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
Period: 20th Century
Pair of French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Pair of French gilt and patinated bronze wall lights
French, 20th Century
Height 103cm, width 50cm, depth 44cm
Drawing inspiration from the sophisticated Empire style, these wall li...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
$24,709 / set
French Empire Style Crystal Glass and Brass Chandelier, 1920
s
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Charming French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1920s.
This lovely piece has an ornate bronze frame hung with prisms of crystal glass.
The crystal glass pr...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Vintage golden sunburst mirror, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Resin sunburst mirror with convex mirror glass.
The mirror is in a good condition.
1960s - made in Belgium.
Dimensions:
Diameter: 43cm
Ref.: 84654535
40-41
Category
1960s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Resin
French Empire Style Enfilade
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Early 20th Century French Empire style bleached walnut enfilade with a marble top. 1920
Reference: 8331
Dimensions
87 inches (221 cms) Wide
22.5 inches (57 cms) Deep
36.5 inches (9...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Fine French Empire Design Oak Twin Pedestal Desk
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this beautiful French Empire design gilt metal mounted oak twin pedestal desk, rectangular top with inset tooled writing surface above three frieze, thre...
Category
Early 20th Century British Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$5,326 Sale Price
20% Off
Mirror Made In Mahogany, Marquetry From 1910s
Located in Lejre, DK
This small mirror, crafted from mahogany wood and featuring intricate intarsia, dates back to around the 1910s. It is a beautiful example of early 20th-century craftsmanship and desi...
Category
1910s Danish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Beaded Glass
Iron Six Light Chandelier
By Luminaire
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE
Elegant and glamorous French Empire style chandelier with glass crystal beaded 'bag', bobeches and canopy and double strands of smaller beads outlining the frame of th...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
$1,450 Sale Price
50% Off
Empire Style Carved Wood and Gilded Armchair and Settee Suite
Located in El Monte, CA
This exquisite Empire style armchair and settee suit, hand carved and rendered in a striking combination of gilded and cream-painted wood, exemplifies the grandeur of the Napoleonic ...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Edwardian Brass
Mahogany inlaid 3 tier Etagere
Located in Dereham, GB
Edwardian Brass & Mahogany inlaid 3 tier Etagere
3 Mahogany & Satinwood banded inlaid shelves,
Supported by brass Column frame
with Finials at top, ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,647 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Blue and Gold Porcelain Vase
Located in Prato, IT
Germany, mid-20th century
In blue and gold painted porcelain
Dimensions cm W38 x D25 x H52 approx.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique French Empire Style Walnut Dining Table with Leaf
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Style Walnut Dining Table with Leaf will bring understated elegance to your dining experience! Hand-crafted from sumptuous walnut, it features six tapered legs...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Mahogany Table with Inset Fossilized Marble Top
Located in Spencertown, NY
The circular table with contrasting marquetry of star decoration on the outer rim and then stylized greek key below it
with a black fossilized marble top with white highlights. Slig...
Category
20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique Empire Style Twelve-Light Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
This chandelier combines an understated crisply cast dark bronze body with wonderful quality two-tone gilding. Of classical inspiration, the theme is leafy, repeating borders of anth...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$12,800 Sale Price
20% Off
Wonderful Pair French Empire Figural Bronze Patinated Regency 2 Arm Wall Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of very fine French empire doré bronze and patinated figural women two-arm sconces, rewired with new candelabra sockets and ready to install with supplied mounting b...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage French Empire Sofa With Carved Swan Arms
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful painted and parcel gilt Empire sofa with medallions heads on the back, uprights modeled as swan heads in the arms, ( the swan heads are carved wood). This beautiful sofa ha...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Linen, Upholstery, Wood
$3,360 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of French Neoclassical Style Malachite and Gilt Bronze Side Tables
Located in London, GB
Pair of French neoclassical style malachite and gilt bronze side tables
French, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 85cm, diameter 50cm
These striking octagonal guéridons are crafte...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu
An Empire Style Cobalt Blue and Gilt Porcelain Krater Vase, by Hutschenreuther
Located in New York, NY
An Empire Style Cobalt Blue and Gilt Porcelain Krater Vase, by Hutschenreuther. A cobalt blue and gilt porcelain covered krater vase with a stepped circular pedestal base. The base ...
Category
1910s German Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire Style Chair by Frederick Victoria
Located in Stamford, CT
A French Empire style chair made by Frederick Victoria with ostrich leather seat.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large French Empire Style Tent Chandelier
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large French Empire Style Tent chandelier
This is a lovely piece, quite a large chandelier, it has an aged brass frame hung with large crystals, com...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Pair of Large French Planters
By Rouen
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pair of large French planters.
Origin France, circa 1900.
Attributed roun.
Excellent condition. Material: porcelain.
No restorations
In 1644, Nico...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$1,520 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Feet Side Tables, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Mahogany Paw Feet Side Tables - a Pair. Item features a claw foot tripod pedestal base, lower shelf, beautiful woodgrain,...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Very Fine Gilt Bronze
Crystal "Basket" Chandelier by Baccarat
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze & Crystal "Basket" Chandelier. The main and top circles with Anthemia and rosettes. Graduated chains of crystal octagon beads a...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Vaso in Porcellana di Herend Market Garden Anni 80
By Herend
Located in Milano, MI
Vaso in porcellana di Herend dipinto a mano, decoro Market Garden, realizzato negli anni '80
Ø cm 15 h cm 23
Le porcellane Herend sono tra le più prestigiose e ricercate al mondo. ...
Category
1980s Hungarian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of French Empire Style Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of elegant French Empire style side chairs. The chairs are burl with bronze mounts and feet. The black section to the front of the legs i...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$7,600 / set
Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Six-Light Bowl Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful bowl chandelier is designed in the Empire style, which flourished in France in the period 1804-14, when Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor. The style is defined as a phase...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Mid-Century French Empire Style Chaise With Mahogany And Bronze Frame
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a handsome mid-century French Empire style mahogany chaise lounge. Th frame is mahogany with heavy ormolu adorning it. It is unmarked. A striking piece for a variety of setti...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Beautiful pair of 1940
s French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Sofa, XX th, Mahogany, Gray
Located in Nice, FR
Empire style sofa Structure in solid mahogany with brass medallions Renovated upholstery, thick cotton fabric, gray color. The large seat cushion is ...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Solid Walnut Bronze Ormolu Mantel Buffet Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This French Empire style solid walnut mirror is a striking statement of classical design and refined craftsmanship. Designed for placement above a mantel, buffet, or console, this wa...
Category
1990s Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Figural Bronze Inkwell Desk Lamp with Tole Shade, Late 19th / Early 20th Century
French double inkwell figural bronze desk lamp, comprised of a central winged bronze cherub...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century French Empire Blue Urn Vase with Gold Decoration, Jaget
Pinon
Located in Sofia, BG
Amphora-shaped vase and in the Empire style, circa 1920, France made of earthenware with a marine-blue background with gold decorations in the spirit of Sèvres. Round neck surrounded...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Pair of Trouvailles Metal and Brass Side Tables with Swan Necks and Doors, Frenc
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A PAIR OF FRENCH PATINATED STEEL AND PARCEL-GILT GUERIDONS
Each with removable galleried top above two cupboards on turned legs headed by swan-neck-shaped handles
21½ in. (57 cm.) h...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Brass, Steel
$3,936 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Leather Armchairs Empire Style Midcentury
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page.
Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A
Pair of Mid Century ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood, Giltwood
$3,996 Sale Price
20% Off
One Empire Style Silvered and Black Engraved Metal Table Lamp, France, 1930s
Located in IT
Empire style silvered and black engraved metal table lamp, France, early 20th century, 1930s
In the pictures you see two lamps but only one le...
Category
Early 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Vintage French Bourgeat Saucepan "Série Collectivité" Aluminum 18" - 2Y67
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This beautiful vintage Bourgeat saucepan from the "Série Collectivité" collection is crafted from durable aluminum and made in France. Perfect for both collectors and culinary enthus...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Aluminum
$131 Sale Price
50% Off
Soviet Union Russian Silver Plated, Melchior 1970s, Marked, Free Shipping
Located in Sofia, BG
Vintage Russian German silver Melchior set of:
12 forks (six x two different ornaments)
Six (Two dessert or cake and four tea ) spoons
Three knives
Four soup spoons ( one is differen...
Category
1970s Russian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
$478 Sale Price
55% Off
Italian Tole and Wood Bead Chandelier
Located in Stamford, CT
1950s Italian tole and wood beaded chandelier in the Empire style
most likely imported by Chapman Manufacturing Company. The chandelier consists of an octagonal metal (tole) frame w...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Tin
Empire Console Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Empire style console table features golden claw feet, criss-cross back, and inlay top trim. Great for entry way or behind a sofa.
Please confirm location NY or NJ
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$1,800
Timothy Outlton, Empire Style, Wall Sconces, Steel, Crystal, 1990s
Located in Manhasset, NY
A pair of Niermann Weeks style three light crystal and metal wall lights by Timothy Oulton. Each in the Empire style with aged metal and crystal design. Part of a large collection of...
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Metal
1900s Empire Style Urn Vase Pot, Rudolf Wächter, Germany
Located in Skien, NO
Elegant Vintage Empire-Style Urn Vase by Rudolf Wächter, 1960s
A stunning Empire-style urn vase or jardinière pot in glazed porcelain, adorned with exquisite rose decorations encirc...
Category
20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
$288 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine Pair of Early 20th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Sconces, Lyre Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of Empire style gilt-bronze two-light lyre sconces
Each pierced stringed lyre-form backplate with the mask of Apollo above two scrolling branches centered by a star over an acorn pendant.
Provenance:
Maison Tisserand, Paris.
C Property from the Estate of Roger Prigent.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Elegant pair of French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of 1940's French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,850 / set
Empire Style Side Table
Located in Austin, TX
Gueridon, French, in the Empire style. This piece has three swan legs on a triangular base supporting the top covered with a veined black marble top (professionally repaired).
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
$1,500
Pair Empire Pedestal Stands - Gilt Side Tables
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French Empire style gilt pedestal stands
Perfect for displaying decorative pieces such as vases and urns
Round marble tops are smooth and chip free
Bought from a dea...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Set of Eight French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Neoclassical Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite set of eight French Empire style gilt bronze figural neoclassical wall sconces. Each sconce is structured with a central backplate featuring a prominent male mask, model...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of English Adam Silver Plated Empire Column Table Lamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Please note lamp shades NOT included.
Pair of Antique silver plated table lamps. Originally oil lamps converted to electric/plug in.
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Silver Plate
$3,360 Sale Price / set
30% Off
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
By Baccarat
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
French Napoleon III silver jug or decanter
Napoleon III style French silver and glass jug
Circa 1930 Origin France
Excellent quality cut crystal, could be baccarat
The silver part ha...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Royal Empire column with malachite and gilt bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal Empire column with malachite and gilt bronze
Impressive and regal wooden column with bronze mounts in Empire style. Solid wood coated with malachite painting technique. Such a...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Brass, Bronze
$4,134 / item
Sterling Silver Salt Cellar Lion Head and Paw Feet
Located in New York, NY
A sterling silver salt cellar with Lion head and paw feet detail, in the Empire style, circa early-20th century. Piece is a salt or pepper cellar vessel. A great piece for a dining t...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Hand Blown Murano Glass Semi Flush Fixture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Gorgeous Large Hand-Blown Italian Glass Semi Flush Fixture. Ribbed salt glass bowl with elegant pale pink ruffle trim. Dramatic addition to any room.
...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Murano Glass
Pair of Empire-Style Neoclassical Gilt and Patinated Bronze Stands
Located in London, GB
A pair of Empire-style Neoclassical gilt and patinated bronze stands
French, 20th Century
42cm high x 31cm wide x 31 cm depth
Made from patinated bronze and gilt bronze in the French Empire style, with Neoclassical influences, these excellent stands were made in France in the 20th century. Placed upon four small gilt feet...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
1960s Italian empire style brass fireplace tools
Located in Cantù, IT
1960s Italian empire style brass fireplace tools
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Empire Style Ottomans
Located in Rīga, LV
Pieces are fully restored: new upholstery with coordinated trim, wood was restored and new lacquer applied, brass details are cleaned and refinished
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$3,351 / set
Solid Tiger Oak Curved Glass China Cabinet Carved Claw Feet Lion Heads MINT!
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Solid Tiger Oak Curved Glass China Cabinet Carved Claw Feet Lion Heads MINT!
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Oak
French Neoclassical Empire Style Bronze Chandelier by Lucien Gau, 1970s
Located in Warsaw, PL
A striking French neoclassical chandelier in the Empire style by Lucien Gau, ca. 1970s.
The gilt bronze elements show delicate chasing and a soft patina that highlights its age and c...
Category
1970s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Two Reclaimed Tall Outdoor Braziers or Torchieres
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Each standing at 165cm (64.96 inches) tall, these spectacular reclaimed 20th century outdoor braziers or vintage garden torchieres bring grandeur and prestige to any property. Imagine the pair placed either side of an entrance to a lavish mansion or framing the steps at the bottom of the courtyard to a countryside estate. They are of a huge and prominent scale and deserve to be in equally impressive surroundings.
Sourced from a property in London, these reclaimed outdoor braziers date from the early 20th century. Each features a domed steel dish...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Limestone, Steel, Iron
Pair of Bronze Bookends Sculptures with Horn and Ram 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
Pair of decorated bronze bookend sculptures in the shape of a horn and ram, made in the 20th century
Ø cm 20.5 Ø cm 11 h cm 20.5
Aries is rich in symbolism, intertwining astrologic...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,579 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Bronze Garden Urns, French Architectural Empire Vases, 20th Century
Located in Southall, GB
A stunning pair of French Empire style garden urns in bronze, 20th century. Amazing architectural pair, can you imagine these in your garden overflowing with flowers. Stand in at nea...
Category
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilded Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
French Empire style gilded bronze Bouillotte lamp with 3 arms with dark green tole shade.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Carl Thieme, Dresden Floral Painted
Gilded Porcelain Urn, Germany, 20th C
By Carl Thieme
Located in Chatham, ON
CARL THIEME (Factory / Manufacturer) - Potschappel (Village / Location) - Empire style Dresden floral decorated and gilded porcelain urn with cover - ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Enamel, Gold Leaf
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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