Skip to main content

Empire Tables

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
61
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
399
236
613
25
4
25,964
19,202
5,037
3,426
1,885
1,830
1,787
1,699
1,682
1,584
1,414
948
883
840
550
322
148
10
428
175
29
50
41
36
5
2
6
1
8
3
4
3
15
5
542
302
263
260
220
504
319
79
41
32
642
635
638
11
9
6
3
2
Style: Empire
Italian early 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Giltwood console and mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most impressive Northern Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany, Giltwood and Veneered marble console and mirror. This stunning console and its origin...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

French Empire Gilt Centre Table Lacquer Winged Maiden Legs
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a stunning lacquered centre table in the French Empire style Features a large marble top which is smooth and chip free In turn supported by the winged maiden creature...
Category

1980s Vintage Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood, Ormolu, Mirror and marble console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and most decorative Italian 19th century Empire st. Cherrywood, Ormolu, Mirror and marble console. This stunning freestanding console is raised on four block feet suppo...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Ormolu

18th Century Consult - Empire Style Epoque Table
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
18th Century Consult - Empire Style Epoque Table Beautiful piece purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category

18th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

An Italian early 19th century Mahogany, Giltwood and veneered marble console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most decorative Northern Italian early 19th century Empire st. patinated Mahogany, Giltwood and veneered marble console. This stunning cons...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Breccia Marble

Swedish Giltwood Early 19th Century Empire Console Table
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine, giltwood Swedish console table, possibly by the Stockholm master cabinet maker Lundelius (1778-1823). The wooden top in faux marble painted, the base plinth is painted black....
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Giltwood

French Empire Style ‘19th Century’ Mahogany and Bronze Trimmed Centre Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th centntury) mahogany and bronze trimmed rectangular centre table with winged females, open stretcher and onyx top.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Onyx, Bronze

Special Price Luxury Console Table at Stock for Sale
Located in London, GB
Console inspired by the Empire style characterised by square column legs with Doric-Corinthian capitals, carved decorations of garlands of leaves and rosettes. Materials In patinate...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

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 Tables

Swedish 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Polychrome and Giltwood Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A remarkable and most elegant Swedish 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, polychrome and giltwood center table. The rectangular table is raised by an elegant H shaped bottom mahogany s...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Giltwood

20th Century Antique Louis XV Style French Salon Table Bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Majestic French salon table in Louis XV style. White polished on solid pinewood. Exceptionally finest engraved, decorative broken rocailles, inlaid with acanthus, and flowered detail...
Category

20th Century French Empire Tables

Materials

Bentwood

Two Neoclassical Style Wooden Guéridons with Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in London, GB
These wonderful guéridons are designed in the Empire style—named as such because it flourished in the period when Napoleon I was Emperor of France. The style employed Imperial Roman ...
Category

20th Century French Empire Tables

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French Empire Style Mahogany Table with Marble Top, 19th Century
Located in El Monte, CA
A handsome Empire style mahogany center table with a black marble top circa 1840. Surrounding the edge of the tabletop is a brass gallery with an openwork design. A rich mahogany fri...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Early 19th Century French Pier Table with Grey Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
A mahogany pier table with carved swans, mirrored back and grey marble top (not original to the piece) early 19th century France (marble top replaced).
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

Empire Oval Red Tole Tray Table with Parcel Gilt
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Empire red tole tray with gold leaf decorations on modern stand.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Metal

Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Ormolu and Mahogany Side Tables
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. ormolu mounted mahogany circular side tables. Each table is raised by a beautiful bottom tier with mottled feet...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French Empire Centre Table Burr Walnut circa 1860
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French Empire style burr walnut centre table. Circa 1860 Standing on swept legs with cast gilt Mouldings. This table has 1 x Mahogany lined drawer. The shaped top featuring high ...
Category

1860s Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Walnut

Russian Empire period Walnut Sofa Table
Located in Montreal, QC
This beautiful table is probably Russian, We describe it as a sofa table but it might equally be for the library . (The drawer has ink stains) It is a fine piece of cabinetry with ...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Walnut

Beautifull Gueridon of the End of the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Beautifull gueridon of the end of the 19th century Very good condition Mesures: 60 cm diameter and 77 cm high.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Wood

19th Century Empire France Lyra-Shaped Curly-Legs Side Tables, circa 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood and partly boned. Round leaf with black-and-white interspersed marble, over simple frame and lyra-shaped curly legs on three-sided retracted base plate and dis...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

French 19th Century Empire St. Ormolu, Mahogany, And Gray Marble Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and high quality French 19th century Empire st. Ormolu, Mahogany, and gray marble console. The console with original mirror plates is raised by two front Ormolu foliate b...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Empire Oval Table with Claw Feet and Rounded Drawers
Located in Asheville, NC
Antique empire claw foot oval table with casters, curved drawers tiger wood mahogany detail and wood veneer.
Category

19th Century American Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Period Empire Marble Top Gueridon Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful, period Empire veneered, ebonized and gilded, marble top gueridon table with figurative legs terminating in goat hooves.
Category

1810s Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

Oval American Empire Table with Claw Feet
Located in Asheville, NC
Beautiful Mahogany Empire table with claw feet and its original casters. Pillar legs. Brass hardware on drawers with dovetail detail inside.
Category

Early 19th Century North American Antique Empire Tables

French 19th Century Empire St. Faux Painted Wood, Giltwood and Marble Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Empire st. faux painted wood, giltwood and Gris Turquin marble side/center table. The circular table is raised by a most decorative triangular base ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

A 19th Century Rafraichissoir Table
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century rafraichissoir table with gilt and ebonized swan supports. Mahogany, circa 1845. France.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Empire Influenced Gueridon
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century burr walnut French Empire influenced gueridon / centre table. Having classical gilded ormolu mounts to the frieze and ca...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Walnut

French Empire Period Dore Bronze Mounted Center Table/Library Table
By Thomas Hope
Located in New York, NY
A marvelous French empire period dore bronze-mounted center table with X-form stretcher on either side, most probably from a Thomas Hope design. This beautifully hand carved center t...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Style Porphyry Marble Top Center Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive good quality 19th Century French Empire influenced Gueridon, having a rare Porphyry marble top, wonderful hand carved gilt wood decoration to the frieze of Oak leav...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Porphyry

19th Century, Empire Style Mahogany Bronze Console Table
Located in Beaune, FR
Rare and superb Empire style mahogany console table decorated with gilded bronzes. It is topped with an original Siena marble in good condition. This console is large in size which i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

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 Tables

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

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 Tables

Materials

Kingwood

Pair of American Empire Mahogany Corner Console Tables
Located in Queens, NY
"Pair of American Empire mahogany corner console tables with scroll legs (PRICED AS Pair) Antique condition. Has some wear and tear."
Category

19th Century American Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique French Empire Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Mahogany Center Table Circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Empire bronze mounted marble-top mahogany center table Circa 1880. A very handsome mahogany table with accompanying bronze decorative elements.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Empire Influenced Centre Table, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century Empire influenced marble topped guéridon, having a brass gallery, gilded ormolu mounts of flowers, leaves, berries and plaques. Raised on four square tape...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

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 Tables

Materials

Siena Marble

Italian Mid-19th Century Empire St. Circular Mahogany Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most attractive Italian 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, polychrome, and white carrara marble side table. The circular table is raised by three elegant square tapered legs with ha...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Carrara Marble

Pair of French 19th Century Empire St. Mirrored Mahogany Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant pair of French 19th century Empire st. mirrored mahogany consoles. Each demi-lune shaped console is raised by two mottled...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

19th Century Italian Table of Mahogany and Painted Architectural Scenes of Rome
Located in London, GB
Constructed in a good flame-veneer mahogany, with gilt metal mounts; rising from a tripartite incurved base mounted on castors, issuing three entasis form cylindrical columns, gilt m...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Watercolor

Empire Style Table, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Auxiliary table Empire style, with structure in wood in its color, ornamental applications in bronze and onyx bronze. Of circular plan, it rises on four legs in the form of a column,...
Category

19th Century European Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Bronze

Baltic Mahogany and Brass Mounted Games Table
Located in Stamford, CT
A Northern European Empire games table. Flamed mahogany top opens to reveal felt lined game surface. Brass mounts embellish a neoclassic sensibility.
Category

1840s Baltic Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Empire France Lyra-Shaped Curly-Legs Side Tables, circa 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid wood and partly boned. Round leaf with black-and-white interspersed marble, over simple frame and lyra-shaped curly legs on three-sided ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Tables

Materials

Marble

Empire tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire tables 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 tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original tables, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, and Grosfeld House. 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 tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $595 and tops out at $26,000 while the average work can sell for $2,675.

Still Thinking About These?

All Recently Viewed