Empire Directoire 19th Century Daybed

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.

An antique or vintage daybed is a practical solution for furnishing any modest-sized bedroom or guest room and can even be a versatile option for the reading nook in your living room.

Daybeds, which traditionally comprise a simple three-sided frame and twin-size mattress or boxy foam cushion, have a long history that dates back at least to the early Greeks and Romans. The spare construction and multipurpose nature of these multifunctional marvels — they’re not loveseats, sofas or chaise longues, but each share some commonalities — have over time rendered them an easy and often essential piece of seating.

All manner of daybeds have materialized over the years. There are ornate, unconventional versions created in the Louis XV, Art Deco and Empire styles, while popular mid-century modern iterations include the Barcelona daybed, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, as well as the Nelson daybed, which architect George Nelson created for Herman Miller in the 1940s. But you don’t have to limit yourself to one of the classics.

Variations on the daybed have been developed all over the world, and contemporary examples come in all shapes, upholstery options and sizes. (They’re no longer limited to twin size.) No matter what style you choose, this luxury furnishing ensures that you don’t have to wait until nighttime to start dreaming.

On 1stDibs, find a cozy collection of antique, new and vintage daybeds today.