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: USA
Style: Empire
Italian 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Sienna marble console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately Italian early 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Sienna marble console. This handsome demi lune shaped freestanding console is raised by four square tapered Maho...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Classic Empire Center Table - Weathered Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted from grey cerused oak with an unusual weathered acacia finish, this table features a beautifully carved ogee edge that adds a touch of intricate detailing.
The table is supp...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$2,820 / item
19th French Empire Period Gilt Wood Oval Mirror
Located in Miami, FL
19th French Empire period gilt wood oval mirror
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Exquisite French Empire Ormolu and Cut-Crystal Clock, c. 1815
Located in Queens, NY
An exquisite French Empire ormolu and cut-crystal clock, c. 1815, attributed to Baccarat.
Made from the finest quality mercury gilding ormolu, this c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
$21,000 Sale Price
40% Off
Antique French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Ormolu Commode Chest of Drawers 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A fine quality early 19th century antique French Empire mahogany marble top commode, with Neo-Classical ormolu mounts, circa 1810.
The commode is of the finest quality, the top is ma...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Pair, French Empire Gilt Bronze Crane Motif Candlesticks Circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, circa 1815.
This exquisite pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, crafted circa 1815, embodies the opulence and grandeur of the Empire style. Each candlestick feat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style 4-Light Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
19th century gilt bronze chandelier in the French Empire style with circular form with reticulated designs of rose flowers surmounted with neoclassical torches, and four electrified ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Maitland Smith Empire Style Leather Top Desk
Located in Toledo, OH
Maitland Smith Empire style desk with tooled leather top and curved corners, 2 narrow drawers with lion pulls, curule style legs with gilt acanth...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather
French Antique Swan Neck Recamier Chaise Lounge
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A fine antique French walnut recamier or chaise lounge with carved swan heads at posts, lovely neutral vintage upholstery and bolster pillow, circa 1930. The chaise rests on four ca...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century French Pair of Bronze Egyptian Candle Holders - Marble Sticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French pair of Egyptian women figure candle holders made of hand crafted marble and patinated bronze, in good condition. The candle sticks are resting on an urn-shaped base. The particularized Parisian décor...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal, Bronze
First French Empire Style Chandelier, Six Lights
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant and heavy first French Empire style chandelier in Bronze made in France in the 1940.
Takes six lights 60 watts max per bulb.
Original patin...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Bookcase in Walnut
Located in Doylestown, PA
An early 19th century French provincial biblioteque in walnut, with upper case with adjustable shelves and wire-grill doors over a lower pair of paneled cabinet doors, circa 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$3,600 Sale Price
46% Off
French Empire Mahogany
Egyptian
Bergère Attributed to Desmalter, circa 1805
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A rare and important circa 1805 'Egyptian-style' bergère believed to be an early work of famed French Empire furniture-maker François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter of 'tub-chair' fo...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
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
19 Century French Empire Marble top Chest
Located in Nashville, TN
This handsome 19th-century French Empire commode was crafted from figured fruitwood and features finely detailed brass ormolu and escutcheons. There are three keys for the five worki...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Enfilade
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A tremendous 19th century French enfilade of classic Empire styling, made of richly figured bookmatched mahogany adorned with gilt bronze accents. The original marble top of dark sto...
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style Round Side Table, Country Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
An Empire-style Neo Classic wooden round side table in a rustic country finish, with a dish top, four tapered column legs and an X stretcher base.
Dimensions: 30" W x 30" D x 27....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$2,060 / item
Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base.
Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$2,820 / item
French Empire Round Table or Gueridon of Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome French round table or gueridon in the Empire style, featuring a circular top of figured black marble (25.5" diameter), set upon a tripod column support of mahogany with or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal, Brass
French Pair of Brass Empire Style Candlesticks
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French 19th century brass candlesticks, Empire in taste, like miniature columns to add instant glamor to a mantel or table. Typical of the French Empire period, inspiration from anci...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,100 / set
Antique Queen-Size Carved Four-Poster American Empire Bed, Philadelphia, c 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An extraordinary American empire four-poster bed in cherry wood from the Philadelphia area that appears in the book, Philadelphia Empire Furniture ...
Category
1820s American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Poplar
American Empire Bronze Eagle
Located in Queens, NY
American Empire style (19th Cent) bronze figure of eagle perched on crossed arrow base (signed)
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand. Item features a revolving top, nice slender form, good antique item. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements:...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster
French Restauration Antique Mahogany Cylinder Roll-Top Desk circa 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
FINE RESTAURATION PERIOD ORMOLU-MOUNTED FLAMED MAHOGANY BUREAU À CYLINDER
France, circa 1830
Item # 403ZGP18C
An exceedingly fine bureau à cylinder from the Restauration period in F...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Three Light Table Lamp
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Three Light Table Lamp.
Beautiful French Empire brass Bouillotte lamp with three dolphin decorated scrolled arms. A finely chiselled stem...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$2,665 Sale Price
35% Off
Kindel Furniture Empire Carved Mahogany and Gold Gilt Console Tables, Pair
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding pair of Empire, Neoclassical, or Regency style console tables, sofa tables, or entry tables
By Kindel Furniture, "National Trust" Collection
USA, Circa 1980s
Carved...
Category
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood, Lacquer
Empire style large chandelier
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant style makes this fixture highly desirable.
It has a crown at the crest and has brilliant crystals
That cascade downward in an arc shape that attach
To a large bowl forming a...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Kindel Furniture Empire Carved Mahogany Console Table With Mirrored Back
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding Empire, Neoclassical, or Regency style console table, sofa table, or entry table
By Kindel Furniture, "National Trust" Collection
USA, Circa 1980s
Carved mahogany, ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Giltwood, Lacquer
Lacquered Empire Style Sofa with Leopard Fabric
Located in San Francisco, CA
Great statement piece with white lacquer wood finish and leopard printed upholstery. Loads of drama for either a simple or layered decor.
Category
1950s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
French Empire Period Ormolu Bronze Mantel Clock of Ceres, circa 1815
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A fine Empire period mantel clock with bun feet raising a rectangular base with a central portrait of Bacchus flanked by exquisitely chiseled motif of swirling foliage surmounted by a figure of the goddess Ceres grasping in her lowered hand a wreath woven with foliage and berries while in her garment she collects a bountiful harvest; she rests beside the clock tower with a framed lens opening to access the white enamel dial with black Roman numerals inscribed Etn. Tavernier set with Breguet style hands, raising an urn filled with fruits of the soil; against the tower rest the implements of labor, a shovel and flat rake. The movement is engraved "B". A significant clock movement maker, Etienne Tavernier (French, 1756-1839) is listed in Tardy's horology reference as working closely with the house of Abraham-Louis Breguet as well as providing clock movements...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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
$1,800 / set
Antique American Empire Classical Carved Mahogany Paw Foot Rolled Arm Sofa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Classical Carved Mahogany Paw Foot Rolled Arm Sofa. Item features carved paw feet with cornucopia carvings, spiral carved top rail, great antique sofa to reup...
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Empire Style Walnut Cabinet Two Door, One Drawer Circa 1830
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Antique 19th Century Empire Style Walnut Cabinet Two Door, One Drawer Circa 1830
Used, Good condition, View all photos for the most accurate details on condition and appearance.
Di...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique American Empire Crotch Mahogany Chest Drawers Step Back Dresser Paw Feet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Crotch Mahogany Chest Drawers Step Back Dresser with Paw Feet. Item features column supports, lift off upper small 3 drawer sect...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Contemporary Empire Style Brass Dolphin Table
Located in Houston, TX
A chic vintage brass dolphin pedestal dining table with 48" diameter glass top.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Forest Green French Bouillotte Bronze Lamp Rewired
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant French Bouillotte Bronze Lamp with Forest Green Tole Shade, France, circa late 19th Century. It has been rewired and is ready to use.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
French Empire Mahogany and Bronze Queen Bed
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style mahogany and bronze and gilt trimmed queen size bed with swan design (includes: headboard, footboard, rails). (19th Century reproduction of Josephine Bonaparte's swan bed...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire (circa 1810) gilt bronze and cut glass chandelier with cut crystal strands emanating from a gilt bronze center ring with 8 arms.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French 19th Century Chest of Drawers - Commode
Located in Greenwich, CT
A French Empire Period Fruitwwod commode or chest of drawers of rectangular shape, the three drawers raised on gilt wood paw feet, with Empire bronze escutcheons and pulls , having ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Settee / Sofa
Located in Tarry Town, NY
19th century French Empire style handcrafted gilt bronze mahogany framed upholstered settee / sofa. The settee features four straight mahogany legs, the front two of which are set on...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Rider Gold Velvet and Brass Dining Chair
Located in New York, NY
Parisian Flair. Our modern homage to an Empire style dining chair. Our rider dining chair is petite and glamorous, but ultra-comfy. Great as a dinin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Furniture
Materials
Nickel
$1,050 / item
Empire Style Black Neoclassical Corinthian Column Six Light Chandelier
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Empire Style Black Neoclassical Corinthian column six light chandelier
Priced each
Additional information:
Materials: Lights
Color: Black
Pe...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Empire Style Burlwood Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Mid 20th century Empire style leather top desk constructed with hardwood and burl wood veneers featuring ormolu, three drawers and stretcher.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$11,800
French Empire Sword Bench Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French gilt Empire sword bench with ultra sueded fabric. Beautiful carving details. Leave as is or have your upholstery shop recover and tighten frame.
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Empire Bronze Mount of an Eagle Subduing a Serpent, Desmalter / Thomire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Empire Bronze Mount of an Eagle Subduing a Serpent, circa 1800–1820
School or Workshop Jacob-Desmalter/Thomire
A finely cast French Empire bronze mount depicting Napoleon’s ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Empire style eight-light chandelier, with intricate brass casting that, contrasts with the black to create a striking effect. The fine detai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$22,500 / item
French Empire-Style Commode / Chest of Drawers with Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
This is a handsome chest of drawers having four drawers that
Draw easily. A column flanks each side and is accented with
Original bronze dore mounts. The drawers are dove tailed an...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Gilded Pinewood Wall Glass Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French rectangular wall mirror made of hand carved gilded Pinewood with its original mirror glass, in good condition. The arched mirror is particularized by detailed flower carvings and fittings. The Parisian décor piece represents the First French Empire...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Pine, Giltwood
Set of 11 Heinrich H&Co Selb Bavaria Gold Encrusted Porcelain Dinner Plates
Located in Germantown, MD
An exceptional set of 11 Heinrich Selb porcelain and gold encrusted dinner plates in white body in good antique condition.Listed price is ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
Monumental Marble and Bronze Dore’ Clock Adorned with Psyche and Amor Figures
Located in Houston, TX
Amazing clock depicting the tale of Amor and Psyche which
Is about the god of love in Greek mythology. Large bronze
Dore figures adorn the pediment standing on a rectangular
Marble b...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Fine French Empire Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Red Glass Crystal Baltic Chandelier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A fine French Empire / neoclassical style gilt bronze and red glass centerpiece with crystal drop Baltic chandelier having four swan arms rewired...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
19th Century Ebonized Italian Empire Style Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Ebonized Italian Empire style side chair featuring brass ormolu, claw feet, and a lattice-work back. This piece has a newly upholstered feather down seat cushion. 20" Seat height inc...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Six 19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Dining Chairs W/ Floral Tapestry
Located in Astoria, NY
An elegant set of six late 19th century French Empire dining chairs sourced from Provence, France. Beautifully hand-crafted from solid mahogany wood with handsome gondola frame. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tapestry, Mahogany
19th Century Italian Iron Safe / Cassaforte / Side Table / Nightstand
Located in Viterbo, VT
Hand-wrought iron safe hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s. The safe is made of thin sheets of iron folded and nailed together over a wooden case. Thicker bands of iron were then u...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th C. French Silver Commemorative Three-Dimensional Napoleon Portrait Spoon
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century French Silver Commemorative 3-Dimensional Napoleon Portrait Spoon
Unmarked, France, 19th Century
A remarkable 19th-century French si...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
$956 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 19th century French Empire Period Burl Elm Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale early nineteenth century French Empire period console table is constructed of solid burl elm and features a black marble top. A single drawer of dovetail constructio...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century French Empire Chaise Lounge Daybed
Located in San Francisco, CA
An elegant Empire Period black lacquered walnut chaise or daybed with brass ormolu decoration. Has its original horsehair mattress.
Frame is sturdy ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Upholstery, Walnut
$3,900 Sale Price
37% Off
Wonderful Pair French Empire Dore Bronze Neoclassical Bouillotte Column Lamps
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of French Empire Dore Bronze Neoclassical Bouillotte Column Form Lamps With Black Paper Shades
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Burnished Brass
Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair
By Stiffel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Lacquered Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 37" H (to finial) x 27" H (to light socket) x 6.5" W...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown 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.
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