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.
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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Empire
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
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
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
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 Antique 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
French Empire Black Leather Swivel Chair
Located in New York, NY
19th Century French Empire style ormolu mounted mahogany open swivel base arm chair with black leather seat and back.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
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
Armchairs Set of 4 French White Green Empire Chairs France
Located in New York, NY
Armchairs set of 4 French white green Empire chairs France . A set of 4 armchairs made during the Empire period. Painted in a distressed white with dark g...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
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
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
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
Antique French Empire Bergere
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A lovely period French Directoire bergere, restored and upholstered in silk velvet. Lovely armchair with beautiful turned legs and columnar supports at the arms.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
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
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
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
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
Set of Four 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of four French Empire fauteuils-armchairs in carved and veneered mahogany with beautiful carving and scale.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
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
Pair Eagle Armchairs in Yellow Taffeta
Located in New York, NY
Pair eagle armchairs in yellow taffeta. Italian Empire painted and parcel-gilt carved armchairs with finely carved eagle arm terminals and yellow Italia...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Giltwood
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
Set of Four French Empire Fauteuil Armchairs in the Manner of Jacob Frères
Located in New York, NY
These four early 19th-century Empire fauteuil armchairs, in the manner of the Jacob Frères cabinetmaking firm of the late 18th century, each feature a distinctive pediment-shaped cre...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Armchairs
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
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
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
Pair of Chic French Empire Style Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of large French Empire style mahogany armchairs reupholstered in Ralph Lauren silk/linen fabric.
Category
20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Linen, Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Striped Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Empire ivory painted open Armchairs with gilt trim and green stripe upholstered seat and back
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
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
Circa 1800-1815 Pair of Fauteuils or Open Arm Chairs, French
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1800-1815 pair of fauteuils or open arm chairs, French. Mahogany. Directoire to Empire period & style. Brass mounts. Turned, tapered legs with ring turned carving. Old repair t...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Empire Period Fauteuil (or Open Arm Chair), French
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early 19th century Empire period fauteuil (or open arm chair), French. Curved open back with graceful curved cross bar. The straight, tapered front legs surmounted by carved Egyptian...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
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
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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