Empire Wall Decorations
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
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty 8X6.5
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Woven Ship Tapestry 7.7X6.5
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royal Figures on Islands 6.5X5.5
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Temple Of Edfu, Framed Engraving 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Edfou or "Apollonopolis Magna" large framed engraving of the temple, "perspective view of the pilone and the courtyard of the great temple"
Engraving which bears the mentions "Selli...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Antique Persian Souf Carpet
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century Souf carpet woven somewhere in Iran. Whereabouts are unknown but we suspect it’s from the sarouk Jozan region.
2'1'' x 2'7''
Souf r...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royal Commanders 7.1X6.10
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royal Figures 6.11X6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depciting a Royal Vase 6.2X2.3
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Very Fine Aubusson Tapestry 6X6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Angels 5.7X6.6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty and Angels 8X7
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty 5.7X6.7
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royal Figures 9.9X6.4
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Suite Of 3 Engravings, Camposanto De Pisa, Lasinio And Molini Landi & Cie, Empir
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Suite of 3 large engravings from the Empire period, after the frescoes of the Camposanto in Pisa, the city's famous monumental cemetery, frescoes dating from the 14th century
The th...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Vintage Woven Throne Scene Tapestry 7.9X6.9
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
20th Century French Oil Painting of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor by S. Chapin
By Chapin
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage French oil on canvas painting of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor in a hand carved original gilded wooden frame, painted by S. Chapin in good condition. The wall décor art pie...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty 5.7X4
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Antique Empire Head of Hermes Carved Wood Messenger of Zeus God of Merchants
Located in Munich, DE
This beautiful head of Hermes wearing his winged helmet is carved out of boxwood and has preserved the original gilding. The head is mounted on a blacke...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Boxwood, Oak
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty 6.0X6.11
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Woven Scene Tapestry 7.7X6.55
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Cotton Wool Floral Tapestry 6X5.10
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century Vintage Tapestry 5.35X5.7
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Royalty and Majestic Animals 6.3X6.1
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Floral Hanging Tapestry 10.0X4.0
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Floral Vintage Tapestry in Blue & Tan 11.9X9.3
Located in Los Angeles, US
The art of tapestry weaving is an exceptional art different than any other weaving art. Based on a design cartoon, the background, pattern, and every element is woven over a warp wit...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century Vintage Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Woven Fight Scene Tapestry 8.0X3.6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Floral Tapestry 5.1X5
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Baby Angels 5.8X5.5
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting a Royal Vase 6.2X2.3
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Flower Picking 7.5X5.2
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Woven Figural Tapestry 7.8X5.6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Angel 6.7X5.6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Woven Still Life Tapestry 7.0X5.65
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Preparatory Drawings Empire Antique Inspirations 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very nice sketches of characters. Representing different emotions, clothes and personalities. We have a portrait of a strong woman with arrows. Below this woman, there is a representation of oriental characters, also called barbarians during Antiquity. Finally, on the left, another woman is represented with her head in her hands and sitting on a Klismos chair. This chair is typical of the ancient period. It is written at the bottom right "March 15", surely the date of creation of this sketch.
The Empire style and period are inspired by Greco-Roman art, it is called the neoclassical. The woman on this drawing wears an empire style dress...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Mid 19th Century French Empire Style Portrait of Lady with Coral Jewelry
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Mid 19th Century French Empire Style Portrait of a Lady with Coral Jewelry. Beautiful piece purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, please see detailed photos or message us with q...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
Early 19th Century Pair of Reverse Glass Paintings by Lebelle
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of reverse glass paintings in gouache depicting two landscapes. One of them features a castle and a bath scene, the other one animals and various chara...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Giltwood, Paint
G Longhi, Il Genio De La Musica - Cupido, Framed Engraving, 19th Century
By Guido Reni
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
"il genio de la musica vince per fin Cupido" / the Genius of Music triumphant over Love, based on a 17th century work by Guido Reni, kept at the Palazzo Spinola in Genoa.
This frame...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
19th Century French Hand Painted Wallpaper, Second Empire Era, E. Muller Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century roll of wallpaper, second Empire era, polychrome printing in the style of E. Muller enhanced with gold decorating cartridges with a floral cut of poppies and daisies.
M...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
John The Baptist, Framed Engraving, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
John the Baptist, framed engraving representing John as a young shepherd dressed in a melote, seated next to his cruciform reed staff and the banner "Ecce agnus dei ecce qui tollit.....
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Pair of Framed Zoological Prints, Fish of the Nile
Located in Los Angeles, CA
France 1805-1812, pair of rare original prints by Etienne Geoffroy de Sant-Hilaire (15 April 1772-19 June 1844) The French zoologist who accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte on his Egyptia...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper, Elm
Pair of Naïve Allegorical Landscape Paintings Sign, Christian Georg v. Lind
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of naïve allegorical landscape paintings.
Oil on canvas
Signed Lieutenant Christian Georg V. Lind , 1837 and 1838.
See text on the back.
In original gilded Damgaard frames....
Category
Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas
Mid-Century Still Life Painting on Wood of a Classical Scene with a Horn
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage (20th Century) acrylic still life of a brass horn and sword alongside a bird perched on an antler that is spearing sheet music reading, "Le Retour La Chasse -1923."Painted on...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
French Empire Portrait of Boy, circa 1810
Located in Doylestown, PA
A fine, lifesize oil-on-canvas portrait of a young boy dressed in period attire, holding a book titled “Dictionaire de France” In a period appropriate giltwood frame. Empire period, ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
18th Century Oil Painting of Child with Tambourine Walking on a Panthera
Located in NICE, FR
The child, at the center of the composition, is dressed in an immaculate white tunic that delicately falls over their shoulders and stops just above their knees. The simplicity of th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas
Sampson & Dalilah "At The Gate Of Prison" Colored Copper Engraving
Located in Kastrup, DK
Sampson & Dalilah, At the gate of prison.
Colored copper engraving in contemporary Empire mahogany frame with internal line intarsia, gilt with ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
19th Century Capriccio Jeremias August Urlaub Clock Picture Germany
Located in Epfach, DE
Capriccio from Jeremias August Urlaub, born 1784 in Hanau, death 1837 in St.Petersburg belongs to an important franconian painter family.
Original magnificent and special frame, o...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
18th Century French Oil Painting Portrait of a Woman and Child Holding a Torch
Located in Queens, NY
French (18th-19th century) large oil painting portrait of a woman holding flowers and a child bearing a torch in an ornate carved rectangular gilt...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint, Giltwood
French Empire Napoleonic Military Oil on Canvas Painting, Framed
Located in Dallas, TX
A French Empire Napoleonic military oil on canvas painting with a newer ebonized and gilded frame. The still life painting depicts French Nation...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Painting, Oil on Canvas, Portrait of a Man, Empire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Painting, oil on canvas, portrait of a man, Empire Period"
Beautiful 19th century portrait of a man, oil on canvas, Empire Period fr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Angels 8.9 X 8.3
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting a Royal Vase 6.2X2.3
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting a Royal Vase 6.2X2.3
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting a Royal Vase 6.2X2.3
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Angels and Royal Figures 8.2X7.0
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Children Playing Music 6.0X4.6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Tapestry Depicting Greenhouse 7.3X5.0
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Vintage Woven Warrior Scene Tapestry 8.0X3.6
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Empire wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire wall decorations 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 wall decorations created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, cotton and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire wall decorations made in a specific country, there are Unknown, Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original wall decorations, popular names associated with this style include Chapin, Claude Marie Dubufe, Cupioli made in Italy, and Jean Zuber. 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 wall decorations differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $95,530 while the average work can sell for $4,061.