Empire Bookcases
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
19th century ebonised empire style bookcase
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Very stylish French late 19th Century glazed bookcase. Fabulous quality original glass working lock and key
Fully adjustable shelves , old paper labels on back boards
Ebonised wi...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Sapele Wood
Antique French Empire 2 door Walnut Bookcase Bibliotheque 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique French walnut and omolu mounted bookcase / Bibliotheque, dating Circa 1870 in date.
It has been hand crafted from solid walnut and decorated with fine Neo- ...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Early 20th century empire revival Swedish birch bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century empire revival Swedish birch bookcase circa 1900.
Superb quality piece of Swedish made furniture with influences from Biedermeier and empire periods.
Stepped top...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Bookcases
Materials
Birch
Swedish 19th century flame mahogany breakfront bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century Scandinavian empire flame mahogany breakfront bookcase circa 1820.
Stunning bookcase of grand proportions veneered in golden flame mahogany. Bookcase comprises o...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
French Empire Bookcases Set of 2
Located in Pomona, CA
A pair of French Empire bookcases / China cabinets. Ebonized side pillars with brass capitals. Gilt appliques to top and bottom front. Beveled g...
Category
1950s American Vintage Empire Bookcases
Materials
Wood, Glass
French Empire Style Ebonized Bookcase
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This handsome Empire style open book shelf has a recent ebonized finish. This antique has the rounded column fronts of the empire style raised on paw feet. The interior is fitted wit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Grand French Empire Style Bronze Mahogany Bibliotheque Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent French mahogany bibliotheque style bookcase cabinet crafted in the Napoleonic French empire taste. Constructed on a grand scale the cabinet features three pairs of storage do...
Category
20th Century French Empire Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Walnut Pair of Bookcases Boiserie de Bibliothèque
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A rare pair of heliocodal French Directoire library bookcases in solid walnut. This type of bookcases is also known as 'boiseries de Bibliothèque' a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Bookcase in Empire style, France, around 1860. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique bookcase in Empire style from the mid-19th century, France.
Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 193 cm / width 114 cm / dept...
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Antique American Empire Style Mahogany 4 Section Stacking Barrister Bookcase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Style Mahogany 4 Section Stacking Barrister Bookcase. Item features carved paw feet, 4 glass doors, stacking form, very nice antique bookcase. Top 2 sections ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
French Empire Style Mahogany Bookcase Bibliotheque, Late 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
An exceptional quality French Empire style mahogany bookcase - bibliotheque with finely cast gilt bronze mounts and interior fitted with 4 shelves.
Very fine workmanship. In excelle...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Ormolu
Fine quality early 19th century flame mahogany bookcase
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine example of a Regency period bookcase circa 1820.
Very much in the manor of thomas hope. Matching flame mahogany veneers from top to bottom. Comprising of 3 sections, lower ca...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Walnut Display Cabinet Bookcase with Adjustable Shelves, Sweden circa 1850-70
Located in Round Top, TX
This stunning walnut display cabinet standing at 7' tall/ and 8' wide will make a grand and elegant statement piece.
Enlarge close up photos to appreciate the exceptional grain of th...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Antique American Empire Tiger Oak Bookcase Cabinet by Rockford Furniture, 1900
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding antique American Empire bookcase, bar cabinet, or dining cabinet
By Rockford Furniture Co.
USA, Circa 1900
Gorgeous tiger oak, with glass front doors and sides, and...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mirror, Oak
Austrian 18th Century Empire Style Two Doors Larch Wood Armoire Wardrobe Cabinet
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Precious and original larch wood wardrobe, convertible into a bookcase, with two doors in the Austrian Empire style of the 18th century
The wardrobe, all in larch wood, is all origi...
Category
Late 18th Century Austrian Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Other
Russian Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
Russian (18th Century) mahogany secretary bookcase with brass gallery pediment and trim with 2 front doors revealing 3 drawers and shelves ...
Category
Late 18th Century Russian Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Antique 1810 France Cast Iron Bookcase Shelves Flowers
Located in Munich, DE
Charming and elegant shelves made out of cast iron. The front of this slim piece of furniture and the struts are decorated with flowers.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Iron
Antique Mahogany Empire Revival Bookshelf With Glass Doors
Located in Dekalb, IL
This antique bookcase features construction that appears to be from the American Empire Revival era on the late 19th century. The wood is likely mahogany veneer. The shelves can be m...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique French Empire Burl Wood Bibliotheque Bookcase Cabinet, Circa 1880s
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful antique French Empire knockdown bibliotheque bookcase cabinet
In the manner of Louis Majorelle
France, Circa 1880s
Gorgeous burl wood, with bronze mounts and trim.
Me...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Cuban Mahogany Bookcase
Located in Austin, TX
Grand bookcase from France in the Empire style. This piece is made of Cuban flamed mahogany and solid oak as a secondary wood. There are four doors that open to interior wood shelvin...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th century empire revival birch bookcase cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Beautiful rich birch open bookcase, circa 1910.
Four adjustable shelves with a central partition, below a central panel with carved applied swag, flanked either side a single door c...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Bookcases
Materials
Birch
French Empire Style Mahogany Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany bookcase cabinet with bronze trim and 2 glass doors.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
Large Empire Danish Glass Cabinet, Bookcase in Mahogany with Bronze Details
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant late Empire 4 doors glass and wood cabinet, bookcase in mahogany.
Pair of locking paned glass doors sitting atop pair of locking wood d...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
Unusual Empire Style Bookcase, France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Quirky and unusual Empire style breakfront bookcase, the wood painted with a faux bois trompe l'oeil, and decorated with plaster moldings painted gold....
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
19th Century French Mahogany and Ormolu Bookcase in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
An exceptional and fine library breakfront bookcase by Antoine Krieger of Paris
In the Empire taste, this wonderful piece shows careful selection of matched flame mahogany veneers, contrasted by finely chiselled mercury gilded ormolu bronze mounts. The glazed, four door upper section is surmounted by ormolu laurel wreath victory garlands, and acanthus leaves to the cornice, the lower four blind doors having central caduceus mounts, emblematic of Mercury’s staff; the outer doors showing central Apollo masks, with acanthus leaves in a cruciform pattern; the cornered motifs being rosettes with conforming acanthus leaves; the pilaster columns are capped by stylised Tuscan capitals. The four oak lined drawers have Grecian Lyre backplates to the handles, and the locks are signed by the maker. The bookcase is elevated on toupie ‘cotton reel’ feet.
The very finest workmanship has gone into this piece, as evinced by the ethereal ‘gold dust’ ormolu mounts, with the crispest of ciselure, and the breathtaking quality of the mahogany veneers. This piece, originally conceived by Percier and Fontaine, adopting the decoration from the Antique, is signed by Antoine Krieger of Paris. Circa 1860
Percier and Fontaine published in 1812 the ‘bon ton’ design collection, ‘Recueil des Decorations Interieurs...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire 19th Century Walnut Bookcase-Cabinet
Located in Troy, NY
Small French Empire bookcase/cabinet with framed glazed sides, featuring a molded wooden elongated X on the inside, one wire-mesh-inset door, the corners e...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Large low bookcase in Mahogany and mahogany veneer
Located in Paris, FR
Large low bookcase in mahogany and mahogany veneer, opening with two full doors and two central glass doors in the form of a pointed arch, for displaying books or collectibles. Rich ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
19th century Empire Mahogany Bookcase
Located in Stockholm, SE
A very nice directoire/empire mahogany bookcase from around 1800 or early 19th century. The craftsmanship and quality of this piece is high and above what you normally see. It's maho...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Bronze Bookcases
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany and bronze trimmed 2 plexiglass door bookcases. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Period Walnut Bibliotheque or Bookcase
Located in Birmingham, AL
A fine French Empire period bibliotheque handcrafted from select French walnut by skilled artisans from Lyon during the First Empire of Napoleon, circa early 1800s. The upper bookcas...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Empire Library Bookcase
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine gilt bronze mounted mahogany Empire library bookcase.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Ormolu
Rare French Empire Mahogany Bookcase Library Jacob Desmalter
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Large and very unusual French Empire bookcase in beautifully figured mahogany veneer. Four glazed doors (original glass), interior with original shelves (two on each level allow an adjustment for larger...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
19th Large Empire Style Mahogany Bookcase from French Chateau
Located in Marseille, FR
Elegant 19th-century wall-mounted library crafted from solid mahogany and mahogany veneer, beautifully executed in the Neoclassical style. This high-quality piece consists of multipl...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Berlin Mahogany Armoire
Located in London, by appointment only
Germany, circa 1825.
A Berlin mahogany display cabinet having a stepped pediment inlaid with boxwood stringing above partially glazed doors divided...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
French Empire Bookcase - Walnut Open Front Cabinet
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Sumptuous French Empire style bookcase and cabinet in walnut
Hope the photos do this stunning piece some justice certainly more impressiv...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Pinewood Book Shelf - Antique Cupboard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique shelf cupboard in patinated Pinewood with top and lateral molding, in good condition. This early 19th Century furniture is perfect to display ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Pine
Large Empire-style sideboard bookcase made of solid walnut wood. Early 19th century
Located in Torino, IT
Large bookstore
empire style sideboard
solid walnut wood.
PERIOD
First half of the nineteenth century
MATERIALS
Walnut wood,
decorative elements
metal
DIMENSIONS
Total height: 282...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Wood
19thc French Large Gilt & Wood Exotic Inlay Bookcase Empire- Burl Wood
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Stunning and Majestic 19thc French Empire Large Bookcase in Exotic Burl Amboyne with Exotic Wood Inlay, Artist Masterpiece! There is also gilt bronze elements, incredible full figura...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Wood
French Empire Bookcase in Walnut
Located in Doylestown, PA
An early 19th century French provincial biblioteque in walnut, with upper case with adjustable shelves and wire-grill doors over a lower pair of paneled cabinet doors, circa 1810.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Antique Empire Style Secretary with Brass and Marble Top mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany veneer on solid conifers. High-right corpus on chased bronze claw feet. Architecturally articulated front with library dummy and brass rim sockets. On both sides slightly co...
Category
20th Century French Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Display Cabinet in the Empire Style With Brass Elements, Early 20th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Display Cabinet in the Empire Style with Brass Elements, Early 20th Century
Step into a world of refined elegance with this striking Empire-style display cabinet. Crafted before 193...
Category
Early 20th Century European Empire Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Bookcase Empire Mahogany Veneer Sessile Oak France Early 19th Century
Located in Milano, IT
French Empire bookcase, supported by feet, the front ones vase shaped. There are two panelled doors on the front, surmounted by the same amount of drawers in the under the top band, ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany, Oak
Empire bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire bookcases 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 bookcases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire bookcases made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookcases, popular names associated with this style include and Antoine Krieger. 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 bookcases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,019 and tops out at $155,000 while the average work can sell for $10,529.