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. 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.
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Belgian Empire Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Fruitwood
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Wood, Damask
Mid-20th Century Empire Chairs
Metal
2010s American Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1810s Baltic Antique Empire Chairs
Fabric, Birch
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Maple
1960s American Vintage Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Empire Chairs
Metal
19th Century French Antique Empire Chairs
Bronze
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Chairs
Faux Leather, Teak
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Chairs
Fabric, Beech, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Spanish Empire Chairs
Rattan
1950s Italian Vintage Empire Chairs
Straw, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Chairs
Straw, Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Empire Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
1950s American Vintage Empire Chairs
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Empire Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century European Empire Chairs
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Empire Chairs
Malachite
1950s Vintage Empire Chairs
Leather, Fruitwood
1950s English Vintage Empire Chairs
Malachite, Brass, Steel
1950s French Vintage Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Oak
Mid-20th Century English Empire Chairs
Wood
1950s European Vintage Empire Chairs
Fabric, Linen, Mahogany, Wood