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Empire Pillows and Throws

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
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category

17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

19th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
19th Century French Tapestry Pillow 13" X 11"
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Category

20th Century Unknown Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Cotton

17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 20'' X 14'', Needlework and Handmade, Brussels.
Category

17th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

English Needlework Pillow 1850 - 21" x 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

1850s Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Circa 18th Century Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow Ca. 18th Century
Category

18th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Mid-18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 28" X 13" - Circa 1850s
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

19th Century French Tapestry Pillow - 13" X 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
19th Century French Tapestry Pillow - 13" X 11", Floral Style
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 18" x 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Early-19th Century English Tapestry Pillow - 15" X 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Early-19th Century English Tapestry Pillow - 15" X 10", Floral Design, Authentic
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 19" x 9"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

Circa 1850 Antique French Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique French Pillow
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Brussels 16th Century Pillow - 21" x 18"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Circa 1930 Suzani Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1930 Antique Suzani Pillow
Category

1930s Unknown Vintage Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Throw Pillow Made from 16th Century Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
Category

16th Century Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

Circa 1880 Antique French Needlepoint Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1880 Antique French Needlepoint Pillow
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

Circa 1850 Antique Portuguese Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique Portuguese Pillow
Category

1850s Portuguese Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
20th Century Antique Araffia Velvet Textile Pillow
Category

20th Century Unknown Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Cotton, Wool

1880 Antique French Needlepoint Pillow - 19 X 18
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1880 antique French needlepoint pillow. 19 X 18, tribal and traditional, handmade and authentic.
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

Circa 1660 Antique Flemish Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Category

1660s Unknown Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Antique 17th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow - 16 X 16
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique French Brussels tapestry pillow. 17th century. 16'' X 16''.
Category

17th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Schumacher Toile De La Prairie Pillow in Blue
Located in New York, NY
This pillow features Toile De La Prairie with a self welt finish. A meadow’s worth of songbirds, butterflies, blooming branches, and seed pods intermingle...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Cotton

Mid-18th Century French Part Metallic Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Part Metallic Tapestry Pillow - 23" x 9"
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

16th Century Antique Brussels Floral Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
A vibrant sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment featuring stylized florals fruit and foliage woven in a beautifully aged palette of deep indigo muted teal golden wheat olive g...
Category

16th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 23" x 8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

17th Century Brussels Botanical Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Brussels Botanical Tapestry Pillow
Category

17th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 22" x 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 19" X 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Category

1860s French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-16th Century Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Contemporary Pillow Made from 18th Century French Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 25'' X 11'', Authentic 18th Century French Piece
Category

18th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

16th Century Antique Flemish Tapestry Pillow - 25 X 21
Located in Los Angeles, US
16th-century antique Flemish tapestry pillow 25'' X 21''. Empire and traditional.
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Throw Pillow Made from 16th Century Flemish Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
16th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillow 18" x 12", authentic 16th century European piece
Category

16th Century European Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

16th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
A refined sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment showcasing stylized fruit and foliage in a beautifully aged palette of soft sand beige warm wheat tan golden taupe muted olive ...
Category

16th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Feathers

16th Century Antique Brussels Fruit Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
A beautiful sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment depicting fruit and foliage in a richly aged palette of deep indigo muted teal soft ivory warm golden taupe sage green and to...
Category

16th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 17" x 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 23" X 15"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Early-19th Century English Tapestry Pillow 14" X 8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Early-19th Century English Tapestry Pillow 14" X 8", Animal Print Style , Authentic
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 14" x 12"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

18th Century Antique Italian Needlepoint Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Italian Needlepoint Pillow 18th Century
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

1850 English Needle Work Tapestry Pillow - 17 X 17
Located in Los Angeles, US
Extremely unique and fine an english needle work tapestry from mid-18th century. And it's retrieved from the story of: The little red riding hood. Beautiful design and amazing loyal ...
Category

1850s British Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Fabric

16th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
A striking sixteenth century Brussels tapestry fragment showcasing beautifully aged tones of antique taupe warm stone beige dusty mushroom brown deep indigo muted teal soft ivory and...
Category

16th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Feathers

Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow With Garlands of Flowers
Category

1860s French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 21" x 14"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

1850 Antique Uzbek Pillow - 20 X 14
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1850 antique Uzbek pillow. 20'' X 14''
Category

18th Century Uzbek Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 21" x 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

18th Century French Tapestry
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 25'' X 13'', handmade 18th Century Piece
Category

18th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 18" x 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

18th Century Antique Florentine Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century Antique Florentine Tapestry Pillow 19'' x 18''
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Pair of 17th Century Flemish Tapestry Pillows
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of 17th Century Tapestry Pillows. 1) Tapestry panel of brightly a brightly colored parrot amidst lush fruiting branches, representing a harmonious balance of nature, and applie...
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Textile

19th Century Ikat Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
19th Century Ikat Tapestry Pillow 23" x 16" , handmade Pillow, authentic Early-19th Century Piece in great Condition
Category

19th Century Turkish Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Feathers

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 12" x 11"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Circa 1860 Antique French Textile Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1860 Antique French Textile Pillow
Category

1860s French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Early 18th Century Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Circa 1900 Antique French Aubusson Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Brussel 16th Century Pillow - 26" X 16"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Circa 1880 Antique Uzbak Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1880 Antique Uzbak Pillow
Category

1880s Uzbek Antique Empire Pillows and Throws

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Empire pillows and throws for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire pillows and throws 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 pillows and throws created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with animal skin, fur and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire pillows and throws made in a specific country, there are Australia, and Oceania pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original pillows and throws, popular names associated with this style include Schumacher, and Emily Barbara. 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 pillows and throws differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $239 and tops out at $239 while the average work can sell for $239.

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