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.
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
French Empire Style Kidney Shape & Brass Gallery 2 Tier Butler's Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Such an elegant French Empire Style Mahogany Butler's Table in a Kidney Shape with Brass Galleries, There are two shelfs, top and bottom that have the reticulated Brass gallery T...
Brass
Irish Cuban Mahogany Acanthus Carved Sideboard. Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Irish Cuban mahogany three drawer sideboard with carved scrolled gallery, gadrooned molded edge, carved eagle heads, flanking lower cabinets, original brasses, and terminating on acanthus carved...
Brass
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
A 19th Century Rafraichissoir Table
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century rafraichissoir table with gilt and ebonized swan supports. Mahogany, circa 1845. France.
Mahogany
19th C. Rosewood Tiered Server Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful figured wood tall server cabinet with a top 3/4 gallery and turned tapering column supports. The projecting cabinet with pilaster supports with ...
Glass, Rosewood
Italian Empire Period Serving Table
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire Period Serving Table. Neapolitan Empire period mahogany serving cart / trolley with broad recessed serving area for food service or bar with ormolu decorative carnival...
Ormolu
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 38.25 in W 53 in D 19 in
Pair of American Mahogany Console Servers in Natural Washed Finish
Located in North York, ON
American mahogany console servers in natural washed finish. Original design and look with beautiful inlaid work and slender curved legs. This piece is p...
Metal
Walnut Veneer Waterfall Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Our classic Waterfall table has been built with a walnut veneer and finished with a clear matte lacquer. Size finish are customizable. Measurements: ...
Walnut
English George III Mahogany Butler's Tray Table on Folding Stand
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early 19th century Regency George III period mahogany butler's tray on folding stand. Unusual square shape tray as these are mostly rectangle in shape. Beautiful old patina with ex...
Mahogany
Italian Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Woodbury, CT
This handsome neoclassical table in cream paint and parcel-gilt has a fluted apron with foliate carvings while the rose marble top has a cream marble beaded edge. Perfectly sized for...
Marble
John Widdicomb Rolling Flip Top Server Serving Cart Table
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, John Widdicomb
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Nice Mid-Century Modern rolling server cart.
Walnut
Empire mahogany and gray marble top center table
Located in Houston, TX
This large round empire style table has a marble Fior Di Bosco In gray hues With white veining. It has three circular legs that are tapered with gilt bronze capital banding. It...
Marble
Coastal Long Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Coastal long console table with a white limestone top, wire-brushed cerused pine in our Sea Salt finish with two long drawers accented with four org...
Wood
English Style Painted Dresser Base
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Huge 19th century style painted potboard dresser base. Dimensions: 124 inches (315 cms) wide 22 inches (56 cms) deep 30.5 inches (77 cms) high.
Pine
$4,547 / item
H 31.5 in W 70.87 in D 21.66 in
Console Table, High Gloss Laminate & Brass Details, Burgundy - L
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Julieta Collection. Console Table with High Gloss Top, Brass Tape Framed, Black Powder Coating Conical Legs with Brass End Introducing the stunning console table with black powder...
Brass
Large Gray Painted and Limestone Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Large console table with a limestone top and caved wood acanthus leaf legs with a gray painted finish.
Limestone
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
English Breakfront Pedestal Sideboard Console of Flame-Cut Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome English breakfront pedestal sideboard or serving console of flame-cut mahogany, featuring a moulded top over a frieze with two short drawers flanking a fitted breakfront c...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 29.93 in W 35.04 in D 25.99 in
Oval Mahogany Sewing Table with Gilded Bronze Inlays and Secret Compartments
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish empire mahogany sewing table, expertly crafted with refined quality. The oval tabletop features a gilded bronze edge, with a centra...
Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Console Desserte
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular marble top over a frieze drawer flanked by columns with bronze capitols , lower plinth shelf.
Belgian Black Marble
Antique French Empire Buffet Sideboard Serving Table 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant antique ormolu mounted mahogany buffet / serving table, dating from the late 19th century. It features a striking rectangular grey marble top above two frieze drawers above two open undertiers supported with ormolu mounted fluted columns. The cabinet is raised on ormolu mounted bun feet. Add a touch of elegance to a special room in your home with this superb antique serving...
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Style Baker Flame Mahogany & Ormolu Server, 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
A French Empire style server by Baker Furniture Co. offers flame mahogany construction with drawer tower having upper pull out work tray and flanking stylized and tapered column supp...
Ormolu
Antique Empire Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Notable antique Empire console table with marble top, mirrored base, decorated with bold 5 1/2" relief buttons, frieze drawer with brass ...
Marble
Early 19th Century Swedish Black Empire Tilt-Top Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish black painted tilt top table. From early 19th century empire period and with a very decorative later painting that follows the Scandinavian tradition of painted furniture....
Wood
Golden Bronze and Brass Two Tops Marble Rounded Gueridon Small Table
Located in IT
Brass and green alps marble rounded gueridon small table from France from mid century. Empire style and details such as pine cones and lion ending legs. It features three bronze rings hang on the top where the legs end. This table features two tops in green marble. The marble is in perfect conditions, no cracks. The brass and bronze details show wears coherent with age but no structural defects, they have a vintage eating...
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 41.34 in W 39.38 in D 19.69 in
Pair of French Burr Walnut Empire Pier Cabinets / Serving Tables, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant pair of antique Empire burr walnut and mahogany pier cabinets / serving tables, dating from the late 19th century. They each feature rectangular verde antico m...
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Mahogany Chiffonier Server
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Lovely French mahogany and brass Empire style chiffoniere server A diminutive size with upper open shelves and closed storage at the bottom.The wood in a highly figurative flame maho...
Mahogany
Silver-Gilt Exhibition Tea Table by Maison Aucoc
Located in New Orleans, LA
The turn of the century was the golden age of the great international exhibitions, the venues at which artisans from across the globe would showcase their absolute best creations for the world to see. The items on display were the often the finest examples of science and art ever created, as the sheer number of visitors provided the unique opportunity for artists to display the very best they had to offer. This incredible silver-gilt tea table is one such masterpiece, exhibited at not one but two international exhibitions. Created especially for the 1904 St. Louis International Exposition and later exhibited at the Exposition de Liége in 1905, its artistry and craftsmanship rival those of silver works found in any museum in the world. The one-of-a-kind table was created by the renowned Paris firm of Maison Aucoc...
Marble, Silver, Bronze
Sold
H 34.25 in W 45.25 in D 22.5 in
19th Century French Walnut Empire Style Console with White Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th century French walnut Empire style console with white marble top and drawer.
Marble
French Empire Mahogany and Marble Console Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A handsome 19th century French console or serving table in mahogany with inset marble surfaces and brass detailing.
Marble, Brass