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
Period: 20th Century
Empire Revival Gilt-Bronze and Cut-Glass Pendant Chandelier, circa 1910
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Revival gilt-bronze and cut-glass pendant chandelier.
French, circa 1910.
Of globular form this fine chandelier has a central gilt-bronze band cast with vases issuin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair French Empire Style Arrow Horn Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of Antique French Empire style brass horn and arrow motif wall sconces. Each with 2 candelabra size lights with black and gold clip on shades. Newly wired, added are 5" round ba...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,695 / set
Antique Oversize Indian Rug - 18'0'' X 12'7''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Indian Rugs – Not all the rugs that were woven in India are easy to categorize. That is why we created this antique Indian rugs section. Here you will find Indian rugs of whi...
Category
1920s Indian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Lot of 5 Crystal Wine Glasses - Mid 20th Century - 2Y27
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Elevate your dining experience with this set of 5 crystal wine glasses, likely from the mid-20th century. Crafted from fine crystal, these glasses are a sophisticated addition to any...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
$124 Sale Price
87% Off
20th Century Napoleonic Swan Chair in the Empire Style Beechwood Poliment Gilded
Located in Berlin, DE
Very exact Fine-carved sculpture made of solid beech. Poliment gilded. Arranged frame on plastically carved legs ending in claws. Armrests volute-shaped bent in swan head. High-backe...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Photograph Frame Large Imperial Style White Enamel on Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver shaped photograph frame with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and rich friezes in Louis XVI French Empire style. External measurements...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Empire Style French “Chiffonier”
Located in Austin, TX
French antique chiffonier in the Empire style. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany that has been fully ebonized and finished with a lustrous French poli...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Italian Completely Beaded Basket Crystal Prisms Silver Chandelier, c 1940
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing four lights in beaded cups. Completely beaded with a beaded lace bottom. Adorning crystal prisms on top and in bottom. This chandelier has two width...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze & Brass Candlesticks
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt, Patinated, and Burnished Bronze & Brass Candlesticks, circa 1920
Elegant pair of French Empire style candlesticks, crafted from a harmonious combin...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Brass
Empire round French Table
Located in Austin, TX
Library table in the French Empire style. This piece is made of solid ash and burled ash. Four curved legs are connected with an x-stretcher. Each leg boasts a bronze lion's paw foot...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Neoclassical Small Thin Brass Candlestick Column Table Lamp a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Neoclassical Style Small Thin Brass Candlestick Column Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 26" H (to finial) x 20.5" H (to light socke...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Copper Cauldron - "Poitiers" Engraved, Decorative Piece - 2Y14
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This antique copper cauldron, engraved with "Poitiers," is a stunning decorative piece that adds a touch of vintage charm to any setting. Its classic design and fine craftsmanship ma...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Copper
$119 Sale Price
47% Off
Pair of Bouillotte Lamps
Located in London, GB
Pair of bouillotte lamps in toleware and bronze, in the French Empire manner.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$7,012 / set
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...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Pair Of Antique Brass Peacock Wall light, Spain, 1960s
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
Pair of beautiful brass wall lights with crystal glass beads. Manufactured in the 1960s in Europe, Spain.
The lights are in the shape of a peacock. With crystal beads between the b...
Category
1960s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
$2,387 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Timothy Outlton, Empire Style, Wall Sconces, Steel, Crystal, 1990s
Located in Manhasset, NY
A pair of Niermann Weeks style three light crystal and metal wall lights by Timothy Oulton. Each in the Empire style with aged metal and crystal design. Part of a large collection of...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Metal
French Early 20th Century Empire Brass and Bronze Table Lamp and Shade
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An early 20th-century French Empire-style brazier, which was used as a portable heater burning hot coals or other fuel for interior warmth. This example was converted to a table lamp...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Empire Style Burlwood Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Mid 20th century Empire style leather top desk constructed with hardwood and burl wood veneers featuring ormolu, three drawers and stretcher.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$11,800
Maitland Smith French Empire Figural Phoenix Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Monumental late 20th century Maitland Smith Empire style Bouillote / Budoir lamp. Made from brass with a pierced and paw footed base over an acanthus wrapped column leading to a figural winged Phoenix / Griffon candlestick...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage JRD Berliet Relaxe Truck Toy- 2Y42
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Explore a piece of vintage transportation history with this classic JRD Berliet Relaxe truck. This small collectible features a Berliet cab and is a testament to mid-20th-century toy...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
$128 Sale Price
75% Off
French Empire Style Seven-Light Bronze, Brass and Glass Chandelier, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This beautiful French Empire-style chandelier features six bronze swan arms. Dark green painted body with decorative bronze mounts and richly ornate pine finial, on top centered with...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Brass
Antique Empire Style Console Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire style mahogany console table with a marble top, circa 1900. With a rectangular grey and white marble top with slightly rounded front corners, a frieze drawer with a we...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
1950s Tole Dressing Mirror
Located in Charlottesville, VA
We love tole and dressing mirrors. This is an Empire period dressing mirror. It has one drawer.
Category
1950s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Vintage Film with Box "ECPA" – "Combat de Rue" (Program No. 1126) - 2Y204
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This rare piece of militaria features a vintage film titled "Combat de Rue" from the "Établissement Cinématographique et Photographique des Armées" (ECPA). Complete with its original...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
$210 Sale Price
60% Off
Elegant Polladio of Italy Sculpted Iron Mirror with Wall Console Table
By Palladio
Located in Las Vegas, NV
1960s signed "Palladio" of Italy wall-mounted Carrara marble console table with mirror. Elegant piece sculpted of iron with gold gilded paint.
Fabulous foyer piece.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Metal
$2,190 Sale Price / set
40% Off
Pair of French Empire Style Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of elegant French Empire style side chairs. The chairs are burl with bronze mounts and feet. The black section to the front of the legs i...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$7,600 / set
1930 French Empire Bronze Sconces 1 Light 14”
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 1930’s French empire style gilt bronze sconces with swan’s heads, one light
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$4,800 / set
Antique Empire Antique Quarter Sawn Oak Buffet/Sideboard/Bar Cabinet with Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Antique Quarter Sawn Oak Buffet / Sideboard / Bar Cabinet with Mirror
This antique sideboard with a mirror top features a distinctive tiger oak wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Oak
Pair of French Empire Portraits of an Aristocratic Couple by Antoine Borel
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of original oil paintings on canvas depicting a handsome young aristocratic couple of the Directoire, early Empire period. They are each pictured from the waist up, she holdin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Pair Empire Pedestal Stands - Gilt Side Tables
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French Empire style gilt pedestal stands
Perfect for displaying decorative pieces such as vases and urns
Round marble tops are smooth and chip free
Bought from a dea...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pocket Pill Box like Egg sea color Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Pocket pill box shaped like a small egg.
Pocket pill box like egg hinged opening.
Pocket pill box like egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated 24ca...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage brass sunburst mirror 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century brass sunburst or flower mirror with convex glass.
This mirror fits in most interiors and is a perfect add-on for a regency style interior.
The mirror is made from pat...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$328 / item
1920 European Antique Empire style Cut/ Beaded Cascading Crystal Chandelier
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1920's Euro Antique Cut and Beaded Cascading Flow of Crystal Chandelier/ Pendant. This piece is lovely!
Category
1920s Czech Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
$1,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Wood Sconces with Eagles, Circa 1900
Located in Fayetteville, AR
At almost 18 inches in height, this pair of French Empire style gilt wood sconces from the turn of the twentieth century features opposing Napoleonic eagles holding laurels in their ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Empire Style High Sided Bench with Gilt Details and Mohair Velvet Upholstery
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1920s French Empire style wooden stool has an antique white painted frame with gilded details and new gray mohair velvet upholstery. Two stools available at the time of posting...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Gesso, Upholstery, Wood
Stunning French Empire Style Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer sell this stunning large French Empire style walnut desk having a gilt tooled green leather top with a ormolu edge and scrolling mounts flanked by an arrangement ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Cut Crystal / Gilt Cold Liquor Cave
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Mid-20th century French cut crystal champagne cave in a dome shape form with hand painted gilt gold design finial top and stem base. The cave features a...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Gold Leaf
Wonderful French Empire Dore Bronze Cut Crystal Figural Neoclassical Centrepiece
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire doré bronze and cut crystal figural neoclassical centrepiece
Measures: 7.5" W x 8" H.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Picture Frame oval photos French Empire Napoleon III style Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular photo frame in 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver with translucent enamel fired on guilloche and hand-painted miniature of a garland of flowers with oval border, intern...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Empire Style Mahogany Dog’s Bed
Located in Spencertown, NY
The diminutive mahogany sleigh bed with green and white upholstery.
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$3,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Set of 4 Small Animal Figurines - Duck and Rabbit Statuettes - 2Y30
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Enhance your collection with this charming set of 4 small figurines featuring ducks and rabbits. These modern, multicolored statuettes are perfect for adding a whimsical touch to any...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$124 Sale Price / set
76% Off
Henredon Flamed Mahogany Empire Dining Table Natchez Collection Banded Top
By Henredon
Located in Toledo, OH
Henredon flamed mahogany banded top dining table. Empire style part of the Natchez collection. Two pedestals with bun feet. Very nice condition. 86" long x 52" wide x 30" tall. One e...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage French Empire Style Candlestick Candelabra Brass Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Candlestick Candelabra Brass Table Lamps - a Pair. Item features 3 candleholders each, figural bases, and a distressed white painted finish. Circa Mid 20t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique Turkish Oushak Floral Rug 10'x7'10''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Turkish Oushak Floral Design 10'x7'10''
Category
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th century Scandinavian gilt pedestal column
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century Scandinavian gilt pedestal column circa 1900.
Good quality decorative pedestal in original gilt finish. Roman doric style with white painted top, fluting down th...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Silver Square Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier Crystal Antique Classic
Located in Berlin, DE
Experience Timeless Opulence with the Empire Sac a Pearl Crystal Chandelier
Indulge in the allure of the past with the Empire Sac a Pearl crystal chandelier, an exquisite blend of v...
Category
1940s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Early Blue Hand Painted Toleware Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Sheet Metal
$516 Sale Price
21% Off
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
Ormolu
Neoclassical oil on canvas nude painting contemporary Roman style 'll bath'
By Henri-Pierre Picou
Located in Palermo, IT
Attributable to HENRI PIERRE PICOU. (FRENCH !(1824-1895)
Le Bain oil on canvas, with gold leaf frame, 1900.
Big picture
Now available
Shipping with triple box.
Any information cont...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
$22,632 Sale Price
20% Off
Circa 1900 Antique French Aubusson Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique French Aubusson Pillow Ca. 1900
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Crystal and Gilt Bronze Vase by Boin-Taburet
By Boin-Taburet
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A classic and opulent crystal and gilt bronze Louis XVI-style vase, its goblet-shaped heavy crystal bowl diamond cut and fluted to refract the light...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Style Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French Empire style bouillotte table lamp with decorative three-light cast brass candleholders and adjustable height red tôle shade. New candle covers. Wired and in working order. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Tôle
Nordiska Kompaniet, desk in beech from Hotel Knaust, Sweden 1931.
Located in Stockholm, SE
Desk in beech from Hotel Knaust by Nordiska Kompaniet / NK, Sweden 1931.
With brass details and signed with NK badge and tracking number (easy to see who ordered the furniture and w...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Mid. Century vintage elegant neoclassical style lamps/pair
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a pair of mid-century vintage Neo classical style table lamps. These lamps have a copper undertone with a beautiful patinated distressed green patina. These lamps have a hand...
Category
1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Copper
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood, Brass, and Ebonized Center Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An elegant French Empire or Neoclassical tea table or center table
By Baker Furniture
USA, Late 20th Century
Cherry wood base, with mo...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Frederick Cooper hand painted porcelain table lamp
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a vintage Frederick Cooper hand painted porcelain table lamp. This Frederick Cooper lamp is handpainted in the Empire style with tones of dark cobalt blue, gold and green. Th...
Category
1990s American Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Empire Style Hot Air Balloon Chandelier In Gilt Bronze And Crystal
Located in BARSAC, FR
Hot air balloon chandelier in gilded bronze decorated with crystal garlands, Empire style decorated with palmettes and pine cones.
Illuminated by six lights.
Beautiful and very ele...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
1900's French Empire Style Small Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1900' s French Empire style small sconces with two lights
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,400 / set
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
By Baccarat
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
Napoleon III style French silver and glass jug
Circa 1930 Origin France
Excellent quality cut crystal, could be baccarat
The silver part ha...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Le Style Empire, Décoratations, Extérieures Et Intérieures, Mobilier, Bronzes
Located in valatie, NY
Le Style Empire: Décoratations, Extérieures et Intérieures, Mobilier, Bronzes. Printed in Paris by Chez F. Contet. All volumes are 1st Ed's with the exception of volume 1 which is a ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
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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