Empire Chairs
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.
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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Style: Empire
Antique Bergere Barley Twist Library Armchair with Brown Leather Seat
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Antique Bergere library armchair with barley twist form & brown leather upholstered seat, 1800s
One popular furniture technique is a type of wood turning that first appeared in England and France in the 1600s.
Furniture with spiral-turned legs or trim was known as "barley twist" or "barley sugar...
Category
19th Century British Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Leather, Cane, Beech
Set of 4 Antique Danish Klismos Chairs
Located in Nordhavn, DK
A set of four Danish Klismos chairs with wide-legged saber legs and the curved backrest. Made of polished beechwood, backrest in walnut veneer.
Original horsehair seating in good ant...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Beech, Walnut
Pair of Early 19th Century Italian Hall Chairs
Located in Chicago, IL
Step into the elegance and grandeur of the Napoleonic period with this exceptional pair of early 19th century Italian mahogany hall chairs. During the Napoleonic period, hall chairs ...
Category
1820s Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Set of Two Armchairs in Mahogany Empire Style, 1920
Located in Lejre, DK
A pair of Danish Empire style hand-polished mahogany armchairs with striped fabric from around the 1920s.
Measurements in cm: H:84 W:52 D:47 SH:50
This product will be inspected ...
Category
1920s Danish Vintage Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Empire Chairs from Around 1810-1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Empire chairs from around 1900
Solid wood mahogany. Seat upholstered and covered with black fabric. Very stable and robust built. Hind...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Style Armchair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An oak framed 19th century Empire style armchair or desk chair with leather upholstered seat. C. 1860.
Category
1860s French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Oak
French Empire Bergère Chairs
Located in New Orleans, LA
The beautiful design of this pair of French upholstered bergère chairs exemplifies the artistry and elegance of the Empire period. Exhibiting perfect proportions, the chairs are enha...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Armchairs with Fretwork Detailing to Their Back S
Located in London, GB
A pair of charming late 19th century upholstered painted Swedish open armchairs with a decorative fretwork border detail and turned stretchers to their backs.
Recently reupholstered in a light vintage French linen...
Category
1870s Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Pine, Paint
19th Century Mahogany Pair of Library Armchairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A very fine quality pair of 19th century mahogany
French Empire library armchairs having well figured
Top rails over enclosed swept arms with c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Lacquer Empire Dining Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary set of six dining room chairs hand-crafted out of solid wood fully covered with beautiful burled veneers and has been professionally restored by our team of craftsme...
Category
1960s American Vintage Empire Chairs
Materials
Brass
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 Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
French Pair 19th C. Empire Style Fauteuils, Newly Upholstered in Belgian Linen
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French pair of Empire style armchairs, with their original painted finish, from the 19th century. These antique fauteuils from France each fea...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Side Chairs, France, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
This set of two Empire Side Chairs dates back to around 1810. The elegant chairs stand out for their plain design and the beautifully designed front legs. The side chairs have a cher...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Empire Style Padded Chair
Located in Premariacco, IT
Single chair from the 1950s in wood with backrest and seat in the original fabric of the time.
Shows normal signs of wear, note how little it has been used. The seat is still prot...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
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 Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Fauteuil
Located in Sharon, CT
Impressive black armchair of typical French Empire form, beautifully upholstered. Subtly incised palmettes where the arm rails meet the seat. Original b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
17th Century Italian Black Lacquered Herringbone Cane Seat Chiavari Chair
Located in Stockholm, SE
Offered for your consideration is a solitary black lacquered Chiavari chair in beautiful vintage condition. Featuring turned legs and hand carved purple willow frame and backrest in a restrained 17th century Empire style and painted in a black lacquer with a herringbone woven cane seat.
Chiavari chairs originated in the city of Chiavari, Italy and are the creation of early 17th century Italian cabinet...
Category
17th Century Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Hardwood, Cane
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs with Versacesque Decoration
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Pair of maximalist empire revival style armchairs featuring Versace inspired motifs. The chairs have a classic gondola shaped frame with faux leather naugahyde upholstery. The faux l...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Chairs
Materials
Metal, Brass
French Empire Style Mahogany & Leather Saber Legs Dining Chair, A Set of 8
Located in Plainview, NY
A stunning French Empire Style set of 8 dinning chairs. The chairs are made of quality Mahogany wood. The frame is exquisitely hand carved and shows a...
Category
Late 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Impressive 12 Chairs First Empire Napoleon III Early 19th Cent Sold at Sotheby's
Located in Madrid, ES
Impressive 12 chairs first Empire Napoleon III early 19th century.
Sold at Sotheby's for €25,000
golden wood and silk
80cm x 48cm
provenance: Roman family.
perfect condition for...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set Four Klismos Chairs COM
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage blond Klismos chairs with newly upholstered seats. Send your fabric and we can upholster at no extra charge and quick turnaround.
Category
Late 20th Century Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
French Empire Office Chair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mahogany French Empire desk chair or arm chair with gilt bronze details and a dark green leather upholstered seat. Classical gilt wreath to...
Category
1910s French Vintage Empire Chairs
Materials
Brass
Italian Empire Swans Chairs in Cream and Gold Finish with Velvet Upholstery
Located in BILBAO, ES
Neoclassical Revival Italian 19th chairs.
A very nice and decorative Chair model with a pair of beautiful swans at back of the chair.
Nicely cut decor around the chair seat & reede...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Pair Empire Stye Chairs
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A Pair of Empire style fruitwood hand carved rounded back chairs with swan and dolphin motif with gilt accents. The rounded backs, with separat...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Materials
Fruitwood
Set of 6 Empire Barrel Chairs, 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique and original set of 6 early 19th century Empire barrel chairs stands out for its elegant design. The chairs feature a beautiful walnut...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Library Armchair
By Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Fine Quality Early 19th Century Mahogany French Empire Period Library Armchair, Of Bold Proportions, With Fine Ormolu Mounted Decoration Throughout, Having Upholstered Back Ov...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Set of Four Empire Barrel Chairs
Located in Belmont, MA
This set of 4 Empire Barrel chairs dates back to around 1810-20. They come from France. The chairs have a very pretty walnut veneer. They have a v...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Late 19th Century Set of Six Italian Neoclassical Klismos Empire Dining Chairs
Located in Berlin, DE
Very elegant late 19th century set of six Italian Neoclassical Klismos shaped Empire side or dining chairs:
standing on four tapering and partially fluted legs topped by paterae ca...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Empire Armchairs / Chairs, Maple Wood, Paris, 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Seat group made of maple wood with rosewood intarsia, France, presumably G. Alphonse Jacob, the last of the famous Eben family, probably second quarter of the 19th century. Semi-circ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Maple
17th Century Gilded Italian Chiavari Chairs
Located in Stockholm, SE
Offered for your consideration are a pair of antique Italian 17th century gilded Empire Chiavari chairs. Gilded willow hardwood with woven...
Category
Early 17th Century Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique Burlwood Caned Chairs, Pair
Located in Copake Falls, NY
A pair of empire style side chairs dating from the late 1800’s. Seat backs are decorated with perched crest rails and lyre back splats covered in rich burlwood veneers. Hand caned se...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Cane, Wood, Burl
CENTURY Empire Style Carved Dolphin Head Occasional Chair
Located in Charlotte, NC
An Empire style occassional chair by Century. Fruitwood with carved gold painted dolphin heads, ebony painted arms, carved acanthus leaves to knees and straight legs. Features a stri...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Chairs
Materials
Fruitwood, Fabric
Vintage Empire Style Chair Set, France, around 1880
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique Empire style chairs from the end of the 19th century with beautiful empire style brass ornaments.
Seats require reupholstery, you...
Category
1880s Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Brass
Set of Six Late 19 Century Empire Style Gondola Chairs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A very nice set of dining/occasional gondola chairs; two open armchairs and four side chairs. The chair frames are of mahogany and are richly decorated with gilded bronze mounts feat...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Bronze
Set of Three Painted Pine Children's Chairs
Located in Baltimore, MD
These delightful plank seat children’s chairs are in a rustic Empire style, with a scroll at the top of the back rail and turned legs at the front. In old worn buttermilk paint. Seat...
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Empire Chairs
Materials
Pine
Pair of Late Empire Armchairs in Birch, 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
A pair of Late Empire armchairs in birch and upholstered with red fabric from around the 1840s. The chairs are in great antique condition.
Category
1840s Danish Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Birch
Chair Kohn Nr.321, since 1906, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state. Perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. New upholstery surface on the original core.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Empire Chairs
Materials
Brass
Empire Style Parcel Gilt and Ebonized Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
Unique piece Empire style parcel gilt and Ebonized armchair.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Giltwood, Ebony
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Fauteuils Bergères Aux Dauphins, circa 1830
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 1830s pair of Empire mahogany French bergères Aux Dauphins Empire armchairs in the manner of Pierre Bellange (1760-1844). The mahogany frame with sabre front legs continuing as arm...
Category
1830s French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Set of 8 Black and Gold Dining Chairs, Empire Style, Belgium
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of 8 black and gold dining chairs, Empire style, Belgium.
Category
Early 2000s Belgian Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
21st Century Empire-Style White Lacquered Chair by Modenese Gastone Interiors
Located in PADOVA, Italy
All the exclusivity of Italian handcraftsmanship is wrapped up in this chair with armrests by the producer Modenese Gastone Interiors. The fr...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
21st Century Empire-Style White Lacquered Chair by Modenese Gastone
Located in PADOVA, Italy
All the preciousness of Italian craftsmanship is wrapped up in this empire-style chair from Modenese Gastone Interiors. The frame is in solid wood, while the seat and the back are pa...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
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 Chairs
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Ormolu Desk Chair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very unique and handsome French 19th century Empire st mahogany and ormolu desk chair. This chair is raised by circular legs ending with ormolu paw feet and ormolu top mounts and c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Ormolu
Empire Walnut and Gold Leaf Hand-Made Sitting Chair by Modenese Gastone Interior
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Have a seat on this wonderfully upholstered empire side chair by Modenese Gastone Interiors featuring a wood frame gold leaf applied in details, upholstered with a premium floreal sa...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Empire Walnut and Gold Leaf Hand-Carved Chair with Armrests by Modenese
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Come have a seat at this wonderfully upholstered chair with armrests by Modenese Gastone Interiors featuring a wood frame gold leaf applied in details, upholstered with a premium flo...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Four Italian Dining Chairs Empire Style Red Gold Upholstery 20th Century
Located in Milan, IT
A set of four solid walnut chairs in the fabulous Empire style with ormolu decorations, made in Italy in the 20th century, in good condition.
The walnut frame is beautiful in color ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Materials
Ormolu
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 Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Empire Walnut and Gold Leaf Hand-Carved Sitting Chair by Modenese
Located in PADOVA, Italy
Come have a seat at this wonderfully upholstered chair by Modenese Gastone Interiors featuring a wood frame gold leaf applied in details, upholstered with a premium floreal satin fab...
Category
2010s Italian Empire Chairs
Materials
Gold Leaf
Set of Ten French Empire Mahogany Caned Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Glorious set of ten mahogany dining chairs made in the neoclassical French empire taste. The chairs feature decorative bronze mounts ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Bronze
Set of Eight 19th-Century Empire Ash Chairs in Salmon Pink Upholstery
Located in Opole, PL
Set of Eight 19th-Century Empire Ash Chairs in Salmon Pink Upholstery
We present you a set of eight chairs with softly upholstered spring seats.
This furniture is from the late 19t...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Ash
French, Empire Provencal Armchair
Located in Montreal, Quebec
A rare, beautiful, early-19th century Napoleon I, First Empire provencal armchair, a period piece, newly upholstered in the traditional laurel-leaf ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
Swedish Ivory-Glazed Birch, Patinated Leather and Brass 19th Century Armchair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The scrolled top rail, above a concave backrest, issuing scrolled armrests above a patinated leather seat, raised on turned front legs and saber back legs, terminating in patinated b...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Brass
Set Of 8 Swedish Empire Flaming Tiger Elm Wood Dining Room Chairs
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of 8 Swedish empire flaming tiger elm wood dining room chairs
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Elm
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 Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Empire Style Window Seats
Located in Lymington, GB
A pair of Empire-style window seats of superb quality, and in excellent condition.
Supported on stained-oak tapering square legs with gilt-brass mounts and hairy paw feet.
Upholstere...
Category
20th Century Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
Eight Dining Empire Style Chairs Upholstered French Elm and Burr Elm, circa 1920
Located in Labrit, Landes
Set of eight French dining chairs circa 1920
Empire style, solid elm and elm burr
They can be recovered to suit your interior.
In very good condition, solid and sound.
Shippin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Elm
Rider Gold Velvet and Brass Dining Chair
Located in New York, NY
Parisian Flair. Our modern homage to an Empire style dining chair. Our rider dining chair is petite and glamorous, but ultra-comfy. Great as a dining chair, flanking a console, or fa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Chairs
Materials
Nickel
Empire chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire chairs 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 chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, asian art and furniture, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire chairs 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 chairs, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Jonathan Adler, Century Furniture, and Dedar. 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 chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $325 and tops out at $65,192 while the average work can sell for $4,249.
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