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.
French Empire Mahogany Vanity with Marble Top, Circa 1804-1814
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This Vanity is made of mahogany with a white marble top. It has some bronze pineapple on each side of the mirror. dimension from the floor to the marble top 30.8''H dimension from th...
Marble
Antique Empire Brass Cast Iron Lion Head Spiral Twist Paw Feet Andirons - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brass Lion Head Spiral Twist Paw Feet Cast Iron Andirons - a Pair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 24" H x 10" W x 18" D.
Brass, Iron
Pair of French Empire Orb Bronze Three-Light Wall Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French Empire Orb Bronze Three-Light Wall Sconces France, Early 19th Century This exquisite pair of French Empire wall sconces embodies the elegance and workmanship of the...
Bronze
$1,680Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 14" X 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Wool, Feathers
Vintage French Empire Green Tole Metal Gold Swan Painted Urn Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Neoclassical Green Tole Metal Gold Swan Painted Urn Form Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 32" H (to finial) x 26" H (to light socket) x 7.5" W ...
Metal
$1,472Sale Price / set|42% Off
French Empire Period Paris Porcelain Basin and Pitcher with Napoleonic Emblems
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An extremely elegant Paris Porcelain wash basin and pitcher dating from the First Empire Period, around 1815, and featuring as its decoration th...
Porcelain, Paint
19th Century Brass Lion Heads Samovar Base Candleholder
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 19th Century Brass Lion Heads Samovar Base. Impressive and versatile fragment found in Copenhagen. Would make a perfect candleholder for a thick alter candle...
Brass
Empire Gueridon, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire gueridon in walnut, standing on three tall columnar legs with a trefoil base and central plinth. The sides are adorned with star-shaped bronze mounts, while the circular top f...
Bronze
Italian Empire Blue Glass Beads Crystal Prisms Tole Chandelier, c 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing 6 lights. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Metal body with swags of rare blue glass...
Crystal
Perfume Holder Handbag Silver Sterling with stripes Empire style Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular handbag perfume holder in 925/1000 sterling silver gold-plated with screw cap and stripes with two-tone translucent fired enamels on guilloché and hand-engraved motifs in...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
A large pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A large and beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Bronze
Early 19th Century Metal Cookie Cutter, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish early 19th Century metal double-sided cookie cutter.
Metal
French Empire Antique Mahogany Gilt Bronze Marble Pier Table circa 1820
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY PIER TABLE France, circa 1820 Mahogany, mahogany veneers, oak, gilt bronze, brass, marble 35 3/8" H x 18 1/4" D x 51 1/4" W A very good Empire perio...
Marble, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
$2,795Sale Price|27% Off
French Empire Mahogany Table with Gold Gilt Ormolu Mounts and Black Granite Top
Located in Savannah, GA
"The French Empire style which impacted furniture design and other arts was popular from about 1804 to 1815, lasting longer in some areas. It developed in France under the reign of e...
Granite, Brass
Italian Yellow Tole Obelisk Urn With Paw Feet
Located in Stamford, CT
A charming neoclassical yellow tole water or tea urn in the form of an obelisk balanced on a square plinth by fours balls supported by brass paw feet. Decorated on four sides with ma...
Metal, Brass
Große Empire Pendule Amor und Psyche Frankreich um 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
This magnificent fireplace clock (pendule) is a classic and very high-quality example of the French art of classicism or the Empire / restoration (early 19. century, approx. 1810–183...
Siena Marble
Mahogany Empire Commode with Gilt Caryatids, Germany, circa 1820
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable early 19th century mahogany commode/ half cabinet from the late famous Empire period in Germany around 1815/20. The clean straight, timeless shape combined with exceptional mirror matched mahogany veneer makes this 19th century so-called "trumeau" an absolute dreamlike piece. This perfect sized commode/ half cabinet offers two doors and a drawer. Artfully hand carved caryatids depicting women busts covered in fine gold leaf. The door panels are additionally framed by ebonized wooden bars and the fully functional locks are adorned by lovely crafted brass fittings. Delicate, pointed legs complete the outstanding look and confer this gorgeous piece of a late Empire trumeau commode a certain kind of lightness. A real precious, perfectly restored masterpiece of antique empire furniture...
Gold Leaf
Mahogany Tea Caddy Wooden Casket Box w Antique Glass Empire early 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Rectangular shape mahogany veneered casket made in first half of 19th century presumably in Europe. Cast glass vessels are intact at their original place. Candy sugar bowl along with...
Glass, Cut Glass, Mahogany
A Large Antique French Empire Statuary White Marble And Ormolu Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A large impressive French Empire period Statuary white marble and Ormolu mounted chimneypiece of superior quality. Elegantly drawn with well cast Ormolu, Lightly veined Statuary marb...
Statuary Marble, Ormolu
Tiffany & Co. Style Antique Empire Marble Rocker Blotter With Brass Handle
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Empire or Neoclassical marble rocker ink blotter with brass laurel wreath handle In the manner of Tiffany & Co. USA, Late 19th Century Measures: 5.13"W x 3"...
Marble, Brass
$35,000 / set
Impressive Pair of Northern European Empire Consoles
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Marble tops set on a veneered flame mahogany frieze with finely carved acanthus leaf molding. Supported by a pair of superbly detailed solid mahogany swans flanking a veneered stretc...
Mahogany
19th Century Antique Empire Style Cigar Box with Cedar Interior
Located in Stockholm, SE
A lovely empire style wooden box probably produced in Sweden. The box is 14 x 14 cm (5.6" x 5,6") in diameter and 23.5 cm (9.4") high. It is in excellent condition except from that t...
Glass, Wood
Pair of French Empire Style Brass Chenets with Flame Finial
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Style Brass Chenets, early 20th century, each column form with flame finial. 13" H x 18" W x 6.75" D. Provenance: From an Upper East Side Townhouse.
Brass, Iron
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Richly decorated in period decorations. Wear consistent with age and use
Bronze
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...
Marble, Bronze
Empire Cabinet, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Two-door Empire cabinet with a drawer and flanking bronze pilasters. The mounts are likewise executed in bronze. The doors are decorated with a stylized arcade motif. The cabinet is...
Bronze
Vintage Floral Hanging Tapestry 10.0X4.0
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...
Wool, Cotton
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Console
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century mahogany console in the Empire style with dark stone top. The gray, Saint Anne-type marble is in wonderful ...
Marble
Empire Style Chest of Drawers in Walnut and Green Marble, 20th Century
Located in NAVILLY, FR
Empire style chest of drawers in walnut and walnut veneer (some minor veneer loss). Functional key and lock - marble top in perfect condition. Restoration services available upon r...
Marble
French Empire Regency Crystal and Gilt Bronze 12-Light Wedding Cake Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Stunning large French Empire cut crystal and bronze twelve-light chandelier with crystal drops and swags Measures: Diameter 26 in/ 66 cm Height 45 in (32 in+ 13 in/chain) / 115 cm (7...
Crystal, Bronze
$25,000
Chinese Peking Dragon Runner
Located in New York, NY
Very rare antique Chinese Peking runner with a pictorial dragon motif found in field and border in two shades of predominant blues. The size on this piece is original which makes an ...
Wool
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock of Aurora in Her Chariot Pulled by Her Winged
Located in London, GB
Fine antique French Empire Ormolu mantel clock of a chariot drawn by two winged horses carrying the chariot with a female figure. Thi...
Ormolu
Antique English 19th Century Walnut Two Door Glazed Cabinet C.1850
Located in London, GB
Antique English 19th Century Walnut Two Door Glazed Cabinet C.1850 A walnut cabinet, mid-19th century, in the French style, with applied gilt brass mounts, on a shaped plinth base. ...
Glass, Walnut
A Rare Pair of 19th Century Empire Style Candlesticks Converted to Table Lamps
Located in Dublin, IE
A very rare pair of 19th Century Empire Style brass candlesticks converted to table lamps. This exceptional pair of finely cast polished brass lamps are of stunning quality and feat...
Brass
French Bronze Bows Crystal Prisms Empire Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing one light each. Will be rewired with certified US UL sockets for the United States and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Bronze detail bows with ...
Crystal, Bronze
Circa 1850 Antique French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique French Tapestry Pillow
Wool, Cotton
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1860 Antique French Aubusson Pillow
Wool, Cotton
"The Artist in his Studio", Oil on Canvas, Italian School, circa 1810
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A wonderful circa 1810 Italian school oil-on-canvas painting of an artist or painter in his studio seated legs-crossed in a chair facing the canvas on easel with palette and brush in...
Canvas, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Pair of 19th Century English Regency Carved Mahogany and Upholstered Side Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of English Regency mahogany frame dining chairs, early 19th century. Features exquisite carved back-splats in conjunction with further foliate carvings to the top crest, strip...
Mahogany, Upholstery, Giltwood
$156Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Antique Empire Barrel Box in Hardwood
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
19th Century Antique Empire Barrel Box in Hardwood. Charming piece as a decorative piece on a desk or library shelf and additionally could be used to hold jewelry on a dresser or nig...
Wood
Vintage Woven Still Life Tapestry 7.0X5.65
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
Vintage French Empire Brass & Crystal Glass Column "Oil Lamp" Table Lamps, Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Brass & Crystal Glass Column "Oil Lamp Style" Table Lamps by Wilmar - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 36" H (to finial) x 30" H (to light so...
Brass
Large Pair of Sevres Style Napoleonic Painted Porcelain Chargers
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
A large pair of Sevres style Napoleonic painted porcelain chargers French, 19th century Measures: 2cm high x 45cm in diameter, frames 51cm diameter Excellently painted and finely crafted, these unusually grand Sevres style painted porcelain chargers are adorned with scenes of French military victories. The first charger, marked 'Bataille de Wagram, 7 Juillet 1809' is after a painting by Horace Vernet of Napoleon at the Battle of Wagram, a decisive yet costly victory for the French allied forced over the Austrian army, and the second, after a painting by Francois Bouchot, depicts the Battle of Zurich (the charger is marked 'Bataille de Zurich 25 Septembre 1799') an earlier battle in which the Republican French army led by André Masséna triumphed over an Austrian and Russian force in Switzerland in 1799. The works are each clasped with a gilt tooled border, and larger pink rose pompadour...
Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Empire to Louis Philippe Mahogany Cabinet ~ Pedestal
Located in Dallas, TX
Created during the transition from the Empire period toward the emerging Louis Philippe style, this elegant French antique cabinet possesses a ...
Marble, Brass
French 19th Century Bronze & Marble Mantel Clock Set
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Stunning three-piece mantel clock set in Siena marble and bronze, French Empire period. The main piece at center features a cast bronze hound sitting uneasily upon the plinth. Roman ...
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Children at Play 7X7.8
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
A large pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A large and beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Bronze
$6,800 / set
1920 Empire Bronze Swam Sconces 3 Lights
Located in New York, NY
pair of circa 1920’s gilt bronze French Empire sconces with swam head holding a ring with 3 lights
Bronze
Empire Style Rectangular Mirror in Beige and Giltwood
Located in Barcelona, ES
Empire Style mirror, France, 1930s. Beautiful Empire style rectangular mirror in beige patina with neoclassical relief foliage and floral ornament...
Gold Leaf
Center Table in Mahogany, probably Austria, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Center table with a circular top featuring a radial veneer pattern, raised on a tapered column with accent rings and a richly molded base resting on a tripartite platform with styliz...
Mahogany
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Gilt Brass Candlesticks, ca. 1890
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of antique French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks from ca. 1890. A beautiful and compact-sized pair of French Empire-style gilt brass candlesticks with removable bobeches (...
Brass
Italian Empire Vase Applique in Gilded Carved Wood Circa 1780
Located in Milano, MI
Gilded Empire Applique Lamp Late 1700s obtained from a carved wooden palm vase gilded in fine gold, converted into a wall sconce for use as a wall lamp. In the back of this lamp one ...
Gold Leaf
Pair of French Empire Revival Urns, Gilt Bronze & Marble, 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire Revival (mid-19th Century) urns / candleholders with rouge and black marble bodies, gilt bronze ornamentation and a removable top piece that flips to reveal a c...
Bronze
Handsome Empire Style Walnut & Upholstered Armchair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Classic Empire style armchair having walnut frame with gilded dolphins on the arms and cranberry upholstery. Duffy
Upholstery, Walnut, Giltwood
Beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A small and beautiful pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Bronze
French Empire Style Wall Mirror With Faux Marble Att. To Maitland-Smith
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a French Empire style wall mirror attributed to Maitland-Smith. It has a brass eagle crest and faux marble columns. The mirror itself is cased in mahogany. It is unmarked and...
Brass
19th Century Ormolu and Tole Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Stamford, CT
Late 19th century directoire bouillotte table lamp. Lamp features original elements and original black tole lampshade with gilt brass leaf applied detailing. Newly rewired with side ...
Bronze, Tôle, Brass
Cube Side Table with Tempered Glass Top, Engraved Square Block Center Side Table
Located in St Petersburg, US
Seljuk-inspired engraved travertine cube side table, meticulously designed by Haand’s renowned designer Barakli. Measuring 40x40 cm (16x16 inches), this stunning piece combines histo...
Stone, Travertine
19th Century Swedish Empire Pedestal Table with Drawer & Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Empire pedestal table with original paint. A very charming table with a drawer. Scraped by hand to its original color. Turned base supported by beautifully ca...
Pine
$5,800 / set
1930's French Empire Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930's French Empire style gilt bronze sconces with Ram's heads.
Bronze