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.
$8,636 / set
Pair of Empire Torchères, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of torcheres on triangular bases with gilded carved paw feet, acanthus leaf decoration and palmettes on the base, conical shaft, and wide candle cup. Wood, finished in black fau...
Wood
$9,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
A Pair of French Empire Polychrome Gilt-Wood Torchères, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Pair of French Empire Polychrome Gilt-Wood Torchères, 19th Century Description: Each torchère with a circular stone top above a concave triform capital with a rosette to each face...
Wood
Pair of Tall Italian Torchères, Likely Naples, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A refined pair of Italian torchères made from mahogany, dating to the early 19th century and likely originating from Naples. The torchères rest on tripod bases with elegantly curved ...
Marble
Wonderful Pair of French Empire Gilt Patinated Bronze Figural Regency
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful large pair of French Empire gilt and patinated bronze figural Regency candelabra raised on paw feet, each figure holding a 6-branch cand...
Bronze
$63,021 / set
Empire Torchères, Vienna, circa 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of large Empire torches or candelabra on a three-pass base tapering to the top and inlaid with brass inlays in the form of acanthus leaves and floral motifs. Rising above three ...
Mahogany
19th Century Pair French Carved Alabaster Lighted Urn Torchieres
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Pair French Carved Alabaster Lighted Urn Torchieres Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with details.
Alabaster
$14,576 / set
H 24.41 in Dm 7.09 in
A pair (2) of figural Empire candelabra candles. Paris, 19th century.
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair (2) of figural Empire candelabra candles. Paris, 1815s Gilt bronze. Recessed pedestal base with palmette and floral decoration on a square plinth. The pair, dressed in antiqu...
Bronze
Pair of French 19th Century Brass Candlesticks
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A pair of French Empire style brass candlesticks from the 1800’s with a beautiful silhouette and nice heft in the patinated metal to add intrigue to a mantel or dining table. Subtle,...
Brass
$3,493 / set
H 30 in W 13 in D 6 in
Pair 19th c Italian Neoclassic Urn-Carved Candelabras w/5 Candle Pricket Holders
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian pair of Neoclassical style five light candelabras from the 19th century. These antique candle holders from Italy are have gesso and silvered/gilt over a carved wood base i...
Iron
$1,424Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 10.25 in Dm 4.125 in
Pair, French Empire Gilt Bronze Crane Motif Candlesticks Circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, circa 1815. This exquisite pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, crafted circa 1815, embodies the opulence and grandeur of the Empire style. Each candlestick feat...
Bronze
$1,200 / set
H 14.25 in W 6 in D 6 in
Pair of Early to Mid-19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of bronze Empire style candlesticks. In excellent original condition. France, early 19th century.
Bronze
$3,000 / set
H 35.5 in W 9 in D 9 in
Pair of Tall Italian 19th Century Silver Gilt Candlesticks from Italian Church
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of large-sized 19th century Italian candlesticks. This pair of antique candlesticks, circa 1850, were originally displayed in an Italian church and feature silver gilt over exquisite hand-carved wood bodies. Each candlestick is approximately 3 foot tall...
Metal
Pair of Italian Empire Silver Candlesticks, Milan, circa 1810
Located in Vienna, AT
Pair of elegant Empire candleholders on an unfilled base, conical structure, offset olive-shaped grommets with a flat, plate-shaped drip edge, smoo...
Silver
$5,920Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 12.21 in Dm 5.71 in
Pair of Early 19th Century Empire Trajan's Column Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century Empire Trajan's column ormolu candlesticks in the manner of P.-P. Thomire (1751-1843): Pair of large Empire ormolu candlesticks, the stem ressembling th...
Ormolu
$16,500 / set
H 27 in W 13 in D 12 in
Pair of Regency Gilt and Patinated Bronze Atlas Figural Candelabra
By Messenger & Phipson
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Regency or William IV figural candelabra in form of Atlas and a globe. Six arms issuing from top. Patinated bronze, gilded bronze and bronze. A truly rare from. Attributed to...
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Pair of French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, 1820s A refined pair of Empire candlesticks in gilt bronze, crafted in France around the 1820s. The design features the elegant, flu...
Bronze
$111,991Sale Price|20% Off
H 72.84 in Dm 21.66 in
Monumental Pair of Italian Empire Gilt Bronze Candleholders or Floor Lamps, 1800
Located in Rome, IT
Impressive pair of Italian Empire finely chiseled ormolu Flambeaux, on triform base, each with 25 scrolled gilt-bronze candle arms. Attributed to Luigi Manfredini the famous bronze a...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze 3-Light Candelabras
Located in Dallas, TX
The appeal of the Napoleon III style (sometimes referred to as the Second Empire) stems from the fact that art and furniture from the mid-1800s incorporated elements from previous Fr...
Metal, Bronze
1850 Set of Two Empire Giltwood Sicilian Huge Torcheres
Located in Catania, Sicilia
A pair of giltwood huge Torcheres hand carved in Sicily in 1850, they are in original conditions, with normal signs of use and age. The mid-nineteenth century Sicilian torch holders ...
Giltwood
Sold
H 32.29 in W 10.24 in D 5.52 in
1850s Sicilian Wood and Metal Palm Holder with a Coeval Floral Composition
Located in Catania, Sicilia
A wood and metal palm holder with a painted iron floral composition hand-crafted in Sicily in 19th century. It was used as a decoration for rural or priva...
Metal
Sold
H 17.72 in W 7.88 in D 3.94 in
1850s Pair of Antique Lacquered Wood Sicilian Palm Holders with Metal Flowers
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Two antique white and gold small torcheres also used as palm holders and used to decorate altars of private church.The two pieces are in original conditio...
Fruitwood, Lacquer
19th Century Pair od Hand-Carved Wood Church Torcheres
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Two hand-carved wood candle holders made in Italy in the second half of 19th century, they have lion paws and an amazing old white and gray original patina. They have real signs of u...
Wood
1850 a Pair of Gilded Wood Sicilian Bed Lamps
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Two antique hand-carved gilt wood Sicilian palm holders, electrified and transformed in lovely bed lamps. The wood it's in original condition and patina. They...
Wood, Giltwood
Sold
H 19.69 in W 6.7 in D 6.7 in
Late 19th Century Italian White and Gold Hand Painted Wood Torcheres, Set of 3
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Set of three hand carved candlesticks, white and gold painted, old wormholes, signs of the age.
Gold
Florentine Craftsmanship Heavy Cast Empire Style Floor Lamp No Lampshade
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Massi...
Brass
1840 Empire Gilded Wood Sicilian Candlesticks
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Three Private Church gilded wood torcheres made in Sicily in the mid-19th century, totally hand-carved. They are in original conditions.
Giltwood
c. 1830 Pair of Empire Hand-Carved Giltwood Sicilian Torcheres
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Two empire candlesticks in original conditions, they are hand-crafted in Sicily in the first half of 19th century for a private church.
Giltwood
Mid-19th Century Empire Pair of Gilded Wood Italian Torcheres
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Two hand-carved wood italian torcheres, painted white and gilded wood, they are in original conditions, never restored. They came from a private church.
Giltwood
1830s Three Empire Gilded Wood Sicilian Candlesticks
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Three different hand-carved wood candlesticks made in Sicily in the early 19th century, they are in original conditions, never restored, they came from a private church.
Giltwood
1850 Set of Two Antique Gilded Wood Italian Torcheres
Located in Aci Castello, IT
An huge pair of italian torcheres, made in mid-19th Century, they have real signs of use and age and haven't been never restored. They came from a private church.
Giltwood