Empire Side Tables
EMPIRE STYLE
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.
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Style: Empire
Pair of French Blue Painted Fluted Bedside Column End Tables with Drawer
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This pair of side tables with a single drawer and cabinet below have been constructed from solid wood. The interior features a shelf for additional storage. Classic details on this s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
French Antique Side Tables Plant Tables Marble Empire Style
Located in Poperinge, BE
A beautiful pair of French antique side tables in classic Empire style, not entirely identical, high-quality plant tables or pedestals, made from a hand-carved wooden base gilded wit...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Gold Leaf
$2,588 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Lovely Pair of French Style Black Lacquer Side Tables
Located in London, GB
A Striking Pair of French Style Side Tables with Black Lacquer Finish and Floral Decoration
Lovely Detail
Dated C20th
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Side Tables
Materials
Lacquer
$2,033 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Small Round Vintage Baker Pedestal Table In Gold Trompe L'oeil
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This rare Baker round gold pedestal end table features Napoleon style bronze hardware throughout. This accent table would be great next to a chair in any...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th century Scandinavian flame mahogany oval table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century oval center table circa 1890.
Simple and elegant piece of Scandinavian design with this multi functional occasional table.
Matched flame mahogany top surface w...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant vintage classical Empire inspired marble top table by Maitland Smith
Located in Allentown, PA
This is an elegant empire inspired marble topped side table by Maitland Smith. This Empire inspired table has a hand forged wrought iron base with three decorative brass wings. This ...
Category
1990s Philippine Empire Side Tables
Materials
Iron
19th Century Italian Iron Safe / Cassaforte / Side Table / Nightstand
Located in Viterbo, VT
Hand-wrought iron safe hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s. The safe is made of thin sheets of iron folded and nailed together over a wooden case. Thicker bands of iron were then u...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Wrought Iron
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Mahogany Somno or Drum Table with Marble
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early nineteenth century French Empire period mahogany somno or drum table features a black marble top and a hinged curved door with bronze pull. Its cylindrical form and clean ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Round Side Table, Country Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
An Empire-style Neo Classic wooden round side table in a rustic country finish, with a dish top, four tapered column legs and an X stretcher base.
Dimensions: 30" W x 30" D x 27....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Side Tables
Materials
Wood
$2,060 / item
Mid 19th century birch root occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century birch root occasional table circa 1860.
Good quality Swedish birch root table, solid burr birch circular top, standing on shaped stem and scrolled legs.
Rich golde...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Birch
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Bedside Cabinet
Located in Forney, TX
A French Empire style marble-top mahogany bedside cabinet (nightstand - end table) with elegant beautifully aged warm rustic patina. circa 1870
Hand-crafted in France in the secon...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Empire Marble & Ormolu Occasional Table 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Empire circular occasional table with ornate ormolu decoration typical of the Empire period surmounted with a beautiful Verde Antico marble top, c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Cuban Mahogany "Somno" Side Table, circa 1805
Located in CA, CA
A beautiful "Somno" side table made of high quality Cuban mahogany with a grey marble top.
This French Empire piece dates from the early 19th century, circa 1805.
Meaning sleep in ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
A Pair of Empire Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Ebonized Column Supports
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Pair Of Matching French Empire Style Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Column Supports United By A Triform Base and Side Drawer.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Carlo X Italian Walnut Side Table, 1820s
Located in Viterbo, VT
Empire / Carlo X side table hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut and decorated with book-matched walnut veneer. The side table has elegant lines and lyre-like legs, con...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Walnut
19th C Empire Ebonised Round Table with Brass Figural Mounts
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this two tier round table has strong empire / neoclassic style elements. We had the table professionally ebonised in England an...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Italian Sorrento Inlaid Side Table
Located in Viterbo, VT
Sorrento round side table hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. The table follows the canons of the style with intricate geometrical radially symmetrical inlay on the ...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Poplar, Satinwood, Walnut
19th Century French Empire Table
Located in Chicago, IL
In the French Empire (1804-1815) period, grandeur was often measured in gilt bronze—sphinxes, swags, laurel wreaths gilded to catch the light. But every so often, a piece turns up th...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Console Table, France, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Original Empire console table, France, 1820, mahogany veneer with original brass fittings. The elegant columns with their brass capitals and bases stand on a rectangular base. The ba...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Mahogany and Ebonized Side Table
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Beautiful and restored Empire-style Mahogany side table. Round Mahogany top and base with new polish, three ebonized legs with dual ring gilt-wood accent det...
Category
20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood, Wood
French Empire Mahogany Console Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular original marble top over a frieze with drawer, all supported by parcel gilt columns joining a shelf, block feet.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th century Swedish birch root shaped occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish burr birch shaped occasional table circa 1870.
Fine quality table which is ideal for multiple uses around the home. Scalloped shaped top which has been beautif...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Birch
Especially beautiful Side Table, Pillar Commode Trumeau, Empire, ~1810-15, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Beautiful pillar commode, trumeau - an original of the Empire era, made around 1810-15, in Italy.
This piece of furniture has a wonderfully classic shape, with a base, a round body...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Swedish 19th century inlaid empire revival birch side table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century inlaid empire revival birch work table circa 1880.
Rectangular top surface veneered in birch and decorated with a inlaid border. Single lockable drawer fitted with pine...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Birch
Vintage French Empire Mahogany Pedestal Base Round Brass Gallery Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Pedestal Base Round Center Table with Brass Gallery. Item features a pierced brass gallery, pedestal base, gold gilt details, beautiful wood grai...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique French Empire Bronze Figural Swans Paw Foot Pedestal Base Low Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Bronze Figural Swans Paw Foot Pedestal Base Low Side Table. Item features an ornate bronze pedestal base with swans and paw feet, beautiful wood grain, very nic...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Gilt Bronze And Marble Gueridon Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze And Marble Gueridon Table. This striking table features bronze decorative trim as well as gilt bronze legs decorated with eagles ring handles an...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Table Tilt Top Swedish Chess Game Pedestal Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Table Tilt Top Swedish Chess Game Pedestal Sweden. A Swedish tilt top table made during the later part of 19th Century. Painted chess game on the top. Ornate base.
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Wood
$1,500 Sale Price
57% Off
Maison Jansen Style Polished Steel & Brass Galleried Glass Top Side Tables
Located in Germantown, MD
A magnificent of French Maison Jansen style Empire Revival brass and polished steel side tables with brass gallery and inset glass tops, each with three legs joined by X-form stretch...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass, Steel
Antique 19th Century Dutch Empire Oak and Gold Leaf Trumeau or Sideboard
Located in Casteren, NL
This elegant Empire sideboard was made in the Netherlands in the early 1800s and is also known as trumeau.
It was made in the finest quality watered oak an...
Category
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Gold Leaf
Oval Empire Side Table, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Delicate Empire side table from the early 19th century, veneered in mahogany and featuring a single drawer. The gracefully curved C-shaped legs end in brass sabots and are joined by ...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
$7,648 / set
Pair of Trouvailles Metal and Brass Side Tables with Swan Necks and Doors, Frenc
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A PAIR OF FRENCH PATINATED STEEL AND PARCEL-GILT GUERIDONS
Each with removable galleried top above two cupboards on turned legs headed by swan-neck-shaped handles
21½ in. (57 cm.) h...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Side Tables
Materials
Gold Plate, Brass, Steel
$3,936 Sale Price / set
20% Off
19th Century French Empire Round Mahogany Side Table - Antique Marble Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A round, antique French Empire side table made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Honduran Mahogany in good condition. The detailed small center table is composed with a black marble top, standing on three arched legs, supported by a wooden base, resisting on three round feet. The Parisian table is enhanced by detailed gilded wood carvings...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Vintage mahogany and leather Empire style martini table after Maitland Smith
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome vintage mahogany and tooled black leather martini side table. This empire style side table features a black leather top with tooled gold decoration around the edge...
Category
1990s Philippine Empire Side Tables
Materials
Wood
Italian 1820s Empire Walnut Guéridon Table with Three Drawers and Rams' Heads
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Empire walnut guéridon table from the early 19th century, with three pop-out drawers and gilt rams' heads. Born in Italy during the first quarter of the 19th century, this...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
19th Century Italian Iron Safe / Cassaforte / Side Table / Nightstand
Located in Viterbo, VT
Hand-wrought iron safe hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s. The safe is made of thin sheets of iron folded and nailed together over a wooden case. Thicker bands of iron were then u...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Iron
Late 20th Century Empire Style Fruitwood Pedestal Side Table
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 20th Century Empire Style Fruitwood Pedestal Side Table in great vintage condition. Very sturdy. Quality made in USA. Measures 16" in diameter
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Side Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
Edwardian Brass & Mahogany inlaid 3 tier Etagere
Located in Dereham, GB
Edwardian Brass & Mahogany inlaid 3 tier Etagere
3 Mahogany & Satinwood banded inlaid shelves,
Supported by brass Column frame
with Finials at top, ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
$1,605 Sale Price
20% Off
Bleached Fruitwood French Swan Leg Side Table
Located in Houston, TX
This bleached fruitwood French swan leg side table from the early 20th century showcases elegant craftsmanship with its gracefully curved legs resembling swan necks and inset Carrara...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
French Empire Figural Bronze Gueridon/side table w/ Pietra Dore Top
Located in New York, NY
A 19th Century French Empire-Style Pietra Dura Top Table/Gueridon with Gilt Bronze Maiden Base. This table features a gilt bronze caryatid support and an octagonal pietra dura top. ...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$6,800 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Style Round Accent Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Early 19th-century French design anchored by a quartz top with a refined moulded surround, this table balances classical elegance with luxurious materials. Its bold brass frame featu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Side Tables
Materials
Quartz, Brass
$5,787 / item
19th Century Table with Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
19th century beech gueridon with 3 legs on wheels. Legs are detailed with black lacquer at the top and at the base of each column.
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
French Empire Figural Bronzed Metal & Glass Center Table with Ram's Heads 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
A French Empire figural center table offers glass top over cast and bronzed base in triangular form having reeded legs with rams head capitals and hoof feet, stretchers with crossed ...
Category
20th Century Empire Side Tables
Materials
Metal
$1,480 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Architects Table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An elegant and attractive early 19th century Empire mahogany architects table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864). The double ratcheted hinged rectangular top lined with dark green oi...
Category
19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Regency Empire Two Tier Flame Walnut Gueridon Table With Elegant Reeded Legs
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Beautiful Regency Empire Two Tier Flame Walnut Gueridon Table With Elegant Reeded Legs Finished With Brass Detailing.
The veneer top is a real eye catching centrepiece.
Height bet...
Category
19th Century British Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
$2,654 Sale Price
37% Off
Pair of Early 20th Century French Empire Style Lapis Lazuli Side Tables
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of Circa 1900 French Empire Style side tables made of lapis lazuli, malachite, and onyx. This is a beautiful set that has been marvelously handcrafted with a variety of high-q...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, Brass
Empire Style Gueridon Side Table
Located in Austin, TX
Gueridon side table from France in the Empire style. This piece has three column legs each adorned with brass detailing at the top and bottom. The base has been ebonized and finished...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
French 19th century 1st Empire Period Leather and Ormolu side table, circa 1805
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare and most unique French early 19th century 1st Empire Period Leather and Ormolu side table, circa 1805. This charming table is raised on a tripod base with scrolled leather wra...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Ormolu
French Painted Antique Gueridon
Located in Austin, TX
Side table or gueridon from France made of solid wood construction that features the original paint in an antique cream tone. Hand carving can be found throughout and adds a neoclass...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mirror, Wood
French Empire Style Mid-19th Century Fruitwood Side Table with Doric Column Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite French Empire style fruitwood side table from the Mid-Century features a rectangular top supported by four Doric style wooden columns, with a characteristic entasis bu...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
Elegant Polladio of Italy Sculpted Iron Mirror with Wall Console Table
By Palladio
Located in Las Vegas, NV
1960s signed "Palladio" of Italy wall-mounted Carrara marble console table with mirror. Elegant piece sculpted of iron with gold gilded paint.
Fabulous foyer piece.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Side Tables
Materials
Carrara Marble, Metal
$2,190 Sale Price / set
40% Off
19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine 19th century French Empire period side table or nightstand made of solid walnut and veneer of walnut and finished on all four sides. Book matched veneers with beautiful swirli...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Walnut
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Feet Side Tables, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Feet Side Tables - a Pair. Item features a claw foot tripod pedestal base, lower shelf, beautiful woodgrain,...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Italian Walnut Bedside Tables Pair
Located in Viterbo, VT
Pair of empire bedside tables / nightstands hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s and decorated with walnut book-matched veneer. The tables are s...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
$3,765 / set
Weiman Heirloom Italian Regency Empire Mahogany Side Table w/ Black Columns
By Weiman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Weiman Heirloom Italian Regency/Empire Style Flamed Mahogany Side Table with Black Columns, Satinwood Inlay, and Dovetailed Drawer. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 24" ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Painted Empire Table
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A Regency design circular marble topped painted and decorated centre/lamp table with elongated turned feet.
Bespoke sizing, design adaptations and finishing available.
We are c...
Category
18th Century British Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Paint
$3,298 / item
French Empire Guéridon and Marble Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany and bronze guéridon table on triple swan leg platform with stretcher, gallery, and green marble top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
Antique thread table, Northern Europe, circa 1880.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique nickak table from the end of the 19th century, Northern Europe.
The piece of furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 78 cm / ...
Category
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Side Table, Vienna, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
An elegant Viennese Empire side table in mahogany, crafted around 1810. The table features a single drawer and rests on gracefully curved C-shaped legs with brass sabots. An elevated...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Empire side tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire side tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage side tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire side tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Netherlands pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original side tables, popular names associated with this style include and Jonathan Sainsbury. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for side tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,495 and tops out at $5,700 while the average work can sell for $2,821.
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