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.
French Empire 19th Century Mahogany Console Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century mahogany console in the Empire style with dark stone top. The dense, marbleized stone of charcoal-hue is more recent in age but its faux leather finish has impa...
Marble
$9,468Sale Price|20% Off
Faux Malachite Empire style Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Stunning French Empire Style Center Table Faux Malachite Stunning Center Table
Ormolu
Fine French Empire Mahogany Gilt Figural Sphinx Pier Console Table c. 1815
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A VERY FINE FRENCH EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY CONSOLE TABLE With polychromed winged sphinx supports Paris, France circa 1815 38" H x 45 5/8" W x 19 1/4" D A perfectly balanced ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Italian, Tuscany, Empire Period Walnut & Ebonized Center Table, ca. 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a circular walnut top above a conforming apron raised on rectangular ebonized columnar legs joined by a lower ebonized circular level on small square feet
Walnut
Baker Furniture Stately Homes Collection Burl Wood and Ebonized Regency Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Empire, Regency, or Biedermeier style round pedestal breakfast table, game table, or center table From the exclusive "Stately Homes" Collection by Baker Furniture USA, C...
Ebony, Burl
Side Table with Hand polished Mahogany top From 1890s
Located in Lejre, DK
Side table or jewellery table from around 1890, made in mahogany and hand-polished for a deep, warm finish. A classic antique piece with fine detailing, suitable for use in an entryw...
Mahogany
$2,450Sale Price|30% Off
Maitland Smith French Empire Style Iron & Inlaid Stone Round Center Dining Table
Located in Dayton, OH
An eye catching handmade Breakfast, Centre or Foyer table by Maitland Smith, circa 1990s. Features a rounded top with inlaid and tessellated stone in the shape of shells and tulips. ...
Stone, Iron
Antique Empire Mahogany Dining Table, Round, Oval
Located in Oakwood, GA
Antique Empire Round Dining Table, Mahogany, 54", Circa1890's Antique, Empire Mahogany Dining Table Smooth top Comes with one leaf Round or ...
Wood, Mahogany
Contemporary Empire Style Brass Dolphin Table
Located in Houston, TX
A chic vintage brass dolphin pedestal dining table with 48" diameter glass top.
Brass
French Ebonized Empire Gueridon
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Classic, French Empire round end table of white marble top on a tripod base with recent painted finish. The mottled stone top is mostly white with faint gray veining and offers a rai...
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Retour d'Egpyte Antique Veneered Mahogany Console Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, antique French Retour d'Egpyte freestanding console table made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, in good condition. The rectangular table is composed with one small drawer, consisting a grey Belgian marble top, standing on four legs, resting on a thick wooden base. The front part of side table is particularized by star-shaped brass décor, the front legs are enhanced by black carved large caryatids. The décor piece represents the First French Empire...
Marble, Metal, Brass
$1,851Sale Price / item|30% 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
Lacquer
19th Century Regency Ebony Inlaid Cross-Banded Crotch Mahogany Fold Top Table
Located in Germantown, MD
19th Century Regency Empire Ebony Inlaid Crotch Cross-Banded Mahogany Fold Top Table. Measures 36" in width, 17.75" in depth and 25.75" in height. Closed. Open, it is 35" in. Depth.
Mahogany, Ebony
Tavolino Marmo Intarsiato, Base Legno, Fatto a Mano Italia Cupioli Disponibile
Located in Rimini, IT
Tavolino Marmo Intarsiato, Base Legno, Fatto a Mano Italia Cupioli Disponibile Cream marble round dining table or gueridon table size: diam. 80 cm h. 74 inches 31.50 h. 29.13 This t...
Marble
Antique French Empire Fruitwood Console Table with drawer, Early 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Antique French Empire- Biedermeier fruitwood console table with drawer and bronze details In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Bronze
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
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...
Bronze
French Empire Rosewood Two Tier Occasional Table With Parquetry Accents
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique 19th Century French Empire Rosewood Two Tier Occasional Table With Parquetry Accents With Turned Supports & Porcelain Castors. Central Round...
Brass
Empire Mahogany Center Table with Marble Top
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Period Empire mahogany center table with marble top, circa 1830. With a round marble top with molded edge, a flame mahogany pedestal with an ormolu ring at the base resting on a plat...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Bureau Plat, 19th C.
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Mahogany Bureau Plat, 19th century, with gilt-tooled tan leather top with central frieze drawer flanked by two short drawers on each side with faux partners desk back o...
Leather, Mahogany
A Pair of custom Empire style crotch mahogany console tables.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elegant and finely crafted, this pair of custom console or pier tables showcases the bold symmetry and classical influence of the Empire style. Each table features richly figured cr...
Mahogany
French Empire Round Table or Gueridon of Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome French round table or gueridon in the Empire style, featuring a circular top of figured black marble (25.5" diameter), set upon a tripod column support of mahogany with or...
Marble, Metal, Brass
Empire Style Ebonized Cocktail Table with Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
Early 20th Century rectangular cocktail table executed in the Empire style. The ebonized wood base is fitted with applied bronze ormolu mounts with shaped supports joined by a lower ...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Rare French Empire partially Gilt Mahogany Corner Console or Encoignure
Located in Greenwich, CT
A Fine and Rare French Empire Mahogany Corner Console or 'Encoignure', late 19th cent. with a triangular top of ebonized molded edge, raised on a finely sculpted giltwood winged car...
Mahogany
Scandinavian Veneered Biedermeier Writing Desk with Lyres
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A small mahogany and walnut veneered table or writing desk with brass holders in the lyres formed sides. The top is provided with inlaid green leather; the drawers have divided small...
Brass
Empire Style Grey Green Marble Bronze Tall Pedestal
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an heavy Empire Style Grey Green Marble Bronze Pedestal. It depicts a tall four sided tapered marble walls pedestal. The marble walls of the pedestal are embellished with thr...
Marble, Bronze
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...
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 ...
Iron
French Marble-Top Round Table or Guéridon in the Empire Style
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome French round occasional table or gueridon in the Empire style, featuring a circular top of figured white marble surrounded by a low pierced brass gallery, set upon a tripo...
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
$401Sale Price|42% Off
Square French Empire Brass Swans and Wrought Iron Coffee Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Square French Empire brass swans and wrought iron coffee table is a striking example of neoclassical design, blending refined craftsmanship with timeless elegance. The table fea...
Metal
19th century Swedish empire elm marble top console table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish elm marble top console table circa 1860. Fine quality console table of grand proportions. Shaped marble top standing on an elm base. Single concealed draw...
Marble
ebonized 19th Century Mahogany Round Center Empire Table with Marble Top
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this circa 1840s mahogany empire center table has a new, professionally applied ebonised finish. Gray and white streaked round marble top with a brass trimmed trefoi...
Marble, Brass
French 19th Century Empire Center-Dining Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This oblong, French Empire style mahogany table from the 19th century would be perfect for dinning or a center table interchangeably. When closed, this stunning table is supported by...
Brass
Pair of Reproduction Empire Revival Gueridon Tables
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A small yet dramatic pair of French Empire inspired reproduction side tables. Nero Marquina black marble tops are ringed with bronze bezels, su...
Marble, Metal
Early 20th Century Empire Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
Early 20th century Empire lacquered walnut dolphin center table.
Wood, Walnut
19th-C. Black Lacquer Pedestal Table w Fossil Stone Top and Gilt-Bronze Elements
Located in New York, NY
A 19th-century black lacquer pedestal table featuring a circular fossil-stone tabletop and gilt-bronze (ormolu) decorative elements. The tabletop is composed of black limestone with ...
Stone, Bronze
1840s Empire Veneered Mahogany Wood Sicilian Round Tilt-Top Table
Located in Catania, Sicilia
This Sicilian tilt-top table is a distinctive piece of furniture, reflecting the design aesthetics of the Empire style popular during the early to mid-19th century, it's a testament ...
Wood
French Empire style leather top mahogany writing desk, C 1890
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire style leather top mahogany writing desk having bronze mounts, claw feet and resting on slabs of green marble (optional) C 1890.
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire-Style Dressing Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This exceptional mahogany dressing table is complete with its original mercury glass pivoting mirror and white marble top. The mirror exhibits some foxing and is framed with beautifu...
Ormolu
$2,820 / item
Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H.
Wood
19th Century French Empire Style Walnut Pedestal Center Table with Marble Top
Located in Astoria, NY
An elegant late 19th-century French Empire-style pedestal table, sourced from Provence and expertly restored. Crafted from solid walnut with beautiful grain character and warm tones,...
Marble, Brass
$2,060 / item
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....
Wood
19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Pedestal Side Table W/ Marble Top
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite late 19th-century French Empire-style guéridon side table, sourced directly from Provence and meticulously restored. Handcrafted from solid mahogany, the table features ...
Marble
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Wood Nightstands, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of French Empire style nightstands or end tables By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Cherry wood, with burl wo...
Brass
$2,820 / item
Classic Empire Center Table - Weathered Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted from grey cerused oak with an unusual weathered acacia finish, this table features a beautifully carved ogee edge that adds a touch of intricate detailing. The table is supp...
Wood
French Empire Style Gilt Metal and Marble Pedestal
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Style Gilt Metal and Verde Antico Marble Pedestal, late 19th century, with a rectangular canted corner, marble top above a pierced frieze and conforming reeded legs, on...
Marble, Metal
$5,577 / item
Empire Stellar Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Empire style round dining table with beech and quartered walnut veneer and a stellar parquetry inlaid top with a molded edge on a tapered octagonal column base and quatrefoil concave...
Wood
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...
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Style Bronze Mounted Demilune Mahogany Console Tables
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 40 1/2in W: 50 1/2in D: 14 1/2in This is an EXCEPTIONAL Pair of French Empire Style Consoles! They are made of the highest quality! Made out of the Finest Mahogany ...
Bronze, Ormolu
Stunning French Empire Style Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer sell this stunning large French Empire style walnut desk having a gilt tooled green leather top with a ormolu edge and scrolling mounts flanked by an arrangement ...
Brass, Ormolu
$5,200Sale Price / item|20% Off
French Bronze Sculptural Side Table by Jules Moigniez - 1 of 2
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
French Bronze Sculptural Side Table by Jules Moigniez - 1 of 2 Available.
Marble, Bronze
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
Pair of Gilded Wrought Iron Empire Coffee Tables
Located in Miami, FL
This rare 1920's French Empire swan coffee tables are made of wrought iron with gilded accents. Very heavy and sturdy with two tier glass tops. Good vintage condition with normal cos...
Iron
French Empire Console Table of Flame Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French Empire console table of fine proportions, featuring a rectangular figured marble top, set upon a frieze of flame mahogany with one long hidden drawer over a base with t...
Marble
Maitland Smith Empire Style Leather Top Desk
Located in Toledo, OH
Maitland Smith Empire style desk with tooled leather top and curved corners, 2 narrow drawers with lion pulls, curule style legs with gilt acanth...
Leather
Travertine Coffee Table, Polychrome Scagliola Inlays, Handmade Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
Side Table from living room with empire-style decoration in shaded and vibrant colors, elegantly juxtaposed . The Plan is made with the artistic technique of scagliola inlay, datin...
Travertine
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Console W/ Dark Gray Granite Top
Located in Astoria, NY
An early 19th century French Empire console table, sourced in Provence. The piece is constructed in solid mahogany with a rectangular dark grey granite top resting above a single apr...
Granite
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...
Marble, Brass
$22,700Sale Price|25% Off
Italian Empire Style 19th Century Oval Cherrywood and Ebony Dining Room Table
Located in Firenze, IT
This simply stunning antique 19th century Tuscan large oval dining room table has a gorgeous shape, thanks to its soft and sober lines- ty...
Cherry, Ebony
Austrian Empire Console Table with back mirror and Swan Pedestals
Located in Miami, FL
Austrian console table from the Karl Johan Period in walnut and ebonized wood. Drawer in frieze. The table is decorated with Swans that are painted in a gold color to imitate oxidize...
Wood