Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
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
Late-19th Century Spanish Woolen Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Late-19th Century Spanish Woolen Rug 6'3'' x 4'10", made in Spain around late 19th century by villagers at the time
Category
1920s Vintage Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Muted Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Mid-19th Century European Aubusson Style Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-19th Century European Aubusson Style Rug 5'7'' x 4'5'' , handmade and hand-knotted, empire traditional style
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool
19th Century Muted Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Authentic Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Oriental Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Antique European Portuguese Carpet
Located in Los Angeles, US
The durability of needlepoint makes it suitable for the creation of carpets and floor coverings. The tradition of creating needlepoint rugs in Portugal has a fascinating story that b...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool
19th Century Authentic Oriental Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Tribal Muted Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool
19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and carpets for both interna...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1900s Antique Decorative Samarkand Rug-4'2" X 2'7"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is an antique Samakhand rug. This is an Uzbek tribal design rug with a red design throughout the rug.
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Authentic Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Authentic Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Mid-19th Century Authentic Khotan Samarkand
Located in Los Angeles, US
The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and carpets for both interna...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool
1920s Antique Indian Rug - 14'10'' X 11'7''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Indian Rugs – Not all the rugs that were woven in India are easy to categorize. That is why we created this antique Indian rugs section. Here you will find Indian rugs of whi...
Category
1920s Asian Vintage Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1990s Savonnerie Area Rug-10'0" X 8'0"
Located in Los Angeles, US
21th Century Authentic Savonnerie Area Rug 10'0" X 8'0", handmade and hand-knotted, wool on cotton foundation, reproduction
Category
Early 1900s Asian Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Early-19th Century Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug-7'5'' X 4'6''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Early-19th Century Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug from Uzbekistan
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1900s Antique Decorative Khotan Samarkand Rug-6'2'' X 4'4''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is a 1900s Antique Decorative Khotan Samarkand Rug. This rug is made of wool on a cotton foundation. It is tribal and traditional
Category
Early 1900s Asian Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century Authentic Khotan Samarkand Rug- 3′2″ × 5′11″
Located in Los Angeles, US
Ca.1900 Authentic Uzbek Samarkand Rug 5'11'' x 3'2'', tribal and traditional, wool with cotton foundation
Category
Early 1900s Uzbek Antique Empire Russian and Scandinavian Rugs
Materials
Wool, Cotton
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Empire russian and scandinavian rugs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire russian and scandinavian rugs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage russian and scandinavian rugs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include rugs and carpets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wool and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire russian and scandinavian rugs made in a specific country, there are Asia, Central Asia, and Turkestan pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 russian and scandinavian rugs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,875 and tops out at $18,000 while the average work can sell for $7,800.
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