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.
19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Marble Top Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent 19th century French empire gilt wood console table featuring a marbleized limestone top with partial shell fossil remnants. The marble specimen is...
Marble
Antique Dutch Empire Burl Wood veneered desk or sofa table
By Chapuis
Located in Den Haag, NL
Superb Dutch Empire Burl Wood -veneered sofa table ,On Iron casters On four shaped scroll feet joined by a baluster turned beech stretcher, the top ...
Burl
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...
Mahogany, Fir
Russian Empire Walnut Sofa Table, Early 19th Century, Lyre Pedestals
Located in Montreal, QC
This beautiful table is probably Russian, We describe it as a sofa table but it might equally be for the library . (The drawer has ink stains) It is a fine piece of cabinetry with ...
Walnut
Neoclassical Style Console Table, Refinished, Bronze, Celebrity Provenance
Located in Manhasset, NY
Neoclassical style console table, Refinished, bronze, Celebrity provenance A walnut and parcel bronze and iron two-legged console table with a pink and gray marble top in the Neo...
Marble, Metal
Table in the Versace Style with 4 Columns Frame in Maple Root Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Table in the Versace style with 4 columns frame in maple root veneer. Made in Italy.
Maple
$2,963Sale Price|24% Off
H 34.25 in W 54 in D 12 in
Maison Jansen Style Neoclassical Black & Gold Console Bronze Beveled Marble Top
Located in Miami, FL
Superb black & gold console table in the style of Maison Jansen. Features 4 ebonized turned wood pedestal base with gold gallerie decoration. Th...
Marble
19th Century French Mahogany Tripod Round Small Side Table
Located in Sofia, BG
Fine mahogany side table with round top resting on tripod hand carved leg. Very good condition with no restorations. France, circa 1860.
Mahogany
Louis XVI Style Marble Top Console Table
Located in North York, ON
Louis XVI Style marble top console table. This 1940’s American piece is fully restored in a light bubble gum lacquer finish with ori...
Marble
Karl Springer Style Sculptural Console Sofa Table
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Resin
$2,377Sale Price|36% Off
H 15.95 in W 48.04 in D 26.78 in
Art Deco Sofa Table, Amboyna Roots Veneer, France, Circa 1930
Located in Regensburg, DE
Low rectangular art deco sofa of coffee table from France about 1930. Amboyna roots wood veneered and lacquered. Black lacquered at the edges. Dimensions: H 40, 5 cm x W 122 cm x D...
Lacquer, Amboyna
Mid-Century Neoclassical Style Lacquered Marble Top Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning Mid-Century Modern lacquered console table featuring a Carrara marble top. Made in France in the neoclassical taste having a parcel gilt decorated case. Fronted by two stora...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Swedish Giltwood Early 19th Century Empire Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine, giltwood Swedish console table, possibly by the Stockholm master cabinet maker Lundelius (1778-1823). The wooden top in faux marble painted, the base plinth is painted black....
Giltwood
French 19th Century Empire Console with Marble Top
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A substantial French 19th century Empire mahogany console. The thick Carrara marble top is in wonderful antique condition, showing exciting gray veining that forms a nice contrast to...
Marble
19th Century French Empire Console Table
Located in Ongar, GB
A nice quality 19th century French Empire console table made from flamed Cuban mahogany. With a Belgian bluestone top and original ormolu ...
Mahogany
Regency Style Antiqued Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Regency style mahogany and reclaimed oak veneered console table restored with pollard oak, the rectangular three quarter gallery top with six turned finials atop each turn...
Wood
19th Century Heavily Hand Carved Inlaid Top Console / Center Table
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship mahogany Chippendale style 19th century hand carved walnut inlaid top console / center table. The table features heavily hand carved cabriole figure holing le...
Mahogany, Walnut
$1,800
H 12.41 in W 44.3 in D 20.48 in
Japanese Antique Sofa Table or Storage Box 1860s-1920s / Side Table Wabisabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese storage chest that also functions as a low table. It was crafted during the Meiji to Taisho periods (1860s–1920s) and made from traditional Japanese cedar (su...
Tin
Near Pair of Somno Empire Period Bedside Tables in Mahogany
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of somno in mahogany Empire period Very nice set of two somnos that come from the same castle with one that has a black marble and the other a white marble. It has the...
Mahogany
Antique Empire Table, Scandinavia, circa 1900s, Restored
Located in Chorzów, PL
Sofa coffee table with delicate intarsia on the sides in the Empire style. Come from Scandinavia from circa 1900s. After wood polishing and refinishing. Very good condition. ...
Walnut
Antique Empire Table, Scandinavia, circa 1900s, Restored
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique table in the Empire style from the beginning of the 20th century, around 1900. Made in Scandinavia. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: H. ...
Walnut
Sold
H 19.69 in W 33.08 in D 22.84 in
Danish Empire Yellow Metal Tray Table, Denmark Early 19th Century
Located in Kastrup, DK
Large Danish empire tray table. Tray in yellow-painted metal with silver-plated carrying handles. On later mahogany base with tapered legs ending in brass feet and casters. Orig...
Metal, Brass
19th Century Empire Style, Bronze Dragon with Thick Glass Top Coffee Table
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This Empire style coffee table, has as a base a gilded bronze casting, lost wax casting, depicting a dragon, the glass top has a thickness of two centimeters, the edge is hand chisel...
Bronze
French Empire Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Empire style Neo Classic console table with strict lines, perfect symmetries, and secrets. A plain frieze apron holds a hidden drawer. ...
Wood
Swedish Empire Mahogany Sofa Table, circa 1820s
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish Empire mahogany and fruitwood line inlaid sofa table, First Quarter 19th Century, the rectangular top with slightly rounded corners above a conforming frieze with three dra...
Mahogany
Empire Style Mahogany and Gold Gilt Console by Kindel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French Empire style console or entry table made in mahogany wood having gold gilt wood carvings. The table has a faux marble top and am mirrored back. The table was made by Kindel...
Wood, Giltwood
Empire-Style Mahogany and Gold Gilt Console by Kindel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We have 2 matching consoles but this listing is only for one. French Empire style console or entry table made in mahogany wood having gold gilt wood carvings. The table has a f...
Wood, Giltwood
19th Century Italian Empire Period Giltwood Sphinxes, one Gueridon Tables
Located in IT
19th century Italian empire period giltwood sphinx, only one available. Wood gold foil sphinx with woman head and wings adapted as a small table/ Gueridon / coffee tables. From Italy...
Wood
Sold
H 33.75 in W 32.25 in D 13.25 in
Baker Furniture Burl Wood Marble Top Empire Style Demilune Console Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Empire or neoclassical style console or entry table By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Cherry and olive ash burl wood, with brass accents and Italian marble top....
Marble, Brass
Sold
H 26.78 in Dm 23.63 in
19th Century Italian Empire Period Giltwood Sphinxes, Set of Two Gueridon Tables
Located in IT
19th century Italian empire period giltwood sphinxes, set of two. Two wood gold foil sphinxes with woman head and wings. Originally used as legs for a table, today we have adapted as...
Wood