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
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
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
Set of three Neoclassical Italian Porcelain Plates
Located in New York, NY
Set of three Neoclassical Italian Porcelain Plates. Three Real Fabbrica hand painted and gilded Naples Neoclassical Empire soup plates with central roundels depicting jewel toned my...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage French Empire Mahogany Pedestal Base Round Brass Gallery Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Pedestal Base Round Center Table with Brass Gallery. Item features a pierced brass gallery, pedestal base, gold gilt details, beautiful wood grai...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
19th Century French Empire Style Bleached Commode with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th century French Empire style commode exudes elegance and sophistication, featuring bleached mahogany and a marble top The bleached finish gives it a timeless and classic loo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
Italian Empire Style Commode
Located in Houston, TX
1900s Italian Empire mahogany chest of drawers with gilt bronze ormolu, keys and black marble top.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category
17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Wooden Carved Painted Display Cabinet Chest Tabernacle
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
European 19th Century Wooden Carved Painted Display Cabinet featuring a mirror glass locking door. This versatile piece could be used to store jewelry or collectables. We also see th...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Sublime 19th Century French Empire Chandelier
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Sublime French Empire chandelier.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Tôle
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
Pair of Large Early 19th Century Italian Empire Walnut Commodes
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of large early 19th century Italian Empire walnut commodes with ebonized columns, bronze doré hardware, and three drawers.
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Aubusson Pillow 19" X 10"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
$1,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Cut Glass Dish Pendant Light
Located in New York, NY
Empire style pendant light with a cast glass dish and bronze decorative frame. These elegant lights graced many of the main corridors of the Waldorf Astoria. This requires three stan...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Painted Wood and Marble Pedestal Stand Gustavian Style
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Bring a touch of classical architecture into your home with this impressive vintage column pedestal painted in a Gustavian color called Gustav. Certainly a very neutral color that bl...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Empire-Style Dining Chairs, Set of 6
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a charming set of six carved and inlaid mahogany dining chairs in the French Empire style. The chairs date to the second half of the 20th century and are in very good conditi...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$2,950 / set
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Abattant with Figural Ormolu 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Empire abattant secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper drawer over drop front desk opening to interior with p...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
$2,360 Sale Price
20% Off
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant. Mahogany with mahogany & oak secondary wood. Ingenious hidden drawers & locking mec...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Bronze Lantern
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large bronze French Empire style lantern.
Category
20th Century Spanish Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
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
Vintage French Empire Napoleon Style Ebonized Oak
Cane Magazine Rack Stand
Located in Dayton, OH
French Empire Napoleon III style ebonized magazine rack. Made from oak with flared caned magazine or newspaper supports. The top is supported by turned columns over scrolled feet co...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Cane, Oak
$490 Sale Price
30% Off
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
Early American Classical Empire Period Flame Mahogany Sewing Stand Work Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare fine quality Federal period American Empire flame mahogany sewing stand work table from the early 19th century.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in the northeastern United States, most likely Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1820, having a hinged top, opening to reveal contrasting Birdseye maple marquetry oval cartouche inlay, a fitted maple divided compartment interior, the front having two nicely shaped curved drawer fronts, consisting of a faux drawer front over a single dovetailed ogee drawer, above a vasiform pedestal standard, molded stepped platform base, rising on bracket feet, resting on casters.
Attractive highly figured crotch cut swirl mahogany with striking grain patterns, rich and deep antique wood color...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birdseye Maple, 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
Pair 19th Century French Empire Style Gilt Bronze 2-Light Sconces / Wall Lights
Located in New York, NY
Pair antique (19th century) sconces in the French Empire style with gilt bronze arms decorated with masks and mahogany backplates decorated with various neoclassical motifs.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Revival Style Burled Walnut Extension Dining / Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire Revival-style (19/20th Century) burled walnut circular center / dining extension table which opens to accommodate 4 leaves, resting on a central fluted and tapered colu...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Burl
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
Wonderful French Empire Dore Bronze Regency Petite Five-Arm Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Empire Dore Bronze Regency Petite Five Candelabra Light Chandelier, This Fixture Comes With Shades That Maybe Removed
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Empire Style Birdcage Model of Chateau de Luneville, Early 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The wood and wire birdcage faithfully depicting the chateau.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$16,000 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Period French, Empire Painted Commode
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Period French, Empire Painted Commode
The solid wood body is painted in a textured, aged, distressed patina showing some of the gesso-painted base and original wood b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Commode Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant fruitwood chest of drawers was crafted in France, circa 1860. The traditional commode sits on round columnar feet over a straight bottom plinth, and is embellished on both sides by carved round columns with decorative bronze rings at the neck and base. The cabinet features three drawers across the front with the original bronze pulls and key holes escutcheons, and a fourth additional drawer under the marble top. The surface is dressed with the original black marble top. This chest is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, and adorns a rich walnut patina. The Empire style cabinet...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
Empire Marquetry Sofa in Mahogany with Satinwood Inlays, circa 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A lovely and well-proportioned marquetry sofa with arched back, scroll arms and short Grecian curved legs in mahogany embellished with inlays of festoo...
Category
1810s Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Satinwood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Tulipwood
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
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
Circa 1700 Antique Brussels Baroque Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1700 Antique Brussels Baroque Tapestry Pillow
Category
Early 1700s Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
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
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
Circa 1850 Antique French Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1850 Antique French Pillow
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Set of 6 French Empire Dining Chairs in Mahogany with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of 6 French Empire dining chairs in mahogany with bronze mounts are a stylish expression of the genre, with exotic imported ma...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Mahogany Library Tub Fauteuil de Bureau or Desk Chair
Located in Nashville, TN
Of generous proportions and presence . The front mounted with well cast bronze mounts (of some size and weight ). The top with French interpretations of the Greek Caryatids (very att...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Brass And Cut Frosted Glass Pendant Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Brass and frosted glass cut to clear pendant, rewired and ready to hang. New single socket and wire. Original ceiling cap and hardware to hang included. Good overall condition, ready...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
Painted Pine and Oak Storage Bench or Settle
Located in Baltimore, MD
This Box Bench has a great form and has all the characteristics we look for in a Central European Storage Bench. For most of its length the top rail is flat, only following a curve ...
Category
Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Oak, Pine
Empire Stellar Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Empire style round dining table with beech and quartered walnut veneer and a stellar parquetry inlaid top with a molded edge on a tapered octagonal column base and quatrefoil concave...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$5,577 / item
Pair Italian Neoclassical Eagle Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair Italian neoclassical eagle armchairs in yellow silk taffeta. Italian Empire painted and parcel-gilt carved armchairs with finely carved eagle arm t...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
$13,600 / set
French Empire Armchair with Red Floral Striped Damask Upholstery
Located in Queens, NY
French Restoration mahogany armchair having a rectangular headrest topped by a tapering gadrooned crest, upturned scroll arms with acanthus embellishments, upholstered back and seat ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
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
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
Italian Neoclassical French Empire Green
Gold Painted Wooden Column Pedestal
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Italian Neoclassical / French Empire Style Green & Gold Painted Carved Wood Column Pedestal. Circa 1900, (painted finish appears to...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage French Empire Brass
Italian Black Marble Column Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Italian Black Marble & Polished Brass Column Table Lamps With Black Textured Shades - a Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 27.5" H (to finial) x...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Empire Style Silver
Crystal Swing-Handle Basket /Sphinx Decoration, C. 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Empire Style Silver & Crystal Swing-Handle Basket with Sphinx Decoration, Continental, circa 1820–1850
Measurements: 7" high x 6" wide x 4.75" deep
Interior Measurements of Crystal ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century Miniature Writing Desk Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This vintage miniature wood box has six drawers and lots of character and patina. Some of the drawers are lined in faux marbleized paper. We see this wonderful piece being used to st...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
$382 Sale Price
49% Off
Set of Ten French Empire Mahogany Caned Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Glorious set of ten mahogany dining chairs made in the neoclassical French empire taste. The chairs feature decorative bronze mounts ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Ormolu-Mounted Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
A fine quality empire ormolu-mounted patinated bronze and rouge royale marble mantel clock.
The patinated bronze figures depicting cupid and psyche. Attributed to Pierre-Victor Ledure...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Style Green Glass Inkwell with Gilt Mounts
Located in Nashville, TN
Second Empire green glass inkwell circa 1870 .rare color .Encased in gilt metal Empire styled mounts ,swans drinking from a fountain. The lid shows a woman with bust . The ovoid gree...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass
Mint Condition Empire Sofa Sette Loveseat Couch Fine Carved Details Lions Feet
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Note: Full price include new upholstery service, buyer to provide fabric.
Mint condition empire sofa sette loveseat couch fine carved details lions feet.
The frame is stunning vint...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
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
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
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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