Empire Western European Rugs
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.
Late 20th Century European Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
1920s Unknown Vintage Empire Western European Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1920s Vintage Empire Western European Rugs
Textile
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool, Cotton
1820s French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
20th Century Portuguese Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
1820s French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
20th Century Turkish Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
1820s French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
1810s French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
2010s Romanian Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
1980s Nepalese Vintage Empire Western European Rugs
Silk, Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
1990s French Empire Western European Rugs
Organic Material, Wool, Cotton
1990s British Empire Western European Rugs
Wool, Organic Material, Cotton
1980s Chinese Vintage Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Empire Western European Rugs
Jute
20th Century Empire Western European Rugs
Textile
1890s English Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
19th Century French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
1990s Chinese Empire Western European Rugs
Wool, Cotton, Organic Material
1870s French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
16th Century Belgian Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool, Cotton
20th Century Turkish Empire Western European Rugs
Wool
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Western European Rugs
Wool