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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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Item Ships From: Florida
Style: Empire
set of six French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu dining chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome set of six French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu dining chairs. This wonderful set are raised by four circular tapered front legs while the back legs display ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and finely detailed French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal centerpiece. The stunning cut Crystal bowl is raised on four straight legs displaying clawed f...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

French mid 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and marble buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality and uniquely designed French mid 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Gris St. Anne marble buffet. This stunning buffet/sideboard is raised by back square Mah...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Russian 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most impressive Russian 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze and ormolu eighteen light chandelier. The chandelier is centered by a fine inverted bottom finial w...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu, Crystal and Breccia marble inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu, Crystal and Breccia marble inkwell. This wonderful rectangular inkwell is raised on circular toupie shaped Ormolu f...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French mid 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu side/center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive and very high quality French mid 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu side/center table. This handsome table is raised by a triangular base with concave side...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

19th century Biedermeier Empire/Neo-Classical st. Desk by Francois Linke
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality Continental 19th century Biedermeier Empire/Neo-Classical st. Burl Walnut, Ebonized Fruitwood, Giltwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat by Francois Li...
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French early 19th century Empire st. white Carrara marble and Ormolu clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality French early 19th century Empire st. white Carrara marble and Ormolu clock, signed Veibel a Lyon. This stunning clock is raised on Ormolu topie shaped feet supporting a rectangular marble base. The base is decorated with finely chased Ormolu plaques on three sides, in the manner of Clodion, and with delicate beaded frames. Standing on the base are four Ormolu Doric columns leading up to the Carrara marble entablature decorated with Ormolu pegasi and finely chased beaded trim bands. From the entablature hangs the enameled clock face and mechanism, adorned with a delicate Ormolu frame and richly chased hanging drapery featuring a foliate movements, mythical creatures, and a lovely female mask atop the wonderful sunburst pendulum. All original gilt throughout. Veibel a Lyon, also known as "Weibel", was an 18th century master clock maker based in Lyon, France. Established in 1783, Veibel began his career by crafting exceptional table clocks and pocket watches. Later he specializes in astronomical regulators...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal centerpiece. This stunning centerpiece is raised by a circular Ormolu band with an intricate s...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

A 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu and Leather armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most handsome Continental 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu and Leather armchair. This wonderful chair is raised by curved Mahogany legs leading to a c...
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu and Baccarat Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely elegant French 19th century Empire st. ormolu and Baccarat crystal chandelier. The eight arm chandelier is centered by a striking solid crystal ball below a ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

Unique Rare Collection, Straw Marquetry Bottles, 18Th. C. Set of 7
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this rare and exceptional collection of seven French 18Th C. Straw Marquetry Bottles. These were made by convicts in the 18Th century. This is a very rare collection, you ...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Straw, Blown Glass

Leather Armchairs Empire Style Midcentury
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Pair of Mid Century ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood, Giltwood

Pair of French 19th century Empire st. Patinated and Giltwood mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and architectural pair of French 19th century Empire st. Patinated and Giltwood mirrors. Each palatially scaled mirror with it's original mirror plates is raised on a s...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Giltwood

French 1870 Third Empire Napoleon III Pair of Urns in Marble with Gilded Ormolu
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of mythological Urns from the French third Empire period. Fabulous decorative pieces, created in Paris, France during the period of the Third French Empire under Napoleon III...
Category

1870s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Siena Marble, Bronze

French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Portico Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu portico clock. The clock raised on a rectangular base with finely chased borders and satin and burnish finish interlocking circ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

18th Century Gold French Gilded Wood Barometer, Antique Parisian Thermometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare antique finely worked French barometer with lyre shaped crest thermometer above a large hexagonal framed barometer. The Parisian décor piece is m...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu fire screen
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A decorative and most handsome French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu fire screen. This stunning square fire screen is raised by a long slender rectangular patina...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Baltic 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality Baltic 19th century Empire st. ormolu, patinated bronze and crystal chandelier. The two tiered eight arm twenty four light chandelier is centere...
Category

19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu

Hand Blown Murano Glass Semi Flush Fixture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Gorgeous Large Hand-Blown Italian Glass Semi Flush Fixture. Ribbed salt glass bowl with elegant pale pink ruffle trim. Dramatic addition to any room. ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

Early 19th Century French Empire Trumeau Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent early 19th-century French Empire trumeau mirror, elegantly patinated in a deep forest green and delicately accented with soft grey and gilded detailing. This exceptiona...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Pine, Giltwood

French Empire Style Porcelain Cartographic Cabinet Plate
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A beautiful French Empire style porcelain cartographic cabinet plate made circa 1825 featuring a map of North America highlighted with an apple-green an...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French mid-19th century Empire style mahogany and ormolu mounted pair of armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet and e...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Green Tole Three Light Table Lamp.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Green Tole Three Light Table Lamp. Beautiful French Empire brass Bouillotte lamp with three swan decorated scrolled arms. A finely chise...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Bronze

pair of 19th century Empire Period Giltwood and Marble consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most impressive pair of Continental 19th century Empire/Restauration Period Giltwood and Fleur de Pêcher marble consoles. This stunning pair of consoles is raised o...
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French Empire Napoleon III Bizantine Bronze Ormolu Inkwell or Inkstand
Located in Miami, FL
Exquisite Bizantine French 19th century Empire Napoleon III gilded bronze inkwell. This handcrafted antique desk accessory bears the makers mar...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

1st Empire Period patinated Bronze and Ormolu candlesticks, circa 1805
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive and high quality pair of French early 19th century 1st Empire Period patinated Bronze and Ormolu candlesticks, circa 1805. This wonderful pair of ewer designed candlest...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Armoire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional French 19th century Empire St. three door armoire in satinwood and mahogany with beveled mirrors. All highly decorated with fire-gilded ormolu mounts. Inside lays fift...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

true pair of French 19th century Bronze, Ormolu and Marble candelabra lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive and high quality true pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Vert de Patricia Marble candelabra lamps. Each stunning electrified ca...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Napoleonic Gilt-Bronze Portrait Medallion Napoleon, by Carlier Fecit, 1804-1806
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Napoleonic Gilt-Bronze Portrait Medallion of Napoleon, Signed Carlier Fecit, France, circa 1804–1806 An Empire-period gilt-bronze portrait medallion of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Verde Marble cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive pair of French 19th century Empire st. flamed Mahogany, Ormolu, and Verde Antico Marble cabinets. Each four drawer two door cabinet is raised by two fr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and impressive French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Vert de Patricia marble center table. The rectangular two drawer table is raised by curved statement making legs with an exceptional deer leg...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu sconces. Each two arm sconce is centered by a beautiful foliate bottom finial where the...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century German Empire Antique Cherrywood Freestanding Floor Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, antique German floor mirror made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Cherrywood in good condition. The tall freestanding mirror is consisting its origina...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and unique French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu mirror. The mirror is raised by a straight base with a fine mottled design. The original central mirror pl...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu Mirrored Surtout De Table Centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French Mid-19th Century Empire st. ormolu mirrored surtout de table centerpiece. The impressive cent...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

A French mid 19th century Empire st. white Carrara marble fireplace mantel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive and finely detailed French mid 19th century Empire st. white Carrara marble fireplace mantel. This beautiful mantel is raised by striking elegantly scrolled jambs with ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu And Vert Campan Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Vert Campan marble console. The solid Mahogany console is raised on a rectangular plinth with a mottled edge on the thr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire Style Flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive French mid 19th century Empire st. flamed mahogany, ormolu and marble console, with one drawer. The console is raised by a striking bottom tier which showcases the ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. patinated, Verdigris Bronze and Slate console.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. patinated, Verdigris Bronze and Slate console. This impressive six leg console is raised by three maiden caryatids with lion's paw feet in t...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Slate, Bronze

French 19th century Empire st. flame Mahogany, Ormolu and Leather desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. flame Mahogany, Ormolu and Leather desk. This exceptional desk is raised by eight Mahogany legs with superbly detailed Orm...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Burl Walnut, Ormolu, and Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and large scale French 19th century Empire st. burl walnut, ormolu and white Carrara marble console. The console is raised by elegant circular mottled supports below a mos...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

Pair of Antique French Silver Gilt Fruit Knives, Mother of Pearl Handle, Paris
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Pair of antique French silver gilt fruit knives with mother of pearl handle, Paris 1820 This exquisite pair of early 19th century silver fruit knives...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Silver

French Empire Style Custom Made Cabinet
Located in Bradenton, FL
A French Empire style custom made cabinet, hand made by Lion Crest Woodworking of Sarasota, FL. The cabinet top has rounded edges with a decorative beaded section in front. A single ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

French 19th century Empire st. Belle Époque period Mahogany, Ormolu side table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most attractive French 19th century Empire st. Belle Époque period Mahogany, Ormolu and Verde Antico marble side table. This beautiful single drawer table is raised by...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French Turn of the Century Empire st. Ormolu and Crystal lamp. This stunning lamp is raised on Ormolu pawed feet below the square base with a foliate desi...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Leather and Gris St. Anne marble table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most elegant French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Leather and Gris St. Anne marble side/center/games table. This wonderful table is raised by Brass casters below t...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Opera Fantastico marble side table. The table is raised by three elegant lightly curved square tapered legs with hands...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

A pair of French early 19th century Empire period giltwood mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive pair of French early 19th century Empire period Patinated and giltwood mirrors. The original mirrors plates are framed within an off white and gilt frame with bott...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Satinwood Inlaid Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome 19th century, Circa. 1880, French Empire style, crouch Mahogany and Satinwood inlaid console. The solid Mahogany paw shaped carved supports are joined by a bottom tier pla...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

Pair of French Mid 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Mounted Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu mounted armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet with a roset...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

20th Century Black French Pair of Large Marble, Gilded Bronze Table Lights
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, vintage French pair of large table lamps made of hand crafted marble with a new round shade, in good condition. They are composed with its original switch, particularized by...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Metal, Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Marble Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French early 19th century Empire st. highly chased ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble, three arm candelabra, mounted into a lamp. The square Rouge Griotte marble base with or...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Mirrors
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very architectural pair of French 19th century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu mirrors. The pair of mirrors display mirror plates flanked by two Mahogany columns. The columns have a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu bench. This wonderful rectangular bench with a fitted leather seat is raised by four scrolled legs with a bottom Ormolu ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu And Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most unique French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, ormolu, and Vert de Patricia marble side table. The table is raised by handsome ormolu paw feet below a fine r...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Italian 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Scagliola center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and large scale Italian 19th century Empire st. Flamed Mahogany, Ormolu and Scagliola center table. This very impressive circular table is raised on three squared cabri...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Christian VIII Empire Oval Pedestal Tea Table in Mahogany, Denmark, circa 1835
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A handsome Christian VIII neoclassical-style tea or breakfast table in mahogany with oval top on foliate-carved baluster-turned column resting on quatre-form pedestal base with carve...
Category

1830s Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze Eagle Statue
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French mid 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze eagle on a Vert de Patricia marble base. The richly detailed eagle is raised by a substantial and impressive square mottled Vert de Patricia base with cut corners. The fierce and richly chased open winged eagle stands...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Bureau Plat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu Bureau Plat. The desk is raised on straight tapered legs with ormolu sabots and pierce...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

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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