Empire Lighting
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
Empire Chandelier, Russia, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Large eight-flame chandelier of the Russian Empire with cobalt blue glass and fire-gilded arms with cockerel decoration and hanging pine cone. The supporting hoop is connected by fou...
Category
1810s Russian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Glass
Pair of Fine Ormolu and Green Marble Eight-Light Torcheres/Centerpieces
Located in New York, NY
An unusual and rare pair of ormolu and green marble eight-light torcheres/floor centerpieces attributed to E. F. Caldwell and Co New York. In the Empire style, the circular pierced f...
Category
1890s American Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, 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 Lighting
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Marble, Bronze
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Figural Lamp Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This fine quality lamp base features a gilt classical frieze, and a patinated bronze figure of a classical maiden.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Nickel Plated Brass Bouillotte Lamp, Early 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
Empire period nickel and nickel plated brass oval shape Bouillotte two candle lamp, now electrified. Having a black painted tole adjustable shade and u...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Pair Of French Empire Bronze and Faux Marble Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Empire bronze and faux marble paint on wood bases. Each have two light. Base paint probably later enhanced.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Large Pair of French Empire Period Candelabra, Attributed to Claude Galle
By 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 Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Nine Light Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
Empire style chandeliers tend to be quite hefty and large, This bronze example is unusually delicate. The dished circular pan is hung from three flat pierced suspension chains, and s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful Pair French Empire Neoclassical Regency Gilt Bronze Patinated Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of French Empire / Neoclassical / Regency Gilt Bronze Patinated Sconces
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair 19th Century French Empire Style bronze mounted Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair 19th Century French Empire Style bronze mounted Porcelain Table Lamp with fine gilding and hand-painted floral motifs on white and green ground.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
$4,400 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Swedish Black
Gilt Bronze Eagle Empire Chandelier, Early 1800
s
Located in San Francisco, CA
An Empire-style, black and gold chandelier made in Sweden circa 1830. In a bowl-form with 5 candle-style lights with finely cast, eagle head...
Category
1820s Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$3,904 Sale Price
60% Off
Pair of Fine Antique French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of fine and elegant antique French Empire gilt and patinated bronze four-light sconces. Each sconce is composed of a vertical backplate surm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt bronze and patinated bronze candelabra
French, 20th Century
Height 108cm, width 37cm, depth 32cm
A magnificent pair of 20th-century Empire-style candelabra, the...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Antique French Empire Style Bronze and Crystal Hoop Form Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique (late 19th century) gilt bronze sconces in the French empire style, of hoop form with three inch crystal pendants and three candle holders. All pendants are brand ne...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Five-Light Candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine 19th Century Pair of Large Patinated & Gilt Bronze Five Light Candelabra in the Empire Taste, now turned into lamps. France, circa 1860. Sold with two associated contempo...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Patinated Bronze Chandelier with Figure of Mercury and Three Arms
Located in San Francisco, CA
This beautifully crafted chandelier of patinated bronze is truly magnificent. With it's detailed figure of Mercury, bronze garlands, cherubs and gazelles, the three arms each hold f...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Brass
Antique Italian Empire Style Brass Rocaille Dragons on 6-Arm Crystal Chandelier
Located in Encinitas, CA
Elegant Empire style chandelier, opulent yet compact, featuring 6 crystal cups supported by delightful winged dragons on brass rocaille arms. Delicate, faceted glass beads, baubles a...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$2,900 Sale Price
34% Off
Pair of Very Large French 19th Century Gilded Bronze Sconces
By Pierre Bureaux
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of very large French 19th Century gilded bronze sconces. Last picture in situ. Empire style, three-branch wall-lights, after a model by Edme Jean Gallien (1720-1797) and Pierre ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$26,691 Sale Price
20% Off
19th c Rare Crystal Beaded Empire Chandelier French Hand Tied Oval Prisms, c1850
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing 4 lights, sitting on metal posts that slide into a small pocket on chandelier. This chandelier was made for candles, but we will rewire with certified UL US sockets for the ...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
Pair of Large Vieux Paris Porcelain Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Old vieux Paris porcelain from the Napoleonic period decorated with farm animals and barn. With swan handles. Beautifully painted and fire gilded. Now mounted as lamps.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$4,800 / set
Pair Empire Malachite Gilt Torcheres Floor Lamps 8 Ft
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing an incredible pair of large Empire style floor lamps or torchieres
Hand crafted from gilt and faux malachite
The faux malachite is painted porcelain which looks very...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Paint
French Empire Style Brass Bouillotte Lamp with Black and Gilt Tole Shade
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful quality brass bouillotte lamp with gilt decorated metal shade. Fine details throughout, swan heads holding the tole painted shade and corbel style candle arms. Recently re-...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Very Important 19th C Empire Cut Crystal and Gilt Bronze Palatial Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
One of the finest 19th century Empire palatial 36 light chandeliers on the market today. Fine gilt bronze Empire details with two tiers of 36 light...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Pair French Blue Opaline Glass Lamps
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Pair French Blue Opaline Glass Lamps
Beautiful Lamps purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Opaline Glass
Pair French Empire Style Gilt and Cut Glass Candlestick Lamps
Located in London, GB
Pair French Empire Style Giltand and cut glass candlestick lamps
A pair of Empire style gilt brass mounted candlestick lamps, 20th century, with cut glass columns.
size shade/b...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
20th Century Empire Style Wall Girdle/Wall Light after Antoine-André Ravrio
Located in Berlin, DE
Imperial Empire wall girdle to Antoine-André Ravrio 1759-1814.
Bronze, gilded or partly dark patinated. From acanthus of fullplastic herme / Amor adult with, holding a vase as a car...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilded Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
French Empire style gilded bronze Bouillotte lamp with 3 arms with dark green tole shade.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
60s Monumental Empire 24K Gold Plated Bronze Amethyst Crystal Chandelier Palwa
By Palwa
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1960's Monumental Empire style 24K Gold Plated Bronze with Amethyst Cut Crystal Waterfall Semi Flush Mount Chandelier by Palme
Walter Palwa. This is a very high quality Chandel...
Category
1960s Austrian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine Antique French Empire Neoclassical Gilt and Patina Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A fine antique French Empire neoclassical gilt and patina bronze chandelier. The chandelier is suspended from a circular corona decorated with a continuous band of gilt laurel leaves...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Large Scale Bronze Empire Style Chandelier with 16 Lights
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th Century large scale French Empire style chandelier is crafted from Bronze featuring a striking Black and gold color. It boasts an impressive design with 16 lights, making i...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Elegant French Empire Table Lamp in Patinated and Gilded Bronze, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Empire Table Lamp in Patinated and Gilded Bronze, 1820s
Elegant French Empire table lamp crafted in patinated and mercury-gilded bronze, dating from the 1820s. Originally pa...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Brass Basket Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier Crystal Lustre Lamp Antique Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing a stunning Brass Basket Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier, an exquisite piece adorned with captivating crystals, reminiscent of the classical style of the Empire era. This is...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Italian Late Empire Carved and Gilded Chandelier with Cut Glass Prisms
Located in Kastrup, DK
Italian Late Empire chandelier, carved in wood, richly decorated and water-gilded, adorned with cut glass prisms.
The central section features classical Empire motifs, including aca...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire Eighteen-Light Bronze and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
Spectacular French early 19th century bronze and ormolu chandelier, the 12 scrolling arms molded with leaves and interspersed with six ad...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
antique empire chandelier
Located in Kiel, SH
high decorative antique bronze candelier from the empire.
I guess the chandelier was electrified later .
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Impressive and Large Antique French Empire Gilt and Patina Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A large French Empire gilt and patina bronze chandelier of circular form, suspended from six elongated chains composed of alternating openwork and solid links. The corona is cast wit...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Beaded Glass
Iron Six Light Chandelier
By Luminaire
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE
Elegant and glamorous French Empire style chandelier with glass crystal beaded 'bag', bobeches and canopy and double strands of smaller beads outlining the frame of th...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Lighting
Materials
Iron
$1,450 Sale Price
50% Off
French Empire Style GIlt Bronze and Red Painted tole Swan Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A unique and spectacular French Empire-style gilt bronze and red-painted tole chandelier featuring a circular form suspended by three elongated gilt bronze chains. The central body i...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Tôle
Early 19th Century Empire Pendant from Stockholm
Located in Ljungby, SE
High-class Empire pendant from Stockholm around 1800-1810. It features six beautifully decorated candle arms with acanthus leaves. The central decoration includes a female figure sta...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Iron
19th Century Italian Gilt Tole and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th-century Italian Empire style gilt tole and crystal basket chandelier exudes a touch of elegance and sophistication. The intricate design features a beautiful combination of...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Style 16-Light Crystal and Gilt Metal Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large French Empire style 16-light crystal and gilt metal basket chandelier from the 19th century, with scrolling arms, diamond and rosette motifs. Born in France during the politi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Interesting Late 19th-Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Long Island City, NY
An interesting late 19th-early 20th century gilt bronze empire style sixteen light chandelier
Four long chains connect the top with the body, eight gilt sphinx encircle and light ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Chandelier having Ten Lights, Dore Bronze, Neoclassical
Located in Manhasset, NY
19th Century Neoclassical Dore Bronze and Crystal Chandelier having 10 Lighted Arms
An exquisite neoclassical chandelier featuring a beautifully cut crystal bowl at its center, grac...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Impressive French Empire Chandelier, Firegilded Bronze with Alabaster 1830s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Impressive fire-gilded Empire chandelier with very fine imperial and classicist ornaments, which are
shade is made of alabaster,
The lamp body is framed by a surrounding leaf frieze,...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine Ormolu and Cut Glass Empire Period Chandelier
Located in Steyning, West sussex
The ormolu finely decorated corona hung with swags of icicle drops and strings cascading down to a corresponding main band supporting fifteen candle branch arranged on two tiers the ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Francois Empire Six Light Chandelier
Located in Westwood, NJ
Francois Empire six-light chandelier, the ornate decoration on the arms, and the arrangement of the chains demonstrate exceptional casting in brass. With beautifully cast floral deta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$16,330 / item
French Ivory Lantern
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Ivory lantern, based on a French design, the delicate hand-painted decoration on the slatted glass adds texture. The motif on the coronet is reflec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
$5,300 / item
German Empire Period Seven-Piece Silver Candelabra Set
Located in London, GB
German empire period seven-piece silver candelabra set
German, circa 1810
Meaures: Largest: Height 66.5cm, diameter 30cm
Smallest: Height 51cm, width ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Silver
$130,092 / set
French Empire Style Bronze Dore Eagle Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze dore chandelier having 6 arms with eagle heads emanating from a 6 sided tapered center post with a bottom acorn finial.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Big Crystal Beaded Empire Dome Chandelier circa 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
I have two similar, if interested. Housing one light, will be rewired and ready to hang. We use certified UL US sockets and appropriate sockets for all other countries. Strands and ...
Category
Early 1900s Czech Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal
French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Eight-Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
This chandelier is a French Empire eight-light fixture made in 19th century from patinated and gilt bronze. The design features classical elements from the Empire period, including ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Brass Basket Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier Crystal Lustre Lamp Antique Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing a stunning Brass Basket Empire Sac a Pearl Chandelier, an exquisite piece adorned with captivating crystals, reminiscent of the classical style of the Empire era. This is...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Antique Chandelier. Imposing giltwood and alabaster chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent giltwood and alabaster Russian chandelier in the Empire style
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade, Late 19th / Early 20th Century
French double inkwell figural bronze desk lamp, comprised of a central winged bronze cherub...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Set of Three Antique French Empire Wall Light Sconces 2 Lights torch, France
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A nice set of three sconces with 2 light sources, made of bronze in torch styles. Each fixture requires two European E14 candelabra bulbs, each up to 40 watts. The wall lights have a...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Baroque Brass Empire Chandelier Rock Crystal Lustre Lamp Antique Gold Swan
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing a stunning Brass Baroque Empire Chandelier, an exquisite piece adorned with captivating crystals, reminiscent of the classical style of the Empire era. This is a new repr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Brass, Wire
Baltic 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality Baltic 19th century Empire st. ormolu, patinated bronze and crystal chandelier. The two tiered eight arm twenty four light chandelier is centere...
Category
19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Beautiful pair of 1940
s French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Edward F. Caldwell
Co., Alexandre Vossion, and Maison Baguès. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $194 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $4,434.
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