French Empire Revival Green Leather Top Bronze Griffin Mahogany Desk & Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Empire Revival Style Green Leather Top Mahogany Bureau Plat Executive Writing Desk & Chair with Bronze Griffin Ormolu by Global N.Y.
Bronze
Set of Four 19th Century French Empire Swan Neck Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A charming set of four 19th century decorative dining chairs with French Empire influence. The handcrafted frames feature sweeping curved barrel backs being flanked by carved swan ne...
Upholstery, Wood
Antique French Empire "fauteuil du bureau" Desk Chair 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Empire Revival "fauteuil du bureau", desk chair, Circa 1880 in date.
Ormolu
A Set of Four Mahogany And Gilt-Bronze Second Empire Style Salon Chairs in the M
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Set of Four Mahogany And Gilt-Bronze Second Empire Salon Chairs in the Manner of Jacob-Desmalter. French, Circa 1880.
Ormolu
$5,683Sale Price|20% Off
A French Empire Mahogany Frame Cane Bergere Armchair With Rams Head Terminus
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A French Empire Georges Desmalter Mahogany Frame Cane Bergere Armchair With Rams Head Pediments With Square Tapering Legs & Hoof Feet. François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1...
Cane, Mahogany
A Pair of Empire Style Bergères in the Manner of Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Pair of Mahogany And Gilt-Bronze Bergères in the Manner of Jacob-Desmalter. The Bergères each having armrests headed by finely cast caryatid herms. French, Circa 1880.
Ormolu
Maison Jansen Style Rare French Midcentury Patio Swan Chairs Set of 6
By Maison Jansen
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Proud to present a rare set of French patio chairs in the style of Maison Jansen. Not documented, the same solid brass swan heads were used in another set of patio chairs designed by...
Metal
Vintage French Empire Revival Burr Walnut Dining Table & 10 Chairs 20th Century
Located in London, GB
An impressive Vintage French Empire Revival burr walnut dining table and a set of ten swag back dining chairs dating from the mid 20th Century.
Walnut
$3,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
A Pair of French Empire Revival Style Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Game Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Pair of French empire revival style mahogany and gilt-bronze mounted horseshoe shaped game armchairs (reproductions). The arched back frames centered with a harp design below a lau...
Bronze
$2,396Sale Price / set|20% Off
Incredible Pair of French Empire Style Walnut and Vibrant Yellow Bergere Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This incredible pair of French Empire style bergère chairs showcases a masterful blend of neoclassical elegance and bold decorative flair. Crafted from rich walnut, each chair featur...
Walnut
$27,850Sale Price / set|30% Off
French 19th-20th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Desk, Bookcase & Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th/20th Century Empire Revival Style Mahogany and Gilt-Bronze Mounted Three-Piece Study or Office Suite, comprising of a desk with leather top, a horse-shoe-shaped armchai...
Bronze
Unavailable
H 39 in W 24 in D 24 in
Pair of Carved French Empire Style Decorative Chairs of Ebonized and Giltwood
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of highly decorative French Empire style hall chairs, each having a partial gilt and pierced back, flanked with eagles, centering scroll and acanthus accents, above the cream up...
French Empire armchair/ desk chair
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Hutton-Clarke Antiques is delighted to present a splendid single armchair from late 19th century France, crafted in the elegant Empire style. This exquisite piece is adorned with Orm...
Mahogany
Sold
H 39.13 in W 27.13 in D 28.13 in
Antique French Empire Revival Arm Chairs Mahogany with Exceptional Quality c1840
Located in Highwood, IL
You would be hard pressed to fine a pair of antique French Empire Revival chairs made to this level of refinement and attention to the smallest detail.
Bronze
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. This chair has been newly upholstered in a cognac goatskin leather and eight-way hand...
Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 33.86 in W 22.45 in D 19.69 in
Antique Pair Empire Revival Ormolu Mounted Fauteuil Chairs 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fantastic and highly decorative antique pair of French gilt bronze mounted Empire Revival fauteuil chairs, circa 1880 in date.
Bronze
Sold
H 38.19 in W 22.84 in D 24.81 in
Vintage Set of Eight French Empire Revival Gondola Dining Chairs 20th Century
Located in London, GB
An absolutely fantastic vintage set of eight Empire Revival Gondola dining chairs, dating from the second half of the 20th Century. The chairs are made from solid walnut that is b...
Walnut
Sold
H 41.75 in W 27 in D 29 in
French Empire Egyptian Revival Solid Mahogany Bergere Chair with Bronze Sphinxs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This French Empire Egyptian Revival bergère chair is an exceptional example of 19th-century craftsmanship, blending neoclassical elegance with exotic revivalist details.
Bronze
Sold
H 38.19 in W 22.84 in D 24.81 in
Vintage Set of Four French Empire Revival Gondola Side Chairs 20th Century
Located in London, GB
An absolutely fantastic vintage set of four Empire Revival Gondola side / dining chairs, dating from the second half of the 20th Century. The chairs are made from solid walnut that ...
Walnut
Sold
H 29 in W 24.5 in D 25 in
French Empire Revival Mahogany and Ebonized Desk Chair, Last Quarter 19th Cen.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rounded backrest with central splat, with ebonized lion head handles, retaining antique leather upholstered, ebonized rosettes and trim, with shaped front legs ending in paw...
Mahogany
French Empire Directoire Swans Ebonized & Gilt Club Chair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
French Empire Directoire style carved swans, ebonized wood & gold gilt accents club chair This chair came from the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City Approximate Measurements in I...
Wood, Giltwood
Pair of Empire Chairs French 20th Century Green Leather
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Empire Revival Side Chairs Early 20th century The green leather seat can easily be changed to suit your interior Good vintage condition with nice patina Frames are sound and...
Leather, Wood
Fantastic Pair Carved Magogany Full Standing Lion French Empire Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a stunning pair of French Empire throne chairs. They have incredible upholstery which is most likely silk and the carved full-standing lions are beautifully carved. There is ...
Mahogany
Set of Six, 19th Century, French Empire Gondola Chairs
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique and beautiful set of six very rare second Empire gondola dining chairs with a stunning patina of several layers of old paint. These chairs are made out of mahogany and decorat...
Set of Six, 19th Century, French Empire Gondola Chairs
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful set of six rare second Empire gondola dining chairs with a stunning patina of paint of later date. These chairs are made out of mahogany. Like fashion changes they have bee...
Wood
Set of Eight French Empire Swan Neck Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic set of eight French gondola or spoon back dining chairs made in the empire revival taste.
Linen, Wood
Antique Set of 8 French Empire Dining Chairs 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant antique French Empire Revival set of eight upholstered back walnut dining chairs, circa 1880 in date.
Walnut, Giltwood
Sold
H 34.85 in W 17.72 in D 17.52 in
Suite of 6 Napoleon III French Empire Revival Dining Chairs Hardwood and Bronze
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of six original Napoleon III French Empire Revival mahogany and bronze mounted dining chairs A good original suite, you have f...
Velvet, Hardwood
Vintage French Empire Style Dining Chairs, Set of 6
Located in Denver, CO
Vintage French Empire style Birdseye maple (reminiscent and very similar to Burl wood) side chairs, late 20th c. Chairs feature a curved top rail, center splat with marquetry inlay, ...
Textile, Birdseye Maple
Sold
H 38.5 in W 25.25 in D 24.75 in
14 French Empire style Paint Decorated Carved Gilt Chairs by Balzarotti of Paris
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This extraordinary set of French Empire dining chairs by Balzarotti of Paris exemplifies the height of 19th-century Parisian craftsmanship. Each chair is beautifully paint-decorated ...
Beech
Sold
H 36 in W 20 in D 21 in
Set of Six French Empire Style Dining Chairs Refinished in Your Color Choice
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of six French Empire style dining chairs, France, circa 1960s. These chairs are currently being refinished and reupholstered and can be completed in your choice of finish color a...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 36 in W 22 in D 25 in
Set 6 Painted Bronze Ormolu Mounted Carved French Empire Style Dining Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a nice set of antique white French Empire style chairs in original condition and having bronze mounts and nice looking upholstery. The chairs measure 36 tall x 22 wide x 25 d...
Walnut
Set of 10 Bronze Mounted Walnut French Empire Dining Chairs Circa 1950s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful set of 10 bronze mounted walnut French Empire dining chairs. The chairs have bright bronze in gold and a beautiful contrasting dark walnut frame. The frames are a...
Bronze
Antique Pair of Empire Ormolu Mounted Side Chairs, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fantastic and highly decorative antique French gilt bronze mounted Empire Revival pair of side chairs, circa 1880 in date.
Ormolu
French Bergere Chair with Gilt Carved Swans
Located in Houston, TX
Revitalize your living space with a 20th Century French Bergere Chair adorned with stunning gilt carved swans and fresh upholstery. This piece seamlessly blends classic French crafts...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 38 in W 27.5 in D 29 in
Late 19th Century Bergere French Carved Giltwood Armchair Gilt Throne Chair
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A superb example, late 19th century Bergère armchair, French Circa 1890-1900. Of great form with a deep seat boasting its original faded velvet upholstery. Beautifully carved decorat...
Velvet, Giltwood
Sold
H 28.35 in W 82.68 in D 45.67 in
Vintage French Empire Revival Burr Walnut Dining Table & 6 Chairs 20th Century
Located in London, GB
An impressive Vintage French Empire Revival burr walnut dining table and a set of six burr walnut dining chairs dating from the mid 20th Century.
Walnut
Sold
H 30.32 in W 79.14 in D 40.56 in
Antique French Louis Revival Dining Table and 6 Empire Chairs 20th Century
Located in London, GB
The fantastic vintage set of six Empire Revival Gondola dining chairs, date from the second half of the 20th Century.
Ormolu
Empire Revival Chair
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine empire revival gilt-bronze mounted mahogany fauteuil. This elegant armchair has a scrolled mahogany frame with a padded upholstered back and seat, the arms put down on fine...
Ormolu
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.