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
Empire Style Table, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Auxiliary table Empire style, with structure in wood in its color, ornamental applications in bronze and onyx bronze. Of circular plan, it rises on four legs in the form of a column,...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Center Table, C. 1850
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Empire Center Table
with gilt bronze accents
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Metal, Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Trumeau Mirror with Matching Console Table
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century French Empire style trumeau mirror with matching console table, featuring a decorative mythological "Verre Églomisé" reverse paint...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Bronze
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
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
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 Tables
Materials
Marble
Round Coffee Table with Azul Marble Top and Luxury Gold Leaf by Modenese
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Modenese artisans kwoledge of gold leaf applications goes beyond imagination. The true essence of their work is shown through this magnificent round coffee table, that catches the ey...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Tables
Materials
Onyx, Marble, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu And Vert Campan Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Vert Campan marble console. The solid Mahogany console is raised on a rectangular plinth with a mottled edge on the thr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Empire Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Mahogany Center Table Circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Empire bronze mounted marble-top mahogany center table Circa 1880.
A very handsome mahogany table with accompanying bronze decorative elements.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu And Marble Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, giltwood, ormolu, and Alabastro marble center table. The circular table is raised by elegant ball feet below t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Mahogany, And Gray Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu, Mahogany, and gray marble console. The console with original mirror plates is raised by two front Ormolu foliate b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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
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
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
Mid-Century Mahogany Magazine Stand/Side Table
By Company of Master Craftsmen
Located in Hudson, NY
Circa 1960 by The Company Master Craftsman. Although designed for magazines, this exquisitely crafted mahogany table could serve a number functions from holding remotes, keys and col...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Fine 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Gueridon
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine 19th century French gilt bronze and marble gueridon with gilt bronze eagles heads and pawed feet.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
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
Pair of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive pair of French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Vert de Patricia marble consoles. Each freestanding one drawer two tiered console is raise...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Baltic Mahogany and Brass Mounted Games Table
Located in Stamford, CT
A Northern European Empire games table. Flamed mahogany top opens to reveal felt lined game surface. Brass mounts embellish a neoclassic sensibility.
Category
1840s Baltic Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
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
Console and Mirror with Metal Leaf and Bronze Details, 1990s, Set of 2
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Console with mirror produced by Lam Lee Group of Dallas, the style refers to the French eclecticism of 1940. Both the console and the mirror are made o...
Category
1990s American Empire Tables
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Marble Console Table
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Marble console table, from the Empire period, and following the Empire style. The shape of the legs make this console table very original; Its originality comes from the shape of the...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most decorative French 19th century Empire St. mahogany and ormolu center table. The circular table is raised by fine bun feet below elegant scrolled legs with hand...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire St. Burl Walnut, Ormolu, and Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and large scale French 19th century Empire st. burl walnut, ormolu and white Carrara marble console. The console is raised by elegant circular mottled supports below a mos...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Rectangular Coffee Table with Inlaid Top + Gold Leaf Finish, Made in Italy
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Modenese Gastone is specialized in providing the highest quality standards to its VIP clients. This low coffee table features a hand-inlaid top surface with mother-of-pearl elements that expresses the finesse of the brand's skilled artisans. Such a piece is most suitable in classic living rooms...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Tables
Materials
Gold Leaf
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Satinwood Inlaid Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome 19th century, Circa. 1880, French Empire style, crouch Mahogany and Satinwood inlaid console. The solid Mahogany paw shaped carved supports are joined by a bottom tier pla...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Pair of Classical Empire Style Side Tables
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A striking pair of Empire influenced Sienna marble topped side tables, each with scrolling carved classical monopodia supports, terminating in carved claw feet,.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Tables
Materials
Siena Marble
Russian Empire period Walnut Sofa Table
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 ...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
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
French Empire Parquetry Side Table
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Pretty Walnut and Kingwood French Parquetry side table of Serpentine Form and Empire style
With Pretty shaped legs featuring Brass mounts...
Category
1920s Vintage Empire Tables
Materials
Kingwood
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
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 Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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 Tables
Materials
Carrara Marble
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Center/Library Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and ormolu center/library table. The large scale circular table is raised by three most exceptional scrolled ta...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of French 19th Century Empire St. Mirrored Mahogany Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant pair of French 19th century Empire st. mirrored mahogany consoles. Each demi-lune shaped console is raised by two mottled...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
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
19th Century Italian Table of Mahogany and Painted Architectural Scenes of Rome
Located in London, GB
Constructed in a good flame-veneer mahogany, with gilt metal mounts; rising from a tripartite incurved base mounted on castors, issuing three entasis form cylindrical columns, gilt m...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Watercolor
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.