What is an Empire sofa?

The Empire movement in design started in the 19th century and is characterized by straight lines in rigid symmetrical compositions. Empire sofas, and furniture specifically, are part of the French neoclassical style. Shop a collection of Empire sofas from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

An Empire sofa is a type of sofa associated with the Empire style of art and architecture that came out of early 19th-century France. The designs of furniture in the Empire style were actually quite varied depending on the region which interpreted the design principles. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique Empire style sofas from some of the world’s top sellers.