Empire Armchairs
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.
19th Century European Antique Empire Armchairs
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Armchairs
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
1930s French Vintage Empire Armchairs
Leather, Beech
1930s French Vintage Empire Armchairs
Wood, Leather
2010s American Empire Armchairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Empire Armchairs
Leather, Walnut
20th Century American Empire Armchairs
Steel
1940s French Vintage Empire Armchairs
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Dutch Empire Armchairs
Leather, Wood
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Wood
1860s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Birch
1990s Italian Empire Armchairs
Aluminum, Chrome
1950s European Vintage Empire Armchairs
Metal
1810s English Antique Empire Armchairs
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century European Antique Empire Armchairs
Wood, Paint
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Giltwood
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Wood
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
1940s Vintage Empire Armchairs
Brass
Early 20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Wrought Iron, Brass
1990s European Empire Armchairs
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Giltwood, Upholstery
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Wood