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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Empire
Empire Style Marble and Bronze Antique Centrepiece by Robbe
Located in London, GB
In an ornamental style, with rouge griotte marble and burnished bronze depicting the three Graces, signed 'A. ROBBE. Paris.'
This stunning French centrepiece...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Period Ormolu Mantel Clock by Michelez
Located in London, GB
French Empire period ormolu mantel clock by Michelez
French, circa 1815
Measures: Height 47cm, width 20cm, depth 15cm
This beautifully formed and crafted mantel clock, dating to...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Napoleon III Period Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This unusual chandelier is designed in the Empire style from gilt and patinated bronze in the form of an ancient Roman terracotta or earthenwa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Parquetry Side Table
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Pretty Walnut and Kingwood French Parquetry side table of Serpentine Form and Empire style
With Pretty shaped legs featuring Brass mounts...
Category
1920s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Kingwood
Two Empire Period Gilt Porcelain Vases by Dihl Et Guérhard
By Dihl and Guerhard
Located in London, GB
These beautiful painted and gilt vases were crafted in circa 1810 by the important Parisian porcelain factory, Dihl et Guérhard (French, 1781-circa 18...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Empire Marble Fireplace Mantelpiece, Carved Columns and Lion Heads
Located in Southall, GB
19th century unique Empire style brown Bois-Jourdan marble fireplace mantelpiece, with a white statuary Carrara hand carved Roman Rosette on the cent...
Category
Early 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Statuary Marble
Important Empire Early 19th Century Fauteuil by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Despite his long life, very little is known about the general production of menuisier (chairmaker) Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864) and even less about his use of bent laminates, which must be viewed as the most advanced of its kind until the appearance of Michael Thonet’s work of the 1830s.
The profound reverence for the classical world in enlightened circles in early 19th century Europe and the United States often resulted in the archaeological resurrection of the art, architecture, and design of ancient Greece and Rome. No chair employing the innovative technique of bending wood more boldly expresses this allegiance to the past than this armchair painted in le style antique and based on the ancient Roman sella...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Somno Cuban Mahogany Egg Cup
Located in Beaune, FR
Rare somno egg cup in Cuban mahogany opening with a door with a gray Sainte Anne marble top. Empire style, this somno is in good condition.
Dimensions
...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Console and Mirror with Metal Leaf and Bronze Details, 1990s, Set of 2
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Console with mirror produced by Lam Lee Group of Dallas, the style refers to the French eclecticism of 1940. Both the console and the mirror are made o...
Category
1990s American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Empire Influenced Centre Table, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century Empire influenced marble topped guéridon, having a brass gallery, gilded ormolu mounts of flowers, leaves, berries and plaques. Raised on four square tape...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Genovese Mirror With Walnut Inlays
Small Parts in Brass
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Genoese walnut mirror with brass inlays and hardware. Excellent construction, on the back it still bears eighteenth century butterfly nailing confirming the Direttorio style...
Category
1890s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,021 Sale Price
43% Off
Pair of Classical Empire Style Side Tables
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A striking pair of Empire influenced Sienna marble topped side tables, each with scrolling carved classical monopodia supports, terminating in carved claw feet,.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Siena Marble
$11,713 / set
Pair of Bronze Empire Candelabras, France, circa 1880s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Elegant pair of bronze Empire style candelabras with fine details, raised on paw feet. Beautifully oxidized Verdigris patina.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century, Empire Style Mahogany
Bronze Console Table
Located in Beaune, FR
Rare and superb Empire style mahogany console table decorated with gilded bronzes. It is topped with an original Siena marble in good condition. This console is large in size which i...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Grandvoinnet In Paris - Bronze Clock From The Empire Period
Located in Beaune, FR
Very beautiful gilded bronze pendulum from the Empire period (18th century) representing Cupid seated in the chariot of Venus pulled by two doves. The enamel dial is signed "Grandvoi...
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Restauration Period Ormolu Lyre Mantel Clock with Apollo Mask
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual French Restauration period ormolu mantel clock. The elaborately pierced gilt bronze case in the form of a lyre, with an Apollo mask cresting, on a white marble stepped bas...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Empire-style apliques in burnished and gilded bronze
Located in Milano, IT
Two gold-leafed and darkened Empire apliques, from whose circular base the three arms emerge. They are not signed but considering the quality they are certainly by a good foundry cra...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Brisbart In Paris - Empire Period Clock
Located in Beaune, FR
Early 19th century Empire period vase-shaped clock in gilded and patinated bronze. It rests on a square base decorated with a frieze representing chimeras. The vase rests on a golden...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Sevres Style Porcelain Pedestal
Located in Southall, GB
This outstanding pedestal beautifully exhibits the style and grace of the famed Sèvres porcelain manufactory. This exceptional piece features a lustrous light blue base, which provid...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs in Gilt and White Wood, 1950s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Empire style armchairs in white carved wood with gold highlights.
Standing on two front tapered legs and two back saber legs. Straight apron and uprights, rectangular backse...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Gilt-Bronze and Cut-Glass Chandelier
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine early 19th century Swedish five-light crystal chandelier. The rim supporting four candle branches and a central candle nozzle above a tiered base hung with glass lustres, conn...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Three Piece Jardinière Garniture of the Empire Period
By Jacques-Louis David
Located in London, GB
A Three Piece Jardinière Garniture of the Empire Period
Constructed in tole, being hand painted and decorated in the French Empire Neo-Classical manner of Jacques-Louis David; th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tin
Pair of Bronze Splendor Wall Appliqués / Sconces, Paris, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of bronze splendor wall appliqués / sconces, Paris, 19th century
Fire gilded bronze. Five-flame frame for candles with rocaille and rosettes in relief. Colorless glass prism ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$24,265 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Italian Table of Mahogany and Painted Architectural Scenes of Rome
Located in London, GB
Constructed in a good flame-veneer mahogany, with gilt metal mounts; rising from a tripartite incurved base mounted on castors, issuing three entasis form cylindrical columns, gilt m...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Watercolor
Pair of crystal and bronze vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of french empire style late 19 century crystal cut ormolu bronze original gilting
You have eagle that embeds the base at the 4 corner, on the side of the vase you have magnifi...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$18,000 / set
Empire Style Table, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Auxiliary table Empire style, with structure in wood in its color, ornamental applications in bronze and onyx bronze. Of circular plan, it rises on four legs in the form of a column,...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Swedish Gilt Heavy Silver Mustard or Sauce Cup Antique Empire Mug 1827
Located in Sweden, SE
Fine and solid creation by unidentified Swedish silver works presumably in Stockholm, date mark is 1827. Stylish and authentic creature of classical geometry would accomplish your Em...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Silver
Noble 20th Century in Empire Style Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and antique silvered. Columns as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-11).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Tray Table Light Green Painted Metal , Late Empire
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late Empire side table / lamp table with a metal tray featuring a painted brass rim, placed on a later collapsible stand.
The tray dates from around 1820–30, while the stand was mad...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Casted Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted Bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-20-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Three Claw-Feet French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft.
(T-Mr-15-Bp).
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire France Lyra-Shaped Curly-Legs Side Tables, circa 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood and partly boned. Round leaf with black-and-white interspersed marble, over simple frame and lyra-shaped curly legs on three-sided ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
20th Century Empire Style Basket Applique or Wall Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic basket applique in the Empire style.
Extremely finely chased and cast bronze. The basket-shaped body made of hand-cut French ball prisms is connected by a broad, ornamental...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Scrolled Red Marble Table leg components
Located in Southall, GB
large pair of 19th century rare Verona Rosso Marble carved lion paw table legs.
Ideal legs for console table / vanity unit.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
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.
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