Empire Swan Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century European Empire Chairs
Ormolu
Vintage 1980s Empire Revival Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Cotton
Vintage 1940s English Empire Club Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 1880s French Empire Side Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Early 20th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs
Wood
Vintage 1960s European Empire Revival Dining Room Chairs
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Side Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century French Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Wingback Chairs
Brass
20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Beech
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mohair, Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X Side Chairs
Maple
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Fruitwood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Living Room Sets
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century English Empire Revival Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century English Empire Revival Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Bronze
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Living Room Sets
Upholstery, Mahogany
Late 20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Giltwood
Antique 19th Century European Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Cherry, Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Empire Dressers
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Armchairs
Wood, Leather
Antique Late 19th Century French Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Charles X Armchairs
Leather, Oak
Antique 1880s French Desks and Writing Tables
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Bergere Chairs
Wood
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2010s Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Fabric
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Card Tables and Tea Tables
Lacquer
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Daybeds
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Modern Chairs
Copper, Pewter
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Velvet, Wood, Ebony
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1940s Danish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Beech
Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Empire Dining Room Tables
Mahogany, Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Beech
Vintage 1950s French Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wood, Walnut
2010s Armchairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Egyptian Moorish Settees
Walnut
Recent Sales
20th Century Dutch Empire Chairs
Cotton
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Antique 1810s French Empire Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Italian Chairs
Antique 19th Century Bergere Chairs
Fruitwood
Antique Early 1900s Swedish Neoclassical Side Chairs
Wood, Silk
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
20th Century French Armchairs
Wood
Antique 1880s European Empire Revival Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Antique 1880s Italian Empire Chairs
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Vintage 1970s Empire Revival Club Chairs
Wood, Giltwood
Late 20th Century Empire Club Chairs
Silk, Mahogany, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Revival Dining Room Chairs
Linen, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs
Brass
1990s European Empire Club Chairs
Early 20th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
Antique 1810s French Empire Side Chairs
Chenille, Cherry, Softwood
Antique Late 19th Century Empire Chairs
Other
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Chairs
Cherry
Vintage 1940s Italian Neoclassical Chairs
Velvet, Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Empire Bergere Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century American Empire Revival Side Chairs
Brass, Iron
Antique 18th Century Russian Empire Side Chairs
Ormolu, Metal
Antique 19th Century French Empire Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany, Velvet
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Linen, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Side Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Side Chairs
Mahogany, Velvet
Vintage 1940s French Neoclassical Chairs
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Early 20th Century Argentine Bergere Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Late 20th Century American Empire Club Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Lounge Chairs
Leather, Cotton, Foam, Wood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Giltwood
Mid-20th Century English Empire Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Bergere Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Early 20th Century French Bergere Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany, Velvet
Vintage 1910s European Empire Armchairs
Ormolu
20th Century Unknown Empire Armchairs
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Brass
Late 20th Century French Empire Children's Furniture
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Bergere Chairs
Fabric, Textile, Upholstery, Velvet, Wood, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks
Bronze
Early 20th Century English Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Empire Settees
Mahogany, Leather
20th Century Armchairs
Walnut
Antique 1810s French Empire More Desk Accessories
Bronze
Antique Early 1800s Italian Neoclassical Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bentwood, Pine
Antique 19th Century French Empire Living Room Sets
Bronze
Antique 1860s French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique 1880s French Empire Bookcases
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Fruitwood, Paint, Silk
Late 20th Century French Armchairs
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 1830s Italian Charles X Armchairs
Maple
Antique 1890s English Edwardian Bookcases
Walnut
Empire Swan Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Empire Swan Chairs?
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.
- 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.
- Is a Swan chair comfortable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Whether or not a Swan chair is comfortable is largely a matter of personal perception. Arne Jacobsen designed the tapered backrest and curved seat of the swiveling accent chair to conform to the shape of the human body, believing it would offer ample support. You'll find a collection of Swan chairs on 1stDibs.
- Does the Swan chair swivel?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, the Swan chair swivels on its metal base. The pivoting design was one of the major innovations of the chair that Arne Jacobsen designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, and it remains a selling point of the piece to this today. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Arne Jacobsen Swan chairs.
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