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
French Empire Style Gilt Composition Mirror
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Style Gilt Composition Mirror. 42" H x 29" W. Provenance: From a New York City Collection.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Composition
Pair Italian Heavy Brass Empire Style Candle Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of heavy, un-wired single arm sconces from Florence, Italy. Features a sunburst back plate with concave bowl and eagle-head motif. Masterful casting with wonderful detail. Candle cup measures...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Wool
Set of Six Napoleonic Empire Style Bronze Mounted Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary set of six mahogany dining chairs made in the grand Napoleonic Empire taste. The chairs feature beautifully crafted mahogany frames with rich, deep woodgrains on the fi...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Mahogany French Empire Style Sideboard
Located in Dallas, TX
Attributed to Nordiska, this mahogany sideboard features bronze mounting on marble in a French Empire style.
Category
1940s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Biedermeier Style Napoleon Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood. Gilded chimeras. Finely engraved bronze fixtures.
(L-Sam-252).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
12 Limoges Raised Gilt Enameled Napoleonic Plates, circa 1900
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
12 Limoges raised gilt enameled Napoleonic plates, circa 1900, each one decorated with gilt laurel surround, filled with golden bees, the center with Napoleonic crest of laurel wreath and monogrammed 'N'.
The porcelain is made by Charles Ahrenfeldt Limoges...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet
By Baker Furniture
USA, circa 1980s
Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, an...
Category
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
c1910 French Empire Gilt Metal Framed Cut Cascading Crystal Form Basket Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1910 Pair of French Empire style Gilt Metal Wall Sconces. In the cascading crystal to form tent bottom - that is this style. Bronzse framed Rair pair.
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Style 8 Arm Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Empire style eight-arm chandelier with crest fleur-de-lis design. Cleaned and rewired. This chandelier and it's sisters hung in the corridors of the NYC Waldorf Astoria ...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Three-Light Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
Adorable French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has a brass and metal frame hung with chains of crystal glass beads forming a basket...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Wood Nightstands, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of French Empire style nightstands or end tables
By Baker Furniture
USA, Circa 1960s
Cherry wood, with burl wo...
Category
1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Coffee Table Lacquer Speckled by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical French empire style coffee cocktail table lacquer speckled by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The oval table features a two-tier design with dramatic eagle's head l...
Category
20th Century Mexican Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
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
Fine French Empire Design Oak Twin Pedestal Desk
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this beautiful French Empire design gilt metal mounted oak twin pedestal desk, rectangular top with inset tooled writing surface above three frieze, thre...
Category
Early 20th Century British Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Pair of French Blue Painted Fluted Bedside Column End Tables with Drawer
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This pair of side tables with a single drawer and cabinet below have been constructed from solid wood. The interior features a shelf for additional storage. Classic details on this s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Pair of Antique Hand-Painted Longwy Plates - "Vacance" Design, France, 2Y116
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Enhance your collection with this charming pair of antique Longwy plates, each featuring the delightful "Vacance" motif. Crafted in France, these plates b...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Style Bronze-Colored Pewter and Frosted Cut Glass Table Lamp 1900s
Located in Barntrup, DE
The beautifully shaped French Empire-style table lamp, which is an electrified petroleum lamp, features a bronze-colored pewter body adorned with three ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Pewter
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
French Empire Gueridon Side Table with Tripod Columns Brass and Marble Top
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful French Empire style gueridon table from 19th century. Beautiful black fossil marble over a mahogany body. A simple apron showcases the deep toned wood. Three columnar leg...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Empire Style Demi Lune Marble Topped Two Door Commode with Two Drawers
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this circa 1910 empire style demi lune commode is made of mahogany with a marble top. Commode has two locking drawers flanked by wedge-shaped, locking side cabinets....
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Early Mid-Century Empire Style Black and Gild Greek Key Mirror
Located in Wichita, KS
Large and impressive mirror from mid-century with black paint and gilded Greek key. The mirror has a large and deep frame molding.
To view all of our listings at Tiffany Farha De...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mirror
Neoclassical Empire Mahogany Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Empire style Mahogany Pedestal Plant Stand. Measures 15" in diameter at the base, 12" in diameter at the top and stands 55.75" tall.
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Set of Four French Sterling Silver '.950' Footed Open Salt Cellars-Venner
By Isabelle Venner
Located in New York, NY
Set of four Empire, sterling silver (.950), footed open salt cellars with matching spoons and liners, Paris, circa 1900, Isabelle Venner, maker. Each ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver, Gold
Empire-Style Brass Chandelier with Frosted Glass Shade, Early 20th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Antique Empire-Style Brass Chandelier with Frosted Glass Shade, Early 20th Century
Exquisite antique chandelier crafted in the Empire style, featuring an ornate brass frame with gra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
1900's French Empire Arrow Gold and Black Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1900's French Empire style double light arrow sconces
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Gorgeous Pair of Empire Style Black & Gold Wall Mirrors
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Beautiful pair of Empire gold gilt and ebony black mirrors which are elegant statement pieces. The giltwood finish is complemented by a lovely ebony black washed gesso patina, and t...
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror
French Empire Style Gilt Leaf and Urn Motif Wall Mirror
Located in Peabody, MA
French empire style wall mirror featuring a classic motif of gilt leaf and flower vining emanating from a center urn, circa 1960s.
Category
1960s Unknown Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Villa Garnelo Crotch Mahogany Empire Style 4 Drawer Commode Dresser
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Villa Garnelo Crotch mahogany Empire style 4 drawer commode dresser. Item features beautiful column supports, bun feet, gold and ebonized accents, original label, 4 dovetailed drawer...
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
A Pair of Empire Style French Bronze Gueridons with Black Marble Tops
Located in London, GB
France, 20th century
A pair of mid twentieth century Empire style circular gueridon, the black marble tops with polished brass rims, all supported on tripod bronze bases with cross...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Brass, Bronze
Table Box miniature fire-enameled Aleksej Nikolaevic Romanov Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table box with inward corners in gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent enamel fired on guilloche and a fine round miniature in the centre, diameter cm. 4....
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Pair Of Empire Style Niermann Weeks Crystal Wall Sconces
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The pair of wall sconces in the Empire style with embossed gilt metal having a floral-like design, three electrified lights with beeswax candle covers...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Superb Maria Theresa Crystal Chandelier
Located in Rome, IT
Magnificent "Maria Theresa" (or Maria Teresa) Empire style traditional crystal chandelier features 24 lights and framework with a golden iron, with glass encased arms and rosettes.
...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Mid 20th century frame Italian bisque Taglio
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 20th century Italian frame bisque Taglio. This Greco Roman style bisque porcelain medallion is framed in a gold leaf shadowbox frame with pink interior and gold details...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
1900s Empire Style Crystal Urn Vase
Located in Skien, NO
Empire Style Crystal Vase from 1900s
This striking Classic Empire-style vase from ca. the middle of the 20th century showcases exceptional craftsmanship in high-quality crystal. The...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Doré Bronze Patina Figural Lion Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French empire neoclassical doré bronze and patina lady figure chandelier adorned with four lion masks supporting each light.
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Chandelier with Opaline Glass 16 Lights
Located in New York, NY
1930’s French Empire chandelier with swans, cherubs and lions. Opaline glass inset. 16 lights
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Empire Style Sideboard/Credenza Storage with Black and Gold Columns
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Empire Style Sideboard/Credenza Storage with Black and Gold Columns
This vintage inlaid sideboard with black and gold columns exudes el...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Large Plaster Bust of Napoleon
Located in New York, NY
Large plaster bust of napoleon.
Stained.
Category
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Plaster
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
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade, Late 19th / Early 20th Century
French double inkwell figural bronze desk lamp, comprised of a central winged bronze cherub...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Two Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain Candlesticks with Lion Heads
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Two Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted Plain candlesticks with lion heads.
Dated 1969-1974. Model number 1/15.
Measures: 23 x 8 cm.
In excellent ...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Picture Frame with two-tone enamel stripes on guilloché Salimbeni.
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with two-tone enamel stripes on guilloché and fine hand engravings French Empire style. With 2 oval photo holders, internal ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Three Candelabras Bouillotte Lamp Tole Shade
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical bronze three candelabras Bouillotte lamp with two Edison sockets and dark forest green tole shade.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
Circa 1900 Antique Embroidery Indian Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1900 Antique Embroidery Indian Pillow
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Antique French Empire Trumpet Arm Tole Metal Shade Nickel Bouillotte Desk Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Trumpet Arm Tole Metal Shade Nickel Bouillotte Desk Lamp. Item features 3 lights/arms, trumpet arms, very rare nickel plated finish, red tole metal shade,...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of Antique French Ceramic and Gilt Metal Table Lamps
Located in London, GB
A stunning pair of antique French ceramic and gilt metal table lamps. They were made in France, they date from around the 1950’s.
They are of superb quality and are an impressive si...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Vintage French Bronze Empire Style Bouillotte Table Lamp
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Elegant vintage French bronze and brass Empire style Bouillotte table lamp with a metal shade.
Measures: Height 20.5" in. (52 cm), diameter 15" in. (38 cm).
Lighting: takes one l...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pair Palatial Bronze and Steel French Empire Style Torchieres Floor Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of palatial vintage torchiere floor lamps in the French empire style, finely crafted from gilt and patinated bronze and steel. Each with a circular shallow dish-form basin fitt...
Category
Late 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Mini Turkish Mat Rug
Located in New York, NY
A mini size Turkish rug from the third quarter of the 20th century
Measures: 1'6” x 2'8".
Category
20th Century Turkish Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
Table Box blue and gold with handpainted miniature fire-enameled on guilloche Sa
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal table box in 800/1000 silver gold plated with translucent enamel on guilloché and beautiful enamel miniature hand painted by the painter Renato Dainelli in early 1900s Engl...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage mahogany and leather Empire style martini table after Maitland Smith
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome vintage mahogany and tooled black leather martini side table. This empire style side table features a black leather top with tooled gold decoration around the edge...
Category
1990s Philippine Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Patinated Brass Candlesticks
Located in Barntrup, DE
Very nice pair of French Empire style gold-plated, patinated and burnished bronze and brass candlesticks. Each candlestick features finely engraved decors and is raised on a round or...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Brass
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
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.