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Empire Candle Holders

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
Pair of Empire Period French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Multi-Arm Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A striking and finely cast pair of French Empire period multi-arm candelabra, dating to the early 1800's, executed in a sophisticated combination of ormolu and patinated bronze and n...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Danish Malm Candle Holders, 1950s. Set of 4.
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Malm Candle Holders, 1950s. Set of 4. Two pairs of candleholders in malm, which is a brass alloy with added copper. The cobber gives the brass a darker color. The hei...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Single French Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Winged Victory Candelabra
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late 19thC French Empire style candelabra in yje manner of Thomire featuring a finely chased patinated bronze statue of Nike or Winged Victory holding aloft five gilt bronze can...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
Candelabras 5 Arms French Silver Plate 19th Century France . A pair of French silver plated candelabras. Decorated with leaves and flowers.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver Plate

Pair of 19th Century Empire Candelabras by Pierre Chibout
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of Empire candelabra for five candles each, crafted by Pierre Chibout in the early 19th century. The candelabra are made of patinated and fire-gilded bronze. The candelabras f...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Fine Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Miami, FL
A fine pair of French 19th century Empire candlesticks. We are pleased to present you a gorgeous pair of French Empire period, original gilt bronze candlesticks, finely chiseled of ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Exceptional Pair of French Late Empire Gilt-bronze Candelabra Attributed to Pier
Located in Benington, Herts
A pair of exceptionally elegant and important late Empire five-light figural candelabra ‘A la Victoire’ in gilt-bronze, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, after a design by Charles Percier. Imposing size at 81cm in height. French Paris c.1820 Superbly cast, in the Neo-Classical style, the five scrolling foliate candle branches enclosing central sconces issuing from a circular wreath supported by the winged figure of Victory (Nike), wearing diaphanous robes gathered by a sash above a long underskirt splaying out from above her ankles, with beautifully feathered wings flowing behind her as she looks straight ahead. Each figure standing on one foot, the other bent, resting on a plain sphere over a reeded palmette-cast baluster pedestal raised on square plinth. Wonderful colour and patina, pierced for electricity, old inventory label to the underside. We are delighted to have been able to acquire these important candelabra as rarely does one get the opportunity to purchase items by P P Thomire...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Candlesticks with Patinated Figures, France, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Empire candlesticks with patinated figures, France 19th century.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Slate Candelabras, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This regal pair of bronze and slate candelabras originated in 19th-century France and are beautifully detailed with molded and gilt embellishments. Crafted in the style of Empire furniture, each candlestick rests on a tiered, triform bronze base of gilt foliate scrollwork surrounding a central baluster post. From each base, a sleek stone stem of polished black slate rises to support the cast bronze top of three curved arms and four candle dishes, embellished with further gilt elements and bobèches, or drip pans. A gorgeous example of French opulence...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Slate, Bronze

Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Cool and unusual composition between gilded and dark patin...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Two Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
These magnificent candelabra were cast entirely of gilt bronze in the French Empire period of the early 19th century. Each candelabrum is formed as a cornucopia of scrolled branches holding four lights with drip pans, set on a single torch-form stem, held aloft by a Classical style figure. The figures, one male and one female, are shown draped in swathed clothing, with the male figure depicted holding a quill in his other hand, whilst the female figure clutches a delicate bouquet of flowers. The figures stand upon circular bases, set onto ovoid vases which featured fluted details and central bands of laurel leaf motifs. The vases themselves stand on undulating roundels formed of acanthus leaves, which are further set atop square-form plinths. Classically influenced works were popular during the French Empire period, when the Emperor Napoleon I sought to create a place in history for France alongside the ancient dynasties...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Wonderful Pair French Patinated Dore Bronze Empire Neoclassical Candlesticks
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of French Patinated & Dore Bronze Empire / Neoclassical / Napoleonic Substantial Candlesticks Each With 3 Eagles, In The Manner Of Claude Galle.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Empire Candlesticks, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of elegant Empire candlesticks crafted from partially fire-gilded bronze, dating to the early 19th century. Each candlestick stands on a round base, featuring a tapered, flute...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair French Empire Figural Bronze Candelabra Signed Chibout
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This finely detailed, and hand chased pair of bronze candelabra were made by Pierre Chibout. Active 1806-24, he worked with Claude Francois Rabiat who's workshop he took over in 181...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair Of Empire Silver Candle Holders, Floral Decor, Johann Gutmann, Vienna, 1804
Located in Vienna, AT
Two elegant silver candlesticks on a round base, guilloché pattern on the side of the base, raised shaft in the centre, constriction in the lower third with a guilloché ring, shaft w...
Category

Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver

Pair of Empire Period Four-Arm Bronze Candelabra
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of Empire period four-light candelabra, on tripod lion's feet over stepped incurved plinth, supporting a palmette form base with reeded column and central gilt candle stem, the ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Exquisite French Empire Gilt Bronze Two-Light Candelabra ca 1810
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
These candlesticks are ornate artifacts from the French Empire period, which dates back to the early 19th century, typically considered as the reign of Napoleon I from 1804 to 1814. ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Unusual Pair Of Russian Empire Figural Bronze Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
An important pair of Russian Empire Figural patinated and Dore Bronze six-light candelabras with maidens and putties with verde antico marble bases. Eac...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century French Empire Bronze NIKE Figural Candelabra
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This stately patinated and fire gilt bronze candelabrum is of the finest quality, and retains its original finish. The figure of Nike (Winged Victory) standing on a gilt globe holds...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Four French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
This magnificent set of four antique candelabra come as a pair of pairs: one slightly larger pair and one smaller pair. They date from roughly 1805, during the period of the Napoleon...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Wonderful Pair of French Empire Gilt Patinated Bronze Figural Regency
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful large pair of French Empire gilt and patinated bronze figural Regency candelabra raised on paw feet, each figure holding a 6-branch cand...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Monumental Pair of Italian Empire Gilt Bronze Candleholders or Floor Lamps, 1800
Located in Rome, IT
Impressive pair of Italian Empire finely chiseled ormolu Flambeaux, on triform base, each with 25 scrolled gilt-bronze candle arms. Attributed to Luigi Manfredini the famous bronze a...
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Empire style gilt and burnished bronze candelabra by Gherardo Degli Albizzi, with its marble base, resume the great taste of Napoleon period decoration. Base is characterized by...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Marble, Bronze

Pair of French Empire Bronze Dore Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Charles X (19th Century) bronze dore 3 arm candelabras with candlestick bases in two sections. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Slate Candlesticks, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This regal pair of bronze and slate candlesticks originated in 19th-century France and are beautifully detailed with molded and gilt embellishments. Crafted in the style of Empire furniture, each candlestick rests on a triform bronze base of claw feet and petal scrollwork, topped by a gilt acanthus leaf throne supporting a simple black slate stem. The sleek stone posts in turn support an urn-form bronze capital with floral and gilt elements. A gorgeous example of French opulence...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Slate, Bronze

Pair French Empire candelabra, circa 1800
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality pair of French Empire bronze and gilded ormolu candelabra, each having Caryatid supports to the scrolling foliate four branch candle sconces. Raised on classical gilde...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French burnished gilded Empire candlesticks with light collars. The stems are fluted and decorated with acanthus leaves.
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Beautiful French Empire Caryatid Candlesticks with Carrara Marble Bases
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Empire Caryatid Candlesticks with Carrara Marble Bases An elegant and finely composed pair of French Empire candlesticks, crafted in the early 19th century and embodying the...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

Pair of French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt and patinated bronze wall lights French, 20th Century Height 103cm, width 50cm, depth 44cm Drawing inspiration from the sophisticated Empire style, these wall li...
Category

20th Century French Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

A Pair of Gilt Bronze and Patinated Candelabra with Winged Victories.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A pair of gilt bronze and patinated candelabra with winged victories, Empire period, 19th century. Pair of Empire period candelabra from the 19th century, Napoleon 1st, gilt and pat...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Italian Empire Classical Sterling Silver 5-Light Candelabrum
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire sterling silver 5-light candelabrum. Raised socket on ovoid shaft to which are mounted four leaf-mounted arms terminating in same. Sockets bellied on wax pan. Shaft mo...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pair of Empire Candelabra with Green Marble Bases 4 Candle Holders
Located in Atlanta, GA
These pair of Empire candelabras feature angles holding 4 candleholders atop a green marble base.
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble

Pair of Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra. Each with a winged Victorian female figure carrying a torchère on their hea...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Siena Marble, Bronze

Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks after C. Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of excellent early 19th century French empire gilt bronze candlesticks in the style of Claude Galle (1758-1815): A tapering stem with rich trelliswork relief divided into thr...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Antique French Empire Marble and Bronze D ore Candelabra
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair of antique French empire marble and bronze D'ore candelabra.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of Early to Mid-19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of bronze Empire style candlesticks. In excellent original condition. France, early 19th century.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French Empire candleholders in fire-gilded bronze. They feature decorations of fluting and acanthus leaves. The candle sleeves are removable.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Candlesticks
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century French Empire Candlesticks. Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Large Pair of French Empire Period Candelabra, Attributed to Claude Galle
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent large pair of five-light doré bronze and patinated bronze Empire period candelabra, attributed to Claude Galle made in the early 1800s. This pair of candelabra are set ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of 19 Century Russian Empire Figural Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of Russian Empire figural candelabra featuring a patinated bronze caryatid holding a gilt bronze urn mounted with a torch atop her head, with two ...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

A Pair of French Empire Polychrome Gilt-Wood Torchères, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of French Empire Polychrome Gilt-Wood Torchères, 19th Century Description: Each torchère with a circular stone top above a concave triform capital with a rosette to each face...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Wood

Pair of French Empire Bronze and Rouge Marble Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze and rouge marble column 6 arm candelabra with 3 lion figures on base. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair Of Large Empire-Style Silver Candle Holders, Hermann Südfeld, Vienna, c1890
Located in Vienna, AT
Two large, elegant, simple silver candlesticks on a round base, round foot grooved on the sides, smooth shaft raised in the centre with a profiled constriction, shaft widening conica...
Category

1890s Austrian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver

Bronze French Empire Style Candelabrum
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Bronze French Empire style candelabrum.
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th c. French Empire Bronze Dore Nike Candelabra
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of nineteenth century French Empire style bronze dore three arm candelabra, each featuring a classical winged victory or Nike figure positioned atop a tiered, architectural pede...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Victory Candelabras
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Large 19th Century Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Victory Sculptures Candelabras in the manner of Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) A large a...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th c. French Empire Style Electrified Candelabra
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of nineteenth century French Empire style candelabra. Each gilt-trimmed bronze candelabrum features a central urn-top arm surrounde...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

19th Century Swedish Candelabra
Located in Allerum, SE
Pair of fine 19th century Swedish Empire gilt and patinated bronze candelabra, circa 1830, Stockholm, Sweden.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

1st Empire Period patinated Bronze and Ormolu candlesticks, circa 1805
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive and high quality pair of French early 19th century 1st Empire Period patinated Bronze and Ormolu candlesticks, circa 1805. This wonderful pair of ewer designed candlest...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce Set by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a central round pla...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Early 19 Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Excellent pair of early 19 century French empire gilt bronze neoclassical candlesticks. A tapering stem with rich and finely chased ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Candelabras Pair 19th Century France
Located in New York, NY
A pair of candelabras made of gilt bronze. Made in France In Late Empie Style during the 19th century. Top candle holder decorated with a loose torch.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Style Patinated and Gilded Bronze Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This impressive pair of candelabra made in the era of Napoleon III in France circa 1870 are very powerful and impressive. Heavily cast with references to the classical past and profu...
Category

1870s Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair Of Antique Empire Silver Candle Holders, by Josef Stelzer, Vienna, 1802
Located in Vienna, AT
Two elegant, simple silver candlesticks on a round base, foot profiled at the sides, smooth shaft raised in the centre, constriction in the lower third by a profiled bead, shaft wide...
Category

Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Silver

Pair of Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French fire-gilded candleholders in the Empire style. They feature acanthus leaf decorations. The candle sleeves are removable.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th C. French Empire Bronze and Patinated Brass Four-Light Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring stately elegance and classical refinement to a mantel, buffet, or console with this striking pair of French Empire candelabra, crafted in France circa 1880 from finely chased g...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Empire Style Gilt and Burnished Bronze Candelabra By Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Empire style gilt and burnished bronze figural candelabra by Gherardo Degli Albizzi resumes the great taste of Napoleon period decoration. Base is characterized by gilt satin br...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Style Bronze and Iridescent Glazed Cassolettes, circa 1875
Located in New York, NY
The tops turn over to be candlesticks.
Category

1870s French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Bronze

Very Handsome Pair of French Empire Period Gilt Brass Candlesticks, Circa 1820
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome tall pair of early 19th century French Empire gilt brass candlesticks. Both showing reeded columns rising up from circular bases decorated by hand with finely chiseled motifs, to similarly addressed urn-shaped nozzles with detachable bobeches. Constructed in three sections, with the nozzle and column firmly attached to the base by means of a full length threaded metal post...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Candle Holders

Materials

Brass

Empire candle holders for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire candle holders 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 candle holders created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, lighting, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire candle holders 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 candle holders, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Alexandre Vossion, Baccarat, and Arno Fassi. 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 candle holders differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $313 and tops out at $148,649 while the average work can sell for $3,788.

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