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.
Antique table with chairs, Northern Europe, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique table and chairs from the late 19th century, Northern Europe. Furniture in very good condition, professionally renovated. Chair seat...
Walnut
$34,301 / set
Empire style dining room furniture
Located in Porto, PT
Portuguese Empire style dining room furniture from the early 20th century, made of mahogany with gilded bronze accents; comprising: a china cabinet; 2 sideboards; 6 chairs; 2 armchai...
Wood
19th Century French Mahogany Table Empire style with Louis Philippe four Chairs
Located in Vigonza, Padua
IMPORTANT: ON REQUEST WE WILL RE-UPHIDE THE CHAIRS WITH A SUPPLEMENT OF EURO 150 EACH. Reinforced structure of the chairs for daily use. Spring seat. French mahogany dining table...
Mahogany
A table and four chairs from the early 20th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A set of four chairs with a table from the early 20th century. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: Table: height 79 cm width 125 cm...
Fabric, Walnut
19th Century Original British Dinning Room Set with 12 Chairs, Satin Wood
By Joseph Fitter
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Hassle-free US shipping: We provide all necessary 100+ year-old certifications to ensure a flat 15% customs rate for our US clients Individual items are not for sale separately. A very popular supplier and manufacturer of furniture, Maple & Co. It is a perfect example of the English aristocracy and is still in great demand. The whole set is remarkable in that it has been kept intact this entire time, including the original 12 chairs at the table. The table has a rare unfolding system with two double action screw table expanders. One person alone can easily unfold the table by turning the handle. The system is patented by the company Joseph Fitter...
Leather, Upholstery, Satinwood, Lacquer
$2,700Sale Price / set|55% Off
H 29.5 in W 72 in D 44 in
Antique/Vintage Bernhardt dining Table with 8 chairs, two extension, table cover
Located in Birmingham, AL
Stunning vintage Bernhardt “Shibui” Asian-style dining set, featuring a substantial rosewood dining table with a beautiful decorative hand-curved and painted top and eight matching c...
Hardwood
Lovely Dining Set, Four Chairs and a Dining Room Table
Located in New York, NY
This set includes a dining room table that includes an attachment. The table is approximately 53 inches long, but the extension adds 16 inches, making it nearly 70 inches in length. ...
Wood
$5,200 / set
H 38 in W 25 in D 25 in
Vintage French Country Louis XV Style Carved Walnut Dining Room Set - 7 Pc Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
High Quality Vintage French Country Louis XV Style Carved Walnut Dining Room Set - 7 Pc Set. Listing includes (2) Armchairs, (4) Side chairs, and (1) Oval dining table with (2) 18" e...
Walnut
$2,090 / set
H 29.14 in W 55.91 in D 53.94 in
1960s Mid-Century dining table and dining chairs by Schreiber Furniture
By Schreiber
Located in London, GB
Founded in 1957 by Chaim Schrieber, Schreiber furniture is an interesting British success story. The Company was one of the biggest names in furniture in the 70s, rivalling G Plan a...
Faux Leather, Formica, Beech
19th Century Louis Philippe Mahogany Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Louis Philippe French side table made of solid and veneers of mahogany with two woven cane shelves and a small dovetailed drawer. Turned legs with small cast brass cas...
Marble, Brass
19th century original scraped paint Swedish cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century original scraped paint Swedish cupboard circa 1850. Here we have a fine piece of Swedish rustic furniture, presented in it's original paint which has been partially scr...
Pine, Paint
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Desk, Refinished
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome French Empire desk made of mahogany that has been recently refinished to preserve the beautiful color and grain of the wood. The top surface is a gold-tooled leather in a ...
Brass
$265Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.36 in W 14.18 in D 14.18 in
Small Inlaid Side Table From the Early 20th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Small Inlaid Side Table From the Early 20th Century in light brown A small table with floral marquetry, featuring four openwork legs and a rou...
Wood
French 19th Century Empire Style Gueridon
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th Century French mahogany marble topped Gueridon, having three circular tapering column supports, each with gilded ormolu capitals and classical ormolu motifs to th...
Marble
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
$3,372
H 30.32 in W 33.47 in D 20.48 in L 30.32 in
Antique Genuine Gustavian Small Table from Northern Sweden with a Drawer
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish gustavian table from around 1810. The table is gustavian, also known as neoclassic, and made in solid Swedish pine. The table has the original paint with a rustic cha...
Pine
Antique Pine Vertiko Cabinet Late 19th Century Solid Wood Cupboard
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This beautiful antique Vertiko cabinet dates to the 1890s and is crafted from solid pine wood with a warm natural finish that highlights its rich grain...
Wood, Pine
Antique, large dining table with chairs, Western Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique table with a set of six chairs from around 1870, Western Europe. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation. The seats and backs of the chairs have been...
Oak
Sold
H 35.83 in W 18.12 in D 22.45 in
Empire Style Table with Chairs, Northern Europe, Mid-19th Century
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chairs with an Empire style table from around 1850. The furniture is in very good condition, the chairs have been professionally renovated, upholstered in a new fabric. ...
Leather, Oak
Sold
H 29.14 in W 51.97 in D 40.95 in
Extendable Frenchempire Style Dining Table in Mahogany-Burr with Four Chairs
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Beautiful and elegant oval French Empire style extendable table...
Mahogany
Sold
H 29.53 in W 116.34 in D 43.31 in
19th Century Original Rare British Dinning Room Set with 12 Chairs, Satin Wood
By Joseph Fitter
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Individual items are not for sale separately. A very popular supplier and manufacturer of furniture, Maple & Co. It is a perfect example of the English aristocracy and is still in great demand. The whole set is remarkable in that it has been kept intact this entire time, including the original 12 chairs at the table. The table has a rare unfolding system with two double action screw table expanders. One person alone can easily unfold the table by turning the handle. The system is patented by the company Joseph Fitter...
Leather, Upholstery, Satinwood, Lacquer
Sold
H 30.71 in W 78.75 in D 63 in
19th Century Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Dining Room Suite in Empire Style
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
This 13-piece Napoleon III dining room suite crafted of mahogany and mahogany veneer, boasts intricate ormolu bronze decoration in Empire style. The suite features twelve chairs and a large dining table. The octagonal table has a rich gilt and chiseled bronze ornamentation composed of trophies, masks, laurel crowns and swans. Each corner is decorated with an eagle, a typical motif of the Empire period. The table is set on four cambriole legs that end in gilt bronze lion paw, and two other straight legs. With its impressive size and exceptional ormolu decoration, this table is a majestic find. The gondola chairs are also crafted of mahogany and mahogany veneer. These elegant seats with graceful lines are decorated with gilt bronze Hermes...
Bronze