Pair Antique French Empire Bronze D'ore Wall-Lights, circa 1830-1850
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique bronze D'ore French Empire wall-lights, circa 1830-1850.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire Lighting
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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4,108
2,599
2,194
1,697
1,622
981
850
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678
569
549
410
197
134
12
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71
187
143
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576
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Style: Empire
Pair of Antique French Empire Gold and Patinated Bronze Sconces
Located in New Orleans, LA
These patinated sconces are handsome, with their floral and eagle decorations. They make a strong statement while being modestly sized.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Gold, Bronze
Elegant pair of French turn of the century woos sconces ( Empire style )
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An elegant pair of French wood sconces, Empire style, the patina is much nicer in person
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Wood
Antique Candelabra Lamps
$8,500 / set
Antique Candelabra Lamps
Located in Atlanta, GA
Magnificent pair of Empire candelabra, gilt and patinated bronze, now turned into electric lamps.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Classicist Basket Chandelier silver in antique Empire Style brass hand crafted
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely chased and silver-plated bronze. Basket-shaped body made of hand-wired pearl cords with a leaf rosette and a pine knob at the end, connected by a w...
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Iron
French Candelabra in Empire Style silver
Located in Berlin, DE
Silver, finely engraved, silvered. On three claw-feet, several times structured, fluted column-shaft. Measures: Height: 73.5 cm, diameter 25 cm.
Category
20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Seven-Light Candelabra, Gilt Bronze & Marble, Circa 1870
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Pair of Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze and Rouge Griotte Marble Seven-Light Candelabra. These palatial sized candelabra date to the First Empire period. As becoming of ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Fine Quality Pair of Early Empire Ormolu Mounted Cut Crystal Lamps
$7,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Fine Quality Pair of Early Empire Ormolu Mounted Cut Crystal Lamps
Located in New York, NY
The fine diamond cut crystal column-form table lamps supported by gilt bronze paw feet. Date: Early 19th century Origin: French Dimension: 36 in x 10 in.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Gilded, Mirrored, Period Sconces
$6,850 / set
Pair of Gilded, Mirrored, Period Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A pair of period, hand carved, gessoed, and 22-karat gold gilded, Second Empire, French sconces. Each with gilt bronze arms, and inset with original, mercury glass mirrors. Each with...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Bronze Splendor Wall Appliqués / Sconces, Paris, 19th Century
$23,564Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Bronze Splendor Wall Appliqués / Sconces, Paris, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of bronze splendor wall appliqués / sconces, Paris, 19th century Fire gilded bronze. Five-flame frame for candles with rocaille and rosettes in relief. Colorless glass prism ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Noble 20th Century in Empire Style Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Bronze, finely engraved and antique silvered. Columns as holder for four sweeping candelabra arms. (T-Ra-11).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Basket Chandelier
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Empire style basket chandelier Classicist basket chandelier in Empire style. Finely cast, Bronze silvered. Adorned with engraved swans and pearl cords. (F-Ra-20).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Wall Light Lamp
Located in Berlin, DE
Decorative wall light in Empire style. Finely engraved and cast bronze. Three stylized, full horn-formed, sweeping light arms. (F-Sam-1).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Bronze Casted Figure-Formed Candelabra
Located in Berlin, DE
Finely engraved and casted Bronze. Full plasticised, masculine historical Egyptian representation. (T-Mr-20-Bp).
Category
20th Century Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Bronze Sconces
$12,249Sale Price / set|25% Off
19th Century Empire Bronze Sconces
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilt and patinated bronze sconces from embellished with winged Victories. Each sconce features four candlestick branches that terminate in lions heads and are intricately scu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Antique Gilt Bronze and Opaline Glass Chandelier
Located in London, GB
This beautiful, tall chandelier is ideal for a grand entrance hall or room where it can be seen and admired. It is an exceptional piece of Empire style design, perfectly combining gl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Pair Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Wall Sconces, Circa 1900
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Empire gold bronze wall sconces, Circa 1900.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Empire Style Six-Arm Ormolu Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome pair of French mid 19th century Empire st. six arm ormolu sconces. Each sconce displays a most decorative circular mottled back plate with charming and finely detailed flo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier
Price Upon Request
Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A Superb Antique Empire Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal Multi Light Chandelier of Exquisite Detail Embellished with Cut Crystal Prisms and Chains, Circa 1810. The chandelier features an...
Category
1810s European Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Large Antique, French Empire Style, Neoclassical Silvered Bronze Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
A large antique French Empire-style neoclassical chandelier in silvered bronze. The chandelier is suspended from a crown-shaped canopy decorated with acanthus leaves and laurel bands...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Empire lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include Gherardo Degli Albizzi, Edward F. Caldwell & Co., Alexandre Vossion, and Maison Baguès. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $194 and tops out at $220,000 while the average work can sell for $4,434.
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