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.
1820s European Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Gesso, Mirror
Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Straw, Blown Glass
2010s British Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Silver
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Bronze
1830s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Silver
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Birch
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Alabaster
1810s Danish Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany
17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wool, Feathers
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Textile
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Chrome
Mid-17th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wool
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Griotte Marble, Brass, Bronze, Enamel
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
1860s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Birch
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Giltwood, Paint
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture
Birch
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
1940s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Walnut
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass
20th Century Empire Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
1930s Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
1940s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Giltwood
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Canvas
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Brass, Bronze
1830s French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze, Metal
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Blown Glass
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Furniture
Bentwood
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Marble, Ormolu
1930s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Crystal
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Glass, Giltwood
1960s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Ceramic
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Metal, Brass