Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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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Style: Empire
Large Rectangular Empire Mahogany Wall Mirror, England Late 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large antique late 19th Century Empire mahogany veneer wall mirror. This rectangular wall mirror is magnificent with its tiered graduated frame. The outermost frame is flat leading t...
Category
1890s English Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany, Mirror
French 19th Century Empire Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Empire mantle mirror (c. 1800) exhibits calculated restraint in the surface decoration, the gold gilt molding is largely plain and smo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Rectangular Empire Mahogany Wall Mirror, England late 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique late 19th Century American Empire mahogany veneer wall mirror. This rectangular wall mirror is magnificent with it's tiered graduated frame. The outermost frame is flat leadi...
Category
1890s English Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Rectangular Empire Mahogany Wall Mirror, England Late 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique late 19th Century Empire mahogany veneer wall mirror. This rectangular wall mirror is magnificent with its tiered graduated frame. The outermost frame is flat leading to anot...
Category
1890s English Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
Antique French Empire Gold Gilt Overmantel Mirror
Located in London, GB
A good sized Gilt Empire antique mirror with applied decorative motif gilt work on a rectangular frame, lambs tongue design inner slip. Mirror in good condition. Original boarded bac...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror
Empire Gilt Classical and Foliate Carved Triptych over Mantel Mirror
Located in Big Flats, NY
Empire triptych over mantel wall mirror features Classical foliate and bead carved and gilt frame surrounding each of three mirror panels, 19th century
Measures: 30" H x 62.25" W x...
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Antique 19th century large oval gold and silver leaf gilt French mirror
Located in Casteren, NL
On offer here is a large antique oval mirror that was made in France in the second half of the 19th century, circa 1860. The mirror is decorated with beautiful ornaments with rich sy...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Large early 19th century gilded over mantle
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Large early 19th gilded over mantle , great decorative mirror
French circa 1830’s with original mirror and back boards
Some minor damage to the plaster work and some foxing to th...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Gesso
French Empire Mahogany Mantle Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately, Empire style mantle mirror from France with some light foxing throughout the original mercury mirror plate. The minimally carved mahogany has ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Metal, Brass
Italian Neoclassical Giltwood Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Italian Neoclassical giltwood mirror. Antique gilt carved mirror with scrolled acanthus surround, leaf-tipped outer edge with cor...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Beautiful Empire French Period Trumeau
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Beautiful Empire French period Trumeau.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mercury Glass, Gesso, Wood
Large Antique French Giltwood Mirror, Empire Style Inspiration, circa 1950
Located in Paris, FR
Large antique French mirror, Empire style inspiration, circa 1950. Large antique frame in carved natural wood, grooves and crosses decorati...
Category
1940s French Vintage Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
Large French Empire Parcel-Gilt and Beige Rectangular Mirror
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful Empire period large rectangular mirror with neoclassical relief ornamentation with gilded details and a very nice patina in beige color with red accents, France, circa 1810...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th Century Large French Empire Wall Mirror
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
An attractive 19th century French Empire rectangular frame wall mirror. The deep square frame with ebonized black wood frame and gold gi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Ebony
Impressive Royal Early 19th Century German Empire Mirror
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A rare early 19th century German Empire giltwood trumeau mirror. The large rectangular plate surmounted by a scrolled pediment enriched with wines leaves and a central medallion encl...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Late 19th C. French Overmantel Mirror
Located in Houston, US
This is an impressive classically styled yet restrained overmantel mirror and frame, painted with gilded decorative elements. Fluted pilasters are topped with a classical urn with pe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
Russian Mahogany Gilt Eagle and Bell Flower Garland Rope Wall Mirror, C. 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
Russian mahogany gilt eagle wall mirror with lambs tongue, beading, bell flower garland, and rope twisted border wall mirror. Mirror retains the original spotted glass...
Category
Early 1800s Russian Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood, Glass
Fireplace Empire Lombardy First Quarter 19th Century
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Lombard fireplace set in walnut, with ebonized and gilded parts.
In the lower part, a broken plinth base with ebonized reserves
bounded by successional leaf-carved and gilded battens...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Nutwood
Wood and Gilded Stucco Overmantel Mirror, Empire Period, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Empire period overmantel mirror, in wood and stucco gilded with gold leaf. This mirror is framed by two antique style pilasters in wood and stucco, gilded with gold leaf. A rectangul...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Stucco, Wood
Regal Monumental Empire Giltwood Overmantel or Console Mirror
Located in Buchanan, MI
Very regal monumental Empire giltwood overmantel or console mirror with original plate, wonderful "Sparkly" patina.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood, Mirror
Empire Fireplace Mirror in Pompeian Red with Golden Decorations
Located in Prato, IT
Rectangular mirror born to be placed on the fireplace. The mirror is divided into three original parts separated by frames with a golden border. Original the color that recalls the f...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Empire Wall Mirror, Mahogany, Ebonized Carved Decor, South Germany, circa 1810
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful neoclassical Empire wall mirror, bright mahogany, carved ebonized (blackened) decor, South Germany, circa 1810.
The wood is mahogany veneer and solid wood, which has been ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Mirror
Early 19th Century North Italy Neoclassical Walnut Giltwood Overmantel Mirror
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th Century North Italy Neoclassical Empire period Walnut and Giltwood Overmantel Mirror
A very rare and elegant North-Italian walnut veneered and giltwood overmantel mirror...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Walnut, Giltwood
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H 120 in W 48.5 in D 24.5 in
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Previously Available Items
A Very Large Gold Gilt Empire Period Antique French Mirror
Located in London, GB
A very large gold gilt Empire period early 19th century over mantel mirror.
Retaining its large original glass mirror plate, with some foxing and inclusions.
The frame with typical...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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Giltwood
French 19th Century Empire Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Empire mantle mirror (c. 1800) shows very careful surface decoration, the gold gilt molding is largely plain and smooth, with tight fe...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
French Empire Style Overmantle Mirror
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire style overmantle mirror, with an egg and dart cornice on a faux marble frame encasing a beveled mirror, unmarked.
Dimensions: 39" H x 59" W.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century Gold Leaf Gilt French Empire Mirror with Bow-Tied Ribbon
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful antique mirror was made in Northern France at the end of the 19th century, circa 1890. The classic shaped Louis Seize or Empire...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
H 52.76 in W 31.5 in D 2.37 in
Early 19th Century English Empire Style Mahogany Mirror, circa 1830
Located in San Francisco, CA
Simple classic elegant English Empire period mirror. Thick mahogany veneer over solid oak with original mirror glass and oak back boards.
In excellent ant...
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Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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Mid-19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mantel Mirror
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century French Empire style mahogany mirror features columns on the sides with bronze ancient Egyptian heads at the capital and bare feet for plinth bases. The Egyptian motif is a reference to Napoleon Bonaparte's return from his campaign in Egypt. The triangular pediment at the crown is detailed with a bronze plaque of the goddess Diana upon her chariot with a quiver of arrows on her back. Her chariot is led by two deer. A handsome mirror...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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Bronze
Italian Empire Period Walnut and Brass Mounted Mirror, 1st Quarter 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rectangular in shape with a beautiful and rich grain this walnut mirror from the Empire period has finely cast brass rosettes in its corners, mirrorplate is modern.
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1810s Italian Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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Walnut
H 43 in W 34.5 in D 1.5 in
French 19th Century Empire Symmetrical Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This beautiful Empire style mirror is dripping with exceptional details. The giltwood frame has a fantastic patina throughout, with spots of French red peaking through. Detailed moti...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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Mercury Glass, Giltwood, Wood
Pair of Oversized French Empire Style Giltwood Over Mantle Mirrors 20th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
A matching pair of large French Empire style over mantel mirrors over giltwood construction with foliate, shell, garland, floral and scroll elements, 20th century
Measures - 60.75''...
Category
20th Century American Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
H 60.75 in W 45 in D 1.75 in
1800s Gilt France Empire Mirror
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
First half of the 1800s. Beautiful and very decorative gilt Empire mirror.
Top (glass) mirror is from a later period. (Replaced)
The two lower mirro...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
Empire Mirror in Cherry Wood and Pure Gold Gilded Wood, circa 1810 Lucca Tuscany
Located in Prato, IT
Lucca Tuscany, early 19th century
Cherry veneer
Antique mirror
Capitals, bases, feet and central carving gilded with pure gold.
Dimensions: W 77 x H 150 cm.
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Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Materials
Cherry, Wood, Mirror
H 59.06 in W 30.32 in D 4.73 in
1800, Antique France Gilded Painted Empire Mirror with Decoration
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Gilded or panted Empire mirror, first half of the 1800s.
The mirror is in a later period restored and partly newly painted.
Overall condition is good.
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1810s French Antique Empire Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
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Empire mantel mirrors and fireplace mirrors for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire mantel mirrors and fireplace mirrors for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage mantel mirrors and fireplace mirrors created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire mantel mirrors and fireplace mirrors 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 mantel mirrors and fireplace mirrors, popular names associated with this style include and Georges-François Alix. 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 mantel mirrors and fireplace mirrors differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $760 and tops out at $22,298 while the average work can sell for $4,938.