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Seating For Sale
Number in Set: Single Piece
Style: Empire
Style: Machine Age
Gilbert Rohde Lounge Chair Herman Miller 1936
Located in Camden, ME
A Gilbert Rohde classic nickel plated lounge chair designed for Herman Miller in 1936. Freshly re-upholstered in a thick dark grey boucle and very comfortable. The frame shows it's a...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Machine Age Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

19th Century Empire Carved Mahogany & Cut Velvet Upholstered Bergere
Located in Atlanta, GA
This striking armchair is a fine example of 19th-century Empire furniture, marrying neoclassical authority with updated decorative luxury. The frame, likely crafted from mahogany or ...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

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 Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Mahogany

Italian Neoclassical Hall Bench
Located in New York, NY
Italian neoclassical hall bench. Large and handsomely proportioned cassapanca / walnut bench in two parts with upper dental carved trim around arms and paneled back. All fitted into ...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Walnut

Museum Court Empire Armchair circa 1830, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum court Empire armchair circa 1830, mahogany Solid mahogany body. Empire beginning of the 19th century. Armrests, curved volute-shaped, ending in carved dolphins. Rectangular b...
Category

Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Brass

Fine Empire Period Bronze and Mahogany Desk Chair by Jacob Freres
Located in Montreal, QC
Fine Empire ormolu-mounted mahogany desk armchair upholstered in gilt-tool leather. Signed: "Jacob Freres, rue de Meslee" Provenance: Partridge Fine Arts, New Bond Street, London.
Category

Early 1800s French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage French Empire Bench
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Category

1980s Empire Vintage Seating

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Late 19th Century Empire Style Childrens Chair
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An elegant and rare childrens 'Bergère chair made in Empire style. Made of finely carved beechwood. At the top swan heads, which is a typical ornate of the Empire style. Upholstered ...
Category

1880s French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Swedish Regency Style Period Parcel Gilt Armchair
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Regency style armchair featuring a Fruitwood frame with hand-carved matte ebonized plume body details and traditional 22-karat gilded parcel gilt detail on stylized heron heads at arm fronts and legs. Mint restored with new Moss Green mohair upholstery. Available at 200 Lexington...
Category

19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Gold Leaf

American Designer, Desk Chair, Chrome Metal, Mohair, USA, 1930s
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable chome metal and beige mohair desk chair designed and produced in the US, 1930s.  21.5” seat height
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Seating

Materials

Chrome

Swivel Desk Chair by GoodForm General Fireproofing
Located in New York, NY
Great Art Deco swivel desk chair with adjustable tilt backrest, stylized armrests, and aluminum star base. Iconic Machine Age classic, clean...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Machine Age Seating

Materials

Aluminum

Empire Period Mahogany Sofa-Bed, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa-bed of the Empire period in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer with rich decoration of finely chased and gilded bronzes. This sofa is decorated in front of a lyre in the center,...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Bronze

French 1860s Empire Style Walnut Bench with Out-Scrolled Sides and Swan Figures
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut bench from the mid-19th century, with carved swan heads and new upholstery. This French walnut backless bench features an exquisite silhouette, flanked w...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Walnut

Empire Style Heraldic Coat of Arms Carved Mahogany Double Eagle Bench
Located in Germantown, MD
An early 20th Century Empire Style Heraldic coat of arms Intricately Carved Mahogany Double Eagle Bench with loose seat cushion. Measures 36.5" in width, 25" in depth and stands 37.5...
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Seating

Materials

Mahogany

Swedish Empire revival mahogany 3 piece lounge suite
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish empire revival mahogany 3 piece lounge suite circa 1900. We are pleased to offer this empire revival suite from Sweden. Set consists of 2 armchairs with matching table.  Th...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Seating

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Mahogany and Leather Desk Armchair with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a man's office or study with this elegant antique armchair. Hand carved in France circa 1890 and built of mahogany, the armchair stands on tapered legs decorated with gilt b...
Category

Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Baltic Mahogany Long Bench - Antique Empire Silk Sofa, Canapé
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique Baltic long bench with two pillows made of hand carved Mahogany, in good condition. The three seater sofa, settee is stand...
Category

Mid-19th Century Baltic Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Fabric, Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany

Empire Bench in Mahogany with Walnut and Maple Inlays
Located in Kastrup, DK
A beautiful Empire bench crafted from mahogany with gracefully curved legs. The end panels feature central inlays of walnut and light maple detailing. The seat has been newly upholst...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany, Maple

Donald Deskey Attribution, Armchair, Chrome, Oil Cloth, USA, 1939
Located in High Point, NC
A matte-chrome plated steel and beige oil cloth armchair attributed to Donald Deskey, USA, c. 1939. Seat height: 17.25” All upholstered furniture can be reupholstered upon request ...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Warren McArthur Early Armchair for The Pullman Company 1920's
Located in Chicago, IL
Warren McArthur Early Armchair for The Pullman Company 1920's Rare Special Chair, This elegant early armchair by Warren McArthur features a combination of lacquered steel, aluminum, ...
Category

1920s American Machine Age Vintage Seating

Materials

Aluminum

Elegant Empire Bench in Mahogany with Satinwood Inlays
Located in Kastrup, DK
Small, elegant Danish Empire bench crafted from mahogany, featuring delicate string inlays in satinwood on the ends. The seat has been newly upholstered in light gray linen, accented...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany, Satinwood

Empire Style Mahogany Library Tub Fauteuil de Bureau or Desk Chair
Located in Nashville, TN
Of generous proportions and presence . The front mounted with well cast bronze mounts (of some size and weight ). The top with French interpretations of the Greek Caryatids (very att...
Category

Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Wood

Empire Walnut and Gold Leaf Hand-Made Sitting Armchair by Modenese
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Have a seat on this breathtaking upholstered empire armchair by Modenese Gastone Interiors featuring a wood frame gold leaf applied in deta...
Category

2010s Italian Empire Seating

Materials

Gold Leaf

Antique English Brass Fireplace Trivet Ottoman or Stool
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique late 19th-century brass English fireplace footman trivet. The footman is an elegant nod to days gone by and would be a great decorative accent p...
Category

Late 19th Century American Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Brass

French Empire Style Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A true masterpiece of early 19th-century design, this luxurious armchair boasts an ebonized wood frame adorned with intricate gold detailing. The sweeping, low arms gracefully terminate in hand-carved stylized swans, embodying the grandeur of classical French aesthetics. The finely carved frame is further embellished with palmette and lotus leaf motifs, lending an air of regal sophistication. The fully upholstered inside back and seat cushion, crafted in plush crushed...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Seating

Materials

Velvet, Wood

The Last King's Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare and important carved mahogany Empire Period armchair attributed to Jacob Desmalter, France circa 1800, of neoclassical form inspired by the design of Percier et Fontaine, architects to the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the armrests beautifully carved with leopards heads and torso, the front legs ending in carved paw feet. Attributed to Jacob Desmalter. France, circa 1800. Provenance: The front under railing stencilled “Raincy” period paper labels hand written: Mrs Duque Orlean, Grand Salon, Palais Royal. This chair was part of a large salon suite (this one is number belonging to King Louis Philippe - Duke of Orléans - the last king of France. An almost identical model was known to be part of the collection of Molly de Balkany who had an important collection of Empire furniture. Sister of Robert De Balkany...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Style Parcel-Gilt Mahogany Hall Bench
Located in Stamford, CT
Empire style parcel-gilt mahogany hall bench, early 20th century.
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Seating

Materials

Mahogany

Important French Empire Early 19th Century Armchair
By Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An impressive Napoléonic Empire mahogany armchair, attributed to Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841). With a pedimented top rail above a rectangular padded back and seat covered in red and g...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Period Mahogany Armchair with Swans' Heads
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Empire period mahogany fauteuil or armchair with saber legs and swans' heads on the arms. The chair is upholstered neoclassical-patterned cut mohair fabric.
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Mohair, Mahogany

Early 19th Century French Empire Chaise Lounge Daybed
Located in San Francisco, CA
Elegant Empire Period black lacquered walnut chaise or daybed with brass ormolu decoration. Has its original horsehair mattress. Sturdy and sound, b...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Wool, Upholstery, Walnut

Mid 19th century French empire mahogany and leather reclining chair
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality mid 19th century French mahogany and leather reclining chair circa 1860. We are pleased to be able to offer this stunning french flame mahogany reclining chair for sale...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Empire Banquette or Window Seat in Birch with Marquetry Inlays, circa 1800
Located in Miami, FL
A Swedish Empire banquette/sofa in birch with marquetry embellishments which include foliage and urns and line-inlaid figures of the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. Lower cabinets open to reveal drawers, while top cabinets offer shelving. Note: Needs upholstery...
Category

Early 1800s Swedish Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Birch

19th Century, Four Tuscany Curule Wood Stools
Located in IT
19th Century, Four Tuscany Curule Wood Stools These four elegant stools were crafted from fine wood in Tuscany, Italy, during the early decades of the 19th century. The distinctive...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Wood

French Empire Gueridon Side Table with Tripod Columns Brass and Marble Top
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful French Empire style gueridon table from 19th century. Beautiful black fossil marble over a mahogany body. A simple apron showcases the deep toned wood. Three columnar leg...
Category

20th Century French Empire Seating

Materials

Wood

Mint Condition Empire Sofa Sette Loveseat Couch Fine Carved Details Lions Feet
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Note: Full price include new upholstery service, buyer to provide fabric. Mint condition empire sofa sette loveseat couch fine carved details lions feet. The frame is stunning vint...
Category

20th Century American Empire Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Vintage DoMore Office Swivel Chair Upholstered in White Faux Shearling
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage DoMore office swivel chair upholstered in white faux shearling. The white faux shearling upholstery offers a appealing contrast to the Industrial...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Machine Age Seating

Materials

Enamel, Steel

Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Dolphins' Heads Fauteuils, Manner of Bellangé
By Pierre-Antoine Bellangé
Located in Berlin, DE
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Dolphins' Heads Fauteuils, Manner of Bellange A pair of Empire walnut fauteuils or armchairs 'aux Dauphine'' (with dolphins' heads) in the manner o...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Mid-19th Century Empire Venetian Sofa Attributed to Valentino Panciera Besarel
By Valentino Besarel
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Precious mid-19th century Venetian sofa attributable to Valentino Panciera Besarel in hand-carved walnut, restored and finished to wax. Coated with precious original Venetian brocade...
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Mid 19th century Swedish birch empire stool
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century birch empire stool circa 1850. Scandinavian empire period stool made in birch.  Shaped support handles which flow through to the 4 splayed legs.  Original floral ta...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Tapestry, Birch

Antique 19th Century French Empire Gold Bronze & Mahogany "Lit de Repos" Daybed.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 19th century French Empire Gold Bronze & Mahogany "Lit de Repos" Daybed.
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Bronze

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...
Category

Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Bronze

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...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Dutch Marquetry Empire Settee, circa 1825
Located in Miami, FL
Offers mahogany frame with inlays in satinwood of flowers and foliage along back crest, "S" scroll arms and slipper feet. Features upholstered seat, back and inside and outside arms....
Category

19th Century Dutch Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Cotton, Twill, Upholstery, Satinwood, Kingwood, Mahogany

French Consulate-Inspired Fireside Chair in H&S Tweeds – Tent by Darren Henault
Located in New York, NY
The Fireside Chair, inspired by the classic French consulate chair, is designed with both historical significance and modern versatility. Its low seat,...
Category

2010s American Empire Seating

Materials

Beech

Empire Style Ebonized Cross-Sword Bench with Gilt Highlights
Located in San Francisco, CA
the rectangular upholstered seat above an ebonized wooden frame raised on splayed swords with gilt handles; newer upholstery
Category

1960s American Empire Vintage Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood

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...
Category

19th Century Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Mahogany

19th c, Danish Revolving Desk Chair
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional 19th century Danish revolving desk armchair in mahogany with marquetry and brass casters, from the Empire period. Ca 1850, Denmark.
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Brass

Exceptional armchair, Empire around 1800/10 Walnut
Located in Münster, DE
Exceptional armchair, Empire around 1800/10, solid walnut, patina condition, carved armrests with dolphin-shaped finials, upholstery with old leather cover Height: 81 cm, width: 60 ...
Category

1810s German Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Nutwood, Leather

French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and finely detailed French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu armchair. The armchair is raised by four square and gently curved legs with Ormolu pawed feet on the...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Ormolu

British Machine Age / Art Deco Alpax Cork Alumimun Cork Stool
By Alpax
Located in Oakland, CA
Art Deco / Machine Age stool constructed of cork, aluminum and chromed metal manufactured by Alpax of England from the 1930s. The cork top is in excellent condition as is the chrome ...
Category

1930s English Machine Age Vintage Seating

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Empire Swedish Salon Group with Gilt Caryatids and Laurel wreath Decorations
Located in New York, NY
Empire style grouping from the early 20th Century beautifully made in mahogany in Stockholm, Includes sofa, table, two armchairs and two side chairs. Length of sofa 50...
Category

20th Century Swedish Empire Seating

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Empire Early 19th Century Solid Walnut Antique Bench
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Antique Italian empire bench early 19th century. The bench is made of solid walnut wood. Excellent antique good conditions of the wood. Characterized by a seat with folding panels.
Category

Early 1800s Italian Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Walnut

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...
Category

1840s Italian Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Wood

Empire Solid Mahogany Desk Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Empire mahogany desk chair or fauteuil de bureau.
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Mahogany

Chrome and Leather Armchair on Castors by McKay Furniture Company
Located in Dorchester, MA
Produced in the 1930s by the McKay Furniture Company of Pittsburgh, this armchair features a streamlined chrome frame with handsome ball bolt heads in back and a generous seat and ba...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Seating

Materials

Chrome

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...
Category

1810s Baltic Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century Empire Style Lion Armchair
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Empire style lion armchair Imperial stylish lion armchair in Empire style. Finely detailed carving work on solid ebonized beechwood....
Category

20th Century Empire Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Beech

French Empire Mahogany Bergere With Blade Leather Upholstery
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
French Empire Mahogany Bergere With Blade Leather Upholstery. Circa 1810. Gorgeous piece purchased in France. Beautiful proportions. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos. Messa...
Category

Early 18th Century French Empire Antique Seating

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Unique Chairs, Sofas and Other Seating for Sale on 1stDibs

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.

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