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.
Early 19th Century Round, folding Demi Lune Mahogany Game Table, German
Located in Dresden, DE
This beautiful early 19th Century Game Table is quite a piece... when folded, it makes for an elegant demi-lune console table, perfect for an entrance way or samller room. When opene...
Mahogany
19th Century French Mahogany Gueridon or Game Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Empire Period mahogany gueridon, or game table, with Grey St. Anne marble top. A versatile table with removable top, one side with green felt and the other with...
Marble, Brass
$4,000Sale Price|38% Off
Table Game Table Swedish Karl Johan, 19th Century, Light Mahogany Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Game table made during the Karl Johan period 1810-1830 in Sweden. Made from light mahogany and decorated with brass hardware. Tapered legs. Felt interior with backgammon and chess ga...
Mahogany
Baltic Mahogany and Brass Mounted Games Table
Located in Stamford, CT
A Northern European Empire games table. Flamed mahogany top opens to reveal felt lined game surface. Brass mounts embellish a neoclassic sensibility.
Mahogany
French Empire Style Burr Walnut and Ormolu Games Table, Chess and Backgammon
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French Empire Style Burr Walnut and Ormolu Games Table, Chess and Backgammon This is a charming piece, the table stands on bombe style cabriole legs and has ormolu decoration in the...
Walnut
Folding game table, Western Europe, around 1890. Antique. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique game table from the end of the 19th century. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: height 68 cm / width 57 cm / depth 57 cm
Walnut
Gaming table from 1810 with exquisite inlays - Italy
Located in Cesena, FC
Gaming table from 1810 with exquisite inlays - Italy Exquisite inlays and edges, with brass decorations on legs and borders. An object of the highest quality. Inside compartments a...
Brass
Danish Modern Chess and Backgammon Table by Georg Petersens
By Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
Located in Denton, TX
Portable game table that is easy to move anywhere in the house. Manufactured by Georg Petersens shop in Denmark. Versatile design lets you play chess or backgammon.
Satinwood, Teak, Mahogany, Walnut
$3,483Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in W 30.12 in D 17.33 in
Fine Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Inlaid Games/Console Table
Located in Suffolk, GB
Fine quality antique Victorian burr walnut inlaid games table having a quality burr walnut inlaid chess board, fold over top opening to reveal a green baize interior above three frie...
Walnut
French 19th Century Mahogany Game Table Console
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A versatile French mahogany console-game table from the late 1800’s. The rectangular tabletop flips open to become a square, revealing a green felt-lined interior surface that would ...
Wool, Felt, Mahogany
George III Mahogany Games Table
Located in Essex, MA
With rectangular top with drop leaves and sliding game board opening to a backgammon surface over a false and working drawers, raised on square tapered legs. Casters.
Mahogany
Regency Mahogany Games Table with Satinwood Inlay
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Regency-period games table from England, circa 1810-1815. Crafted from mahogany, the apron is decorated with fine line inlay in satinwood and maple, while the tapered legs a...
Felt, Mahogany, Maple, Satinwood
Gueridon Table, Mahogany, French, 19th Century
Located in Nice, FR
Round mahogany gueridon table, carved wooden foot from the Louis Philippe period. Mahogany wood This table opens in the middle, it supports two ext...
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard Refined early 19th-century game table, designed for chess and card games, exemplifying the understated elegance and fin...
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
Custom Walnut Game Table with Ebony Backgammon and Chess Table
Located in New York, NY
Custom walnut and mahogany backgammon table that converts to chess with a slide out board. New production. Made to order in walnut and mahogany. Designed and made in NYC, each tab...
Walnut
Antique Victorian Games Table Chess Backgammon 1840
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Elegant early Victorian games table with barley twist stretcher Rosewood games table with a chest board and back gammon inlaid foldover flap We date this piece to circa 1840 Very sol...
Rosewood
Neoclassical Italian Walnut Inlay Tripod Chess Games or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian round walnut side table with great details and frames shaped in Victorian, Napoleon III, Louis XV style with chessboard on the top and the tripod feet legs. A ver...
Wood
19th Century French Game Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century French game table is a masterful blend of form and function, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship characteristic of the period. Made from fine walnut, the table f...
Walnut
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
Empire Octagonal Chess Table, 1870s, Set of 33
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A stylish Empire wooden chesstable from around 1870 in good condition with some minor signs of wear. It is stable and quite heavy. The table would be a great addition in a classic in...
Bone, Birdseye Maple, Padouk
19th Century Italian Game Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Italian Empire style game table. Rosewood and boxwood veneers, marquetry sunburst in center of table and striping along three exposed edges. Opens to expose a circul...
Leather, Boxwood, Rosewood
Early 19th Century French Empire Tric Trac Backgammon Table
Located in Essex, MA
Period French Empire Mahogany Tric Trac Games Table. Inlaid Backgammon Well. Original Removable Top with leather on one side for writing and felt o...
Ebony, Mahogany
Sold
H 31 in Dm 35.25 in
Italian, Lucca Empire Walnut Giltwood Ebonized 1-Drawer Center Table circa 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a circular hand painted scagliola top resting atop a circular frame, the thick walnut veneer of a pronounced grain, the ebonized columnar standard with carved giltwood rings r...
Walnut, Giltwood
19th Century French Empire Tric Trac Game Table, Backgammon
Located in El Monte, CA
19th century French Empire period Tric Trac Games Table. The top features an inlaid checkerboard with delicate veneered inlays framing each players side. When flipped over, inset gre...
Brass
Empire Style Parcel Ebonized Occasional Table
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire style parcel ebonized occasional table with gilt accents.
Wood
Card Table, Empire, circa 1870
Located in Chorzów, PL
A unique card game from around 1870. Very good condition. Origin: Northern Europe Wood: Mahogany Dimensions: Height 60 cm Width 57 cm x 57 cm unfolded 81 cm x 81 cm.
Mahogany
Sold
H 28.25 in W 36 in D 35.5 in
American Empire Crotch Flame Mahogany Paw Feet Pedestal Base Console Game Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th century American Empire crotch flame mahogany paw feet pedestal base console game table. Item features swivel and flip top, pedestal base, beaut...
Mahogany
3 Piece 20th Century Burr Birch Games Table and Armchairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
3 piece 20th century burr birch games table and armchairs circa 1980. Good quality games table and chairs, set comprises of 2 armchairs and a games table. Table with inlaid chess ...
Birch
Sold
H 27.75 in W 23 in L 27.75 in
French Empire Style Faux Marble Decorated Games Chess Checkers Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautifully designed French Empire style games table. Perfect for chess or checkers, this tables features an ebonized frame with faux marble decorated top and gilded elemen...
Walnut
Sold
H 30.32 in W 32.68 in D 20.48 in
Multifunctional Table, Dressing, Chess, Writing Desk, Mahogany, 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Antique dressing table, play and work table Western Germany Mahogany Classicism circa 1810 Dimensions: H x W x D: 77 x 83 x 52 cm Multifunctional 19th century table in mahogany veneered on oak. Round, conical legs standing in brass sabots. Frame with typical grooves in the outer part. Two narrow drawers with interesting internal divisions. Two further drawers arranged one above the other; one folds open and can be used as a backgammon or chess board, the other can be set up with an integrated mirror. Table top covered with original leather, surrounding gallery of brass. Pull knobs and key plates also made of brass. Rare and unique piece of furniture. Condition: Ready to use, restored condition. Shellac hand polished. Also backside beautifully worked. Good to know about mahogany: Mahogany has always been a popular wood in furniture making. The first mahogany woods were brought to Europe from the West Indies about 450 years ago. Wood from far away countries was expensive and so it was only used for the finest furniture. During the baroque period, mahogany wood was particularly popular at the French court and in England, where Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton used the wood for their furniture. Dark cubamahogany was used for antique furniture of the Biedermeier and Empire periods. It was used as veneer and was also called pyramid mahogany because of its unmistakable grain. Mahogany has always been considered a very noble wood. This impression was reinforced in the Empire when the wood was combined with gilded bronzes. Since there are many different types of mahogany, there are also many different color variations. Mahogany comes in colors from light reddish to very dark brown. When untreated, mahogany is more likely to be brownish in color. The dark color that we know from antique furniture often only comes out through the shellac. Mahogany is still used today for precious furniture and furnishings, for example in yacht and ship interiors. The mahogany wood used in the creation of our antiques came...
Leather, Mahogany
Sold
H 28 in W 32.25 in D 19.25 in
Antique French Mahogany Game Table and Petite Woman's Writing Desk or Table
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
There are actually (3) top surfaces available to pick from on our antique French mahogany small side or end table. There is a traditional felt top for the game table, plus an original black leather top with gilding for when you chose to have a writing desk and finally, there is a faux mahogany surface, should you remove the top and just use as a lamp table, side table or end table. Our Old Plank restoration department, refinished the mahogany in an old school French polish, but made sure we did not over restore the antique French game table.
Mahogany