C1920s Empire Style Armchair
Located in London, GB
Horseshoe Shaped Back Empire Style Armchair Early C20th Upholstered seat in Antique Brown Leather Above Cabriole Legs Headed Wing Griffins
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
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.
C1920s Empire Style Armchair
Located in London, GB
Horseshoe Shaped Back Empire Style Armchair Early C20th Upholstered seat in Antique Brown Leather Above Cabriole Legs Headed Wing Griffins
Mahogany
$11,850 / set
Pair Of 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of 19th Century French Empire Chairs. Offered is a lovely pair of early 19th century French period Empire chairs, fauteuils or side chairs. This pair of chairs are adorned with ...
Bronze
Armchairs Pair of Swedish Mahogany Brown Gilded Details Green and White Seat
Located in New York, NY
A pair of armchairs made in Sweden during the Karl Johan period 1810-1840. Frame made in mahogany with gilded details. Upholstered in a durable outdoor Rogers and Goffigon stripe.
Mahogany
$960Sale Price / item|46% Off
Antique 19th C Empire Star & Shield Coat of Arms Dining Chair
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th C Empire star & shield coat of arms dining chairs Priced each. Additional information: Materials: Mahogany Color: Olive Period: 19th Century Styles: Empire Numb...
Mahogany
Pair 19th Century French Empire Style Chairs With Red Silk Upholstered Seat
Located in Sheridan, CO
Extraordinary pair of French Empire style mahogany chairs featuring a tub or gondola form frame. Minimally decorated having a curved back,...
Silk, Mahogany
$12,000 / set
Set of 6 Empire Barrel Chairs, 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique and original set of 6 early 19th century Empire barrel chairs stands out for its elegant design. The chairs feature a beautiful walnut...
Walnut
Set of 4 natural rustic style chairs en wood and leather from the 1930s
By Mice di rugiano domenico e c. s.n.c.
Located in Cantù, IT
Set of 4 natural rustic style chairs en wood and leather from the 1930s - dark solid wood frame, oval back with carved details with brown leather seat with studded finish and underst...
Animal Skin, Wood
Set of Ten French Empire Mahogany Caned Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Glorious set of ten mahogany dining chairs made in the neoclassical French empire taste. The chairs feature decorative bronze mounts ...
Bronze
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs with Versacesque Decoration
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Pair of maximalist empire revival style armchairs featuring Versace inspired motifs. The chairs have a classic gondola shaped frame with faux leather naugahyde upholstery. The faux l...
Metal, Brass
$15,000 / set
French Empire Green Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19th century) mahogany armchairs with bronze trim and eagle heads with green seat.
Bronze
Italian 19th Century Marquetry and Bronze Empire Side Chair
Located in Brescia, IT
Back decorated in various inlaid woods showing vines, flowers etc., The tops of the back chair rails are mounted with eagle heads, and are joined together with a turned gilded deco...
Wood
19th Century Empire Style Parcel Gilt Mahogany Armchair
Located in El Monte, CA
A stately 19th Century Empire Style armchair crafted from Mahogany with detailed gilt carvings and a neoclassical print green silk upholstery. Featuring a gilt sunburst and Eye of Go...
Bronze
Set of Three Painted Pine Children's Chairs
Located in Baltimore, MD
These delightful plank seat children’s chairs are in a rustic Empire style, with a scroll at the top of the back rail and turned legs at the front. In old worn buttermilk paint. Seat...
Pine
$7,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of Four Empire Barrel Chairs
Located in Belmont, MA
This set of 4 Empire Barrel chairs dates back to around 1810-20. They come from France. The chairs have a very pretty walnut veneer. They have a v...
Walnut
$6,090 / set
Pair of Russian Empire Side Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Russian Empire Side Chairs - Original untouched finish newly reupholstered seat in Jim Thompson fabric.
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Mahogany Empire Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of Empire armchairs. Solid mahogany with fine carved details throughout.
Mahogany
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Empire Tub Armchair
Located in Belmont, MA
Empire Tub Armchair in Mahogany with New Upholstery, Circa 1820 Unique Empire tub armchair, crafted circa 1820 in rich mahogany with finely carved decorat...
Mahogany
Antique chair, Northern Europe, late 19th century. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chair from around 1890, Northern Europe. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. The seat and backrest are covered with new fabric. Dimensio...
Walnut
Dining Chairs Swedish Set of 6 Empire Mahogany Gilded Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Dining chairs Swedish set of 6 Empire mahogany gilded Sweden. A set of six dining chairs made during the Empire / Karl Johan period in Sweden 1810-1830. Veneered in a beautiful dark ...
$6,575Sale Price / item|20% Off
Set of Empire Armchairs / Chairs, Maple Wood, Paris, 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Seat group made of maple wood with rosewood intarsia, France, presumably G. Alphonse Jacob, the last of the famous Eben family, probably second quarter of the 19th century. Semi-circ...
Maple
$6,000 / set
19th Century Swedish Empire Klismos Chairs
Located in Allerum, SE
Pair of 19th century Swedish mahogany Empire klismos chairs. Sweden ca 1820.
Mahogany
Pair of 19th century Empire Style Chairs with Sphinxes
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Empire style chairs late 19th century. The rectangular backs carved with cornucopiae and laurel at the cresting, the arms supported by winged sphinxes, on sabre legs, each co...
Bronze
A 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu and Leather armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stately and most handsome Continental 19th century Empire st. Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu and Leather armchair. This wonderful chair is raised by curved Mahogany legs leading to a c...
Ormolu
Around 1800 Baltic States 4 Dining Chairs Mohagony Brasswire Decor
Located in Epfach, DE
4 chairs for a dining room, around 1800, provenance probably from a noble household in the Baltic States Mahogany, backrests and seat frames decorated with brass wire, designed in s...
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Style a Russian Armchair
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid mahogany. Straight frame on saber-shaped legs with laid sheet. Strongly curved supports for slightly rising armrests. High-profile, contoured backrest frame with a wide finish....
Mahogany
1870 French Empire Marquetry Inlaid Suite Berger Armchairs & Settee Canape, Pair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning French marquetry inlaid circa 1870 Empire style three piece suite with neoclassical detailing A very rare and good looking set, th...
Silk, Hardwood
Set of Four Swedish Empire Side Chairs by F. Pettersson, Mid 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of four Swedish Empire side chairs from the mid-19th century by furniture maker F. Pettersson. These antique chairs from Sweden have an elegantly curved backs, with straight wo...
Upholstery, Giltwood, Wood
Suite of 8 Empire Style Chairs in Solid Cherrywood
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Suite of 8 empire style chairs in solid cherrywood, velvet to change small old restorations.
Cherry
French, Empire Provencal Armchair
Located in Montreal, Quebec
A rare, beautiful, early-19th century Napoleon I, First Empire provencal armchair, a period piece, newly upholstered in the traditional laurel-leaf ...
Wood
Impressive 12 Chairs First Empire Napoleon III Early 19th Cent Sold at Sotheby's
Located in Madrid, ES
Impressive 12 chairs first Empire Napoleon III early 19th century. Sold at Sotheby's for €25,000 golden wood and silk 80cm x 48cm provenance: Roman family. perfect condition for...
Wood
$11,088Sale Price / set|47% Off
19th Century Vintage Empire Mahogany Salon, Set of 5
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four fauteuils and one large sofa. Mahogany wood. Beautifully restored. Very comfortable and elegant. French work of the beginning of the 19th century, Empire period. Sold as ...
Mahogany
$923Sale Price|51% Off
Antique Empire Chairs from Around 1810-1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Empire chairs from around 1900 Solid wood mahogany. Seat upholstered and covered with black fabric. Very stable and robust built. Hind...
Mahogany
$12,000 / set
Pair of Empire Armchairs
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Empire Armchairs Mahogany Frame with Saffron Yellow Wool and Vintage Tape Trim France, Circa 1830 23”W x 24”D x 36”H
Wool, Mahogany
Pair of Shepherdesses Chairs in St. Dominique Blond Mahogany
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Pair of Shepherdesses in St. Dominique Blond Mahogany Sculpted heads of Eagles with hamstrung front feet ending in doe hooves. Rare pair of chairs purchased in France. Age appropria...
Leather, Mahogany
Cockpit Chair in Wood Upholstered Velvet Dedar France
By Dedar
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Elegant and refined mahogany cockpit chair...
Velvet, Wood
19th Century Empire Revival Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Period Empire side chair: This highly stylized chair has brass inlay and ormolu features to include reclining goddesses, feathers and detailed Roman feet all newly upholstered in a b...
Brass, Ormolu
Chiavari Chair of Giltwood In A Faux Bamboo Style Striped Upholstered Seat
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Giltwood Chiavari Chair In A Faux Bamboo Style Complete With Original Striped Upholstered Seat The Chiavarina was created in 1807 by a cabinetmaker from Chiavari on the northweste...
Faux Bamboo, Upholstery, Giltwood
Superb & Rare Empire Mahogany and Brass Inlaid Chair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Superbly elegant and unusual late 19th century Empire style chair having curved back adorned with small gorgeous Medusa head, inlaid in perfect places including the reeded legs with ...
Brass
French Empire Burlwood Chair
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th Century French Empire burl wood chair featuring stylized ormolu to include swans, lyre, acanthus and ribbons with lion's paw sabots. Seat newly...
Ormolu
$1,750
French Empire Fauteuil
Located in Sharon, CT
Impressive black armchair of typical French Empire form, beautifully upholstered. Subtly incised palmettes where the arm rails meet the seat. Original b...
Wood
Set of Four 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of four French Empire fauteuils-armchairs in carved and veneered mahogany with beautiful carving and scale.
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Franch Empire armchair , in Carved Solid Mahogany
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Late 19th century Franch Empire chair with armrests in carved solid mahogany , wax polished Measure cm: H 92/42 x W 56 x D 50.
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Arm Chair
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Cent) mahogany round back dolphin arm chair with bronze trim and gold upholstery
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of French Empire mahogany armchairs.
Upholstery, Mahogany
Chair, Northern Europe, late 19th century. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chair from around 1890, Northern Europe. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: height 96 cm / seat height. 45 cm / width 47 cm...
Walnut
Period Empire Giltwood Armchair
Located in New Orleans, LA
Empire Carved and Gilded Armchair
Giltwood
Chair Kohn Nr.321, since 1906, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state. Perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. New upholstery surface on the original core.
Brass
Bat Chiavari Chair by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi
Located in Toronto, CA
Originally developed in early 19th century Chiavari by Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi, the Chiavarina chair distilled ornate Empire styles into a lighter, more refined construction that w...
Brass
Pair of Swedish Empire Armchairs in Black w/Gold Accents from the Mid-19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Empire armchairs from the mid-19th century by furniture maker F. Pettersson. These antique chairs from Sweden have an elegan...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Armchairs Attributed to Jean-Pierre Louis
By Jean Pierre Louis
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic pair of French Empire period open armchairs in well figured and carved mahogany; each with a square back topped by a bow shaped carved frieze featuring folliate rosettes and downscrolled arms. Where the arms join the chair rail there are carved anthemians and palmettes. These two chairs are presented in the original now faded and worn gros point green upholstery and have their original casters. These two armchairs are actually part of a set of six. The set was split up in three sets of two's to make them more saleable. Four of the six have been re-upholstered in sympathetic empire fabric...
Mahogany, Silk
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone 2 small gaps at the top of the armrests, which does not interfere with the stability of the chair
Tapestry, Walnut
$4,800 / set
Pair of French Empire Style Campaign Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A pair of French Empire style Campaign chairs. The pliant metal frame with brass lion's paw feet mounts and saber form legs designed to fold and accommodate fabric upholstery over th...
Brass
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire period armchair in walnut, upholstery redone
Tapestry, Walnut
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Chairs
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique French Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze chairs French, 19th century Dimensions: Height 93cm, width 51cm depth 48cm This pai...
Ormolu
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Empire Consulate Mahogany Chairs Griffin Heads & Paw Feet
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Pair of Very Important Empire Consulate Mahogany Chairs Griffin Heads & Paw Feet. Unique pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos. Message us with any ques...
Mahogany
$3,594Sale Price|46% Off
Pair of French Armchairs Fauteuil White Carved Back 1800s 1900s Antique Empire
Located in Lewes, England
Unusual Late 1800s early 1900s French antique pair of armchairs in original white paint with carved backs and beautiful curved arms and legs. They hark back to Napoleon's favorite Em...
Bentwood
Pair of Late Empire Armchairs in Birch from the 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
A pair of Late Empire birch armchairs, upholstered in red fabric and from around the 1840s, make a beautiful and period feature in any interior with their...
Fabric, Birch
$4,080 / set
Pair of Empire Style Window Seats
Located in Lymington, GB
A smart pair of Empire-style window seats of superb quality, and in excellent condition. Supported on stained-oak tapering square legs with gilt-brass mounts and hairy paw feet. Upholstered and buttoned in faded vellum-green hide...
Wood
Set Of 2 Antique Empire Style Armchairs Made In Mahogany From 1920s
Located in Lejre, DK
A pair of Danish Empire style hand-polished mahogany armchairs with striped fabric from around the 1920s. Measurements in cm: H:84 W:52 D:47 SH:50 This product will be inspected ...
Mahogany
Matched Pair of French Empire Armchairs, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality near pair of French Mahogany Empire influenced armchairs. Each being upholstered in a classical damask patterned burgundy fabric, polished back rail, Dolphins carved t...
Mahogany