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
Empire Style Giltwood Looking Glass
Located in Vista, CA
Empire-style giltwood looking glass, the frame with projecting floral block-carved corners surrounding a carved frieze panel depicting griffins flanking an urn issuing a putti figure...
Category
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Neoclassical Empire Rectangular Gold Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Empire style handcrafted mirror, featuring a rectangular hand-carved wooden frame with a gold foil finish. Fully handcrafted, the piece highlights the detailed carving a...
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Empire Style Brass Mounted Leather Table Lamp
Located in Vista, CA
Empire Style brass-mounted Tooled Leather Table Lamp, 20th century columnar standard on pedestal with guilloche gilt borders, marbleized shade, and ...
Category
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Materials
Leather
20th Century Empire Style Four Sweeping Arms Candlestick/Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Monumental candelabra in Empire style.
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Chanelled columns with black patination, as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-14).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Wonderful Pair of French Large Bronze Empire Regency Lady Figural Tassel Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of French doré bronze Regency neoclassical lady figural three-light Empire large tassel wall sconces these sconces have completely...
Category
1910s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Gold Gilt Empire Style Lamp
Located in Tampa, FL
A single gold gilt lamp in the Empire style. It is very nicely gilded and at the bottom has company name. The lamp has the original plugs, socket and ha...
Category
1940s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Style Side Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome pair of Empire style polished mahogany and rosewood side tables, serpentine tops on four legged bases with carved and gilded caryotid legs and with ormolu mounts
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Empire Style Marble-Top Nightstand or Console
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Empire style marble-top nightstand or console. One drawer and lower ledge, gilt bronze details and neoclassical columns.
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Pair of 20th Century French Armchairs Neo Gotic Style
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of polished wrought iron armchairs dating from the 70s. French work. Neo-Gothic style. Beautiful work done by hand. Measures: 54 x 86 x 48 cm 3250 EURO.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Set of Antique Glazed Ceramic Tiles Depicting Napoleon
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Eight 6-inch antique glazed ceramic tiles depicting Napoleon, 18th century French Emperor and military figure. Likely the central part of what was once a larger panel, these tiles are hand-painted in vibrant colours and detail, illustrating an adaption of Napoleon and his armies during the French Revolution.
The frontmost figure depicts the famed Napoleon Bonaparte, wearing his signature side to side bicorne hat, leading a procession of horses and an army of French foot soldiers.
Dating from the late 19th / early 20th century, it is a stunning antique tile panel...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and silvered bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-20-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Gilt and Patinated Bronze Empire-Style Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
Gilt and patinated bronze Empire-style wall lights
French, Early 20th century
Height 35cm, width 36cm, depth 20cm
This pair of wall lights or sconces are modeled in the opulent...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Empire Style Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted bronze. Full plasticized, feminine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-21-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century, Empire Style Silvered Ceiling Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, silvered. Finely engraved. Bell shaped, traffic-light styled corpus.
(F-Ra-25).
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
20th Century Empire Style French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and silvered. Three stylized horn-formed rolling candlesticks.
(T-Mr-14-Bas).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Ibach Model 2 Grand Piano Mahogany Case Ormolu Mounts
Located in Leeds, GB
Empire style, 1901, Ibach model 2 grand piano with a mahogany case and gate legs. Entire cabinet decorated with ormolu mounts depicting classical scenes of gods, goddesses and wreaths. This piano is one of 12 unique instruments made as exhibition models...
Category
Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Desk Rich Register of Gilded Bronze
Located in Marseille, FR
Lady's desk with Empire style mahogany, base decorated with griffins, very beautiful register of gilded bronzes oak drawer bottoms, top and zippers trimmed with brown and green Moroc...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Wall Sconces attributed to Caldwell
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Bronze & Crystal Wall Sconces, each having a pierced anthemion backplates, demi lume corona with three lights above a band of square and kite shaped prisms & steel liner. US...
Category
1920s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
$4,250 / set
Pair of Laudarte Grifone Empire Style Wall Lights, Ancient Gold 24k
By Laudarte Srl
Located in Southall, GB
Grifone is an Italian Classic wall sconce made with two lights, designed by Giovanni Maria Ma in the empire style, bronze with ancient gold 24k finish, marble and malachite inserts. ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Marble, Gold Plate, Bronze
Neoclassical Empire Round Silver Hand Carved Wooden Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency Empire style handcrafted mirror. Round hand carved wooden structure with silver foiled finish, Spain, 1970.
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Neoclassical Empire Round Silver Hand Carved Wooden Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency Empire style handcrafted mirror. Round hand carved wooden structure with silver foiled finish. Spain, 1970.
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Burr-Amboyna, Marble, Gilt and Patinated Bronze Cabinet by Maison Krieger
Located in London, GB
This beautiful display cabinet was crafted by the prestigious furniture company, Maison Krieger. The firm was founded in 1826 by Antoine Krieger. Over the course of the 19th century,...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Limestone Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A French Empire style limestone fireplace. The frieze with interlocking diamond pattern with tapering, full round columns. A copy of an 18th century original.
Shelf width: ...
Category
Late 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Limestone
Neoclassical Empire Oval Silver Hand Carved Wooden Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency Empire style handcrafted mirror. Oval hand carved wooden structure with silver foiled finish. Spain, 1970.
Category
1970s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
A very fine Gilt
Enameled Bronze Empire style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine Empire style chandelier. Gilt and enameled bronze.
France, circa 1910. 4-light
Dimensions: Height 34", diameter 18".
CW3...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Style Candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
Incredible pair of Empire style candelabra of gilt and patinated bronze. The backs are flat in order that they might be close to a wall.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$9,650 / set
Empire Style Painted and Gilt Metal Sconce
Located in London, GB
Empire style painted and gilt metal sconce
French, 20th century
measures: Height 34cm, width 26cm, depth 17cm
This elegant sconce is crafted in the Empire style. The sconce feat...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Empire Style Marble and Bronze Antique Centrepiece by Robbe
Located in London, GB
In an ornamental style, with rouge griotte marble and burnished bronze depicting the three Graces, signed 'A. ROBBE. Paris.'
This stunning French centrepiece...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Very Fine Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt and painted bronze chandelier in the Empire style featuring 8 swans carrying stylized candle cups. All original.
Measures: Height 37", width 26", 8-light
CW4449.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1900s French Bronze-Mounted Stools
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Newly-upholstered in Cheetah pattern fabric. Nicely chased bronze mounts. Strong and sturdy. Very unusual.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$7,950 / set
French Empire Parquetry Side Table
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Pretty Walnut and Kingwood French Parquetry side table of Serpentine Form and Empire style
With Pretty shaped legs featuring Brass mounts...
Category
1920s Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Kingwood
Console and Mirror with Metal Leaf and Bronze Details, 1990s, Set of 2
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Console with mirror produced by Lam Lee Group of Dallas, the style refers to the French eclecticism of 1940. Both the console and the mirror are made o...
Category
1990s American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Empire Style Lantern Form Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb Louis WVI style lantern. Two toned patinated bronze, with curved glass panels. 3-light,
France, circa 1900.
Apparently unmarked. Measures: Height 42", diameter 19".
Pair ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$18,750 / item
Pair of Classical Empire Style Side Tables
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A striking pair of Empire influenced Sienna marble topped side tables, each with scrolling carved classical monopodia supports, terminating in carved claw feet,.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Siena Marble
$11,668 / set
Alabaster Pendant
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine silver over bronze hand carved alabaster pendant, France, circa 1930.
Dimensions: Height 39 1/2", diameter 22"
CW3329.
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Alabaster
$7,450
Pair of Continental Faux Painted Malachite Wooden Pyramids
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of continental faux painted malachite wooden pyramids.
Category
1920s European Vintage Empire Furniture
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs in Gilt and White Wood, 1950s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Empire style armchairs in white carved wood with gold highlights.
Standing on two front tapered legs and two back saber legs. Straight apron and uprights, rectangular backse...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Noble 20th Century in Empire Style Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and antique silvered. Columns as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms.
(T-Ra-11).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Casted Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted Bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation.
(T-Mr-20-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Three Claw-Feet French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft.
(T-Mr-15-Bp).
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Basket Applique or Wall Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic basket applique in the Empire style.
Extremely finely chased and cast bronze. The basket-shaped body made of hand-cut French ball prisms is connected by a broad, ornamental...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Wall Sconces, Circa 1900
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire gold bronze wall sconces, Circa 1900.
Category
Early 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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