Empire Furniture
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.
1930s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
1890s French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Giltwood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1960s Belgian Vintage Empire Furniture
Resin
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Giltwood
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Slate, Bronze
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Metal, Bronze, Steel
1970s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass, Steel
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1960s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1890s Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1940s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Alabaster, Bronze
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Glass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain, Paint
1960s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Slate, Bronze
1840s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Elm
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Marble
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Siena Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1870s French Antique Empire Furniture
Silk, Walnut, Paint
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century European Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
1860s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Mirror, Mahogany
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze