Empire Jewelry Boxes
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
Egg style Faberge Blue Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large egg on smooth tripod with 8-day mechanical skeletal Swiss movement with alarm, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché with Russian E...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Beautiful White Opaline Cenedese Style Glass Compote Pedestal Bowl, Italy, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This elegant Tuscan glass pedestal bowl is a beautiful example of mid-century Italian milk opaline craftsmanship, created circa 1950 or earlier in the style of Cenedese. The bowl fea...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Glass
French 19th Century Empire Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Decorative Jewelry Box
Located in Firenze, IT
This French Empire 19th century rectangular porcelain dresser box or jewlery decorative casket has a wonderfully patinated powder blue/cerulean light blue background color and features grotesque masks, architectural vase, fruit, flowers and leafy scrolled design throughout painted as a trompe l’oeil in the round. Ormolu mounts enrich the whole box.
The paintings on this casket are striking as is the color palette used, a wonderful mix of light purple, cream, blue and soft brown.
The lid is centered by a grotesque mask inspired by antiquity. The front, back and sides are profusely decorated with architectural elements, cartouches and volutes. The design is centered by a vase with a fruit arrangement that appear to be plums. The decoration could refer to the allegory of autumn and the mask painted on the lid could refer to Bacchus.
Both the color of the porcelain and the paintings are very unusual and a sign of high quality and uniqueness.The box was most probably given to a high-ranking lady as a gift on the occasion of her marriage, or perhaps after the birth of a child.
The lidded box is fitted with ormolu mounts, hinges and clasp. A gilt bronze band finelly chiseled in the form of a rope adorns the upper part. The trinket box rests on four gilt bronze lion paw feet.
This striking French porcelain box...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod engraved in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century Miniature Writing Desk Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This vintage miniature wood box has six drawers and lots of character and patina. Some of the drawers are lined in faux marbleized paper. We see this wonderful piece being used to st...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
$382 Sale Price
49% Off
Empire-Style Crystal and Brass
Bonbonnière
, or Sweet Box
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very decorative Empire-style crystal sweet box, or Bonbonnière, intricately clad in a gilt-brass frame, with elaborately worked gilt metal mounts of the ar...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Egg White with blue garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimb
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg White with blue garlands is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg White with blue garlands has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg White with blue garlands i...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Large 19th Century Continental Neoclassical Between Dresser Vanity Box
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An extensively filled 19th century ormolu-mounted ebonized wood dresser vanity box fitted with silver gold washed lidded glass gars and sewing tools. The ...
Category
1880s European Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Ormolu
Egg style Faberge folding photo holder Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on engraved tripod with octagonal folding photo holder for 6 photos inside, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated, with translucent fired enamels on guilloché and pure gold “pa...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
Elegant Miniature Vanity in Mahogany – Paris, Mid-19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant Miniature Vanity in Mahogany – Paris, Mid-19th Century
An exquisite late Empire miniature piece, crafted in central Paris around 1850. Made of fine mahogany (Swietenia maho...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Glass, Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
Egg 4 Picture frames in Dark Red enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg 4 Picture frames is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg 4 Picture frames has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg 4 Picture fr...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century Gold and Enamel Box, Swiss Work
Located in Paris, FR
Rectangular box with three tones of gold and royal blue enamel. The hinged lid is embellished with a multicolored gold medallion in relief featuring a bouquet of roses and tulips, se...
Category
Early 19th Century Swiss Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold
19th Century French Empire Miniature Commode
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century French Empire miniature sample commode with four dovetailed drawers. Made of burl of walnut veneer with oak and pine as secondary woods. Working locks with ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Walnut
X-Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché and hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl F...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg Navy Blue enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Navy Blue enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg Navy Blue enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg Navy Blue en...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Blue Sapphire Enamel Medium Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, Russian Empire style inspired by Carl Fabergè eggs late 1800s, early 1900s. Measurem...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Pocket Pill Box like Egg sea color Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Pocket pill box shaped like a small egg.
Pocket pill box like egg hinged opening.
Pocket pill box like egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated 24ca...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Savoia blue Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé, late 19th century, early 20th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Small Egg style Faberge Enamel hand painted wreaths Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché and an hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the e...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
X-Small Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th c...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
X-Small Egg style Faberge Ruby Red Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th c...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Blue Savoia Enamel Medium Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè, Russian Empire style inspired by Carl Fabergè eggs late 1800s, early 1900s. Measurem...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg style Faberge Dark Brown Enamel Small Size Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small egg in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé, late 19th century, early 20th...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
X-Small Egg style Faberge Yellow Enamel hand painted wreaths Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché and hand-painted miniature of garlands in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl F...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel, Sterling Silver
X-Small Egg style Faberge Sapphire Blue Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
X-Small egg in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché in Russian Art Nouveau style, inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th c...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg Purple Red enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Purple Red enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg Purple Red enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg Purple Red...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Egg Plum enamel with tripod Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg Plum enamel is in 925/1000 sterling silver.
Egg Plum enamel has fired enamels on guilloché has fired enamels on guilloché and design engraved by hand.
Egg Plum enamel is Russian...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
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Beautiful White Opaline Cenedese Glass Box with Bronze Mounts, Italy, 1930s
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X-Small Egg style Faberge Ruby Red Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
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French Octagon Silver Plated Fleur De Lis Jewelry Box
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Empire jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage jewelry boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire jewelry boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original jewelry boxes, popular names associated with this style include Franco Salimbeni, and Pavel Sazikov. 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 jewelry boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $170 and tops out at $10,957 while the average work can sell for $2,029.
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