Empire Lighting
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.
6
862
57
7
to
70
518
369
926
903
919
54,493
21,009
8,827
6,804
3,699
2,798
2,048
1,516
1,455
926
806
758
675
609
477
379
230
120
13
397
452
64
192
115
47
39
11
49
41
19
16
9
17
4
5
Height
to
Width
to
662
319
46
58
35
44
33
38
28
31
27
30
840
575
280
215
179
795
559
94
36
34
18
9
2
2
2
Style: Empire
Wonderful French Neoclassical Large Empire Bronze Crystal Glass Bell Jar Lantern
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French neoclassical large Empire bronze and crystal adorning glass bell jar lantern fixture with 6 candelabra lights.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Wonderful French Empire Neoclassical Ormolu Painated Gilt Bronze Crystal Lamp
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire / neoclassical, ormolu painated and gilt bronze with crystal column center lamp.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Antique French Bronze Urn Lamps in the Neoclassic Manner
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique French bronze urn lamps in the neoclassic manner.
Please note the list price is for this set of 2 lamps.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Lamps
Located in London, GB
Pair of ormolu and patinated bronze Empire style table lamps
English, Late 19th Century
Lamps: height 56cm, diameter 20cm
Shades: height 24.5cm, diameter 35cm
Crafted during the late 19th century, these fine and delicate antique table...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Austrian Chandelier ceiling Candelabra Empire Style Brass Crystal , 1880
Located in Vienna, AT
Antique Classicist Austrian bronze and crystal chandelier / ceiling candelabra , circa 1880-1920s. 6 arms around the glass basket with fine, engraved cast Bronze ornaments, ending in...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Brass
French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Figural Lamp Base
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This fine quality lamp base features a gilt classical frieze, and a patinated bronze figure of a classical maiden.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Bronze and Bronze Dore Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
A French Empire style patinated and gilded bronze chandelier, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Bronze Candleabra Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and chic pair of French Empire bronze candelabra table lamps date to the early 19th century and they were acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Note: Dimensions of hard-...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Important Pair of 1st Period French Empire Pat. & Dore Bronze 6-Light Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and important pair of antique French 1st period Empire patinated and two-tone matte and burnished doré bronze six-light candelabras. Each modeled with figures of Goddess D...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fine and Decorative Bronze Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine and decorative bronze chandelier. Oval center issuing six U-shaped arms, central rod ornated with ram's heads. 6-light, France, circa 1900
Dimensions: Height 39" x diameter 3...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Bronze and Onyx Table/Stand
By Fondica
Located in Fairfax, VA
French 19th century bronze round onyx table/stand with three ram's head holding the onyx top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Bronze Swan Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style 20th century bronze doré 2 swan arm round base bouillotte table lamp with oval green tole shade.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Painted Opaline Glass and Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style painted opaline glass and bronze chandelier.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Ormolu and Milk Glass Empire Fixture
Located in New Orleans, LA
The ormolu swans lend a special grace to this milk glass Empire style fixture. It is medium-sized and would work well in many settings.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Two French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Sconces
Located in London, GB
These two sconces have been crafted in the Empire style, which was popularised by the French Emperor, Napoleon I. The Empire style is characterised by its grandeur and use of opulent...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Pair Columned Table Lamps Chrome Finish with Silk Black White Lampshades
Located in Brescia, IT
This pair of elegant columned table lamps, has the pyramid trunk lamp shades in black and white silk fabric.
EU wiring included.
USA/GB wiring ava...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Antique Italian Empire Style Brass Rocaille Dragons on 6-Arm Crystal Chandelier
Located in Encinitas, CA
Elegant Empire style chandelier, opulent yet compact, featuring 6 crystal cups supported by delightful winged dragons on brass rocaille arms. Delicate, faceted glass beads, baubles a...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Empire Brass Sconces, Early 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of French Empire three-light brass sconces with lion faces, converted to electric.
Recently restored, having wax candle sleeves and holding chandelier size light bulbs.
Fran...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Empire Neoclassical Regency Gilt Bronze Patinated Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful pair of French Empire/neoclassical/Regency gilt bronze and patinated four- arm wall sconces.
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Sublime 19th Century French Empire Chandelier
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Sublime French Empire chandelier.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Tôle
Pair of French Empire Style Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Fairfax, VA
An exceptional pair of double French early 20th century bronze wall sconces with torch backplate and great detail and workmanship.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Burgundy and Grey Marble Pillar Form Table Lamp Wood Base
Located in Toledo, OH
A beautiful marble table lamp. It features a lovely burgundy and grey marble in a pillar form with bronze scroll details and a wood base. Very good condition. The dimensions are 30.2...
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble
Rare Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Style Lions Sconces, France
Located in Paris, FR
Rare and beautiful pair of double sconces French Empire style from beginning of the 20th century in gilded bronze figuring lion's head.
T...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Marble and Gilt Bronze Fine Floor Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French gilt bronze and marble floor lamp . Fine quality gilt bronze detail.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble
Fabulous French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze 9-Light Glass Torch Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Spectacular large neoclassical French Empire chococate brown patinated and gilt bronze 9-light chandelier with faux candle sockets
Measures:
Diameter 27.6 in/ 70 cm
Height 35.5 in/ ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Style Twelve-Light Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
This chandelier combines an understated crisply cast dark bronze body with wonderful quality two-tone gilding. Of classical inspiration, the theme is leafy, repeating borders of anth...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Fabulous French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze 9-Light Glass Torch Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Spectacular large neoclassical French Empire chococate brown patinated and gilt bronze 9-light chandelier with faux candle sockets
Measures:
Diameter 27.6 in/ 70 cm
Height 35.5 in/ ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Ram's Head Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Six-arm Empire style ram's head chandelier. Solid brass and heavy. Has great patina. In working condition. Will be professionally packed and shipped. Price based on destination.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Small Empire Style Crystal and Gilt Bronze Basket Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A small scale Empire style basket chandelier with lighting to the top, middle, and bottom sections. Each section is framed in gilded bronze supporting chains of cut crystal beads. Th...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Very Fine Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine gilt and painted bronze chandelier in the Empire style featuring 8 swans carrying stylized candle cups. All original.
Measures: Height 37", width 26", 8-light
CW4449.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Set of Eight French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Figural Neoclassical Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A set of eight superb French Empire style gilt bronze figural double light wall sconces of great quality embellished with fine figural masks of neoclassical men.
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Chandelier Sweden or Baltic States Cut Glas Gilded
Located in Epfach, DE
The chandelier is probably made circa 1810 in Sweden or the Baltic States. It is made out of cut glass and flashed glass the three double arms and the mascarons are gilded.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Empire Candelabra with Caryatids
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of Empire bronze and marble candelabra with three branches each. The lights are supported by bronze caryatids with dark brown patina, who are dressed in long tunics à l’antique ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in Dallas, TX
French bronze Empire style chandelier with the goddess Demeter as the center finial.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Urn Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fine pair of period Empire table lamps, of gilt and patinated bronze, each having an urn, centered by a lyre, ribbons, and laureling, its foliate-chased neck and shoulder are flanked...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Napoleon III Period Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This unusual chandelier is designed in the Empire style from gilt and patinated bronze in the form of an ancient Roman terracotta or earthenwa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Bronze Empire Style Ram's Head Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Six-arm Empire style ram's head chandelier. Solid brass and cast bronze and heavy. Has great patina. In working condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Brass
Pair of French 19th Century Empire Cut Glass and Bronze Candelabras / Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of very large and impressive French 19th century Empire cut glass and two-tone bronze candelabras made to lamps.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Lady Sconces, Empire Type, Large 18-Karat Gold Plate, No Shades
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large size lady face sconces cast in bronze. From the original. They look great on the wall ,they are impressive looking . Single shade arm that fits a 3"...
Category
1890s North American Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Empire Appliqués / Sconces circa 1800, Gilded Linden Wood
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of large Empire appliqués / sconces circa 1800, gilded linden wood
Solid linden wood, gilded two-flame. Carved, gilded. Ribbon, each with a ce...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Empire Patinated Brass and Zinc North Winds Chandelier
Located in Charleston, SC
A 19th century French Empire chandelier, circa 1840, made of patinated brass and zinc and featuring eight candle arms adorned with north winds faces and pine cone finial. The chandel...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass, Zinc
20th Century Italian Macaroni Beaded Tole Chandelier with Six Lights
Located in Brea, CA
20th century Italian Macaroni beaded tole chandelier with six lights. The sockets have all been newly replaced, and is ready for a US bulb, with faux wax candle cover sleeves, ready to hang. A beautiful gilt antique patina finish...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Iron
Gilt Bronze and Colored Glass Chandelier in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
A French eight light gilt bronze and colored glass chandelier in the Empire style.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Table Lamp Alabaster Onix Caramel and Brass Large Column Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Alabaster table lamp Onix and Brass large column Form. Early 20th Century
Large table lamp in alabaster and brass style
Empire.
It is of high size, suitable to put on a side tab...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Alabaster, Brass
Glass and Black Metal Imperial Chandelier with Bronze Eagle Finial, 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1930s imperial style chandelier with clear glass rod and black metal arms and bronze eagle finial with six wax candle-like lights.
Category
1930s American Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Empire/ Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Wall Appliques or Sconces
A pair of Empire/ Charles X four-branch ormolu/gilt and patinated bronze wall lights “à la c...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
French Empire Style Lamp
Located in Sheffield, MA
Ultra elegant classical Empire style dark green tôle with oil reservoir encircled by bronze band raised on cloven hoof tripod feet over incurved base. Once an oil lamp later converte...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Splendid Bronze French Empire Wall Sconces
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Absolutely sublime top drawer bronze electried antique wall sconces having 2 lights each, and marvelous decoration including urn at the top, tassel at the bottom, acanthus leaves and...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Style 16-Light Crystal and Gilt Metal Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large French Empire style 16-light crystal and gilt metal basket chandelier from the 19th century, with scrolling arms, diamond and rosette motifs. Born in France during the politi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Metal
Wonderful Empire Dore Bronze Rock Crystal Neoclassical Figure Candlestick Lamp
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful Empire doré bronze rock crystal neoclassical figure candlestick lamp
Stamped made in France on base
Completely rewired.
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Rock Crystal, Bronze
Empire Revival Gilt-Bronze and Cut-Glass Pendant Chandelier, circa 1910
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Revival gilt-bronze and cut-glass pendant chandelier.
French, circa 1910.
Of globular form this fine chandelier has a central gilt-bronze band cast with vases issuin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier, circa 1815
Located in Rome, IT
Finely chiseled gilt bronze and cut crystal Empire elegant chandelier with six arms.
Six E 14 light bulbs.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large Empire Style Lamp in Cut Crystal and Gilt Bronze, 1940s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large Empire style lamp in cut crystal and chiselled and gilt bronze mount. Circular gilt bronze base adorned with a Walter leaves frieze, gadroons and beads topped by a cut crystal ...
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
French Empire Bronze Doré Wall Sconce
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style 19th century bronze doré wall sconce with lion head on back plate and 3 griffin arms.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Interesting Late 19th-Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
An interesting late 19th-early 20th century gilt bronze empire style sixteen light chandelier
Four long chains connect the top with the body, eight gilt sphinx encircle and light ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Brass Desk Adjustable Lamp in Empire Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century electrified brass desk lamp in Empire style.
The part with the bulbs is adjustable.
France, circa 1860.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire Form Eight-Light Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Empire chandelier, its circular frame of gilt metal, holding the opera basket bottom, finished by a ball drop, having eight S-scroll arms, each decorated with a leaf, ending i...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Iron
Pair of Antique Empire-Style Cast Metal Sconces
Located in Sheffield, MA
The defining feature of this pair of antique Napoleon Empire-style lighting fixtures are the vertical arrows "shot through" the backs of the gilt cast metal sconces. Each piece has a...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Metal
Empire lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Alexandre Vossion, and Maison Baguès. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $194 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $4,434.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Herman Miller Management Office Chair
Host Dining Chair With Arms
Vintage Brazilian Dining Chair
70s French Light
Mirror With Cord
Five French Gold Gilt
Brass Interior Lantern
Spanish Gothic
Italian Dining Chairs Gae Aulenti
Arts And Crafts Stained Glass
Jean Michel Frank Dining Chair
Chrome Hook
Bronze Sunburst
Italian Contemporary Bamboo
Maison Bagues Gilt Bronze
Spanish Country Dining Chairs
Italian Renaissance Light
Chandelier Multicolored