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Empire Children's Furniture

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
Empire Style Mahogany Dog’s Bed
Located in Spencertown, NY
The diminutive mahogany sleigh bed with green and white upholstery.
Category

Late 20th Century French Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Style Mahogany Dog’s Bed
Empire Style Mahogany Dog’s Bed

Empire Style Mahogany Dog’s Bed

Set of Three Painted Pine Children's Chairs
Located in Baltimore, MD
These delightful plank seat children’s chairs are in a rustic Empire style, with a scroll at the top of the back rail and turned legs at the front. In old worn buttermilk paint. Seat...
Category

Early 20th Century Hungarian Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Pine

Set of Three Painted Pine Children's Chairs
Set of Three Painted Pine Children's Chairs

Set of Three Painted Pine Children's Chairs

French 1890s Empire Style Lit en Bateau Doll Bed with Out-Scrolling Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style wooden lit en bateau doll bed from the late 19th century, with out-scrolling accents. Created in France during the last quarter of ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Wood

French 1890s Empire Style Lit en Bateau Doll Bed with Out-Scrolling Accents
French 1890s Empire Style Lit en Bateau Doll Bed with Out-Scrolling Accents

French 1890s Empire Style Lit en Bateau Doll Bed with Out-Scrolling Accents

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Located in Miami Beach, FL
Miniature burgundy velvet and wood armed Queen Anne portrait chair perfect for a large doll, small dog, or baby (6 month to small toddler).
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Late 20th Century Empire Children's Furniture

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Velvet, Wood

Miniature Queen Anne Armed Portrait Chair for Doll, Small Child or Puppy
Miniature Queen Anne Armed Portrait Chair for Doll, Small Child or Puppy

Miniature Queen Anne Armed Portrait Chair for Doll, Small Child or Puppy

H 20 in W 15 in D 12.5 in
Antique French Child's Bed in Original Paint from Toulouse, France
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Child’s Iron Bed in as found condition, with Original Old Paint and could be used to house a Doll or Stuffed Animal collection. Very decorat...
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1910s French Vintage Empire Children's Furniture

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Metal

Antique French Child's Bed in Original Paint from Toulouse, France
Antique French Child's Bed in Original Paint from Toulouse, France

Antique French Child's Bed in Original Paint from Toulouse, France

H 34 in W 61.63 in D 28 in
Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style Late 19th Century
By Thonet
Located in London, Park Royal
This French bentwood cradle made in the Thonet style is a rare find, circa late 1900s. The cradle is in perfect working order with a gentle rocking act...
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1890s French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style Late 19th Century
Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style Late 19th Century

Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style Late 19th Century

H 77 in W 27.5 in D 56 in
19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th-early 19th century country French Directoire period infant's bed. Ideal for a doll collection or beloved mini-canine or cat. Fruitwood. Nicely molded throughout. The sides ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

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Fruitwood

19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed
19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed

19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed

H 20 in W 27.5 in D 14.75 in
French Empire Style Carved Iroko Bed Full Size, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Empire bed circa 1960 Full-size bedding Massive carved iroko and fabric The fabric has to be recovered The side boards will be made to have th...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Children's Furniture

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Fabric, Wood

French Empire Style Carved Iroko Bed Full Size, circa 1960
French Empire Style Carved Iroko Bed Full Size, circa 1960

French Empire Style Carved Iroko Bed Full Size, circa 1960

H 45.28 in W 58.08 in D 84.65 in
Antique Empire Mahogany Sleigh Bed, Cabinet Makers Example, as Dog Bed
Located in Huntington, NY
This rare cabinet makers example of an antique Empire mahogany sleigh bed, As Dog bed. With new poly foam bed covered in black & white ticking.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

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Mahogany

Antique Empire Mahogany Sleigh Bed, Cabinet Makers Example, as Dog Bed
Antique Empire Mahogany Sleigh Bed, Cabinet Makers Example, as Dog Bed

Antique Empire Mahogany Sleigh Bed, Cabinet Makers Example, as Dog Bed

H 14.5 in W 34 in D 14.75 in
French Empire Giltwood Bed Corona
Located in Essex, MA
With acorn and oak leaf crest and scrolled swans. Probably used over a bed.
Category

1810s French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Other

French Empire Giltwood Bed Corona
French Empire Giltwood Bed Corona

French Empire Giltwood Bed Corona

H 10 in W 48.5 in D 5 in
Petite English 1920s X-Form Leather Stool with Out-Scrolling Arms and Nailheads
Located in Atlanta, GA
A petite English leather-bound stool from the early 20th century, with out-scrolling arms and nailheads. Created in England during the first quarter of the 20th century, this stool c...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Metal

Petite English 1920s X-Form Leather Stool with Out-Scrolling Arms and Nailheads
Petite English 1920s X-Form Leather Stool with Out-Scrolling Arms and Nailheads

Petite English 1920s X-Form Leather Stool with Out-Scrolling Arms and Nailheads

H 18 in W 22.5 in D 10.5 in
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Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Napoleon III Period child's bed made of solid cherry wood, with column form supports and iron curtain rails. Beautiful book matched...
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19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

19th Century French Napoleon III Child's Bed
19th Century French Napoleon III Child's Bed

19th Century French Napoleon III Child's Bed

H 33 in W 42.25 in D 22.5 in
Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style, Late 19th Century
Located in London, Park Royal
This French bentwood cradle made in the Thonet style is a rare find, circa late 1900s. The cradle is in perfect working order with a gentle rocking act...
Category

1890s French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style, Late 19th Century
Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style, Late 19th Century

Rare French Bentwood Cradle in the Thonet Style, Late 19th Century

H 77.17 in W 27.56 in D 55.91 in
Scandinavian Modern Pair of Children Chairs, Stephan Gip and Herbert Andersson
By Gärsnäs Mobler
Located in Stockholm, SE
Scandinavian Modern pair of chairs for children, Stephan Gip and Herbert Andersson in BA-series, for Gärsnäs, Sweden, 1961. The "Skrivrit" is a Classic chi...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Empire Children's Furniture

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Pine

Scandinavian Modern Pair of Children Chairs, Stephan Gip and Herbert Andersson
Scandinavian Modern Pair of Children Chairs, Stephan Gip and Herbert Andersson

Scandinavian Modern Pair of Children Chairs, Stephan Gip and Herbert Andersson

H 22.84 in W 13 in D 11.03 in
1890s Antique French Silver Mussel Vesta Case
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique French silver vesta case in the form of a mussel; an addition to our diverse smoking related silverware collection This exceptional antique French silver vesta case has an elongated asymmetrical form, realistically modelled in the form of a mussel shell. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the vesta are embellished with engraved decoration replicating the contours of the natural shell. This fine antique silver vesta...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

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Silver

1890s Antique French Silver Mussel Vesta Case
1890s Antique French Silver Mussel Vesta Case

1890s Antique French Silver Mussel Vesta Case

H 0.7 in W 1 in D 2.2 in
Previously Available Items
Rare and Fine Antique American Flame Mahogany Empire Style Child’s Highchair
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French Empire Style Childs Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
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Late 20th Century French Empire Children's Furniture

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French Empire Style Childs Chair
French Empire Style Childs Chair

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H 20 in W 16 in D 17 in
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Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

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19th Century French Empire Carved Painted and Upholstered Child Armchair
19th Century French Empire Carved Painted and Upholstered Child Armchair

19th Century French Empire Carved Painted and Upholstered Child Armchair

H 22 in W 16 in D 16 in
19th Century French Empire Style Baby Cradle / Planter Box
Located in Winter Park, FL
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19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

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19th Century French Empire Style Baby Cradle / Planter Box
19th Century French Empire Style Baby Cradle / Planter Box

19th Century French Empire Style Baby Cradle / Planter Box

H 39.5 in W 45 in D 18 in
French Empire Mahogany Stool
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century French Empire bidet or stool made of veneer of mahogany. Leather top and pull-out step with green leather surface. Original porcelain chamber pot...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

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Leather, Mahogany

French Empire Mahogany Stool
French Empire Mahogany Stool

French Empire Mahogany Stool

H 19 in Dm 17 in
19th Century French Empire Baby Cradle
Located in Manhasset, NY
A spectacular French Empire mahogany baby cradle, mid 19th century, decorated with ormolu mounts, the cradle swings, supported on a double-pedestal base joint by a single stretcher. Finely case bronze mounts throughout. The top terminating in a swan bronze head figure to hold a baby mobile...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Children's Furniture

19th Century French Empire Baby Cradle
19th Century French Empire Baby Cradle

19th Century French Empire Baby Cradle

H 64.5 in W 46.5 in D 20.25 in

Empire children's furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire children's furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage children's furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire children's furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Hungary pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 children's furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $395 and tops out at $3,200 while the average work can sell for $995.

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