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.
Maitland Smith French Empire Style Iron & Inlaid Stone Round Center Dining Table
Located in Dayton, OH
An eye catching handmade Breakfast, Centre or Foyer table by Maitland Smith, circa 1990s. Features a rounded top with inlaid and tessellated stone in the shape of shells and tulips. ...
Stone, Iron
$9,371Sale Price|20% Off
Faux Malachite Empire style Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Stunning French Empire Style Center Table Faux Malachite Stunning Center Table
Ormolu
Italian, Tuscany, Empire Period Walnut & Ebonized Center Table, ca. 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a circular walnut top above a conforming apron raised on rectangular ebonized columnar legs joined by a lower ebonized circular level on small square feet
Walnut
ebonized 19th Century Mahogany Round Center Empire Table with Marble Top
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this circa 1840s mahogany empire center table has a new, professionally applied ebonised finish. Gray and white streaked round marble top with a brass trimmed trefoi...
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Empire Style Walnut Pedestal Center Table with Marble Top
Located in Astoria, NY
An elegant late 19th-century French Empire-style pedestal table, sourced from Provence and expertly restored. Crafted from solid walnut with beautiful grain character and warm tones,...
Marble, Brass
$2,960Sale Price|54% Off
French Empire Antique Burl Walnut Center Table with Black Marble Top, circa 1815
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A very fine Empire center table crafted of beautifully patinated burl walnut veneers over secondary woods, the table retains its original black marble top. This was turned to create the dished top with an integral raised rim. Over each of the three columns is a honeysuckle gilded bronze mount, each pillar...
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Empire Table with Palmettes, possibly Berlin / Gotha, circa 1820/25
Located in Greding, DE
This oval Empire salon table is supported by two columnar legs in the form of stylized palms, partly gilt and partly ebonized. The plinth and the oval top are veneered in mahogany an...
Mahogany
French Empire Style Ebonized Marble Top Center Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French vintage midcentury Empire-style center table, a silhouette revived by the famous Maison Jansen, streamlining it for modern tastes and homes. The top is a heavy disc of blush m...
Marble
$2,820 / item
Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H. Clearance: 27"
Wood
Antique 19th C Empire Mahogany Gilt-Wood Marble Top Table
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th C Empire Mahogany Gilt-Wood Marble Top Table
Marble
19th Century French Empire Style Gueridon with Black Marble Top
Located in Sheffield, MA
A very handsome classical Empire-style round center table with a dark gray/black marble top, raised on a hand turned ebonized black center pedestal. The table lends itself to be use...
Marble
Early 20th Century Empire Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
Early 20th century Empire lacquered walnut dolphin center table.
Wood, Walnut
$2,820 / item
Classic Empire Center Table - Weathered Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted from grey cerused oak with an unusual weathered acacia finish, this table features a beautifully carved ogee edge that adds a touch of intricate detailing. The table is supp...
Wood
French Empire Walnut Pedestal Table with Round Marble Top and Tripod Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire period walnut table from the 19th century with circular marble top, pedestal and tripod base. Evoke the elegance of 19th-century France with this resplendent French E...
Marble
Maitland Smith French Empire Style Burl Wood Tesselated Marble Top Center Table
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Maitland Smith French Empire Style Burl Wood Tesselated Marble Top Center Table Dimensions : 34" Tall X 46" Round This gorgeous center table was made by Maitland Smith in the Frenc...
Walnut
Italian Empire Console Table with Gilt Eagle Base and Marble Top
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Empire late 18th Century / early 19th Century console table with a variegated marble slab and gilt caved acanthus leaves wooden top supported on a gilt carved base depicting ...
Marble, Gold Leaf
19th century hand carved oval center table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century hand carved mahogany center table circa 1880. Stunning quality center table from Scandinavia. Oval top which has been veneered in bookmark flame mahogany, fluted edge ...
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Center-Dining Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This oblong, French Empire style mahogany table from the 19th century would be perfect for dinning or a center table interchangeably. When closed, this stunning table is supported by...
Brass
Italian Empire Period Center Table Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The round top a white marble, crisply edged and set above a beautifully grained mahogany or rosewood veneered apron. The base features a fluted black column rising from a triangular ...
Marble
$11,907 / item
French Empire Style Center Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Early 19th-century French design anchored by a sleek quartz top with a refined moulded surround and elegant canted corners, this table blends architectural grace with timeless luxury...
Quartz, Brass
Extremely Fine Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Center Table
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
An extremely fine Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany center table, circa 1820-1830. Very finely mounted with crisp ormolu throughout, with bronze female figures, foliate scrolling, lions head...
Amethyst, Quartz, Marble, Ormolu
Rich Mahogany Antique American Empire Round Pedestal Center Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Rich looking round mahogany American Empire antique center table with ebonized pedestal and gilded details. Structurally sound having turned feet and castors. A 48” round piece of ...
Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood
Superb Gilt Bronze Center Table with Lapis Lazuli Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb gilt bronze table featuring a lapis lazuli top. The striking contrast between the fire gilding with its mustard yellow and the deep blue of the lapis is something to see. Th...
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze
Baker Furniture Italian Empire Carved Mahogany Pedestal Breakfast Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Italian Empire or Neoclassical style round pedestal dining breakfast table, game table, or center table. By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection. Italy, circa ...
Mahogany
Gilt-Bronze and Malachite Empire-Style 'Aux Caryatides' Table After Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in London, GB
A gilt-bronze and malachite Empire-style 'Aux Caryatides' centre table after Desmalter French, 20th Century Height: 82cm, diameter: 109cm This ma...
Malachite, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Italian Pietra Dura Empire Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pietra Dura Empire table. Malachite, amethyst, lapis lazuli, citrine and sienna marble inlaid in white marble. Wood is Tineo. Made in Italy early 20th Century.
Marble
$6,320Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Table, Germany 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique and very elegant Empire table dates back to around 1810-20. It comes from Germany. It was probably made in the northern part of Germany or possibly in Berlin. The table s...
Mahogany
French early 19th century Mahogany and Ormolu center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French early 19th century Empire st. flame Mahogany and Ormolu center table, circa 1815. This high quality circular table is raised on ball supports which conceal t...
Ormolu
Fine Large Antique Empire Revival Mahogany and Marble Top Circular Center Table
Located in New York, NY
This extraordinary antique Empire Revival mahogany center table measures an impressive 70.5" across and 32" tall (179 cm by 81 cm) and features four pairs of gilt Greek caryatid figu...
Wood
Center/Entry Table in Brass and Wood by La Barge
By La Barge
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful center or entry table designed and manufactured in the Philippines by La Barge. The table has beautiful carved frame and solid brass accents with a glass top that allows t...
Brass
Fine Late 19th C Empire Bronze Gueridon Center Table with a Micro Mosaic Top
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and rare 19th century Empire gilt bronze and patinated bronze center table with a micro mosaic and marble top with a malachite border. Scenes of Roman architecture in micro mo...
Bronze
Charles Pollock for William Switzer Giltwood Center /Dining Table
By Charles Pollock, William Switzer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunningly beautiful center or dining table designed by Charles Pollock for William Switzer. The table has a combination of solid woods and veneers such as burlwood on the base al...
Wood
Swedish Empire Center Table
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top with wood edge surrounding a geometric mosaic of hard stones raised on a triangular tapered column and tripartite base with gilded scroll feet. From the estate of Willia...
Marble
$1,088Sale Price|60% Off
Empire Side Table From Brede Main Building, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This amazing table comes from Brede main building outside Copenhagen, Denmark.
Metal
$46,400Sale Price|20% Off
George Jacob Desmalter Empire Gueridon Round center Table Estampille 19th C. LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
George Jacob Desmalter Empire Gueridon Round center Table Estampille 19th C. LA . Rare Exquisite Early 19th century Empire Gueridon with classic...
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Tables in Empire Style with Ebonized Inlaid and Gilded "Ram's Foot" Legs
Located in Cesena, FC
Pair of round tables in Empire style with three ebonized "ram's foot" legs with carved and gilded details representing typical elements of the Emp...
Plaster, Fruitwood
Empire 19th Century Round Pedestal Table France
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Here is an original round tripod center table from the early 1800's about when Napoleon roamed Europe. This table has been given a professional complete but "soft" restoration to sav...
Slate, Bronze
Empire Splendid French Saloon Table, Bronze Gilt
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and gilded bronze in wax casting. Three curly legs connected with gutter. Medium with garland-shaped decoration. The legs are in the form of three winged, fully plastic...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany and bronze trimmed rectangular center table with winged females, open stretcher, and onyx top.
Onyx, Bronze
$33,250Sale Price|30% Off
Empire Style Ormolu and Malachite Center Table
Located in Tarzana, CA
A large and impressive Empire style Gilt Bronze & Malachite center table. The table features a circular top, which has been beautifully inlaid with malachite and edged with gilt bron...
Malachite, Ormolu
19th Century Italian Empire Style Table with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th Century Italian Empire Style Table with Marble Top is a luxurious and elegant piece of furniture that exudes sophistication and grandeur. The ornate Empire style design is s...
Marble
19th Century Swedish Empire Centre Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Fine and unusual 19th century Swedish Empire centre console table with Italian pink Calacatta marble top, Ca 1830.
Marble
$48,950Sale Price|48% Off
Palatial French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood Carved Eagles Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine and Palatial French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood Carved Figural Center Table with Figures of Winged Eagles and Wreaths, the center medallion with a figure of a bull and and raised on lion paws over a sphere, fitted with a veined verde d'alps marble top (Marble top is recent and not the original - Gilding restored with 23.5 cart...
Marble
French Empire Mahogany Winged Griffins End Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany end/center table with bronze trim and winged griffins on legs with a green rectangular marble top.
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Eglomise Mirrored Center Table E.J. Victor
By E. J. Victor
Located in Toledo, OH
Empire style eglomise mirrored round center table. Black finish painted leaf details and trim in gold. Distressed mirror top. Excellent condition. 38" diameter x 30.5"
Mirror
A Fine French Early 20th Century Gilt-Bronze Center Table Attr. Francois Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French early 20th century Empire style ormolu and figural patinated bronze-mounted amboyna and veined Verde d'Alps marble top "Gueridon" attributed to François Linke (185...
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Style Carved Figural Marble Top Center Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: Height: 27 in Width: 40 in Depth: 40 in This vintage French Empire style carved figural marble top coffee table/center table is of the highest quality! If you look at th...
Marble
Neoclassical Empire Style Ormolu and Lapis Lazuli Table
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical Empire style ormolu and lapis lazuli table with patinated bronze mounts, French, 20th century Dimensions: Height 74cm, diameter 100cm Finely wrought in the French N...
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Neoclassical Round Marble Top Eagle Carved Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Neoclassical Round Marble Top Eagle Carved Center Table. Item features a round marble top with raised edge, gold gilt eagle heads, lower shelf, ebonized finish,...
Marble
Early 19th century French Empire Bureau Plat / Desk
Located in Troy, NY
French Empire Bureau Plat of Stately Size, the top inset with a dark leather writing surface surrounded by a stenciled gilt border, the frieze containing a center drawer flanked by s...
Leather, Walnut
Empire Style Mahogany Table with Inset Fossilized Marble Top
Located in Spencertown, NY
The circular table with contrasting marquetry of star decoration on the outer rim and then stylized greek key below it with a black fossilized marble top with white highlights. Slig...
Marble
French Empire Mahogany Centre Table with Bronze Dore Mounts, Early 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th century Empire mahogany center table with grey dish marble top, ormolu mounts and paw feet.
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Style Marble Top Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) round mahogany center table with bronze classical heads over 4 legs and trim on apron resting on an inla...
Marble, Bronze
$12,748
Empire Centre Table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Empire Centre Table A large French Empire centre table in figured mahogany with ormolu mounts, bronze feet and the original dished yellow-veined da...
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu And Marble Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, giltwood, ormolu, and Alabastro marble center table. The circular table is raised by elegant ball feet below t...
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (Circa 1825) mahogany and gilt round 3 legged center table on platform base with green lacquered bird heads and grey marble top.
Marble
A French Empire Ormolu Mounted Guéridon/Center-table w/ a Green Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
A French Empire Guéridon/Center-table with Egyptian Revival Bronze winged Figural Mounts with a circular Green Verde Antico marble top, supported by a mahogany base with gilded bronz...
Marble, Ormolu
French Early 19th Century Empire Neoclassical Style Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular French early 19th century Empire style mahogany, ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble center table. The most impressive circular center table is raised by three stunning ...
Marble, Ormolu
French mid 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu side/center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive and very high quality French mid 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu side/center table. This handsome table is raised by a triangular base with concave side...
Ormolu
$1,932Sale Price|31% Off
19th Century French Mahogany Centre Table in the Empire Style
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th Century French mahogany centre table in the Empire style, having a wonderful decorative segmented top with engraved brass moulding, the ...
Mahogany