Empire Style Fauteuils
Vintage 1980s American Empire Armchairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century European Empire Armchairs
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Chairs
Upholstery, Velvet, Giltwood
20th Century Unknown Empire Bergere Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wood
Antique 1870s French Empire Armchairs
Silk, Walnut, Paint
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Fabric, Textile, Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Walnut
Vintage 1940s Armchairs
Wood, Fabric
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Fruitwood, Paint, Silk
Vintage 1950s European Club Chairs
Fabric, Fruitwood, Upholstery
20th Century Armchairs
Walnut
Vintage 1940s French Empire Armchairs
Vintage 1920s French Empire Dining Room Chairs
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Muslin, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Wood
Antique 1870s French Empire Armchairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Upholstery, Cherry
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
1990s Italian Empire Armchairs
Fabric, Wood, Giltwood
French Side Chairs
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Early 20th Century French Bergere Chairs
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century French Armchairs
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Armchairs
Wood, Upholstery
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Armchairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Chairs
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Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Musical Instruments
Wood, Giltwood
Antique Mid-17th Century British Charles II Cabinets
Walnut
20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Wood
Empire Style Fauteuils For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Empire Style Fauteuils?
Finding the Right Armchairs for You
Armchairs have run the gamut from prestige to ease and everything in between, and everyone has an antique or vintage armchair that they love.
Long before industrial mass production democratized seating, armchairs conveyed status and power.
In ancient Egypt, the commoners took stools, while in early Greece, ceremonial chairs of carved marble were designated for nobility. But the high-backed early thrones of yore, elevated and ornate, were merely grandiose iterations of today’s armchairs.
Modern-day armchairs, built with functionality and comfort in mind, are now central to tasks throughout your home. Formal dining armchairs support your guests at a table for a cheery feast, a good drafting chair with a deep seat is parked in front of an easel where you create art and, elsewhere, an ergonomic wonder of sorts positions you at the desk for your 9 to 5.
When placed under just the right lamp where you can lounge comfortably, both elbows resting on the padded supports on each side of you, an upholstered armchair — or a rattan armchair for your light-suffused sunroom — can be the sanctuary where you’ll read for hours.
If you’re in the mood for company, your velvet chesterfield armchair is a place to relax and be part of the conversation that swirls around you. Maybe the dialogue is about the beloved Papa Bear chair, a mid-century modern masterpiece from Danish carpenter and furniture maker Hans Wegner, and the wingback’s strong association with the concept of cozying up by the fireplace, which we can trace back to its origins in 1600s-era England, when the seat’s distinctive arm protrusions protected the sitter from the heat of the period’s large fireplaces.
If the fireside armchair chat involves spirited comparisons, your companions will likely probe the merits of antique and vintage armchairs such as Queen Anne armchairs, Victorian armchairs or even Louis XVI armchairs, as well as the pros and cons of restoration versus conservation.
Everyone seems to have a favorite armchair and most people will be all too willing to talk about their beloved design. Whether that’s the unique Favela chair by Brazilian sibling furniture designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, who repurposed everyday objects to provocative effect; or Marcel Breuer’s futuristic tubular metal Wassily lounge chair; the functionality-first LC series from Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret; or the Eames lounge chair of the mid-1950s created by Charles and Ray Eames, there is an iconic armchair for everyone and every purpose. Find yours on 1stDibs right now.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Classical world is primarily what influenced French Empire furniture. Greek and Roman motifs appear on many pieces. In addition, the opulence of Egyptian furniture inspired furniture makers active during the period. On 1stDibs, shop a range of French Empire furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024The difference between the Biedermeier and Empire styles lies largely in the characteristics most commonly associated with them. Although these two furniture styles both emerged around 1815 and persisted into the 1840s, pieces associated with them have differing features. Developed in France, the Empire style emphasized ornamentation and grandeur, with furniture makers often drawing inspiration from ancient Roman forms. Dark woods were the most commonly used materials of the style. In Germany and other parts of Central Europe, artisans working in the Biedermeier style favored simplicity. They also tended to source woods locally and chose light finishes for their pieces. Explore a selection of Biedermeier and Empire furniture on 1stDibs.
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