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
French Museum Ormolu Mantle Clock, Pendule 'Au Char', Thomire, Paris, Ca 1820
Located in Vienna, AT
Exquisite mantel clock made of fire-gilded and patinated bronze from the early 19th century:
Structure in the form of a rectangular gilded base on four conical feet with chiselling, ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Lantern
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large bronze French Empire style lantern.
Category
20th Century Spanish Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Three Light Candelabras Sconces
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous pair of 19th-Century French Empire gilded bronze three arm light wall sconces, circa 1850-1870. These beautiful sconces have a lovely gilt patina with foliate and floral d...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs with Versacesque Decoration
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Pair of maximalist empire revival style armchairs featuring Versace inspired motifs. The chairs have a classic gondola shaped frame with faux leather naugahyde upholstery. The faux l...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat Writing Desk
Located in Forney, TX
A handsome antique French gilt bronze mounted mixed wood bureau plat writing desk with warm dark patina. circa 1880
France, late 19th century, high quality
hand crafted workmanship...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Armchair with Red Floral Striped Damask Upholstery
Located in Queens, NY
French Restoration mahogany armchair having a rectangular headrest topped by a tapering gadrooned crest, upturned scroll arms with acanthus embellishments, upholstered back and seat ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
19th Century Empire Old Paris porcelain tea and coffee set
Located in Delft, NL
19th Century Empire Old Paris porcelain tea and coffee set
An early 19th Century Old Paris porcelain coffee, tea set with green painted French country scenes and gold paint. The gol...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Chair, Northern Europe, late 19th century. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chair from around 1890, Northern Europe.
The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 96 cm / seat height. 45 cm / width 47 cm...
Category
1890s Scandinavian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Empire Style Silver & Crystal Swing-Handle Basket /Sphinx Decoration, C. 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Empire Style Silver & Crystal Swing-Handle Basket with Sphinx Decoration, Continental, circa 1820–1850
Measurements: 7" high x 6" wide x 4.75" deep
Interior Measurements of Crystal ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Four-Drawer Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or den with this elegant antique chest of drawers. Crafted in France, circa 1930, the traditional commode sits on carved columnar supports over a straight bott...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Milling Road for Baker French Empire design by Daryl Carter settee
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a French empire style settee designed by Darrell Carter for milling Road by Baker furniture Company. The settee has a white lacquered finished to the frame with newly upholst...
Category
2010s Indonesian Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Louis Vuitton Large LV Suitcase Artwork Print in Gilt Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Louis Vuitton Print from Paris, France framed in a vintage wooden Gold Leaf frame. The artwork features iconic Louis Vuitton words and letters artistically arranged. Similar piece ca...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint, Paper, Giltwood
Swedish Late Empire Black-polished Birch Bookcase
Located in Kastrup, DK
Swedish late empire bookcase / display cabinet in black-polished birch.
In 2 parts, upper case having mullioned glass front with cathedral arch cornice.
Lower part with a pair of pa...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
French Empire Mahogany Queen Bed
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19/20th Century) mahogany queen size bed with gilt bronze trim and upholstered panel on headboard (includes: headboard, fo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf, Bronze
Pair of Chic French Empire Style Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of large French Empire style mahogany armchairs reupholstered in Ralph Lauren silk/linen fabric.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Linen, Upholstery, Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk.
With a grey marble top over three drawers, the fall enclosing a sliding tan leather writing surface, an interior...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$23,608 Sale Price
20% Off
NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Hanging Chandelier Pendant
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Empire style chandelier pendant with cast glass dish and bronze details. These elegant lights graced many of the main corridors of the NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Steel
French Bronze Chandelier With Crystal Beaded Cup Early 1900s
Located in Milano, MI
Early 1900s French Bronze And Crystal Entrance Chandelier with the reflective body composed of an inverted dome of English pearls with a sloping diameter. The frame of this Empire-st...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Mahogany Empire Style Gueridon
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A pierced brass gallery surrounds the round, white marble top on this terrific 19th Century French Empire style gueridon. The top is lifted by three column-form legs that are joined ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Vieux Paris 'Old Paris' Tea Caddy or Apothocary Jar Painted with Harbor Scene
By Old Paris
Located in Mobile, AL
This empire period Old Paris tea caddy, canister or jar from the 1830's is sure to delight. It was likely designed and sold as a tea canister, but a lidd...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$328 Sale Price
54% Off
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...
Category
1950s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Early 20th Century Large Russian Imperial Brass Samovar Set
Located in Germantown, MD
A gorgeous, early 20th century large Russian imperial brass samovar set.
Tray and bowl included. Measures 16" in width, 16" in depth and stands 22.5" tall.
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1830s French Empire Mahogany Chest with Four Drawers and Gilded Edges, Commode
Located in Miami, FL
1830s French Empire mahogany chest with four drawers and gilded edges
Beautiful wooden root.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent high quality flame mahogany adorned with bronze doré mounts and its original gray mar...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$6,240 Sale 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...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$8,000 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this elegant antique Italian Secretaire dating back to the early 19th century, Empire period. An extremely refined Secretaire.
Made of fine solid mahogany wood (accompani...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique Empire Style Black lacquer Mirror Table with original mirror
Located in Wichita, KS
This beautiful Antique Empire style table is one of a kind and a stunner. Antique mirror and Black lacquer wood trim. it would make a gorgeous entry table or dining table and so much more. the patina of the mirror is original and truly amazing.
To view all of our listings at Tiffany Farha Design, scroll down and click on VIEW ALL FROM SELLER. Also follow us to be notified when new items are posted. We also have a brick and mortar...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
$6,720 Sale Price
20% Off
Thomasville French Louis Philippe Burl Wood Marble Top Four-Drawer Dresser Chest
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful French Empire or Louis Philippe style four-drawer dresser or chest of drawers
By Thomasville
USA, Late 20th Century
Gorgeous burl wood, with thick beveled marble top, ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
21th Century Authentic Wall Hanging Tapestry 7'4'' X 6' Ft
Located in Los Angeles, US
Est. Delivery from Los Angeles, CA
Category
Early 2000s French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Set of 6 French Empire Dining Chairs in Mahogany with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of 6 French Empire dining chairs in mahogany with bronze mounts are a stylish expression of the genre, with exotic imported ma...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$3,984 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Carlo X Italian Walnut Side Table, 1820s
Located in Viterbo, VT
Empire / Carlo X side table hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut and decorated with book-matched walnut veneer. The side table has elegant lines and lyre-like legs, con...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Exquisite French Empire Gilt Bronze Two-Light Candelabra ca 1810
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
These candlesticks are ornate artifacts from the French Empire period, which dates back to the early 19th century, typically considered as the reign of Napoleon I from 1804 to 1814. ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Empire Dining or Center Table in Rosewood Veneer 19th Century
Located in Meer, VAN
Empire Dining or Center Table in Rosewood Veneer, 19th Century.
This is a very elegant and large 19th century Empire style dining / center table with a top in expressive rosewood ve...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
Antique French Empire Mahogany Draw Leaf Dining Table with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Mahogany Draw Leaf Dining Table with Bronze Mounts exudes elegance, and is extraordinarily versatile with two leaves that are always there when you need them, t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$4,784 Sale Price
20% Off
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$5,577 / item
Large Empire period boat bed and canopy
Located in Paris, FR
Large boat bed in solid flamed mahogany, mahogany veneer, richly decorated with finely chased and gilded bronzes, from the Empire period. Four baluster jambs, adorned with fleurons, ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Antique Side Tables Plant Tables Marble Empire Style
Located in Poperinge, BE
A beautiful pair of French antique side tables in classic Empire style, not entirely identical, high-quality plant tables or pedestals, made from a hand-carved wooden base gilded wit...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Gold Leaf
19th Century French Empire Console Table
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century French Empire Console.
France, 1810
Mahogany,
Beautiful Empire Period Mahogany and Mahogany Veneer Console, resting on Front Columns and Rear Pilasters.
This Console is...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Empire Crystal Regulator Clock
Located in Toledo, OH
A beautiful brass clock with gold dore finish. Beveled glass panels with a porcelain dial and time and strike. French works. Running condition. Corner crack in one glass panel.
Category
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Portrait of Boy, circa 1810
Located in Doylestown, PA
A fine, lifesize oil-on-canvas portrait of a young boy dressed in period attire, holding a book titled “Dictionaire de France” In a period appropriate giltwood frame. Empire period, ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paint
$3,750 Sale Price
34% Off
Vintage Tapestry Depicting A Secret Garden 6.5X6.1
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...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Pair of Architectural Gilt Wood Wall Shelves Brackets, Mid-19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gorgeous Pair of French Gold Gilt Wall Shelves. Could certainly stand alone as a pair on a wall or functional to hold treasures on top. Wonderful classic addition to any living room,...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Dutch Marquetry Empire Settee, circa 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Offers mahogany frame with inlays in satinwood of flowers and foliage along back crest, "S" scroll arms and slipper feet. Features upholstered seat, back and inside and outside arms....
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Twill, Upholstery, Satinwood, Kingwood, Mahogany
Elegant Antique French Carved Wood Recamier Bench with Bronze Mounts
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant and rare French 19th century mahogany recamier bench having pronounced curved sides and lovely carved cabriole legs that terminate in gilded hairy paw feet. There are other g...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Portal Clock, France, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Portal clock on a rectangular, stepped base in mahogany veneered with small bun feet. The stepped architrave is supported by four smooth columns, the capi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$3,588 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Italian Painted Wood Empire Folding Screen in Gilt Bronze Frame
Located in Firenze, IT
This one-of-a-kind antique Italian Empire Period folding screen is a masterpiece of early 19th-century craftsmanship, dating most likely from 1801 during the Republic of Lucca.
Pain...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th century Swedish empire elm marble top console table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish elm marble top console table circa 1860.
Fine quality console table of grand proportions. Shaped marble top standing on an elm base. Single concealed draw...
Category
1860s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Early 19th c Empire Gilt Bronze Cassolettes
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Early 19th C Empire Gilt Bronze Cassolettes. With a classic egg and dart pattern on the rim, the pair are adorned with two sets of winged male figures. The pair rest atop rec...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$12,000 / set
Empire period bed with its canopy
Located in Paris, FR
Empire period bed in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer, richly decorated with finely chased and gilded bronzes, with its canopy. The front of the bed features a lyre in the center, framed by two sheath feet with shafts decorated with caduceus and Mercury busts...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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 ...
Category
20th Century Chinese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
$25,000
French Antique Swan Neck Recamier Chaise Lounge
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A fine antique French walnut recamier or chaise lounge with carved swan heads at posts, lovely neutral vintage upholstery and bolster pillow, circa 1930. The chaise rests on four ca...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair Of 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of 19th Century French Empire Chairs.
Offered is a lovely pair of early 19th century French period Empire chairs, fauteuils or side chairs. This pair of chairs are adorned with ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$11,850 / set
19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Armoire
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
19th Century French Empire period armoire.
With stunning book matched walnut veneer to the two long doors flanked by two columns.
Original restra...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Bronze and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
Experience the grandeur of the 19th century with this elegant French Empire-style chandelier. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the piece features a sturdy bronze framewor...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Antique French Empire Fruitwood Console Table with drawer, Early 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Antique French Empire- Biedermeier fruitwood console table with drawer and bronze details
In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Ormolu-Mounted Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
A fine quality empire ormolu-mounted patinated bronze and rouge royale marble mantel clock.
The patinated bronze figures depicting cupid and psyche. Attributed to Pierre-Victor Ledure...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Austrian Empire Console Table with back mirror and Swan Pedestals
Located in Miami, FL
Austrian console table from the Karl Johan Period in walnut and ebonized wood. Drawer in frieze. The table is decorated with Swans that are painted in a gold color to imitate oxidize...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Period French, Empire Painted Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Period French, Empire Painted Commode
The solid wood body is painted in a textured, aged, distressed patina showing some of the gesso-painted base and original wood b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
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
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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