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.
42
4,374
143
111
to
476
2,632
1,819
4,628
4,549
4,570
192,933
116,759
41,919
32,196
15,129
11,569
10,407
10,248
9,470
8,668
7,276
7,109
6,280
5,888
5,625
5,220
4,628
3,533
274
2,881
1,219
254
465
299
197
118
20
80
58
36
52
48
45
33
20
2,480
1,955
1,449
984
847
3,804
2,581
389
235
182
40
29
24
18
15
Style: Empire
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
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
Baker Furniture Italian Empire Cherry Wood Pedestal Dining Table, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Italian Empire or Neoclassical style round pedestal extension dining table.
By Baker Furniture.
USA, Circa Late 20th Century
Gorgeous inlaid starburst design on top, wi...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Cherry
French Empire Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very attractive French Empire Mahogany Commode. Solid granite top over 4 drawers all with working locks and individual keys for each drawer. Round Mahogany veneer columns with Or...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Empire Figural Bronze & Marble Hunting Dog Desk Double Inkwell
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Figural Bronze & Marble Hunting Dog Desk Double Inkwell. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 4.75" H x 11.5" W x 6.25" D.
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
Pair of Empire Style Parcel-Gilt Metal Console Tables
Located in Essex, MA
A pair of Empire style parcel-gilt metal console tables,
late 19th-early 20th century
in the Egyptian Revival taste, each with a rectangular stone top.
Measures: Height 35 1/4 x...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Metal
Chandelier Vintage Crystal Brass Pendant Lighting With 3 Light Points, France
Located in Bastogne, BE
Adorable Crystal Chandelier with Brass Frame, for 3 light points.
Richly Decorated chandelier with decorative elements and pendants made of transparent crystal.
One of the main ad...
Category
1970s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Tall & Narrow Empire Gold Gilt Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A tall Empire gold gilt mirror frame from the Netherlands with a carved Greek key motif and original mirror plate. Be sure to view the detailed images to see the current condition of...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Decorative antique French mirror in the Empire style
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Very stylish mid 19th century gilt mirror in the Empire style
The large cushion frame surrounding the original mirror , original back boards
French circa 1860
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
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
Antique Large Silver Frame by Russian Manufactory Grachev early 20th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Simple and strict shape large photo/picture frame of medium. Presumably the frame was made by Factory of the Grachev brothers (see marks “Br. Grachev”) at the beginning of the 20th c...
Category
Early 20th Century Russian Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver
Mahogany Empire Tea Caddy Wooden Casket Box with Glass early 19th century
Located in Sweden, SE
Rectangular shape mahogany veneered casket made in first half of 19th century presumably in Europe. Cast glass vessels are intact at their original place. Candy sugar bowl along with...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Cut Glass, Mahogany
Bronze Sphinx Sienna Marble Base Grand Tour 19th Century
Located in Cheltenham, GB
A French Empire finely cast bronze model of recumbent sphinx on a sienna marble base, circa 1840.
The bronze with the warm golden patina of age is in good condition with minor chip...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Siena Marble, Bronze
French Empire Style Tessellated Stone Marble Pedestal Stand Planter with Lions
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Empire Style Tessellated Stone Marble Pedestal Stand Planter with Lions. Item feature bulbous open planter form, paw feet, lion heads, very unique item. Circa Early 20th Centu...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Stone
Large 18th or 19th Century Antique Iron Anduze Style Garden Vase / Planter / Urn
Located in Lisse, NL
Very rare and highly decorative, architectural cast iron vase.
If you are a private collector or an interior designer with an eye for the rare and wonderful, then this very rare and timeless garden vase could be perfect for your home or for one of your projects. You may have seen French terracotta Anduze vases before, but we are pretty certain that you have never seen one made of cast iron. This large and possibly one of a kind specimen of cast iron has a wonderfully calm design and it is hand painted in a beigy-gray color which makes it even more timeless. Handcrafted using cast iron...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Iron
British Silver Plated Tea Urn Samovar 19th century Egg Shaped with Lion Heads
Located in Sweden, SE
Neoclassical shape coffee and tea urn decorated with lion heads and solid silver plating and hand chased. Tea Urn Samovar is made in the so-called “Egoist” size for very few persons ...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate, Stainless Steel
French Empire Ormolu-Mounted Vitrine Cabinet Pedestal, Circa 1840
Located in New York, NY
French Empire ormolu-mounted vitrine cabinet pedestal, circa 1840.
Very good quality bronze mounts of typical Empire period heads.
Very useful pedestal vitrine combination tha...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Mid Century Bronze Casing Embossed Bataille Scene
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible Mid Century bronze representation casing scene of the Balawat gate, which hails from Balawat (also known as Imgur-Enlil) in northern Mesopotamia, Iraq, and dates back to t...
Category
1960s Croatian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 20th Century French Bronze Candle Sconces
Located in Chicago, IL
These early 20th-century French candle sconces are a stunning example of timeless elegance and craftsmanship. Featuring beautiful gold twelve-point star backplates and patinated bron...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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
Vintage Tapestry Depicting a River 7.1X4.10
Located in Los Angeles, US
A wall hanging tapestry, simply put, is a textile specifically designed and woven to portray an artistic scene with the intent of hanging it on a wall. Antique tapestries, those that...
Category
Early 2000s Unknown Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
French Empire Style Bronze and Crystal Vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This pair of French Empire vases date from the 19th century and are of exceptional quality. Unfortunately one of the cut crystal vase has been crac...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large Silver Plated Serving Tray - Christofle - Malmaison
By Christofle
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful large silver-plated tray, from the French brand Christofle.
The name of the model is Malmaison.
The tray is in incredibly beautiful condition, it looks as if it has hardl...
Category
Early 2000s French Empire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Baccarat Crystal Champagne Flutes Set of 6
By Baccarat
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
French Empire Carved Marble Table Lamp
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire carved marble and brass table lamp. This marble lamp is shaped like an urn with gold gilt brass trim and paw feet with a complimentary new linen drum shade. Recently ...
Category
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Old Paris Tureen, France, Circa:1860
Located in Alexandria, VA
This exceptionally beautiful tureen is not just for soup anymore. It is a stunning piece that will look wonderful anywhere it is placed. Perfect for flowers or fruit. Hard paste porc...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Empire Period Trumeau Mirror
Located in Munich, DE
Who knows where this 19th century French Trumeau mirror once held court? With its original olive patina and gilt wood frame & antique split mirror...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
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
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
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
French 19th Century Empire Console
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite French mahogany Empire console with its original marble top. A single drawer is housed in the apron over a pair of column form front legs with neoclassical style brass capit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Mid 18th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-18th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Pillow 20'' X 14'', floral style , handmade French piece
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wool
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
19th Century Continental Gilt Bronze Sculpture of Soldier
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Continental Gilt Bronze Statue of Soldier. Continental gilt bronze figure of a Classical soldier, late 19th century, with sword extended, resting on a gilded octagonal m...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Beautiful Pair of French Empire Gilt and Dark Patinated Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Knivsta, SE
A beautiful pair of French Empire gilt and dark patinated bronze candlesticks from the 1820s. Decorated with flower baskets and bunches of grapes and a dark patinated column.
Wear ...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Bronze
Gilt Bronze & Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine & Impressive Gilt Bronze & Crystal Basket Chandelier in the Empire style, featuring four patinated bronze eagle figures.
France, circa 1900. 10 lights.
Dimensions: Heig...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Late 19th Century Empire Style Gilded Bronze and Crystals Chandelier
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful and refined italian Empire style late 19th century chandelier with ten lights of which six on the outer circumference and four that illuminate the interior, called a hot-ai...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Elegant pair of Empire Candlesticks in gilt and dark patinated bronze. Made in France during the 1820s. Very period design. Cool and unusual composition between gilded and dark patin...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Empire Mahogany Desk With Hunter Green Leather Top, Circa 1930
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Empire mahogany desk with tooled hunter green leather top. The desk with bronze banding and trim, bronze finely fluted corner medallions, fluted and tapering legs with bronze caps an...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Dresser "Semainier" or High Boy Dresser, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
Introducing a stunning French Empire Dresser from 1810, featuring a classic semainier design with five drawers adorned in elegant mahogany veneer. This exquisite piece boasts a stric...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
1800s Antique English, Mahogany, Pedestal, Drawers Sideboard
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning Antique Sideboard, English, Mahogany, Pedestal Sideboard, 6 Drawers, 19th C, 1800s!!
This antique English sideboard is a true masterpiece. Crafted from fine mahogany and ca...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Empire Period Armchairs and Bergere by P.BELLANGÉ
Located in Paris, FR
EXCEPTIONAL seats by Pierre Bellangé
PAIR OF ARMCHAIRS, circa 1805
Mahogany with mahogany veneer. Powerful tapered front legs with three scalloped rings, and sabre back legs.
Slight...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Set of 6 Chippendale Chairs in Light and Dark Mahogany -1X56
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Enhance your dining experience with this exquisite set of 6 Chippendale chairs, crafted in alternating light and dark mahogany tones around 1880-1900. Each chair features plush velve...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Hot Air Balloon Chandelier In Gilt Bronze And Crystal
Located in BARSAC, FR
Hot air balloon chandelier in gilded bronze decorated with crystal garlands, Empire style decorated with palmettes and pine cones.
Illuminated by six lights.
Beautiful and very ele...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Fench 1920's Bronze Empire Wall Sconces, 3 Available
Located in Fairfax, VA
Three arm bronze and black lacquer on bronze wall sconces.
Professionally rewired and ready for installation.
Price per item 3 available.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style 19th Century Walnut Chest with Drop Front Desk, Two Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut chest from the 19th century with drop front desk and two additional drawers. This elegant French Empire style walnut chest from the 19th century exudes c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Empire round French Table
Located in Austin, TX
Library table in the French Empire style. This piece is made of solid ash and burled ash. Four curved legs are connected with an x-stretcher. Each leg boasts a bronze lion's paw foot...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Grand Parquet Regulator Clock in Empire Style Mahogany -1X55
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Elevate your home decor with this impressive and museum-worthy parquet regulator clock in the Empire style, crafted from luxurious mahogany wood. Dating back to around 1880, this stu...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Guéridon Centre Table
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Extremely Good Quality Early 19th Century, French Empire Period, Mahogany Guéridon Centre Table, Having Original Dish Moulded Circular Marble Top, Over Elegant Comcave Triangulate...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage Italian Marble and Gold Gilt Bronze Corinthian Column Table Lamps a pair
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Vintage High end Italian green marble and gold gilded bronze corinthian column table lamps
Style: Napoleonic, Empire, Regency, Neoclassical, Antique, Vintage, classic table lamps
Des...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Gold Plate, Bronze
Elegant Daybed Beautifully Carved and Covered With Versace Fabric, Versace Italy
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant Empire revival daybed beautifully hand carved with gold leaf swans
heads, brass details and covered with a Gianni Versace silk.
Part of G.Versace furniture collection...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French early 19th century Empire period Mahogany and Ormolu chaise, Circa 1805
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most decorative French early 19th century Empire period Mahogany and Ormolu chaise, Circa 1805. This exquisite chaise is raised by six elegant Mahogany legs with Ormo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Empire period Day Bed, from the designs of Percier & Fontaine
By Percier & Fontaine
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful Empire period mahogany and mahogany veneer daybed. Straight legs flanked by scrolled brackets. The straight belt is punctuated with antique bronze applique...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair 19th Century Empire Table Lamps
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Pair of 19th Century Empire table lamps with three brass legs, ormolu eagle busts in relief and Corinthian style capitals. The pair sit on triform bases featuring lion paw feet on si...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
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
Empire Sewing Table, Austria Circa 1810
Located in New York, NY
Empire sewing table with socketed saber legs and a basket tray, adorned with an oval frame featuring fire-gilded fittings. The table includes a lockable drawer with diamond-shaped fi...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Exquisite Pair of French Empire Design Figured Walnut Three Drawer Nightstands
Located in High Wycombe, GB
A Pair of French Empire Design Figured Walnut Three Drawer Nightstand Chests With Mounted Gilt
Provenance: From an Establishment on Belgrave Square London see images7
Known to be ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Materials
Brass
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Bronze Drawer Pull
Commode Grey
Flower Commode
Four Panel Asian Art
Fine Wood Inlaid Cabinet
Chinese Gilt Panel
Corner Display Cabinet French
Deco Brass Panel
Clocks With Cherubs
Counter Top Display Case
Wood Door Knobs
Curved Glass Door Cabinet
Desk With Return
Chest Of Drawers Leather Top
Classic Buffet
Commodes With Flowers
Antique Chinese Robe
Distressed Antique Brass