Empire Armchairs
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.
Style: Empire
Color: Brown
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of French Empire mahogany armchairs.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair of 20th Century French Armchairs Neo Gotic Style
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of polished wrought iron armchairs dating from the 70s. French work. Neo-Gothic style. Beautiful work done by hand. Measures: 54 x 86 x 48 cm 3250 EURO.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Pair of Mahogany Empire Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of Empire armchairs.
Solid mahogany with fine carved details throughout.
Category
1810s Russian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Blond Mahogany Swivel Leather Chair with Bronze Trim
Located in New York, NY
French Empire blond mahogany swivel armchair upholstered in gilt embossed red leather with brass nail head trim and having bronze embellishments and medallions throughout with hoof s...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Armchairs
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique French Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze armchairs.
French, 19th century
Dimensions: Height 108cm, width 70cm, depth 60cm
This pair of French Empire style fa...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Empire Style a Russian Armchair
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid mahogany. Straight frame on saber-shaped legs with laid sheet. Strongly curved supports for slightly rising armrests. High-profile, contoured backrest frame with a wide finish....
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Stately Antique French Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pair of high quality gorgeous vintage French Empire style club chairs from Bloomingdale's with handsome carved dolphin armrests. Probably walnut, faux painted a greige color.
#4271
...
Category
1940s American Vintage Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
French Empire Silk Bergère Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire mahogany bergère (armchairs) upholstered in red silk with scrolled back above winged caryatid arm uprights & a loose seat cushion, (early 19th century).
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Empire mahogany armchair makes an ideal style statement for the tailored, more formal decor. Handcrafted from exot...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Russian neoclassical parcel-gilt mahogany armchairs
Each armchair made during the Empire period in Russia. The mahogany veneered frame with gilded details. With unusual tu...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Giltwood
19th Century France Furnished Armchair Group
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid maple. Curved frame on curly legs. Strong curved supports in rolled volutes ending for slightly rising armrests. High-profile, contoured backrest frame with a wide finish. Seat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Maple
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchair
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire mahogany armchair with carved lion heads to the arms and lion's paw feet to the legs, upholstered in French Emp...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome French mid-19th century Empire style mahogany and ormolu mounted pair of armchairs. The pair are raised by front square tapered legs that have pawed ormolu feet and e...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
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 backrest framing flanked by classicist carved lion heads and elaborately inlaid brass inlays in the form of acanthus leaves below. Straight frame on baluster and saber legs, some of which are also inlaid with brass. Scattered rich and intricately inlaid brass inlays.
The seat and backrest are classically upholstered and covered with a fine velvet upholstery fabric.
Untouched original condition.
Such a piece of furniture is indeed part of the courtly inventory, see
comparable model, literature reference: German classicism...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Fauteuils, 19th Century, circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of French Empire Mahogany fauteuils, 19th century, circa 1810. 3 pairs available.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
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 Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire / Biedermeier Solid Plum Wood Swan Armchairs
Located in Darmstadt, DE
A pair of Empire / Biedermeier plum wood from circa 1815, newly upholstered with new fabric in classicist style. The armrests, backrest and seat are upholste...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Swedish Empire Armchairs in Black w/Gold Accents from the Mid-19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Empire armchairs from the mid-19th century by furniture maker F. Pettersson. These antique chairs from Sweden have an elegan...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Elegant Danish Empire Armchair, circa 1810
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant and decorative Empire armchair. Made in mahogany, with light wood inlaid (lemon tree). Oval backboard in ebonised wood. Front of arms in the form of wooden cut grippers with ...
Category
1810s Danish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany, Velvet, Wood, Fruitwood
Pair of French Empire Style Carved Fruitwood Open Armchairs
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This pair of 19th century fruitwood armchairs feature carved acanthus leaves and reeded arms.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Fruitwood
French Empire Green Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19th century) mahogany armchairs with bronze trim and eagle heads with green seat.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany and Pink Upholstered Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire style (20th century) mahogany armchairs with gilt feet and classic carved heads detail on arms and pink striped upholstery
Category
20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
Jacob French 18th Century Mahogany and Green Silk Upholster High Back Armchairs
Located in Firenze, IT
This magnificent pair of French late 18th Century- early 19th Century armchairs could be attributable to Jacob-Desmalter, an outstanding chairmaker and cabinetmaker who worked in the Louis XVI style and Directoire styles of the earlier phase of Neoclassicism.
These sturdy armchairs are made of solid mahogany and green silk upholster, they feature an extremely comfortable high and slightly arched back and quite large and extremely firm seats. The hand-made carvings and inlays are masterfully executed. The over graceful scrolled arms and the top rail sculpted in shallow relief with acanthus leaves, lotus leaves and rosette, all typical neoclassical patterns beloved during the Directory- Restauration and Empire period and always very chic.
The bowed seat and its apron are raised by carved console legs in front and saber legs back.
These armchairs with their beautiful curvy shape are very stylish, comfortable and sturdy.
The back is covered with silk also behind that's make them a perfect free standing piece of furniture or a centre seating...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Silk, Wood, Mahogany
Pair of Gianni Versace Armchairs from the Vanitas 1994 Collection
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare pair of elegant and unique mahogany and gilt armchairs designed by Gianni Versace, part of the 1994 Vanitas Furniture collection. The front legs have columnar shaping and tape...
Category
1990s Italian Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Gold Bergère Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19th century) mahogany swan design Bergère armchairs with bronze trim, griffin legs, and gold upholstery.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Important Empire Early 19th Century Fauteuil by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Despite his long life, very little is known about the general production of menuisier (chairmaker) Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864) and even less about his use of bent laminates, which must be viewed as the most advanced of its kind until the appearance of Michael Thonet’s work of the 1830s.
The profound reverence for the classical world in enlightened circles in early 19th century Europe and the United States often resulted in the archaeological resurrection of the art, architecture, and design of ancient Greece and Rome. No chair employing the innovative technique of bending wood more boldly expresses this allegiance to the past than this armchair painted in le style antique and based on the ancient Roman sella...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Brown Wood Fauteuils or Armchairs Red, Pair
Located in London, GB
A pair of 19th century Empire mahogany fauteuils, with unusual back splats carved with a roundel of laurel leaves to the centre, layered on top of a Greek lyre form, the seats uphols...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Early 19th Century Mahogany Bergères Armchairs
Located in London, by appointment only
A pair of Austrian Empire period large scale mahogany bergères, the square chamfered backs are enriched with bold pierced flutes and the arms terminate in column supports with brass ...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Mahogany Child Armchair, France
Located in Munich, DE
This charming children’s armchair is made out of mahogany with fine carving. It is newly upholstered with a discretely patterned fine, lustrous fabric in green with golden spots.
Paris, circa 1810...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A good pair of period 19th century fauteuil with new velvet upholstery, circa 1810-1820, mahogany with carved accents to the arms. They display all the classical elements of the last...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Pair of Empire Dolphins' Heads Fauteuils, Manner of 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 Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
French Empire Mahogany Arm Chair
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style (19th Cent) mahogany round back dolphin arm chair with bronze trim and gold upholstery
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th Century Franch Empire armchair , in Carved Solid Mahogany
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Late 19th century Franch Empire chair with armrests in carved solid mahogany , wax polished
Measure cm: H 92/42 x W 56 x D 50.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Wing-Back Armchairs
Located in Troy, NY
Exceptional Pair of late Empire Period Chairs, of Comfortable Size and Flowing Movement of Form. The accentuated wings beautifully complementing th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Pair of Consulat Ebony-Inlaid Birchwood Armchairs Stamped Jacob Frères
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The curved pierced back with a palmette-inlaid shaped splat terminating in dolphin supports raised on an upholstered seat, on front carved joined hairy animal legs (pieds de bîches) and hoof feet and back sabre legs; stamped: JACOB FRERES RUE MESLEE under the front rail. For a similar dolphin support, see Madeleine Jarry and Pierre Devinois, Le Siège Français, pp. 267 and 271 illustration 264 for an armchair at the Musée Marmottan stamped G. Jacob and executed in 1792.
Provenance: Millicent Rogers
her son, Arturo Peralta Ramos II
Jacob Frères was the stamp used by brothers Georges II (1768-1803) and Francois-Honore Jacob (1770-1841) from 1796 to 1803. They were sons of Georges Jacob (1739-1814), arguably the best-known chair maker who worked for aristocracy and royalty during the reign of Louis XVI.
The Jacob Frères firm's most famous client was Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. She would have most likely seen the work of their father during the revolution in a progressive aristocrat's house. She used them to decorate various Imperial residences, such as the Tuileries palace, and remained a loyal customer, using them almost exclusively, until her death. When Georges II (the elder brother) died in 1803, Georges came out of retirement to help the remaining son, Francois-Honoré (who changed his named to Jacob Desmalter) from a new partnership called Jacob Desmalter Et Cie. (stamped Jacob D. R. Meslée, on two lines), which continued to be an influential supplier for the Imperial period and is credited with helping to define the Empire style as it is known today.
Millicent Rogers, born Mary Millicent Abigail Rogers, was a Standard Oil heiress, but she wasn’t a poor little rich girl...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Pair of Late 19th Century Carved and Painted Wood Classical Style Open Armchairs
Located in Hudson, NY
This pair of chairs Swedish or Scandinavian in manufacture were made circa 1880-1900. Of large-scale and finely carved they are in the Empire or Regency taste. Decorative elements in...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Mahogany Armchairs in the Manner of Jacob Desmalter
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of Empire mahogany fauteuils or armchair 'a la Reine' in the manner of Jacob-Desmalter/ François-Honoré-Georges Jacob Desmalter (1770-1841, son of Jacob Desmalter), newly upho...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
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 Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mohair, Mahogany
Armchairs Pair of Swedish Mahogany Brown Gilded Details Green and White Seat
Located in New York, NY
A pair of armchairs made in Sweden during the Karl Johan period 1810-1840. Frame made in mahogany with gilded details. Upholstered in a durable outdoor Rogers and Goffigon stripe.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
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 Armchairs
Materials
Linen, Wood
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 Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
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 Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Antique Empire / Biedermeier Armchair, circa 1810, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany solid wood, partially veneered. Semicircular backrests, Bergeren-form.
Restored and reupholstered with original Wollrips fabric covered.
(C-147).
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Leather Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19th Cent) mahogany and bronze trimmed Armchairs with black leather seat and back.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Swedish Empire Armchairs
Located in Miami, FL
In mahogany and on carved feet with brass castors, the scroll arms with carved anthemion leaves at the top. In very good condition.
Category
1860s Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Neoclassical Empire Early 19th Century Mahogany Desk Armchair
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual North European mahogany desk armchair with original brass castors. Fully carved armrests with eagle heads, the design probably by a designer from Berlin or Copenhagen (e.g...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Brass
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 Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Three-Piece Seating Group
Located in New York, NY
Three-piece group of empire seating
includes canape and two bergeres
canape - H 36 in; bergere - H 35-1/4.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Period Empire Giltwood Armchair
Located in New Orleans, LA
Empire Carved and Gilded Armchair
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Giltwood
French Empire Monumental Walnut and Velvet Throne Chair
Located in New York, NY
French Empire style (19th Cent) monumental walnut throne chair with carved figure with wreath and red cut velvet upholstery
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Walnut, Velvet
French Empire Style Chair by Frederick Victoria
Located in Stamford, CT
A French Empire style chair made by Frederick Victoria with ostrich leather seat.
Category
20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Set of 4 Danish Empire Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 4 lovely Danish chairs with light birch inlays in back and front frieze. Newly upholstered.
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Armchairs
Pair of Empire Period Mahogany Fauteuils, France ca. 1810-20
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Empire Period French carved mahogany fauteuils from the early 19th century.
Each with a rectangular padded back with downcurved reeded arms, the bow front upholstered seat...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair of Empire design Fauteuils in Mahogany, France, circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined pair of Empire design Fauteuils, each constructed in richly-figured mahogany. The pair French in origin, and dating from the fourth quarter of the 1800s.
Each chair with upholstered seat and back surrounded by exposed frames. The seats flanked by carved down-swept arms, and resting atop four splayed tapering legs.
Reference: "The Antiques Directory...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery
French Empire Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Impressive walnut and gilt Empire style armchair with finely carved golden wings to the arms and further carved gilt detail to the legs and seat rails. An antique caviar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Rare Set of Jacob Frères Empire Chairs and Armchairs
Located in Paris, FR
Rare set of 6 chairs and 6 armchairs, painted and partial gilt.
The underside of each backseat is stamped JACOB FRÈRES RUE MESLEE.
This stamp was used between 1796 and 1803.
Empir...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs in Gilt and White Wood, 1950s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Empire style armchairs in white carved wood with gold highlights.
Standing on two front tapered legs and two back saber legs. Straight apron and uprights, rectangular backse...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Empire armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire armchairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage armchairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire armchairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include Century Furniture, Jacob Freres Rue Meslée, Modenese Gastone, and Jean Joseph Chapuis. 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 armchairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $495 and tops out at $151,397 while the average work can sell for $5,637.
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