Empire 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.
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 British Antique Empire Chairs
Leather, Cane, Beech
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Chairs
Beech, Walnut
1820s Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
1920s Danish Vintage Empire Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century German Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
1860s French Antique Empire Chairs
Oak
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
1870s Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Pine, Paint
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
1960s American Vintage Empire Chairs
Brass
19th Century Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Cherry
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1810s Baltic Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Wood
17th Century Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Hardwood, Cane
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Chairs
Metal, Brass
Late 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Wood
Late 20th Century Empire Chairs
Wood
1910s French Vintage Empire Chairs
Brass
1880s Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Fruitwood
1810s French Antique Empire Chairs
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
1810s French Antique Empire Chairs
Walnut
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Wood
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Maple
Early 17th Century Antique Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Chairs
Cane, Wood, Burl
Late 20th Century American Empire Chairs
Fruitwood, Fabric
1880s Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Bronze
Early 20th Century Hungarian Empire Chairs
Pine
1840s Danish Antique Empire Chairs
Fabric, Birch
Early 20th Century Austrian Empire Chairs
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Giltwood, Ebony
1830s French Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
Early 2000s Belgian Empire Chairs
Wood
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Late 18th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Wood
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Ormolu
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Ormolu
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Gold Leaf
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Bronze
19th Century European Antique Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Ash
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Wood
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Elm
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Chairs
Mahogany
20th Century Empire Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Elm
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Chairs
Nickel