Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
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
Period: Early 20th Century
French Empire Style Enfilade
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Early 20th Century French Empire style bleached walnut enfilade with a marble top. 1920
Reference: 8331
Dimensions
87 inches (221 cms) Wide
22.5 inches (57 cms) Deep
36.5 inches (9...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Empire Style Buffet With Marble Top
Located in Houston, US
Impressive grande Empire style two door buffet in mahogany with original marble top. The cabinet is accented with brass key escutcheons and with a caryatided bust and feet at top and...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Empire Ebonized Dresser: Timeless Craftsmanship Restored
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of our antique empire dresser, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and style brought back to life by our sk...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
French Empire Wood Mirror Front Gold Lion Storage Bar Black Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
This piece was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut. French Empire mirrored front wood bar with black marble top. It features two drawers and storage shelves on ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Mahogany Wood Framed Mirrored Back Display Vitrine Cabinet / Three Glass Shelves
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Elevate your living space with this Early 20th Century North American Mahogany Wood Framed Mirrored Vitrine, a piece of furniture that exudes elegance and timeless charm. The mirrore...
Category
Early 20th Century North American Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Antique Rosewood Empire Chest of Drawers with Vanity Mirror
By Biedermeier
Located in Chicago, IL
52” x 25” x 35”H (without wheels); mirror adds 35”H
A captivating representation of early Biedermeier design, influenced by the Empire era. This remarkable Biedermeier dresser exhib...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
Early 20th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Four-Drawer Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a living room or den with this elegant antique chest of drawers. Crafted in France, circa 1930, the traditional commode sits on carved columnar supports over a straight bott...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Matched Pair of Empire Mahogany Pedestal Cupboards with Green Marble Tops
Located in London, GB
A matched pair of Empire mahogany pedestal cupboards of cylindrical form, both with green marble tops, and two shelves to the interior. One wi...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
French Empire Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Chest of drawers or “commode” made of flamed mahogany in the French Empire style. This piece has ebonized columns and is finished in a lustrous French polish. There are four dovetail...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique Empire Bookcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary antique empire bookcase in great condition completed and restored by our professional craftsmen team. This elegant piece is th...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Northern Europe, circa 1900
Located in Chorzów, PL
Mahogany chest of drawers, Northern Europe, circa 1900.
Currently under renovation.
Wood: mahogany
dimensions height 81 cm width 69 cm depth 46 cm.
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Creamware, Walnut
Oak Dresser, circa 1920
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
An oak French Empire style dresser from circa 1920, with a drawer and display part. The cabinet has the original antique glass. Pilaster detailing...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Oak, Glass
French Louis XVI Style Table Vitrine Brass Inlay
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
FRENCH EMPIRE STYLE LIFT-TOP VITRINE: Beveled glass lift-top vitrine with glass sides revealing an orange upholstered bottom. Corners and diminishing legs are fluted and have copper ...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Early 20th C Ebonised Mahogany Empire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this circa 1910 Empire style mahogany chest of four drawers has a new ebonised finish and black marble top. Decorative columns on the front sides have brass trim and...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Antique Circa 1900 Victorian Era Tiger Oak Empire Style Sideboard
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique circa 1900 Victorian era sideboard in the Empire style, unbranded. Tiger oak with wood knobs, upper gallery with mirror, curved front legs and on metal casters. Features a...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Metal
Empire Style Demi Lune Marble Topped Two Door Commode with Two Drawers
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this circa 1910 empire style demi lune commode is made of mahogany with a marble top. Commode has two locking drawers flanked by wedge-shaped, locking side cabinets....
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Empire-Style Commode / Chest of Drawers with Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
This is a handsome chest of drawers having four drawers that
Draw easily. A column flanks each side and is accented with
Original bronze dore mounts. The drawers are dove tailed an...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Mahogany Bowfront Commode
Located in Houston, TX
Empire style mahogany commode, early 20th c., bow front case fitted with pull-out leather brushing slide, over three drawers, flanked by fluted c...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Empire Mahogany Marble Top Buffet with Bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire mahogany marble top buffet with bronze is an exquisite example of fine French cabinetry, with the emphasis on the finest mater...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Vitrine or Dry Bar with Ebonized Finish and Brass Trim
Located in Troy, MI
French vitrine cabinet or dry bar with new black finish and original brass trim, circa 1920s. Top has sliding glass doors. Bottom has brass figural ornaments, locking door and single...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
French 1930s Empire Style Walnut Commode with Grey Marble Top and Black Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut commode from the early 20th century, with grey veined marble top four drawers and black columns. Created in France during the second quarter of the 20th ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
20th Century French Mahogany Empire Style Vitrine, 1920s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful 20th century French mahogany Empire style vitrine from the 1920s.
This vitrine has a music scores compartments.
Brass net finish. Brass hooves...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Antique Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Desk
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Empire style mahogany desk with gilt bronze mounts, circa 1890-1910. This desk has very fine quality gilt bronze mounts.
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
French Late 20th Century Louis XVI Period Mounted Cabinet Vitrine
Located in Miami, FL
An extremely high quality and elegant French late 19th century Louis XVI period mahogany and ormolu-mounted cabinet vitrine which is finished on all sides. The cabinet is raised by t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Cherry
Empire Style Desk Rich Register of Gilded Bronze
Located in Marseille, FR
Lady's desk with Empire style mahogany, base decorated with griffins, very beautiful register of gilded bronzes oak drawer bottoms, top and zippers trimmed with brown and green Moroc...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Green Marble-Top Console Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Burl veneered case with green marble or verde-antico. Large buffet in the Italian taste, having an inset top, single frieze drawer with ormolu mounts, supported by marble columns, th...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Impressive Empire Style Buffet by Maison Krieger
Located in London, GB
Impressive Empire style buffet by Maison Krieger
French, circa 1900
Measures: Height 199cm, width 217cm, depth 66cm
This magnificent Empire style c...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Style Commode "Chiffonnier"
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French Empire ctyle commode "Chiffonnier".
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Burr-Amboyna, Marble, Gilt and Patinated Bronze Cabinet by Maison Krieger
Located in London, GB
This beautiful display cabinet was crafted by the prestigious furniture company, Maison Krieger. The firm was founded in 1826 by Antoine Krieger. Over the course of the 19th century,...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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Located in Baltimore, MD
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Located in Houston, TX
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Empire case pieces and storage cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire case pieces and storage cabinets 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 case pieces and storage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire case pieces and storage cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original case pieces and storage cabinets, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Europa Antiques, Baker Furniture Company, and Maison Krieger. 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 case pieces and storage cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $800 and tops out at $445,969 while the average work can sell for $5,989.
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