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.
Pair Fine Brass Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier Crystal Lustre Lamp Antique
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Antique Empire Sac-à-Perle Chandeliers – Lovingly and Professionally Restored This stunning pair of antique chandeliers has been carefully and expertly restored in Berlin. T...
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Empire Secretary in Mahogany Veneer, France, Circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary in mahogany veneer with two-door bottom part as well as dark marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with brown leather there are more drawers and co...
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...
Birch
French Empire Solid Walnut & Marble Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An impressive French Empire buffet made of figured walnut in a rich auburn hue that coordinates with the dark marble top surface for a classic look. The stone shows pockets of dark g...
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately 19th century mahogany secretaire a abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal St. Anne marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron. Just below the top drawer, the front of the desk folds forward to reveal a work area inset with vibrant red leather detailed with gold tooling. The leather is in great antique condition making this a comfortable place to work. When open, you can see the theatre is equipped with five drawers and a large, arched top cubby flanked with column forms. With the desk down the maximum depth is 32”; the writing surface is 28-½” above the floor. The desk front...
Marble, Brass
$6,617Sale Price|20% Off
Plafonnier Crystal Chandelier Brass Lustre Ceiling Antique Art Nouveau
Located in Berlin, DE
Exquisite Antique Chandelier: A restored masterpiece from the past Discover the charm of a bygone era with our carefully restored antique chandelier, a true labor of love from Berli...
Crystal, Brass
French Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style brass and crystal glass basket chandelier. Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has an or...
Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Secretary, Germany, 1820 A magnificent Empire-style secretary crafted in walnut veneer over coniferous wood, with ebonized accents and partial gilding. This piece showcases t...
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Bleached Cherry Side Table
Located in Carmine, TX
Empire side table hand-made in France in the early 1800s using cherry wood. The table is very elegant in lines featuring very straight edges couple with soft, curved legs and hand-tu...
Cherry
$8,000Sale Price|20% Off
French Empire Style Mahogany Daybed with Ormolu Mounts and Velvet Upholstery
Located in Chicago, IL
20th century French Empire style mahogany daybed on casters with ormolu gilt bronze mounts in floral/thistle decoration and original wood jo...
Ormolu
19th Century Large Mahogany Mirror
Located in Casteren, NL
Large mirror made of mahogany, the mirror itself consists of two panels in a large mahogany frame with two candleholders on each side. Originates...
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
Unique chest of drawers featuring Flame Mahogany case and adorned with cast bronze busts of female beauty. Top feature hand cut brass fenders to prevent objects from rolling. Lion he...
Bronze
Circa 1850 Antique French Aubusson Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique French Aubusson Pillow
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Gold French Empire Gilded Bronze Table Clock, Antique Pendulum
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold, antique French table clock, pendulum made of hand crafted fire-gilded bronze, in good condition. The circular enamel dial of the Pa...
Metal, Bronze
1930s Hickory Chair Empire Klismos Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs
By Hickory Chair Furniture Company
Located in Germantown, MD
1930s Hickory Chair Company Empire Klismos style Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs. Measure 18" in width, 21" in depth 34.5" tall. Seat height is 18".
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Empire Clock, Miniature Matelot "Au Bon Sauvage", circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Miniature Empire Bronze Clock - Matelot Paris fire-gilded and patinated bronze early 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 18 x 14 x 9 cm Description: Very rare miniature of the famous Pendule Matelot "Au Bon Sauvage". The depiction deals with an important topic of the time, trade with the colonies. The rectangular base stands on pressed ball feet. Attached to the front, we see two cornucopias filled with exotic fruits and held by a bow. A young sailor, dressed in a raffia skirt and feather jewellery...
Bronze
Elegant and useful Wall Shelf in brass in Empire style from the 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant and useful Wall Shelf in brass in Empire style from the 19th Century. Perfect in the kitchen for vinegar and oil or in the hallway for gloves or keys. Wear consistent with a...
Brass
Richard Ginori Pittoria Italy "Pincio Green" 103 Piece Dinner Set, Circa 1980
Located in CH
Richard Ginori “Pincio Green” Dinner Set This exquisite Pincio Green dinner set by Richard Ginori is distinguished by an imperial green band enriched with gold flowers and leaves, bordered by a green ribbon and a delicate pattern of small gold arches, all set against a pristine white porcelain background. Each piece in the set bears the Richard Ginori green...
Porcelain
French Empire Day Bed or Window Seat Upholstered in Linen on Walnut Frame
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French Empire day bed or window seat from the late 19th century featuring an elegant frame of patinated walnut often associated with the L...
Wood, Linen, Upholstery, Walnut
Early 19th Century Ormolu Mantel Clock, Atala freeing Chactas, Paris, circa 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Mantel Clock "Atala and Chactas" Paris Bronze (fire-gilt and patinated), enamel Empire around 1810 Dimensions: H x W x D: 40 x 32 x 11 cm Description: Very rare and extremely high quality French mantel clock, so-called Pendule Au Bon Sauvage. Depicted are scenes from the love story "Atala or the love of two savages in the desert" written by Francois René Vicomte de Chateaubriand in 1801. At the beginning of the 19th century, this was probably the most famous love story in Europe, but today it has been forgotten. The story, set in present-day Louisiana (USA), is roughly rewritten about the forbidden love between Chactas, a young Indian, and Atala, the beautiful daughter of a Spaniard. Chactas is captured in a battle between two Indian tribes, chained to a palm tree and is to be sacrificed. Atala wants to save his life and convert him to Christianity. She unties him from the palm tree at night and they flee together into the wilderness of North America. Their love for each other grows stronger and stronger and they have prospects for a future together. The story takes a tragic turn when Atala, who must remain a virgin due to a vow made by her mother, can no longer withstand the conflict of her feelings and commits suicide. The main group of characters thus shows Chacta's liberation through Atala. Atala is leaning against a pile of logs. The animal fur thrown over the logs and the weapons leaning against the stack on the right give the impression of a night camp. The bronze is of rarely beautiful quality, finely chiselled and makes the scene appear very lively. The contrast of fire-gilded and patinated bronze adds tension to the composition. In the base we see the Entombment as the end of the tragic love story. This bronze work is also very detailed, the interplay of bright and matt gilding makes the flat relief appear much deeper than it is. The depiction of the mantel clock presented here shows that the exotic was only known from stories and that the bronzier had his own ideas about the appearance of this distant world. The Indian, for example, has very European facial features and his skin was not black in reality, of course. The palm tree was also certainly not found in the North American wilderness. The heart of the clock is a French pendulum movement, integrated into the wooden pile, with an eight-day power reserve and a lock plate striking a bell on the half and full hour. The pendulum is suspended on a thread, typical of the period. The classically shaped hands, so-called Breguet hands, are also typical of the time. The enamelled dial has black Roman hour numerals, Arabic quarter hours and bears the signature: Le Roy hr. de Madame A PARIS. Interesting facts: The period from 1795 to about 1815 saw the creation of probably the most spectacular group of bronzes: The "Au bon Sauvage" pendulums - depictions of the "Noble Savage". Today's viewers react to these objects with both fascination and irritation. Enthusiastic on the one hand about the obvious quality of the detailed bronzes and the allure of the exotic, on the other hand distanced and cautious because of the possible discrimination that is suspected behind them. The ambivalence of this feeling motivates the search for the conditions of origin of these pendulums. Europeans found their new ideal of the natural man primarily in fictional and realistic travelogues about the Indians of North America...
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Paris Porcelain Tea Service with Rich Gilt Decoration
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This refined Paris porcelain tea service dates from the early 19th-century and beautifully reflects the elegance and technical mastery of F...
Porcelain, Paint
Empire Mahogany and Parcel-Gilt X-form Bench, France, circa 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Empire mahogany and parcel-gilt bench, with X-shaped frame in the neoclassical taste. Dating from the first quarter of the 1800s, and most likely French in origin. Similar stools ...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Empire Tub Armchair
Located in Belmont, MA
Empire Tub Armchair in Mahogany with New Upholstery, Circa 1820 Unique Empire tub armchair, crafted circa 1820 in rich mahogany with finely carved decorat...
Mahogany
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Silk, Mahogany
Pair of Snake Handled Meissen Urns
By Meissen Porcelain, Ernst August Leuteritz
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Stylish and chic pair of Meissen urns in Classic glazed white porcelain with gold accents. These urns are classical in form and feature entwined snakes as ...
Porcelain
Early 19th Century French Empire Pendule Portefaix circa 1810 Paris
Located in Münster, DE
Paris, Empire, c. 1810, bronze body, fire-gilt and patinated, designed by Jean-André Reiche in 1808, 8-day movement, enamel dial with Roman numerals, figure of the wearer on an oval ...
Bronze, Enamel
French 19th Century Gold Empire Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Empire mirror (c. 1800) is symmetrical to hang in either direction, exhibiting low-relief floral decorations that leave ample space for the gilt molding to reveal its red...
Gold
Italian Empire Style Commode
Located in Houston, TX
1900s Italian Empire mahogany chest of drawers with gilt bronze ormolu, keys and black marble top.
Marble, Ormolu
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty 6X5.2
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...
Wool, Cotton
French Empire Monumental Walnut and Velvet Throne Chair
Located in Queens, NY
"French Empire style (19th Cent) monumental walnut throne chair with carved figure with wreath and red cut velvet upholstery Antique condition. Show...
Walnut, Velvet
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire-Style Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An outstanding French Empire-style mahogany accent table with a unique basket wrapped around the pedestal. A circular wood top with raised trim rests on an apron housing two small dr...
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire-Style Dressing Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This exceptional mahogany dressing table is complete with its original mercury glass pivoting mirror and white marble top. The mirror exhibits some foxing and is framed with beautifu...
Ormolu
Putti Face Empire Chandelier Crystal Gold Basket Antique Brass Classic
Located in Berlin, DE
Restored Crystal Chandelier – Handcrafted Elegance We are offering a unique, fully restored chandelier in excellent condition: Completely restored, including fully renewed wiring Ha...
Crystal, Brass, Wire
20th Century Wood with Marble Top Italian Empire Style Dresser, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian chest of drawers from the mid-20th century. Cantù production furniture carved and veneered in walnut, burl, beech, mahogany and fruitwood in Empire style. Commode with four l...
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 ...
Wood
$5,577 / item
Empire Stellar Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Empire style round dining table with beech and quartered walnut veneer and a stellar parquetry inlaid top with a molded edge on a tapered octagonal column base and quatrefoil concave...
Wood
Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Box Empire Style Floral Motif
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. Its inside is gold plated. Its shape is reminiscent of a book and lid and bottom are covered in a unique floral ornamental desi...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Exquisite Pair of Early 19th Century Armchairs
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Pair of Early 19th Century Armchairs, Walnut, France 1800 Introducing an Exquisite Pair of Early 19th Century Armchairs, a true testament to the elegance and craftsmanship of the Em...
Walnut
19th Century Antique Rustic Swedish Original Painted Empire Table Mirror
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish antique Empire rustic vanity mirror / table mirror. The Mirror has original paint in colorful color. This orginal painted mirror ha...
Pine
Swedish Empire Center Table
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top with wood edge surrounding a geometric mosaic of hard stones raised on a triangular tapered column and tripartite base with gilded scroll feet. From the estate of Willia...
Marble
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire (19th century) buffet made of rich flamed, bookmatched mahogany. The original Saint Anne marble top of charcoal stone with gray and white veining is removable. Below ...
Marble, Brass
French Empire Enfilade or Sideboard Console of Flame Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
An elegant French Empire enfilade or sideboard console server of flame mahogany with original marble top, from the 19th century, featuring a frieze showing four drawers with reflecti...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Small and Lovely Napoleon / Empire Style Bronze Chandelier / Pendant Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare size chandelier from the 1920s. If you look at the shape of the centre and the shape of the arms that grow out of this pendant then you capture the essence of it. It is stylish...
Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE STYLE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK Composed of 19th century elements ref. 501GWU22P 45 7/8" H x 32 1/8" W x 15 5/8" D; writing area is 15" D x 26 1/8" W Thi...
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Empire Guéridon Table with Marble Top
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany and bronze guéridon table on triple swan leg platform with stretcher, gallery, and green marble top.
Bronze
An Antique French Empire Style Gilt Brass And Patinated Bronze Lantern
Located in London, GB
A large Empire style lantern in patinated bronze with gilt brass accents. Four curved glass panels, decorative scrolled inner branch arms. Gilt br...
Brass, Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Bibliothéque Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire flame mahogany 2 door bibliothèque cabinet with with wire mesh and tapered square column sides having gilt bronze trim with classical heads.
Bronze
Vintage Crystal Brass Basket Chandelier Ceiling Light With Tassels France, 1960s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Vintage Ceiling Light for 1 light point. Brass frame and crystal pendants. Manufactured in France. This beautiful chandelier has a classic style and is made of high quality materia...
Crystal, Brass
French Antique Stately Bronze Napoleon on Prancing Horse Sculpture, Marble Base
Located in Lisse, NL
Handcrafted. Practical size sculpture of imperator Napoleon Bonaparte. If you are a collector of good quality antiques having to do with (French) historical figures then this rare a...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Three-Tired Chandelier, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire style crystal glass and brass three-tired chandelier, the 1930s. Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1930s. This lovely...
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Pair of Empire Period Porcelain Campana Vases, Parisian, circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine pair of Paris porcelain vases, designed in campana form with the front featuring circular vignettes with landscape scenes, on the reverse are framed musical trophies created t...
Porcelain
Pair of French Empire Dore Patinated Bronze Urns on Pedestals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of quality bronze Dore Urns on Pedestals. The pair are in wonderful vintage condition. one small bend to the lip or edge of one - not greatly noticeable or offense...
Gold, Bronze
$205,071 / set
Pair of Early 19th Century French Boulle Cabinets
By Etienne Levasseur
Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland
An important pair of early 19th century French cabinets, made by Pierre-Étienne Levasseur. gilt bronze mounted ebony and ebonised, cut-brass, pewter and faux tortoiseshell marquetry cabinets in the Boulle style. The rectangular top with brass-mounted rim over decorated ormolu frieze above four reeded brass inlaid pillars with brass capitals, the exceptional centre door profusely decorated with ormolu scrolls and head mounts, flanked by two glazed doors decorated in red boulle and silver inlay, the interiors fitted with shelves, the base with four Bacchic masks terminating on turned tapering toupie ormolu-mounted feet. Provenance: Kilkenny Castle, Ireland. Purchased new by either, Walter Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormond, (2nd creation in the Irish Peerage, 1770-1820) or James Butler...
Brass
2 Antique French Sarregumines Majolica Snake Serpent Mantel Vase Urn 17"
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of very large and impressive late 19th century Sarregumines majolica pottery vases - classical urn shape with coiled double headed snake / serpent handles, brown and white multi...
Majolica
$31,200Sale Price|60% Off
Monumental 19th Century French Empire Style “Lit Bateau” Bed in Carved Wood
Located in Porto, PT
An exceptional and highly impressive monumental 19th century “lit bateau” bed, executed in the grand tradition of the Empire and Neoclassical styles, and distinguished by its extraor...
Textile, Silk, Wood
Dutch 20th Century Mahogany Empire Style Tallboy
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Early 20th century Dutch Empire-style mahogany tall chest of six drawers featuring Neoclassical elements with Art Deco geometry. A pierced brass gallery wraps the sides and partially...
Brass, Bronze
Empire Paris porcelain vases - early 19th century
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine antique pair of Paris porcelain vases, early 19th century high-end French production circa 1830 (Empire style, Restauration period). Fully decorated model : polychromatic hand...
Porcelain
Italian 1820s Empire Walnut Guéridon Table with Three Drawers and Rams' Heads
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Empire walnut guéridon table from the early 19th century, with three pop-out drawers and gilt rams' heads. Born in Italy during the first quarter of the 19th century, this...
Walnut, Giltwood
Vintage Empire Style Low Marble Top Pedestal Base Side Tables by Imperial - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Empire Style Low Marble Top Pedestal Base Side Tables by Imperial - a Pair. I...
Marble
Italian 19th Century Rolo Inlaid Center Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
A remarkable Italian mid-19th century Rolo center table, celebrated for the refined marquetry tradition of the renowned Rolo workshops in Reggio Emilia. The circular top is exquisite...
Wood