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.
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Style Crystal and Gilt Bronze Urn Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A twin handled Empire urn in gilded bronze, the two arms decorated with medusa heads, and classical heads below. Gilt grape leaves encircle the ovoid body. The urn sits on a decorate...
Crystal, Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and silvered bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation. (T-Mr-20-Bas).
Bronze
Napoleon III Period Gilt and Patinated Bronze Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This unusual chandelier is designed in the Empire style from gilt and patinated bronze in the form of an ancient Roman terracotta or earthenwa...
Ormolu, Bronze
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Gilt Bronze Female Caryatids Candlesticks
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Ormolu Gilt Bronze Female Busts Candlesticks, circa 1820 A beautiful pair of Empire gilt-bronze ormolu c...
Bronze
$1,850 / set
Elegant pair of French Empire style sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful pair of 1940's French empire style sconces, the patina is much nicer in person
Brass
19th Century Empire Chandelier having Ten Lights, Dore Bronze, Neoclassical
Located in Stamford, CT
19th Century Neoclassical Dore Bronze and Crystal Chandelier having 10 Lighted Arms An exquisite neoclassical chandelier featuring a beautifully cut crystal bowl at its center, grac...
Crystal, Bronze
EARLY 19th CENTURY EMPIRE TUNDISH CHANDELIER IN IRON AND CRYSTALS
Located in Firenze, FI
Beautiful and elegant tundish chandelier with twelve lights. Made of wrought iron with lead bobèches and cast metal candle holders, this chandelier features bands painted in a delica...
Crystal, Metal, Wrought Iron, Lead
Heavy Cast Bronze Empire Wall Sconce w 3 Lights Quantity Available
Located in New York, NY
Heavy cast bronze three light sconce done in an Empire style. Small quantity available at time of posting. Priced each. Please inquire. Please note, this item is located in our Scran...
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Bronze
$8,168Sale Price / set|25% Off
Pair of 3-light torches in chased and gilded bronze, signed Barbedienne
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of three-light candelabra in chased and gilded bronze, signed F. Barbedienne, Paris. Barbedienne, Paris. Elegant pair of Empire-style three-light candelabra in finely chased an...
Bronze
$3,000Sale Price|28% Off
Lamp Table 19th Century Gilt bronze Metal Shade Neoclassical France
Located in New York, NY
Lamp 19th Century Gilt bronze Metal Shade Neoclassical France . A French Bouillotte lamp made in gilt bronze and a painted metal shade. 3 electrified candle arms.
Ormolu
$5,920Sale Price / set|20% Off
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
One Empire Style Silvered and Black Engraved Metal Table Lamp, France, 1930s
Located in IT
Empire style silvered and black engraved metal table lamp, France, early 20th century, 1930s In the pictures you see two lamps but only one le...
Metal
Russian Empire Style Gilt Bronze Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This Russian Empire style gilt bronze chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features thirty-six lights and a crown decorated with 12 leaves and a pine-cone, from which large chains are leaving downwards. Both rings are decorated with double-armed Athena's heads crowned...
Bronze
$9,600Sale Price|36% Off
Early 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire basket style crystal and gilt bronze chandelier with nine candle nozzles. The chandelier has a top section decorated with crystal swags and large gilded palmettes with the body suspended with strings of graduated crystal almond shaped crystals. The gilded nozzles are on top of decorative elements attached to the central gilded corona...
Crystal
Pair of Large Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Five-Light Candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine 19th Century Pair of Large Patinated & Gilt Bronze Five Light Candelabra in the Empire Taste, now turned into lamps. France, circa 1860. Sold with two associated contempo...
Bronze
19th Century, French Brass Desk Lamp in Empire Style
Located in Sofia, BG
Receive our new selections direct from 1stdibs by email each week. Please click follow dealer below and see them first! 19th century electrified brass desk lamp in Empire style with...
Brass
$1,800 / set
Pair of Gilt Bronze Empire Sconces
Located in Locust Valley, NY
Pair of gilt bronze three-arm Empire sconces with leaf detail.
Bronze
Pair of French Louis Philippe Siena Marble and Gilt Bronze Table Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
a pair of fine lamps of Siena marble with gold and silver gilt bronze mounts and supports, France, circa 1830 37" H x 8" diameter base PRICED WITHOUT SHADES (SHADES AVAILABLE SE...
Siena Marble, Silver, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Brass Candelabra Lamps, 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of very fine quality 19th century brass candelabras, now converted to table lamps. Professionally re-wired. These have their ori...
Brass
French Empire Style Gilded Bronze Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
French Empire style gilded bronze bouillotte lamp with 4 arms and a black tole lampe shade.
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Brass Sconces, Early 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of French Empire three-light brass sconces with lion faces, converted to electric. Recently restored, having wax candle sleeves and holding chandelier size light bulbs. Fran...
Brass
Russian Cut-Glass, Ormolu, and Blue Porcelain Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Russian cut-glass, ormolu, and blue porcelain chandelier Russian, 19th Century Height 120cm, diameter 90cm This stunning Russian chandelier brings together vibrant turquoise porcela...
Ormolu
A Very Fine Pair of Empire Parcel Gilt Bronze Three Light Candelabra / Lamps
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome pair of Empire Period parcel gilt bronze 3 light candelabra of exceptional quality & fine proportions, having been converted to table lamps decades ago. Both show...
Bronze
Empire Eighteen-Light Bronze and Ormolu Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
Spectacular French early 19th century bronze and ormolu chandelier, the 12 scrolling arms molded with leaves and interspersed with six ad...
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns Wired as Lamps
Located in Long Island City, NY
Pair of Early 19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Bronze Urns, Wired as Lamps. Featuring ornate swag garlands and rams heads, with a frieze of dancing putti.
Bronze
20th Century antique Empire style Chandelier with 8 Silver Swans brass
Located in Berlin, DE
Galvanized bronze and partly red patinated. Bowl-shaped body with pine finish. Starting from this, eight candlestick arms designed as swans with cylindrical spouts over a round eaves...
Brass
French 19th Century Period First Empire Patinated Bronze and Bronze Sconces
Located in New Orleans, LA
Magnificent pair of French 19th century Period First Empire round patinated bronze and bronze three light sconces with bronze candle cups of acanthus leaves, adorned with feathers, b...
Bronze
empire brass column lamp
Located in Brooklyn, NY
empire lamp stem in solid brass with contemporary lampshade from the 1950's base is 44 centimetres high ( 17 1/3")
Brass, Steel
Set of Four Empire Style Three-Light Wall Sconces, Gilt and Patinated
Located in Montreal, QC
Set of four French Empire style cast bronze three-arm wall sconces. The oval cast gilt bronze back plate, with stylized acanthus leaf design, supporting a gilt banded dark patinated...
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
French Empire style gilt bronze and cut crystal chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi with eight lights. This chandelier is characterized by classical plate embellished with gilt bron...
Crystal, Bronze
Antique Gothic French Empire Renaissance Bronze Candelabra Table Lamps - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Gothic French Empire Bronze Candelabra Renaissance Table Lamps - a Pair. Item features 6 candle arms, fluted columns, flared pedestal base, single light sockets, and tall sta...
Bronze
$8,500 / set
Antique Candelabra Lamps
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of Empire candelabra, gilt and patinated bronze, now turned into electric lamps.
Bronze
$4,650
Empire Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Gilt Bronze Chandelier in the Empire taste, featuring gilt bronze swans issuing lights. An exquisite eight wreath top canopy. 8 lights. France, circa 1900. Dimensions:...
Bronze
Chandelier, Late 20th Century, Empire, 10 Branch, Wilkinson Plc
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
The polished brass acanthus leaf corona supports six rectangular split link chains holding a black painted bowl with an ormolu pendant. The five polished brass double candle...
Brass
Large Pair, Empire Style Sconces, 18-Karat Gold Plate, 3 Lights, Black Shaft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Larger pair of Empire Looking style sconces They are of hi-quality lost wax Bronze castings with fine detailing . With polished 18-karat gold plated finish in Antique. Center sha...
Bronze
19th Century French Marble and Gilt Bronze Fine Floor Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French gilt bronze and marble floor lamp . Fine quality gilt bronze detail.
Marble
Early 19th Century Empire Pendant from Stockholm
Located in Ljungby, SE
High-class Empire pendant from Stockholm around 1800-1810. It features six beautifully decorated candle arms with acanthus leaves. The central decoration includes a female figure sta...
Bronze, Iron
Antique 19th Century French Empire Candelabra Lamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique 19th Century French Empire Candelabra Lamp Bring a candle-lit aesthetic to your space with this traditional candelabra. ...
Marble, Brass
A Pair of French Black Amethyst Crystal Pineapple Form Gilt Bronze Mounted Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous Pair of French 20th Century Black Amethyst Cut Crystal Anannas/Pineapple shaped and Gilt Bronze Mounted Lamps. Each lamp consists of a base and a central body section comp...
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century French Large Scale Bronze Empire Style Chandelier with 16 Lights
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th Century large scale French Empire style chandelier is crafted from Bronze featuring a striking Black and gold color. It boasts an impressive design with 16 lights, making i...
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire style gilt bronze wall sconce by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features the best quality hand-chiselled details. The backplate of this sconce features a lacquered round ...
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Bronze, Ormolu And Crystal Chandelier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite and extremely decorative French 19th century Empire st. patinated bronze, ormolu and crystal chandelier. The six arm twenty two light chandelier is centered by an elegan...
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Gilt Bronze & Crystal Basket Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine & Impressive Gilt Bronze & Crystal Basket Chandelier in the Empire style, featuring four patinated bronze eagle figures. France, circa 1900. 10 lights. Dimensio...
Crystal, Bronze
Black Lacquered Wood Empire Style Table Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
Black lacquered wood empire style table lamp stencil with gilded motifs
Wood
$1,089Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Silvered Three Claw-Feet French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft.
Bronze
French Empire Influenced Chandelier, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French Empire influenced chandelier, having a coronet with chains hanging down to the chandelier that has twelve branch sconces each with swan heads, a fl...
Bronze
Empire Period French Gilt Bronze Six Light Chandelier
Located in London, GB
Empire period French gilt bronze six light chandelier French, c. 1810 Height 80cm, diameter 45cm Made in France around 1810, at the time when the Empire style was in vogue, the chan...
Bronze, Ormolu
Bouillotte French Lamp Gild Bronze 4 lights Flora Motive Empire Style
Located in Sweden, SE
Stylish antique Bouillotte lamp. Square foot with a four candleholders in flora motive candleholders and adjustable fabric shade with fixation bolt in form of an arrow feather. The ...
Bronze
pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and stately pair of French 19th century Empire st. patinated Bronze and Ormolu lamps. This handsome pair of lamps are raised by triangular shaped bases with concave sid...
Bronze, Ormolu
$4,180 / set
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Wall Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
French Empire style pair of gilt bronze sconces with 5 lights. A classic pair in the colors of gold and black. Very nice!.
Bronze
$1,042Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century Empire Style Horn-Formed Rolling Candlesticks French Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and casted, partially silvered. Three stylized, horn-formed rolling candle sticks.
Bronze
19th Century Pair of French Empire Bronze Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th century) bronze wall sconces with 5 arms, swan tops and a double ball design (Priced as pair).
Metal, Bronze
$6,239Sale Price / set|25% Off
Early 19th Century Empire Candelabras
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning pair of gilded and patinated bronze candelabras, featuring a winged cupid. He is standing on a sphere and holding a torch, which is surrounded by three curving candle branch...
Bronze
Very Fine Neoclassical Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine and decorative gilt bronze chandelier in the Empire style featuring central frosted and cut crystal globe. 4-light, France, circa 1900 Dimension...
Bronze
$4,868Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Large Empire Appliqués / Sconces circa 1800, Gilded Linden Wood
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of large Empire appliqués / sconces circa 1800, gilded linden wood Solid linden wood, gilded two-flame. Carved, gilded. Ribbon, each with a central, fully sculpted eagle sculpt...
Crystal
20th Century, French Gilt Bronze Buillotte Lamp
Located in IT
20th Century, French Gilt Bronze Buillotte Lamp This elegant table lamp model buillotte was made in France towards the beginning of the twentieth century, of classic taste with deco...
Bronze
French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Chandelier by Gherardo Degli Albizzi features best quality hand-chiseled details. Top crowns in characterized by rich vegetal decorati...
Bronze, Tin
Pair of 19th C. French Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Torchieres/floor lamps
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible and Large Pair of 19th Century Empire Period French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mounted Torchieres. The patinated bronze base is decorated with hand-chassed and hand-c...
Bronze
Pair of Silvered-Bronze and Cut-Glass Urn Lamp Bases, French Empire Style
Located in London, GB
A pair of silvered-bronze and cut-glass urn lamp bases in the French Empire style American, 20th century Measures: Height 55cm, width 22cm, depth 18cm These fine lamp-bases, sha...
Silver Plate, Bronze