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.
1
586
38
2
to
68
390
220
626
600
603
27,235
20,593
5,016
3,672
1,975
1,843
1,689
1,638
1,596
1,554
1,410
1,104
809
669
626
550
328
144
12
406
168
40
40
46
34
4
4
3
3
6
7
7
3
2
3
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
549
276
268
263
231
506
335
69
42
42
15
14
6
4
3
Style: Empire
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
Antique 19th Century Dutch Empire Round Mahogany Table on a Hexagonal Base
Located in Casteren, NL
A very rare Dutch Empire round table in exquisite flamed mahogany. The tabletop is made from two sheets of mahogany in a symmetrical open book...
Category
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Oak
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
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
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
Nordiska Kompaniet, desk in beech from Hotel Knaust, Sweden 1931.
Located in Stockholm, SE
Desk in beech from Hotel Knaust by Nordiska Kompaniet / NK, Sweden 1931.
With brass details and signed with NK badge and tracking number (easy to see who ordered the furniture and w...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Empire Tables
Materials
Beech
Stunning Gueridon Table, hand carved Dolphin, second Empire, ~1900, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Stunning rare side table, so called Gueridon, from the second Empire, made around 1900 in Italy.
This elaborate structure of the table is composed of a round base with small extens...
Category
1890s Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Spruce
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 19th Century Lady's Work Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This petite work table from 19th century France is full of charming elements within a compact design. Details allude to this piece serving as a correspondence and sewing table. Unloc...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Metal
Napoleon III Walnut Wood Rounded Coffee Table with Black Central Leg
Located in IT
Napoleon III Walnut Wood Rounded Coffee Table with Black Central Leg
19th century Italian Napoleon III rounded coffee table in walnut wood.
Central black leg and three black lit...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
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
Especially beautiful Side Table, Pillar Commode Trumeau, Empire, ~1810-15, Italy
Located in Wien, AT
Beautiful pillar commode, trumeau - an original of the Empire era, made around 1810-15, in Italy.
This piece of furniture has a wonderfully classic shape, with a base, a round body...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Fabulous Demi-Lune Console, Jardiniere, Mirror available, 1810, Empire, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
Wonderful demi-lune console, usable as jardiniere, made around 1810 in Austria, an original of the Empire era.
This wonderful wall console has a faceted mirror in the lower area. Th...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Sheet Metal
19th Century French Empire Marble-Top Console
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century French Empire marble-top console table made of solid walnut. Large drawer with original fine cast bronze decoration. Bronze mounted turned column supports in fr...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
French 1810s Empire Console Table in Mahogany
Located in Ulm, DE
Console table with columns
Mahogany, shellac hand polished
Empire, France around 1810
Dimensions:
Width: 71,5 cm
Height: 80 cm
Depth: 33,5 cm.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
French Empire Circular Table with Black Marble Top
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a classic French Empire mahogany circular center table, the black marble top over a wide frieze supported by round, slightly tapering columns with brass collars, joined by a ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
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
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Empire Style Ormolu and Malachite Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large and impressive Empire style Gilt Bronze & Malachite center table. The table features a circular top, which has been beautifully inlaid with malachite and edged with gilt bron...
Category
20th Century French Empire Tables
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Empire Style Eglomise Mirrored Center Table E.J. Victor
By E. J. Victor
Located in Toledo, OH
Empire style eglomise mirrored round center table. Black finish painted leaf details and trim in gold. Distressed mirror top.
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Tables
Materials
Mirror
Midcentury Empire Style Brass & Granite Coffee Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Midcentury Empire Style Brass & Granite Coffee Table will add timeless style flair to your seating group while providing a carefree surface that looks beautiful and cleans up with a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Tables
Materials
Granite, Brass
19th Century French Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Wood & Marble Pedestal, C.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late 19th century French ormolu mounted Empire-style pedestal, cast and figurine depicting a Greek goddess along with sculpted heads overlaid with flora. The middle design de...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Empire Antique Mahogany Marble Top Pier Console Table
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE MAHOGANY PIER TABLE WITH MARBLE COLUMNS
Continental, circa mid-19th century
Item # 109OYP14M
A good 19th century pier table with a gray marble top situated over a squared apron with flamed mahogany veneers raised over sienna marble columns capped with exquisitely chiseled ormolu mounts and stretched with a broad lower shelf over bun feet. The center features an old mirror framed...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Empire Green Marble Top Carved Mahogany Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique console was crafted in France, circa 1880. Standing on scrolled front legs ending in paw feet, and pilaster legs in the rear over a stretcher platform bottom she...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Impressive Empire Style Malachite and Ormolu Center Table After Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in New York, NY
An impressive empire style malachite and ormolu center table after the imperial model by Francois Honore Georges Jacob-Desmalter, 1770-1841.
"AUX CARIATIDES", Empire style round malachite and ormolu table inset within a profiled bronze border sitting on four distinctive caryatid supports on a round base with a central vase.
Magnificent quality. A one of a kind, statement table perfect for any home.
Measures: 34" high x 44" wide
Good condition, ready to place.
One of the most important and influential families of cabinet-makers who led fashion and standards from 1765 to 1847. Their work encompasses three generations of the family, from George Jacob (the founder, 1739-1814), to his two sons Georges II (1768-1803) and François-Honoré-Georges (1770-1841), and finally his grandson Georges-Alphonse (1799-1870). They ran one of the most successful and influential furniture workshops in Paris
George Jacob (Senior) was one of the most prominent Parisian master menuisiers, producing carved, painted and gilded beds and seat furniture and upholstery work for the French royal châteaux, in the early Neoclassical style that is usually associated with Louis XVI. He retired in 1796, leaving his workshop in the hands of his sons, but when George II died, Jacob returned from retirement to oversee the constant supply of furnishings for Napoleon's residences.
François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter was the principal supplier of furniture to the Emperor and also received commissions from Pauline Borghese...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Tables
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Birch Empire Lyre Form Side Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century birch Empire lyre form side table circa 1820.
Fine quality Swedish Empire period birch side table.
Oval top, veneered in burr birch complete with original mo...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Birch
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
Empire Period Console Table with Marble Top Dating from the Early 19th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An imposing 1st Empire period console table of impressive proportions, featuring a veneered wood body and a grey veined marble top. The marble tray is set over one long frieze drawer...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century Italian Napoleonic Era Somno Pedestal Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the Napoleonic era with this exceptional early 19th century Italian somno pedestal cabinet. This cabinet is a true testament to the opulence and a...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Birch Root Occasional Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality Swedish birch root table, solid burr birch circular top, standing on shaped stem and scrolled legs.
Rich golden colour.
Area of restoration to the top were a wood knot w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Birch
French Empire-Style Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany and Bronze Center Table
Located in Houston, TX
This table is circular, banded with an egg-and-dart gadroon
Carved edge and fine marquetry inlay, supported by a polished
Bronze reeded column, mounted to a triangular-form platfor...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Maitland Smith French Empire Regency Leather Top Brass Paw Feet Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Maitland Smith French Empire Regency leather top brass paw feet round drum center table. Item features brass rolling casters, tooled leather top, bra...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Empire Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Antique French Empire Style Ebonized Mahogany Round Table with Marble Top
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Empire or Egyptian Revival small solid mahogany side table, wine table or end table with lion paw feet, that was recently restored with an old school ebonized finish. ...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Mahogany Console Tables
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Empire style mahogany veneered console table with two drawers. Fine geometric herringbone inlays throughout and raised on tapering square legs and a Y-frame stretcher.
Dime...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
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
19th Century Black French Empire Ebonized Wood Center Table - Antique Game Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French Empire sofa table made of hand crafted ebonized wood, in good condition. The round Parisian side table is composed with a shellac polished clear glass top to protect the surface, supported by a detailed carved gold-patinated octagonal column...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Glass, Ebony
French Empire Style Mahogany Dressing Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This exceptional French 19th century Empire mahogany dressing table is complete with its original mercury glass mirror and charcoal and white marble top. The arched mirror displays s...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine 19th century French Empire period side table or nightstand made of solid walnut and veneer of walnut and finished on all four sides. Book matched veneers with beautiful swirli...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
Französische Empire Konsole Aus Nussbaum Mit Halbsäulen
Located in Heiligenberg, DE
Empire Konsolen aus Nussbaum, frühes 19. Jahrhundert. Diese absolut streng gestaltete Konsole ist äußerst fein verarbeitet. Alle Sichtflächen sind mit einem dekorativem Bild aus Nuss...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
Late Empire Style Coffee Table
Located in Roveredo In Piano, IT
Late Empire style coffee table made in the late 1700s early 1800s.
The lines of this furniture are straight, the smooth surface gives to the coffee table static but elegant composu...
Category
Late 18th Century European Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Wood
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
French Empire Gueridon Side Table with Tripod Columns Brass and Marble Top
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful French Empire style gueridon table from 19th century. Beautiful black fossil marble over a mahogany body. A simple apron showcases the deep toned wood. Three columnar leg...
Category
20th Century French Empire Tables
Materials
Wood
Mahogany Drop Leaf Work Table, Early 19th Century American Empire
Located in Lomita, CA
An American Empire mahogany drop-leaf worktable ready for light tasks or to function as a beautiful piece.
Appraisers say it was probably produced in New York from 1825 to 1835. Desi...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Hardwood
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Empire Marble & Ormolu Occasional Table 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Empire circular centre table with ornate ormolu decoration typical of the Empire period and a beautiful inset white "Marmo di Carrara" marble top, ...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Mahogany Table with Gold Gilt Ormolu Mounts and Black Granite Top
Located in Savannah, GA
"The French Empire style which impacted furniture design and other arts was popular from about 1804 to 1815, lasting longer in some areas. It developed in France under the reign of e...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Granite, Brass
19th Century French Mahogany Centre Table in the Empire Style
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th Century French mahogany centre table in the Empire style, having a wonderful decorative segmented top with engraved brass moulding, the ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Mahogany
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
Outstanding Pair of 19th Century Italian Empire Console Tables
Located in Houston, TX
Outstanding Pair Of 19th Century Italian Empire Console Tables.
This beautiful pair of free standing antique early 19th century Italian period ...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
Vintage French Empire Style Side Table in an Ebonized Mahogany Finish, Restored
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Empire side table or Empire end table that was recently restored in our Old Plank workshop. The finishing department hand-sanded and stripped the mahogany, without the...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Tables
Materials
Brass
Swedish Console Table, Empire with Gilt Griffon
Located in Stockholm, SE
Empire Console table made in Sweden in early 19th Century. In original gilt with a wooden top made by skilled artisans in Stockholm. In the center sits an elegantly carved Griffon, s...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Pine
Elegant and Decorative French Empire Mahogany Center Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant and decorative empire salon / center table. Mahogany with original gilded bronze mounting. Legs ornamented with gilt leaves on animal-paw feet. Gray marble top with profile. ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Brass
Italian, Lucca Empire Walnut Giltwood Ebonized 1-Drawer Center Table circa 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a circular hand painted scagliola top resting atop a circular frame, the thick walnut veneer of a pronounced grain, the ebonized columnar standard with carved giltwood rings r...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
Monumental Antique French Empire Period Hall Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent over 200 year old French Empire Period (1804-1815) parcel gilt walnut armorial hall pedestal / plant stand.
Born in France in the early 19th century, most likely near the Italian border or Napoleonic territory in present day Northern Italy, most impressive palatial scale, exceptionally executed one-of-a-kind sculptural work, having carved fiolate apron with H monogram, decorative scroll work, stylized grotesque satyr mask with acanthus leaf accent, over high relief crest mural crown depicting four towers representing fortified city walls, shield escutcheon coat of arms with three fleur-de-lis above wavy lines depicting sea water in front of castle tower, supported by figural winged female caryatid, flanked by volute supports, joined by turned stretcher. circa 1810
Provenance / Acquisition:
An important San Antonio estate
Acquired from highly reputable auction house Austin Auction Gallery, est.1983, Austin, Texas. Texas Mansion Carved French and Italian Antiques catalog...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century French Neoclassical Side Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is an exquisite 18th century French neoclassical side table, an exceptional piece of furniture that exudes timeless elegance and so...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Marble
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...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Ash, Burl
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...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Pair Modern Burl
Tea Trolley Modern
Antique Wood Dressing Table
Bar Trolley Bottle Holder
Black Vanity Mirror
Drop Leaf Table With Turned Legs
Dining Table3s
Antique Table And Four Chairs
Foldable Chairs And Table
Leather Pedestal Base
Mid Century Modern Cast Iron Table
Vintage Dressing Table Drawers
French Sewing
Lapis Flower
Retro Dressing Table And Mirror
Metal Architectural Piece On Wood
Antique Drop Side Dining Table
Small French Kitchen Table