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.
Pair 19th Century Italian Empire Consoles
Located in Houston, TX
A stately pair of 19th Century Italian Empire white marble top mahogany consoles supported by ebonized caryatid columns.
Marble, Ormolu
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
Vintage Empire Style Low Marble Top Pedestal Base Side Tables by Imperial - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Empire Style Low Marble Top Pedestal Base Side Tables by Imperial - a Pair. I...
Marble
$48,950Sale Price|48% Off
Palatial French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood Carved Eagles Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine and Palatial French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood Carved Figural Center Table with Figures of Winged Eagles and Wreaths, the center medallion with a figure of a bull and and raised on lion paws over a sphere, fitted with a veined verde d'alps marble top (Marble top is recent and not the original - Gilding restored with 23.5 cart...
Marble
Maitland Smith French Empire Green Greek Key Sunburst Round Dining Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Maitland Smith French Empire Green Greek Key Sunburst Round Dining Center Tab...
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Wood with Marble Top Empire Style Italian Console Table, 1880s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian console table from the late 19th century. Empire-style furniture, carved and veneered in high-quality mahogany. The console table features a spacious central drawer and a fab...
Marble, Bronze
Swedish 19th century inlaid birch games table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Scandinavian 19th century inlaid birch games table circa 1880. Fine quality games table ideal for chess. Scalloped shaped top with inlaid playing area in walnut and birch. Playing a...
Birch
Transforming Table by Martin-Guillaume Biennais, Consulat Period, France circa 1
Located in New York, NY
Transformation table, on high square pointed legs with brass sabots and curved table top including intermediate shelf with gilded gallery rail. The middle part of the table top can b...
Brass
Empire Style Wall Console Table with Sculptural Dogs
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
20th Century An elegant Empire-style wall console table, distinguished by its sculptural supports in the form of finely carved dogs. Inspired by the neoclassical grandeur of the ear...
Wood
19th Century French Empire Writing Table, Ebonized Mahogany & Leather
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) ebonized mahogany writing table desk with a leather top & claw feet resting on a platform base. (after JACOB DESMALTER at Fonteainbleau Palace).
Leather
Large Empire desk, France, circa 1870. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique Empire desk from the second half of the 19th century, France. This piece of furniture is in very good condition, after professional ren...
Walnut
Thomasville Grand Classics Neoclassical Empire Maple Wood Dining Room Table
By Thomasville
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Thomasville Grand Classics Neoclassical Empire Style Maple Wood Double Pedestal Base ...
Maple
$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 Consulat Empire Mahogany Side Table with Black Marble Top, Circa 1805
Located in Austin, TX
An elegant French Consulat to early Empire side table, circa 1800–1810, crafted in richly figured mahogany and retaining its handsome black marble top with delicate white veining. Th...
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
Empire Ormolu Surtout-de-Table Mounted as a Coffee Table Attributed to Thomire
Located in London, GB
A Fine Ormolu Surtout-de-Table Attributed to Thomire of Paris Mounted as a Coffee Table Of oval shape, the mirrored glass centre surrounded by a finely cast Bacchanalian gallery of...
Ormolu
$3,250 / item
Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Console
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Console with Ebonized Marble Top & Bronze Dore Details, ca. 1810
Walnut
19th Century, French Wood Travel Desk
Located in IT
19th Century, French Wood Travel Desk Measures: cm H 103 x W 52 x closed D 9. Open D 59 cm This particular travel desk was made in France, in the earl...
Wood
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
19th Century Italian Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Italian gilded and painted console table from the Empire period in it's original condition. Ca 1810, Italy.
Wood
19th century Swedish empire birch circular center table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish birch circular center table circa 1870. This empire circular table, often know as a drum table due to it's rotating capabilities lends itself to be the perfect ...
Birch
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
19th Century Mahogany Wood Empire Console Table With Marble Top
Located in High Point, NC
This piece presents as a console table, distinguished by dark mahogany, marble top, carved scroll legs. Originating in France during 19th Century, it shows the construction technique...
Marble
$3,338Sale Price|20% Off
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 Mahogany Double Pedestal Dining ~ Conference Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Mahogany Double Pedestal Dining ~ Conference Table will make an impressive statement in any room of the home or office! Crafted from exotic imported mahogany, ...
Brass
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood, Brass, and Ebonized Center Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An elegant French Empire or Neoclassical tea table or center table By Baker Furniture USA, Late 20th Century Cherry wood base, with mo...
Brass
19th century hand carved oval center table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century hand carved mahogany center table circa 1880. Stunning quality center table from Scandinavia. Oval top which has been veneered in bookmark flame mahogany, fluted edge ...
Mahogany
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
Magnificent Round Onyx and Gilt French Empire Side Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Superbly elegant and fancy French Empire style cast gilt and onyx round pedestal side table having gorgeous coloration, ornate dragon motif feet and scalloped base.
Onyx, Brass
1820s Rare and Elegant Empire Walnut Sicilian Console
Located in Catania, Sicilia
An original conditions Walnut console hand-crafted in Sicily in 1820s. The elegance of saber feet it's typical of the Empire period as the gilded friezes...
Walnut
Italian Wrought Iron Safe With Original Spring Loaded Locking Mechanisms
Located in Viterbo, VT
Hand-wrought iron safe hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s. The safe is made of thin sheets of iron folded and nailed together over a wooden case. Thicker bands of iron were then u...
Wrought Iron
Dutch Empire Console Table with Integrated Mirror Early 19th Century
Located in Meer, VAN
Dutch Empire Console Table with Integrated Mirror Early 19th Century A mahogany empire console table with integrated mirror, most probably Dutch. Early to mid 19th century. The des...
Mirror, Mahogany
Important and Very Rare Pair of Micromosaic, Malachite and Walnut Console Tables
By Antonio Deangelis
Located in London, GB
Important and very rare pair of micromosaic, malachite and walnut console tables Italian & Russian, early 19th century Measures: Height 89cm, width 106.5cm, depth 62cm These exceptionally beautiful antique console...
Malachite, Ormolu
19th Century French Empire Style Circular Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French Empire style circular side table, or nightstand, made of beautifully patterned veneer of mahogany on pine with a dark gray St. Anne marble top. Door with small ...
Marble, Brass
19th C Empire Ebonised Round Table with Brass Figural Mounts
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this two tier round table has strong empire / neoclassic style elements. We had the table professionally ebonised in England an...
Bronze
Antique French Empire Style Bronze Mounted Marble Top End Table By Georg Kofoed
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 31 1/4 in W: 20 in D: 20 in The elegance of the French Empire period is beautifully captured in this exceptional antique pedestal end table by Georg Kofoed, one of ...
Marble, Bronze
French Provencal Early 19th Century Empire Extendable Table Solid Walnut
Located in Vigonza, Padua
French Provencal early 19th century empire extendable table solid walnut This extendable Empire table from the early 19th century enhances the the...
Walnut, Burl
Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique French Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bureau plat, circa 1870 in date. The rectangular top has an inset gold-tooled green leather writing surface with a very...
Ormolu
$5,590 / item
Empire Mahogany Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A mahogany veneered console table with two drawers. Fine geometric herringbone inlays throughout and raised on tapering square legs and a Y-frame stretcher. Dimensions: 54" W x14" D...
Mahogany
$120,000Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Malachite Veneered Commode
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Malachite Veneered Commode The shaped malachite veneered top above a conforming case, fitted with two drawers flanked by cabinet doors, on gilt bro...
Malachite, Bronze
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
$1,485Sale Price|20% Off
Side table blue scagliola top metal base handmade in Italy by Cupioli available
Located in Rimini, IT
This table can be used as tea table, side table, lamp table it has multiple uses. The top is manufactured in scagliola art inlay, same technique of the "Paliotto" of the 16th century...
Iron
19th century Swedish burr birch tripod table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish burr birch tripod table circa 1860. Good quality piece of traditional furniture which showcases the nations favourite wood, birch. Square top with rounded corn...
Birch
Baltic Neoclassical Mahogany, Brass & Leather Writing Desk, late 19th century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
BALTIC NEOCLASSICAL MAHOGANY, LEATHER AND BRASS BUREAU PLAT WITH CARTONNIER Eastern European, probably the Baltic States Circa late 19th century, the tambour cabinet with alterations...
Brass
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Dining Table with Brass Ormolu
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
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...
Ash, Burl
French Empire-style gilt bronze mounted malachite coffee table
Located in London, GB
French Empire-style gilt bronze mounted malachite coffee table French, Early 20th Century Height 52cm, width 123cm, depth 63cm Exemplifying all that is grand and regal about the fan...
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Early 20th Century French Empire Style Lapis Lazuli Side Tables
Located in Chicago, IL
A pair of Circa 1900 French Empire Style side tables made of lapis lazuli, malachite, and onyx. This is a beautiful set that has been marvelously handcrafted with a variety of high-q...
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, Brass
$8,033Sale Price|30% Off
Faux Malachite Empire style Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Stunning French Empire Style Center Table Faux Malachite Stunning Center Table
Ormolu
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
Large Empire-Style Ormolu and Malachite Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Large Empire-style ormolu and malachite centre table French, 20th Century Height 85cm, width 165.5cm, depth 85.5cm This superb centre table pairs vibrant malachite with classical o...
Malachite, Ormolu
19th Century French Mahogany Gueridon or Game Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Empire Period mahogany gueridon, or game table, with Grey St. Anne marble top. A versatile table with removeable top, one side with green felt and the other wit...
Marble, Bronze
$1,795Sale 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 Swedish Empire Console Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Fine 19th century painted and gilded Swedish Empire console table with an Carrara marble top. ca 1820 Sweden.
Carrara Marble
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
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...
Marble
Swedish 19th century inlaid empire revival birch side table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century inlaid empire revival birch work table circa 1880. Rectangular top surface veneered in birch and decorated with a inlaid border. Single lockable drawer fitted with pine...
Birch
19th Century Italian Iron Safe / Side Table / Nightstand
Located in Carmine, TX
Hand-wrought iron safe hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s. The safe is made of thin sheets of iron folded and nailed together over a wooden case. Thicker bands of iron were then u...
Iron
Empire Style Mahogany Table with Inset Fossilized Marble Top
Located in Spencertown, NY
The circular table with contrasting marquetry of star decoration on the outer rim and then stylized greek key below it with a black fossilized marble top with white highlights. Slig...
Marble
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Bureau a Cylindre Gentleman's Desk
Located in Forney, TX
A exceptionally rare Period French Empire (1804-1814) walnut bureau a cylindre. Exquisitely hand-crafted in France, most likely Parisian work, dating to the early 19th century, the large antique cylinder desk...
Bronze
Exceptional American Classical Pier Table, Ca. 1800-1820
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique pier table with classic Regency elegance in rich red-brown veneers, showcasing a rectangular black stone top and a shapely long drawer flush along the apron, raised over i...
Stone