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Empire 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
French Empire Style Mahogany Console Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style mahogany console table with back panel and bronze dore trim with heads and green marble top (19th century).  
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

20th c. French Empire Style End Table
Located in Queens, NY
Twentieth century French Empire style end table with a bronze campaign style base with four crossed legs and clawfeet beneath a square ro...
Category

20th Century French Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Swedish Empire Console in Carved, Polychrome and Gilded Wood
Located in Madrid, ES
Swedish Empire console table in carved, polychrome and gilt wood, early 19th century. Rectangular marble top in a low white, frieze decorated wi...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

Early 19th Century Italian Empire Commodino with Ebonized Detail
Located in Atlanta, GA
The early 19th century Italian Empire commodino with ebonized detail, 1 drawer above cabinet below and gilt metal mounts. All resting on raised shaped legs.
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style '19th Century' Mahogany and Bronze Trimmed Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th century) mahogany and bronze trimmed table with single drawer and green (repaired) marble-top.   
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Designer, Side Table, Mahogany, Marble, Bronze, France, 1940s
Located in Manhasset, NY
A small Maison Jansen style claw foot and bronze mounted marble-top circular end or side table. Mahogany, Bronze, Marble France, 1940s
Category

Mid-20th Century European Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This finely crafted console table impresses with its strict architectural form and a striking, rare marble top. The frieze houses a large drawer (without lock), subtly integrated int...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique Empire Console /Sideboard, around 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid wood with veneer, partly gilded. Rectangular cover plate with an inconspicuous frame and S-shaped curly supports on carved claws, which are held in gold. The base is arched. Pa...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century Empire Style Writing Table or Bureau Plat
Located in Berlin, DE
Writing table or bureau plat in Empire style after Jacob Desmalter. Solid, ebonized beech, partially carved and hand-painted. Cutted out pedestal on profiled disc feet. Over which ar...
Category

20th Century Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk. With a grey marble top over three drawers, the fall enclosing a sliding tan lea...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Empire table, France, ca. 1860.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Empire table, France, ca. 1860. Very good condition. H 76.5 cm D 79 cm
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Walnut

Pedestal Empire Style, Italy 1940s
Located in Catania, IT
1940s Italian pedestal empire style in walnut with alabaster top and bronze medallion depicting two putti on each façade at the base porcelain plaques, bronze feet and bronze deta...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Empire Tables

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Side Tables, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of French Empire style two-tier end tables or nightstands By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Carved cherry wood, with burl wood banding and satinwood string...
Category

1960s American Vintage Empire Tables

Materials

Cherry, Satinwood, Burl

Wood and Bronzes Empire Console Table with Marble Top Antique Mirror back
Located in IT
Empire console in wood, antique mirror and original gilded bronzes. The top pf the table is in marble. Conservative restoration of the wooden part. Size 60x137 xh90 cm
Category

Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

19th Century Empire Style Gold Leaf Library Table / Desk
Located in Houston, TX
This 19th Century Empire Style Gold Leaf Library Table/Desk is a truly exquisite piece of furniture that exudes timeless elegance and sophistication. Crafted in the opulent Empire st...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Gold Leaf

French Empire Style Desk with Gilt Metal Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
A perfect example of the Bureau Plat. French Empire style desk with wood marquetry and gilt metal mounts at all angles. This piece features three working drawers on the front with three faux drawers on the back. The superb gilt metal hardware is on the front as well as the back. The four arched legs grace gorgeous gilt metal decor...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Tables

Materials

Metal

Empire Style Gueridon in the Manner of Jacob-Desmalter, circa 1880
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Empire style gilt-bronze and mahogany gueridon, with a Verde antico marble top, in the manner of Jacob-Desmalter. French, circa 1880. The circular Verde antico marble ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

1950-1970 Bronze Coffee Table with Swans and Its Six Pieces of Sofas Signed GAD
By Artelegno
Located in Paris, FR
Coffee table with two-level, swan decorated with glass shelves, the structure is made of bronze or patinated brass, feet are eagle claws clasping a ball in the Chippendale style, its...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Tables

Materials

Brass

Inlaid empire side table circa 1800
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Inlaid empire side table circa 1800 professionally stained and repolished.
Category

Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Wood

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....
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Giltwood

French Empire Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Mahogany construction with rectangular leather writing surface with gilt brass medallion pulls. Back has gilt metal chariot and horse plaque. Top sits on ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Empire St. Crouch Mahogany Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French 19th century Empire st. crouch mahogany, ormolu, and Coquillier de Bilbao marble center table. The circular table is raised by three elegant square tapered leg...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Desk Empire Centre Table Marquetry Inlay
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Elegant antique French desk or centre table Lovely shaped top with elegant top on cabriole legs Original ormolu mounts Circa 1880 Inlay work very intricate showing floral motifs Bo...
Category

1880s Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French Empire Gilt Centre Table Lacquer Winged Maiden Legs
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a stunning lacquered centre table in the French Empire style Features a large marble top which is smooth and chip free In turn supported by the winged maiden creature...
Category

1980s Vintage Empire Tables

Materials

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 Tables

Materials

Ormolu

19th CENTURY EMPIRE CONSOLE IN MAHOGANY AND FIR
Located in Firenze, FI
This console from the Empire period (early 19th century) is made with fine mahogany wood paneling, while the columns are made from fir wood. Its structure is embellished with refined...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

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 Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Style Card or Tea Table, Vienna 1880-1900
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique card or tea table dates back to around 1880-1900 and comes from Vienna. It has an elegant mahogany veneer and gorgeous bronze fittings. The small table has a fold out top...
Category

1880s Austrian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu and Mirror planter/console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most unique French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu and Mirror planter/console. This exquisite freestanding elongated demi lune console is raised by on thick f...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French Empire Style Kidney Shape & Brass Gallery 2 Tier Butler's Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Such an elegant French Empire Style Mahogany Butler's Table in a Kidney Shape with Brass Galleries, There are two shelfs, top and bottom that have the reticulated Brass gallery T...
Category

Mid-20th Century Empire Tables

Materials

Brass

Side table with secret compartments, Westphalia, c. 1800, plum, maple, rosewood
Located in Münster, DE
Rare side table with secret compartments, Westphalia, c. 1800, plum wood, maple and rosewood veneered on softwood, table top with floral banding and vase motif, ingenious mechanism w...
Category

Early 1800s German Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Fruitwood, Maple, Rosewood

Gueridon Empire Cherry Alabaster Italy \'800
Located in Milano, IT
Gueridon supported by three uprights carved with lion feet and in the upper part with caryatids, to support the undertop band. The female figures are standing, dressed according to t...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Alabaster

Pair of Empire Console Tables with Bronze Details, circa 1820
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This pair of Empire console tables features unusual, turned mahogany legs in the front that are decorated with beautiful, fire-gilded bro...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Style Gueridon
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th Century French mahogany marble topped Gueridon, having three circular tapering column supports, each with gilded ormolu capitals and classical ormolu motifs to th...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

Neoclassical Style Cream Faux Marbre Console Table
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully faux painted in a cream marble faux finish, the rectangular top raised on two volute form supports terminating in sunflower heads and enriched with foliate decoration.
Category

20th Century Empire Tables

Materials

Wood

Empire Burl Wood Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
Beautiful burl wood set against ebonized legs and trim. Desk has a single compartmentalized drawer with key and elegantly curved legs.
Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Burl

Early 19th Century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th century French Empire Large Neoclassical Walnut Console Table An elegant Empire period console table with a with marble top above a frieze d...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

20th Century, French Desk or Bureau Plat with Lions in the Antique Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird's-eye maple wood on massive beech wood, partially carved and framed. The pedestal is arched on profile shaped washers. Above the four large winged, polygonal standing heads. Three-bar frame, brass-framed, protruding rectangular worktop with historically three-section, gold-embossed leather plate...
Category

20th Century French Empire Tables

Materials

Wood

Fine Late 19th C Empire Bronze Gueridon Center Table with a Micro Mosaic Top
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and rare 19th century Empire gilt bronze and patinated bronze center table with a micro mosaic and marble top with a malachite border. Scenes of Roman architecture in micro mo...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

Empire Oval Table with Claw Feet and Rounded Drawers
Located in Asheville, NC
Antique empire claw foot oval table with casters, curved drawers tiger wood mahogany detail and wood veneer.
Category

19th Century American Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Centre Table Burr Walnut circa 1860
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French Empire style burr walnut centre table. Circa 1860 Standing on swept legs with cast gilt Mouldings. This table has 1 x Mahogany lined drawer. The shaped top featuring high ...
Category

1860s Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Walnut

19th Century, Empire Style Mahogany & Bronze Console Table
Located in Beaune, FR
Rare and superb Empire style mahogany console table decorated with gilded bronzes. It is topped with an original Siena marble in good condition. This console is large in size which i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Walnut and Gray Marble Empire Console, circa 1880
Located in Locust Valley, NY
Walnut and gray marble Empire console, circa 1880. Carved legs with leaf curved design on front legs and reeded legs in back.
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

Swedish 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Polychrome and Giltwood Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A remarkable and most elegant Swedish 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, polychrome and giltwood center table. The rectangular table is raised by an elegant H shaped bottom mahogany s...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Giltwood

Italian early 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Giltwood console and mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most impressive Northern Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany, Giltwood and Veneered marble console and mirror. This stunning console and its origin...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

20th Century Antique Louis XV Style French Salon Table Bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic French salon table in Louis XV style. White polished on solid pinewood. Exceptionally finest engraved, decorative broken rocailles, inlaid with acanthus, and flowered detail...
Category

20th Century French Empire Tables

Materials

Bentwood

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 Tables

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Spectacular Temple Guardian Antique Empire Style Table Birdseye Maple Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Spectacular Temple Guardian Empire style table Root on solid beechwood. A classical table with three monumental, fully ...
Category

20th Century French Empire Tables

Materials

Birdseye Maple

Oval American Empire Table with Claw Feet
Located in Asheville, NC
Beautiful Mahogany Empire table with claw feet and its original casters. Pillar legs. Brass hardware on drawers with dovetail detail inside.
Category

Early 19th Century North American Antique Empire Tables

1970′ French Guéridon in the Style of Adam Weisweiler
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze guéridon with a veined awhite marble top, is supported by three pairs of faux-bamboo ormolu legs, joined by a triangular stretcher with incurved sides the lower spacer receive...
Category

1960s French Vintage Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

Table Swedish Mahogany Floral 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Table Swedish Mahogany Floral 19th Century Sweden. A Swedish mahogany Tray Table with floral painted top. 4 smaller trays for candlelight holder.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

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 Tables

Fine 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Plaque Topped Gueridon
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century French gilt bronze and porcelain plaque gueridon table. Napoleon hand painted with the Royal Vienna beehive mark. Signed.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

Empire Side Table, France 1810-15, Mahogany
Located in Leimen, DE
Empire Side Table – France, 1810, Mahogany Veneer with Elegant Base Design This stunning Empire side table, crafted in France circa 1810, showcases timeless sophistication. Made wit...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Style Marble-Top Nightstand or Console
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Empire style marble-top nightstand or console. One drawer and lower ledge, gilt bronze details and neoclassical columns.
Category

20th Century French Empire Tables

Materials

Siena Marble, Bronze

1970 Italian Empire Style Set of Six Metal Folding Side Table
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Spectacular old school set of six Italian folding side table originally from the 1970s. Made of metal. They are signed in the back. The condition is really good. We would like to sell...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Tables

Materials

Metal

An Italian early 19th century Mahogany, Giltwood and veneered marble console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most decorative Northern Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany, Giltwood and veneered marble console. This stunning cons...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Breccia Marble

French Empire Style Mahogany Table with Marble Top, 19th Century
Located in El Monte, CA
A handsome Empire style mahogany center table with a black marble top circa 1840. Surrounding the edge of the tabletop is a brass gallery with an openwork design. A rich mahogany fri...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood, Ormolu, Mirror and marble console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most decorative Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood, Ormolu, Mirror and marble console. This stunning freestanding console is raised on four block feet suppo...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Fine Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mahogany Center Table inthe Manner of Jacob-Desmal
By Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Sheffield, MA
A fine Empire style gilt bronze mahogany gueridon or centre table  With a verde antico marble top.  In the manner of Jacob-Desmalter,  circa 1880 Height 31 1/4 Diameter 35 in.   A very fine Empire style gilt bronze-mounted mahogany guéridon after a model by Jacob-Desmalter, the circular verde antico marble top above a mahogany frieze mounted with laurel leaf banding in between rosettes and anthemions, supported of the heads of three finely cast gilt bronze female caryatids, each facing outward with hair in plaits, bare feet and arms crossed, wearing arm bands and a low cut diaphanous dress gathered up toward her breast, the stretcher centred by a chased covered urn flanked by three elegant crouching winged sphinxes wearing Nemes headdresses and plaits tied at the front. The design for this superb guéridon is based on a famous table-console or ‘console double face’ by the celebrated firm of Paris ébénistes Jacob-Desmalter which was itself based on designs by Napoleon’s chief architects and ornamentalistes Charles Percier (1764-1838) and Pierre François Léonard Fontaine...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

Empire tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire 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 tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original tables, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, and Grosfeld House. 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 tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $595 and tops out at $26,000 while the average work can sell for $2,675.

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