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
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
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...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Console
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This console is made of flamed mahogany and a white marble with grey veines.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Empire European Birdseye Maple Stand, Belgium, Circa:1820
Located in Alexandria, VA
This beautiful Empire drop-leaf 2-drawer stand is a real show-stopper! Made in Brussels, Belgium in the early 19th Century of highly-figured birdseye maple. Originally it had a sewin...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Birdseye Maple
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-Style Round Center Table: Elegance in Mahogany and Marble
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the elegance of our French Empire-style round center table, a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship brought to life by our expert team. Crafted from premium mah...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Empire Walnut Pedestal Table with Round Marble Top and Tripod Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire period walnut table from the 19th century with circular marble top, pedestal and tripod base. Evoke the elegance of 19th-century France with this resplendent French E...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Fine Quality Gilded French Empire Style Rectangular Glass Top Coffee Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous coffee table that looks like Maitland Smith or Theodore Alexander because of the quality level of the carving, the gold leaf details and the overall design of the ...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Tables
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Bronze and Marble Swans Side Table
Located in London, GB
An Empire style gilt bronze and marble top side table.
France, Circa 1880-1900
45.5 cm high by 43 cm diameter
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Circa 1810 Empire Period French Marble Top Console Table
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Empire period, c.1810, marble top console table, French. Mahogany, mirrored back, dark grey & white marble top with molded sides. Front uprights feature well carved Grecian women wit...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top.
Timeless elegance for your interior.
Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
early 19th Century Empire Vanity Side Table Cherrywood
Located in Münster, DE
Side table around 1800/10
cherry and other precious woods veneered, around 1800/10, hinged lid with mirror and interior partition, central inlay with equestrian motif, tapered squar...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Cherry
Mid 19th century Swedish 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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
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
Empire Style Mahogany Center Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Empire style mahogany center table with six turned column-form legs with reeded baluster carvings all raised on a six-point star shaped plinth base set on molded edge feet. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Style Gueridon with Black Marble Top
Located in Sheffield, MA
A very handsome classical Empire-style round center table with a dark gray/black marble top, raised on a hand turned ebonized black center pedestal. The table lends itself to be use...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Empire Round Mahogany Side Table - Antique Marble Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A round, antique French Empire side table made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Honduran Mahogany in good condition. The detailed small center table is composed with a black marble top, standing on three arched legs, supported by a wooden base, resisting on three round feet. The Parisian table is enhanced by detailed gilded wood carvings...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Empire Italian console in black marble, bronze and walnut wood, 1820-1830s
Located in MIlano, IT
Empire Italian console in black marble, bronze and walnut wood, 1820-1830s
Console with rectangular top in Belgian black marble. The structure and legs are in veneer in walnut feathe...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Petite Gueridon
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome Empire style petite gueridon hand-crafted in France during the 19th century from beautifully patinated mahogany. Topped with a thick black stone showcasing gray spherical ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Mahogany Round Library Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Floral Spiral Carved Pie Crust Mahogany Round Library Center Table. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 29" H x 30" Diameter.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
An Empire style round center library table, late 19th Century
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An Empire style round center library table, with faux marble painted top with ebonized legs and carved gilt-wood lion heads. Table has 3 drawers around circumference. Late 19th C
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Wood
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top.
Timeless elegance for your interior.
Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Table/pedestal Table - B. Molitor - Empire Period - France - 18th Century
Located in CANNES, FR
Tripod pedestal table in mahogany veneer.
The white marble top surrounded by openwork brass rests on 3 bronze-patinated mahogany legs with griffin heads ending in lion claws. An inte...
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
French Empire style mahogany bronze mounted writing desk, leather top circa 1940
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Empire style mahogany bronze mounted writing desk with leather top, circa 1940.
Category
1940s Argentine Vintage Empire Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Onyx Marble and Gilt Bronze Pedestal
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An impressive onyx marble and gilt bronze mounted pedestal, with square top tray, ideal for the display of a large and valued indoor plant or piece of ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Second Empire Tisch mit Messingapplikationen (vermutlich Frankreich, um 1830)
Located in Wien, AT
Objekt: Schreibtisch / Kleintisch
Entwurf: unbekannt, Frankreich zwischen 1804 - 1840
Modell-Nummer: -
Ausführung: unbekannte Kunstmöbeltischlerei, Frankreich zwischen 1804 - 1840
Ma...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Brass
Early 19th C French Empire Walnut Center Table, Grey Marble Top & Ormolu Detail
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Gueridon / Center Table with Grey Marble Top & Ormolu Detail
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Nightstand Bedside Table with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France, circa 1880, the elegant antique cabinet stands on bronze paw feet over a wide straight bottom plinth; it is decorated at the shoulder with Egyptian woman...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Bronze
Fine French Empire Amboyna Burl Gilt Dor'e Bronze 14 FT Dining Table w 6 Leaves
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular dining table attributed to Maison Krieger of Paris and we have the matching 16 dining chairs listed separately. The table will be meticulously detailed and mino...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Bronze
Antique Gueridon Table Empire with Bronze Details
Located in Buxton, GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this French Gueridon Table
Mahogany Veneer
Empire Style
Green Marble Top (Repaired Professionally)
Bronze Details
Circle Table Top
Circa 190...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style 19th Century Bleached Table with Marble Top and Column Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style bleached wood side table from the 19th century with black marble top, three column legs, in-curving tripartite base and petite feet. Bask in the timeless allure...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Mid-Century Empire Style Pacel Gilt and Mahogany Coffee Table
Located in Germantown, MD
An impressive mid-century Empire Style parcel gilt and carved Mahogany coffee / cocktail Table.
Measures 46" in width, 27.75" in depth and standing 17.5" tall.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
A Pair of Empire Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Ebonized Column Supports
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Pair Of Matching French Empire Style Marble Gueridon Side Tables Raised On Column Supports United By A Triform Base and Side Drawer.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
19th Century Bronze Ormolu Swan Koi Fish Empire Wood Marble Round Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning table you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, it bein...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Rotating Center Table with Black Leather Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century French Empire Rotating Center Table with Black Leather Top & Ebonized Paw Feet
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
Empire Centre Table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Empire Centre Table
A large French Empire centre table in figured mahogany with ormolu mounts, bronze feet and the original dished yellow-veined da...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Tric Trac Backgammon Table
Located in Essex, MA
Period French Empire Mahogany Tric Trac Games Table. Inlaid Backgammon Well. Original Removable Top with leather on one side for writing and felt o...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany
Antique Desk, Carved, Empire, Tooled Leather Top, Elegant, 19th C., 1800's!!
Located in Austin, TX
Elegant Antique Desk, Carved, Empire, Tooled Leather Top, 19th C., 1800's!!
19th Century Empire Caved Desk With Tooled Leather Top, Height: 28 in. by Width: 52 in. by Depth: 22 in.
Wear and imperfections commensurate with being moved, age and use.
t15
As per Worth Point, Empire style furniture tends to be massive in scale, imposing, and abundantly adorned, reflecting Napoleon's magnificence.
Empire furniture has simple geometric shapes with distinct angles. Decorations and motifs are symmetrically placed on both sides.
Like Neoclassic style furniture, ancient Roman and Greek elements strongly influence Empire pieces.
The Empire style furniture is characterized by war and the classical world—coat of arms, trophies, and spires became common motifs. Roman mythological themes frequently appeared in furniture designs such as eagles, winged lions, and deities. These were commonly seen as chair armrests and table legs.
Unique motifs that appeared during the Empire period were initials "N" and "J" encircled by laurel wreaths. Bees, swans, bows, and arrows, and the lyre came into fashion prominent.
The furniture uses imported dense woods, such as mahogany and ebony.
Empire style chairs are stiff and sculptural. Typical Empire style chairs include square, rectangular, or rolled-over chair backs.
The Empire tables are bulkier and more circular than neoclassical. Tables of this period range from massive dining tables to small guéridon tables...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
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. ...
Category
1990s Empire Tables
Materials
Stone, Iron
American Mahogany Partner's Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful Mahogany Partner's Desk with glass knobs. Top refinished and everything else cleaned and ready to go! Two wide drawers per each side with smaller drawers below. Beautiful c...
Category
1880s American Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Revival Style Burled Walnut Extension Dining / Center Table
Located in New York, NY
French Empire Revival-style (19/20th Century) burled walnut circular center / dining extension table which opens to accommodate 4 leaves, resting on a central fluted and tapered colu...
Category
20th Century French Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut, Burl, Wood
Empire Style Side Table
Located in Austin, TX
Gueridon, French, in the Empire style. This piece has three swan legs on a triangular base supporting the top covered with a veined black marble top (professionally repaired).
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Antique Empire Style Marbletop Circular Table
Located in New York, NY
Charming early 19th Century Empire Style circular Center Table with a marble top. Crafted in solid wood with a serpentine green marble top, the circular shape makes this table a stun...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Eddie Bauer Lifestyles Lane Cherry Empire Scrolled Pedestal Center Table Drawer
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Eddie Bauer Lifestyles by Lane Furniture accent table. Made of cherry featuring Empire styling with a round form centered by one drawer over turned baluster support scrolled...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Tables
Materials
Cherry
French 1870s Empire Style Round Table with Marble Top, Brass Gallery and Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style round side table from the late 19th century, with red marble top, single drawer and brass accents. Born in France during the third quarter of the 19th century, ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, 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
Pair of 19th Century French Marble Top Carved Burl Walnut Gueridon Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or den with this elegant pair of antique round gueridons. Crafted in France circa 1870, each fruit wood table stands on three cabriole legs decorated with bron...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Baker Furniture Empire Banded Mahogany Drum Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Empire or Georgian style drum side table or tea table
By Baker Furniture
USA, circa 1980s
Beautiful flame mahogany, with satinwood banding.
Measures: 24"W x 24...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
French Empire Style Cocktail Table Speckled by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical round coffee or cocktail table lacquer speckled by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The table is made in the French Napoleonic empire style featuring bronze mounted ...
Category
20th Century American Empire Tables
Materials
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
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.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Extendable Dining Table, Demi Lune, Walnut
Located in Greven, DE
Extendable antique dining table for 8 people
France
walnut
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 79 x 116 x 70 cm
extendable to: H...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
Large Empire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat or Writing Desk
Located in Berlin, DE
A large Empire style mahogany bureau plat or writing desk with a dark green leather writing surface above a central long drawer, flanked to each side by a short drawer. The square ta...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Rider Two-Tier Side Table
Located in New York, NY
Parisian Flair. A fab storage solution for an entryway or a bathroom, our Rider two-tier side table is an updated take on French Empire style. Blacken...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Tables
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture French Empire Fruitwood Pedestal Center Table, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire style fruitwood pedestal breakfast table or center table
By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection
USA, late 20th century.
Measures: 38.25"W x 3...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Swedish Empire Marble Top Gueridon Table
Located in Madrid, ES
Gueridón table with marble top from the Empire period, Swedish work from the early 19th century, in cherry wood and ebonized wood, the top is supported on winged lions and a triangu...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
Henredon French Empire Pedestal Dining Table in Exotic Brazilian Daniella Wood
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Empire style pedestal extension dining table
By Henredon
USA, Late 20th century
Gorgeous banded exotic Brazilian Daniella wood, with brass accents.
...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Tables
Materials
Brass
French Empire Walnut Wood Rounded Coffee Table White Marble from Carrara Top
Located in IT
Empire Mahogany Wood Rounded Coffee Table with White Marble from Carrara Top
19th century Italian Empire rounded coffee table in mahogany wood.
Original Bronze details such as ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Tables
Materials
Carrara Marble
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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