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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.

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Style: Empire
Empire Period Portrait of the Comte Gustave de Galard (1779–1841)
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century, Empire Period Portrait of the Comte Gustave de Galard (1779–1841), French School, c. 1805, Oil on canvas Canvas: 15.75" W × 21.5" H Framed: 19" W × 24.5" H A refined ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood

Center/Entry Table in Brass and Wood by La Barge
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful center or entry table designed and manufactured in the Philippines by La Barge. The table has beautiful carved frame and solid brass accents with a glass top that allows t...
Category

1990s Philippine Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Estate French Empire Gold Bronze and Steel Chandelier, Circa 1950 s.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Estate French Empire Gold Bronze and Steel Chandelier, Circa 1950's.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Empire Dark Green Four-Arm Chandelier Made of Leather and Brass, France 1960s
Located in Hannover, DE
This lovely French chandelier was found in a villa built in the late 1950s. The beautiful, high-quality craftsmanship is impressive. The lampshades are made of metal and then covered...
Category

1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Louis Marie Moris French bronze Napoleon on horseback . (1818-1883)
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and large French bronze of Napoleon on horseback . Crossing the Alps on Marengo. Fine detail on a marble base . Large and impressive scale
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Wall Sconces Bronze Empire Style, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Solid brass or brass wall lamp Empire style with two arms. This wall sconces Empire style white rigid appearance, solid and basic geometric shapes. Decorated with acanthus leaves ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Pair of French Empire Porcelain Vases Dagoty Paris
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful, important pair of hand-painted Parisian porcelain Medici vases. They feature elegant neoclassical motifs on the bodies: swans with outstretched wings and panoplies. The to...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Period French, Empire Painted Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Period French, Empire Painted Commode The solid wood body is painted in a textured, aged, distressed patina showing some of the gesso-painted base and original wood b...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Corinthian Column Brass Floor Lamp with Fringed Lampshade, England, 1890
By OTHR
Located in Rijssen, NL
Antique corinthian column brass telescopic floorlamp, Hinks pattern, with wonderful handmade fringed lampshade. Made in England, in the style of James Hinks & Son in 1890. The lamp ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large Empire Style Alabaster and Bronze Sixteen-Light Chandelier, ca. 1920
Located in Barntrup, DE
Large Empire-style alabaster and bronze chandelier, Germany, ca. 1920. An impressive sixteen-light alabaster and bronze chandelier. The extra large, exceptional, and masterfully carv...
Category

1920s German Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze

19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Marble Top Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent 19th century French empire gilt wood console table featuring a marbleized limestone top with partial shell fossil remnants. The marble specimen is...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

1930s Hickory Chair Empire Klismos Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
1930s Hickory Chair Company Empire Klismos style Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs. Measure 18" in width, 21" in depth 34.5" tall. Seat height is 18".
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Empire Gilt Bronze Table Top Perfume Burner
Located in Paris, FR
An ormolu table top perfume burner "potpourri" decorated with antique masks flanked by griffons resting on a foot chiselled with crosspieces, above a rectangular base decorated on th...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Late 19th Century Empire Mahogany Arm Chairs
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A pair of antique Empire style armchairs. The armrest and legs are made of solid mahogany, the backrest is made of veneered mahogany. An elegant design with curved armrests and taper...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Leitizia Bonapartes, Madame Mere Dressing Mirror and Jewellery Cabinet
By Georges Jacob
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mahogany cheval mirror and jewellery cabinet, once belonging to Leitizia Bonaparte, Napoleon's mother. The veneered semi circular topped mirror framed by columns topped with gilt bronze cassolettes and single arm candle holders. The bottom section is fronted by two doors which open to reveal nine shallow leather cartonniers and six jewellery drawers; the whole carcass richly decorated with gilt bronze friezes and various classical motives. Similar gilded bronze mounts are found on various pieces of furniture in the collection of the Louvre Paris. This rare museum worthy piece of furniture came from the Chateau Du Pont Sur Seine. The piece is not stamped but the quality of the mahogany and the amount of finely chiseled and burnished gilt bronze mounts, plus the presence of the cartonnier and jewellery drawers almost certainly point to a royal provenance and which almost certainly came from the workshop of Georges Jacob. The Chateau De Pont Sur Seine was originally built in 1632 and hosted such important historical figures as Catherine de Medicis and Cardinal Richelieu. In the late 17C it was acquired by the Duc de Saxony, one of Louis XVI’s uncles whose family maintained ownership until 1792 until the start of the French Revolution when they had to vacate to escape the guillotine. While it suffered damage by the revolutionairies it was still very habitable and in 1805, Napoleon purchased the chateau for his mother Madame Letizia Bonaparte where she resided until Napoleon’s fall from grace in 1814. Madame Mere...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Urns
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Empire style (19th Cent) gilt bronze urns with finial top and handles with claw feet on square base (matching clock: Inv. #032441) (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Bronze Table Lamps – Originally Empire Candlesticks, France c. 1820
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps – Originally Empire Candlesticks, France c. 1820 A beautiful and elegant pair of bronze table lamps, originally crafted as Empire candlesticks in France ...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Antique Empire Marble Top Mahogany Pier Table, 19th C. For Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fabulous antique Empire style marble top, mahogany veneered pier table, features a single drawer. The whole is raised on four cushion form feet with trestle style support. Fabulou...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

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 Furniture

Materials

Wool

Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Figural Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
In the form of a putto with a wheel barrow carrying a keg mounted with a clock face topped by a crane, on a rectangular chased plinth ending in bun feet.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Mid-19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Commode
Located in Houston, TX
The rectangular gray and white marble top above a conforming case Having three recessed long drawers, flanked to either side by an ormolu- Mounted pilaster, raised on turreted fee...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Round dining table inlaid top and wooden tripod base handcrafted by Cupioli
Located in Rimini, IT
Round dining table inlaid top and wooden tripod base handcrafted by Cupioli "Verbena " round dining or center table. This table with scagliola art inlay takes inspiration from the c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Scagliola, Wood

Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Three-Light Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
Adorable French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has a brass and metal frame hung with chains of crystal glass beads forming a basket...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Italian, Tuscany, Empire Period Walnut Ebonized Center Table, ca. 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a circular walnut top above a conforming apron raised on rectangular ebonized columnar legs joined by a lower ebonized circular level on small square feet
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Empire Commode
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century French Empire Commode in book matched flame mahogany and Black Marble Top
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Gilded Tea Set by August Bauscher Weiden, Germany, Late 19th Century
Located in CANNES, FR
A rare and exquisite 6-piece porcelain tea set by August Bauscher Weiden, Germany, dating to the late 19th century. The set includes: • One teapot with lid • Two teacups • Two mat...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold

Empire Table with Palmettes, possibly Berlin / Gotha, circa 1820/25
Located in Greding, DE
This oval Empire salon table is supported by two columnar legs in the form of stylized palms, partly gilt and partly ebonized. The plinth and the oval top are veneered in mahogany an...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Form Eight-Light Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Empire chandelier, its circular frame of gilt metal, holding the opera basket bottom, finished by a ball drop, having eight S-scroll arms, each decorated with a leaf, ending i...
Category

20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Iron

Cylinder Burl Walnut Pedestal Cabinet, Copenhagen, 1830-1840
Located in Kastrup, DK
Cylinder burl walnut pedestal cabinet. Late empire. Oak beautifully veneered with walnut. A large front door that opens to reveal a set of four shelve...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Oak, Walnut

French 19th Century Mahogany Empire-Style Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An outstanding French Empire-style mahogany accent table with a unique basket wrapped around the pedestal. A circular wood top with raised trim rests on an apron housing two small dr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Italian Carved Giltwood Whitewashed French Empire Style Balloon Wall Mirror
Located in Kennesaw, GA
It is an Italian carved giltwood and whitewashed balloon form mirror with French Empire styling. It has tassel appointments. It is in very good condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Poplar

Picture frame Green Empire style ornaments Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular photo frame in gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent emerald green enamel on guilloche, with late 19th century Russian Empire style ornaments. Blue alcant...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Pair of Empire Style Verde Antico Marble and Gilt Bronze Pedestals
Located in San Francisco, CA
If you have a puppy or puppy-like children who customarily race through the house, move on. These slender marble and gilt bronze pedestals were typically crafted for more peaceful se...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Divination Orb, France 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb divination orb, 19th century France. Crystal ball, glass decorations and bronze frame. Good condition, minor damage to crystal and glass parts. Dimensions in cm ( H x D ) : ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in Bronze. Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of Elegant Empire Table Lamps in bronze, early 19th Century France, originally candlesticks. Includes new black lacquer lampshade with gold details, giving the lamp a warm and ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Large French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Figural Mantel Clock of Exceptional Quali
Located in Benington, Herts
A large and impressive French Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock of exceptional quality and colour. French (possibly retailed in Italy) - Circa 1820. The finely chased and original gilt bronze case depicting Orpheus playing his lyre with an eight-day bell striking movement, outside countwheel, backplate initialled and numbered 'A C D 1516’. The dial with Roman numerals and inscribed Riccardo Pacinoti of Lavourne. It is a French movement (silk suspension) striking the hour and half hour. The case in the form of an oblong pillar cast with anthemium and cornucopia beneath a draped urn and a laurel wreath, flanked by the figure of Orpheus playing his lyre, the stepped plinth cast with wonderfully detailed underworld scenes, on leaf scroll feet. In excellent condition the clock case has been cleaned with the movement completely overhauled and serviced to the highest standard by a specialist restorer. In general 19th century French bronze clocks...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Bronze and Mahogany Desk Leather
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Very decorative French desk in the empire style. Structure in solid mahogany and veneered, it is composed of an empire green leather under hand, three drawers with double handles and...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Four-Drawer Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or den with this elegant antique chest of drawers. Crafted in France, circa 1930, the traditional commode sits on carved columnar supports over a straight bott...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Mid 19th century Swedish birch chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish birch chest of drawers circa 1860. Good quality Swedish commode, fitted with 3 near equally sized drawers that open on the key. Rectangular top with moulde...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Birch

French Blue Painted Bedside Nightstand End Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This French style side table features a single drawer with two door cabinet above. The table has been hand painted in Gustavian shade of blue and has been constructed from solid wood...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique 19th century warm brown oak Dutch Lectern or portable desk writing box
Located in Casteren, NL
This exquisite antique writing box was meticulously handcrafted using traditional joinery techniques, with beautifully visible dovetail joints at the corners. Made in the Southern Ne...
Category

Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Steel

Early 19th Century French Walnut Buffet with Original Fossilized Marble Top
Located in Richmond, VA
Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Buffet with Original Fossilized Marble. The buffet or credenza features three cabinet doors enclosed by bronze mounted columns and stands prou...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French Empire Period Walnut and Brass Mounted Lit en Gondole, ca. 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
the frame surmounted with brass mounted columns with perfectly turned ball finials, the head and footboards equal, the front rail with corner arches, the back finished
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

French Empire Revival Alabaster Bronze Chandelier, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Monumental French Empire Revival Chandelier with Alabaster Bowl, Patinated and Gilt Bronze, Early 20th Century An impressive Empire style chandelier, dating from the early 20th cent...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Alabaster, Bronze, Copper

Magnificent French Dining Room table End 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Magnificent French Dining Room table End 19/20th Century French, carved and golden wood, marble top on two swan columns. Signs of use. Dim.: 80 x 170 x 110 ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

18th Century Porcelain Snuff Tobacco Box with Ormulu Gilt Decorations
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-18th Century porcelain snuff tobacco box with Ormulu gilt embossed relief and with empire classical motives. The inside of the lid is decorated with colorful flowers. Wonderful a...
Category

Mid-18th Century European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of French Empire Portraits of an Aristocratic Couple by Antoine Borel
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of original oil paintings on canvas depicting a handsome young aristocratic couple of the Directoire, early Empire period. They are each pictured from the waist up, she holdin...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Canvas

19th Century French Empire Style Bleached Commode with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th century French Empire style commode exudes elegance and sophistication, featuring bleached mahogany and a marble top The bleached finish gives it a timeless and classic loo...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble

Swedish Porphyry candlesticks, early 19th c. Rare Rännås porphyry
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of SwedishEmpire candlesticks made of porphyry and gilt bronze. A rare model of great quality. Small and exquisite.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porphyry, Bronze

Empire Style Fireplace In Antique Green Marble And Gilded Bronze
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Empire style fireplace in antique green marble and gilded bronze Hearth dimensions: 85 x 102 cm
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Tobey Furniture Monumental Antique French Empire Mahogany and Brass Dining Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding palatial antique French Empire style monumental extension dining table By Tobey Furniture USA, Circa 1900 Gorgeous mahogany, with brass accents. Measures: 66"W x 5...
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

French Empire Style Two Tier Console Table by John Widdicomb with Brass Mounts
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 34 in W: 44 in D: 20 1/2 in Elevate your interior with this exceptional 20th-century French Empire style two-tier console table or server by the renowned American ...
Category

20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Empire 19th Century "Somno" Column Bedside Table, England
Located in Southampton, NJ
An English Empire 19th Century column bedside table with distinctive cylindrical form of "Somno" (Latin for sleep) styling from 19th century. The table features a curved steam bent f...
Category

19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century 50cm x 26cm x 15cm good condition
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Sideboard with Gilt Bronze Mounts Green Marble Top
Located in High Point, NC
A striking 19th century French Empire style mahogany sideboard or credenza, richly adorned with finely cast gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts and crowned with an impressive green marble to...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Mid 19th century French empire mahogany and leather reclining chair
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality mid 19th century French mahogany and leather reclining chair circa 1860. We are pleased to be able to offer this stunning french flame mahogany reclining chair for sale...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Antique French Empire Fruitwood Console Table with drawer, Early 20th Century
Located in Miami, FL
Antique French Empire- Biedermeier fruitwood console table with drawer and bronze details In good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Style Cast Brass Dual Arm Wall Sconces, pair
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Pair of French Empire Style casted brass wall sconces, each sconce features 2 arms each powered by 25w E12 chandelier bulb. These classic-styled scones work well in Victorian-styled ...
Category

1920s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Rare Artillery Plate First Empire Imperial Eagle And Crossed Cannons, 1804–1815
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Rare Artillery Plate – First Empire – Imperial Eagle And Crossed Cannons, 1804–1815" Rare French Napoleonic Artillery Brass Plaque – Imperial Guard Style – 31 x 34 cm – ca. 1804–181...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Regency Empire Two Tier Flame Walnut Gueridon Table With Elegant Reeded Legs
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Beautiful Regency Empire Two Tier Flame Walnut Gueridon Table With Elegant Reeded Legs Finished With Brass Detailing. The veneer top is a real eye catching centrepiece. Height bet...
Category

19th Century British Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

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.