Skip to main content

Second Empire Sofa

C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Straight-Back Sofa/ Settee, Second Empire
C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Straight-Back Sofa/ Settee, Second Empire

C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Straight-Back Sofa/ Settee, Second Empire

Located in London, Park Royal

A finely hand carved French two-seater canapé à dossier droit (straight-back sofa) from the Second

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Second Empire Fine Mahogany & Gilt Bronze Canapé—Napoleon III, 1860
Second Empire Fine Mahogany & Gilt Bronze Canapé—Napoleon III, 1860

Second Empire Fine Mahogany & Gilt Bronze Canapé—Napoleon III, 1860

$2,224Sale Price|20% Off

H 35 in W 67 in D 24 in

Second Empire Fine Mahogany & Gilt Bronze Canapé—Napoleon III, 1860

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A fine and well preserved mahogany & gilt bronze canapé from the Second Empire Period under the

Category

Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Sofas

Materials

Bronze

C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Marquise Chair (Wide Bergere), Second Empire
C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Marquise Chair (Wide Bergere), Second Empire

C.1860 Louis XVI Revival French Marquise Chair (Wide Bergere), Second Empire

Located in London, Park Royal

A finely carved French marquise (wide bergère) from the Second Empire period (c.1860), reflecting

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

French Napoleon III Style Curved Sofa in Floral Jacquard Velvet
French Napoleon III Style Curved Sofa in Floral Jacquard Velvet

French Napoleon III Style Curved Sofa in Floral Jacquard Velvet

Located in Astoria, NY

, and sage. The base is finished with a full bullion-fringe skirt, a nod to Second Empire salon seating

Category

Mid-20th Century French Napoleon III Sofas

Materials

Jacquard, Velvet, Hardwood

Recent Sales

Empire Sofa
Empire Sofa

Empire Sofa

Unavailable

H 39 in W 65 in D 21 in

Empire Sofa

Located in New Haven, CT

Second Empire period mahogany sofa with original ormolu mounts including the paw feet. Note: The

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Sofas

Materials

Mahogany

Second Empire Recamier, France, circa 1850
Second Empire Recamier, France, circa 1850

Second Empire Recamier, France, circa 1850

Sold

H 39 in W 71 in D 23.5 in

Second Empire Recamier, France, circa 1850

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

Second Empire fainting couch, circa 1850 de-acquisitioned from Svaneholms castles inventory in 1936

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Canapes

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Original Paintwork Second Empire Marquise Loveseat Sofa
French 19th Century Original Paintwork Second Empire Marquise Loveseat Sofa

French 19th Century Original Paintwork Second Empire Marquise Loveseat Sofa

Located in Benington, Herts

A very elegant and wonderfully drawn French 19th century Second Empire marquise loveseat / small

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Revival Loveseats

Materials

Paint

19th Century Second Empire Marble-Top Console Sofa Table
19th Century Second Empire Marble-Top Console Sofa Table

19th Century Second Empire Marble-Top Console Sofa Table

Located in Dallas, TX

Topped with black marble, this 19th century console-sofa is a great size and especially appealing

Category

Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Console Tables

Materials

Marble

French 2nd Empire Mahogany Sofa with gilt bronze mounts
French 2nd Empire Mahogany Sofa with gilt bronze mounts

French 2nd Empire Mahogany Sofa with gilt bronze mounts

Located in Asheville, NC

French Second Empire Sofa, mahogany frame with numerous gilt bronze mounts in the Napoleonic

Category

Antique 19th Century French Sofas

Materials

Ormolu

People Also Browsed

Louis XVI Style Sofa
Louis XVI Style Sofa

Louis XVI Style Sofa

$10,246

H 40 in W 45 in D 25 in

Louis XVI Style Sofa

By La Maison London

Located in London, Park Royal

Louis XVI style canape made by La Maison London. Hand carved in solid wood, painted in an ecru white with gold highlights. Upholstered in a fabric of your choice Please note: 11m of...

Category

2010s British Louis XVI Sofas

Materials

Giltwood

Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery
Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery

Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery

$15,439 / item

H 32.68 in W 110.24 in D 40.56 in

Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery

By Munna Design Studio

Located in NEW YORK, NY

This sofa features a wonderfully elegant fan-shaped motif, with its accentuated curvy lines with decadent and lavish finish. The feminine curves are ravishingly enhanced by the diffe...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas

Materials

Velvet

George Smith Mohair Velvet Ottoman Sofa Banquette
George Smith Mohair Velvet Ottoman Sofa Banquette

George Smith Mohair Velvet Ottoman Sofa Banquette

By George Smith

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Monumental bespoke mohair velvet tufted sectional banquette sofa custom designed by George Smith, London UK. The grand "ottoman sofa" was commissioned by Samantha Todhunter Design fo...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Sofas

Materials

Mohair, Hardwood

Coja Leather Loveaseat Sofa, 1960s
Coja Leather Loveaseat Sofa, 1960s

Coja Leather Loveaseat Sofa, 1960s

$481Sale Price|20% Off

H 32.29 in W 55.12 in D 37.01 in

Coja Leather Loveaseat Sofa, 1960s

By Coja Culemborg

Located in Budapest, Budapest

Coja Furniture Factory was founded in 1946 in Culemborg in the Netherlands by J.G. De Jongh and a number of colleagues from furniture company Palambus. Coja has built a good reputati...

Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

TRACCIA “Bird Leg” Surreal Gold Leaf and Bronze End Table, Italy
TRACCIA “Bird Leg” Surreal Gold Leaf and Bronze End Table, Italy

TRACCIA “Bird Leg” Surreal Gold Leaf and Bronze End Table, Italy

By Meret Oppenheim

Located in Tinton Falls, NJ

* Please Note: This Table Offered Is From The Original SIMON International Production (1975-1980) / It is the True VINTAGE Version, not the contemporary reproduction!! Actua...

Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Organic Modern Side Tables

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

Danish Designer, Curved Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Denmark, 1940s
Danish Designer, Curved Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Denmark, 1940s

Danish Designer, Curved Sofa, Wood, Fabric, Denmark, 1940s

Located in High Point, NC

A curved yellow fabric and wood sofa designed and produced in Denmark, c. 1940s.' Seat height: 15.75” All upholstered furniture can be reupholstered upon request for an additional ...

Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas

Materials

Fabric, Wood

"Aulanko" Sheepskin Armchair/Lounge Chair by Märta Blomstedt, Finland, 1939
"Aulanko" Sheepskin Armchair/Lounge Chair by Märta Blomstedt, Finland, 1939

"Aulanko" Sheepskin Armchair/Lounge Chair by Märta Blomstedt, Finland, 1939

By Märta Blomstedt

Located in Stockholm, SE

Amazing lounge chair by Märta Blomstedt, designed for the interior of the “Aulanko” hotel in 1939. Märta Blomstedt was the architecht behind the hotel. Oversized, voluptuous design w...

Category

Vintage 1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Wood

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry
Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry

$79,658 / item

H 95 in W 54 in D 25 in

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry

By Amuneal

Located in New York, NY

Amuneal's Brass Pantry Cabinetry, part of our metal Kitchen Collection, is designed as a feature element for any space. The three doors on the upper cabinets are fabricated with a kn...

Category

2010s American Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Love How You Live: Adventures in Interior Design
Love How You Live: Adventures in Interior Design

Love How You Live: Adventures in Interior Design

$65 / item

H 11.5 in W 9.5 in D 1.5 in

Love How You Live: Adventures in Interior Design

Located in New York, NY

The first book from the AD100 interior designer renowned for joyful, vibrant, intensely personal homes imbued with art, pattern, and craftsmanship A decidedly global outlook best de...

Category

2010s American Books

Materials

Paper

I love it. What is it? The power of instinct in design and branding
I love it. What is it? The power of instinct in design and branding

I love it. What is it? The power of instinct in design and branding

Located in New York, NY

The internationally renowned design agency Turner Duckworth presents stories and advice gathered from working with the world’s biggest brands No other design company has worked with...

Category

2010s Chinese Books

Materials

Paper

Spirograph Centerpiece - Hand-carved & Hand-painted Glazed Porcelain Centerpiece
Spirograph Centerpiece - Hand-carved & Hand-painted Glazed Porcelain Centerpiece

Spirograph Centerpiece - Hand-carved & Hand-painted Glazed Porcelain Centerpiece

Located in Dallas, TX

An impressive object entirely shaped and finished by hand, it reveals very different glaze treatments inside and out. While expertly worked to achieve a scalloped edge and channeled ...

Category

2010s European Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Curved Sofa, 1950s
Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Curved Sofa, 1950s

Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Curved Sofa, 1950s

$2,354

H 35.44 in W 94.49 in D 39.38 in

Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Curved Sofa, 1950s

Located in Puglia, Puglia

Curved four-seat sofa of Italian design, structure and legs in solid wood, velvet upholstery, 1950s production, Condition as shown in the photos, it is advisable to redo the upholstery.

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Velvet, Beech, Fir

Theatrical "Egyptian" Living-Room Set, France, circa 1940s
Theatrical "Egyptian" Living-Room Set, France, circa 1940s

Theatrical "Egyptian" Living-Room Set, France, circa 1940s

$10,582 / set

H 48.43 in W 59.85 in D 25.6 in

Theatrical "Egyptian" Living-Room Set, France, circa 1940s

Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse

Unusual and extravagant living-room set comprised of a settee, two armchairs and a table, of Egyptian inspiration. Polychrome decor. The seating pieces are raised on paw feet (front)...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Living Room Sets

1970's Italian Tufted Leather Sofa by Ambienti Bernini
1970's Italian Tufted Leather Sofa by Ambienti Bernini

1970's Italian Tufted Leather Sofa by Ambienti Bernini

$2,940Sale Price|40% Off

H 27 in W 64 in D 36 in

1970's Italian Tufted Leather Sofa by Ambienti Bernini

Located in Hanover, MA

SATURDAY SALE Very comfortable lounging sofa made in Italy by Ambienti Bernini. It reminds me of the Mario Bellini "le Bambole" sofa but with tufted upholstery. The outside back, ...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Upholstery

French Louis XV Style Carved-Wood & Upholstered Settee
French Louis XV Style Carved-Wood & Upholstered Settee

French Louis XV Style Carved-Wood & Upholstered Settee

Located in Atlanta, GA

A French Louis XV style sofa from the mid-19th century. This antique settee from France upholstered features a gently arched top rail at back, carved acanthus leaves decorated the sk...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Egyptian Stone Relief of Man and Wife
Egyptian Stone Relief of Man and Wife

Egyptian Stone Relief of Man and Wife

$370,000

H 11.03 in W 10.44 in D 1.58 in

Egyptian Stone Relief of Man and Wife

Located in London, GB

This painted limestone relief is an exquisite example of New Kingdom relief carving from the apogee of Egyptian artistic production. Carved in raised relief - a labour-intensive tech...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Busts

Materials

Limestone

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Second Empire Sofa", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Second Empire Sofa For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the second empire sofa you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each second empire sofa for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, fabric and mahogany. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect second empire sofa — we have versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. A second empire sofa is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Empire, Art Deco and louis xv styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made second empire sofa over the years, but those crafted by Ipe Cavalli, Schreiber and Wylie & Lochhead are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Second Empire Sofa?

Prices for a second empire sofa can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $1,127 and can go as high as $94,278, while the average can fetch as much as $4,600.

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.

Questions About Second Empire Sofa
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The Empire movement in design started in the 19th century and is characterized by straight lines in rigid symmetrical compositions. Empire sofas, and furniture specifically, are part of the French neoclassical style. Shop a collection of Empire sofas from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    An Empire sofa is a type of sofa associated with the Empire style of art and architecture that came out of early 19th-century France. The designs of furniture in the Empire style were actually quite varied depending on the region which interpreted the design principles. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique Empire style sofas from some of the world’s top sellers.