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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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Style: Empire
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Mahogany Somno or Drum Table with Marble
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early nineteenth century French Empire period mahogany somno or drum table features a black marble top and a hinged curved door with bronze pull. Its cylindrical form and clean ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

GBV Nine Ceramic Shelf with Hand Painted Fair 19th Century
Located in Milano, MI
Ceramic shelf from Nove di Bassano with flowers and fair, hand-painted by Gian Battista Viero and made in the 19th century. Restorations have been carried out as shown in the picture...
Category

1880s Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Swan Neck Bed c1900 France
Located in Trensacq, FR
Handsome and rare antique swan neck bed c1900 France. Rich warm brown cherry frame with gorgeously carved naive swan detailing at each of the four corners. A wonderfully naive take ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Cherry

French Painted Zinc Bathtub from 1800
Located in Vienna, Austria
This French zinc bathtub is in original condition: without a drainage hole, with a wood subframe, two handles and beautiful blue painting and decoration on both sides. Seems to be wa...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Zinc

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 Crystal Glass and Brass Three-Tired Chandelier, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire style crystal glass and brass three-tired chandelier, the 1930s. Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1930s. This lovely...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Bronze

20th Century Italian Solid Silver Empire Style Sugar Bowl on Feet
Located in VALENZA, IT
Important Italian sugar bowl in 800 solid silver made in Florence. The Empire style is characterized by the Classic leaves, embossed and finely chis...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Silver

Marvelous MARBRO Mid Century Polished Brass Table Lamp! Huge Showpiece Lighting
Located in Peoria, AZ
SENSATIONAL! MID CENTURY MONUMENTAL BRASS MARBRO LAMP! MID CENTURY DECORATION ICON! DUAL PULL STRING SOCKETS! POLISHED BRASS ORIGINAL SHADE & BRASS FINIAL DIMENSIONS: 40" x 21" In the forties and fifties, decorators would choose the most impressive lamp they could obtain and place it in a home's "picture window" so that all passerby and visitors could glimpse just how well the occupants lived! Picture windows started disappearing in the late sixties, but demand for monumental lighting...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Gold

French Empire Console Table of Flame Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French Empire console table of fine proportions, featuring a rectangular figured marble top, set upon a frieze of flame mahogany with one long hidden drawer over a base with t...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

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

Antique 19th century large oval gold and silver leaf gilt French mirror
Located in Casteren, NL
On offer here is a large antique oval mirror that was made in France in the second half of the 19th century, circa 1860. The mirror is decorated with beautiful ornaments with rich sy...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf

Pair Golden Antique Paris Porcelain Vases with Paris Porcelain Centerpiece
Located in Katonah, NY
We are pleased to offer this elegant three-part group of Paris Porcelain in the Empire style crafted circa 1840. Dimensions of the basket: 13.75" long x 7.5" wide x 10.75" tall. The basket is 4.75" deep. Dimensions of the vases: 12.5" tall x 6" across the handles x 4" deep Condition: Very Good, to Excellent with some touches of gilt invisibly restored on the basket. Price for the set of three Paris Porcelain pieces: $2,300 The centerpiece is an oval-shaped pierced basket, lavishly gilded with delicate latticework. The golden Empire style lends an air of grandeur to the design, while the intricate latticework adds a sense of delicacy and allows light to play through. The white line across the top of the base further enhances the richness of the gold, creating a touch of intensity. The long rectangular base harmonizes beautifully with the oval shape, creating a visually balanced composition. With dimensions of 13.75" long x 7.5" wide x 10.75" tall and a depth of 4.75", this basket is perfect as a centerpiece for a formal dining room table...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

French Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style brass and crystal glass basket chandelier. Charming and compact French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has an or...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

1930 Swedish Empire Chandelier with Crystals and Etched Glass
Located in New York, NY
1930 Swedish Empire bronze chandelier with etched glass inset and crystals around
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

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

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

19th Century French Empire Console Table
Located in Ongar, GB
A nice quality 19th century French Empire console table made from flamed Cuban mahogany. With a Belgian bluestone top and original ormolu ...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Empire Center-Dining Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This oblong, French Empire style mahogany table from the 19th century would be perfect for dinning or a center table interchangeably. When closed, this stunning table is supported by...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 23" x 15"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Feathers

Fine quality early 19th century flame mahogany bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine example of a regency period bookcase circa 1820. Very much in the manor of Thomas hope.  Matching flame mahogany veneers from top to bottom.  Comprising of 3 sections, lower ca...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass, Mahogany, Pine

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

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

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

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

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

Italian Empire Style 19th Century Oval Cherrywood and Ebony Dining Room Table
Located in Firenze, IT
This simply stunning antique 19th century Tuscan large oval dining room table has a gorgeous shape, thanks to its soft and sober lines- ty...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Cherry, Ebony

Italian Black Gold Tole Cachepot Jardiniere Lion Head Planters, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Italian black and gold metal tole cachepot jardiniere planters in the Empire style, circa late-20th century, Italy. Pair are oval in shape with gold trimmed scalloped edge, black ground and gold star design, finish with gold lion head and loop detail on sides. Marked "Made in Italy" on bottom as shown. Dimensions: 4" D x 5.63" W x 4.25" Height. Larger Italian cachepot...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Scandinavian Empire Sofa in Mahogany with Ormolu and Upholstery, circa 1815
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An elegant Empire Swedish Karl Johan sofa with graceful lines in mahogany with satinwood line inlay, ormolu and ebonized details. Offers scrolled arms and saber feet with upholstered...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Beautiful White Opaline Cenedese Style Glass Compote Pedestal Bowl, Italy, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This elegant Tuscan glass pedestal bowl is a beautiful example of mid-century Italian milk opaline craftsmanship, created circa 1950 or earlier in the style of Cenedese. The bowl fea...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass

French Federal EmpireStyle Victorian Cherry Wood Armchairs, Set of Four
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Amazing set of 4 Empire Style Armchairs, ornately decorated with bronze appliqué, leaf foot caps and stunning bronze griffin arm details. The commanding chairs are made of solid Cher...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

17th Century Flemish Pillow - 24" x 8"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category

17th Century Albanian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Feathers

French Empire style walnut Armchair - blue green yellow - France 19th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very pretty Empire-style walnut armchair with carved palmettes and acanthus leaves. The armrests are fluted. The legs are saber-shaped. The armchair is upholstered with floral tapest...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

19th Century empire revival mahogany pier mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century empire revival mahogany pier mirror circa 1870. Excellent quality pier mirror using the finest mahogany.  Architectural cornice top with cresent shape which showcases t...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Cut Crystal Spear Empire Chandelier
Located in San Francisco, CA
This chandelier is truly stunning, with its sparkling, leaded glass cut crystals. An Empire-style crystal chandelier in the form of a tent with a ring structure adorned with outward-...
Category

20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Vintage Golden Sunburst Mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Heavy gilded resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass. The golden mirror is in a good condition. 1960s - made in Belgium. Dimensions: Diameter: 55cm/ 21.6" Diameter glass: 1...
Category

1960s Belgian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Resin

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

AN EMPIRE AUBUSSON CARPET FRANCE, CIRCA 1810 16 ft. 11 in. x 13 ft. 9
Located in Harrington Park, NJ
The green field woven with sylized flowerheads and bouquets to the corners, the central medallion woven with flowers, within a flower-filled border 16 ft. 11 in. (515 cm.) x 13 ft. 9...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool

A pair (2) of figural Empire candelabra candles. Paris, 19th century.
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair (2) of figural Empire candelabra candles. Paris, 1815s Gilt bronze. Recessed pedestal base with palmette and floral decoration on a square plinth. The pair, dressed in antiqu...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Marble Top Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent 19th century French empire gilt wood console table featuring a marbleized limestone top with partial shell fossil remnants. The marble specimen is...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

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

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

Majestic Huge Schonbek "Camelot" 2643 Crystal Gem Cut 84 Light Chandelier
Located in Tustin, CA
Very elegant, finest quality, estate Schonbek Swarovski Gemcut crystal chandelier features classic Napoleonic Empire style. This stately and magnificent chandelier has two tiers and approximately 84 incandescent lights. It measures 65" long and 41.5" in diameter. The hardware is finished in gold. This chandelier is lavishly draped in crystals. The retail price of a new, made to order chandelier of this size is over $22,000.00. Reference page 104 of the Schonbek Beyond Lighting catalogue shown in the photos. Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, a Swarovski company, has 149 years of experience crafting superior crystal...
Category

Early 2000s Austrian Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Metal

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

Late Empire Bench in Mahogany, Denmark c. 1820
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Late Empire bench crafted in beautiful mahogany with profiled round legs in the classic Empire style. The bench has been newly upholstered in a soft dove-blue fabric, creatin...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Baker Furniture Regency Paw Foot Pedestal Extension Dining Table, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Empire, Regency, or Neoclassical style pedestal extension dining table By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Beautiful book-matched cherry wood, with rosewood banding and...
Category

1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

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

Antique Mahogany Child Armchair, France
Located in Munich, DE
This charming children’s armchair is made out of mahogany with fine carving. It is newly upholstered with a discretely patterned fine, lustrous fabric in green with golden spots. Paris, circa 1810...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Empire Mantel Clock with Putto in Chariot, signed Thiery à Paris, Early 19th C.
Located in Greding, DE
Empire mantel clock made of fire-gilded bronze. The scene shows a putto in a richly decorated chariot pulled by a jumping poodle. The clockwork is elegantly integrated into the wheel...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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

Lamp - Cassolette - Oil lamp - Empire style - Bronze - 19th France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Magnificent late 19th century mantelpiece set, mounted as a lamp. This beautiful Athenian-style cassolette is made of chased and gilded bronze and brass with a brown patina. The cent...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Print depicting soldiers of the Mounted Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard
Located in Bishop s Stortford, GB
One of a Set of Four different scenes available. The image provided is a lithographic print depicting soldiers of the Mounted Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard (Cha...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass

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

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

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

Dutch 20th Century Mahogany Empire Style Tallboy
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Early 20th century Dutch Empire-style mahogany tall chest of six drawers featuring Neoclassical elements with Art Deco geometry. A pierced brass gallery wraps the sides and partially...
Category

20th Century Dutch Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

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

1940s French Empire / Neo-Classical Style Tole Table Lamps - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
These are beautiful! These hand painted tole lamps are French. They are in very good condition and are signed. The base and body display many elements of the French Empire period. T...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Sterling Silver Snuff Box with Floral Motif
Located in Vienna, AT
This beautiful snuff box is made from sterling silver. Its inside is gold plated. Lid and bottom are covered in the same floral design reminiscent of a bouquet or floral ornament. Th...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver

Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Console
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Console with Ebonized Marble Top & Bronze Dore Details, ca. 1810
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

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.