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. 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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Style: Empire
Pair of Empire Chairs French 20th Century Green Leather
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Empire Revival Side Chairs
Early 20th century
The green leather seat can easily be changed to suit your interior
Good vintage condition with nice patina
Frames are sound and...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
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
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
Pair of French Armchairs Fauteuil White Carved Back Early 1900s Antique Empire
Located in LONDON, GB
Unusual early 1900s French antique pair of armchairs in original white paint with carved backs and beautiful curved arms and legs. They hark back to Napoleon's favorite Empire style ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
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
Early 19th Century Italian Empire Carved Walnut Wood Four Antique Chairs
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Series of four refined early 19th century authentic Italian Empire walnut wood four chairs. Refined decoration the back is carved in the shape of a lyre. The legs are very elegant straight. The seat is wide and comfortable rustic in handwoven straw in excellent condition. Antique goods...
Category
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Walnut
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 Chairs
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Antique French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Chairs
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique French Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze chairs
French, 19th century
Dimensions: Height 93cm, width 51cm depth 48cm
This pai...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Ormolu
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
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 Chairs
Materials
Bronze
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 Chairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of French Empire mahogany armchairs.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Cockpit Chair in Wood Upholstered Velvet Dedar France
By Dedar
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects.
Elegant and refined mahogany cockpit chair...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Velvet, Wood
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 Chairs
Materials
Giltwood
Italian 19th Century Marquetry and Bronze Empire Side Chair
Located in Brescia, IT
Back decorated in various inlaid woods showing vines, flowers etc.,
The tops of the back chair rails are mounted with eagle heads, and are joined together with a turned gilded deco...
Category
1840s Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood
Empire Chair French Desk Chair 20th Century to be Re-Uphostered
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Empire Revival side chair desk chair
Early 20th century
The fabric seat can easily be changed to suit your interior
Good vintage condition with beautiful patina
Frame is s...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Wood, Fabric
Dining Chairs Swedish Set of 6 Empire Mahogany Gilded Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Dining chairs Swedish set of 6 Empire mahogany gilded Sweden. A set of six dining chairs made during the Empire / Karl Johan period in Sweden 1810-1830. Veneered in a beautiful dark ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
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
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
Matched Pair of French Empire Armchairs, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality near pair of French Mahogany Empire influenced armchairs. Each being upholstered in a classical damask patterned burgundy fabric, polished back rail, Dolphins carved t...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
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
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 Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Set of Three Antique Empire Side Chairs, 19th Century, Biedermeier
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of three antique Empire side chairs, 19th century, Biedermeier.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Chairs
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 Chairs
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Tub Armchair
Located in Belmont, MA
Unique Empire tub armchair, circa 1820, mahogany with finely carved details. Newly upholstered with beautiful crème colored fabric.
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Armchairs Pair of Swedish Empire 19th Century Mahogany Gilded, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
A pair of armchairs made during the Empire / Karl Johan period in Sweden 1810-1830. Veneered in a beautiful dark brown mahogany and decorated with two gilded dolphins. Sabre back leg...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
19th Century Vintage Empire Mahogany Salon, Set of 5
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four fauteuils and one large sofa. Mahogany wood. Beautifully restored. Very comfortable and elegant. French work of the beginning of the 19th century, Empire period. Sold as ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
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 Chairs
Antique American Flame Mahogany and Cane Empire Period Recamier or Chaise Longue
Located in Charleston, SC
Rare and important antique American flame mahogany and cane Empire period recamier or chaise longue, acquired from and made for the Charleston ...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Mahogany, Cane
1870 French Empire Marquetry Inlaid Suite Berger Armchairs & Settee Canape, Pair
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning French marquetry inlaid circa 1870 Empire style three piece suite with neoclassical detailing
A very rare and good looking set, th...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Silk, Hardwood
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Armchairs Attributed to Jean-Pierre Louis
By Jean Pierre Louis
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic pair of French Empire period open armchairs in well figured and carved mahogany; each with a square back topped by a bow shaped carved frieze featuring folliate rosettes and downscrolled arms. Where the arms join the chair rail there are carved anthemians and palmettes. These two chairs are presented in the original now faded and worn gros point green upholstery and have their original casters.
These two armchairs are actually part of a set of six. The set was split up in three sets of two's to make them more saleable. Four of the six have been re-upholstered in sympathetic empire fabric...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
Suite of 8 Empire Style Chairs in Solid Cherrywood
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Suite of 8 empire style chairs in solid cherrywood,
velvet to change
small old restorations.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Cherry
Pair of ormolu mounted and lacquered metal curule chairs in the Empire style
Located in London, GB
These beautiful, simple, and sophisticated, curule chairs were executed in the Empire style, combining the majesty of Roman rule with Napoleonic imperial France. Long a symbol of rule and power, curule chairs originally appeared in the Roman Republic, called sella curulis, seats reserved exclusively for those who held imperium, i.e. those who held positions of military or governmental command. Inherited by many subsequent civilisations, and a favourite of European kings wishing to frame their own authority within this Roman tradition, they feature heavily in Empire period France, holding a particular associated with Napoleon. These particular pieces are made of lacquered metal and are mounted with ormolu...
Category
20th Century French Empire Chairs
Materials
Metal, Ormolu
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 Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
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 Chairs
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 Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
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 Chairs
Period Empire Giltwood Armchair
Located in New Orleans, LA
Empire Carved and Gilded Armchair
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of Russian Empire Side Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Russian Empire Side Chairs - Original untouched finish newly reupholstered seat in Jim Thompson fabric.
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Coastal Ebony Pencil Reed Pod Chairs - a Pair
Located in west palm beach, FL
Fantastic pair of Coastal ebony pencil reed pod chairs. Beautiful organic shape in a deep rich brown- almost black. Flashes of the natural still ...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Empire Chairs
Materials
Reed, Ebony
19th Italian Empire Walnut 8 Chairs 1800
Located in Roma, RM
Group of Eight Italian walnut chairs, inlaid with fruit wood, Campania region , likely from the city of Naples.
Circular shape with an arched back that makes back support comfortable...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut
Antique chairs, Northern Europe, around 1870. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A set of chairs from the 19th centuries.
Furniture in very good condition, professionally renovated. The seats have been covered with new fabric.
Dimensions: height 87 cm / seat h...
Category
1870s Swedish Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Italian Empire Style Bergere or Tub Chair
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire Style bergère or tub chair, gray-painted with barrel-back molded crest rail above upholstered back, arms, and seat with drop in cushion upholstered in a white linen weave...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Giltwood
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 Six 19th Century Birdseye Maple Caned Side Chairs in the Empire Taste
Located in Milford, NH
A fine set of six birdseye maple side chairs with caned seats in the Empire taste, with nicely shaped crests and splats dating to the 19th century. Very good overall condition, two c...
Category
19th Century English Antique Empire Chairs
Materials
Cane, Birdseye Maple
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 st...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Chairs
Materials
Fruitwood, Fabric
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, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy 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, Century Furniture, Dedar, and Europa Antiques. 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 $73,317 while the average work can sell for $3,878.
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