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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.

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Style: Empire
Mid 19th Century French Empire Walnut Chest
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A handsome French Empire commode. Beautiful color and patina
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Ringed Double Sided Stone French Empire Tub
Located in Madrid, ES
19th Century RINGED DOUBLE SIDED STONE FRENCH EMPIRE TUB Empire tub in double-sided stone with rings HEIGHT 52cm WIDTH 86cms LENGTH 150cm INTERNAL DEPTH OF THE BASIN 45 cm WEIGHT 55...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Stone

Antique French Empire Mahogany Draw Leaf Dining Table with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Mahogany Draw Leaf Dining Table with Bronze Mounts exudes elegance, and is extraordinarily versatile with two leaves that are always there when you need them, t...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Italian Empire Walnut 8 Chairs 1800
Located in Roma, RM
Group of Eight Italian walnut chairs, inlaid with fruit wood, Campania region , likely from the city of Naples. Circular shape with an arched back that makes back support comfortable...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood, Walnut

Imperial Vodka and Caviar Set in Fabergé Crystal
Located in Milano, MI
Imperial Vodka and Caviar Set in Fabergé Crystal. The set includes a new Faberge, two vodka glasses, a caviar bowl and a bottle. It includes a box. Egg - Ø 15 cm h 25 cm Fabergé refers to the renowned House of Fabergé, a company of Russian jewelers and craftsmen known for creating intricate and luxurious Fabergé eggs. The company was founded in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1842 by Gustav Fabergé, and subsequently continued by his son, Peter Carl Fabergé. Fabergé eggs are perhaps the Maison's most iconic and celebrated creations. These were decorated and jeweled eggs...
Category

1940s Russian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Empire Mantel Clock with reading young lady, early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire mantel clock with enameled dial and fire-gilt case. The clock is crowned by a full-figure young lady sitting on a Klismos chair and reading a book. Her feet rest on a stool an...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

French Napoleon III Period 'Cupid' Fireback / Backsplash, 19th C.
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th century French Empire fireback with a cupid. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter. It is in a good condit...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Iron

Fine Empire Four Drawer Chest In Flame Mahogany With Gris Marble Top
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine diminutive Empire Chest dating to the 1st half of the 19th Century in original condition. The Chest with book matched flame mahogany drawer fronts with great color, refined ro...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Brass

French Bouillotte Bronze Three Lights Table Lamp, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A French Empire-style period bouillotte lamp, boasting three bronze lights and an adjustable screen, is complemented by a verdant tole shade in hues of green.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper

Pair Vintage Roman Column Form Green Marble and Brass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of vintage Empire style table lamps of Roman column form, finely crafted from variegated green marble with brass mounts including Corinthian style capitals and square stepped ba...
Category

20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century Gilt and Paint Empire Console With Marble Top
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A paint and Giltwood French console. Marble top
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

14 French Empire Dining Chairs. Circa 1820
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very smart set of fourteen solid and elegant dining room chairs dating from 1820' s between the Empire and the Restauration period. Although very similar...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

19th Century Secretary Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very handsome late American Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk. Very good condition overall with an old refinished surface exhibiting a beautiful color and patina to the figured Mahoga...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French Antique Bronze Sconces
Located in Austin, TX
Sconces from France in the French Empire style in the manner of Pierre-Philippe Thomire. The pair is made of finely cast gilded bronze and features a female figure as an antique Gree...
Category

1920s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Brass Steel Pool Table Double Lantern Light
Located in New York, NY
This piece was acquired from an estate located in Greenwich, Connecticut. This pool table light holds two metal shaded lamps. The arm of the light is made of cast brass. Good conditi...
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Steel

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and finely detailed French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu armchair. The armchair is raised by four square and gently curved legs with Ormolu pawed feet on the...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Beautiful Set of Two Antique French Old Paris Porcelain 'Porte Plume" Statues
Located in BAAMBRUGGE, NL
Beautiful set of two antique French Old Paris Porcelain "Porte Plume" - Statues for ink pens. These 2 antique French Porcelain Porte Plume from around 1820-1850 are beautiful hand decorated with a man and woman in oriental Arabic traditional style. This style is characteristic and popular from that time with oriental scenes atmospheres. The "Porte Plume" was used at the secretary desk for inserting the feather ink...
Category

1830s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and finely detailed pair of French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu armchairs. The armchairs are raised by four square and gently curved legs with Ormolu pawed ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Ptolemaic Armillary Sphere Charles-François Delamarche Paris, 1805-1810 Circa
Located in Milano, IT
Charles-François Delamarche Ptolemaic armillary sphere Paris, circa 1805-1810 Wood and papier-mâché covered with printed and partly hand-coloured paper It measures 15.74” in height, ...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Paper, Wood

20th Century, French Desk or Bureau Plat with Lions in the Antique Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird's-eye maple wood on massive beech wood, partially carved and framed. The pedestal is arched on profile shaped washers. Above the four large winged, polygonal standing heads. Three-bar frame, brass-framed, protruding rectangular worktop with historically three-section, gold-embossed leather plate...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Empire Daybed & Bed Crown
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous French Empire mahogany alcove daybed and bed crown hand-crafted in France in the 19th Century. A rare lit de repos made of mahogany most likely from Cuba or the Antilles and fitted with brass and ormolu figurines...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique chair, Northern Europe, late 19th century. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chair from around 1890, Northern Europe. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. The seat and backrest are covered with new fabric. Dimensio...
Category

1890s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Chair, Northern Europe, late 19th century. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chair from around 1890, Northern Europe. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: height 96 cm / seat height. 45 cm / width 47 cm...
Category

1890s Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Antique Empire Style Mahogany Tufted Parlor Sofa Newly Upholstered in Leather
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Style Carved Mahogany Tufted Back Parlor Sofa on Casters Newly Upholstered in Full Grain Espresso Italian Leather This antique Empire styl...
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Pair French Empire Caryatids Gilded Bronze Cut Glass 4-Light Lantern Chandelier
Located in Coimbra, PT
Beautiful pair of antique large French Empire caryatids cast bronze lanterns. Fire gilded solid heavy bronze and cut glass shade with four-light. Measures: Diameter 12 in/ 30 cm Heig...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Mid 20th century frame Italian bisque Taglio
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 20th century Italian frame bisque Taglio. This Greco Roman style bisque porcelain medallion is framed in a gold leaf shadowbox frame with pink interior and gold details...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Period French Empire Two Door Mixed Woods Cabinet W/ Ormolu Circa 1810
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1810 French Empire (Napoleon) Empire Two Door Cabinet Comprised of Mixed Woods (Walnut, Elm & Oak), having a rectangular top above a pa...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Empire Secretaire à abattant, Vienna circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Empire secretary adorned with flanking caryatids around the flat writing flap, top drawer, and a two-door base cabinet. The caryatids are elegantly ebonized and gold-patinated, compl...
Category

1810s Austrian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

An Outstanding 1950's Italian Cross Sword and Gilt Rope Tassel Wall Light
Located in Hastings, GB
An extremely rare and incredibly ornate Italian wall light, dating to the 1950's, in the empire style and modeled as a pair of crossed swords, in gilt and silver gilt, decorated with...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Italian Empire Style 1890s Marble Top Four-Drawer Commode with Bronze Hardware
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Empire style walnut commode from circa 1890 with black marble top, four drawers, column shaped side supports and ornate bronze hardware. Step into the grandeur of late 19t...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Gilt Empire Claude Galle Clock By Claude Gallé, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
Rare and beautiful gilt bronze clock with rotating dial made for the 1807 Exhibition after a composition by Claude Gallé,regarded as one of the best bronziers of the late Louis XVI a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Metal, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry and Burl Wood Nightstand
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style nightstand or end table By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Beautiful book-matched cherry wood, with burl wood columns and original ...
Category

1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair Signed Antique E.F. Caldwell Empire Gilt Bronze High Detail Wall Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Stunning and Rare Pair Antique c1890's Fire Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces Signed by E.F. Caldwell. Please look closely at pictures as these sconces are beautiful beyond words. Originally ...
Category

1890s North American Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, Circa 1875
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Painted Toleware Converted Oil Lamp, France Charming French Tole Lamp on a frosted lucite base. Wonderful patina on this vintage piece. Certainly a statement piece in any home libr...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Napoleonic French Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers Grey Marble Circa 1810
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1810 French Empire (Napoleon) Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers with a gray marble top; four drawers, three inset with lion head form pulls and shield ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Painted Boillotte Lamps.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Painted Boillotte Lamps. A large pair of Empire style gilt bronze and painted bouillotte lamps with sheet metal shades, 20th century, beautifull...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Empire Style Round Pedestal Table
Located in Chicago, IL
*** Shipping is NOT Free, please read below how to get a shipping quote. Antique French Empire Style Round Pedestal Table with Burlwood Center A gorgeous French Regency style circ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood, Burl

French Limoges Porcelain Baluster Vase with Swan Handles in an Empire Style
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A large pedestal baluster-shaped vase in hand-painted Limoges porcelain, and dating from the mid-20th century. Featuring an exquisite decoration of spring flowers in vibrant polychro...
Category

20th Century French Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

19th C Empire Ebonised Round Table with Brass Figural Mounts
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this two tier round table has strong empire / neoclassic style elements. We had the table professionally ebonised in England an...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Meissen Costume Group, Couple Dressed In Empire Style, by H. Goeschl, Ca 1940
By Meissen Porcelain, Heinrich Goeschl
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant couple costumed in Empire style: The lady in a dress that softly hugs the body with a high waist that sits just below the bust, a short cape covering the neckline and shoulde...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Rare Vieux Paris Tall Vases, Circa:1830
Located in Alexandria, VA
This pair of neoclassic Vieux Paris conical shaped vases have Classical Roman motifs on one side. Portraits on the other side depict an inebriate on one vase and a teetotaler on the ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Old Paris Porcelain Wash Jug and Basin with Gilt Decoration
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A superb early 19th century Empire period wash basin (with saucer) and tall pitcher, beautifully crafted from Old Paris Porcelain and featuring a very striking hand-painted polychrom...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

Empire Mahogany 2-Drawer Stand, Circa 1810, France
Located in Alexandria, VA
This high style 2-drawer stand is made of mahogany and mahogany book matched veneer with French pine secondary wood. The piece has a finished back, so it can be used away from the wa...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass

French long duration Skeleton Clock
Located in HAARLEM, NL
The clock sits proudly on a black marble base with four bun feet. The I form skeletonised timepiece movement with anchor escapement, knife edge suspension and compensated pendulum. T...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Vintage French Iron and Brass Torchiere Floor Lamp
Located in New Orleans, LA
Stunning patinated wrought iron torchiere floor lamp with solid brass details stands on three legs and features three lights with red, black and gold shades. Time earned patina and b...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

A Pair of Porcelain de Paris Ovid Form Vases, Circa:1820
Located in Alexandria, VA
This is an exceptional pair of Old Paris vases with beautiful hand-painted panorama scenes. The bucolic scenes are of fashionably dressed people hanging out with cows by a meandering...
Category

1820s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

French First Empire Period Chest of Drawers / Commode / Dresser, c. 1810
Located in Weehawken, NJ
Classic French Empire Chest made from rosewood veneer and featuring ebonized front columns, c. 1810. Iconic of the Empire style, two ebony black round columns flank the bank of dovet...
Category

1810s Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Wood, Rosewood

Elegant Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Pedestal Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant, architectural Empire pedestal cabinet in 2 parts, crafted in mahogany. Features a frieze with ormolu mounts of typical Empire period over a cupboard door that opens to revea...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass

Unique sofa, France, circa 1860. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Unique sofa, France, circa 1860. Condition: before renovation and upholstery replacement. Wood: walnut dimensions: height 104 cm / seat height. 46 cm / ...
Category

1860s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Empire Style Bronze & Marble Candelabra
Located in Southall, GB
A beautifully made pair of French candelabras in bronze and marble. Two neoclassical styled women are blowing trumpet horns which form candlesticks. There is intricate detailing to t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Provincial Empire Marble Top Commode, France, Circa:1815
Located in Alexandria, VA
This handsome 3-drawer commode has an incomparable restrained beauty. While it has all the design elements of French Empire furniture, the application is more provincial than Parisia...
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Large French Empire Style Mirror with Gold Gilt Finish
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Large scale French Empire style mirror with beautiful neoclassical embossed motif in classic French form. Will add elegance to any room! #5862
Category

Early 20th Century Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

19th Antique Marquetry Inlaid Mahogany Mirror
Located in Miami, FL
About This is a beautiful antique Spanish flame mahogany and marquetry wall mirror, circa 1840. The mahogany frame is beautifully inlaid with a continuous marquetry border. The qua...
Category

Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Mahogany

French Empire Style Brass, Bronze and Frosted Glass Three-Light Chandelier
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire style brass, bronze, and frosted glass three-light chandelier from ca 1950s. This adorable and compact Empire-style chandelier features a circular brass body and three...
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze

1920s Italian Empire Style Brass & Crystal Wall Sconces - a Pair
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a pair of enchanting sconces, circa the 1920s. These Empire-style sconces exude an aura of class and elegance, transporting any room to a time of timele...
Category

1920s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Brass

French Early 19th Century Vanity
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This Vanity is made of mahogany with a white marble top. It has some bronze pineapple on each side of the mirror. dimension from the floor to the marble top 30.8''H dimension from th...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Marble

Mid-Century Modern Empire Style Campaign Armchair with Red Wood Finish
Located in Dallas, TX
A handsome antique empire style campaign armchair, walnut, with green and white striped fabric cushions for seat and back. Brass lion paw feet....
Category

17th Century North American Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Wood

An Ormolu Mounted Swedish Porphyry Butter Tub, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The delicately chamfered edges of the round tub and cover carved from Blyberg Porphyry with ormolu mounted acorn finial.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Furniture

Materials

Porphyry, Ormolu

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.

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