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: 1930s
Alabaster Pendant
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine silver over bronze hand carved alabaster pendant, France, circa 1930.
Dimensions: Height 39 1/2", diameter 22"
CW3329.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Three-Tired Chandelier, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire style crystal glass and brass three-tired chandelier, the 1930s.
Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1930s. This lovely...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Alabaster Pendant
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt bronze and hand carved Alabaster pendant. 4 lights.
Dimensions: Height 39" diameter 29 1/2" France, circa 1930.
CW3174.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster
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
Antique Empire Style Partners Desk with Leather Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Vintage Condition
Materials: Patinated Leather Top, Mahogany
Category
1930s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Empire Swan Bronze Sconces 1930 Lighting France
Located in Bastogne, BE
An exquisite pair of two-light Empire style gilt bronze wall sconces from the 1930s.
Drawing inspiration from the eighteenth century, these beautiful light fixtures demonstrate supe...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Eighteen Light Bronze Empire Chandelier.
Located in Fairfax, VA
French large bronze eighteen light chandelier with black lacquered center part.
Professionally rewired and ready for installation.
Height can be adjusted by removing some of the chain.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Plafonnier Crystal Chandelier Brass Lustre Ceiling Antique Art Nouveau Big leaf
Located in Berlin, DE
Exquisite Antique Chandelier: A restored masterpiece from the past
Discover the charm of a bygone era with our carefully restored antique chandelier, a true labor of love from Berli...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Plafonnier Crystal Chandelier Brass Lustre Ceiling Antique Art Nouveau
Located in Berlin, DE
Exquisite Antique Chandelier: A restored masterpiece from the past
Discover the charm of a bygone era with our carefully restored antique chandelier, a true labor of love from Berli...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
1930s French Empire Dore Bronze Chandelier w/ Drapery Swag Attrib Maison Bagues
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Spectacular 1930's French Empire Dore Bronze Chandelier. Bronze drapery swag detail. With Neoclassical elements. Attributed to Maison Bagues.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Solid Brass and Carrara Marble Top Coffee or Side Table
Located in Doylestown, PA
Vintage French Empire solid brass and Carrara marble coffee, cocktail or side table, France, c. 1930's.
This petite, elegant table is beautifully adorned with delicate floral motifs...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
King Edward VIII Coronation Flag 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King Edward VIII, this flag was produced to commemorate th...
Category
1930s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton
1930s Empire Gilt Bronze Swan Head Sconces three lights
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1930’s gilt bronze sconces with swan’s head and three lights
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930’s French Empire Style Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930’s French empire style sconces with swan atop and on arms
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930s French Empire Three lights Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1930’s French empire gilt metal 3 lights sconces with swans head, original gilding and patina
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Italian imperial style green ceramic columns pedestals bows and flowers, 1930s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian imperial style green ceramic columns pedestals bows and flowers, 1930s
Pair of pedestals with a round base. The tapered structure narrows at the top and then widens at the ba...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
1930's French Empire Sconces with Lion's Head
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930's French gilt bronze sconces with lion's head and crystal hangings
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Blue Opaline Glass Table Lamp
Located in Rochester, NY
1930's French blue opaline glass table lamp w/ brass fittings. 40" h to top of brass finial / 25" h to top of electric socket x 6 1/2" diam...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
1930's Opaline Glass Table Lamps - Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930's French Opaline glass table lamps with gilt bronze fittings
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire Style Scalloped Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French Empire style chandelier with unusual scalloped shaped and crystal hangings
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire Chandelier with Eagles
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French Empire style black painted chandelier with eagle's heads.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930’s French Empire Three Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930 French empire style three lights sconces with swan heads
Category
1930s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930’s Swedish Empire 6 lights Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1920’s Swedish empire style crystal chandelier with 6 lights
Category
1930s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
1930's French Gilt Bronze Triangle Shape Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 1930's French Empire style gilt bronze sconces with triangle shape
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire Lion and Swans Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930's French Empire bronze sconces with swans and lions head backplate.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire Silver Plated Chandelier with 6 lights
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French silver plated finish empire style chandelier with 6 lights
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire 4 Lights Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1930's French Empire 4 Lights Sconces
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire Style Lantern
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt bronze Empire style indoor lantern with glass panels inset.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930,s French Empire style wall sconces with bend glass inset from Mr..Icahn's Penthouse in NYC
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930's French Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in New York, NY
a pair of circa 1930 French Empire style sconces
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Circa 1930 Suzani Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1930 Antique Suzani Pillow
Category
1930s Unknown Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
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
Rarity Low Plafonnier Basket Chandelier Crystal Empire Brass Lustre Antique
Located in Berlin, DE
Presenting our exquisite basket chandeliers, meticulously restored to their former glory with love and care in Berlin. The electrical wiring has been upgraded to work seamlessly in t...
Category
1930s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Vintage French Empire Style Side Table in an Ebonized Mahogany Finish, Restored
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Empire side table or Empire end table that was recently restored in our Old Plank workshop. The finishing department hand-sanded and stripped the mahogany, without the...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
King George VI Coronation Flag 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937.
George VI (Albert Frederick Arth...
Category
1930s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Coronation Flag, 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family
A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937. Flag shows King George VI alongside Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor...
Category
1930s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Cotton
French 1930s Empire Bronze Chandelier
Located in Fairfax, VA
This fabulous empire chandelier. This stunning fixture is made of beautiful black lacquer and ornate bronze.
Professionally rewired and ready for installation.
Seven lights, 60 wat...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1930s White Opaline Huge Murano Flowers Drops Green Beads Empire Chandelier
Located in Modena (MO), Modena (Mo)
Housing 4 lights, will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the Unites States and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. One of a kind green and clear ...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
French Empire Style Crystal and Brass Sconce Wall Light, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This adorable Empire-style sconce features a brass frame draped with crystal glass beading on the top level and three tiers of crystal glass pendants on the bottom.
Two interior ligh...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Metal
1930 5 Arm Crystal Glass Chandelier
Located in Surrey, BC
A nice simple chandelier with impressive 5 arm configuration and swooping glass crystal details .
This piece was acquired from a private collection...
Category
1930s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Rarity Pair Low Plafonnier Basket Chandelier Crystal Empire Brass Lustre Antique
Located in Berlin, DE
Presenting a pair of exquisite basket chandeliers, designed to complement each other perfectly. Both chandeliers have been thoughtfully restored and revitalized to their original gra...
Category
1930s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
French Bronze Bows Crystal Prisms Empire Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Modena (MO), Modena (Mo)
Housing one light each. Will be rewired with certified US UL sockets for the United States and appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Bronze detail bows with ...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Bureau Plat Desk, Empire Dummy Partners Desks
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous French Empire bureau plat
Classic French antique desk in kingwood with ormolu fixtures
We date this desk to circa 1930
Has drawers on both sides although one side they are decorative so this is a dummy partners desk
Great for a home office set...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Kingwood
French Empire Style Gilded Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
French Empire style gilded bronze Bouillotte lamp with 3 arms with dark green tole shade.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Wrought Iron and Parcel Gilt Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
French wrought iron and parcel gilt 3-light sconces with shades, from Los Angeles estate, 1930s. Beautiful patina.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
French Crystal Prisms Empire Sconces, circa 1930
Located in Modena (MO), Modena (Mo)
Housing two lights each, will be rewired with certified UL US socket for the USA and certified socket for other countries and ready to hang. Bronze top, middle and bottom with great ...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Monumental Empire Style Crystal and Bronze Sconces, Austria, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of gilt bronze and crystal 1930s or older, waterfall sconces in empire style. Each fixture requires three European E14 candelabra bulbs, each bulb up to 40 watts. The wall light...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Metal
Monumental Empire Style Bronze and Crystal Chandelier, Austria, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Austrian crystal chandelier with a solid bronze frame and faceted crystal, circa 1930s or older. This chandelier is perfect for large spaces, entryways, and hallways. A unique waterf...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Metal, Gold Plate
Limoges, France, Two Candlesticks and a Dish in Hand Painted Porcelain
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Limoges, France. Two candlesticks and a dish in hand painted porcelain with a green edge and gold decoration, 1930s-1940s.
The candlestick measures: 16 x 8 cm.
The dish measures: 2...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Gilt Bronze Chandelier with Eagle Heads and Arrows, 1930s
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
A large French empire style six-light gilt and patinated bronze chandelier with eagle heads and arrows, circa 1930s.
Socket: 6 x E14 for standard screw bulb.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Glass and Black Metal Imperial Chandelier with Bronze Eagle Finial, 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1930s imperial style chandelier with clear glass rod and black metal arms and bronze eagle finial with six wax candle-like lights.
Category
1930s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Empire Brass Chandelier Crystal Lustre Ceiling Light Antique Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Presenting an exquisite Empire Brass Chandelier adorned with sparkling crystals, radiating the timeless allure of antique gold. This vintage masterpiece has been lovingly restored in...
Category
1930s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
1930s French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Two-Arm Sconces
Located in New York, NY
1930s French Empire style gilt bronze two-arm sconces. This can be seen at our 400 Gilligan St location in Scranton, PA.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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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