Empire Furniture
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.
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal, Iron
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Softwood, Giltwood
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Giltwood
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Plastic
1830s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Silver
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Murano Glass
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Sterling Silver, Gold
1850s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Satinwood
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Crystal, Metal
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Brass, Copper
Late 19th Century Persian Antique Empire Furniture
Wool
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Plastic
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Wool
Mid-20th Century British Empire Furniture
Walnut
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Terracotta
20th Century German Empire Furniture
Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary North American Empire Furniture
Giltwood
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal
1920s British Vintage Empire Furniture
Metal
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Paper
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
1980s Philippine Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Bronze
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal, Metal
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Metal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Brass
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Paper
Early 19th Century Sicilian Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
1880s Hungarian Antique Empire Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Cherry
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Glass, Mirror, Cherry
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Birch
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble