Empire Lounge Chairs
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.
1950s Danish Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Walnut
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Mahogany
1950s American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Linen, Wood
19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Lounge Chairs
Fruitwood
2010s British Empire Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech
1960s North American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Leather
2010s Ukrainian Empire Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Bouclé
2010s British Empire Lounge Chairs
Alpaca, Beech, Oak
1950s Swedish Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Leather, Wool, Oak
1970s Norwegian Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Leather, Rosewood
19th Century Irish Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1970s Norwegian Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Leather, Wood
1880s French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Mahogany
2010s American Empire Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century British Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Walnut
1930s American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Fabric, Cherry
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Brass
Early 1900s German Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Rattan
20th Century Empire Lounge Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Leather, Cotton, Foam, Wood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Giltwood
19th Century Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Bronze
1940s American Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Fabric
1950s French Vintage Empire Lounge Chairs
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Lounge Chairs
Wood