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.
20th Century Mirrored Top & Mahogany Wood Sideboard/Credenza By Dessin Fournir
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This exquisite sideboard, crafted by the renowned Dessin Fournir company in the mid-20th century, exemplifies superb craftsmanship and elegant design. Constructed from beautifully gr...
Brass
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, and orig...
Brass
$8,715 / item
French Empire Walnut Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
The classic form features book-matched panels framed by gold trim, while square tapered legs with brass sabots ground the piece in Empire period authenticity. Each door front showcas...
Metal
Baker Furniture French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, an...
Brass
Neo Classical Style Burl Walnut Mirrored Back Console Table / Credenzas
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Enhance your living space with this Mid-20th Century Neo-Classical Style Burled Walnut Mirrored Credenza/Console Table, a versatile and beautifully designed piece of furniture that r...
Brass
20th Century Mahogany Bronze Mounted Credenzas Cabinet / Smoke Glass Top
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This refined mahogany server/credenza showcases exquisite craftsmanship with bronze ormolu mounts and versatile design features. The front displays four drawers with brass pull hardw...
Brass, Bronze
Drexel Heritage Empire Style Sideboard or Bar Cabinet With Carved Lions
By Drexel
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding Empire or Egyptian Revival style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Drexel Heritage, "Pavilion" Collection USA, Late 20th Century Walnut and birch, with e...
Birch, Walnut, Giltwood
EARLY 19th CENTURY EMPIRE BLOND WALNUT SIDEBOARD
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant sideboard in solid blond walnut, finely carved. The linear design of the sideboard is enriched by two half lateral columns, ending with gilded bronze capitals that give a tou...
Bronze
Corner sideboard in solid walnut – Italy, early 19th century
Located in Vicenza, IT
We are pleased to present this important Italian corner sideboard, crafted in the very early years of the 19th century—a piece with a striking presence that combines architectural el...
Wood, Nutwood, Walnut, Shellac
Venetian Rustic Fruitwood Cabinet, Italy, Late 19th Century
Located in Vicenza, IT
Venetian shaped sideboard in fruitwood (likely apple or pear), dating to the late 19th century.The faceted sides and cup-shaped front feet reflect the furniture tradition of the Bass...
Fruitwood, Pearwood
19th century French Empire Marble Top Enfilade
Located in Richmond, VA
Great quality 19th century French empire marble top enfilade with bronze mounts and white marble top.
Marble
Large Empire Console from the Beginning of 1800 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Large empire console from the beginning of 1800-it is made of light fruit wood. It has a white Carrara marble on top. It has lion claws and golden bronze...
Wood
20th Century Inlaid Wood French Sideboard, 1970
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French sideboard of the 20th century. Furniture pleasantly adorned with geometric inlay on the front and sides in walnut, palisander, maple, beech and fruitwood. Moved and rounded fu...
Wood
$11,427 / item
H 32.68 in W 100.4 in D 15.75 in
"Il Pezzo 1 Black Credenza" ebonized sideboard - Marquinia top - bronze base
Located in Firenze, IT
An alternation of rounded shapes and geometrical lines, reassuming discipline and freedom, a composite, multiethnic plan in which each component and each material contributes to the ...
Marble, Bronze, Brass
Mae Credenza, Sideboard by Crump and Kwash
Located in Baltimore City, MD
Mae Credenza by Crump and Kwash Solid wood case / hand-turned legs / hand rubbed oil finish / solid brass pulls / premium, full extension, soft close ...
Brass
$6,800
H 34 in W 84 in D 22 in
Barbara Barry for Baker Modern Fluted Black Lacquered Sideboard Credenza
By Baker Furniture Company, Barbara Barry
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A Barbara Barry for Baker fluted sideboard credenza. This lovely modern cabinet features a wonderful fluted exterior design. The fluted design combine...
Wood
$5,995
H 43.25 in W 103.75 in D 24 in
Antique Monumental French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Marble Top Sideboard
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Provincial Louis XV style monumental sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet France, early 20th century Carved walnut, with thick beveled marble top and origi...
Marble
$5,597
H 37.41 in W 73.63 in D 16.93 in
20th Century Lacquered and Painted Wood Italian Sideboard, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian sideboard from the mid-20th century. High quality furniture in carved, lacquered and hand painted wood with eighteenth-century style landscapes. Sideboard with 4 doors, comp...
Wood
1970s Milo Baughman Style Burl Wood Credenza
Located in Elkton, MD
1970s Milo Baughman Style Burl Wood Credenza by Century Furniture for Bloomingdales Features chrome accents.
Chrome
$6,850
H 35.83 in W 73.63 in D 23.23 in
French Solid Walnut Credenza / Sideboard, Early Brutalist, 1930s, Architectural
Located in Almelo, NL
A rare early French Brutalist credenza in solid walnut, dating to the 1930s, distinguished by its architectural form, handcrafted construction, and richly developed patina. A rare F...
Iron
Finn Juhl model 22 Two-Tone Cabinet for Baker Furniture Company, 1950s
By Baker Furniture Company, Finn Juhl
Located in Coronado, CA
Finn Juhl Cabinet for Baker, 1950s. This petite cabinet features wonderful two-tone construction of teak and maple, with sculpted, lacquered steel pulls. A lovely, sculptured lip gra...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Sculptural Walnut Credenza Console
Located in Elkton, MD
The piece includes two center cabinet doors with round metal pulls and open shelving on both sides, ideal for use as a media console, bar cabinet, entryway storage, or dining room se...
Walnut
$2,695
H 37 in W 60 in D 17 in
Mid-Century Carved Mahogany Neo-Classical Style Credenza / Sideboard / Bar
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is such a handsome and versatile piece! It is a carved mahogany two tiered server hand crafted in the USA by Karges. It has a brass gallery and gilt accents accompanied by dovet...
Brass
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 31 in W 76 in D 19 in
Stylish Vintage Thomasville Burl Wood Drawers Walnut Credenza Mid-Century
By Thomasville
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stylish vintage Thomasville burl wood and walnut credenza. We love the classic modern styling along with the unusual patinated brass hardware. ...
Walnut, Burl
Antique French Empire Style Mahogany Buffet ~ Credenza
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Empire Style Mahogany Buffet ~ Credenza remains the quintessential French design for those seeking classic lines and a hint of formality, in the case of this understat...
Brass
20th Century French Empire Style Enfilade w/ Verde Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
20th Century French Empire Enfilade w/ Verde Marble Top. Featuring gilt Bronze mounts and beautiful book matched flame mahogany wood. One chip in marble as shown, otherwise in very g...
Marble
Sold
H 35.75 in W 71.75 in D 17.38 in
Baker Furniture French Empire Flame Mahogany Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or French Regency Louis XVI style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Circa Late 20th Century Stunning flame mahogany, with satinw...
Brass
Empire Flame French Mahogany Credenza
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Empire Flame French Mahogany Credenza This credenza measures: 97 wide x 22 deep x 37.25 inches high About Photos: We take our photos in a controlled lig...
Brass
Henredon Italian Empire Carved Cherry Wood Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Italian Provincial, Empire, or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Henredon USA, Late 20th Century Measures: 75"W x 19"D x 39"H. Carved cherry wo...
Brass
Sold
H 38.59 in W 55.52 in D 17.33 in
Tavolo Console Impero Italiana Due Cassetti e Anta Radica di Noce Inizio 1800
Located in Milano, MI
Grande consolle Impero, server in radica di noce con due cassetti ed un grande vano nella parte inferiore con sportello, abattant. Di provenienza italiana, romagnola, questa elegante...
Brass, Tôle
19th Century French Enfilade
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
French sideboard in solid oak style Empire country late nineteenth 4 doors, 3 drawers. This provincial piece of furniture is of great qu...
Wood
Sold
H 37.75 in W 50 in D 16 in
Italian Empire Period Walnut & Ebonized 2-Door, 2-Drawer Credenza, ca. 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular top above a conforming case housing two slightly forward drawers with original brass ring pulls, the lower section with two doors opening to reveal a shelved int...
Walnut
Baker Furniture French Empire Burled Walnut Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Beautiful book-matched burled walnut, with original br...
Brass
Sold
H 32.25 in W 66 in D 19 in
Baker French Empire Cherry Wood and Parcel Ebonized Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or Neoclassical style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Carved cherry wood, with ebonized columns and feet, an...
Brass
French Empire Walnut Side Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
With a finished rectangular top over two drawers with brass handles over a pair of doors with brass grillwork all flanked by columns. Square section legs. Includes shelf and key.
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 31 in W 75 in D 24.5 in
Vintage French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Marble Credenza Cabinet
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Vintage French Empire 19th century style wonderful mahogany and fabulous black seashell marble top credenza cabinet, in the manner of Georg...
Marble, Brass