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.
$5,680Sale Price|64% Off
Spanish Empire Console Table with Mirror in Mahogany, circa 1810
Located in Miami, FL
Fine Spanish Empire console with mirror in mahogany and rosewood with satinwood inlays, circa 1810.
Rosewood
19th Century Pair of Empire Style Italian Walnut Consoles
Located in Dallas, TX
The product is a pair of Italian walnut consoles from the 19th century, which exudes an Empire style design. These antique pieces add a touch of elegance and history to any space wit...
Marble
Empire Style Console Table
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a very sophisticated Empire style console table, the ebonized plank top, over an ebonized wall centered with a carved parcel gilt la...
Ebony, Satinwood
Early 19th Century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table An elegant Empire period console table with a with marble top above a frieze d...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
$34,950Sale Price / set|22% Off
Pair of French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood & Gesso Carved Console Tables
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and rare pair of French 19th century Empire style giltwood carved and ebonized gesso figural console tables with figures of winged lions and f...
Marble
$9,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of French Empire Demilune Flip-Top Consoles by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent pair of 19th century French empire demi-lune console tables or round dining tables with a flip top that has been faux-marble lacquered on top by artist Ira Yeager (American 1...
Brass
Continental Empire Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Console Table
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Dutch Empire-style (Circa 1840) black lacquer Chinoiserie console table with adjustable mirror on back and bronze heads with black marble top.
Marble, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century, Lombard Empire Chest of Drawers with Marble Top
Located in IT
Walnut-veneered cabinet with solid walnut interior. Fitted with original brass handles with gilt finish, brass capitals with matching gilt finish, and a grey marble top. Complete wi...
Brass
French Napoleon Empire Style Marble Bronzed Wall Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
An elegant and petite wall console table crafted out of gilt bronzed metal and variegated green marble in a French Napoleonic Second Empire style. The table features a two-legged con...
Marble, Metal
Austrian Empire Ebonized Console Table with Gilt Figures, Circa 1800
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Austrian Empire-style (circa 1800) ebonized & gilt trimmed console table with 4 gilt carved classical Egyptian figural front supports o...
Ebony
$11,221Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top. Timeless elegance for your interior. Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124...
Mahogany
Vintage Maitland Smith Silver Koi Console Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite console table by Maitland-Smith is a masterclass in Hollywood Regency glamour, featuring the brand's iconic blend of Neoclassical influence and whimsical artistry. The...
Marble, Brass, Silver Leaf
19th Century Italian Console with Marble Top
Located in Millbrook, NY
Italian Marble Console Table. Exquisitely hand carved wood table with floral details, carved tassels and animal "hoof" legs. Crafted with intricate detailing with bronze and silver a...
Carrara Marble
French Empire Mahogany Console Table with Green Marble Top
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style mahogany console table with back panel and bronze dore trim with heads and green marble top (19th century).
Marble, Bronze
Antique Victorian Carved Oak Console Table
Located in London, GB
A large and very impressive antique Victorian carved oak console table. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1840-1860 period. It is of extremely fine quality, with a ...
Oak
19th-Century Empire Console Table in Walnut and Fir
Located in Firenze, FI
This console from the Empire period (early 19th century) features fine walnut wood paneling, while the columns are made of fir wood. Its structure is embellished with refined finishe...
Bronze
19th Century Swedish Empire Console in Carved, Polychrome and Gilded Wood
Located in Madrid, ES
Swedish Empire console table in carved, polychrome and gilt wood, early 19th century. Rectangular marble top in a low white, frieze decorated wi...
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Marble Top Walnut Console Table
Located in Carmine, TX
19th-Century French Empire Walnut Console Table — An elegant antique console featuring a rich walnut frame, green marble top, and finely detailed gilt-bronze mounts. The front is sup...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Console Jardinere, 19th Century
Located in El Monte, CA
This unique French Empire-stye console table, which also functions as a jardinere, is a masterpiece of neoclassical design infused with Empire motifs. Featuring a demilune shape, the...
Marble, Bronze
19th C. Empire Style Mahogany Console with Bronze Caryatid and Mirrored Back
Located in Kent, CT
A 19th Century blackened mahogany console in the Empire style. Bronze caryatid supports, paw feet, and lion keyhole. The key is lost in time but the drawer does open. Console has ...
Brass, Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Mahogany Console Table
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze and mahogany console table French, early 19th Century Height 92cm, width 120cm, depth 51cm This elegant console table is a superb example of French Emp...
Marble, Ormolu
Neoclassical Style Console Table, Refinished, Bronze, Celebrity Provenance
Located in Stamford, CT
Neoclassical style console table, Refinished, bronze, Celebrity provenance A walnut and parcel bronze and iron two-legged console table with a pink and gray marble top in the Neo...
Marble, Metal
Pair of Italian Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Consoles from Naples
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational pair of Italian mid 19th century Empire st. freestanding flamed mahogany consoles from Naples, Italy. The consoles are raised by double mottled rectangular bases with b...
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Empire Mahogany, Gilt and Marble Topped Dressing Table
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in London, GB
Constructed using a fine Honduras mahogany with gilt highlights, Bleu Tarquin marble and richly dressed with fire gilt ormolu mounts of the highest quality. The table of lyre end sup...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th century Empire st. patinated, Verdigris Bronze and Slate console.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. patinated, Verdigris Bronze and Slate console. This impressive six leg console is raised by three maiden caryatids with lion's paw feet in t...
Slate, Bronze
$30,283 / set
Pair of 19th Century Empire Console Tables
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A large pair of 19th Century Empire console tables with green marble tops and large scale ormolu mounts. With symmetrical eagle motifs on the legs and in the bottom centre, the style...
Marble
Fine and Exceptional Empire Pier Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A 19th century classical Empire pier console table having a beveled rectangular marble top above an Ogee mahogany veneered apron raised on carved and gilt white Alabaster Ionic colum...
Alabaster
$9,200
French Empire Console
Located in Woodbury, CT
French empire console in figured walnut with one large drawer, flanked by bronze mounted columns with shelf below and an unusually coloured pale ...
Marble
JOHN WIDDICOMB Russian Empire Console Sideboard Table
Located in Perkasie, PA
JOHN WIDDICOMB Russian Empire Console Sideboard Table – Item L68570 This striking John Widdicomb console table brings the grandeur and architectural...
Wood
Circa 1820 Wood Empire Mahogany Console Table With Marble Top
Located in High Point, NC
This piece presents as a console table, distinguished by dark mahogany, marble top, carved paw feet. Originating in France during 1820s, it shows the construction techniques typical ...
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Style Flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French mid 19th century Empire st. flamed mahogany, ormolu and marble console, with one drawer. The console is raised by a striking bottom tier which showcases the ...
Marble, Ormolu
Russian Empire Walnut Sofa Table, Early 19th Century, Lyre Pedestals
Located in Montreal, QC
This beautiful table is probably Russian, We describe it as a sofa table but it might equally be for the library . (The drawer has ink stains) It is a fine piece of cabinetry with ...
Walnut
Pair of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive pair of French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Vert de Patricia marble consoles. Each freestanding one drawer two tiered console is raise...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Mahogany, And Gray Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu, Mahogany, and gray marble console. The console with original mirror plates is raised by two front Ormolu foliate b...
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th century French Empire Period Burl Elm Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale early nineteenth century French Empire period console table is constructed of solid burl elm and features a black marble top. A single drawer of dovetail constructio...
Marble
19th Century, Empire Style Mahogany & Bronze Console Table
Located in Beaune, FR
Rare and superb Empire style mahogany console table decorated with gilded bronzes. It is topped with an original Siena marble in good condition. This console is large in size which i...
Marble, Bronze
20th-C. Neo-Classical Style Banded Burl Walnut Console Table By Baker Furniture
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 20th century Neo-classical or Empire style Burl walnut veneer console table by Baker Furniture. It has brass banding and ormolu. The single drawer is dovetailed and ha...
Brass
Italian 19th century Empire st Mahogany, Giltwood, patinated Wood console tables
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most decorative pair of Italian 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, and patinated Wood console tables. Each unique freestanding demi lune console is raised by ...
Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood
Antique French Empire Fruitwood Console Table with drawer, Early 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Antique French Empire- Biedermeier fruitwood console table with drawer and bronze details In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Bronze
Swedish Giltwood Early 19th Century Empire Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine, giltwood Swedish console table, possibly by the Stockholm master cabinet maker Lundelius (1778-1823). The wooden top in faux marble painted, the base plinth is painted black....
Giltwood
Pair of Empire Console Tables with Bronze Details, circa 1820
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This pair of Empire console tables features unusual, turned mahogany legs in the front that are decorated with beautiful, fire-gilded bro...
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Style Painted Console Table Mid 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful vintage French Empire style painted gilded and ormolu mounted console table, Mid 20th century in date. The rectangular faux marble top with an ormolu plaque to t...
Ormolu
19th Century French Empire Console Table with Mahogany & Marble
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century mahogany console in the Empire style with dark stone top. The gray, Saint Anne-type marble is in wonderful ...
Marble
Unusual Early 19th Century Swedish Carved Giltwood Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very decorative and unusual Swedish giltwood and ebonized console table with a white marble top supported by two sculptural griffins (part eagle, part sea creature).
Marble
French Empire Console Table, Mahogany & Marble, Circa 1830
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite French mahogany Empire console with its original marble top. A single drawer is housed in the apron over a pair of column form front legs with neoclassical style brass capit...
Marble, Brass
Corner Console Table, France 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
This elegant little Empire corner console table is embellished with mahogany veneer and pretty brass decorations. It is in very good, professio...
Brass
Antique Empire Style Painted Marble Top Console Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire Style painted marble top console table, circa 1900. The paint is later. With a rectangular marble top, a frieze drawer, two columns with gilt highlights, resting on a ...
Marble
20th Century Swedish Empire Console in Carved, Polychrome and Gilded Wood
Located in Miami, FL
Swedish Empire console table in carved, polychrome and gilt wood, early 20th century. Rectangular marble top in a low white, frieze decorated with leaves and legs with winged Egyptia...
Wood
$2,795Sale Price|27% Off
French Empire Mahogany Table with Gold Gilt Ormolu Mounts and Black Granite Top
Located in Savannah, GA
"The French Empire style which impacted furniture design and other arts was popular from about 1804 to 1815, lasting longer in some areas. It developed in France under the reign of e...
Granite, Brass
French Empire Style Mahogany Console with Gilt Bronze Mounts and a Mirrored Back
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic 19th century French Empire cuban mahogany console fronted by round columns with gilt bronze capitals and a top rail of the centered by a gilt bronze mount featuring ...
Bronze
Stunning Empire Console Sofa Table on a Rosewood Single Pedestal Base MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Stunning Empire Console Sofa Table on a Rosewood Single Pedestal Base MINT!
Rosewood
Fabulous Demi-Lune Console, Jardiniere, Mirror available, 1810, Empire, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
Wonderful demi-lune console, usable as jardiniere, made around 1810 in Austria, an original of the Empire era. This wonderful wall console has a faceted mirror in the lower area. Th...
Sheet Metal
19th Century Regency Ebony Inlaid Cross-Banded Crotch Mahogany Fold Top Table
Located in Germantown, MD
19th Century Regency Empire Ebony Inlaid Crotch Cross-Banded Mahogany Fold Top Table. Measures 36" in width, 17.75" in depth and 25.75" in height. Closed. Open, it is 35" in. Depth.
Mahogany, Ebony
Fine French Empire Mahogany Gilt Figural Sphinx Pier Console Table c. 1815
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A VERY FINE FRENCH EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY CONSOLE TABLE With polychromed winged sphinx supports Paris, France circa 1815 38" H x 45 5/8" W x 19 1/4" D A perfectly balanced ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Empire Marble Top Mahogany Pier Table, 19th C.
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique Empire style marble top, mahogany veneered pier table, features a single drawer. The whole is raised on four cushion form feet with trestle style support. Fabulous scroll...
Marble
Antique English Empire Console Writing Side Table, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful small antique English Empire Gonçalo Alves console with integral writing slide and pen drawer, circa 1820 in date. This dual purpose table has a drawer above a p...
Wood
Circa 1820 Wood Empire Mahogany Console Table With Marble Top
Located in High Point, NC
This piece presents as a console table, distinguished by dark mahogany, marble top, carved paw feet. Originating in France during 1820s, it shows the construction techniques typical ...
Marble
$7,840Sale Price|20% Off
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.
Marble, Bronze
$13,092Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Empire Mahogany and Parcel Gilt Console with Mirror, Carrara Marble Top
Located in Firenze, IT
This exquisite Italian Empire period console table with mirror, dating from the late 18th to early 19th century (1790-1820), exemplifies the grandeur and refined craftsmanship of palatial furniture...
Carrara Marble, Gold Leaf
19th Century Empire Console Italy 1810 Marble Top Bronze Fittings
Located in Epfach, DE
19th Century Empire Console Tuscany Italy 1820 Marble Top Bronze Fittings This extraordinary Empire console from Italy around 1820 combines elegance, master craftsmanship and histori...
Marble, Bronze