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: Germany
Style: Empire
Museum Essay / Tabernacle Around 1810, Walnut
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum essay/tabernacle around 1810, walnut.
Extremely rare and high-quality tabernacle with very elaborate and rich inlaid marquetry in walnut/root veneer on fir wood.
High construction consisting of 3 elements. The tabernacle has many drawers...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Fir
Baltic Set of 6 Empire-Armchairs, Mahogany, Design by Georg Friedrich Hetsch
Located in Göttingen, NI
A rare Baltic set of 6 Empire-armchairs - design by Georg Friedrich Hetsch
Mahogany richly carved and veneered
Side frame construction with inlaid upholstered seat on turned f...
Category
1820s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Biedermeier Style Napoleon Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood. Gilded chimeras. Finely engraved bronze fixtures.
(L-Sam-252).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Wall Mirror, Mahogany, Ebonized Carved Decor, South Germany, circa 1810
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful large Empire Wall Mirror, bright mahogany, carved black decor, South Germany, circa 1810.
The wood is mahogany veneer and solid wood, which has been bleached and stained fo...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Mahogany
20th Century Empire Style Horn-Formed Rolling Candlesticks French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and casted, partially silvered. Three stylized, horn-formed rolling candle sticks.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,061 Sale Price
20% Off
Royal Empire Mantel Clock / Pendulum Clock, Fire-Gilt, Around 1805-1815, Paris
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal Empire mantel clock / pendulum clock, fire-gilt, around 1805-1815, Paris
Solid bronze, fire-gilded, Paris around 1805-1815, original French Empire from the first period.
...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Console /Sideboard, around 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid wood with veneer, partly gilded. Rectangular cover plate with an inconspicuous frame and S-shaped curly supports on carved claws, which are held in gold. The base is arched. Pa...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
$23,923 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century Empire Style Wall Light Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative wall light in Empire style.
Finely engraved and cast bronze. Three stylized, full horn-formed, sweeping light arms.
(F-Sam-1).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
German early 19th Century Guéridon after the design of Karl Friedrich Schinkel
By Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A Neoclassical Masterpiece: Berlin Gueridon After a Design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841)
In the refined world of early 19th-century Berlin, elegance met intellectual rigor—...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century France Furnished Armchair Group
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid maple. Curved frame on curly legs. Strong curved supports in rolled volutes ending for slightly rising armrests. High-profile, contoured backrest frame with a wide finish. Seat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Maple
$7,285 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century Empire Style Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist basket chandelier in Empire style.
Finely engraved Bronze. Adorned with engraved swans and pearl cords.
(F-Ra-19).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Set of Three Antique Empire Side Chairs, 19th Century, Biedermeier
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of three antique Empire side chairs, 19th century, Biedermeier.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
$5,803 Sale Price / set
38% Off
Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed on the enamel dial by the famous Parisian bronzier ”Ledure Bronzier à Paris” and the clockmaker ”Hedon Hr" (horloger). Patinated and fully sculpted bronze figure ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Swiss Early 19th Century Empire Bureau Cabinet, Signed Hirschgartner
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This fine Empire drop-front secretary (secrétaire a'abattant or secrétaire en armoire) with a writing and standing desk is signed M. Hirschgartner. Hans Martin Hirschgartner (1766-18...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Pair of Empire Console Tables with Bronze Details, circa 1820
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This pair of Empire console tables features unusual, turned mahogany legs in the front that are decorated with beautiful, fire-gilded bro...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Side Table, France 1810-15, Mahogany
Located in Leimen, DE
Empire Side Table – France, 1810, Mahogany Veneer with Elegant Base Design
This stunning Empire side table, crafted in France circa 1810, showcases timeless sophistication. Made wit...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Commode, Nightstand or Sewing Table
Located in Berlin, DE
French Empire. Solid mahogany wood. Gilded and chiselled fittings. Two-wise frame base with protruding rectangular marble slab on square columns, joined by an intermediate compartmen...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Rare French Empire Mahogany Bookcase Library Jacob Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Large and very unusual French Empire bookcase in beautifully figured mahogany veneer. Four glazed doors (original glass), interior with original shelves (two on each level allow an adjustment for larger...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Empire Style Caryatide Tulip Veneer Commode
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Empire style Caryatide tulip veneer commode
tulip veneer on solid pinewood. Architecturally structured front.
(D-Sam-66).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Tulipwood
Fine Early 19th Century Empire Russian Inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine Russian Empire gilt- and patinated bronze desk top inkstand, St. Petersburg, circa 1810. Rectangular shaped base raised on four turned fee...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique half-round Empire chest of drawers, mahogany, around 1810
Semi-circular body, one door in the middle flanked by full columns and one drawer each above and below. An extremel...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
20th Century Empire Style Writing Table or Bureau Plat
Located in Berlin, DE
Writing table or bureau plat in Empire style after Jacob Desmalter.
Solid, ebonized beech, partially carved and hand-painted. Cutted out pedestal on profiled disc feet. Over which ar...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Four Sweeping Arms Candlestick/Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Monumental candelabra in Empire style.
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Chanelled columns with black patination, as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-14).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Neoclassical Empire Early 19th Century Mahogany Desk Armchair
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual North European mahogany desk armchair with original brass castors. Fully carved armrests with eagle heads, the design probably by a designer from Berlin or Copenhagen (e.g...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Lidded Service Terrine in Empire Style after J.B. Claude Odiot
Located in Berlin, DE
Silver engraved and silvered. Four columns with full moulded and finely
engraved swans.
Diameter:26cm,
height: 28 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and silvered bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-20-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Style French Mahogany Vitrine
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid softwood. Architecturally articulated body. Two-door, bent frame box on pressed, carved, poliementvergolddete claw feet. Recessed tower with two t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
19th Century Empire Style French Mahogany Vitrine
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid softwood. Architecturally articulated body. Two-door, bent frame box on pressed, carved, poliementvergolddete claw feet. Recessed tower with two t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
20th Century Empire Style Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted bronze. Full plasticized, feminine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-21-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century, Empire Style Silvered Ceiling Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, silvered. Finely engraved. Bell shaped, traffic-light styled corpus.
(F-Ra-25).
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
19th Century Unique Empire Wall Mirror, circa 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany with gilded bronze fittings. Solid softwood, Cuba mahogany veneer. Original glass, finely chased bronze fittings.
(M-32).
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Empire Style French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Three stylized horn-formed rolling candlesticks.
(T-Mr-14-Bas).
Category
20th Century 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
Original Antique French Empire Sofa Mahogany Veneer with Columns
Located in Berlin, DE
Original French Empire sofa, circa 1800.
Mahogany,
right and left, each with columns and fire-gilt bronze fittings.
Some bronze are missing.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$1,894 Sale Price
68% Off
20th Century Antique Louis XV Style French Salon Table Bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic French salon table in Louis XV style. White polished on solid pinewood. Exceptionally finest engraved, decorative broken rocailles, inlaid with acanthus, and flowered detail...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
$9,000 Sale Price
20% Off
20th Century, French Desk or Bureau Plat with Lions in the Antique Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird's-eye maple wood on massive beech wood, partially carved and framed. The pedestal is arched on profile shaped washers.
Above the four large winged, polygonal standing heads. Three-bar frame, brass-framed, protruding rectangular worktop with historically three-section, gold-embossed leather plate...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$3,316 Sale Price
56% Off
Meißen Manufactory, Vide Poche with Silhouette Portrait Richard Wagner
Located in Epfach, DE
Richard Wagner lived in 1872 at the Hotel Fantaisie in Bayreuth for half a year until he was able to move into his later domicile with his family. As in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Impressive Royal Early 19th Century German Empire Mirror
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A rare early 19th century German Empire giltwood trumeau mirror. The large rectangular plate surmounted by a scrolled pediment enriched with wines leaves and a central medallion encl...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Swedish Giltwood Early 19th Century Empire Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine, giltwood Swedish console table, possibly by the Stockholm master cabinet maker Lundelius (1778-1823). The wooden top in faux marble painted, the base plinth is painted black....
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Imperial Stylish Lion Salon Couch in Antique Empire Style beech hand carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Fine detailed carving work on solid beechwood. Gilded.
Armrests ended in protruding, winged, forward leaning lions heads in Bronze.
Measures:
Width:146cm
height:117 cm
Depth: 7...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Large Swedish Ceiling Chandelier in Classicist Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid brass with an antique finish. Hangings from finely ground crystal.
Measures: Diameter 76 cm, height 114 cm.
Category
20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
20th Century Napoleonic Swan Chair in the Empire Style Beechwood Poliment Gilded
Located in Berlin, DE
Very exact Fine-carved sculpture made of solid beech. Poliment gilded. Arranged frame on plastically carved legs ending in claws. Armrests volute-shaped bent in swan head. High-backe...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Beech
Original antique Empire Table circa 1860 - 1880 Mahogany veneer bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Original Empire table circa 1860-1870 from an Empire room.
The table stands on 3 feet of each foot 1 empire head cast in bronze.
Top condition.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Monumental Candelabra in Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Chanelled columns with
black patination, as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
Measures:
Diameter 33cm,
height 62cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Classicist Basket Chandelier in antique Empire Style silver brass hand carved
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and silvered bronze. Basket-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl strings in the course with leaf rosette and a final pince-nez pin. Connect...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Candelabra in Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved. Column-shaft as holder for four Sweeping
candelabra arms.
Diameter:30cm
height:52 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Candelabra in Empire Style silver
Located in Berlin, DE
Silver, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times
structured, fluted column-shaft.
Measures:
Height: 73.5 cm,
diameter 25 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Classicist Basket Chandelier silver in antique Empire Style brass hand crafted
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and silver-plated bronze. Basket-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl cords with a leaf rosette and a pine knob at the end, connected by a w...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
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
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
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
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
19th Century Cabinet / cupboard in antique Empire Style Mahogany Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood. High-arched, architecturally designed corpus, single-door base, open-sided shelf, flanked by columns with capitals and bases of finely chiselled bronze, sligh...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$5,211 Sale Price
20% Off
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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