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.
$16,000Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Style Birdcage Model of Chateau de Luneville, Early 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The wood and wire birdcage faithfully depicting the chateau.
Wood
Pair of French Empire Style Winged Sphinx Bookends, Bronze & Marble
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19/20th Cent) green patinated bronze winged sphinx figures (bookends) raised on a black marble pedestal base
Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Blue Turquin Marble Obelisks, Early 1900s
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… Standing over 25 inches tall, this pair of blue turquin marble obelisks would make fantastic decorative elements for a console, mantel, or sofa table. The bluish-gray marble is adorned with gold ormolu mounts in the style of the French Empire. Dating to the early 1900s, this beautiful pair of antique obelisks...
Stone, Marble, Bronze
19th Century Italian Painted Wood Empire Folding Screen in Gilt Bronze Frame
Located in Firenze, IT
This one-of-a-kind antique Italian Empire Period folding screen is a masterpiece of early 19th-century craftsmanship, dating most likely from 1801 during the Republic of Lucca. Pain...
Bronze, Ormolu
A Fine Pair of Russian Empire Period Malachite And Ormolu Obelisks, Early 1800's
Located in New York, NY
A Monumental and Quite Rare Pair of 19th Century Russian Empire Ormolu Mounted Malachite Obelisks with Maiden Ormolu Mounts. Each obelisk is complete with four sides which terminate upwards to a triangular point. The bases are fitted with ormolu mounts which include hand-chased and hand-chiseled maidens holding flaming torches in either hand and on the other panel decoration of a vine with a winged bow. On top of the large ormolu mounts are smaller mounts which depict child masks in wings. Underneath and on top of the square base are ormolu mounts which depict acanthus leaves flourishing throughout with hand-chased and hand-chiseled fluted veins. The entire body of the obelisk is veneered with the most incredible and highest quality antique Russian malachite...
Malachite, Ormolu
French Empire Mahogany 3-Fold Screen with Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
French Empire style (19th century) mahogany 3 fold screen with bronze trim.
Bronze
$1,190Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of French Lion and Tiger Bookends
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Pair of French Lion and Tiger Bookends A pair of bookends. Each bookend features a metallic sculpture of a big cat, with one being a lion and the other a tiger. The sculptures are mo...
Marble, Metal
Early 20th Century French Empire Style Glass Ormolu Wood Fire Screen
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century French Empire Style Glass Ormolu Wood Fire Screen French, Early 20th Century Height 104cm, width 61cm, depth 39cm This early 20th century fire screen, created in ...
Ormolu
Early French 19th Century Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Firescreen
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early French 19th century Empire mahogany and gilt bronze firescreen Screen has a period embroidered flower decorated insert.
Bronze
Italian Yellow Tole Obelisk Urn With Paw Feet
Located in Stamford, CT
A charming neoclassical yellow tole water or tea urn in the form of an obelisk balanced on a square plinth by fours balls supported by brass paw feet. Decorated on four sides with ma...
Metal, Brass
$2,817
Beckford Bed Step
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A finely carved and decorated bed step in mahogany, with leather inset treads and column supports. Please note we are currently working to a 30-36 week lead time and that this item ...
Mahogany
$3,996Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Empire Style Bronze Ormolu Mounted 3 Panel Screen by Krieger
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 70 1/2 in W (Fully Open): 70 1/2 in D: 1 3/4 in Each Panel Width - 23 1/2 in An exquisite Antique French Empire Style three-panel screen by the prestigious Paris...
Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Mahogany 3-Fold Screen
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany 3 fold screen with bronze trim and round pastel painting on top panel.
Bronze
$932Sale Price|20% Off
Elegant Empire Brass and Steel Fireplace Mantel Fender, Circa 1820
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
M/940 - This mantel fender is very useful and elegant: it's not too large, but perfect. It's from the Empire French period. I think it may be a good buy.
Brass, Steel
$792Sale Price|20% Off
IMPERO chimney spark plugs made of cherry wood. Early 19th century
Located in Torino, IT
Fireplace spark arrestors EMPIRE in cherry wood with ebonized details. PERIOD Early 19th century MATERIALS Solid cherry wood with ebonized details. Canvas screen DIMENSIONS Height...
Canvas, Wood
Pair of Vintage Bronze Charging Elephant Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice and hard to find pair of Art Deco style bronze charging elephant bookends., circa 1940s. The bookends are in original condition with a fine patina, some light oxidation ...
Bronze
Pair of Reclaimed Ashford Black Marble Obelisks
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of reclaimed Ashford black marble obelisks salvaged from an ex UK private collection. This pair of matching Grand Tour style obelisks are inlaid with an array of beautifully ...
Marble
20th Century Victorian Style Wood and Iron "Balloon" Birdcage
Located in Germantown, MD
20th Century Victorian style wood and iron "Balloon" bird cage & feeder. This ornamental piece features, mahogany stained wood with wrought iron "Balloon" form cage. The bottom pullout / pull-out feeder drawer has a brass base. There is a wood and wire interior bird swing...
Iron
Regency Style Tole Birdcage on Stand, USA, 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
This 20th-century Regency Style birdcage is a romantic tribute to a time when beauty graced even the most functional objects. Crafted in painted toleware, it showcases delicate detai...
Metal
Impressive Pair of Ormolu Mounted Marble Obelisks
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of large marble obelisks. Made from solid Verde Antico marble with bronze neoclassical style decorative mounts on all four sides.
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Japanese Bronze Bookends, circa 1880
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Japanese Bronze Bookends, circa 1880
Bronze
Pair of Japanese Bronze Bookends, circa 1880
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Japanese bronze bookends, circa 1880.
Bronze
$1,950
H 34 in W 35 in D 20 in
French 19th Century Medieval Château Pewter and Wood Birdcage with Turrets
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large 19th century pewter and wood decorative birdcage shaped as a French medieval château. This exquisite French château birdcage is a definite must in terms of decorative accents...
Pewter
Russian Malachite Obelisks and Gilt Bronze, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Russian malachite obelisks and gilt bronze, 19th century.
Malachite, Bronze
$4,950
H 62.75 in W 51.75 in D 2 in
French Renaissance Revival Folding Three-Panel Screen with Hand-Painted Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Renaissance Revival folding three-panel screen with hand-painted Grotesque motifs and inset glass from the 19th century. Reminding us of motifs that one would see on the ceiling of the Uffizi gallery in Florence, this French painted screen...
Glass, Wood, Canvas
Italian Folding Screen
Located in Houston, TX
This six-panel screen borrows from the Roman practice as an homage to the great designers that came before. Ancient roman courtyard houses typically had architectural elements crown ...
Wood, Paper
$3,600Sale Price|25% Off
H 41 in W 23 in D 22 in
Original Early 1900s French Steamer Wardrobe Trunk Chest
Located in North York, ON
Original early 1900s French steamer trunk wardrobe chest. In all original good condition with original interior fitting, compartments, hangers and hardware. The interior and drawer c...
Brass
Sold
H 19.5 in W 5 in D 5 in
Pair Antique Gilt Bronze Mounted Malachite Obelisks in French Empire Style
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique malachite obelisks in the French empire style mounted with gilt bronze rosettes on four sides. Each 19 1/2 inches tall and 5 in wide and deep.
Malachite, Bronze
Pair Large French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Malachite Obelisks
Located in New York, NY
Pair of very large antique obelisks in the French Empire style with malachite veneers and neoclassical gilt bronze mounts including goddesses and masks...
Malachite, Bronze
Italian, Lombardia, Empire Mahogany and Ebonized Terrestrial Globe, ca. 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
the large globe retaining original artwork and centered inside a vertical ring and a larger horizontal ring, the rings raised on a framework of tapering ebonized columns joined by a ...
Mahogany
Pair of Brazilian Rock Crystal Obelisks on Stepped Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
Add architectural elegance to any console or mantel with this refined pair of hand-carved rock crystal obelisks. Crafted in Brazil, each tall and slender monument rests on a stepped ...
Rock Crystal
19th Century French Hand Painted Room Divider 4 Panel Leather Screen
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic leather four panel room divider hand painted and hand crafted screen from the latter part of the 19th century France. Hand painted cherubs with floral accents in outstandin...
Brass
19th Century Large Antique Leather Traveling Luggage with Brass Accents
Located in Wichita, KS
This beautiful 19th Century large scale Antique leather traveling bag or luggage is truly a special piece. The bag opens and all of the bra...
Brass
Sold
H 12.21 in W 5.12 in D 4.53 in
Standing Napoleon Bonaparte Sculpture - Figure. Bookends circa 1900 France
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Standing Napoleon Bonaparte Sculpture Bookends - Figure. circa 1900 France. Very nice Napoleon Sculpture, perfect size to decorate a desk. Silvered metal over a dark green marble bas...
Marble, Metal
Sold
H 33.5 in W 36.5 in D 21.75 in
Italian Empire Period Walnut/Brass Trunk/Cellarette on Carved Stand, 1stq 19th C
Located in Atlanta, GA
The upper portion a hinged box with brass corners and handles with a double locks and original key, the lower section a conforming stand with molded edges and front carved paw feet, the rear feet of cylindrical form with rounded bottoms.
Walnut
Circa 1880, Brass Empire Style Doorstop
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1880 brass weighted Empire style doorstop. Very well cast with acanthus & a pair of gryphons on the panel section over stepped base. Measures: 7 3/4" W, 17 1/4" H, 2 1/8" D.
Brass
Zuber Original Wallpaper Screen with French Hinges
By Jean Zuber
Located in Ballard, CA
Zuber wall paper screen depicting the return of Napoleon from Italy, rare piece with french hinges ( meaning it can open in every which way), the wallpaper is applied on to a burlap ...
Brass
Two Late 19th Century Hand-Painted Wood Italian Obelisks
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Two obelisks hand-crafted in Italy, the wood looks like red siena marble, they have an oval mother pearl cameo on the front. They are in original conditions.
Wood, Paint
Pair of Brazilian Carved Empire Style Rock Crystal Obelisks Sculptures
Located in Dallas, TX
These elegant rock crystal obelisks were crafted in Brazil, each tall piece is raised on a stepped square base and features exquisite craftsmanship with a tapered and pointed stem. B...
Rock Crystal