Empire Furniture
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.
20th Century Chinese Empire Furniture
Wool
Late 20th Century French Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Furniture
Cotton
20th Century Chinese Empire Furniture
Wool
1920s European Vintage Empire Furniture
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary North American Empire Furniture
Polyester
Mid-20th Century Chinese Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Mid-20th Century Chinese Empire Furniture
Wool, Cotton
Early 20th Century Nepalese Empire Furniture
Wool
2010s American Empire Furniture
Fabric
1820s French Antique Empire Furniture
Textile
2010s European Empire Furniture
Fabric
Late 20th Century American Empire Furniture
Malachite
Early 20th Century German Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century German Empire Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Russian Empire Furniture
Malachite, Stone
20th Century German Empire Furniture
Wood
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Crystal
1990s Italian Empire Furniture
Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century French Empire Furniture
Glass, Cut Glass
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century American Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu
Early 1900s European Antique Empire Furniture
Metal
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture
Wood, Giltwood
Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture
20th Century Chinese Empire Furniture
Wool
20th Century European Empire Furniture
Porcelain
1820s Russian Antique Empire Furniture
Malachite, Ormolu