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.
Tray Table with Candle Slides. Swedish Empire
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Swedish Empire tray table with pull-out candle holders, crafted in birch with diamond inlays in maple and light satinwood stringing along the aprons and corners. The legs are...
Metal
Antique French Empire Fruitwood Console Table with drawer, Early 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Antique French Empire- Biedermeier fruitwood console table with drawer and bronze details In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Bronze
Pair of Empire-Style Marble Top Gold Gilt & Painted Pedestals
Located in Southampton, NJ
Pair of Italian Empire-style gilt and painted pedestals topped with Kastoria Red Marble from Greece, circa 1960. In very good vintage condition having polished marble and solid frame...
Marble
Classic French 18th Century Empire Walnut Kneehole Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Found near Paris, France, we purchased this museum quality 18th century Empire style desk for its impeccable quality and style. Made predominantly from walnut and featuring Empiric s...
Walnut
French Empire Style Console Marble Entry Table & Mirror
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on "Read More" or "View More Details" below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing is from 1st Dibs and they normally s...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Gueridon Side Table, Ebonized Mahogany, Marble Top, 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Side table from France in the French Empire style. This piece is made of mahogany that has been ebonized and finished with a high gloss French polish finish. The “gueridon” has a tri...
Carrara Marble, Brass
$8,500 / item
19th Century French Mahogany Backgammon Games Table
Located in Essex, MA
Period Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Tric Trac or Backgammon Table. Ebony and bone backgammon well with boxwood draught pieces. Two drawers. Top with leather on one si...
Mahogany
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...
Mahogany
$11,180 / set
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...
Mahogany
$22,073Sale Price|25% Off
Italian Empire Style 19th Century Oval Cherrywood and Ebony Dining Room Table
Located in Firenze, IT
This simply stunning antique 19th century Tuscan large oval dining room table has a gorgeous shape, thanks to its soft and sober lines- ty...
Cherry, Ebony
French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu center table. This exceptional table is raised by solid Mahogany bun feet with concealed interior B...
Ormolu
French Empire Bronze Pedestals with Green Marble Top, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire style (20th Cent) bronze dore brazier style pedestals with round green marble top and cross leg supports.(PRICED AS PAIR)
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...
Marble, Bronze
A Fine French Early 20th Century Gilt-Bronze Center Table Attr. Francois Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French early 20th century Empire style ormolu and figural patinated bronze-mounted amboyna and veined Verde d'Alps marble top "Gueridon" attributed to François Linke (185...
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
$4,427
Beidermier Pedestal
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A Beidermier design blonde wood and ebonised jardiniere or torchere stand. A circular wooden top sits above an ebonised band with S scroll supports on a carved triangular plinth, ter...
Birch
Center Table in Mahogany, probably Austria, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Center table with a circular top featuring a radial veneer pattern, raised on a tapered column with accent rings and a richly molded base resting on a tripartite platform with styliz...
Mahogany
19th Century Pair of Empire Style Italian Walnut Consoles
Located in Dallas, TX
The product is a pair of Italian walnut consoles from the 19th century, which exudes an Empire style design. These antique pieces add a touch of elegance and history to any space wit...
Marble
$6,320Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Table, Germany 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique and very elegant Empire table dates back to around 1810-20. It comes from Germany. It was probably made in the northern part of Germany or possibly in Berlin. The table s...
Mahogany
$5,680Sale Price|64% Off
Spanish Empire Console Table with Mirror in Mahogany, circa 1810
Located in Miami, FL
Fine Spanish Empire console with mirror in mahogany and rosewood with satinwood inlays, circa 1810.
Rosewood
Empire Style Marble Console Table, Carved Legs, France, 19th Century
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...
Marble
$12,718
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...
Mahogany
A rare 19th century French Empire gilt bronze mounted mahogany dining table
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare 19th century French Empire gilt bronze mounted mahogany dining table. The top with a molded edge ,over baluster legs joined by a stretcher, carved with a Vitruvian scroll, (2)...
Bronze
Antique American Empire Mahogany Carved Paw Foot 3 Tier Plant Stand Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Antique American Empire Mahogany Carved Paw Foot 3 Tier Plant Stand Side Table. Circa...
Mahogany
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...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Midcentury Steel and Clear Glass Side Tables, Empire Design
Located in London, GB
A good pair of steel and glass side tables, made in France in the 1960s. Made with an empire design, with pine cone finials and flower details. This pair of minimalist side tables ...
Steel
Vintage French Empire Mahogany 25" Round Coffee Table with Brass Gallery
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Mahogany 25" Round Coffee Table with Ornate Brass Gallery and Carved Tapered Legs. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 21.5" H (to gallery) x 25" W x 25" D. 2...
Brass
Empire Style Console Table
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a very sophisticated Empire style console table, the ebonized plank top, over an ebonized wall centered with a carved parcel gilt la...
Ebony, Satinwood
$34,950Sale Price / set|22% Off
Pair of French 19th Century Empire Style Giltwood & Gesso Carved Console Tables
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and rare pair of French 19th century Empire style giltwood carved and ebonized gesso figural console tables with figures of winged lions and f...
Marble
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Sofa Table by Johan Oman
By Johan Öman
Located in Essex, MA
Period early 19th century Swedish mahogany sofa table by Johan Oman. Stylized double headed axe, a Swedish motif, original ormolu mounts and gilded winged feet...
Mahogany, Fir
French Empire Figural Bronze Gueridon/side table w/ Pietra Dore Top
Located in New York, NY
A 19th Century French Empire-Style Pietra Dura Top Table/Gueridon with Gilt Bronze Maiden Base. This table features a gilt bronze caryatid support and an octagonal pietra dura top. ...
Marble, Bronze
Italian Empire style pedestal in wood and brass, mid 1800s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Empire style pedestal in wood and brass, mid 1800s Pedestal or display column with square top in wood. The top is supported by four round wooden strips with brass finishes at...
Brass
Empire Table with Palmettes, possibly Berlin / Gotha, circa 1820/25
Located in Greding, DE
This oval Empire salon table is supported by two columnar legs in the form of stylized palms, partly gilt and partly ebonized. The plinth and the oval top are veneered in mahogany an...
Mahogany
19th Century Marble Gueridon Table With Turned Wood Column & Brass Paw Feet
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century French Empire Marble & Mahogany Gueridon Table With Brass Paw Feet A beautiful French 19th century Empire-period gueridon pedestal table, combining a softly veined whit...
Marble
Early 20th Century French Empire Style Gilt Metal Mahogany Table
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Style Gilt Metal Mounted Mahogany Pedestal, early 20th century, the circular top on a tapering column on a quadripartite plinth and ball feet. 35.5" H x 15.25" D...
Metal
$9,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of French Empire Demilune Flip-Top Consoles by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent pair of 19th century French empire demi-lune console tables or round dining tables with a flip top that has been faux-marble lacquered on top by artist Ira Yeager (American 1...
Brass
$1,960Sale Price|39% Off
Russian Baltic Brass Bound Marble Top Empire Style Center Occasional Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Russian Baltic Empire style occasional table is a striking example of neoclassical refinement, crafted with timeless artistry and elegance. The circular top is fitted with a ric...
Marble, Brass
Ebonised Empire Gueridon Table with Belgian Marble Top, Circa 1860
Located in Arundel, GB
A very elegant 19thc, Ebonised, Empire Gueridon. With bronze Caryatid mounts topping faux, Siena marble tapered columns. The table has triform ebonised base and a speckled, grey marb...
Belgian Black Marble
Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Crotch Mahogany & Ebony Lyre Pedestal Sewing Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th Century Duncan Phyfe Style Occasional Sewing or Spool Table. Features a crotch mahogany frame over an ebonized lyre base with brass rods and downswept scrolled feet. Inc...
Mahogany
Empire Splendid French Saloon Table, Bronze Gilt
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and gilded bronze in wax casting. Three curly legs connected with gutter. Medium with garland-shaped decoration. The legs are in the form of three winged, fully plastic...
Marble, Bronze
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Mahogany
A Continental early 19th century Empire st. Mahogany Fruitwood center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking and most handsome Continental early 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ebonized Fruitwood center table. The wonderful table is raised on Ebonized Fruitwood bun feet belo...
Fruitwood, Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany End Table with Griffins and Marble Top
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany end/center table with bronze trim and winged griffins on legs with a green rectangular marble top.
Marble, Bronze
IMPORTANT PAiR OF ANTIQUE FRENCH EMPIRE BRASS BRONZE & MARBLE GUERIDON TABLES
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Stunning pair of Circa 1890-1910 Gilt Brass, Bronze and Marble Gueridon tables A very rare pair, the tops are desirable being a light salmon colour heavily grained marble. The frame...
Marble, Brass, Bronze
$6,710Sale Price|40% Off
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder) Material: Mahogany. Completely restored, Shellac polish. Period: 1820-1829 Source: Austria, Wien.
Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer
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.
Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany Roll Top Desk with Bronze Gilt Trim
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany roll top desk with bronze trim.
Bronze
French Napoleon Empire Style Marble Bronzed Wall Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
An elegant and petite wall console table crafted out of gilt bronzed metal and variegated green marble in a French Napoleonic Second Empire style. The table features a two-legged con...
Marble, Metal
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Architects Table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An elegant and attractive early 19th century Empire mahogany architects table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864). The double ratcheted hinged rectangular top lined with dark green oi...
Brass, Bronze
Large Sonno Bedside Table In Flamed Mahogany From The Empire Period Early 19 Cen
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb Empire period mahogany bedside table from the early 19th century. This large model is quite rare, measuring 82cm high and 42cm in diameter (they are often 74cm high). Its size...
Mahogany
$11,907 / item
French Empire Style Center Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Early 19th-century French design anchored by a sleek quartz top with a refined moulded surround and elegant canted corners, this table blends architectural grace with timeless luxury...
Quartz, Brass
Empire-Style Pedestal Table in Walnut Veneer with Gray Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined 19th-century Empire-style pedestal table crafted in walnut veneer, featuring a stately circular gray marble top resting on a neoclassical columnar base. The table is suppor...
Marble
French Empire Style Oval Centre Table An amazing piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French Empire Style Oval Centre Table An amazing piece, the table is made in walnut it is a large Oval, the table top is made with Rosso Levanto Marble and set with a pierced brass g...
Marble
19th-Century Mahogany Empire-Style Guéridon Center Table
Located in New York, NY
A handsome 19th-century mahogany guéridon table in the Empire taste, distinguished by its richly figured mahogany and bold architectural proportions. The circular top, edged by a mol...
Mahogany
Empire Style Side Table, French Wood with Black Marble Top, 1910
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).
Marble
Neoclassical Empire Style Ormolu and Lapis Lazuli Table
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical Empire style ormolu and lapis lazuli table with patinated bronze mounts, French, 20th century Dimensions: Height 74cm, diameter 100cm Finely wrought in the French N...
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Ormolu
$1,120Sale Price|29% Off
19th Century Walnut Empire Style French Opening Side Table Called "Somno"
Located in LEGNY, FR
19th century walnut Empire style French side table called "Somno". Beautiful green marble top. Opening door with one shelf. Nice quality.
Walnut
Continental Empire Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Console Table
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Dutch Empire-style (Circa 1840) black lacquer Chinoiserie console table with adjustable mirror on back and bronze heads with black marble top.
Marble, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Antique French Empire Mahogany Mother of Pearl Wreath Inlay Accent Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Style Mahogany Mother of Pearl Wreath Inlay Accent Side Table. Item features mother of pearl and wood floral wreath inlay, carved reeded column-form legs, very ...
Mahogany
$612Sale Price|20% Off
Italian metal folding side table Empire style, yellow and black, Mid century
Located in Hamburg, DE
Transport your living space back to the opulent Empire era with this Italian folding table crafted from metal, dating back to around 1970. The Em...
Metal
Early 19th Century, Lombard Empire Chest of Drawers with Marble Top
Located in IT
Walnut-veneered cabinet with solid walnut interior. Fitted with original brass handles with gilt finish, brass capitals with matching gilt finish, and a grey marble top. Complete wi...
Brass