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.
Early 19th Century French Empire Walnut Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
Add architectural presence and old-world elegance to an entry, hallway, living room, or study with this stately antique French Empire walnut grandfather clock. Crafted in France circ...
Brass
$10,591Sale Price|25% Off
Late 19th Century Empire-Style Longcase Clock
Located in Paris, FR
Impressive mahogany longcase clock with gilt and sculpted decorative bronze elements such as fantastic animals, diamond-shaped patterns, scrollwork, and foliage. This floor clock is ...
Ormolu, Bronze
Rare Empire Clock Cabinet Sideboard, Antique Northern Swedish Country Gustavian
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare antique clock cabinet from Sweden made during the transitional time between the gustavian and empire period. The cabinet is from Northern Sw...
Pine
Isaac Pearson Reading PA Walnut Tall Clock with Rare Jacob Kunsman Case, C 1845
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Empire walnut veneered tall clock with swan’s neck split pediment crest with bullseye rosettes and three wooden ball & spire finials surmounting an arched front glass ...
Metal
Isaac Pearson Reading PA Walnut Tall Clock with Rare Jacob Kunsman Case, C 1845
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Empire walnut veneered tall clock with swan’s neck split pediment crest with bullseye rosettes and three wooden ball & spire finials surmounting an arched front glass ...
Metal
Antique French Empire Style Bronze And Marble Mounted Tall Case Clock
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: 90.5 inches high x 26 inches wide x 16 inches deep. Exceptionally elegant antique French Empire style bronze and marble mounted tall case clock, a striking architectural...
Marble, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Empire Mahogany Grandfather Clock, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large Empire grandfather clock with a mahogany-veneered case in the shape of a lyre. The grandfather clock stands on a chest with three drawers and diamond-shaped fillings. Above it ...
Enamel
$9,979
H 18.5 in W 11.1 in D 5 in
French Empire Mantel Clock in Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Marble, Signed Picnot
By Picnot
Located in London, GB
French Empire clock of stunning quality constructed of rouge marble, original fire gilt ormolu and patinated bronze. Set upon four ormolu paw feet to the rouge marble base, rising to...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze clock French, early 19th century Measures: Height 38cm, width 27cm, depth 10cm This fine gilt bronze man...
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Boulle Longcase Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French boulle inlaid longcase clock, having wonderful scrolling gilded ormolu mounts, an ebonised case wit...
Brass
$1,450
H 87.75 in W 19 in D 111.25 in
Antique Ithaca Clock Co. Tall Case Walnut Grandfather Clock C1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Ithaca Clock Co. Tall Case Walnut Grandfather Clock C1920 Measures - 87 3/4" x 19" x 1...
Wood
19th Century Swedish Longcase Clock, Painted
Located in San Francisco, CA
This lovely " Grandfather" clock has retained it's original painted finish. The face is in good condition, so is the case. The clock mechanism is not in working order at this time, h...
Wood
$2,320Sale Price|39% Off
H 99.5 in W 18.5 in D 14.5 in
Late 18th Century Liege Burled Walnut Tall Case Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A stately late 18th century Belgian, Liege, tall case clock case having a period Black Forest clock workings with wooden enameled dial and hand-painted fruit decoration, the original...
Bronze, Enamel, Iron
$5,001
H 87.01 in W 30.71 in D 8.67 in
19th Century Swedish Rococo tall case clock Mora clock Grandfather clock
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish antique beautiful Mora clock " Tall case clock " Grandfather clock from Boden,Norrbotten Northern Sweden. The Mora clock is original painted. It has a lovely b...
Pine
English Chippendale Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale Mahogany tall case clock with broken pediment, brass finials with eagle, Corinthian columns, painted Royalty face, brass string inlay, and terminating on squared ...
$2,950
H 95.5 in W 25.5 in D 18 in
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Mahogany 9 Tube Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Mahogany 9 Tube Tall Case Grandfather Clock Dimensions : 95.5" Tall X 25.5" Wide X 18" Deep This stunning clock was ...
Brass
SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY EMPIRE-STYLE OFFICER'S CLOCK
Located in Firenze, FI
An elegant gilt-bronze officer's clock with a handle. The clock features clean lines, embellished with floral decorations and figures of fantastical animals on the front, evoking the...
Bronze
$3,577Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.26 in W 11.42 in D 6.89 in
Empire Portal Clock, Mahogany and Bronze, France, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Portal clock on a rectangular, stepped base in mahogany veneered with small bun feet. The stepped architrave is supported by four smooth columns, the capi...
Bronze
$6,912Sale Price|34% Off
H 92.52 in W 25.2 in D 10.24 in
Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The case of the grandfather clock is made of mahogany and was possibly made by the watchmaker Nathaniel Edgecombe. The clock is from Bristol England, circa 1830. + The ship in the d...
Nutwood, Spruce
Sold
H 102.5 in W 29.5 in D 14 in
19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Eight-Day Comtoise Longcase Clock
Located in Birmingham, AL
A stunning early 19th century French Empire period chateau longcase clock with eight-day comtoise movement handcrafted of solid walnut, circa 1815, all original. This tall, handsome chateau longcase clock, with a deep, rich patina that reveals the beauty of age, features a hood with a stepped cornice over a shaped front dial case door...
Bronze, Enamel
Antique French Grandfather Clock Floral Inlay 1930
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Antique French grandfather clock French shaped grandfather clock profusely inlaid with marquetry and king wood crossbanded edging emb...
Kingwood
White Swedish Empire Long Case Clock
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish Empire long case clock from the early 1800s. The clock is made between 1820 and 1840 in pine with old distressed paint. The model is rare with a cutout design on the door. Th...
Pine
19th Century Swedish Empire Mora Clock
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish mora clock in Empire style from circa 1820. The clock is dry scraped to the original paint The clock comes with the original clockwork, two iron weights and pendulum. The ...
Pine
19th Century Swedish Mora Clock
Located in Kramfors, SE
Large and tall mora clock from the early 1800s, right at the time when the gustavian style transitioned over to the empire style. The woodwork below the head is typical Swedish gusta...
Sold
H 82 in W 19 in D 10 in
Scottish Mahogany Case Clock Retaining Original Works, Glasgow, circa 1810-1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
The two-piece construction of mahogany, the fluted body with pecky type mahogany has a side opening, the upper section or "drum" opening to house the original works with a gilded met...
Mahogany
19th Century French Figural Clock in the Manner of Paul Sormani
By Paul Sormani
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
19th century French figural inlaid clock with bronze mounts, in the manner of Paul Sormani.
Bronze
19th Century, Swedish Empire Mora Clock
Located in Kramfors, SE
Empire mora clock with an unusually luxurious clock work that in addition to the time also displays seconds and the days of the week. Repainted The clock comes with the origina...
Pine
Late 19th Century Empire-Style Longcase Clock
Located in Paris, FR
Impressive mahogany longcase clock with gilt and sculpted decorative bronze elements such as fantastic animals, diamond-shaped patterns, scrollwork, and foliage. This floor clock is ...
Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 92.5 in W 15 in D 11.5 in
French Empire Carved 'Savard' Comtoise or Morbier Longcase Clock from Yvetot
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Antique Country French comtoise longcase clock from the French Empire period. This charming longcase clock houses an enameled dial with Roman numerals and stamped brass hands in the ...