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.
$4,600Sale Price|20% Off
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
1990s Savonnerie Area Rug-10'0" X 8'0"
Located in Los Angeles, US
21th Century Authentic Savonnerie Area Rug 10'0" X 8'0", handmade and hand-knotted, wool on cotton foundation, reproduction
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Authentic Oriental Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Muted Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and carpets for both interna...
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Spanish Woolen Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Late-19th Century Spanish Woolen Rug 6'3'' x 4'10", made in Spain around late 19th century by villagers at the time
Wool
19th Century Authentic Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
Mid-19th Century European Aubusson Style Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Mid-19th Century European Aubusson Style Rug 5'7'' x 4'5'' , handmade and hand-knotted, empire traditional style
Wool
1900s Antique Decorative Samarkand Rug-4'2" X 2'7"
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is an antique Samakhand rug. This is an Uzbek tribal design rug with a red design throughout the rug.
Wool, Cotton
1900s Antique Decorative Khotan Samarkand Rug-6'2'' X 4'4''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Up for sale is a 1900s Antique Decorative Khotan Samarkand Rug. This rug is made of wool on a cotton foundation. It is tribal and traditional
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Authentic Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
1920s Antique Indian Rug - 14'10'' X 11'7''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Indian Rugs – Not all the rugs that were woven in India are easy to categorize. That is why we created this antique Indian rugs section. Here you will find Indian rugs of whi...
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Tribal Muted Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool
19th Century Antique European Portuguese Carpet
Located in Los Angeles, US
The durability of needlepoint makes it suitable for the creation of carpets and floor coverings. The tradition of creating needlepoint rugs in Portugal has a fascinating story that b...
Wool
19th Century Muted Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
19th Century Oriental Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
Mid-19th Century Authentic Khotan Samarkand
Located in Los Angeles, US
The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and carpets for both interna...
Wool
19th Century Authentic Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton
Early-19th Century Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug-7'5'' X 4'6''
Located in Los Angeles, US
Early-19th Century Antique Uzbek Samarkand Rug from Uzbekistan
Wool, Cotton
Early 19th Century Beige Bessarabian Tapestry Woven Wool Rug
Located in New York, NY
Early 19th Century Beige Bessarabian Tapestry Woven Wool Rug Featuring an Adamesque central medallion set against a warm caramel ground, the composition is elegantly anchored by swa...
Wool
Savonnerie Rug 8'0" x 10'0"
Located in New York, NY
Fine French Savanory Weave Rug, Hand Knotted Design: Center Medalion The Savonnerie manufactory was the most prestigious European manufactory of knotted-pile carpets, enjoying ...
Wool
Late 19th Century Bessarabian Rug from Romania
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This traditional hand-woven Romanian Bessarabian rug has an inviting beige field of sparse stylized floral sprays and blossoming vases, in a ...
Wool
Late 19th Century Antique Deep Brown Floral Ukrainian Rug
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th Century Antique Deep Brown Floral Ukrainian Rug Provenance: James & Jane Wrightman Ukraine, circa 1870 A decorative rug featuring a deep brown field filled with oval m...
Wool
Late 19th Century Ukrainian Pile Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Ukraine, circa 1880 Pile bouquets scattered on the field within a pile rose blossom border, all on camel flat-woven (soumak) ground. handwoven
Wool
Hand-Woven Late 19th Century Bessarabian Rug from Romania
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This traditional handwoven Romanian Bessarabian rug has an overall beige field of four by five delicate stylized floral bouquets, in a subtle...
Wool
Sumak Manchoria Rug 10'0'' x 14'0''
Located in New York, NY
Sumak (also spelled Soumakh, Sumak, Sumac, or Soumac) is a tapestry technique of weaving strong and decorative textiles used as rugs and domestic bags. Baks used for bedding are know...
Wool, Cotton
Antique Hand-Woven Bessarabian Rug, Floral Design, Late 19th Century
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This traditional hand-woven Romanian Bessarabian rug has a shaded dark chocolate overall field with four elegant tonal floral vases radiating angled rosettes and delicate leaves, in ...
Wool
19th Century Handwoven Bessarabian Rug, Charcoal-Black Wool, Romania
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This traditional handwoven Romanian Bessarabian rug has a charcoal-black field with diagonal rows of polychrome floral sprays, in a whimsical golden-yellow border of angular meanderi...
Wool
Late 19th Century Russian Pile Rug
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th century Russian pile rug USSR, circa 1880 Handwoven Measures: 7'1" x 5'2" (216 x 157 cm).
Wool
$2,128Sale Price|20% Off
W 24 in L 40 in
A Tekke Legacy: Late 19th Century Yomud Chuval Bagface Rug with Tribal Style
Located in Dallas, TX
73316 Rare Antique Tekke Yomud Yomut Saryk Chuval Rug Bag Face 02'00 X 03'04. In the rarefied world of antique textiles, few treasures rival the historic prest...
Wool
636 - Lesghi Rug from Russia . 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Hand knotted carpet in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century. High quality, beautiful graphics and remarkable finesse. . Perfect state of preservation. Measures: 150 x 90 cm ...
Wool, Silk
Late-19th Century Khotan Samarkand Rug
Located in Los Angeles, US
Antique Samarkand Rugs: The desert oasis of Khotan was an important stop on the Silk Road. The people of Khotan were expert carpet weavers who produced high quality antique rugs and ...
Wool, Cotton