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.
19th Century Painted Wood and Marble Pedestal Stand Gustavian Style
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Bring a touch of classical architecture into your home with this impressive vintage column pedestal painted in a Gustavian color called Gustav. Certainly a very neutral color that bl...
Marble
$24,000 / set
Pair of French Empire Bronze Pedestals
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire style (20th Cent) bronze dore brazier style pedestals with round green marble top and cross leg supports.(PRICED AS PAIR)
Bronze
Empire Style Grey Green Marble Bronze Tall Pedestal
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an heavy Empire Style Grey Green Marble Bronze Pedestal. It depicts a tall four sided tapered marble walls pedestal. The marble walls of the pedestal are embellished with thr...
Marble, Bronze
Antique Swedish Empire Gilded Marble Pedestal or Geridong
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gilded empire pedestal or geridong from the mid 1800s, around 1840. The pedestal is from Sweden and is gilded with a white marble top in Carrara...
Carrara Marble
Pair of Antique Swedish Neoclassical Late Empire Pedestals
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of antique Empire Neoclassical Swedish pedestals painted ebony with gold accents.
Wood
Midcentury Decorative Pair of Pedestals Walnut with Brass
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Midcentury decorative pair of pedestals walnut with brass.
Walnut
Pair of Empire-Style Marble Top Gold Gilt & Painted Pedestals
Located in Southampton, NJ
Pair of Italian Empire-style gilt and painted pedestals topped with Kastoria Red Marble from Greece, circa 1960. In very good vintage condition having polished marble and solid frame...
Marble
Monumental Antique French Empire Period Hall Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent over 200 year old French Empire Period (1804-1815) parcel gilt walnut armorial hall pedestal / plant stand. Born in France in the early 19th century, most likely near the Italian border or Napoleonic territory in present day Northern Italy, most impressive palatial scale, exceptionally executed one-of-a-kind sculptural work, having carved fiolate apron with H monogram, decorative scroll work, stylized grotesque satyr mask with acanthus leaf accent, over high relief crest mural crown depicting four towers representing fortified city walls, shield escutcheon coat of arms with three fleur-de-lis above wavy lines depicting sea water in front of castle tower, supported by figural winged female caryatid, flanked by volute supports, joined by turned stretcher. circa 1810 Provenance / Acquisition: An important San Antonio estate Acquired from highly reputable auction house Austin Auction Gallery, est.1983, Austin, Texas. Texas Mansion Carved French and Italian Antiques catalog...
Walnut
$947Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Empire Style Beech Wood Round Pedestal Table
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare and fine quality Italian empire style round pedestal table in beech wood. The top is supported by three pairs of refined columns. In the lower part the columns end with a deligh...
Beech
$1,150Sale Price / set|20% Off
Empire Style Ebonized & Giltwood Pedestals, 2
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Empire Style Ebonized and Gilt Painted Wood Pedestals, 20th century, each with a circular molded top above scrolled swan neck supports, on splayed legs joined by an undertier...
Wood, Giltwood
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
French Empire Style Gilt Metal Alabaster Pedestal
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Gilt Metal, Mahogany, and Onyx Tripod Pedestal, early 20th century. 44" H x 20" W x 20" D.
Alabaster, Metal
19th Century Empire Marble and Gilt Bronze Pedestal
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century Empire gilt bronze and marble pedestal. Fine gilt bronze female head with gilt bronze Empire bronzes.
Marble
Fine and Rare Pair of French Gilt Bronze , Porcelain and Marble Pedestals
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of French gilt bronze, porcelain & marble pedestals 19th/20th century Each with portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma Measures: 44 x 14...
Marble
Magnificent French Empire Napoleonic Sevres Porcelain Gilt Bronze Pedestals Pair
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in New York, NY
An exceptionally large and magnificent pair of French Empire Napoleonic Sèvres porcelain gilt bronze mounted pedestals. These are a exceptionally beautiful pair of 19th century 24-karat raised gold decorated, gilt bronze-mounted, onyx and Sèvres porcelain pedestals...
Onyx, Bronze
Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated and Mahogany Veneered Wood Gueridons
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of Empire gilt and patinated wood and mahogany veneered Gueridons, early 19th century.
Wood
Empire Marble Pedestal Stand Column Table
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Wonderful French Empire style marble pedestal stand column Great for displaying decorative pieces such as busts or vases Also great for the garden The bronze statue showed not includ...
Bronze
Pedestal Table in Mahogany from Empire period with carved details from 1820's
Located in Lejre, DK
Dining table in Empire style from the 1820s, crafted in mahogany as a classic pedestal table with a rectangular top. A decorative and functional piece with period-typical design, sui...
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Wood & Marble Pedestal, C.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late 19th century French ormolu mounted Empire-style pedestal, cast and figurine depicting a Greek goddess along with sculpted heads overlaid with flora. The middle design de...
Marble, Ormolu
Pedestal Table in Mahogany Period Late Empire with Carved Details from 1840's
Located in Lejre, DK
Pedestal table in late Empire style from around the 1840s, crafted in mahogany with rich carved details and classic proportions. The table can be extended with four additional leaves...
Mahogany
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire-Style Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An outstanding French Empire-style mahogany accent table with a unique basket wrapped around the pedestal. A circular wood top with raised trim rests on an apron housing two small dr...
Mahogany
Neoclassical Style Marble and Porcelain Pedestal
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style marble and porcelain pedestal French, late 19th century Measures: Height 108cm, width 30cm, depth 30cm This Fine column-form pedestal is crafted in the Neocla...
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Empire Style Gilded Marble Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Empire style marble-top gilded plant stand or pedestal. Lovely piece with paw feet and carved details. Ships from Philadelphia. Very good condition.
Marble
Cylinder Burl Walnut Pedestal Cabinet, Copenhagen, 1830-1840
Located in Kastrup, DK
Cylinder burl walnut pedestal cabinet. Late empire. Oak beautifully veneered with walnut. A large front door that opens to reveal a set of four shelve...
Oak, Walnut
French Empire Style Gilt Metal Mahogany Pedestal
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Style Gilt Metal Mounted Mahogany Pedestal, early 20th century, the circular top on a tapering column on a quadripartite plinth and ball feet. 35.5" H x 15.25" D...
Metal
French Designer, Side Table, Mahogany, Marble, Bronze, France, 1940s
Located in Manhasset, NY
A small Maison Jansen style claw foot and bronze mounted marble-top circular end or side table. Mahogany, Bronze, Marble France, 1940s
Marble, Bronze
Napoleon III pedestal with clock
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Napoleon III pedestal with clock Onyx marble column and champleve enamel with golden bonce The watch has very fine machinery and is stamped Vincenti y Cia 1855 The machinery works Ci...
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
$2,664 / set
Antique columns, France, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Representative columns - pedestals from the second half of the 19th century in the Empire style. A pair of potbellied columns with marble tops, beautifully decorated with light wood...
Walnut
Pedestal Empire Style, Italy 1940s
Located in Catania, IT
1940s Italian pedestal empire style in walnut with alabaster top and bronze medallion depicting two putti on each façade at the base porcelain plaques, bronze feet and bronze deta...
Alabaster, Bronze
Italian Empire style pedestal in wood and brass, mid 1800s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Empire style pedestal in wood and brass, mid 1800s Pedestal or display column with square top in wood. The top is supported by four round wooden strips with brass finishes at...
Brass
$6,950 / set
19th Century French Empire Pedestals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Strong and sturdy. Gilt and paint possibly not original. They have been waxed and look beautiful.
Wood, Giltwood, Paint