Empire Chaise Longues
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.
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Chaise Longues
Brass
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Pine, Paint
20th Century Empire Chaise Longues
Wood, Beech, Maple
1980s American Vintage Empire Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century French Empire Chaise Longues
Beech
20th Century German Empire Chaise Longues
Birdseye Maple
20th Century French Empire Chaise Longues
Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Hardwood
Late 20th Century American Empire Chaise Longues
Steel, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary European Empire Chaise Longues
Rattan
1970s French Vintage Empire Chaise Longues
Metal
Mid-20th Century British Empire Chaise Longues
Velvet, Beech
1880s French Antique Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Beech
20th Century Empire Chaise Longues
Wood
20th Century American Empire Chaise Longues
Metal
1960s American Vintage Empire Chaise Longues
Upholstery, Lucite
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Chaise Longues
Cotton, Upholstery, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Hardwood
Early 20th Century American Empire Chaise Longues
Leather, Oak
1970s European Vintage Empire Chaise Longues
Brass
20th Century Empire Chaise Longues
Wood, Beech, Maple
Late 20th Century Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century American Empire Chaise Longues
Fabric, Wood
1920s French Vintage Empire Chaise Longues
Bronze