Black Empire Chairs
Antique 17th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Hardwood, Cane
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Dining Room Chairs
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Armchairs
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Russian Empire Side Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
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21st Century and Contemporary European Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Rococo Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Art Deco End Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Neoclassical Benches
Bronze, Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables
Travertine
20th Century German Regency Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Antique Late 19th Century French Rococo Fireplaces and Mantels
Marble
Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Wood
2010s Italian Other Chandeliers and Pendants
Blown Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Armchairs
Velvet, Wood
20th Century French Empire Center Tables
Malachite, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
Antique 19th Century French Empire Console Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Beech
Recent Sales
Antique Late 18th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
20th Century French Empire Chairs
Wood, Giltwood
Antique Early 1900s Empire Chairs
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Side Chairs
Vintage 1920s French Empire Chairs
Iron
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Wrought Iron, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Giltwood, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Upholstery
Antique 19th Century French Empire Side Chairs
Giltwood
Black Empire Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Black Empire Chairs?
A Close Look at Empire Furniture
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.
Finding the Right Chairs for You
Chairs are an indispensable component of your home and office. Can you imagine your life without the vintage, new or antique chairs you love?
With the exception of rocking chairs, the majority of the seating in our homes today — Windsor chairs, chaise longues, wingback chairs — originated in either England or France. Art Nouveau chairs, the style of which also originated in those regions, embraced the inherent magnificence of the natural world with decorative flourishes and refined designs that blended both curved and geometric contour lines. While craftsmanship and styles have evolved in the past century, chairs have had a singular significance in our lives, no matter what your favorite chair looks like.
“The chair is the piece of furniture that is closest to human beings,” said Hans Wegner. The revered Danish cabinetmaker and furniture designer was prolific, having designed nearly 500 chairs over the course of his lifetime. His beloved designs include the Wishbone chair, the wingback Papa Bear chair and many more.
Other designers of Scandinavian modernist chairs introduced new dynamics to this staple with sculptural flowing lines, curvaceous shapes and efficient functionality. The Paimio armchair, Swan chair and Panton chair are vintage works of Finnish and Danish seating that left an indelible mark on the history of good furniture design.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts,” said Ray Eames.
Visionary polymaths Ray and Charles Eames experimented with bent plywood and fiberglass with the goal of producing affordable furniture for a mass market. Like other celebrated mid-century modern furniture designers of elegant low-profile furnishings — among them Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Finn Juhl — the Eameses considered ergonomic support, durability and cost, all of which should be top of mind when shopping for the perfect chair. The mid-century years yielded many popular chairs.
The Eameses introduced numerous icons for manufacturer Herman Miller, such as the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, molded plywood dining chairs the DCM and DCW (which can be artfully mismatched around your dining table) and a wealth of other treasured pieces for the home and office.
A good chair anchors us to a place and can become an object of timeless appeal. Take a seat and browse the rich variety of vintage, new and antique chairs on 1stDibs today.
- What is an Empire chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021An Empire chair refers to a piece of seating furniture created in the Empire style. A phase of the neoclassical style, the Empire style gets its name from the rule of the Emperor Napoleon I. The furniture is colossal, weight-wise, and richly adorned with bronze and marble. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary Empire chairs from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021There are multiple chair colors that can be matched with a black table, it’s really a matter of preference. You could choose to go with black or a contrasting color or even think outside the box in order to add unlikely pops of color to a space. Visit 1stDibs for a wide selection of chairs and tables available in different colors.