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
Period: 19th Century
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
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
French Empire 19th Century Side Table with Black Marble Top and Column Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire wooden table from the 19th century with circular black marble top, three slender column-shaped legs, bronze mounts and tripartite in-curving low shelf. This exquisite...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th century Swedish birch lyre shaped occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish birch lyre shaped occasional table circa 1890.
Rectangular top with canted corners. Hinged lid opens to reveal a fitted interior of compartments arranged aroun...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Birch
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top.
Timeless elegance for your interior.
Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Style Circular Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French Empire style circular side table, or nightstand, made of beautifully patterned veneer of walnut with a dark gray St. Anne marble top. Door with small brass knob...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
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
Antique thread table, Northern Europe, around 1860. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A thread table from the second half of the 19th century in the Biedermeier style.
A small piece of furniture, a bit forgotten today, but once a must-have for a housewife for needlew...
Category
1860s Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Regency Empire Two Tier Flame Walnut Gueridon Table With Elegant Reeded Legs
Located in High Wycombe, GB
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
Bronze and Marble Swans Side Table
Located in London, GB
An Empire style gilt bronze and marble top side table.
France, Circa 1880-1900
45.5 cm high by 43 cm diameter
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Nightstand Bedside Table with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France, circa 1880, the elegant antique cabinet stands on bronze paw feet over a wide straight bottom plinth; it is decorated at the shoulder with Egyptian woman...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top.
Timeless elegance for your interior.
Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Mahogany Round Library Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Pie Crust Mahogany Round Library Center Table. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 29" H x 30" Diameter.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style 19th Century Bleached Table with Marble Top and Column Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style bleached wood side table from the 19th century with black marble top, three column legs, in-curving tripartite base and petite feet. Bask in the timeless allure...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Style Round Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful 19th century Empire table is the perfect addition to any home decor style. Beautiful, black Belgian granite - in great conditi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
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
Early 19th Century Birch Empire Lyre Form Side Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century birch Empire lyre form side table circa 1820.
Fine quality Swedish Empire period birch side table.
Oval top, veneered in burr birch complete with original mo...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Birch
Mid-19th Century Birch Root Occasional Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality Swedish birch root table, solid burr birch circular top, standing on shaped stem and scrolled legs.
Rich golden colour.
Area of restoration to the top were a wood knot w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Birch
French 1870s Empire Style Round Table with Marble Top, Brass Gallery and Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style round side table from the late 19th century, with red marble top, single drawer and brass accents. Born in France during the third quarter of the 19th century, ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
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
American Empire Expanding Rectangular Wood Side Table with Mahogany Veneer
Located in New York, NY
American Empire folding rectangular side table with a sliding table top and extendable hinged leaf, resting on a baluster pedestal base ending in 4 flattened scroll legs with casters...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire St. Faux Painted Wood, Giltwood and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Empire st. faux painted wood, giltwood and Gris Turquin marble side/center table. The circular table is raised by a most decorative triangular base ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Round Top Side Table with Bronze Mounts and Low Shelf
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire side table from the 19th century, with bronze accents and lower shelf. Created in France during the politically dynamic 19th century, this Empire side table features ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Style Bronze Table
Located in Fairfax, VA
19th century bronze empire style side table with three ram's heads holding the marble top tray.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Burl Walnut, Ormolu and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and extremely high quality French 19th century Empire st. burl Walnut, ormolu and Jaune de Sienne marble side table. The oblong shaped table is raised by impressive richly...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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 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
Wood, Glass, Walnut, Giltwood
French Empire Style Marble Top table with bronze mounts
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant tall side table made of mahogany with black marble top. It
Is well made with exceptional bronze dore gilt mounts in the empire
Style with a tapered leg ending in bronze dore ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu And Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most unique French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Vert de Patricia marble side table. The table is raised by handsome ormolu paw feet below a fine r...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Empire Side Table, Gray Marble Top, C 1810
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Danish Empire side table in mahogany.
Table top in Belgian gray marble.
Elegant inlay of dark hardwood on legs.
Copenhagen approx. 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Marble
19th Century Italian Empire Walnut Side Table with Brass Gallery
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome 19th century Italian Empire style walnut side table with brass gallery. A quality piece with a beautiful finish. Perfect for the...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
Early American Classical Empire Period Flame Mahogany Sewing Stand Work Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare fine quality Federal period American Empire flame mahogany sewing stand work table from the early 19th century.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in the northeastern United States, most likely Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1820, having a hinged top, opening to reveal contrasting Birdseye maple marquetry oval cartouche inlay, a fitted maple divided compartment interior, the front having two nicely shaped curved drawer fronts, consisting of a faux drawer front over a single dovetailed ogee drawer, above a vasiform pedestal standard, molded stepped platform base, rising on bracket feet, resting on casters.
Attractive highly figured crotch cut swirl mahogany with striking grain patterns, rich and deep antique wood color...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
19th Century Circular Gilded Table
Located in Lincoln, GB
Late 19th century satinwood Empire influenced circular occasional table. Inlaid with flowers and fruitwoods, olivewoods and mother-of-pearl. The brass Roman style columns would have ...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Brass
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
Pair of 19th Century Empire Style Dore Bronze and Sienna Marble Top Gueridons
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of 19th Century Empire Style Dore Bronze and Siena Marble Top Gueridons. The dore bronze bases are beautifully cast, hand-chased and hand-chiseled. The bottom of each table is...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Side Tables
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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