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.
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Glass
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Beech
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Porcelain
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Wood, Lacquer, Giltwood, Mirror
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1980s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Alabaster, Bronze
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
1980s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Silver Plate
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble
1980s Irish Vintage Empire Furniture
Wood
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Walnut
1980s German Vintage Empire Furniture
Porcelain
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Resin, Birdseye Maple
1980s American Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Marble
1980s Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass
1980s French Vintage Empire Furniture
Bronze
1980s Spanish Vintage Empire Furniture
Wood
1980s Hong Kong Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass, Chrome
1980s Asian Vintage Empire Furniture
Brass, Chrome
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Mahogany
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Furniture
Iron
1980s English Vintage Empire Furniture
Mahogany, Giltwood