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.
Pair of Napoleonic Empire Style Gondola Chairs with Dolphins
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous pair of carved walnut gondola chairs featuring dolphins. Crafted in the grand Napoleonic French empire taste with a curved crestrail and intricately carved splat centered by...
Fabric, Walnut
French 19th Century Empire Bleach Solid Mahogany Chest of Drawers / Commode
Located in Carmine, TX
19th Century French Empire Bleached Commode from France. Made of Mahogany, the wood was professionally sanded and bleached. with a beautiful blue hand pa...
Bronze
Empire Miniature Urn in Gilt and Dark Patinated Bronze, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Empire Miniature Urn in Gilt and Dark Patinated Bronze, 1820s A refined and beautifully proportioned miniature urn in finely chased gilt and dark patinated bronze, executed in the E...
Bronze
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Marble, Ormolu
$11,200Sale Price|20% Off
Russian or Swedish Empire Crystal, Turquoise Glass and Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare late 18th century Russian or possible Prussian neo-classical chandelier, having twelve arms around a central gilded bronze corona pierced with round cut crystals; the corona s...
Crystal
French Country Provincial Biedermeier Cherry Marble Side Table Ice Bucket Holder
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage French Country Provincial Biedermeier Style Cherry Wood Marble Side Table w/ ...
Marble
Vintage French Empire Style Gilt Bronze & Tiered Crystal & Beads Chandelier
Located in Plainview, NY
Vintage French Empire Style Gilt Bronze & Tiered Crystal & Beads Chandelier with Amethyst Accents This vintage French Empire-style chandelier features an elongated, tapered cage sil...
Bronze
$10,400Sale Price|20% Off
Imperial Crest Antique Shield Coat of Arm Wall Plaque Armorial LA Antique Dealer
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Imperial Crest Antique Shield Coat of Arm Wall Plaque Armorial LA Antique Dealer , Beautiful Early 19th century Heavy Bronze Imperial Armorial Armoirie Coat...
Bronze
Neoclassical French Empire console Table gilt wood.
Located in South Charleston, WV
19th Century French Empire Table with gilt satinwood, floral motifs and sphinx to the front. 33.5" tall, 36.25" wide and 18.25" deep. Elaborate detail with notable wood top. Date of...
Satinwood
$16,846Sale Price|35% Off
C 20th Empire Style Malachite Box
Located in London, GB
A Very Fine Empire Style ormolu Mounted Box Lovely Quality and very fine Ormolu mounted This Box Stands at 40cm in Height and is truly Magnificent
Malachite
Large 19th Century Black Tole Metal Oval Serving Tray with Handles
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Unbeatable age and patina on this black painted and gilt on oval tray. The tray features leaves in an oval pattern. As found in Sweden, we see this metal tray functioning on a coffee...
Metal
Bracket Clock, Vienna, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Elegant Viennese bracket clock with an ebonized base and splayed legs supporting the clock case. The case is made of walnut and decorated with brass appliqués. The movement features...
Brass
20th Century Empire Style Ebonized Gray Leather Chaise Lounge
Located in Houston, TX
20th Century Empire style ebonized wood and gray leather upholstered chaise lounge featuring brass ormolu and a leather bolster.
Brass, Ormolu
Baltic Neoclassical Mahogany, Brass & Leather Writing Desk, late 19th century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
BALTIC NEOCLASSICAL MAHOGANY, LEATHER AND BRASS BUREAU PLAT WITH CARTONNIER Eastern European, probably the Baltic States Circa late 19th century, the tambour cabinet with alterations...
Brass
Antique German Iron Coffer with Griffins, Empire Style, Circa 1810
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...
Metal, Iron
20th Century Italian Empire Style Crystal and Black Iron Chandelier
Located in Milano, MI
Italian crystal chandelier with Empire style drop-shaped iron structure, eight curved arms ending with eight crystal bobeches. The upper part of the iron structure is originally deco...
Crystal, Iron
$31,200Sale Price|60% Off
Monumental 19th Century French Empire Style “Lit Bateau” Bed in Carved Wood
Located in Porto, PT
An exceptional and highly impressive monumental 19th century “lit bateau” bed, executed in the grand tradition of the Empire and Neoclassical styles, and distinguished by its extraor...
Textile, Silk, Wood
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Abattant with Figural Ormolu 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Empire abattant secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper drawer over drop front desk opening to interior with p...
Ormolu
Late 18th Century Empire Walnut Column or Bedside Table
Located in Brescia, IT
The walnut column is a piece from the Empire period, handmade in Italy. The piece is a true piece of furniture, as the frame conceals a door that opens to reveal a compartment entire...
Walnut
Empire Ormolu Surtout-de-Table Mounted as a Coffee Table Attributed to Thomire
Located in London, GB
A Fine Ormolu Surtout-de-Table Attributed to Thomire of Paris Mounted as a Coffee Table Of oval shape, the mirrored glass centre surrounded by a finely cast Bacchanalian gallery of...
Ormolu
French Empire Round Table or Gueridon of Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome French round table or gueridon in the Empire style, featuring a circular top of figured black marble (25.5" diameter), set upon a tripod column support of mahogany with or...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Pair of Danish Empire Mahogany With Inlay Arm Chairs
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant Danish early 19th century empire armchairs. Crafted in mahogany and satinwood marquetry on backrest and apron. Apron and upper part of backrest decorated with diamo...
Hardwood, Mahogany, Satinwood
Empire Dark Green Four-Arm Chandelier Made of Leather and Brass, France 1960s
Located in Hannover, DE
This lovely French chandelier was found in a villa built in the late 1950s. The beautiful, high-quality craftsmanship is impressive. The lampshades are made of metal and then covered...
Brass
$13,879Sale Price|25% Off
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, ...
Bronze
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Exotic Animals 5 X 3
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Wool, Cotton
2 Antique French Sarregumines Majolica Snake Serpent Mantel Vase Urn 17"
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of very large and impressive late 19th century Sarregumines majolica pottery vases - classical urn shape with coiled double headed snake / serpent handles, brown and white multi...
Majolica
$17,148Sale Price|25% Off
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...
Bronze
Lovely Pair Of Black Lacquered And Gilt Upholstered Open Armchairs
Located in Crawley, GB
delight to offer for sale this stunning pair of black lacquered and gilt antique style upholstered open armchair with carved swans and raised upon sabre front legs with carved scroll...
Fabric, Oak
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...
Bronze, Steel
17th Century Florentine Velvet Metallique Pillow 24" x 12" Inch
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Florentine Velvet Metallique Pillow 24" x 12" Inch
Metal
$3,048Sale Price|20% Off
Early 19th Century Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers with Marble on top
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers with Marble on top France, 1810 Walnut Antique Chest of drawers with black marble on top. Beautiful grain of walnut on front and both sid...
Walnut
French Empire Style Brass Double Bouillotte Table Lamp
By Stiffel
Located in Germantown, MD
A Stiffel sryle brass double bouillotte table lamp featuring a dark green shade Style: Regency/French Empire, featuring a candlestick column design on a tripartite base. Features: In...
Brass
Rare French Empire partially Gilt Mahogany Corner Console or Encoignure
Located in Greenwich, CT
A Fine and Rare French Empire Mahogany Corner Console or 'Encoignure', late 19th cent. with a triangular top of ebonized molded edge, raised on a finely sculpted giltwood winged car...
Mahogany
Very Large French Gilt Gold Crystal Suite Drinking Wine Glasses
Located in London, GB
Very Large French Gilt Gold Crystal Suite Drinking Wine Glasses French, c. 1960 Wine glass: Height 18cm, diameter 7cm Cocktail glass: Height 15cm, diameter 10cm This exceptional po...
Crystal
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.
Linen, Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair of large Empire style Giltwood Upholstered Armchairs Fauteuils
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage (20th century) hand-carved giltwood armchairs in the French Empire style with lovely red upholstered seats, seatbacks and armrests with petit point embroidered flora...
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th-C. French Empire Gilt Bronze Mahogany Side Chairs - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of late 19th century French Empire mahogany side chairs with gilt bronze mounts. Note the griffins on the legs! The fabric appears to be silk. It is vintage and in ver...
Bronze
1820s Rare and Elegant Empire Walnut Sicilian Console
Located in Catania, Sicilia
An original conditions Walnut console hand-crafted in Sicily in 1820s. The elegance of saber feet it's typical of the Empire period as the gilded friezes...
Walnut
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...
Marble
Armchairs Pair of Swedish Mahogany Brown Gilded Details Green and White Seat
Located in New York, NY
A pair of armchairs made in Sweden during the Karl Johan period 1810-1840. Frame made in mahogany with gilded details. Upholstered in a durable outdoor Rogers and Goffigon stripe.
Mahogany
$8,000Sale Price / item|20% Off
a Pair of Newly Upholstered French Empire Armchairs One Stamped J. Louis
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic pair of French Empire period open armchairs in well figured and carved mahogany; each with a square back topped by a bow shaped carved frieze featuring folliate rosettes and downscrolled arms. Where the arms join the chair rail there are carved anthemians and palmettes. These two chairs are presented in the green Empire fabric...
Mahogany
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Empire Style Mahogany Headboard with Silk Embroidery
Silk, Mahogany
Chest of drawers, Empire around 1800/10, Cherrywood with three drawers
Located in Münster, DE
Empire chest of drawers, circa 1800/10, cherry, plum, and apple wood veneered on oak, three drawers with a central lock in the middle drawer, original hardware and lock. Hand-poli...
Wood, Cherry, Fruitwood, Oak
Fine Antique Gilt Framed Three Panel Mantle Mirror
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine and large Gilt wood Mantle Mirror with Empire and Regency styling, designed with three divided rectangular mirror plates in a carved and gilt frame with a straight moulded ...
Mirror, Giltwood
$7,600 / set
Pair White Neoclassical Campagna Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair White Neoclassical Campagna Vases. Pair of Paris Porcelain all white glazed porcelain two part vases with double mask handles. France 1810. Dimensions: 9.5" diameter x 13.5" ...
Porcelain
Pair of Gilded 19th Century Italian Empire Lamps in Carved Wood
Located in Milano, MI
Pair of Antique 19th-Century Italian Empire Gilded Lamps in Carved Wood, centerpiece, made with early-1800s finials, vases on hexagonal plinth with vegetable pastille carving frames,...
Gold Leaf
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 ...
Bronze
French Provencal Early 19th Century Empire Extendable Table Solid Walnut
Located in Vigonza, Padua
French Provencal early 19th century empire extendable table solid walnut This extendable Empire table from the early 19th century enhances the the...
Walnut, Burl
19th Century French Empire Pair of Antique Gilded Bronze Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A gold-black, antique French pair of dark patinated candle sticks made of hand crafted gilded bronze, in good condition. The detailed candle holders are particularized with flowers decoration, resting on a tripod foot. The Parisian décor...
Metal, Bronze
Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique French Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bureau plat, circa 1870 in date. The rectangular top has an inset gold-tooled green leather writing surface with a very...
Ormolu
$3,600Sale Price|46% Off
French Empire Bookcase in Walnut
Located in Doylestown, PA
An early 19th century French provincial biblioteque in walnut, with upper case with adjustable shelves and wire-grill doors over a lower pair of paneled cabinet doors, circa 1810.
Walnut
Thomasville French Louis Philippe Burlwood Marble Top Four-Drawer Dresser Chests
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful pair of French Empire or Louis Philippe style four-drawer dressers or chests of drawers By Thomasville USA, Late 20th Century Gorgeous burl wood, with thick beveled ma...
Marble, Brass
American Empire Mahogany Wall Mirror, Shaped Design, 19th Century, USA
Located in Queens, NY
American Empire (19th Century) rectangular mahogany wall mirror with a shaped top and bottom.
Mahogany
19th Century Italian Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Italian gilded and painted console table from the Empire period in it's original condition. Ca 1810, Italy.
Wood
Pair of Empire Bedside Cabinets, Italy, Early 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Empire bedside cabinets veneered in walnut and raised on tall square legs with block feet. The sides are decorated with ebonized pilasters featuring gilt leaf ornament. One c...
Walnut
French Rouge Griotte Marble Paperweight, Late Empire Period, 1830–1840
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Rouge Griotte Marble Paperweight, Late Empire Period, 1830–1840 A beautifully proportioned French paperweight from the late Empire period, crafted in richly veined Rouge Grio...
Griotte Marble
Empire Restauration Period Armchair Bergère, France, 1825
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Empire restauration period armchair bergère, France, circa 1815-1830. solid mahogani wood with gold leaf details. fully restored, new upholstery with lace up padding. very com...
Gold Leaf
19th century Swedish burr birch tripod table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish burr birch tripod table circa 1860. Good quality piece of traditional furniture which showcases the nations favourite wood, birch. Square top with rounded corn...
Birch
French Vintage Empire Style Crystal Basket Pendant Chandelier in Brass and Glass
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire style crystal basket pendant chandelier, 1970s – timeless elegance in a compact form. An elegant French vintage Empire-style crystal basket chandelier from the 1970s, ...
Metal, Brass
$1,250Sale Price|35% Off
French Empire Large Self Standing Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Foyer French Empire mirror in original condition. Brass around the top and the bottom part of the column. Two small side drawers as well as middle glass shelf with the storage. Top p...
Wood