Skip to main content

Empire Furniture

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.

to
771
2,712
2,067
4,764
104
92
198,916
115,083
44,375
33,534
16,601
12,343
10,904
10,854
10,029
8,903
7,396
6,728
6,575
6,456
6,282
6,153
4,960
3,751
247
3,079
1,438
196
490
349
221
106
15
83
50
46
48
75
53
53
23
2,702
2,033
1,483
1,014
831
4,067
2,796
412
289
241
4,960
4,916
4,938
45
33
19
18
12
Style: Empire
Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Lapis Box
Located in London, GB
A Magnifient Lapis Empire Style Box This box is Absolutely Stunning, Ormolu Mounted
Category

20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Lapis Lazuli

Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Lapis Box
Empire Style Ormolu Mounted Lapis Box
$15,883 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair White Neoclassical Campagna Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair White Neoclassical Campagna Vases. Pair of Paris Porcelain all white glazed porcelain two part vases with double mask handles. France 1810. Dimensions: 9.5" diameter x 13.5" ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Late Empire bench in Polished Beech, Denmark
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant late Empire bench in polished beech, newly upholstered in a light velour blend. The seat rests on gracefully curved legs — a refined example of Danish craftsmanship from the ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Extremely Fine Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
An extremely fine Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany center table, circa 1820-1830. Very finely mounted with crisp ormolu throughout, with bronze female figures, foliate scrolling, lions head...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Amethyst, Quartz, Marble, Ormolu

1930s French Brass and Marble Top Coffee or Side Table
Located in Doylestown, PA
Vintage 1930s French Empire solid brass and Carrara marble top cocktail or side table. An elegant table with delicate floral motifs throughout and graceful cabriole legs. The inset ...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Pair of 19th Century Armchairs from the Empire Period
Located in NICE, FR
These splendid Empire period armchairs symbolize the opulence, refinement and luxury characteristic of the Napoleonic era. Beautifully carved and adorned with sophisticated details, ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Antique Carrara Marble Bathtub from the Early 19th Century
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Antique handcarved Carrara marble bath in Empire style. This beatiful sculpted white-grey marble bath with rings is made in the early 19th century....
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble

Ottoman Silver-Inlaid "Jambiya" Dagger with Sheath
Located in Middleburg, VA
An elegant 19th-century Ottoman Jambiya, richly decorated with intricate silver inlay and highlighted with the deep black sheen of traditional niello work. Both the sheath and the fo...
Category

Mid-17th Century Turkish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Silver, Metal

Travertine Coffee Table, Polychrome Scagliola Inlays, Handmade Italy
Located in Rimini, IT
Side Table from living room with empire-style decoration in shaded and vibrant colors, elegantly juxtaposed . The Plan is made with the artistic technique of scagliola inlay, datin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Travertine

Empire period bed with its canopy
Located in Paris, FR
Empire period bed in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer, richly decorated with finely chased and gilded bronzes, with its canopy. The front of the bed features a lyre in the center, framed by two sheath feet with shafts decorated with caduceus and Mercury busts...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Vintage French Tole Empire Style 6 Light Chandelier
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Gorgeous Vintage French Tole Painted 6-light Empire Style Chandelier with bright Gilt details. A style popular for almost 200 years, this Empire Chandelier is simply gorgeous. Our ow...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair Marble Cassolette Urns French Empire Decorative Vases 1890
Located in Potters Bar, GB
These are based in the US where we will ship from You are viewing a gorgeous pair of French marble cassolettes urns This highly decorative pair of antiques are circa 1890 Ormolu fixt...
Category

1890s Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Large Gilt Bronze French Empire Style Chandelier
Located in London, GB
A large very well cast and gilt bronze chandelier or plafonnier from the late 19th to early 20th century. The large acanthus leafed ceiling rose suspending five rope twist bars, whic...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Magnificent, Classical Swedish Ceiling Crown, Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent, classical Swedish ceiling crown, chandelier Polished brass. Curved, star shaped body with teardrop-shaped, faceted glass hangings, starti...
Category

20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Large French Empire Style Gilt-Bronze and Malachite Centre Table
Located in London, GB
A large French Empire style gilt-bronze and malachite centre table. French, 20th century. Height: 85cm, width: 160cm, depth: 79cm This superb table, a grand and highly impressiv...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

French Empire Napoleon III Style Mahogany Bronze Figural Pier Console Table
Located in Dayton, OH
An exquisite French Empire / Napoleon III style mirrored Pier Table, circa 1980s. Made from mahogany and bronze ormolu with a green marble top. The table showcases two figural swan...
Category

1980s Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Elegant 19th Century French Empire Napoleon III Commode
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French Empire style mahogany commode, 19th c., having marble top, hidden frieze drawer, over three additional drawers, flanked by turned columnar supports, rising on block feet. All ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

French Empire Chandelier with Opaline Glass 16 Lights
Located in New York, NY
1930’s French Empire chandelier with swans, cherubs and lions. Opaline glass inset. 16 lights
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze Arrow Wall Sconces Lamp Featuring Goddess Ceres
Located in Toronto, CA
This exquisite pair of Empire style gilt bronze wall sconces effortlessly blends classical grandeur with subtle Art Deco influences, making them a rare and elegant addition to any in...
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair 19th Century French Empire Style Chairs With Red Silk Upholstered Seat
Located in Sheridan, CO
Extraordinary pair of French Empire style mahogany chairs featuring a tub or gondola form frame. Minimally decorated having a curved back,...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Silk, Mahogany

Vintage French Empire Brass Italian Black Marble Column Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Italian Black Marble & Polished Brass Column Table Lamps With Black Textured Shades - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 27.5" H (to finial) x...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood, Brass, and Ebonized Center Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An elegant French Empire or Neoclassical tea table or center table By Baker Furniture USA, Late 20th Century Cherry wood base, with mo...
Category

Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Important and Very Rare Pair of Micromosaic, Malachite and Walnut Console Tables
By Antonio Deangelis
Located in London, GB
Important and very rare pair of micromosaic, malachite and walnut console tables Italian & Russian, early 19th century Measures: Height 89cm, width 106.5cm, depth 62cm These exceptionally beautiful antique console...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

Antique Flame Mahogany Empire Tea Caddy Wooden Casket Box 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Rectangular shape mahogany veneered casket made in first half of 19th century presumably in Europe. High quality work of applied arts in Neoclassical (Biedermeier) style. The fork of...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Mid-20th Century Italian Pair of Cast Metal 2-Light Wall Sconces by Palladio
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-20th century pair of cast metal 2-light wall sconces, Italian by Palladio. Never electrified. Empire style. Bird head scrolled arms to fluted candleholder, while arrows in a quiv...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair of Early Chiavari Chairs by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi
Located in Sharon, CT
Extraordinary light and strong, probably out of rosewood. Early version in untouched condition. Missing their rush seating-one chair retains remnants of early (if not original) rushing. These chairs were originally designed in 1807! in answer to a Challenge to design a 'modern' chair. These chairs were very popular amongst the nobility in the 19th century, and were the model for Gio Ponti's update Classic Super Leggera Chair.
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

pair of French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Birch and Ormolu armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most impressive pair of French 19th century Belle Epoque Period Empire st. Birch and Ormolu armchairs. This exceptional pair of throne chairs are raised by front squar...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Dagoty Manufacture of Empress Joséphine Wife of Napoleon 1st Swan Cup
Located in Paris, FR
This very rare set of 12 delicate cups swan shape with their saucers is signed by Dagoty, one of the favorite manufacturers of Empress Joséphine's first Napoleon wife well known for ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

French Empire Style Tall Dresser in Painted Gray Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Empire style bedroom tall chest with gilt metal ring handles painted white. We have a matching double dresser in our listing. Made for John Stuart.
Category

1950s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Egg style Faberge Aquamarine Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Egg on tripod engraved in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on fire on guilloché, Russian Empire style inspired by the eggs of Carl Fabergé late 19th century, early 20th...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 24" x 8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century Albanian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Feathers

19th Century French Adjustable Table Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century French Empire mahogany adjustable height tabletop desk, made for writing or reading in bed. Beautifully crafted desktop has a green leather writing surface, wit...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Green Tole Wastebasket With Lion Ring Handles
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Empire Style navette shape litter basket with gold lion mask ring handles and neoclassical decorations. United States, c. 1930's  Dimensions: 14.5" W x 11.5" D x 9" H
Category

1930s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

An empire mantel clock "AU PORTEFAIX" after Jean andre reiche
Located in Harrington Park, NJ
MANTEL CLOCK "Au bon sauvage" or "PORTEFAIX", late Empire, after a design by J.A. REICHE (Jean-Andre Reiche, 1752-1817), Paris, 19th century. Gilt ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique French Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A superb antique French Empire-style gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier. This chandelier is designed in the French Empire style, executed in gilt and patinated bronze. The structur...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, and orig...
Category

1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Empire Revival Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Period Empire side chair: This highly stylized chair has brass inlay and ormolu features to include reclining goddesses, feathers and detailed Roman feet all newly upholstered in a b...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Green Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style parallelogram shaped emerald green glass heavy inkwell. It’s guilt bronze mounted with a scene of sphinxes statues, bell shaped vases, and maidens moving and ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass

Elegant Antique French Empire Gold Gilt Wall Mirror
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Fine period French antique, good sized Gilt Empire mirror with applied decorative motif gilt work on a rectangular frame. From near Paris, France! #8435
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Antique 19th-century german empire oak and pine inlaid three drawer commode
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful commode was made in Germany in the late 19th century. The commode is made from European summer oak and solid pine and features three drawers. The drawers were enriched...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Empire Armchairs in Mahogany with Satinwood Inlays Original Cane Seat
Located in Kastrup, DK
A stunning pair of Empire armchairs from Copenhagen, circa 1810, made from solid mahogany with intricate satinwood inlays on the backrest, apron, and front legs. The chairs feature t...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Cane, Fruitwood, Mahogany

French Empire Demi Lune Buffet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Empire style bowfront flame okum veneered and oval pollard oak burl panel inlaid side cabinet or buffet, the brass bound top above three frieze drawers above four cabinet do...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Napoleon III Crystal Vase, Empire, France 19th Century with Video
Located in Madrid, ES
Napoleon III Crystal Vase - Empire - France 19th century with gilt bronze and diamond padding on the bases. Classic proportions and design. H-35cm. Width: 20cm, Height: 35cm, Depth: ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

1920’s French Empire Small Chandelier 3 Lights
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1920’s French Empire style small chandelier with swam’s heads. Unusual 3 lights. Green color
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Antique Empire Bed Maple Burl Brass Ancient Grece Theme French 19th C
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique Empire maple and brass bed. This bed, which has already survived almost two centuries, is in excellent condition: solid and sound, the inlaid illustrations are of exceptiona...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Empire Period Mahogany Sofa-Bed, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa-bed of the Empire period in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer with rich decoration of finely chased and gilded bronzes. This sofa is decorated in front of a lyre in the center,...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Neoclassical Empire Marble Top Ormolu Mounted Gray and Gilt Console Tables, Pair
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous pair of Neoclassical or Empire style console tables featuring winged sphinx and Egyptian ormolu figures USA, Circa Late 20th Century Painted wood in a lovely gray color,...
Category

Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

LATE 18th-EARLY 19th CENTURY EMPIRE CHEST OF DRAWERS WITH A SLIDING DESK
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant chest of drawers with a sliding desk, veneered in fine walnut. The chest of drawers has truncated pyramid legs, typical of the late 18th century, while the exterior and colum...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

The Last King s Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare and important carved mahogany Empire Period armchair attributed to Jacob Desmalter, France circa 1800, of neoclassical form inspired by the design of Percier et Fontaine, architects to the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the armrests beautifully carved with leopards heads and torso, the front legs ending in carved paw feet. Attributed to Jacob Desmalter. France, circa 1800. Provenance: The front under railing stencilled “Raincy” period paper labels hand written: Mrs Duque Orlean, Grand Salon, Palais Royal. This chair was part of a large salon suite (this one is number belonging to King Louis Philippe - Duke of Orléans - the last king of France. An almost identical model was known to be part of the collection of Molly de Balkany who had an important collection of Empire furniture. Sister of Robert De Balkany...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Gilt Mother-of-Pearl Mirrors, 2
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of French Empire Gilt Metal and Mother-of-Pearl Mirrors, late 19th century, each rectangular frame with bellflower borders and interlaced mother of pearl roundels, enclosing mir...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Empire Style Crystal and Gilt Bronze Urn Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A twin handled Empire urn in gilded bronze, the two arms decorated with medusa heads, and classical heads below. Gilt grape leaves encircle the ovoid body. The urn sits on a decorate...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Mid Century Cut Crystal Metal Delphin Dolphin Centerpiece Compote Bowls 10"
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of rare mid 20th century French Empire / Neoclassical compote bowls featuring cast metal pedestal bases in the shape of delphins / dolphins / fish, painted in off white, balanci...
Category

Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Metal

Pair of French 19th Century Brass Candlesticks
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A pair of French Empire style brass candlesticks from the 1800’s with a beautiful silhouette and nice heft in the patinated metal to add intrigue to a mantel or dining table. Subtle,...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Empire Burl Walnut Chest of Drawers with Marble Top
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Empire burl walnut chest of drawers with marble top, circa 1820. With a rectangular marble top, a small burl walnut top drawer with dolphin escutcheon (no lock), 3 lower burl walnut ...
Category

1820s European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century Italian Painted Wood Empire Folding Screen in Gilt Bronze Frame
Located in Firenze, IT
This one-of-a-kind antique Italian Empire Period folding screen is a masterpiece of early 19th-century craftsmanship, dating most likely from 1801 during the Republic of Lucca. Pain...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Mid 19th Century Swedish center table with writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century center table with writing slope circa 1860. Fine quality empire period swedish flame mahogany center table.  Oval top with the unusual feature of having a fitted wr...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

French Empire Style Bronze-Mounted Kingwood D-Shape Console Table, 20th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
French Empire Style Bronze-Mounted Kingwood D-Shape Console Table
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Kingwood

19th Century Antique Rustic Swedish Original Painted Table Mirror Dated, 1870
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish antique rustic vanity mirror / table mirror dated 1870. The Mirror has nice carved details on the top This orginal painted mirror...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Pine

Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
This truly stunning French mantel clock was crafted during the Empire period, and reflects the Neoclassical interests of the Emperor Napoleon I, whose influence over the decorative arts contributed toward a profound revival of beauties of the ancient empires. The mantel clock is crafted entirely in gilt bronze, and features a stepped base on four block feet. The base depicts a Classical relief panel to the front, showing female dancing figures and putti, as well as musical instruments. Surmounting the base is an arch featuring a central mask fountain and basin...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

An Ebonized Dining Table, Attributed to Maison Jansen
Located in New York, NY
This elegant ebonized mahogany dining table, attributed to Maison Jansen, features intricate rosettes and classic and contemporary elements, making it a versatile addition to various...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Empire furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire furniture 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 furniture, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Europa Antiques, Baker Furniture Company, and Gherardo Degli Albizzi. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $56 and tops out at $955,603 while the average work can sell for $4,296.