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.
Late 18th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1840s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture
Brass
1950s Czech Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Metal, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1960s German Vintage Empire Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
2010s German Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
1840s French Antique Empire Furniture
Giltwood
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Birch
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Beech
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Canvas, Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Scagliola, Wood
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany, Satinwood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Metal, Brass, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
2010s German Empire Furniture
Crystal
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Marble
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1830s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Tapestry, Walnut
2010s German Empire Furniture
Crystal
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Birch
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Furniture
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Furniture
Crystal
19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Wire





