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.
33
4,366
145
111
to
447
2,632
1,811
4,622
4,543
4,564
191,848
115,683
41,408
31,970
15,024
11,457
10,265
10,153
9,412
8,652
7,217
7,121
6,228
5,829
5,549
5,137
4,622
3,527
275
2,888
1,203
256
463
287
193
117
21
82
54
34
50
46
47
33
19
2,468
1,953
1,451
991
851
3,805
2,585
386
242
178
40
28
24
18
15
Style: Empire
Patinated and Dore Bronze Empire/Neo-Grec French Side Table, Att. F. Barbedienne
Located in New York, NY
A Beautifully Designed Small Patinated and Dore Bronze French Side Table, Attributed to F. Barbedienne, the Magnificent French Metalworker and Manufacturer. This beautifully cast an...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Empire Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
Early 20th century Empire lacquered walnut dolphin center table.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Empire Bowl w Winged Lady's and Dolphins Base Gold Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare find of this centerpiece bowl in a golden Dore' finish. With two winged nude Angles for handles. All supported by four Dolphins in a bronze patina finish. Still has the Origin...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Table Mirror, France Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Table mirror in mahogany on oak with brass urn-shaped pinnacles and four drawers.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt-Bronze Candlesticks, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of French early 19th century Empire gilt-bronze candlesticks, circa 1820
Pair of Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, each with a fluted stem, highlighted on top by a finely chas...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique Black and White Wedgwood Jasperware Urn Table Lamps
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of antique black and white Wedgwood jasperware urn table lamps. Listing includes porcelain urn form bodies, wooden base, dual sockets, whi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Tavolino quadrato intarsio scagliola, base marmo giallo fatta a mano in Italia
Located in Rimini, IT
Handmade coffee table with artistical decoration on the square top and carved edge made precious by gold leaf finishing. Royal Yellow marble base.
T...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Scagliola, Wood
Set of Seventeen Framed Giovanni Donegani Engravings
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Newly framed set of 17 engraved plans of architecture, irrigation, daming, etc by Giovanni Donegani.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Pair of Empire Wall Sconces in Bronze with Flower Basket Motif, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of nice sconces. Each fixture requires a European E14 candelabra bulb, bulb up to 40 watts. Each wall light has a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement. Mad...
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Style Painted Console Table, Mid 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful vintage French Empire style painted gilded and ormolu mounted console table, Mid 20th century in date.
The rectangular faux marble top with an ormolu plaque to t...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Style Ormolu Bronze 'Ceres' Mantel
Clock, After Thomire
Located in Madrid, ES
Following a model by early 19th century Paris sculptor and bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire, and showcasing many of the neoclassical design elements common to the Empire Style popula...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Charles X Inlaid Walnut & Brass Sofa, 1910s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Important sofa in transition style between empire and Charles X. Walnut wood veneer, brass inlays and small parts.
Category
1880s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Neoclassical Style Console Table, Refinished, Bronze, Celebrity Provenance
Located in Stamford, CT
Neoclassical style console table, Refinished, bronze, Celebrity provenance
A walnut and parcel bronze and iron two-legged console table with a pink and gray marble top in the Neo...
Category
1890s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal
Bar Stool in Black Finish with Gold Leaf Finish and Blue Italian Fabric
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Exquisite empire-style bar stool in black finish with gold leaf applications. This seating item, which goes with the Modenese Home Bar set, has a damascus...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Empire Style Pair of Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
Empire style crystal prism wall sconces, 20th c., having reflective white metal wall plate, fitted with gilt metal mounts, hung with strands of hexago...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
French Empire Style Table Lamps by Stiffel, a Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Bradenton, FL
A pair of French Empire style table lamps made by Stiffel. Brass columns are turned with large ceramic fonts in white trimmed in gold. Bases are decorated with dentils on a square ba...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early American Classical Empire Period Flame Mahogany Sewing Stand Work Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare fine quality Federal period American Empire flame mahogany sewing stand work table from the early 19th century.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in the northeastern United States, most likely Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1820, having a hinged top, opening to reveal contrasting Birdseye maple marquetry oval cartouche inlay, a fitted maple divided compartment interior, the front having two nicely shaped curved drawer fronts, consisting of a faux drawer front over a single dovetailed ogee drawer, above a vasiform pedestal standard, molded stepped platform base, rising on bracket feet, resting on casters.
Attractive highly figured crotch cut swirl mahogany with striking grain patterns, rich and deep antique wood color...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Female Caryatids Candlesticks
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Gilt Bronze Female Busts Candlesticks, circa 1820
A beautiful pair of Empire gilt-bronze ormolu c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Light Fixture
Located in Hudson, NY
Designed as a shallow gadrooned bowl with six gilded bronze arms currently not wired and used as a candle fixture but can easily be wired for an additional charge if the customer des...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
Late 19th Century French Empire Style Walnut Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Standing at 44.5 inches in height, this tall late nineteenth century French Empire style walnut console table features columns at the front corners and a Saint Anne marble top. A sin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Large Antique French Empire Style Bronze and Marble Figural Clock
Located in New York, NY
A Large Antique French Empire style figural patinated bronze, gilt bronze and green marble clock depicting two neoclassical figures.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Walnut Nightstand Side Table
Located in Madrid, ES
French Empire side or night table, in walnut wood and original black marble top, a drawer and a cabinet door, with original classic gilded bronze, representing leaves, capitals on it...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Very Fine Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very Elegant gilt bronze empire style chandelier. Exquisite detail. 4 lights.
France, circa 1920. Measures: Height 27 1/2" Diameter 16"
CW5101.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Late Empire Armchairs in Birch from the 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
A pair of Late Empire birch armchairs, upholstered in red fabric and from around the 1840s, make a beautiful and period feature in any interior with their classic look and historic c...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Birch
19th Century Bleached Mahogany Empire Style Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant 19th century Empire style carved and bleached mahogany buffet with grey marble top. This piece has beautiful wood grain and nice storage inside. Lovely!!
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique Empire Table with Flaps and Marquetry in Birch Wood from 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
The Empire dining table, an antique piece featuring intricate intarsia work, crafted from birch wood and originating from Denmark in 1840, is a remarkable testament to the craftsmans...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
19th Century French Empire desk Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful upright secrétaire from the French Empire period. The desk is made of oak with burr walnut veneer, decorated with bronze ormolu elements. These are typical of the French Em...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Three Candelabras Bouillotte Lamp Tole Shade
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical bronze three candelabras Bouillotte lamp with two Edison sockets and dark forest green tole shade.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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-chiseled details.
The backplate of this sconce is a central round plate wit...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Napoleonic Silverplated Tray by Christofle circa 1850
By Christofle
Located in New York, US
Our Christofle silverplated tray features fine engraved designs including the French coat-of-arms, and Napoleonic cipher and imperial bees. Reverse has the maker's mark in oval carto...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Empire Style Ebonized Cross-Sword Bench with Gilt Highlights
Located in San Francisco, CA
the rectangular upholstered seat above an ebonized wooden frame raised on splayed swords with gilt handles; newer upholstery
Category
1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Mid Century Terracotta Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in HEVERLEE, BE
Rare terracotta sunburst mirror with a convex mirror glass.
The mirror is in a good vintage condition.
1960s - Belgium
Dimensions:
Diameter: 42cm/16.53"
Diameter glass: ...
Category
1960s Belgian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Terracotta, Mirror
19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine 19th century French Empire period side table or nightstand made of solid walnut and veneer of walnut and finished on all four sides. Book matched veneers with beautiful swirli...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Pair of French Empire Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th century) bronze wall sconces with 5 arms, swan tops and a double ball design (Priced as pair).
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Empire Console Tables
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A large pair of Empire console tables with green marble tops and large scale ormolu mounts.
With symmetrical eagle motifs on the legs an...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
After E. Lancere, E. Naps, Tsar's Falconer, Patinated Bronze Sculpture, ca. 1890
By Evgeny Aleksandrovich Lansere
Located in New York, NY
Sculpture: Tsar's Falconer.
Description: Excellent and detailed quality of the composition, very lifelike, finely detailed representation of a Tsar’s falconer, a main personage of every Tsar's grand hunting event.
Designer; Evgeny Alexandrovich Lansere (1848 - 1886) was a famous Russian sculptor of the 19th century; Lansere came from a family who came to Russia from France; he studied with the animal sculptor Nikolai Iwanowitsch Lieberich and specialized in the representation of horses and riders. In search of appropriate motifs, he traveled through the interior of both European and Asian Russia every year, and Algeria in 1883.
Artist: Evgeny Ivanovich...
Category
1890s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany Bow Front Chest Dresser with Bronze Paw Feet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire style mahogany bow front chest dresser with bronze paw feet. Item features cast bronze metal paw feet, bowed front, lion head pulls, solid wo...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1970 Post-Modern Pair Brass Porcelain Wall Lights with Lampshades
Located in Brescia, IT
This elegant and glamourous two lights wall light in pink lilac color, it is part of the latest pieces manufactured by a well known Italian factory during the 1970' and then left in...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Lamp
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great quality 19th century gilt bronze lamp with finely chased neoclassical detailing. Tripod base supports a tapered shaft with decorative mounts, surmounted by a 'petal' form top...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Italian Solid Silver Empire Style Sugar Bowl on Feet
Located in VALENZA, IT
Important Italian sugar bowl in 800 solid silver made in Florence.
The Empire style is characterized by the Classic leaves, embossed and finely chis...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Vert Patricia Marble Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble clock, signed Armingault à Paris. The clock is raised by an impressive rectang...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Extremely Fine Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Center Table
Located in New York, NY
An extremely fine Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany center table, circa 1820-1830.
Very finely mounted with crisp ormolu throughout, with bronze female figures, foliate scrolling, lions head...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Amethyst, Quartz, Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Inlaid Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
French 19th century Marquetry two-drawer commode with a wonderful marble top.
Featuring wonderful inlaid decoration, this commode conveys typical Empire styles.
A great storage pi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Empire Mahogany Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Empire style mahogany veneered console table with two drawers. Fine geometric herringbone inlays throughout and raised on tapering square legs and a Y-frame stretcher.
Dime...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Empire mahogany armchair makes an ideal style statement for the tailored, more formal decor. Handcrafted from exot...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Niermann Weeks Empire Style Large Crystals and Metal Wall Sconce or Lantern
Located in Plainview, NY
An elegant iron and crystal wall sconce or lantern by Niermann Weeks. The sconce is made of solid metal and crystals in a timeless Empire style fashion. The sconce features a plume c...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Iron
French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Portico Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu portico clock. The clock raised on a rectangular base with finely chased borders and satin and burnish finish interlocking circ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Bronze Chandelier
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Empire patinated and gilt bronze six-light chandelier with acanthus leaf decoration and acorn finials.
Category
1880s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Set of Antique French Mirrored Double Doors
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A beautiful set of handcrafted early 20th century French antique mirror doors. These were salvaged from an apartment in Paris and feature origin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mirror, Pine
19th Century Italian Empire Walnut Side Table with Brass Gallery
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome 19th century Italian Empire style walnut side table with brass gallery. A quality piece with a beautiful finish. Perfect for the...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th century French Empire Marble Top Enfilade
Located in Charleston, SC
Great quality 19th century French empire marble top enfilade with bronze mounts and white marble top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very important Empire style chandelier. Gilt bronze & patinated bronze. Exquisite Detail. Unusually large size. France, circa 1920.
Measures: Height 48" Diameter 38"
CW5184.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
A Russian Empire Carved Gilt Wood and Faux Malachite Painted Mantel Clock
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very nice and charming carved gilt wood and faux painted malachite empire clock. Probably Russian.
Ça. 1820-30. The figure probably of the Greek goddess HYGIEIA. She was one of the daughters of the god of medicine...
Category
1820s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
Antique Empire Period Bronze Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An elegant French Empire bronze and marble table lamp, circa 1820 in date.
The candlestick later converted into a lamp features an ancanthus capital, a fluted tapering column on c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style White and Gold Pair of Armchairs, Sharkskin Style Trim, 1950s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire style white carved wood with gold highlights pair of armchairs.
Standing on two front tapered legs and two back saber legs. Straight apron and uprights, rectangular backseat ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Specimen Marble Console Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Extraordinary 20th century French Empire style console table.
This table is after a design by Jacob-Desmalter. The rectangular specimen top has a beautiful chequered design of hardstones and rare marbles in a variety of colours.
The top is supported over an elaborate carved giltwood frame. Four female caryatids support a frieze of finely carved flowing c-scrolls and delicate leaves, with lovely gilt accents throughout. The whole rests on a plinth base with a faux marble panel...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century, French, Empire Bronze Dore Inkwell Signed
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-style (19th century) bronze dore rectangular inkwell on 4 clawed feet with relief (signed BARBEDIENNE).
Category
19th Century 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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Vintage Flower Button
Black Lacquered China Cabinet
Black Lacquer China Cabinet
Antique Wooden Lock
Brass Shelf Display
Brass Display Shelf
Campaign Style Cabinet
Vintage Receipt
Black Glass Display Case
Burled Walnut Cabinets
Wooden Display Case
Zenith Used
Charms Golden
Vintage 90S Patterns
Wooden Cabinet Pulls
Vintage Glass Panel Doors
Vintage Glass Panel Door
Black Gold Rug