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
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
Pair of Fine Bronze Mounted Empire Beds
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An outstanding pair of period Empire bronze-mounted beds in overall very good condition. The figural end column forms feature well cast busts and feet, and there are wreaths, Angels,...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Glass and Bronze Two-Light Pendant Chandelier, 1950s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style glass and bronze two-light Pendant Chandelier, circa the 1950s.
This absolutely adorable Empire-style chandelier features a bronze frame with two arrows and two b...
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Empire Gilt-Bronze Clock Depicting Diana the Huntress. French, c 1820
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Empire Period gilt bronze clock depicting Diana the huntress.
The dial signed 'Thomas a Paris'.
The white enamel dial with Roman numerals and Breguet hands, the case sur...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Chandelier Made Around 1810
Located in Stockholm, SE
Gilt bronze chandelier with eight candleholders. Great design with be winged putts holding the urns that in turn holds the candles. Good quality and condition.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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 wi...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century Italian-Lombardy Empire Walnut Golden Bronzes Chest of Drawers
Located in IT
Three drawers, golden bronze handles, walnut wood, elegant shapes and line make this chest of drawers an interesting piece able to be used in different kind of interior decoration pr...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Mahogany Pair of Library Armchairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A very fine quality pair of 19th century mahogany
French Empire library armchairs having well figured
Top rails over enclosed swept arms with car...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early French Empire Style Bronze & Crystal Chandelier, 3 Lights
Located in Miami, FL
Empire Style early round Bronze and Crystal Chandelier with 3 Light-sockets in the center.
Wired for the US and takes 3 candelabra light bulbs max. 60 watts.
In original vintage c...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Set of 6 French Empire Marquetry Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting an exceptional set of 6 French Empire Marquetry chairs.
Made in France circa 1815-20.
Set consists of 2 Captains/Carvers and 4 side c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Boxwood, Kingwood, Rosewood, Satinwood
Set of 10 French Empire Mahogany Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 10 French Victorian (late 19th century) mahogany side / dining chairs with shaped open backs, leather seats, and fluted front legs.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Gilt Bronze Mounted Empire Work Table in Mahogany
Located in BARSAC, FR
Empire period work table in flamed mahogany and gilt bronze mounted.
Magnificent table forming writing desk and work table. The drop-leaf top features a recessed mirror, storage com...
Category
Early 18th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Mirror, Hand Polished Mahogany, Denmark, 1890s
Located in Lejre, DK
The Mirror of hand-polished mahogany is a beautifully crafted piece of art from the late Empire period. It is made in Denmark, dating back to the 1890s. The mahogany wood is carefull...
Category
1890s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Fireplace Mantel Fender
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
M/940 - This mantel fender is very useful and elegant: it's not too large, but perfect. It's from the Empire French period.
I think it may be a good buy.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
19th Century French Mahogany Vanity Table with Swan's Heads in Empire Style
Located in Sofia, BG
French hand carved mahogany vanity table with black marble top. There is an original crystal oval mirror on the top part surrounded by two asymme...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique Fireplace Mantel Gray Marble Carved with Lion's Paws, Empire Style, 1800
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Antique fireplace mantel in gray marble hand carved by an Italian artist, with lion's feet and wavy columns, Empire style, early 1800s, from an Italian noble home. Thanks to its refined color and its gentle shape, it lends itself to all those classy, elegant and suitable to be inserted even in a very modern context.
Empire lion paw fireplace...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century Italian Empire Beaded Crystal Chandelier Six Light
Located in Milan, IT
A stunning Empire Crystal chandelier of Italian origin, coming from a Tuscan private palazzo in Florence dating back to the early 19th century.
Repoussé brass, iron and crystal are...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Iron, Brass
Antique French Empire Mahogany & Gilt Metal Mounted Cabinet on Chest circa 1800
Located in Suffolk, GB
This antique French Empire mahogany and gilt metal mounted antique cabinet on chest has an upper tier with two doors fitted boasting attractive gilt metal mounts. The bottom chest ha...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Palatial French Empire Doré Bronze and Patinated Neoclassical Chandelier Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
Palatial elegant French empire patinated green tone and doré bronze fifteen-light neoclassical chandelier.
Measures: 32" H x 32" W.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Mahogany Architects Table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis, 1810
Located in Hellouw, NL
Beautiful Empire mahogany architects table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864).
Jean-Joseph Chapuis (born in Brussels) was a famous furniture maker. He obtained a master craftsman ti...
Category
Early 1800s Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Fabulous Antique French Empire Twelve-Arm Chandelier
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant fancy French mpire chandelier dripping with crystals and having 12 arms, 40 watt each.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Elegant Large Empire Style Classical Silver Chandelier Eight-Light Pendant, 1920
Located in Nierstein am Rhein, DE
Elegant and fine classical Empire-style eight-light chandelier with original shades, France, circa 1920. The beautiful large chandelier with foliage motif on the arms and all-over lo...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Large Reclaimed ‘King’ Wall Hanging Sign
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large reclaimed ‘King’ wall hanging sign dating to the early 20th century. Bold and stylish cast bronze letters are mounted onto a smooth mahogany boa...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Continental Marble and Gilt Eagle Console Table
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire late 18th Century / early 19th Century console table with a variegated marble slab and gilt caved acanthus leaves wooden top supported on a gilt carved base depicting ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Gold Leaf
French Empire Caryatids Gilded Bronze Cut Glass 4-Light Lantern Chandelier, Pair
Located in Coimbra, PT
Beautiful pair of antique large French Empire caryatids cast bronze lanterns. Fire gilded solid heavy bronze and cut glass shade with four-light.
Measures:
Diameter 12 in/ 30 cm
H...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Bouzzeb À Paris
Located in Warsaw, PL
The mantel clock, made of ormol (gilded bronze), shows the beautiful figure of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, accompanied by various emblems. Diana is sitting on the circular ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Ormolu and Green Marble Four Glass Clock, Eagle Antique French
By Charles Hour
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A stunning original antique French clock by the illustrious maker Charles Hour, circa 1890. It is of the beautifully restrained Empire design in a sumptuous green variegated specimen...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Basket Shaped Crystal Chandelier with Accents of Amethyst Color Crystals
Located in Atlanta, GA
This petite French crystal chandelier from the mid 20th century features a lovely basket shape. Reminiscent of the Empire taste, the c...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Empire Period French Gilt Bronze Six Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Empire period French gilt bronze six light chandelier
French, c. 1810
Height 80cm, diameter 45cm
Made in France around 1810, at the time when the Empire style was in vogue, the chan...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Chandelier Empire 6 Arm Brass Gold Finish
Located in New York, NY
20th Century corridor chandeliers from the Towers of the NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Park Ave. 6 arms branching out from the central dish light. Brass details. Waldorf Astoria auth...
Category
20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Giltwood Bed Corona
Located in Essex, MA
With acorn and oak leaf crest and scrolled swans. Probably used over a bed.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Other
Mantel Clock 19th Century Styl Empire by Cérés À Paris
Located in Warsaw, PL
Empire clock signed à Paris
The mantel clock is in gilded bronze representing Ceres as a goddess of fertility, agriculture, grain crops and motherly relationships. In ancient Rom...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Period Mahogany Mirror, Type "Psychee"
Located in Sofia, BG
Empire period mahogany mirror. The triangle topped frame holding the mirror supported on two columns with two removable bronze candleholders. Standing on four carved griffon legs, th...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Classic Swan French Empire Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Classic model for this French Empire chandelier, perfect in any particular: gilt bronze, classic swan, green nail, 6 lights.
Perfect over Your table or sleeping room...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel Empire Style 8 Arm Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
20th Century Empire style eight-arm chandelier with crest fleur-de-lis design. Cleaned and rewired. This chandelier and it's sisters hung in the corridors of the NYC Waldorf Astoria ...
Category
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century bronze and gilded ormolu French Empire influenced chandelier. Having a classical ceiling rose with three foliate linked chains...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier, circa 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Finely chiseled gilt bronze and cut crystal Empire elegant chandelier with six arms.
Six E 14 light bulbs.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Fairfax, VA
This magnificent crystal and bronze doré chandelier with four swans holding double candle light and graduate hand polished crystal chain.
Minimum height fully installed 42".
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large Prussian Chandelier After a Design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Berlin
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This large and spectacular German eight-light chandelier is made after the design by the famous architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) in the manufactory of Schwitzky & Mencke...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
French Restauration Period Ormolu Lyre Mantel Clock with Apollo Mask
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual French Restauration period ormolu mantel clock. The elaborately pierced gilt bronze case in the form of a lyre, with an Apollo mask cresting, on a white marble stepped bas...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Elegant Italian Empire Consoles Tables with White Marble Top, 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Empire mahogany and finely carved gilt-wood consoles tables with the rectangular Carrara white marble top.
Timeless elegance for your interior.
Measures: Height cm 102 width cm 124...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Mantel Clock, circa 1820
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and stylish early 19th Century gilded ormolu and green marble mantle clock, having two classical maidens either side feeding Rams, an Eagle above the circular white...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Empire Style Parcel Gilt Overmantel Mirror by ‘Alix A Paris’, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire style mahogany and Parcel gilt overmantel Mirror by ‘Alix A Paris’.
French, circa 1880.
Stamped 'ALIX A PARIS'.
The mirror has an arched bevelled plate within a moulded and ribbon-tied, berried laurel surround, it is surmounted by a military trophy cresting.
'Georges-François Alix...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Bronze and Crystal Empire Style Pendant Chandelier
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large and impressive Empire style bronze and crystal pendant chandelier with graduated square crystals beads and gilt bronze hardware. Newly rewired. France, early 20th century.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Italian Pietra Doré Specimen Marble Plaques/Tops with Porphyry, Jasper
Located in New York, NY
An early antique pair of Italian pietra doré specimen marble plaques or table tops, Italian Grand Tour, each plaques of exquisite quality with rare types of marbles such as purple an...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Empire Eighteen-Light Bronze and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
Spectacular French early 19th century bronze and ormolu chandelier, the 12 scrolling arms molded with leaves and interspersed with six ad...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Salesman Sample Chest of Drawers
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire mahogany and birch salesman sample chest of drawers, circa 1820. With a rectangular birch top, a protruding frieze drawer, two larger lower drawers with flame mahogany...
Category
1820s European Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Napoleonic Table Lamps Lion Paws Cast Iron a pair
By Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Frederick Cooper, Chapman Manufacturing Company, Stiffel, Gilbert Poillerat
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Tall French Empire Table Lamps
Style, Vintage, Empire, Napoleonic, Traditional, Classic, Baroque,
Design: Traditional Napoleonic Column lamps in the manner of Chapman, Henredon,
Fre...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Early 19th Century Black Empire Chest of Drawers with 3 Drawers, around 1800
Located in Berlin, DE
Crafted around 1800, the Early 19th Century Black Empire Chest of Drawers with Three Drawers embodies the opulence and grandeur of the Empire style. Made with meticulous craftsmanshi...
Category
Early 1800s German Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Vintage French Napoleonic Table Lamps Tripod Base Lion Paws Empire Lamps a Pair
By Gilbert Poillerat, Frederick Cooper, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Chapman Manufacturing Company, Stiffel
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Vintage French Empire Table Lamps
Style: Vintage Antique, Empire, Napoleonic, Traditional, Classic, Baroque,
Design: Traditional Napoleonic Column lamps in the manner of Chapman, He...
Category
1970s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Empire Double Headed Eagle Bronze Wall Mirror, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Two Headed Eagle Bronze Wall Mirror, Spain, 1930s-1940s.
Spectacular bronze wall mirror with a crowned double headed eagle surrounding a shield shaped beveled glass.
This bronze mirr...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique Mahogany Dining Room / Center Table with Gilt Highlights
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire Style mahogany round dining room table with gilt highlights, circa 1900. With a round top that opens (No Leaves) gilt decoration on edge of table top, a round central ...
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Commode Chest of drawers wood and ormolu
By Decorating House France
Located in Valladolid, ES
Extraordinary chest of drawers in the Empire style, in the time of Napoleon I Bonaparte. Made of wood, the fronts are veneered with mahogany palm, one of the most exclusive, attract...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Birch
Pair Of Fine French Empire Giltwood Armchairs In Apple Green Silk
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of French Empire style armchairs, carved and water gilded with burnishing. Upholstered in apple green silk with rope piping and horsehair.
These chairs and the matching ...
Category
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Onyx Jewelry or Decorative Box
Located in New York, NY
A substantial Italian green onyx marble and gold gilt metal jewelry or decorative box, in the Empire style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Onyx is a combination of green hues finishe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Onyx, Marble, Metal
Empire Stellar Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Empire style round dining table with beech and quartered walnut veneer and a stellar parquetry inlaid top with a molded edge on a tapered octagonal column base and quatrefoil concave...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
French Empire style gilt bronze and enamel chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi has got twelve lights.
This chandelier is characterized by classical plate embellished with gilt bron...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
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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