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
Late Empire Antique Mirror Made In Mahogany From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
This antique mirror, crafted from rich mahogany wood, dates back to the late Empire period around the 1840s. It is a stunning example of the elegance and craftsmanship characteristi...
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Chest of drawers, Louis Seize around 1790
Located in Münster, DE
Louis Seize chest of drawers, circa 1790
Walnut and plum veneered on a softwood body, band inlays, the edges inlaid all around with maple and ebony, three drawers, original fittings...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Nutwood
Empire Table, Germany 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique and very elegant Empire table dates back to around 1810-20. It comes from Germany. It was probably made in the northern part of Germany or possibly in Berlin. The table s...
Category
1810s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$6,320 Sale Price
20% Off
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
French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock
French, early 19th century
Measures: Height 50cm, width 36cm, depth 12cm
This mantel clock, wrought from gilt bronze during the French Empire period, features a rectangular base, set above four bun feet, the front of the base adorned with a gilt bronze relief panel...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
pair oval off white "craquelee" night stands with golden elements Emipre stile
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
pair oval off white "craquelee" night stands with golden elements Emipre stile
Category
1980s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks after C. Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of excellent early 19th century French empire gilt bronze candlesticks in the style of Claude Galle (1758-1815):
A tapering stem with rich trelliswork relief divided into thr...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Venus Sculpture
Located in Ljungby, SE
A decorative sculpture depicting Venus emerging from the bath. The sculpture was made of plaster during the Empire period, likely in Sweden. The color is the original, restored finish.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Plaster
French 1st Empire Period Dore Bronze Grouping of Lovers, Att. Thomire A Paris
Located in New York, NY
An Exceptional Antique French 1st Empire Period Dore Bronze Grouping of Lovers, Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire a Paris. Exceptionally cast, hand-chiseled and further burnished and matted with two-tone gold, this dore bronze grouping of two neoclassical lovers is of the upmost quality and craftsmanship. As Pierre-Philippe Thomire is regarded as one of the greatest bronzier's of the late 18th century and early 19th century, this dore bronze piece could only be made by someone with his artistic talents. The lovers are seen with the man seated on a cushioned bench with tasseled...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Gold French Gilded Wood Barometer, Antique Parisian Thermometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A rare antique finely worked French barometer with lyre shaped crest thermometer above a large hexagonal framed barometer. The Parisian décor piece is m...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Empire Commode with Caryatids, Walnut Veneer, Austria, Vienna circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine, original Empire or early Biedermeier Commode with three drawers in walnut veneer with caryatids, from Austria, Vienna about 1815.
Book-matched walnut veneered on softwood. Exceptional carved caryatid pilasters columns depicting temple guards...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf, Iron
$6,607 Sale Price
28% Off
French Sevres Green Ground Porcelain Framed Charger Napoleon Courting Josephine
Located in Tarzana, CA
A Large and very fine French Sevres green ground porcelain framed charger depicting the consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and coronation of the...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
An Empire Style Mahogany Pedestal Desk, By Kahn, Paris
By Kahn
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Pedestal Desk, By Kahn, Paris.
The rectangular top with a inset tan-leather writing surface. The frieze fronted by three drawers above ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century, Four Tuscany Curule Wood Stools
Located in IT
19th Century, Four Tuscany Curule Wood Stools
These four elegant stools were crafted from fine wood in Tuscany, Italy, during the early decades of the 19th century. The distinctive...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
German Wooden Biedermeier/ Empire Trumeau Mirror with Brass a Appliques
Located in Hamburg, DE
The pillar mirror, also called trumeau is from the German Biedermeier period. The frame is made of mahogany and root wood veneer. On the frame above the mirror is a mythological scen...
Category
Early 18th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
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
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
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
Early 19th Century Empire Candelabras
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning pair of gilded and patinated bronze candelabras, featuring a winged cupid. He is standing on a sphere and holding a torch, which is surrounded by three curving candle branch...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$9,455 / set
20th Century Empire Style Table Decoration after J.B. Claude Odiot
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, engraved and silvered. Three columns shafts with full-plastic, finely engraved swans. Funnel-shaped insert.
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$430 Sale Price
20% Off
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
19th Century Empire Style French Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Majestic basket chandelier in French. Empire style in 1900.
Bronze, gilded. Basket-shaped, profile-shaped body made of hand-cut French ball prism strings. In the course, con...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th century French Empire Period Elm Barometer signed Gabriel
Located in London, GB
Empire Cistern Barometer by Gabriel
Of rectangular form, with the case waisted, veneered in burr elm with mounts in the manner of Percier and Fontaine, of cistern type, with bronze ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Palatial pair of "Chevaux de Marly" france bronzes circa 1850
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and large pair of "Chevaux de Marly" in bronze with spectacular work on the bases. Circa 1850 in perfect conditions.
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt-Bronze and Mahogany Five-Piece Salon Suite
Located in London, GB
French Empire style gilt-bronze and mahogany five-piece salon suite
French, Late 19th Century
Sofa: Height 107cm, width 162cm, depth 65cm
Armchair: Height 101cm, width 68cm, depth 6...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair Of Antique Empire Silver Candle Holders, by Viennese Master, Dated 1804
Located in Vienna, AT
Two elegant, plain silver candle holders on a round stand, foot laterally profiled, centred raised smooth shaft, in the lower third constriction by profiled bead ring, shaft widening...
Category
Early 1800s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
A Very Fine Gilt
Patinated Bronze Centerpiece in the Empire style.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt & Patinated Bronze Centerpiece in the Empire style.
France, circa 1890.
Width 15 1/2" Height 18" Depth 5 1/2"
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Large Pair, Empire Style Sconces, 18-Karat Gold Plate, 3 Lights, Black Shaft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Larger pair of Empire Looking style sconces They are of hi-quality lost wax Bronze castings with fine detailing . With polished 18-karat gold plated finish in Antique. Center sha...
Category
1990s American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Dragon Handled Urn Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An rare model French Empire mantle clock featuring a classical urn with dragon handles. The clock is entirely of gilded bronze with original fire gilding. The urn-shaped case is surm...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
A Pair of American Gilt-Bronze Three Light Wall Lights
Located in New York, NY
Pair of gorgeous twisted cornucopia sconces by Edward F. Caldwell & Co. Three scrolling cornucopia supports joined by a scroll form rose with tudor rose style on and off switch, hard...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
A 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Cabinet
Located in London, GB
France, circa 1840
A fine early 19th century flame mahogany cabinet with original ormolu mounts and handles, the original Saint Laurent Grey m...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Crotch Mahogany
Ebony Lyre Pedestal Sewing Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th Century Duncan Phyfe Style Occasional Sewing or Spool Table. Features a crotch mahogany frame over an ebonized lyre base with brass rods and downswept scrolled feet. Inc...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$843 Sale Price
25% Off
Large Russian Empire Porcelain Gold-Ground and White Bisque Figural Centrepiece
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent and large Russian Empire porcelain gold ground and white bisque figural reticulated centrepiece. A large filigree basket supported by three a...
Category
1820s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold
Pair of Empire Candlesticks
Located in Ljungby, SE
A pair of French Empire candleholders in fire-gilded bronze. They feature decorations of fluting and acanthus leaves. The candle sleeves are removable.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$3,900 / set
19th Century Italian Sorrento Inlaid Side Table
Located in Carmine, TX
Sorrento round side table hand-made in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. The table follows the canons of the style with intricate geometrical radially symmetrical inlay on the ...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Poplar, Satinwood, Walnut
A Pair of Framed Marble Cameos of Roman Emperors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Superb Pair of Breche Violette & Marble Cameos depicting Roman Emperors resting inside oval giltwood frame. France, circa 1860.
CW5028
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
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
Table Game Table Swedish Karl Johan, 19th Century, Light Mahogany Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Game table made during the Karl Johan period 1810-1830 in Sweden. Made from light mahogany and decorated with brass hardware. Tapered legs. Felt interior with backgammon and chess ga...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$4,000 Sale Price
38% Off
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Leroy à Paris
Located in Warsaw, PL
A magnificent 19th-century Empire-style mantel clock, signed by the esteemed clockmaker Leroy à Paris. This timepiece exudes classical elegance, featuring a finely detailed gilt bron...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Painted Toleware and Brass Desk Lamp A lovely piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French Painted Toleware and Brass Desk Lamp
A lovely piece, adapted from an original oil lamp, the lamp has a single brass sconce and opposite we can see the secretary bird both set...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Federal Flame Mahogany Reverse Painted Trumeau Wall Mirror 24"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Federal / Empire style flame mahogany trumeau / wall mirror - rectangular frame with carved pillars and stepped pediment holding a mirror and reverse painted coa...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Paint
$412 Sale Price
25% Off
19th Century French Empire Jardinière With Fine Lyra Bronzes 1820–1825
Located in Epfach, DE
French Empire mahogany jardinière with fine bronzes, c. 1820–1825.
Mahogany veneer on softwood with an original metal liner and bronze mounts. Original casters.
This is a particularly elegant French Empire jardinière...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Two Branch Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of French Empire patinated bronze and ormolu figural two branch candelabra. Set on square ormolu socle with cylinder ormolu stem wit...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Thomasville French Louis Philippe Burlwood Marble Top Four-Drawer Dresser Chests
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful pair of French Empire or Louis Philippe style four-drawer dressers or chests of drawers
By Thomasville
USA, Late 20th Century
Gorgeous burl wood, with thick beveled ma...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Surtout De Plateau Three Piece Mirror and Bronze Coffee Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19/20th Century) three-piece coffee table (Surtout De Plateau) with a mirrored surface supported on a bronze base with a stretcher having gilt bronze trim and ga...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Mid 19th century Swedish ebonised dressing table with classical detail
Located in London, GB
A decorative and functional ebonised Swedish dressing table in a Empire style with angular cornice and applied gilt rosette detail to the support columns of the mirror.
The dressing ...
Category
1850s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French mid-19th century Empire style mahogany and ormolu mounted pair of armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet and e...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details.
The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Two Neoclassical Empire Style Bronze and Marble Pedestals
Located in London, GB
Two neoclassical Empire style bronze and marble pedestals
French, 20th century
Dimensions: Height 100cm, width 48cm, depth 48cm
This pa...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Empire 19th Century Round Pedestal Table France
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Here is an original round tripod center table from the early 1800's about when Napoleon roamed Europe. This table has been given a professional complete but "soft" restoration to sav...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Slate, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Green Tole Three Light Table Lamp.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Early 19th Century French Empire Bouillotte Green Tole Three Light Table Lamp.
Beautiful French Empire brass Bouillotte lamp with three swan decorated scrolled arms. A finely chise...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Empire Splendid French Saloon Table, Bronze Gilt
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and gilded bronze in wax casting. Three curly legs connected with gutter. Medium with garland-shaped decoration. The legs are in the form of three winged, fully plastic...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Scandinavian Brass Push Up Chamber Candle Holder with Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic patina on this candleholder from the early 1800's. We see this chamber candlestick on a coffee table with antique books. Wonderful addition to any collection of these sough...
Category
1810s Scandinavian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix Bronze Sculpture After Antonio Canova
Located in New York, NY
Finely modeled and cast antique (19th century) patinated bronze sculpture depicting Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix after the original model by the Italian master, Antonio Canova....
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Walnut Wood Rounded Coffee Table White Marble from Carrara Top
Located in IT
Empire Wood Rounded Coffee Table with White Marble from Carrara Top
19th century Italian Empire rounded coffee table in wood.
Original Bronze details such as the stars and the neck...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
Pair French Empire Cabinets - Painted Vernis Martin Commodes
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French Empire style cabinets with painted fronts
Hand painted doors and side are in the style of Vernis Martin
In French interior design, vernis Martin is a type (or...
Category
Early 1800s Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
pair of 19th century Empire Period Giltwood and Marble consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and most impressive pair of Continental 19th century Empire/Restauration Period Giltwood and Fleur de Pêcher marble consoles. This stunning pair of consoles is raised o...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Unusual Pair of Empire Two Branch Candelabra in Gout d
Egypt or Egyptian Style
Located in London, GB
A fine and unusual pair of French Empire or possibly Russian two branch candelabra in the gout d'Egypt or Egyptian style which was extremely popular, circa turn of the 18th century. Set on square patinated bronze bases each female figure stands upon a finely cast ormolu...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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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