Empire Style Settee
Early 20th Century Egyptian Revival Settees
Velvet
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Settees
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Bronze
20th Century French Empire Settees
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Settees
Wood
Early 20th Century French Empire Settees
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Cuban Regency Settees
Cane, Mahogany
Vintage 1970s Empire Sofas
Velvet, Wood
Early 20th Century Indian Settees
Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century British Egyptian Revival Settees
Wire
Early 20th Century English Charles II Settees
Tapestry, Velvet
Vintage 1980s Irish Empire Settees
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Empire Revival Canapes
Beech
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Sofas
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Sofas
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany, Wood
Antique 1870s French Empire Living Room Sets
Silk, Hardwood
Vintage 1950s American Empire Sofas
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Sofas
Birch
Late 20th Century Unknown Empire Revival Living Room Sets
Bronze
Vintage 1920s French Empire Living Room Sets
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1850s American Empire Revival Armchairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Cherry
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Chairs
Bronze
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Living Room Sets
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Living Room Sets
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage 1930s Italian Baroque Revival Sofas
Fabric, Walnut
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Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Canapes
Mohair, Silk, Giltwood, Wood
19th Century Academic Nude Paintings
Oil
Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Living Room Sets
Silk, Giltwood
2010s Italian Other Chandeliers and Pendants
Blown Glass
Antique 1890s German Dinner Plates
Porcelain
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Tables
Mahogany
20th Century French Floor Lamps
Crystal
17th Century Old Masters Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 1880s English Late Victorian Wingback Chairs
Leather
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Chandeliers and Pendants
Crystal, Metal
Antique 19th Century Neoclassical Sofas
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Animal Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique Early 19th Century European Biedermeier Settees
Upholstery, Birch
2010s American British Colonial Beds and Bed Frames
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1880s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Empire Living Room Sets
Linen, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century English Empire Living Room Sets
Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Sofas
Vintage 1940s Argentine Settees
Wood, Fabric
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Unknown Settees
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Italian Settees
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Sofas
Antique 19th Century French Settees
Mid-20th Century American Empire Settees
Mahogany, Leather
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Hardwood
Antique 19th Century French Sofas
Antique 19th Century French Settees
Wood, Velvet, Upholstery
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Sofas
Walnut
20th Century French Settees
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Egyptian Revival Settees
Fruitwood, Paint, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century American Settees
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Settees
Mahogany
20th Century American Settees
Wood, Upholstery
Antique Mid-19th Century French Provincial Settees
Walnut
Antique 1840s European Settees
Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century American Regency Settees
Mahogany, Paint, Fabric
Antique 19th Century French Biedermeier Settees
Metal
20th Century American Empire Revival Settees
Beech
Antique 19th Century American Canapes
Bronze
Antique 1840s American American Empire Sofas
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Egyptian Revival Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 1880s French Empire Revival Sofas
Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Daybeds
Textile, Mahogany
Early 20th Century American Empire Living Room Sets
Mahogany, Upholstery
Antique Late 19th Century American Empire Living Room Sets
Fabric, Mahogany
Vintage 1920s French Benches
Wood
Antique 19th Century Italian Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Benches
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Loveseats
Upholstery
Antique 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Sofas
Fruitwood
Early 20th Century Spanish Empire Revival Benches
Cane, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century American Benches
Damask, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Sofas
Wood, Upholstery
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Settees
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Antique 1890s Loveseats
Antique Early 1900s French Empire Settees
Fabric, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Settees
Fabric, Mahogany
Vintage 1980s European Empire Settees
Beech
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Settees
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Empire Revival Daybeds
Mahogany
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Settees
Giltwood, Fabric
Early 20th Century Empire Sofas
Fabric, Mahogany, Giltwood
Vintage 1950s French Empire Revival Sofas
Brass
Early 20th Century Empire Loveseats
Fabric, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Empire Armchairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century English Empire Side Chairs
Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Regency Sofas
Upholstery, Paint, Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Benches
Beech
20th Century American Federal Sofas
Mahogany, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century American Sheraton Chairs
Rush, Wood
Vintage 1930s American Regency Patio and Garden Furniture
Wrought Iron
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Settees
Linen, Giltwood
Empire Style Settee For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Empire Style Settee?
Finding the Right Seating for You
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.
- 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.
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