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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Item type: Antique and Vintage
Style: Empire
Pair of Fully Restored Historicist Bedside Tables, 1910, Austria
Located in Prague 8, CZ
A pair of the bedside tables in the historicist style, made in the Austria-Hungary empire around 1910.
It´s made of beech wood.
Marble panel on the top. The stands are in excellent...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
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
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
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Ebonized Gueridon, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or neoclassical style tea table or occasional side table
By Baker Furniture
USA, Circa 1980s
Cherry wood, with ebonized columns and brass and gold g...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Midcentury Steel and Glass Side Tables
Located in London, GB
A good pair of steel and glass side tables, made in France in the 1960s.
Made with an empire design, with pine cone finials and flower details.
Simple, elegant, mid century cra...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Materials
Steel
Pair of French Empire Style 1940s Ebonized Side Tables with Marble Tops
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Empire style ebonized side tables from the mid 20th century, with marble tops and gilded accents. Created in France during the first half of the 20th century, each o...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Antique French Empire Mirrored Back Console / Side Table
Located in London, GB
A stunning quality antique French Empire style period console table, dating from around the 1820-1840’s period.
It is of lovely proportions and is beautifully designed. The top is c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Wood, Mirror
Empire Side Table, France, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
Empire side table, France 1810, mahogany veneer.
Beautiful side table with an exquisitely designed base. The table is in good original condition.
Category
1810s 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
Nancy Corzine Empire Style Nightstand or Occasional Tea Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Empire or Neoclassical style nightstand, occasional side table, or tea table
By Nancy Corzine, "Palladian" Collection
USA, Circa Late 20th Century
Bleached walnut...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Side Tables
Materials
Walnut
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
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
Pair of 19th Century Italian Empire Style Walnut Side Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome pair of 19th century Italian Empire style walnut side tables. Beautiful marble tops with pretty star pattern. Creates a very stylish look!!
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Opera Fantastico marble side table. The table is raised by three elegant lightly curved square tapered legs with hands...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Italian Mid-19th Century Empire St. Circular Mahogany Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive Italian 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, polychrome, and white carrara marble side table. The circular table is raised by three elegant square tapered legs with ha...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Carrara Marble
French Empire Mahogany Bijouterie Curio Table
Located in New York, US
Our exceptional curio table in the French Empire style is crafted from mahogany with engine-turned gilt bronze mounts. Measures: 32 by 23 by 15 inches.
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th Century Empire Style Side Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Late 19th century Empire style jewelry side table.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Mahogany Side Tables
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu mounted mahogany circular side tables. Each table is raised by a beautiful bottom tier with mottled feet...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Small Restored Empire Era Table, Made in 1810s Austria, Ash
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Austrian Empire small table
Period: 1810-1819
Material: Ash.
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Lacquer
19th Century French Empire Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine 19th century French Empire marble-top side table made of mahogany veneer with solid oak as a secondary wood. Three dovetailed drawers with original bronze hardware. No key. Or...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century Marble-Top French Side Table with Brass Gallery
Located in Toronto, CA
This 19th century French walnut side table with a lovely patina developed with age. The off white marble top is framed on three side with a brass gallery. The table has one drawer an...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Antique French Empire Bronze Figural Swans Paw Feet Pedestal Base Low Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire bronze figural swans paw feet pedestal base round low side table. Item features ornate bronze pedestal base with swans and paw feet, beautiful wood grain, very ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Walnut Empire Style French Opening Side Table Called "Somno"
Located in LEGNY, FR
19th century walnut Empire style French side table called "Somno".
Beautiful green marble top. Opening door with one shelf.
Nice quality.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Sofa Table by Johan Oman
By Johan Öman
Located in Essex, MA
Period early 19th century Swedish mahogany sofa table by Johan Oman. Stylized double headed axe, a Swedish motif, original ormolu mounts and gilded winged feet...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Fir
19th C. Napoleonic Royal Vienna Giltwood Side Table w/ Inlaid Porcelain Plaques
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous 19th century Louis XVI style giltwood napoleonic side table with hand-painted inlaid Royal Vienna Porcelain plaques. Gorgeously finished in 24K, this exquisite side table ...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Side Tables
Located in London, GB
Pair of French neoclassical style malachite and gilt bronze side tables
French, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 85cm, diameter 50cm
These striking octagonal guéridons are crafte...
Category
20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Continental Empire Style Burl Wood and Ebonized Side Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome early 20th century Continental Empire style burl wood side table. Very fine finish on this piece with ebonized details and pretty hardware. An elegant piece!
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
French Empire Period Gueridon
Located in Dublin, GB
A stylish figured mahogany French gueridon, the original fossil limestone top resting on an Ormolu mounted frieze, above a smart cylindrical column, to a plate-form base with a circu...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Limestone, Ormolu
Pair of Empire Style Parcel-Gilt Metal Console Tables
Located in Essex, MA
A pair of Empire style parcel-gilt metal console tables,
late 19th-early 20th century
in the Egyptian Revival taste, each with a rectangular stone top.
Measures: Height 35 1/4 x...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Metal
French Empire Cuban Mahogany "Somno" Side Table, circa 1805
Located in London, GB
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
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
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
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
19th Century Empire France Lyra-Shaped Curly-Legs Side Tables, circa 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood and partly boned. Round leaf with black-and-white interspersed marble, over simple frame and lyra-shaped curly legs on three-sided retracted base plate and dis...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
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
19th Century Gueridon 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
Antique 18th Century Empire or Louis XVI Mahogany Dutch Side Table
Located in Casteren, NL
This elegant side table was made in The Netherlands around 1780. It has a beautiful mahogany top made of two symmetrical planks, also known as “livre ouvert”. The two pieces of timber are cut and folded open like a book. (livre ouvert is French for open book” The top is surrounded by a slightly raised and molded trim. The table features one dovetailed central drawer with two Dutch ajour cut brass pulls. The drawer has its original lock and key. The interior of the drawer is made in the best quality thin watered oak...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Period 19th Century Rosewood Card Table English
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant English mid-19th Century well figured card table of serpentine form having carved decoration.
A very good quality table that can be used in any space. The rectangular top wi...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Rosewood
French Empire Bronze Lion End Tables
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style bronze end table with 4 legs ending in lion heads holding rings with a round inset black marble top and shelf.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Period Dore Bronze Mounted Center Table/Library Table
By Thomas Hope
Located in New York, NY
A marvelous French empire period dore bronze-mounted center table with X-form stretcher on either side, most probably from a Thomas Hope design. This beautifully hand carved center t...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
Unusual Early 19th Century Swedish Carved Giltwood Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very decorative and unusual Swedish giltwood and ebonized console table with a white marble top supported by two sculptural griffins (part eagle, part sea creature).
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Two Neoclassical Style Wooden Guéridons with Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in London, GB
These wonderful guéridons are designed in the Empire style—named as such because it flourished in the period when Napoleon I was Emperor of France. The style employed Imperial Roman ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French 1870s Empire Style Walnut Table with Vitrine Top and Corinthian Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut gueridon table from the late 19th century, with vitrine top, corinthian columns, ebonized and gilt accents. Born in France dur...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Walnut
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
Original antique Empire Table circa 1860 - 1880 Mahogany veneer bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Original Empire table circa 1860-1870 from an Empire room.
The table stands on 3 feet of each foot 1 empire head cast in bronze.
Top condition.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Guéridon and Marble Table
Located in New York, 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
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
Pair of Empire Style Side Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome pair of Empire style polished mahogany and rosewood side tables, serpentine tops on four legged bases with carved and gilded caryotid legs and with ormolu mounts
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Side Tables
French Empire Style Ebonized and Gilt End Table
Located in New York, NY
French Empire-Style (1940s) ebonized and gilt trim round end table with bronze trim on apron and a top rim surrounding a mottled mirrored round top. (At...
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Period Charles X Vide Poche or Dished Occasional Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This table made in expensive imported mahogany was made in France, circa 1820. Stylish in an Empire form but in a then new easy less formulaic way showing the end of the countries ne...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
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...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Classical Empire Style Side Tables
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A striking pair of Empire influenced Sienna marble topped side tables, each with scrolling carved classical monopodia supports, terminating in carved claw feet,.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Side Tables
Materials
Siena Marble
19th Century Italian Giltwood and Marble Top Occasional Table
Located in London, GB
A good centre table in the Italian impero manner
Constructed in carved gold leaf giltwood, and having a St Jean brecciated marble top; of circular form, the tripartite base of canin...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
Patinated and Dore Bronze Empire/Neo-Grec French Side Table, Att. F. Barbedienne
Located in New York, NY
A Beautifully Designed Small Patinated and Dore Bronze French Side Table, Attributed to F. Barbedienne, the Magnificent French Metalworker and Manufacturer. This beautifully cast an...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Gilt and Marble Occasional Table in the Empire Style
By Jacob Frères
Located in London, GB
A fine gueridon in the Empire manner after a model by Jacob Freres.
Based on designs by Percier and Fontaine.
Of circular form, constructed in Amboyna, rising from giltwood bun feet, the platform base of tripartite incurved form, centered with a fire gilt bronze waisted vase...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
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
French Empire Walnut Tray Top Table with Drawers, Doric Columns and Bottom Shelf
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Empire walnut side table features a rectangular tray top over two thin drawers, one in the front and one in the back. To maintain a harmonious symmetry, the artist has in...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Empire France Lyra-Shaped Curly-Legs Side Tables, circa 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood and partly boned. Round leaf with black-and-white interspersed marble, over simple frame and lyra-shaped curly legs on three-sided ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
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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