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.
$4,500 / item
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Gueridon Table
Located in New York, NY
Very finely cast Empire style gilt bronze gueridon table with swan motif.
Bronze
Decorative Empire Style Wood Candle Stand With Bronze Angelic Figure
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Decorative Empire Style Wood Candle Stand With Bronze Angelic Figure. In very good condition
Brass, Bronze
Regency Style Mahogany Fern Stand
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top and turned support. Tripartite legs.
Mahogany
Chromed Steel & Faux Rosewood Candle Stand
Located in Hudson, NY
This vintage smoking table or candle stand appears to be custom made and one of a kind. The heavy steel shaft is thickly chrome plated and rests upon a faux rosewood base complemente...
Chrome, Steel
$1,195
H 21.5 in W 20 in D 12 in
Ferguson Bros. Duncan Phyfe Style Mahogany Galleried Kidney Candle Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid Century Ferguson Bros. Duncan Phyfe regency Style Mahogany Galleried Kidney Form , , quadpad pedestal with brass cap paw feet Candle Stand Measures 20" in width x 12" in dept...
Brass
$7,400 / set
H 27.5 in Dm 20.5 in
Pair of Vintage French Empire Style Bronze and Marble Gueridon Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
This product is a pair of vintage French Empire style gueridon tables, featuring a tabletop made of marble with a bronze base. The elegant design and luxurious materials used in thes...
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Gueridon Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of black granite top empire style Gueridon tables. Brass with paw feet and a circular top.
Granite, Brass
Georgian Style Mahogany Pedestal Octogonal Floor Candle Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
A Georgian Style Mahogany Pedestal Octogonal Floor Candle Stand Measure 29" in height and 18.75" in width and 14" in depth.
Mahogany
$139 / set
H 12 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in
Vintage English Regency Small Patinated Bronze Barley Twist Candlesticks a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage English Regency Style Small Patinated Bronze Spiral Barley Twist Candlesticks - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 12" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D.
Bronze
Bronze and Red Marble Empire Style Gueridon Table
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Bronze and red marble Empire style Gueridon table A classic French bronze and red marble round gueridon table on scrolled legs with hoof (sabot) feet on casters. Topped by a rare ...
Marble, Bronze
Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Hexagonal Top Candle Stand with Tripod Base
Located in San Francisco, CA
A charming English George III period inlaid mahogany tripod candle stand, the string inlaid hexagonal top supported on a turned column, terminating...
Mahogany
English Georgian Mahogany Candle Stand
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Georgian style mahogany candle stand, the circular molded edge top on a delicately turned baluster column terminating in a dished and molded circular brass bound platform ...
Wood
English Wood & Paper Mache Tilt Top Candle Stand, c. 1860
Located in Kenilworth, IL
English Mother-of-Pearl inlaid and gilt decorated paper mache table top in the Chinese taste. The original 1860's antique inlaid panel has been fitted to a new custom made top and has been paired with a vintage base...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
$995
H 26 in W 11 in D 11 in
Hekman Cherry Bookmatched Faux-Bamboo Round Candle Stand with Protective Glass
Located in Germantown, MD
Hekman Cherry BookmatchedFaux-Bamboo Round Candle Stand with Protective Glass Top Measures 11" in width, 11" in depth, 26" in height.
Faux Bamboo, Glass, Cherry
French Empire Red Languedoc Marble Bronze Ormolu Candelabrum
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Wonderfully ostentatious urn shaped candelabra made of gilt and patinated bronze, raised on a red Languedoc marble support, which holds five candles with Classic effortless style, 19...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany and Marble Candle Stand Side Table, circa 1840
Located in San Francisco, CA
A unique Empire style mahogany side table or candle stand with an inset gray marble top and brass gallery, supported on a shaped column fixed to tripartite base sitting on acorn shap...
Marble, Brass
Empire Style Tripod Gueridon in Dark Green Leather, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
. Dark green leather . Tripod . Decorated with gilt and chiseled bronze . Work circa 1950
Exquisite Georges Geffroy Small Gueridon
Located in New York, NY
A rare example of the French interior decorator Georges Geffroy's furniture. Made in the 1950s of mahogany and ormolu, it has an Indian alabaster top i...
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Carved Walnut Paw Footed Swan Wine Table
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Standing proud from its three footed burled walnut base, this antique French Empire st. wine table offers grace and character. A graceful swans neck supports the scalloped top while ...
Walnut