by fine ball feet encased by handsome ormolu claws. Ab...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Vintage Tapestry Depicting an Exotic Bird 7.9X5.2
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
French Grisaille (Grey) Tapestry Portrait of Napoleon Bicorne Hat & Greatcoat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Grisaille (Grey) Tapestry Portrait of Napoleon Bicorne Hat and Greatcoat
France, circa 1920s
Capture a piece of French history with this exquisite Grisaille (Grey) Tapestry ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$592 Sale Price
33% Off
Sevres Pink Ground Porcelain Lamps, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Sevres Pink Ground Gilt Metal Mounted Porcelain Lamps, late 19th century, each of ovoid form, with scrolled eagle head handles, the bodies painted with panels of cupid at pla...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$850 / set
French Empire Style Custom Made Cabinet
Located in Bradenton, FL
A French Empire style custom made cabinet, hand made by Lion Crest Woodworking of Sarasota, FL. The cabinet top has rounded edges with a decorative beaded section in front. A single ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Late 19th Century Barometer
By Selon Torricelli
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French late 19th century barometer.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
19th Century French Empire Style Salesman Sample
Located in Dallas, TX
Charming French late 19th century Empire style salesman sample. Makes a fine accessory.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Monumental 20th Century Classic Cascade Chandelier
Located in Bagshot, GB
Monumental 20th century classic cascade chandelier with gold metal banding and glass beads.
Have included an image of the chandelier in its original Location, Belgravia, London from...
Category
Late 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
$16,537 Sale Price
25% Off
Pair of Early 1800s Empire Baccarat Crystal and Bronze Tazza Centerpieces
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
This pair of Empire-style tazza centerpieces showcases a sophisticated blend of finely cast bronze and Baccarat crystal in a striking three-tier structure. Each tazza is grounded by a solid bronze base, supporting tiers of Baccarat crystal bowls...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Book in French: En Famille by Victor Coupin - 2Y97
Located in Bordeaux, FR
En Famille by Victor Coupin is a literary work exploring family dynamics and relationships. The book reflects Coupin's insights into familial themes and societal norms of its time.
...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
$138 Sale Price
60% Off
French Empire Style 19th Century Walnut Chest with Drop Front Desk, Two Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut chest from the 19th century with drop front desk and two additional drawers. This elegant French Empire style walnut chest from the 19th century exudes c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Empire Style Porphyry Marble Top Center Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive good quality 19th Century French Empire influenced Gueridon, having a rare Porphyry marble top, wonderful hand carved gilt wood decoration to the frieze of Oak leav...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porphyry
19th Century French Empire Pedestals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Strong and sturdy. Gilt and paint possibly not original. They have been waxed and look beautiful.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
$6,950 / set
Empire Salon Suite, France 1810, Manner of Jacob Desmalter (1770-1841)
Located in Leimen, DE
Empire Salon Suite, France 1810
Step back in time to the opulent era of 19th-century France with the exquisite Elegant Empire Salon Suite, crafted i...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Allegorical Clock Depicting Roman Triumph and Power
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A figural gilt bronze French Empire clock, ‘Allegory to Triumph and Power’. A Roman emperor stands to the right of the central rectangular plinth housing the movement; atop the plint...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Gold Gilt Empire Style Lamp
Located in Tampa, FL
A single gold gilt lamp in the Empire style. It is very nicely gilded and at the bottom has company name. The lamp has the original plugs, socket and ha...
Category
1940s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Gilt Bronze Empire Figural Basket
Located in Atlanta, GA
First quarter 19th century, in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire (French, 1751–1843), gilt bronze and marble, figural basket, possibly Nike, holding aloft a flared, reticulated b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Continental Empire Style Burl Wood and Ebonized Side Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome early 20th century Continental Empire style burl wood side table. Very fine finish on this piece with ebonized details and pretty hardware. An elegant piece!
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Bronze Garden Urns, French Architectural Empire Vases, 20th Century
Located in Southall, GB
A stunning pair of French Empire style garden urns in bronze, 20th century. Amazing architectural pair, can you imagine these in your garden overflowing with flowers. Stand in at nea...
Category
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$10,473 Sale Price / set
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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