Empire Office Chairs and Desk 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.
1960s American Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wood, Fabric
19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Ormolu
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric, Damask, Upholstery, Burl, Birch
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Walnut
Early 20th Century Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Wood
20th Century English Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Beech
1970s American Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Chrome
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Faux Leather
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric, Ebony, Mahogany
Early 1900s Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Mid-19th Century English Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Oak
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Swedish Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Steel
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Ash
1980s Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Cotton, Wood
19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Metal, Brass
19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric, Textile, Wood, Mahogany
1850s French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1890s French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Bronze
Early 2000s European Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Birch
Late 19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Bronze
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Leather, Wood
1810s Italian Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Fabric, Upholstery, Beech
Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Ormolu