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
Photo Frame Large Imperial Style White and Green enamel on Sterling Silver Salim
Located in Firenze, FI
Large shaped frame for photographs in gold plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent two-tone fired enamels on guillochè and rich friezes in the French Empire Louis XVI style ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th c, Danish Revolving Desk Chair
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional 19th century Danish revolving desk armchair in mahogany with marquetry and brass casters, from the Empire period. Ca 1850, Denmark.
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique French Aubusson Pillow Ca. 1860
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
18th Century French Tapestry Pillow 15" X 11", Circa 1850s
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
French Empire Style Ebonized Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) ebonized and gilt bronze 6 arm chandelier suspended by 3 black and gilt bronze link extensions with a flame ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Late 18th Century Pewter Wine Beaker or Cup, Denmark
By Wiggers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Danish Pewter beaker or cup for wine or beer, Denmark Circa 1790-1810
The cup is marked with a large W on the base.
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pewter
$316 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Bouillotte Candelabras
Located in Antwerp, BE
Rare Pair of 19th Century French Bouillotte Candelabras in Gilt Bronze with Adjustable Green Tole Shades – Wabi-Sabi Elegance
An exceptionally rare and completely original pair of 1...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Circa 1880 Antique Bessarabian Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1880 Antique Bessarabian Pillow
Category
1880s Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
$1,799 / item
Circa 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca. 1860 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Fine Large Antique Empire Revival Mahogany and Marble Top Circular Center Table
Located in New York, NY
This extraordinary antique Empire Revival mahogany center table measures an impressive 70.5" across and 32" tall (179 cm by 81 cm) and features four pairs of gilt Greek caryatid figu...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Empire Dore Patinated Bronze Urns on Pedestals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of quality bronze Dore Urns on Pedestals. The pair are in wonderful vintage condition. one small bend to the lip or edge of one - not greatly noticeable or offense...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Wonderful Bronze Dolphin
Swan Green Tole Large Bouillotte Empire Regency Lamp
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful French Bronze Dolphin & Swan 4 Candelabra Light Painted Green Tole Metal Shade Large Bouillotte Empire / Regency Style Lamp
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Metal
Patent Secretaire, France, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Patent secretaire with mahogany veneered frame and columns with bronze capitals and bases.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Table Lamp Cut Crystal Diamond Pattern Gilded Bronze
Located in Poperinge, BE
Large and rare Empire style table lamp, made of cut crystal and gilded bronze and brass, dating from around the beginning of the 20th century, France.
This very high quality table l...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Inlaid Mahogany Empire Chest of Drawers, Denmark circa 1810
Located in Round Top, TX
A fine mahogany empire chest of drawers or commode with satinwood inlays.
Top drawer reveals storage compartments with lids and areas to h...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Cylinder Burl Walnut Pedestal Cabinet, Copenhagen, 1830-1840
Located in Kastrup, DK
Cylinder burl walnut pedestal cabinet. Late empire. Oak beautifully veneered with walnut. A large front door that opens to reveal a set of four shelve...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Mahogany double bed 1850s Empire period inlaid and gilded
Located in Cesena, FC
Mahogany bed from the 1850s Empire period inlaid and gilded
Austrian bed 1850s empire period mahogany with inlays and gilding
Important and elegant double bed circa 1850.
Bed of Au...
Category
1850s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
Early 19th Century Empire Period Portrait of a Gentleman
Located in Doylestown, PA
A charming portrait of a young Empire period gentleman with an earring, under glass in a period gild wood frame. Oil pastel on paper, French, circa 1800.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Paper
$2,200 Sale Price
38% Off
Superb
Rare Empire Mahogany and Brass Inlaid Chair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Superbly elegant and unusual late 19th century Empire style chair having curved back adorned with small gorgeous Medusa head, inlaid in perfect places including the reeded legs with ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of 19th Century Torchéres
Located in Dresden, DE
A stunning pair of 19th-century Swedish Empire Torchères made of
carved and gilded wood with painted and marbled wooden bases.
Stockholm, circa 1840
Height 133 cm, width 46 cm, dep...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
$6,838 / set
Pair Of Empire Style Bronze Table Lamps
Located in Essex, MA
Lampshade diameter 17 inches. Relatively modern nice quality in the French empire style.
Category
Late 20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,500 / set
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Demilune Cabinet
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
French demi lune sideboard in mahogany. Empire, circa 1820.
Two-door corpus in demi lune form. Mahogany veneered on oak. One drawer. Newer slightly overhanging granite top instea...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Granite
Empire Gilt-Bronze
Variegated Green Marble Desk Set, c.1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
The base is composed of variegated green marble with a pen tray, ormolu trim and patarae motif. The ormolu well with lid is beautifully decorated with laurel wreath garland surround...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Neo Classical Style Burl Walnut Mirrored Back Console Table / Credenzas
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Enhance your living space with this Mid-20th Century Neo-Classical Style Burled Walnut Mirrored Credenza/Console Table, a versatile and beautifully designed piece of furniture that r...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage Coat Rack Bronze Clothes Hook, France, 1970s
Located in Bastogne, BE
A great vintage wall hanging coat rack with red velvet and brass hooks from France, 1970s.
The set includes a coat rack and 5 hooks.
A coat rack in the hallway is a convenient and...
Category
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Empire Cobalt Blue Porcelain Figural Gilt Bronze Urn Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Deep Cobalt Blue Figural Gilt Bronze Porcelain Urn Form Table Lamp with Lion Head Rings. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 31" H (to finial) x 23" H (to li...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Wall Mirrors, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of pillar mirrors in gold-patinated and stuccoed frame with profiled molding. The mirror panes are divided in the upper third. Patination is rubbe...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
$14,001 / set
Pair of Stately Antique French Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pair of high quality gorgeous vintage French Empire style club chairs from Bloomingdale's with handsome carved dolphin armrests. Probably walnut, faux painted a greige color.
#4271
...
Category
1940s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$1,400 Sale Price / set
36% Off
19th Century Italian Empire Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite 19th-century Italian Empire desk is a beautifully crafted piece that exemplifies the neoclassical elegance of the Empire style. Made from richly grained walnut, the de...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
Circa 1850 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Antique French Empire Brown Painted Column Small Metal Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Brown Painted Column Small Metal Table Lamps with Paw Feet and Lion Heads - a Pair. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 17.5" H (to light socket) x 7" W x 7...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Large Neoclassical Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite Fireplace
Located in London, GB
Large Neoclassical style gilt bronze and malachite fireplace
French, 20th century
Measures: Height 124cm, width 218cm, depth 58cm
Crafted from the timeless combination of malachite ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze
Large Antique French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A large antique French Empire-style gilt bronze and patinated bronze chandelier. The chandelier is circular in form, designed with a broad corona supporting twelve lights arranged in...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Green Patinated Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of late 19th Century French empire style double lights sconces, green patinated bronze.
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1920
s French Empire Single Light Swan Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of circa 1920’s French empire style one light sconces with Swan’s head
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,800 / set
French Empire Style Cocktail Table Speckled by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical round coffee or cocktail table lacquer speckled by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The table is made in the French Napoleonic empire style featuring bronze mounted ...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$3,040 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Antique 64" Caved Wood Gold Giltwood Empire Pedestal Candlestick Pricket
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote.
Large Antique 64" Caved Wood Gold Giltwood Empire Pedestal Candlestick Pricket. Item ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Pair of Mahogany Mirrors, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of mahogany mirrors from Denmark, circa 1840-1860, with a carved and scrolled pediment and turned side columns.
This pair is solid and ready to hang securely.
There is expecte...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
$1,850 / set
Empire Banquette or Window Seat in Birch with Marquetry Inlays, circa 1800
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A Swedish Empire banquette/sofa in birch with marquetry embellishments which include foliage and urns and line-inlaid figures of the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. Lower cabinets open to reveal drawers, while top cabinets offer shelving.
Note: Needs upholstery...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Empire Malachite Centre Table Gilt Pharaoh Legs
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Stunning French Empire table in gilt with malachite base and top
Such a great look to this piece which reeks of style and elegance
The look is very high Empire with all the classical...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Early 19th C. French First Empire Mahogany And Belgian Marble Console
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An exceptional antique French first empire marble-topped figured mahogany console table, circa 1800. The rectangular Belgian black-gray flecked marble top surmounts a conforming frie...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Metal
19th Century French Gilt Bronze Empire Figural Basket
Located in Atlanta, GA
First quarter 19th century, in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire (French, 1751–1843), gilt bronze and marble, figural basket, possibly Nike, holding aloft a flared, reticulated b...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century French Iron Consoles
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A pair of superb quality early 19th Century French wrought iron console tables. With brass foliage decoration supporting later marble tops. Circa 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Wrought Iron
$8,888 / set
1930
s French Empire Silver Plated Chandelier with 6 lights
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French silver plated finish empire style chandelier with 6 lights
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
A Pair of French Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Winged Victory Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine pair of late 19thC French Empire style candelabra now wired into lamps. The very well cast and patinated winged Victory or Nike s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage French Empire Marquetry Burl Wood Chest
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This magnificent vintage French Empire marquetry burl wood chest is a true embodiment of classical grandeur and exceptional craftsmanship. The piece showcases stunning burl wood vene...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood, Burl
Large Empire Mirror in Cuban Mahogany with Columns and Carved Capitals, c. 1810
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exquisite Empire mirror in Cuban mahogany with carved anthemions as antefix decorating the crown molding and columns with carved acanthus capitals flanking the mirror and frieze, ...
Category
1810s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Empire Cheval Mirror
Located in Woodbury, CT
In walnut with ebonized trim, this stately mirror has exquisite lines and exemplifies the design motifs of the period. Burl walnut surrounds the glass that has survived more or less ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$10,850
Zuppiera Centrotavola in Porcellana di Herend Rothschild Anni 70
By Herend
Located in Milano, MI
Zuppiera centrotavola in porcellana di Herend, decoro Rothschild, realizzata negli anni '70
Ø cm 30 Ø cm 26 h cm 13
Le porcellane Herend sono tra le più prestigiose e ricercate al ...
Category
1970s Hungarian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Empire “Gueridon” Tripod Table
Located in Austin, TX
Side table from France in the French Empire style. This piece is made of mahogany that has been ebonized and finished with a high gloss French polish finish. The “gueridon” has a tri...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
Pair of French 19th Century Gilt
Patinated Bronze Sphinxes on Porphyry
Bron
Located in Hudson, NY
Made in France circa 1840s this finely cast pair of sphinxes are represented in the recumbent position most associated with the form. Showing on both figures are two hieroglyphic car...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porphyry, Bronze
Antique French Aubusson Pillow - 19" X 21"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wool
$2,640 Sale Price
20% Off
Att. Moser, Glassware Service (43 pieces), 1950s
By Saint Louis, Moser
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb glassware service composed of 43 pieces featuring glass cutting techniques in the style of Moser’s “Splendid” model, with gold thistle decorations along the rim reminiscent of...
Category
1950s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass
$15,317 / set
Pair of Russian Imperial Cut Crystal and Doré Bronze Centerpieces W/ Masks
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of hand diamond cut Russian crystal and doré bronze mounted oval shaped centerpieces in the Louis XVI style, attributed to the Imperial Russian Glass Manufactory, early 1800s. Each beautiful hand diamond cut crystal bowl...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large 2nd Empire Bronze 4-Light Melusina Sconces, Pair
Located in San Francisco, CA
Second Empire Bronze sconces depicting The Melusina of European Folklore. The Mermaid with Angel Wings. A female spirit of fresh water. Detailed castings of the four winds, scaled ta...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$9,100 Sale Price
36% Off
Aubusson French 1800 - 23" x 13"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Good Condition, Original Design Modified.
Category
Early 1800s Albanian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Feathers
$1,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Wonderful French Neoclassical Large Empire Bronze Crystal Glass Bell Jar Lantern
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French neoclassical large Empire bronze and crystal adorning glass bell jar lantern fixture with 6 candelabra lights.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Oval Empire Side Table, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Delicate Empire side table from the early 19th century, veneered in mahogany and featuring a single drawer. The gracefully curved C-shaped legs end in brass sabots and are joined by ...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$7,778 / set
French Antique Empire Style Buffet
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet, French, in the “return from Egypt” Empire style. After the Egyptian campaign Napoleon asked his “ebenistes“ to incorporate stylistic elements i...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Monumental Antique French Empire Period Hall Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent over 200 year old French Empire Period (1804-1815) parcel gilt walnut armorial hall pedestal / plant stand.
Born in France in the early 19th century, most likely near the Italian border or Napoleonic territory in present day Northern Italy, most impressive palatial scale, exceptionally executed one-of-a-kind sculptural work, having carved fiolate apron with H monogram, decorative scroll work, stylized grotesque satyr mask with acanthus leaf accent, over high relief crest mural crown depicting four towers representing fortified city walls, shield escutcheon coat of arms with three fleur-de-lis above wavy lines depicting sea water in front of castle tower, supported by figural winged female caryatid, flanked by volute supports, joined by turned stretcher. circa 1810
Provenance / Acquisition:
An important San Antonio estate
Acquired from highly reputable auction house Austin Auction Gallery, est.1983, Austin, Texas. Texas Mansion Carved French and Italian Antiques catalog...
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.
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