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.
19th Century French Empire Papier Peint Panel
Located in New York, NY
Most likely originally conceived as a firescreen, this piece is set within a giltwood frame. The block-printed paper panel features a central urn full of roses sitting on a plinth st...
Paint, Paper
$2,372Sale Price|30% Off
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...
Paper
$1,745Sale Price|35% Off
19th Century French Hand Painted Wallpaper Frieze Second Empire Era
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century roll of wallpaper frieze in trompe-l'oeil ribbon on an 8-way roll. About 61 m/0.05 cm. useful. Second Empire era, polychrome printing. ...
Paper
Framed Early 19th century French Hand-Blocked Wallpaper Panel of Artemis
Located in New York, NY
A framed early 19th century French hand-blocked wallpaper panel featuring Artemis. Artemis was the goddess of nature, wildlife, transitions, care of children, healing and fertility....
Paint, Paper
Wallpaper "Zeus Fed by the Goat Amalthée", Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Empire period wallpaper with mythological subject representing Zeus fed by the goat Amalthée. The wallpaper is divided into four strips and is laminated on a composite wood panel and...
Wood, Paper
$822 / item
H 144 in W 52.75 in D 0.01 in
Schumacher by Miles Redd Brighton Pavilion Wallpaper Mural in Multi
By Miles Redd, Schumacher
Located in New York, NY
Based on a rare 18th-century document and created by one of Europe's premier engravers, this design comes in coordinating panels of fabric and wallpaper with a 12-foot repeat. Pane...
Paper
$1,932Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 58 in W 41 in D 0.1 in
Japanese Garden Wallpaper Panels Hand Painted Wallpaper on gold gilded paper
Located in Wuxi, 32
If you love the look of De Gournay wallpaper but not the price, this is for you. Measures: 41" wide x 58" The colorways in this sections present our latest colorways, which can be a...
Gold Leaf
$2,360Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 96 in W 36 in D 0.1 in
Peacock Chinoiserie Wallpaper Hand Painted Wallpaper on Silk Panel
Located in Wuxi, 32
If you love the look of De Gournay wallpaper but not the price, this is for you. Measures: 3 ft x 8 ft. The colorways in this sections present our latest colorways, which can be a...
Silk
$747 / item
H 144 in W 51.75 in D 0.01 in
Schumacher by Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Wallpaper Mural in Lettuce Green
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, this design features exotic birds and cherry blossoms and is true to the original scale. Available as a pr...
Paper
$1,932Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 58 in W 41 in D 0.1 in
Japanese Garden Wallpaper Panels Hand Painted Wallpaper on Gold Gilded Paper
Located in Wuxi, 32
If you love the look of De Gournay wallpaper but not the price, this is for you. Measures: 41" wide x 58" The colorways in this sections present our latest colorways, which can be...
Gold Leaf
$864Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 60 in W 30 in D 0.1 in
Chinoiserie Panel Hand Painted Wallpaper on Green Silk, 2 Panels
Located in Wuxi, 32
If you love the look of De Gournay wallpaper but not the price, this is for you. Measures: 30" W x 60" H each on green silk. The colorways in this sections present our latest colorways, which can be applied to any designs and any base ground (silk, tea paper, metallic, fabric and etc.) Price There are 2 panels in the listed photo, price is for 2 panels of 30" wide x 60" high each, background is on silk. We accept custom size and painting colors. Price doesn't include the embroidery. Dear customer, please note: For safe delivery, all the panels roll in a strong tube. Please have the professional installer to install the wallpapers, there is a standard overlap between panels, and a black dot marked on the top and bottom of each panel, please check well before installing. Shipping We do our best to process & ship all orders...
Silk
$747 / item
H 144 in W 51.75 in D 0.01 in
Schumacher by Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Wallpaper Mural in Grisaille
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, this design features exotic birds and cherry blossoms and is true to the original scale. Available as a p...
Paper
$747 / item
H 144 in W 51.75 in D 0.01 in
Schumacher by Mary McDonald Chinois Palais Wallpaper Mural in Blush
Located in New York, NY
Inspired by an antique Chinese silk panel, this design features exotic birds and cherry blossoms and is true to the original scale. Available as a printed linen and a wallcovering. ...
Paper
$1,164 / set
H 156 in W 54 in D 0.01 in
Schumacher by Josef Frank Citrus Garden Wallpaper Mural in Primary
Located in New York, NY
Based on an archival 1947 Josef Frank print, this hand-drawn pattern bears the designer’s signature modernity, whimsy, and warmth. Panel Width: 27...
Paper
$1,194 / set
H 280 in W 100 in D 0.01 in
Schumacher by Caroline Hurley Sepiessa Wallpaper Mural in Sky
By Caroline Hurley, Schumacher
Located in New York, NY
Based on a painted and collaged artwork by Caroline Z Hurley, Sepiessa is a two-panel set; the full repeat measures 108" x 12'. It's printed on a ground with a toothy, vellum look. ...
Paper
Fabscarte Handmade and Hand Painted Wallpaper, Batik
By Fabscarte
Located in Milan, IT
- This product is priced per square meter. Please contact us for assistance with square footage calculations. - The lead time depends on the quantity of the order. As the name sugge...
Paper
Fabscarte Handmade Hand Painted Wallpaper, Bosco
By Fabscarte
Located in Milan, IT
- This product is priced per square meter. Please contact us for assistance with square footage calculations. - The lead time depends on the quantity of the order. The absolute prot...
Paper, Paint
Zuber Original Wallpaper Screen with French Hinges
By Jean Zuber
Located in Ballard, CA
Zuber wall paper screen depicting the return of Napoleon from Italy, rare piece with french hinges ( meaning it can open in every which way), the wallpaper is applied on to a burlap ...
Brass
Vintage Century Empire Style Framed Wallpaper Panel
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A beautiful framed Empire style wallpaper panel having an urn, rython and brazier supported by catyatids arranged within a garland festooned arcade. Was salvaged from the 1960 resto...
Paper
Early 19th Century Rare Panoramic Wallpaper the Story of Psyche
Located in Paris, FR
Rare panoramic sepia wallpaper composed of three paintings depicting the story of Psyche. They are based on Jean de La Fontaine’s novel The Loves of Cupid and Psyche (1669). This pan...
Paper
Wallpaper on Canvas Manufactured by Dufour, France 19th Century
Located in Rome, IT
Papiers Peint 'En Grisaille' depicting, Psyche showing her jewelry to her sisters. One of a set of six French papier peints 'en grisaille', from the Psyché series, manufactured by...
Period French Empire Neoclassical Wallpaper Screen by Zuber of Dufour
By Jean Zuber
Located in Essex, MA
Period Empire neoclassical wallpaper screen. Either by Zuber of Dufour. Was always intended as a screen.
Paper
Sold
H 74.5 in W 456 in D 0.07 in
21 Wallpaper Panels, by Joseph Dufour Et Cie, After Comte de Choiseul-Gouffier
By Joseph Dufour Et Cie
Located in Milford, NH
Joseph Dufour et Cie (1797-1820) Scènes Turques after engravings from Comte de Choiseul-Gouffier 21 Wallpaper panels Circa 1815 Joseph Dufo...
Paper
Pair of French Hand Blocked Wallpaper Panels Depicting Greek Gods
Located in Long Island City, NY
This very fine pair of early 19th-century French Empire hand-printed wallpaper panels depict Mercury, the Greek god of commerce and communication, and Demeter, the goddess of the har...
Canvas, Giltwood, Paper