Empire Vases and Vessels
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 French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire Revival (mid-19th Century) urns / candleholders with rouge and black marble bodies, gilt bronze ornamentation and a removable top piece that flips to reveal a c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Two Italian Amber Crystal Vases
Located in New York, NY
Two superb Amber crystal vases, hand-crafted to order in Treviso, Italy, by Unique Luxury Designs, renowned manufacturer of bespoke crystal chandeliers, home accessories and crystal ...
Category
1990s Italian Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
$8,400 Sale Price / item
20% Off
French Sèvres Style Bronze-Mounted Cobalt Blue Hand Painted Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A large French Sèvres style gilt bronze ormolu-mounted cobalt blue hand painted porcelain urn table lamp, first half of the 20th century. Bronze figurine handles, front side with han...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair Neoclassical Paris Porcelain Gilt Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair neoclassical Paris Porcelain gilt vases. Exceptional pair of large white and gilt painted campana form urns with strigilated patterning on body dow...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Ormolu
$32,000 / set
1810s Empire Handmade Marked Porcelain Centerpiece
By G. Popov
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful and extremely rare Empire period porcelain decorated with hand-painted designs.
It has the original label on the base.
"Silvio Ferrara ANTIQUARIO GIOIELLIERE Via Condotti" ...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Paris Porcelain Vase with Landscape Scene, France c. 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Paris porcelain vase of good quality, almost two feet in height. The body with painted figural and landscape vignettes on opposing sides, contained by acid-etched gilt border...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Large Danish Vaseline Opaline Wine Glass or Vases
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish pair of large white Vaseline opaline wine glasses or vases.
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Blown Glass, Art Glass, Opaline Glass
1900s Empire Style Crystal Urn Vase
Located in Skien, NO
Empire Style Crystal Vase from 1900s
This striking Classic Empire-style vase from ca. the middle of the 20th century showcases exceptional craftsmanship in high-quality crystal. The...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Richard Klemm Dresden Miniature Porcelain Portrait Cabinet Vase of Antoinette
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an excellent high quality porcelain vase. It is depicting a portrait of Antoinette in the center framed with gilt wreath of olives leaves against ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Empire Style Bronze Ewers, Late 19th or Early 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An important pair of Empire style bronze ewers, late 19th or early 20th century.
A pair of Empire style patinated bronze ewers with marble base, late 19th or early 20th century.
H: ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair French Empire Bronze and Marble Campana Form Urns
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of Classical style urns are finely cast featuring acanthus leaves, mask form handles, and laurel leaf wreaths on Sienna marble plinth form bases.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Large B&G, Bing
Grondahl Vase in Pink with Handles in Gold, Early Stamp
Located in København, Copenhagen
Large B&G, Bing & Grondahl vase in pink with handles in gold.
Early stamp. Dated 1865.
1st. assortment. In perfect condition.
Measures 29.5 x 14.5 cm.
Category
1860s Danish Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Fine Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Glass Ormolu-Mounted Neoclassical Urns
Located in Roslyn, NY
Pair of lovely French empire style bronze and glass urns. Please note, they are blown glass and one is slightly higher than the other. The base measures 3" x 3".
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Snake Handled Meissen Urns
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Stylish and chic pair of Meissen urns in Classic glazed white porcelain with gold accents. These urns are classical in form and feature entwined snakes as ...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Coppia di Vasi Impero Italiani Intagliati Dorati e Laccati in Color Avorio 1800
Located in Milano, MI
Coppia di Vasi Impero, due vasi con manici stilizzati, vasi portapalme in legno intagliato a motivi fitomorfi di gusto Impero e decorati con una finitura in lacca avorio e oro fino.
...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
Pair 19th Century French Empire Period Gilt Bronze and Marble Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique French Empire period gilt bronze campana form vases, each 13 3/4 by 6 7/8 inches, circa 1810, with flared neck with gadrooned bronze rim, decorated with Bacchic putti...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Period Matte and Burnished Gilt Porcelain Vases
Located in Firenze, IT
Pair of French 19th century Empire porcelain two handles baluster-shaped vases. The body of each vase is in two-toned gold exceptionally tooled with matte and glazed gold. The vases ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Wall-Mounted Flower Basket, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A vase-shaped, semi-circular flower basket from the 19th century. The wall is adorned with intricate leaf motifs and rosettes, defined by vertical struts. A narrow beaded brass band ...
Category
19th Century Scandinavian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
$3,638 Sale Price
20% Off
Attributed, Val St-Lambert, Empire Style Vase, 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb and large empire style vase attributed to the Val Saint Lambert manufacture, 19th century Belgium. Openwork of gilt bronze in arches and wreat...
Category
Mid-19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire Revival (mid-19th Century) urns / candleholders with rouge and black marble bodies, gilt bronze ornamentation and a removable top piece that flips to reveal a c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Cut Crystal Amethyst glass Vase w Gilt bronze Griffins and Lion paws Empire
Located in Sweden, SE
Such items were always made in small batches and only by hand. Mercury gilt bronze (ormolu, gilded) rim, hand chasing, lion's paws and heads of eagles-griffins, repeat the motifs of ...
Category
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal, Gold Plate, Bronze
Tripod Cachepot Brass Bowl
Located in Sheffield, MA
Charmingly elegant antique Empire style brass bowl centerpiece on tripod hoofed feet and decorative handles in an 'abstract' animal form. Lovely aged brass patina all-over, can easil...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Brass
$850 Sale Price
29% Off
Attractive Vintage Vase Kaiser, Pavillon, Germany Porcelain Large Vase
By Kaiser
Located in Bastogne, BE
Attractive vintage vase with handles by Kaiser, Pavillon, Germany.
Baluster-shaped vase made of white high quality porcelain with gilding ...
Category
1980s German Vintage Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
1800 Empire Nast Porcelain Griffins Masks Roses Flowers Garlands France Vase
Located in Munich, DE
This very high quality French vase in caramel hue with guilding is most probably made by the Nast Porcelain Manufacture ( 1754 - 1817 ). It's handles ar...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire Period Antique Parisian Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
This pair of antique porcelain vases, dating from the early 19th century in the period of Napoleonic rule known as the Empire period, ar...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
A Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze and Verde Marble Tazzas, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of French Empire Bronze, Gilt Bronze, and Verde Marble Tazzas, 19th Century
Each tazza with a shallow bronze inner bowl with leaf-and-dart rim projecting from a lobed gilt br...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Classic Neo Bronze Samovar, Italy, 19th Century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Classic Neo Bronze Samovar, Italy, 19th Century
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Urns
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire (19th Cent) gilt bronze urns with triangular shaped bases, finial tops and sphinx ram heads. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Lapis and Gilt Bronze Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of French neoclassical style lapis and gilt bronze vases
French, late 19th century
Measures: Height 46cm, diameter 19cm
Each vase in this pair, crafted from gilt bronze mou...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Bronze, Ormolu
Gilt and Opaline Glass Urn
Located in Dallas, TX
An Empire style gilt and opaline glass urn.
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Opaline Glass
$4,720 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of vases Barbediene foundry France Napoleon III
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pair of Barbadians of Napoleon III
Pair of vases with enamel Barbediene French foundry
Very good condition (some natural wear)
Gilt bronze and enamel
Attributed to Louis Constant Sevin...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
$2,080 Sale Price
20% Off
Marble Vase, France, Second Half of the 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large lidded vase with a gadrooned wall with acanthus leaves and pine node. Marbre griotte and gilt bronze.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Important Pair of Darte Frere early 19th C. French Empire Porcelain Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Paris Darte Freres Porcelain Portrait Vases with Gold-Ground Acanthus Scroll Form Handles and etched gold back C. 1810
This set consists of two Baluster form vases with hand painted with portraits of peasant women protecting children from a lightning storm...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Gold
French Empire Style Porcelain Urn with Nautical Scene
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Cent) white and gilt trimmed urn with scene of boats by coast and 2 handles with lion heads.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Paint, Porcelain
Pair French Empire Bronze
Ormolu Medici Putti Vases on Grey Marble Plinths
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of French Empire Period Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Medici form Vases on Grey Marble Plinths, with neoclassical Putti Motifs. The pair of vases are constructed in the Medici f...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Bronze Garnitures
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of bronze and dore bronze compote/tazas with finely chased details. Can be used to hold a topiary or a thick candle. Base is 7" Top is 11.5".
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Empire Rare Beverage Dispensers with Monochrome Decoration
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of beverage dispensers in caramel-colored lacquered tin. They are decorated with monochrome village scenes and landscapes dotted with ruins. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Tin
Paris Porcelain Cameo Vase Attributed to Nast
By Nast
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classical French Empire Paris porcelain twin handled vase featuring a signed cameo of Caracalla on the front and gilded military attributes on the back. The very well painted profi...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Paris Porcelain Campaign Urns
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century French Paris Porcelain Campaign Urns. Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions. Please see photo with d...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
French 19th Century Empire St. Three Piece Porcelain from Limoges, France
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome 19th century French Empire st. three piece Limoges porcelain set, from Limoges, France. The three pieces, one bowl and two vases, are hand painted with wonderful scen...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire-Style Marble and Ormolu Vases by Raingo
Located in London, GB
Pair of Empire-style marble and ormolu vases by Raingo
French, Late 19th Century
Height 37cm, width 22cm, depth 18cm
This superb pair of vases combines stunning veined grey marble...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair of Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Marble Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of neoclassical style gilt bronze and marble vases
French, early 20th century
Measures: Height 52cm, width 21cm, depth 19cm
Each vase in this pair, crafted from gilt bronze...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Empire Centerpiece with Putto Decor, Bronze and Glass, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire centerpiece made of cut glass and fire-gilded bronze with griffin decor and small putto figure in the center.
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Cup in Egyptian Porphyry and Bronze with Cupids
Located in Paris, FR
Imposing cup in red, Egyptian porphyry featuring three cupids on a circular base. The patinated bronze cupids serve as the supporting stem for the wide-rimmed cup. Two of the cupids ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porphyry, Bronze
Pair of French 19th C.Empire Period Old Paris Porcelain Swan Handle Vases
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of French 19th century Empire Period Old Paris porcelain swan handle vases. Each is beautifully hand-painted with a green colored ground and further adorned with 24K gold-painted accents around the neck, handles, and bases. The vases are of a slender amphora form with git swan handles and two-tone matte and shiny 24K gold decoration throughout. Each vases body is hand-painted with landscape decoration which depicts a beautiful outdoor gazebo...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Early 19th Century Prussian Cast Iron Vases Urns Fer De Berlin
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A beautiful pair of cast iron vases (urns) on pedestal, attributed to the Royal Prussian Iron Foundries in Gleiwitz. This pair is modeled most likely aft...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Berlin Iron, Iron
Pair of Patinated Bronze Empire Period Medici Urns
Located in Montreal, QC
Paire of Patinated Bronze Empire Period Medici Urns
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
A Pair of French Empire Style Gilt bronze Urns on Marble Stands, 20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A pair of French Empire gilt bronze urns on marble stands, 20th Century
Height: 32 cm Width: 22 cm Depth: 18.5 cm
Provenance: Private New South Wales Collection.
Category
20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair Antique French Empire Cararra Marble and Bronze Cassolettes ~ Mantel Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique French Empire Cararra Marble and Bronze Cassolettes ~ Mantel Urns will make a stunning visual accent for any room! Hand-crafted from prized Carrara marble and gold-plat...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Rare Empire French Fire Gilded Center Piece Tazza Warrior Horses Harp
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
More than 200 years old showpiece for on the table. Made from glass, fire-gilt bronze and green veined marble. Beautiful horses with a warrior and mythological figures with harp and ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Circa 1820 Pair of French Empire Bronze Handled Urns
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1820 Pair of French Empire Bronze Handled Urns
Beautiful pair purchased in France, age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Carved, Painted and Gilded Wooden Urns
Located in Hudson, NY
This dramatic and decorative pair of urns made in France in the 1920's are in the popular empire revival style. Turned as a rather stretched Campania urn on a stand the vases are the...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Gesso, Paint, Wood
Pair of French Empire Period Gilt Ground Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
These excellent gilt ground vases are high quality antique pieces, dating from the Empire period in France at the start of the 19th century. Each vase is set on a square base, is mounted with twin scrolling handles inset with neoclassical masks, and has a flared gilt ground neck. Both vases are also decorated to the front with depictions of winged putti on gilt ground; one vase shows the putti playing musical instruments, while the other shows them holding writing tablets and laurel wreaths. The reverse of each vase is Neo-Gothic in character, showing medieval church arches...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Of Empire Vases In Polychrome Porcelain
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair Of Empire Vases In Polychrome Porcelain
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Antique French Glass
Marble Cornucopia Vase
Located in London, GB
A fantastic and rare antique French Empire Style glass cornucopia vase mounted on a marble and gilt bronze base. This was made in France, we believe it...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Bisque Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase 19th century 4 Seasons Putti Allegory
Located in Sweden, SE
Empire Vase (Tazza) produced in bisque porcelain by top level manufacture, possibly in Germany or France, in the second half of the 19th century and decorated with finely crafted fin...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Pair of Tazzas, France Empire Period
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Tazzas from the late part of the Empire period. Made in Red French Marble with a bowl in dark patinated bronze. Base decorated with gilt bronze.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
$3,600 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns Wired as Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns, Wired as Lamps. Featuring ornate swag garlands and rams heads, with a frieze of dancing putti.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Swan Handle Porcelain Vases
Located in London, GB
This pair of comprises pendant krater-shaped porcelain vases. Each vase’s wide-lipped ovoid body is supported by a flared stem, which stands on a square-sided podium. Most strikingly...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire Bronze Ewers in The Manner of Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine pair of empire gilt and patinated bronze ewers in the manner of Claude Galle.
French, Circa 1820.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Empire vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage vases and vessels created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire vases and vessels made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases and vessels, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Porcelaine de Paris, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, and Old Paris. 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 vases and vessels differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $416 and tops out at $126,260 while the average work can sell for $4,573.
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