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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
Early 20th Century Biscuit Tin "The British Commonwealth"
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A biscuit tin celebrating The British Commonwealth, both natural & architectural. The 1930s Canadian Rockies train is wonderful! Also featuring Windsor, Parliament House of New Zeala...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Semainier Empire Period Early 19th
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
Semainier Empire period early 19th. This very functional piece of furniture was very popular with the bourgeois women. It was of great convenience and already adapted to more crampe...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Empire Style Commode
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French marble top commode made of bookmatched burl mahogany and decorative Empire style ormolu. The commode’s top is a Saint Anne marble with curved front edges making for a durabl...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

French Empire style leather top mahogany writing desk, C 1890
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire style leather top mahogany writing desk having bronze mounts, claw feet and resting on slabs of green marble (optional) C 1890.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French 19th century Empire st. patinated, Verdigris Bronze and Slate console.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. patinated, Verdigris Bronze and Slate console. This impressive six leg console is raised by three maiden caryatids with lion's paw feet in t...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Slate, Bronze

pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu sconces. Each two arm sconce is centered by a beautiful foliate bottom finial where the...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Gorgeous Pair of Empire Style Black & Gold Wall Mirrors
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Beautiful pair of Empire gold gilt and ebony black mirrors which are elegant statement pieces. The giltwood finish is complemented by a lovely ebony black washed gesso patina, and t...
Category

1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror

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

Baccarat Crystal Champagne Flutes Set of 6
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
A wonderful vintage set of 6/eight tall Harcourt 1841 Champagne flutes by Baccarat, France. Marked Baccarat, France in the bottom. No chipping or damage. Pure, powerful and elegant ...
Category

Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Pair Montgolfièr Empire Chandelier Crystal Classic traditional Brass Glass four
Located in Berlin, DE
**Set of 6 Available - Vintage Chandeliers from a Baltic Sea Castle** Here's a unique opportunity to acquire a set of 6 exquisite vintage chandeliers, each originating from a castle...
Category

Early 18th Century European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass, Wire

Italian Empire Period Walnut and Ebonized Demilune Console Tables with Mirrors
Located in Firenze, IT
These beautiful antique Italian Empire demilune console tables with mirrors date back to early 19th Century. We can assume they were made in Florence, Italy and they come from a vill...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mercury Glass, Mirror, Wood, Walnut, Giltwood

Antique Black Forest Carved Wooden Glove Box, Late 19th/Early 20th Century -1Y01
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Antique Black Forest Glove Box Step back in time with this exquisite antique black forest glove box from the late 19th/early 20th century. This handcrafted piece showcases the intricate carving and molding techniques typical of Black Forest craftsmanship. Features: Handcrafted wooden construction: Made from high-quality wood, this glove box exudes a timeless elegance. Intricate Black Forest design: Featuring elaborate carvings and moldings, this box embodies the artistry of the Black Forest region. Spacious interior: The box provides ample storage for your gloves, keeping them neatly organized and protected. Plush red velvet lining: The interior is lined with luxurious red velvet, adding a touch of luxury and sophistication. Antiques charm: This piece carries the charm of history, adding a touch of vintage character to your décor. Dimensions: Length: 28.5 cm Depth: 10 cm Height: 7.5 cm Weight: 0.59 kg Condition: This antique glove box...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique 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

Mid 19th century birch root occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century birch root occasional table circa 1860. Good quality Swedish birch root table, solid burr birch circular top, standing on shaped stem and scrolled legs. Rich golde...
Category

1860s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Birch

Basket Chandelier Brass Empire Crystal Ceiling Antique Art Nouveau
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing our beautifully restored old chandelier from Berlin! This exquisite piece has been professionally refurbished with love, making it suitable for use in the US with its rew...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

French 19th Century Empire Petite Walnut Commode with Marble Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French 19th century Empire commode having lovely bookmatched walnut and gray fossil marble top that sits over a wide drawer (all are dovetailed) hidden in the apron of the piece, ove...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

French Empire Clock Garniture By Thomire & Cie
By Thomire & Cie.
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite Empire gilt bronze and griotte marble Medici vase-shaped mantel clock with urns is attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire. The beautiful ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Griotte Marble, Brass, Bronze, Enamel

Vintage French Empire Sofa With Carved Swan Arms
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful painted and parcel gilt Empire sofa with medallions heads on the back, uprights modeled as swan heads in the arms, ( the swan heads are carved wood). This beautiful sofa ha...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Linen, Upholstery, Wood

20th Century French Giltwood Trophy Mirror
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Spectacular 20th Century French gilt wood mirror in good vintage condition. It has no broken parts but might have signs of wear due to used. The glass mirror has no chips or cracks. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century French Mahogany Table Empire style with Louis Philippe four Chairs
Located in Vigonza, Padua
French mahogany dining table from the early 19th century, Empire style, with four elegant hand-carved Louis Philippe mahogany chairs of the same age, still usable. Elegant table with...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Serene Landscape by E. Chabrier (1953) - Oil Painting on Panel -1Y11
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Embark on a tranquil journey through a captivating landscape with this exquisite oil painting on panel by E. Chabrier, dated 1953. This masterful piece captures the essence of nature's beauty, depicting a meandering river flowing through a verdant gorge, surrounded by lush vegetation and bathed in the warm glow of the sun. The artist's skillful brushstrokes and harmonious palette create a sense of depth and tranquility, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the serenity of the scene. Key Features: Vintage oil painting on panel by E. Chabrier (1953) Depicts a serene landscape...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Canvas

French Empire Period Pastel and Gouache Painting, circa 1810 in Giltwood Frame
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire period floral pastel and gouache painting from the early 19th century, in giltwood frame. This French painting features an exquisite depiction of a bouquet of flowers...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Giltwood, Paint

Christian Dior Red Velvet Salon Mirror, Paris, 1950s
Located in St. Catharines, ON
Classic and elegant Empire-style salon mirror by Christian Dior in Paris. Covered in rich red velvet, the front is applied with neoclassical design elements in brass including rosett...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

14 French Empire Dining Chairs. Circa 1820
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very smart set of fourteen solid and elegant dining room chairs dating from 1820' s between the Empire and the Restauration period. Although very similar...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Sevres porcelain sauce boat - gilt, signed, dated 1820 - 19th century
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Sevres porcelain sauce boat / gravy boat enhanced with fine gold. Sevres Manufacture marks and dates under the base (mark and gilt stamp) show our plate was manufactured and gilt in ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Early 19th Century Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers with Marble on top
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers with Marble on top France, 1810 Walnut Antique Chest of drawers with black marble on top. Beautiful grain of walnut on front and both sid...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Empire Style Buffet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition
Category

1940s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

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

19th Century inlaid birch lyre form occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century inlaid birch lyre form occasional table circa 1890. Elegant piece of late 19th century Swedish furniture.  Overall rectangular shaped top with canted corners.  Made in ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Birch

Antique Empire Style Gondola Chairs, Set of 6 With Carved Swan Heads
Located in Houston, TX
Step into the charm of yesteryears with this captivating set of six Vintage French Dining Chairs, each adorned with intricately carved duck heads. Crafted with the finesse and elegan...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

1970 Italian Empire Style Set of Six Metal Folding Side Table
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Spectacular old school set of six Italian folding side table originally from the 1970s. Made of metal. They are signed in the back. The condition is really good. We would like to sell...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Restored set of 6 chairs and 2 armchairs - Empire
Located in STRAČOV, CZ
Original from 1815, newly upholstered in luxurious Napoleon Bonaparte fabric This exclusive set, consisting of six chairs and two armchairs, is a unique example of Empire style from...
Category

1810s European Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Side Table with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or bedroom with this elegant antique side table. Created in France and built of walnut, the occasional table stands on circular column legs ending with bun fee...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Henredon Flamed Mahogany Empire Dining Table Natchez Collection Banded Top
Located in Toledo, OH
Henredon flamed mahogany banded top dining table. Empire style part of the Natchez collection. Two pedestals with bun feet. Very nice condition. 86" long x 52" wide x 30" tall. One e...
Category

20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Empire Marble Top Mahogany Bedside Table with Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France circa 1850 and built of mahogany, the elegant antique cabinet stands on front rounded columns ending with bun feet and embellished with decorative bronze mounted ri...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Italian Carved Wood Gold Gilded Eagle Holding Arrows Wall Decor by Palladio
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful Italian carved wood gold gilded eagle holding two arrows wall decor by Palladio, it has the label in the back. It is in good condition. It has no damages. No broken parts. ...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

Russian Tempera Icon Unusual Depiction of Jesus Christ 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
This scarce depiction of Jesus Christ was painted presumably in Moscow in early 19th century. The icon is painted in the author's (improvisational) manner, which differs from the rec...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Empire Small Commode
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This Charming Small Empire Commode is made of flamed mahogany and has been refinished. It has a black marble top and bronze rings around the columns. The contrast of colors is just w...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Dutch Empire Style Mahogany 6-Drawer Chest
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A tall Empire style 19th century mahogany chest from the Netherlands. This case piece has six beautifully figured mahogany drawers all with working locks and two keys. The top drawer...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Austrian bed 1850s empire period mahogany with inlays and gilding
Located in Cesena, FC
Important and elegant double bed circa 1850. Bed of Austrian origin, from the Empire period (late Empire circa 1850). Made of mahogany, with inlays and carved and gilded details. Mea...
Category

Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Giltwood

Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze from the 1820s.
Located in Knivsta, SE
A very Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Richly decorated in period design. Wear consistent with age and use
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Oil Painting of Child with Tambourine Walking on a Panthera
Located in NICE, FR
The child, at the center of the composition, is dressed in an immaculate white tunic that delicately falls over their shoulders and stops just above their knees. The simplicity of th...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Canvas

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

Vintage Ceramic Dancing Couple Sculpture (1960s/1970s) -1Y07
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Add a touch of timeless elegance to your home with this captivating vintage ceramic sculpture of a dancing couple. Dating back to the 1960s/1970s, this piece exudes the charm and art...
Category

1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Art Deco Double Inkwell (1920s/1930s) -1Y04
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Embrace the elegance of the Art Deco era with this exquisite vintage Art Deco double inkwell from the 1920s/1930s. This piece exudes sophistication and functionality, adding a touch ...
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Chrome

Early 19th Century French Empire Secretary, Mahogany and Ormolu Fittings, c 1820
Located in Greven, DE
19th Century Empire Secretary France Mahogany Empire around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 143 x 97 x 49 cm Description: Very fine French writing desk with delicate dimensions and a ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Jean-Joseph Chapuis Rare Pair of Empire parcel-gilt japanned Fauteuils
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Despite his long life, very little is known about the general production of menuisier (chairmaker) Jean-Joseph Chapuis and even less about his use of bent laminates, which must be viewed as the most advanced of its kind until the appearance of Michael Thonet’s work of the 1830s. The profound reverence for the classical world in enlightened circles in early nine-teenth-century Europe and the United States often resulted in the archaeological resurrection of the art, architecture, and design of ancient Greece and Rome. No chair employing the innovative technique of bending wood more boldly expresses this allegiance to the past than this armchair painted in le style antique and based on the ancient Roman sella curulis (folding stool); With a curved toprail decorated with putti supporting a medaillion and flanked by scrolling acanthus, the arms with ball finials, above a caned seat, on curved supports terminating in foliate gilt-metal sabots. This merger of technological innovation with fashionable aesthetics parallels the work of the American Samuel Gragg...
Category

Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

Empire Mirror In Stuccoed And Gilded Wood, Early 19th Century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Empire Mirror In Stuccoed And Gilded Wood, Early 19th Century
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass, Giltwood

Elegant pair of Empire Table Lamps, originally candelabra from the 1830s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Table Lamps in gilt and dark patinated metal. Originally a pair of Empire candelabra from the 1830s, converted to tablelamps in the early 20th Century. Newly ...
Category

1830s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Metal

Empire Eclectic Set, Unique Set of 4 Armchairs Each in Different Design
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Here the set of 4 Empire armchairs. Each armchair carries a typical motif of the empire style. Refers to the moment of re-discover of classical o...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Cherry, Walnut

Art Deco Elegance: Signed Gilly Acid-Etched Glass Bowl (1930s) -1Y09
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Step back in time and add a touch of timeless elegance to your home with this exquisite Art Deco glass bowl, signed by Gilly. Dating back to the 1930s, this piece exudes the charm an...
Category

1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Antique French Empire Style Gilt Eagle Motif & Emerald Glass Paperweight
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, early 20th century. An antique French empire style paperweight. The paperweight features an emerald green glass base adorned with gilt bronze laurel wreaths surrounding a ce...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

A Pair of Elegant Empire Candlesticks, Gilded and Patinated Brass, 1820s France
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of exquisite Empire candlesticks which combine gilt and patinated brass. Made in 1820s France. Various intricate rose, floral and leaf patterns adorn the bases in gilt brass. ...
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Satinwood Buffet Cabinet
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Satinwood Buffet Cabinet. The attractive and original Verde Antico marble top above three freize drawers. The central door with a burr-amboyna l...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Antique French Empire Mahogany Cheval Mirror
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Envision yourself in the unrelenting elegance of Napoleon's French Empire with this stunning antique mahogany cheval mirror. Featuring a...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Charles X Empire Mahogany Dressing Table, France, Circa 1820
Located in Alexandria, VA
Dressing stands such as this were found in the boudoir or bedroom of French ladies of fashion in the early 19th Century. This Empire dressing table has a white marble top and ormolu ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Vintage Glass Shoe-Shaped Decanter (Mid-20th Century) -1Y02
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Add a touch of whimsy and sophistication to your bar or dining area with this unique vintage glass shoe-shaped decanter from the mid-20th century. ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Glass

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

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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