$7,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Four Empire Barrel Chairs
Located in Belmont, MA
This set of 4 Empire Barrel chairs dates back to around 1810-20.
Walnut
$12,000 / set
Set of 6 Empire Barrel Chairs, 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique and original set of 6 early 19th century Empire barrel chairs stands out for its elegant design.
Walnut
$10,023 / set
Pair of French Empire Barrel Armchairs, 19th century
Located in Leimen, DE
Pair of French Empire Barrel Armchairs, 19th century. This beautiful pair of French Empire barrel armchairs dates back to the 19th century and combines elegance with exceptional cra...
Mahogany
$29,000 / set
Huge Pair of Barrel Form Mahogany Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
Late French Empire mahogany barrel form chair with turned legs, along with a modern copy.
Mahogany
1940s Carved Gilt Wood Swan Barrel Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, carved wood swan club chairs on castors set you could hope to find. In the style of George Smith. Outstanding design i...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Italian Barrel Chairs
Located in Kirkland, WA
Pair of Italian Barrel Chairs This is a pair of Italian Barrel or "Tub" chairs. They are very plain with their sabre legs and rounded back. They are very comfortable and would wor...
Upholstery, Walnut, Wood
French Antique Empire Style Barrel Chairs
Located in Austin, TX
Early 19th century French antique set of chairs with the original golden colored velvet upholstery. This set of four has the beautiful curved barrel backs that started in the Charles...
Brass
19th Century Empire Revival Barrel Back Leather Chair
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th century Empire Revival black barrel back fauteuil with bronze ormolu and nailhead detail.
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair Late Empire Barrel Back Chairs
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very desirable pair of period Lat Empire Barrel Back Bergeres that date to c. 1810-1820.
Velvet, Walnut
19th Century French Empire Single Barrel Back Chair, France
Located in New York, NY
19th century French Empire single barrel back chair. Mahogany wood.
Upholstery, Mahogany
English Regency Empire Style Wood Barrel Back Side Chairs, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
English Regency Empire style wood Barrel back side chairs - a pair.
Wood
Sold
H 40.5 in W 32 in D 28 in
Pair Barrel Back Ram Goat Head Empire Neoclassical Style Tuffted Lounge Chairs
By Maison Jansen
Located in Stafford, TX
2 beautiful chairs both in great condition! These are heavy solid chairs and can be left as is or painted many ways. Toss pillows not included. Message with questions.
Upholstery, Hardwood
French Empire Style Parcel Gilt Carved Mahogany Swan Chair
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant French empire style carved mahogany barrel back chair with exquisite gold details and the most magnificent gold swans on both of the arms!
Silk, Mahogany, Giltwood
Pair of Antique French Empire Barrel Back Chairs
Located in Bellport, NY
Pair of French Empire 1860s Barrel back chairs or of the La Belle Epoque Period (The Gilded Age).
Velvet, Upholstery
Pair of French 19th Century Empire Chairs
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A superb pair of Empire-Style barrel back chairs. These classically styled mahogany chairs have green vintage vinyl upholstered cushions trimmed with a nailhead border.
Mahogany
Sold
H 30.75 in W 26.5 in D 19 in
English Faux Calamander Barrel Form Chair with Bronze Lion's Head Mounts
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-20th century English faux calamander veneer barrel chair with bronze lion's head hand rests. In the manner of the Empire period.
Wood
Pair of Empire Style Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
pair of stylized french empire barrel back chairs with upholstered seats and tapered legs
Wood, Upholstery
Continental Empire Klismo Antique Arm Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
CONTINENTAL EMPIRE MAHOGANY KLISMO BARREL BACK ARM CHAIR First half of the 19th Century Crafted during the later portion of the Empire period in Europe, probably in the French co...
Pair of Swedish Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Pair of late 19th century Swedish Empire style barrel back armchairs. The chairs have been stripped and are ready for upholstery, 1890 Dimensions: 24 inches (61 cms) wide 26 inc...
Wood
Pair Empire Style Animal Leg & Ram's Head Armchairs
Located in Chicago, IL
Empire style barrel back arm chairs. Each chair has a pair of hand carved ram's heads at the peak of the front legs which are dramatically shaped similar to actual ram hind legs with...
Cane
Pair Empire Style Animal Leg & Rams' Heads Armchairs
By Tomlinson
Located in Chicago, IL
Empire style barrel back arm chairs. Each chair has a pair of hand carved ram's heads at the peak of the front legs which are dramatically shaped similar to actual ram hind legs with...
Leather
Set of Empire Style French Barrel Swan Chairs
Located in Austin, TX
Empire style set of charming chairs made of mahogany and featuring hand-carved swan neck details on the barrel backs.
Gold Leaf
Sold
H 30.5 in W 18.75 in D 20.5 in
Antique French Empire Style Walnut Barrel-Back Chairs Restored in France
Located in Highwood, IL
The antique Empire chairs sit extremely comfortably, as do most barrel-back design chairs.
Wood, Walnut
Sold
H 33.67 in W 19.69 in D 21.07 in
Set of 8 French 19th Century Empire Style Barrel Back Dining Chairs
Located in Benington, Herts
A charming set of 8 French 19th century Empire style barrel back mahogany dining chairs.
Linen, Mahogany
Pair French Empire Style Barrel Back Bergeres, c. 1930-1940
Located in Pasadena, CA
Barrel back chairs of this form are uncommon, highly desirable and a true find.
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 27.5 in W 23.5 in D 18.75 in
19th Century French Empire Cherry Wood Desk Barrel Armchair with Gilt Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a man's office or study with this elegant antique armchair. Hand carved in France circa 1870 and built of cherry, the armchair stands on tapered front legs ending with paw s...
Bronze
Sold
H 33 in W 26 in D 24 in
Pulaski French Empire Regency Figural Carved Dolphin Barrel Back Club Chair Seat
By Pulaski Furniture Corporation
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th century Pulaski Furniture barrel back arm chair. Features a mix of French Empire and Regency styling.
Upholstery, Birch
Sold
H 34 in W 27 in D 27 in
Barrel Back Rams Goat Head Empire Neoclassical Style Cheetah Fabric Lounge Chair
By Maison Jansen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Late 20th century barrel back ram's head bergere chair with cheetah fabric in the neoclassical style. Item features a solid carved wood frame, cream distress painted finish, comforta...
Wood
French 19th Century Empire Chair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome Empire barrel back chair. This mahogany chair has a brown/tan antique leather upholstered cushion trimmed with a nailhead border.
Mahogany
Belle Epoch Empire Style Barrel Chair
Located in Alexandria, VA
This chair is of beautiful mahogany with excellent ormolu mounts - excellent for a desk or as an occasional chair.
Mahogany
Pair of Viennese Late Empire Barrel-Back Bergeres
By Johann Hertel
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of comfortable late Empire barrel-back bergeres, attributed to Johann Hertel, Vienna. Mahogany veneered on oak. Fine detailed with out-scrolled shoulders, down-swept arms, squ...
Upholstery
Elegant French Empire barrel back bergere
Located in Long Island City, NY
Elegantly shaped and very comfortable French Empire barrel back bergere in mahogany. Down-swept side frames from shoulder boards to front apron.
Mahogany
Pair of 20th Century Empire-Style Chairs
Located in Washington, DC
Pair of Empire-style barrel back chairs. Black base with gold leaf detail and cane back.
Fabric, Cane, Wood
Sold
H 37.01 in W 22.45 in D 22.05 in
Early 19th Century French Empire Barrel Back Armchairs in Walnut with Leather
Located in Uppingham, Rutland
Fantastic and rare pair of early 19th century French Empire barrel back library chairs, desk chairs or armchairs in pale walnut, circa 1840 and upholstered in an ivory leather, finis...
Walnut
Pair of Ebonized Barrel Back Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pair of ebonized barrel back chairs are made out of mahogany wood and have been fully restored by our team of expert craftsmen.
Brass
Pair of Modern Walnut Side Tables
By Theodore Alexander
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Pacific walnut side table, the square top with rounded corners and a reeded edge above a similar under tier, on bobbin turned legs. Dimensions: 26" W x 26" D x 28.5" H.
Wood
$1,920Sale Price / set|50% Off
Vintage Limoges Porcelain Dinnerware Set - 80 Pieces
By Limoges
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This exquisite vintage dinnerware set, likely crafted in fine Limoges porcelain, features delicate floral patterns and gold accents. Each piece is signed “France,” a hallmark of its ...
Porcelain
$12,450
H 44 in W 78 in D 55.5 in
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Campaign Day Bed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt-Bronze Mounted "Lit en Bateau" Officer's Campaign Bed. The "Boat Shaped" frame, surmounted with columns with Empire style gi...
Bronze
$3,400 / set
H 39 in W 23 in D 21 in
Set of Four Antique Museum Quality French Louis XVI Dining Armchairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Incredible set of four early 19th century museum worthy French Louis XVI walnut fauteuils or armchairs. Exquisite carving all around, with florets at the top of each beautiful spiral...
Upholstery, Walnut
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Buffet
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Empire (19th century) buffet made of rich flamed, bookmatched mahogany. The original Saint Anne marble top of charcoal stone with gray and white veining is removable. Below ...
Marble, Brass
French Louis XVI Mahogany Extension Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
An important and impressive Period Louis XVI Extension Table with 3 finished leaves.The table measures 52”x 57.5 which is a fat oval shape when it is not extended.. Each of the 3 lea...
Mahogany
$16,500 / set
H 26.25 in W 22 in D 23 in
Restored Antique Baltic Biedermeier Armchairs, Mahogany, Circa 1830
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, antique pair of Baltic Biedermeier armchairs made of hand crafted polished Mahogany, in good condition. The particularized veneered carved side chairs have a w...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Mahogany
Pair of Italian Empire Dining Chairs From Early 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A pair of Italian early 19th Century Empire dining chairs in solid walnut. This Tuscan pair of chairs, with swan decoration on the back, was likely crafted in the city of Lucca. This...
Walnut
English Mahogany Writing Table, Early 19th Century
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite writing desk is crafted of rich mahogany and features the straightforward design prevalent in England during the early 19th century. A luxurious leather-covered top pr...
Brass
$6,240Sale Price|20% Off
H 56.25 in W 38 in D 16 in
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent high quality flame mahogany adorned with bronze doré mounts and its original gray mar...
Bronze
$75,471 / set
H 27.37 in W 77.17 in D 36.03 in
Fine Important Restored Pair of Antique Howard & Sons Leather Chesterfield Sofas
By Howard & Sons Ltd, Howard Chairs Ltd., Howard and Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning exceptionally rare pair of original early Victorian Howard & Son’s Berners street cigar brown leather, fully restored Chesterfield bu...
Leather
$3,773
H 33.08 in W 50.6 in D 25.2 in
Empire Chest of Drawers with Columns, France, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large cherrywood chest of drawers with four drawers and metal escutcheons in the shape of coats of arms and wooden handles. The chest of drawers is flanked by smooth full columns wit...
Metal, Bronze
Set of 4 Biedermeier Dining Chairs, South German 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
This beautiful set of 4 original Biedermeier chairs does not only have a gorgeous walnut veneer, the chairs are also very comfortable. The backs have an elegant fleur-de-lis design. ...
Walnut
$8,400
H 7 in W 8 in D 4.5 in
Gilt Gold Russian Lomonosov Porcelain Coffee & Tea Service / by A. Vorobievsky
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Exquisite Hand-Painted and Gilt Gold Russian Lomonosov Porcelain Coffee & Tea Service for 8, Designed by A. Vorobievsky (1990s) This stunning 34-piece Russian Lomonosov porcelain co...
Gold
Empire Table, Germany 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique and very elegant Empire table dates back to around 1810-20. It comes from Germany. It was probably made in the northern part of Germany or possibly in Berlin. The table s...
Mahogany
$10,000 / set
H 33.08 in W 16.93 in D 17.33 in
Set of 6 Biedermeier Dining Chairs, South Germany, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
This set of 6 Biedermeier dining chairs has a pretty walnut veneer. The chairs stand out for their gorgeous backrest decor. They come fully refinished with a shellac finish, new upho...
Walnut
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
Modern icons are showing up in gracefully layered dining nooks, living rooms and lounges — proof that great design only gets better with context.
Andrianna Shamaris has filled her epic new home with pieces of her own design.
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
With its plush cushions, cane details and dazzlingly colorful back, it’s inviting from every angle.
You know the designs, now get the stories about how they came to be.
The plush Cove Slipper 2.5 Seater sofa is just one of many convenient combinations from the London-based maker.
Sam Klemick's cool stool is edgy, cozy and environmentally sustainable all at once.
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.