Skip to main content

Empire Lounge Chairs

EMPIRE STYLE

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.

6
to
2
4
2
6
6
6
8,933
3,040
2,432
537
161
52
45
38
33
31
31
20
18
14
13
5
1
3
3
3
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
4
2
6
4
2
2
1
4
2
2
1
1
Style: Empire
White Wingback Chair With Ottoman, Denmark, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
White; Fabric; Wingback Chair; Ottoman; Danish Design; 1950s; Walnut; Wood; Scandinavia; Scandinavian Design; Empire; Pouf; Lounge Chair; Upholstery; Stylish 1950s high back lounge...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Pair of 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Library Chairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An excellent quality pair of 19th century mahogany library armchairs, in the French empire taste, having swept back and moulded scrolling arms with C-scroll supports raised on elegant moulded sabre legs (A relative typical design in the early to mid-19th century these chairs are in the French Empire taste which was most popular at the time, with the added benefit of being much more sturdy and practical than the English Regency Chaise...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

High Back French Empire Neoclassical Style Marble Fabric Wing Back Arm Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage high back French Empire / neoclassical style lounge chair with marbled fabric. Item features a tall solid carved wood frame, unique upholstered wings, shapely legs, cream dis...
Category

1950s American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Pair of Late 19th Century Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of late 19th century lounge chairs are in the Empire style. The curved arms end with carved acanthus leaves. The seats and borderin...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Linen, Wood

French Empire Style '19th Century' Mahogany Sleigh Design Recamier
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany sleigh design Récamier with bronze doré trim and red damask upholstery.   
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Pair Empire Stye Chairs
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A Pair of Empire style fruitwood hand carved rounded back chairs with swan and dolphin motif with gilt accents. The rounded backs, with separat...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fruitwood

Related Items
Custom Made 1940s Style Sheepskin Wing Chair
Located in London, GB
Dagmar Design Custom-Made Upholstered Range A custom made wing chair developed and produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. The frames are hand-built...
Category

2010s British Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Beech

Custom Made 1940s Style Sheepskin Wing Chair
Custom Made 1940s Style Sheepskin Wing Chair
H 38.59 in W 30.71 in D 31.5 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Selig Swivel Rocker Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Located in Wilmington, DE
Mid Century Danish Modern Eames era Selig Lounge Chair and Ottoman Offered is a Mid Century Modern Lounge Chair and Ottoman. "Cool" mi...
Category

1960s North American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather

Modern Low Chair Gropius CS1 with Ottoman in Barnum Boucle White Fabric by NOOM
Located in Paris, FR
New NOOM furniture collection is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus School in Germany. Ideas of functionalism and conciseness, the combination of Craft...
Category

2010s Ukrainian Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Bouclé

A Pair of High Back Arm Chairs, Upholstered in Pure Alpaca
Located in London, GB
A super pair of modern 1940s style high backed armchairs. Handmade beech frames, sprung seat and solid oak feet. Newly upholstered in a luxurious, soft, pure alpaca wool fabric. ...
Category

2010s British Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Alpaca, Beech, Oak

Rare Pair of Model 2254 Lounge Chairs by Børge Mogensen with Ottomans 1950s Wool
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Rare pair of Model 2254. ''Slaedestolen'' lounge chairs with matching pair of Model 2248. ottomans. Designed by Børge Mogensen for Fredericia in the 1950s. The Model 2254. lounge cha...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wool, Oak

Ingmar Relling Leather Lounge Chair with Ottoman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning modern Ingmar Relling lounge chair and ottoman features a bent rosewood frame and tufted vintage leather. Unique design provides comfort without sacrificing style making it ...
Category

1970s Norwegian Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

19th Century Irish Mahogany Library Armchair
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine early 19th century mahogany framed library armchair, the curved top-rail above button back upholstered in leather, with raised padded arm rests and down scrolled arms whi...
Category

19th Century Irish Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

19th Century Irish Mahogany Library Armchair
19th Century Irish Mahogany Library Armchair
H 37.41 in W 25.99 in D 26.38 in
Pair of Two High Back Lounge Chairs in Original Fabric, Italy 1940s
Located in Almelo, NL
Pair of original high back lounge chairs made and designed in the style of Federico Munari and Gio Ponti in Italy 1940s. This elegant set of lounge chairs features wings and curved a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Sigurd Ressell for Vatne Mobler Falcon Chair with Ottoman
Located in Countryside, IL
Sigurd Ressell for Vatne Mobler Falcon chair with ottoman The chair measures: 30.5 wide x 32 deep x 39.25 high, with a seat height of 14.2...
Category

1970s Norwegian Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Antique Pair French Empire Armchair Fauteuils Chairs, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant antique pair of French Empire Revival upholstered back mahogany armchair fauteuils, circa 1880 in date. The mahogany is beautiful in colour with superb patina. Th...
Category

1880s French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

A. Rudin Contemporary Lounge Chairs, Pair
Located in Countryside, IL
A. Rudin contemporary lounge chairs - pair These chairs measure: 38.5 wide x 49 deep x 36 inches high, with a seat height of 19 and arm hei...
Category

2010s American Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

19th Century Gillows Walnut Open Armchair
Located in Batley, GB
A superb quality mid-19th century armchair by Gillows of Lancaster. Raised on finely worked walnut turned front legs and arm supports without splayed chamfered legs to the rear, all ...
Category

19th Century British Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Gillows Walnut Open Armchair
19th Century Gillows Walnut Open Armchair
H 33.47 in W 27.96 in D 37.41 in
Previously Available Items
Antique Empire Style Chaise Lounge
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dimensions: 33.75”H x 71.50”W x 23.50” D Seat Height 18" Materials: Cherry Wood, Original Fabric
Category

1930s American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Cherry

Antique Empire Style Chaise Lounge
Antique Empire Style Chaise Lounge
H 33.75 in W 71.5 in D 23.5 in
French 19th Century Leather Armchair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This French 19th-century leather armchair is made out of mahogany wood and has been fully restored by our team of expert craftsmen. The armchair has been professionally restained in ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Leather Armchair
French 19th Century Leather Armchair
H 29.5 in W 24.5 in D 22 in
Thonet Assymetrical Chair with Fornasetti Style Print, Empire, 1905
Located in Antwerp, BE
Thonet; Fornasetti; Empire; 1905; Germany; Lounge chair; Armchair; Asymmetrical chair; saddle-shaped seat; This asymmetrical chair from Thonet features a saddle-shaped seat. The s...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Rattan

Pair of French Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Pair of 20th century French Empire style carved wood and newly upholstered chairs.
Category

20th Century Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Pair of Traditional French 19th Century Empire Leather Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pair of Antique Ebonized Empire Leather Lounge Chairs are made out of mahogany wood stained in an ebonized color with a beautifully polished patina...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Cotton, Foam, Wood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Giltwood

Impressive Pair of Gilt Bronze-Mounted and Lacquered Biedermeier Bergères
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional pair of neoclassic black lacquered finely chased gilt bronze mounts bergère armchairs attributed to Sébastien Youf of exquisite design and proportion. Each bergère in a b...
Category

19th Century Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Empire Style Chair Pair with Leopard Print Covering
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage pair of hand carved Empire style chair with leopard print seat tops featuring two carved female busts on each arm.
Category

1940s American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Empire-Style Mahogany Library Chairs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Unusual set of four French Empire-style mahogany library chairs. Vintage from the mid-20th century.
Category

1950s French Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs

Empire-Style Mahogany Library Chairs
Empire-Style Mahogany Library Chairs
H 34 in W 26.5 in D 25 in
Pair of 19th Century Empire Armchairs
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Cool and funky pair of period French lounge chairs with gilded hardware.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Empire Armchairs
Pair of 19th Century Empire Armchairs
H 36.5 in W 25.25 in D 30.75 in

Empire lounge chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Empire lounge chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage lounge chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire lounge chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for lounge chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,559 and tops out at $9,000 while the average work can sell for $4,000.

Recently Viewed

View All