Empire Tray 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 French Adjustable Table Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century French Empire mahogany adjustable height tabletop desk, made for writing or reading in bed. Beautifully crafted desktop has a green leather writing surface, wit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Mahogany Tricoteuse Occasional Table
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Extremely Elegant Early 19th Century, French Empire Period, Mahogany Tricoteuse Type Occasional Table, Having Extremely Well Figured Rectangular Galleried Top, Over One Drawer To ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Oval Red Tole Tray Table with Parcel Gilt
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Empire red tole tray with gold leaf decorations on modern stand.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Metal
Table Swedish Mahogany Floral 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Table Swedish Mahogany Floral 19th Century Sweden. A Swedish mahogany Tray Table with floral painted top. 4 smaller trays for candlelight holder.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Related Items
19th Century English Mahogany & Satinwood Etagere Tray Table
Located in London, GB
This is a truly exceptional antique English Edwardian mahogany and satinwood marquetry oval two tier 'etagere', in the manner of Edwards & Roberts, circa 1890 in date.
Crafted from the best flame mahogany, note the wonderful grain to the wood and the beautifully inlaid decoration with musical trophies within scrolling foliage and kingwood crossbanding.
Masterfully inlaid with Sheraton influences, this etagere has an elegant refined look.
The removable glass bottomed tray can be used to serve drinks, etc.
It is raised on elegant square section tapering outswept legs with a shaped cross stretcher.
The craftsmanship and finish are second to none.
THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THE MAHOGANY THIS ITEM IS MADE OF IS SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA AND THIS TYPE OF MAHOGANY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CITES REGULATION.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 84 x Width 89 x Depth 55
Dimensions in inches:
Height 33.1 x Width 35.0 x Depth 21.7
Edwards & Roberts
was founded in 1845, and had premises at 21 Wardour Street London. By the 1892 they occupied more than a dozen buildings in Wardour Street, where they continued to trade until the end of the century.
They became one of the leading London cabinet makers and retailers working in a variety of styles, both modern and revivalist. Their business also involved retailing, adapting and restoring the finest antique furniture and there are many examples of their earlier furniture with later embellishments bearing their stamp.
Edwards & Roberts specialised in marquetry, inlay and ormolu.
Marquetry is decorative artistry where pieces of material (such as wood, pewter, or brass silver) of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers.
The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian "Cosmati"-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as pietra dura, for the "hardstones" used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique.
Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs.
Etagère is a piece of light furniture which was extensively made in France during the latter part of the 18th century. It consists of a series of stages or shelves for the reception of ornaments or other small articles. Like the what-not it was very often cornerwise in shape, and the best Louis XVI examples in exotic woods are exceedingly graceful and elegant.
In modern usage, an étagère is often used to refer specifically to a long-legged shelf unit that fits over a bathroom toilet...
Category
1890s English Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
19th Century Mahogany Serving Tray
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century mahogany serving tray
Hand made serving tray from solid mahogany with brass hardware.
The oval tray has four handles along four drop-down sides.
The tray sits a...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique English 19th Century Sheraton Revival Mahogany Tray Table
Located in London, GB
Antique English 19th century Sheraton Revival Mahogany Tray Table.
circa 1890.
In very good condition commensurate with age.
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Mahogany Butler's Tray Table
Located in Germantown, MD
19th Century English Mahogany Butler's folding Tray Table. Newer Base
Measures 32" in width, 19.5" in depth and stand 34.75". Tray is 3.25" in height.
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Small Empire Desk, France
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Small Empire Desk, France, 1840
A simple yet elegant Empire-style desk, crafted in 1840. Made of solid oak and veneered with beautiful pyramidal mahogany, it reflects the classic ch...
Category
1840s Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Provincial Fruitwood Writing Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Diminutive size 19th century French provincial writing table or desk. The table is constructed from fruitwood with a warm patina and lovely wood grain patterns. Fronted by a single s...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
English oval rolled rim tole tea tray, 1840-60
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Oval tole tea tray with rolled rim in black with a stenciled border decoration in bronze powder. Surfaces have been cleaned and polished.
England, circa 1840-60.
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Enamel, Tin
19th Century English Butlers Tray Table
Located in Pomona, CA
A mid-19th century English mahogany butlers tray on the stand features a rectangular tray with a surrounding gallery. On a folding X-frame stand with woven straps to accommodate the ...
Category
1840s English Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Hand Painted Oval Tole Tray with Landscape Scene
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a coffee table with this elegant and beautiful antique tray. Crafted in France, circa 1870 and oval in shape, the colorful tray, dressed with side handles, features a hand p...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Tôle
English Chinoiserie Tole Tray Table
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very good example of an English Victorian Tole Tray decorated with a Chinoiserie theme. The tray is in overall very good condition with n...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Metal
Continental oval tole tea tray with gilt armorial, 1825-50
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Oval tole tea tray centering on a gilt armorial on a burgundy colored ground framed with a black rim with gilt banding.
Continental, probably Italian, second quarter 19th century.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Paint, Paper
19th Century French Lacquered Tray
Located in Stockbridge, GA
19th century French tole lacquered tray
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Metal
Previously Available Items
19th century Swedish birch empire revival tray table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish birch empire revival tray table circa 1880.
Beautiful empire revival Swedish table made from birch. Unusual table with removable circular hand hammered top, wh...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Metal
Mahogany Butler's Tray Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
Early 19th century regency style mahogany butler's tray on X folding stand.
Tray gallery adorned with fan decoration painted in yellow and green shades.
Di...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Danish Empire Yellow Metal Tray Table, Denmark Early 19th Century
Located in Kastrup, DK
Large Danish empire tray table.
Tray in yellow-painted metal with silver-plated carrying handles.
On later mahogany base with tapered legs ending in brass feet and casters.
Orig...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Tray Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Empire tray tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire tray tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage tray tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with mahogany, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire tray tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Denmark pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 tray tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $3,500 while the average work can sell for $1,525.