Empire Furniture
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.
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Wood
1950s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Fabric, Wood
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Velvet, Fruitwood, Giltwood
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Silver
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Zinc
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Metal, Brass
20th Century Spanish Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Brass
1880s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Ceramic
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Tôle
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Alabaster
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Cherry, Ebony
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Gold Leaf, Bronze
20th Century Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
2010s German Empire Furniture
Crystal
1890s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Spruce
Early 20th Century Danish Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Maple
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Furniture
Brass, Wire
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Cane, Oak
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1950s Czech Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
20th Century Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Empire Furniture
Oak, Pine
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Gold
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Furniture
Nickel
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1810s Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Satinwood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Tulipwood
Early 1800s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Furniture
Brass, Wire
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Early 1700s Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture
Gold
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Glass
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany





