Skip to main content

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.

to
761
2,688
2,058
4,752
92
83
188,425
72,360
41,492
31,107
16,569
12,050
10,855
10,537
9,777
8,693
7,274
6,543
6,419
6,303
6,279
5,960
4,927
3,707
246
3,075
1,431
175
487
348
220
105
15
80
50
46
48
75
53
53
23
2,682
2,019
1,479
1,005
825
4,050
2,792
406
290
237
4,949
4,905
45
33
19
16
12
Style: Empire
Availability: In Stock Within 6 weeks
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

Lacquered Empire Style Sofa with Leopard Fabric
Located in San Francisco, CA
Great statement piece with white lacquer wood finish and leopard printed upholstery. Loads of drama for either a simple or layered decor.
Category

1950s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

Empire Style Round Side Table, Country Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
An Empire-style Neo Classic wooden round side table in a rustic country finish, with a dish top, four tapered column legs and an X stretcher base. Dimensions: 30" W x 30" D x 27....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Elegant French Empire Bronze Relief of Napoleon I in Thuja Wood Frame
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant French Empire Bronze Relief of Napoleon I in Thuja Wood Frame A distinguished French Empire bronze relief plaque depicting Napoleon I crowned with the classical laurel wreat...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A rare pair of heliocodal French Directoire library bookcases in solid walnut. This type of bookcases is also known as 'boiseries de Bibliothèque' a...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

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

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 Mahogany Center Table with Marble Top
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Period Empire mahogany center table with marble top, circa 1830. With a round marble top with molded edge, a flame mahogany pedestal with an ormolu ring at the base resting on a plat...
Category

1820s European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, 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

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

Vintage Danish Rectangular Wood Gilt Gold Art Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Impressive Danish gilt gold art frame found in a Paris market. Perfect piece for that special oil painting or watercolor. The frame has wonderful patina throughout and would look fan...
Category

Early 1900s Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold

French Empire Style Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE STYLE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK Composed of 19th century elements ref. 501GWU22P 45 7/8" H x 32 1/8" W x 15 5/8" D; writing area is 15" D x 26 1/8" W Thi...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

An Antique French Empire Style Gilt Brass And Patinated Bronze Lantern
Located in London, GB
A large Empire style lantern in patinated bronze with gilt brass accents. Four curved glass panels, decorative scrolled inner branch arms. Gilt br...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Elegant Empire Bench in Mahogany with Satinwood Inlays
Located in Kastrup, DK
Small, elegant Danish Empire bench crafted from mahogany, featuring delicate string inlays in satinwood on the ends. The seat has been newly upholstered in light gray linen, accented...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany, Satinwood

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

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

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

Italian Empire White Murano Opaline Beads Drops Beaded Tole Chandelier, c 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
One of a kind! Housing 6 lights, sitting in crystal bobéches, dripping with white opaline beads and vintage crystal prisms. Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA...
Category

Early 1900s Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Murano Glass

19thc Antique French Empire style Bronze Cut Crystal Cascading Chandelier
Located in Opa Locka, FL
19thc French Empire style Bronze and Crystal Chandelier. Cascading crystal form. Bronze frame. Purchased in France.
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Vintage French Empire Style Brass Candlestick Bouillotte Desk Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Style Brass Candlestick Bouillotte Desk Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 25" H (to finial) x 17" H (to light socket) x 13" W x 13" D. {3-Way (N...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Danish Rectangular Empire Wood Gilt Gold Art Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Impressive Danish gilt gold art frame found in a market in Denmark. Perfect piece for that special oil painting or watercolor. The frame has wonderful patina throughout and would loo...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold

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

French 19th century Mahogany, Ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble console. This impressive freestanding console is raised on a wide rectangular flame Mahogany ba...
Category

19th Century French 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

Forest Green French Bouillotte Bronze Lamp Rewired
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant French Bouillotte Bronze Lamp with Forest Green Tole Shade, France, circa late 19th Century. It has been rewired and is ready to use.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

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

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 19th Century Empire Mahogany Semainier
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A 19th century French Empire mahogany semainier featuring artful neoclassical hardware. Hand-crafted in France circa 1810, this semainier is fitted with seven drawers to provide a dr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Rich Mahogany Antique American Empire Round Pedestal Center Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Rich looking round mahogany American Empire antique center table with ebonized pedestal and gilded details. Structurally sound having turned feet and castors. A 48” round piece of ...
Category

19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood

Vintage French Rectangular Ribbed Wood Gilt Gold Art Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Very charming ribbed gilt gold art frame found in a Paris market. Perfect piece for that special oil painting or watercolor. The frame has fantastic patina throughout. Inside measure...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold

American Empire Bronze Eagle
Located in Queens, NY
American Empire style (19th Cent) bronze figure of eagle perched on crossed arrow base (signed)
Category

19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Gilt Bronze Box With Miniature Of Napoleon Bonaparte, 19th Century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Gilt bronze box with miniature of Napoleon Bonaparte painted on porcelain from the 19th century. 7.5 x 9.5 cm, height 3.4 cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Walnut Upholstered Settee
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely tailored walnut Empire settee. The top rail is flanked by two graceful sloping arms, joining two brass classical female heads crowing two front straight tapering le...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Matched Pair of Empire Mahogany Pedestal Cupboards with Green Marble Tops
Located in London, GB
A matched pair of Empire mahogany pedestal cupboards of cylindrical form, both with green marble tops, and two shelves to the interior. One with circular plinth base and castors, one...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Napoleonic Porcelain Soup Plates Set of 10 by Nast w/ French Imperial Decoration
By Nast
Located in Katonah, NY
This set of ten beautiful French porcelain soup plates was made by Nast, the Parisian factory renowned for producing porcelain for Napoleon and his imperial court. During the Napole...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

French Regency Style Ebonized Chair W/ Gilt Neo-Classical Swans Tiger Velvet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a killer chair! It is a regency style ebonized arm chair with neo-classical giltwood swan arms and paws. The tiger velvet is new. The chair is unmarked and is possibly by Pat...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Empire Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Fruitwood, Giltwood

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

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

Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Burnished Brass Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Stiffel Empire Style Lacquered Burnished Brass & Porcelain Table Lamps (A) - Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 37" H (to finial) x 27" H (to light socket) x 6.5" W...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

French Empire Round Table or Gueridon of Mahogany with Marble Top
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome French round table or gueridon in the Empire style, featuring a circular top of figured black marble (25.5" diameter), set upon a tripod column support of mahogany with or...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Metal, Brass

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 Scandinavian flame mahogany oval table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century oval center table circa 1890. Simple and elegant piece of Scandinavian design with this multi functional occasional table. Matched flame mahogany top surface w...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

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

Danish Architect’s Drawing Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
Architect’s Drawing Cabinet / Plan Chest Danish design, c. 1920 Exceptionally well-crafted drawing cabinet from around 1920, made as a unique piece and originally commissioned for a...
Category

Early 20th Century Danish Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

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

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

Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Alabaster Marble Empire Style Carved Column Pedestal Plant Stand. Item features a revolving top, nice slender form, good antique item. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements:...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Alabaster

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

17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
17th Century Antique Brussels Tapestry Pillow
Category

17th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Set of three Neoclassical Italian Porcelain Plates
Located in New York, NY
Set of three Neoclassical Italian Porcelain Plates. Three Real Fabbrica hand painted and gilded Naples Neoclassical Empire soup plates with central roundels depicting jewel toned my...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

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

Empire Style Brass and Crystal Glass Three-Light Basket Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
Adorable French Empire-style crystal glass and brass chandelier from the 1950s. This lovely piece has a brass and metal frame hung with chains of crystal glass beads forming a basket...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century French Faux Bamboo Burl White Marble Chest Drawer Sideboard
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A good antique 19th century French Empire faux bamboo & white marble pine small sideboard /chest of drawer. The chest having the original veined white marble top above four drawers, ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Sublime 19th Century French Empire Chandelier
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Sublime French Empire chandelier.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Tôle

French Empire Mahogany Queen Bed
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19/20th Century) mahogany queen size bed with gilt bronze trim and upholstered panel on headboard (includes: headboard, fo...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf, 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 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.