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
French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu And Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and very high quality French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandelier. The twelve arm sixteen light chandelier is centered by a striking solid cryst...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
A Pair of French Black Amethyst Crystal Pineapple Form Gilt Bronze Mounted Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous Pair of French 20th Century Black Amethyst Cut Crystal Anannas/Pineapple shaped and Gilt Bronze Mounted Lamps. Each lamp consists of a base and a central body section comp...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Rouge Marble and Gilt Bronze Lamps
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of rouge marble and gilt bronze baluster shaped oil lamps, later fitted for electricity, the necks and bodies decorated with gilt bronze banding and garlands and accented with l...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$14,000 / set
Antique Gilt Bronze and Opaline Glass Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful, tall chandelier is ideal for a grand entrance hall or room where it can be seen and admired. It is an exceptional piece of Empire style design, perfectly combining gl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Low Flushmount Crystal Chandelier Empire Big Palace Lamp Chateau Lustre
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing the New Montgolfière Style Chandelier: A Masterpiece of Empire Elegance
Experience the epitome of opulence and craftsmanship with our exquisite Montgolfière style chande...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Wire
$7,563 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Elegant Pair of French Empire Bronze Table Lamps, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Bronze Table Lamps, 1820s
A refined pair of table lamps crafted from original early 19th-century French Empire candlesticks in bronze, now elegantly converted ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair Antique French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figural Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Classical Empire gilt and patinated bronze lamps depicting beautiful maidens in flowing Grecian garb, balancing fine gilt bronze candle holders on their heads and standing on dark gr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Slate, Bronze
Pair of Gilded 19th Century Italian Empire Lamps in Carved Wood
Located in Milano, MI
Pair of Antique 19th-Century Italian Empire Gilded Lamps in Carved Wood, centerpiece, made with early-1800s finials, vases on hexagonal plinth with vegetable pastille carving frames,...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Gold Leaf
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Granite Five-Arm Lamps
By Claude Galle
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite true pair of French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and granite five arm lamps, after a model by Claude Galle. Each lamp is raised by a squar...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Granite, Ormolu
19th Century Empire Bronze Sconces
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilt and patinated bronze sconces from embellished with winged Victories. Each sconce features four candlestick branches that terminate in lions heads and are intricately scu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$16,755 / set
Empire Period French Gilt Bronze Six Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Empire period French gilt bronze six light chandelier
French, c. 1810
Height 80cm, diameter 45cm
Made in France around 1810, at the time when the Empire style was in vogue, the chan...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Bronze Table Lamp by Danish Sculptor TH Stein Denmark 1850’s
Located in Valby, 84
Artist made Bronze lamp attributed Danish Sculptor TH Stein and is made in the 1850’s.
The lamp has clear references to both Pompeii and Herculanum.
The lamp is made in solid bronze ...
Category
1850s Danish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Chandelier, Late 20th Century, Empire, 10 Branch, Wilkinson Plc
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
The polished brass acanthus leaf corona supports six rectangular split link chains holding a black painted bowl with an ormolu pendant. The five polished brass double candle...
Category
1990s European Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Italian Empire Style Chandelier with Bohemian Crystal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This refined 1950s Italian Empire-style chandelier features a beautifully tapered basket design crafted in gilded brass and adorned with high-quality Bohemian crystal. The upper sect...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Italian Tole and Wood Bead Chandelier
Located in Stamford, CT
1950s Italian tole and wood beaded chandelier in the Empire style
most likely imported by Chapman Manufacturing Company. The chandelier consists of an octagonal metal (tole) frame w...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Tin
A Very Fine Pair of Empire Parcel Gilt Bronze Three Light Candelabra / Lamps
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome pair of Empire Period parcel gilt bronze 3 light candelabra of exceptional quality & fine proportions, having been converted to table lamps decades ago. Both showing ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Extremely Fine Pair of Large 19th C French Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine pair of 19th century French Empire gilt bronze large two light sconces. Fine Egyptian heads below the candles with a finely cast Eagle at the to...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Candelabra after Pierre Philippe Thomire
Located in Berlin, DE
Princely splendid candelabra after Pierre Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) exceptionally fine engraved and moulded bronze. Fully moulded designed f...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Gilt Bronze
Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine & Impressive Gilt Bronze & Crystal Basket Chandelier in the Empire style, featuring four patinated bronze eagle figures.
France, circa 1900. 10 lights.
Dimensions: Heig...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair Warren Kessler Empire-style Cut crystal and Brass Duck Mounts Table lamps
Located in Germantown, MD
An exquisite Pair of Warren Kessler Empire-style Cut crystal and Brass Duck Mounts Table lamps with adjustable height harpers.
Measures: 9.5" in width, 6" ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Rock Crystal
Gilt Bronze and Crystal Basket Chandelier
By Baccarat
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt bronze and crystal basket chandelier attributed to Baccarat. 15-light
France, circa 1910.
Dimensions: Height 5...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Vintage Boho Empire Bronze Wall Light Sconce
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite vintage Empire-style wall sconce is a masterful display of Neoclassical grandeur. Cast in heavy bronze with a rich, weathered finish, the fixture is adorned with tradi...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century bronze and gilded ormolu French Empire influenced chandelier. Having a classical ceiling rose with three foliate linked chains...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire-Style Wrought Iron and Marble Table Lamp by Maitland-Smith, 1980s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A sculptural Empire Revival table lamp by Maitland-Smith, crafted during the 1980s with the brand’s signature attention to materiality and classical detail.
The design draws direct...
Category
1980s Philippine Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Wrought Iron
$712 Sale Price
47% Off
French Empire Style Bronze and Alabaster Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Alabaster Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features best quality hand-chiseled details.
Top crowns in characterized by rich vegetal decoration with acanthus leaves acroterion and alabaster. Below a tortile rod hold, together with gilt bronze chains, the monolithic alabaster plate...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi chandelier features best...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Tin
Antique French Empire Style Glass and Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire style glass and gilt bronze chandelier
French, Late 19th Century
Height 32, diameter 42cm
This French 19th century chandelier is crafted in the Empire style. ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces 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 lacquered round ...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
A Pair Of Early C20th Italian Giltwood
Toleware Wall Sconces
Located in London, GB
A Fine Pair of Italian Giltwood and Toleware Wall Sconces from the Early 20th Century in the Empire Style.
The sconces are adorned with delicate ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
French Empire Style Table Lamps by Stiffel, a Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Bradenton, FL
A pair of French Empire style table lamps made by Stiffel. Brass columns are turned with large ceramic fonts in white trimmed in gold. Bases are decorated with dentils on a square ba...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze
Patinated Bronze Oil Lamp
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire gilt bronze & patinated bronze oil lamp.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal lamp. This stunning lamp is raised on Ormolu pawed feet below the square base with a foliate desi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
2 brass and glass Peacock wall-sconces in Hollywood regency style
By OTHR
Located in Zemst, BE
2 wall sconces in brass and glass
Peacock form
Wonderful condition.
Original wiring, that's still ok: ready for use.
Place of origin: Spain
No manufacturer known
Period: mid 1970...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire-Era Chandelier, Fully Restored, Made 1800s, in Austria
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Chandelier made out of steel and carved pear tree in the 1800s
Fully restored. No damages.
Rare design.
We guarantee safe a the cheapest air transport from Europe to the whole w...
Category
1920s Austrian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Steel
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 Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Set of Three 20th Century NeoClassical Wall Sconces in Gilded Bronze
Located in COLMAR, FR
A set of three bronze wall sconces, made and sourced in France, dating from the 1960s—a period when Hollywood Regency interiors embraced the refined elegance of Neoclassical design. ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Warren Kessler French Empire Bronze Candlestick Small Table Lamps a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Warren Kessler French Empire Style Bronze Candlestick Black Column Bouillotte Small Table Lamps - a Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 23" H (to finial) x 17" H (to ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century French Bouillotte Lamp with Green Tole Shade
Located in Stamford, CT
A 19th century French Empire etched brass bouillotte lamp, originally and oil lamp that has been electrified. With three arms below a green painted adjustable tole shade, the body an...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Zinc
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
Pair of French Empire style gilt bronze sconces
French, 20th Century
Measures: Height 88cm, width 38cm, depth 35cm
This elegant pair of sconces is wrought from gilt bronze in th...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
$13,009 / set
French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Marble Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French early 19th century Empire st. highly chased ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble, three arm candelabra, mounted into a lamp. The square Rouge Griotte marble base with or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Elegant brass table lamp in the form of an amphora urn, late 19th century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant brass table lamp in the form of an amphora urn, from the late 19th century
Striking and elegant table lamp in polished brass, shaped as a classical amphora urn with sweepin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Empire style lamps
Located in Lugo, IT
Pair of Empire-style lamps
Good condition
Thank you
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
$718 / set
Pair of Monumental Empire Style Candle Wall Sconces Candlestick, Italy, 1970s
By Palladio
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of giltwood candlestick wall sconces 1970s in empire style. Each fixture requires two candles. The wall lights have a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of Empire Wall Sconces in Bronze with Flower Basket Motif, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pair of nice sconces. Each fixture requires a European E14 candelabra bulb, bulb up to 40 watts. Each wall light has a beautiful patina and gives each room an eclectic statement. Mad...
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$544 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Marbro *Original* Italian Porcelain Table Lamp! Only 1. Cobalt Blue 1960s Empire
Located in Peoria, AZ
***MARBRO ORIGINAL**
GILDED EMPIRE STYLE
PORCELAIN LAMP!
The Only One in The World!
CIRCA 1960
Incredible Midnight Color!
A Cobalt Blue so Deep its almost Black!
DI...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Gold
$5,600 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Cut Crystal and Brass Chandelier
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire Cut Crystal and Brass Three Light Chandelier, with waterfall drop crystals. 36" H x 17.5" Diameter. Provenance: From an Upper West Side, New York City Estate.
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Elegant Early 20th Century Empire-Style Crystal Beaded Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This refined Empire-style chandelier exudes understated opulence with its graceful silhouette and cascading strands of faceted crystal beads. Likely of French or Northern European or...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Four Italian Empire Vases 1700 Gilded and Carved Wood Lamp Bases
Located in Milano, MI
Gilded Empire Lamp Bases 1700 Set of Four Palm Vases with square base and circular turned and carved body made of pine wood, water-gilded in fine gold leaf on red bole preparation. T...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Gold Leaf
Fine French Empire Gilt Bronze and Patinated Metal Six Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Classical French Empire gilt bronze, patinated metal and gilt wood six light chandelier.
19th Century
Well proportioned central gilt and patinated bronze Empire tazza with a large gi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Pr. French Empire Period Patinated
Dore Bronze Candlesticks Turned to Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic pair of French empire period patinated and dore bronze candlesticks mounted as lamps. Each is beautifully cast, hand-chased, and hand-chiseled with the finest quality of burnished and matted dore bronze mounts. The fluted columnar bodies are beautiful with a dark patina which is offset with magnificent rich dore bronze mounts. The bodies are fluted with acanthus leaf dore bronze mounts which terminate at either end. The tops are supported by multiple patinated bronze lions paws. The bases are square with dore bronze medusa...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Signed, 19th Century, Converted Milkglass Lamps Hand Painted with Ivy
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of columnar table lamps, in Empire style, of milkglass. Each a round, faceted column, handpainted with scrolling vines of ivy. Lamped on round, pierced metal bases. Signed, "Pee...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Milk Glass
Carved Italian Giltwood Three-Arm Sconce by Randy Esada Designs
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Carved Italian giltwood three-arm sconce by Randy Esada Designs.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Empire Lighting
Materials
Giltwood
Very Fine Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very Elegant gilt bronze empire style chandelier. Exquisite detail. 4 lights.
France, circa 1920. Measures: Height 27 1/2" Diameter 16"
CW5101.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Period Bronze Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An elegant French Empire bronze and marble table lamp, circa 1820 in date.
The candlestick later converted into a lamp features an ancanthus capital, a fluted tapering column on c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage French Empire Double Wooden Corinthian Column Black
Gold Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Neoclassical Double Wooden Corinthian Column Black & Gold Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 38" H (to finial) x 30" H (to light socket) x 10" W ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful antique French chandelier dates from the 19th Century and could be attributed to the master bronzier Ferdinand Barbedienne. It is cast entirely in gilt bronze, and fea...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Candelabra Lamps
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of Empire candelabra, gilt and patinated bronze, now turned into electric lamps.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
$8,500 / set
Pair of Superb Antique Italian Neoclassical Empire Bronze Figural Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
A pair of superb antique Italian empire neoclassical gilt bronze and patinated bronze figural candelabra lamps with royal markings, 19th century. Measure: Overall height 38.50”.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Black French Pair of Large Marble, Gilded Bronze Table Lights
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, vintage French pair of large table lamps made of hand crafted marble with a new round shade, in good condition. They are composed with its original switch, particularized by...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Metal, Bronze
French Empire Style Brass Table Lamp
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (20th Century) brass 3 arm bouillotte table lamp with horn motif and green shade.
Arrow finial is missing
Category
20th Century French 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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