Empire Side Tables
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.
Mid-20th Century British Empire Side Tables
Brass
1960s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Side Tables
Marble
1930s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Empire Side Tables
Marble
Mid-20th Century Empire Side Tables
Wood
1960s American Vintage Empire Side Tables
Cherry, Satinwood, Burl
Mid-20th Century North American Empire Side Tables
Mahogany
1960s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Steel
Mid-20th Century North American Empire Side Tables
Brass
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Side Tables
Carrara Marble, Metal
Mid-20th Century European Empire Side Tables
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Glass, Wood
1940s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Bronze, Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Empire Side Tables
Carrara Marble, Marble, Brass, Aluminum
2010s Dutch Empire Side Tables
Marble
1980s Vintage Empire Side Tables
Travertine
2010s Mexican Empire Side Tables
Marble
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Side Tables
Brass
1950s American Vintage Empire Side Tables
Rattan, Mahogany
1970s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Crystal, Brass
20th Century Empire Side Tables
Brass
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Side Tables
Glass
Mid-20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Brass
2010s American Empire Side Tables
Mahogany
2010s Mexican Empire Side Tables
Marble
1930s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Marble
1940s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Leather, Oak
1930s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Marble, Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Side Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Empire Side Tables
Bronze
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Side Tables
Beech, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Empire Side Tables
Marble
1940s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Metal, Brass
1930s French Vintage Empire Side Tables
Marble, Brass
1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Side Tables
Walnut
1930s Swedish Vintage Empire Side Tables
Walnut