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: 19th Century
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Antique French Empire Mahogany Ormolu Marble top Demi-Lune Cabinet Commode 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique French Empire flame mahogany, marble top and ormolu mounted demi lune cabinet, circa 1810.
The cabinet is fitted with the original mottled black marble top, the demi l...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Elegant Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant Empire armchairs crafted from Cuban mahogany, featuring classic details from the period.
The backrests have an oval recess, adorned with line inlays in satinwood an...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany, Satinwood
Throw Pillow Made from Mid-18th Century French Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 23" x 9" , handmade, authentic 18th century piece in great condition
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Danish Early 19th Century Mahogany 3 Seater Empire Bench
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Danish Empire bench made of mahogany with inlays of satin wood and ebony.
Features a backrest with vertical spindles adorned with an ebony border and three Demi lunes with li...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Ebony, Mahogany
French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Marble Desk Stand
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning French ormolu mounted Empire style marble desk stand dating from the 19th century. This stylish stand is of rectangular shape with rounded polished ends and is made from a...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Green Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style parallelogram shaped emerald green glass heavy inkwell. It’s guilt bronze mounted with a scene of sphinxes statues, bell shaped vases, and maidens moving and ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in bronze, early 19th Century France, originally candlesticks.
Includes new black lacquer lampshade with gold details, giving the lamp a warm and ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Period Ebonized Gueridon Table with Carrara Marble
Located in Birmingham, AL
An exquisite early 19th-century French Empire period gueridon table with a striking ebonized lacquer finish, circa 1810. This refined center table boasts its original Carrara marble ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Lady's Work Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This petite work table from 19th century France is full of charming elements within a compact design. Details allude to this piece serving as a correspondence and sewing table. Unloc...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Marble Top Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent 19th century French empire gilt wood console table featuring a marbleized limestone top with partial shell fossil remnants. The marble specimen is...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Patinated Bronze Candelabra Lamps.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Patinated Bronze Candelabra Lamps.
Pair of elegant antique French Empire bronze four light candelabras converted to table lamps. The outstandi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Danish Late Empire Birch Armchairs With Inlay, 1810-1820
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant late empire armchairs.
Crafted in birch wood with marquetry inlaid on backrest in the form of vases. Fine line inlays on backrest and apron.
The tops of the bac...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire
Located in Warsaw, PL
This nineteenth-century gilded bronze clock exemplifies the grandeur of the Empire style, featuring a rectangular base with four legs, each intricately carved with subtle patterns. A...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Demilune Cabinet
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
French demi lune sideboard in mahogany. Empire, circa 1820.
Two-door corpus in demi lune form. Mahogany veneered on oak. One drawer. Newer slightly overhanging granite top instea...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite
Rare flashlight for a candle in brass from a Swedish Baron. Empire period
Located in Knivsta, SE
Extremely rare flashlight for a candle in brass from a Swedish Baron. Empire period around 1830. Provenance Baron Ehrenkrona, Hulterstad Manor, Mjölby, Sweden.
The flashlight in bra...
Category
1830s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 30" x 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
Antique 19th Century French Empire Style Ormolu Clock By Etienne Maxant Paris
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 16 in W: 7 1/2 in D: 4 1/4 in
This exceptional 19th-century French Empire-style bronze ormolu clock, crafted by the renowned Parisian clockmaker Etienne Maxant and r...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Swedish Empire Octagonal Drop-Leaf Light Blue Painted Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish Empire octagonal blue painted tilt-top pedestal end table with claw and ball feet with rotating table top.
Please note that this table is located in Halmstad, Sweden.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Empire Reverse Painted Still Life Giltwood Trumeau Wall Mirror 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire Trumeau mirror offers giltwood column form frame with upper having reverse painted floral still life, 19th century.
Measures - 34.5''H x 18.5''W x 3.5''D....
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Paint, Wood
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Swan Grecian Sofa Newly Upholstered
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Swan Grecian Sofa Newly Upholstered In a Green Velvet
This antique classic Empire style carved mahogany tufted Grecian s...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Mahogany
Swedish 19th century satin birch chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century satin birch chest of drawers circa 1870.
Elegant scandinavian chest of drawers, pine carcass veneered in a golden satin birch. Fitted with 3 equal sized drawe...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
19th century Scandinavian tiger birch chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Scandinavian tiger birch chest of drawers circa 1870.
19th century swedish chest of drawers from the empire revival period. Rectangular elegant shape, fitted with 3 gr...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
19th Century Swedish antique rustic genuine Empire table country original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th Century Swedish antique Rustic Empire Provincial table from Skellefteå Västerbotten,Northern Sweden.
The table is scraped by hand to its well preserved original color.
The...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine
Table Tilt Top Swedish Chess Game Pedestal Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Table Tilt Top Swedish Chess Game Pedestal Sweden. A Swedish tilt top table made during the later part of 19th Century. Painted chess game on the top. Ornate base.
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Empire Style Painted Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Empire Style Painted Armchairs ~ Bergere with Fauteuil with cut silk velvet recalls the glory days of Napoleon and Josephine creating wha...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silk, Walnut, Paint
Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Trajan's Column Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century Empire Trajan's column ormolu candlesticks in the manner of P.-P. Thomire (1751-1843):
Pair of large Empire ormolu candlesticks, the stem ressembling th...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers W/ Black Marble Top
Located in Astoria, NY
A striking mid-19th-century French Empire chest of drawers, sourced directly from Provence, France. Expertly handcrafted from walnut, it boasts a naturally aged patina that highlight...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
French Empire Burlwood Chair
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th Century French Empire burl wood chair featuring stylized ormolu to include swans, lyre, acanthus and ribbons with lion's paw sabots. Seat newly...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Brown-Black German Small Empire Iron Coffer, Antique Table Decor
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, black antique German coffer made of hand crafted iron, particularized with griffins, torchères and tendril motifs on the wall and pinecone mode on the lid, in good condition. The small detailed decor piece represents the Empire time period...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Iron
Antique Сrystal Tazza Two Tone 19th century Russian Imperial Factory Fruit Vase
Located in Sweden, SE
Antique and absolutely exclusive, fully hand crafted at Russian Imperial Glass Factory in first half of 19th century. Beautiful combination of colors and unique shape and architectur...
Category
1830s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Set of Ten French Empire Mahogany Caned Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Glorious set of ten mahogany dining chairs made in the neoclassical French empire taste. The chairs feature decorative bronze mounts ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow - 25'' X 22''
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Figural Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
In the form of a putto with a wheel barrow carrying a keg mounted with a clock face topped by a crane, on a rectangular chased plinth ending in bun feet.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk in Flame Mahogany Drop Down
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk from the late 19th century is a striking piece of furniture, crafted from flame mahogany. The abattant (drop...
Category
1890s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
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...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of 19th Century Empire Candelabra Italian Gilt Bronze Three-Arm Flambeaux
Located in Milano, MI
Coppia di Candelabri a Tre Fiamme Impero in Bronzo Dorato della prima metà del XIX secolo, di origine italiana, si presentano in buono stato di conservazione con segni di usura nell...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock by Deverberie a Paris, Fire-Gilded
Located in Berlin, DE
French Empire mantel clock from DeVerberie a Paris.
Fire-gilded.
Age-related condition.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
A fine 19th century French Empire gilt bronze plateau
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century French Empire gilt bronze mirrored plateau
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Paris Porcelain Wash Jug and Bowls
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An elegant, three-piece set of old Paris porcelain in the style of Lebon-Halley with a pitcher, bowl, and deep plate in creamy porcelain accented by luxurious gold trim. The undersid...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
Early 19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Mahogany Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique console was crafted in France, circa 1810. Standing on turned front columns ending in round feet, and pilaster legs in the rear over a stretcher platform bottom ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Beautiful pair of Empire Table Lamps, originally candlesticks from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful pair of Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Originally a pair of Empire candlesticks from the 1820s, converted to table lamps in the early 20th Century. Very period design.
Newl...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Swedish Backgammon in Curly Karelian Birch with Playing Pieces, Empire 1820/30s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Swedish Backgammom Box in Curly Karelian Birch with Playing Pieces, Swedish Empire (Karl Johan) 1820/30s. Complete with two Die made in bone and Playing Pieces for two players.
This beautifully crafted backgammon box...
Category
1820s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Venus Clipping the Wings of Cupid Mantel Clock by Thomire & Cie
Located in New Orleans, LA
This splendid Empire gilt bronze French mantel clock, signed on the dial by bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire and watchmaker Louis Moinet, features an exquisitely detailed scene of Ve...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century, Empire Cherrywood Seating Group, 2 Armchairs and 6 Chairs
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful unique seating group consisting of 2 armchairs and 6 chairs. The group dates back to the Empire period of the early 19th century, circa 1800-1810. All chairs are made of so...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Cherry
Linke Style Pedestal Stands French Empire Tall Tables Inlay Gilt
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Elegant pair of French pedestal stands after Francois Linke
These really are the ultimate for a high end interior
Crafted from kingwood with intricate inlay work including floral mot...
Category
1850s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Kingwood
Petit Danish Late Empire Antique Chest of Drawers
Located in Kastrup, DK
Small 19th century Danish Late Empire chest of drawers in flamed birch. French polished.
The façade showcases an arrangement of four drawers (a smaller drawer over 3 larger drawers)...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Table Lamp in gilded and dark patinated bronze. Empire 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Table Lamp in gilded and dark patinated bronze. Originally an Empire Candelabra from the 1820s converted into a table lamp in the early 20th Century.
The lampshade in black ...
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Important and Very Rare Pair of Micromosaic, Malachite and Walnut Console Tables
By Antonio Deangelis
Located in London, GB
Important and very rare pair of micromosaic, malachite and walnut console tables
Italian & Russian, early 19th century
Measures: Height 89cm, width 106.5cm, depth 62cm
These exceptionally beautiful antique console...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A statley 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal 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” heigh. The desk front...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French 19th Century Empire Console
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite French mahogany Empire console with its original marble top. A single drawer is housed in the apron over a pair of column form front legs with neoclassical style brass capit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Ebony, in good condition. The b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Bedside Cabinet
Located in Forney, TX
A French Empire style marble-top mahogany bedside cabinet (nightstand - end table) with elegant beautifully aged warm rustic patina. circa 1870
Hand-crafted in France in the secon...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
17th Century Flemish Pillow - 24" x 8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
17th Century Albanian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
19th Century Lion Secretary Empire Berlin
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on solid oak and softwood partly ebonized. High-rise, architecturally designed corpus. In the front three drawers of different sizes. Straight writing board, behind it ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful 19th century gilded wall mirror , empire style
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Very good quality 19th century gilded wall mirror in the empire style
French circa 1840’s with original backboards and mirror plate Height
It can hang landscape or portrait
Heig...
Category
1840s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 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...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Box with Floral Motif
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. Its inside is gold plated. Lid and bottom are covered in the same floral design reminiscent of a bouquet or floral ornament. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Elegant Pair of Empire Benches, Copenhagen, Denmark
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Empire benches crafted in mahogany.
The high, architecturally designed sides feature string inlay in satinwood, topped with an ebonized panel and mounted with gilt bronze orn...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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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