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
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...
Brass
Alessi 710-40 Stainless Steel Tray, Ornate Chased Decoration, Empire Style, 70s
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer for sale a splendid Italian Mid-Century Modern tray whose design reinterprets the distinctly French Empire style. This successful combination of the practica...
Stainless Steel
$3,500Sale Price|43% Off
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.
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.
Metal
Alessi 710-35 Stainless Steel Tray, Ornate Chased Decoration, Empire Style, 70s
By Alessi
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer for sale a splendid Italian Mid-Century Modern tray whose design reinterprets the distinctly French Empire style. This successful combination of the practica...
Stainless Steel
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...
Metal
$4,500
H 31 in W 43.75 in D 23.5 in
Mahogany William IV Parcel-Gilt Tray on Stand, 19th Century English
Located in El Monte, CA
A handsome William IV mahogany and parcel-gilt tray on stand that exemplifies the restrained elegance of the period. Both tray and stand are crafted from rich mahogany polished to hi...
Mahogany
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...
Mahogany
$1,150
H 18 in W 24.5 in D 17.5 in
Wonderful Bamboo Oval Handpainted Tole Coffee Cocktail Side Tray Table
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Bamboo Form Base Oval Handpainted Tole White With Gold Coffee / Cocktail / End / Removable Tray Table
Metal
Dutch 19th Century Floral Tole Tray
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A large 19th Century tole tray from the Netherlands whose surface is filled with charming foliate and floral imagery. The metal tray is painted black with hand-painted motifs featuri...
Tôle
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Desk, Refinished
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome French Empire desk made of mahogany that has been recently refinished to preserve the beautiful color and grain of the wood. The top surface is a gold-tooled leather in a ...
Brass
$495
H 1 in W 20.3 in D 12.25 in
Antique English Chinoiserie Hand Painted Black & Gilt Birds Floral Tole Tray
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique English black tole tray with a hand painted gold gilt birds and floral design, rolled rim, and charming handles, circa 1900. It displays beautifully, a perfect addit...
Tôle
19th Century English Mahogany Inlaid Serving Tray on Stand
Located in High Point, NC
19th century mahogany shaped serving tray with serpentine and inlaid molded gallery and bulbous brass handles. The tray has a central satinwood feathered design, and intricately inla...
Brass
$1,875Sale Price|25% Off
H 28.5 in W 34.5 in D 23 in
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...
Fruitwood
$1,595
H 22.25 in W 25 in D 19 in
Early 20th Century French Hand Painted Tole Tray Table With Removable Trays
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early twentieth century French tole tray table is painted yellow with black detailing. Its two removable trays feature central lyre motifs and are detailed with a leaf motif. Ea...
Tin
$740 / item
H 0.78 in W 7.75 in D 15.75 in
Oval Tray in Black Quartz with Polished Stainless Steel by Kifu Paris
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Kifu Paris Oval Tray in black quartz with polished stainless steel is a stunning showcase of natural beauty and modern elegance. The hand-crafted black quartz surface features in...
Quartz, Stainless Steel
$720Sale Price|77% Off
H 24 in Dm 30.5 in
Mughal Empire Antique Brass Tray Table with Wooden Folding Stand
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-480 Mughal Empire antique brass tray with later date carved wooden folding stand. Brass top is decorated with repousse foliate and floral motif. Tray...
Brass
Oval Tole Tray
Located in New York, NY
Oval tole tray. Oval tole tray with conforming gallery with punched handles. Perfect in contemporary or traditional settings. France, 1920’s Dimensions: 27.5" W x 19.75" D x 1.75" H
Metal
Antique Ebony Tray Table with Glass Top- 3 Pieces
Located in Malibu, CA
19th century ebonized paper mâché tray which fits into the elegant wood tray table. The paper mache tray has gilt edges & mother of pearl inlay. There is an custom glass top, all...
Glass, Hardwood
$1,780Sale Price|24% Off
H 23.5 in W 16.5 in D 22.75 in
Mahogany Butlers Tray Table, late 19th C., England
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Late 19th century butlers tray on stand. Scalloped detail incorporating open handles for serving. Beautiful mahogany with great patina.
Mahogany
Tray Table with Brass Top. French Empire
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant French Empire tray table, circa 1810, in black-painted wood with a removable tray inset with a brass plate and framed by finely carved details. The table is preserved in its ...
Brass
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...
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...
Mahogany
Sold
H 19.69 in W 33.08 in D 22.84 in
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...
Metal, Brass