Empire Dining Room 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.
Late 20th Century British Empire Dining Room Chairs
Damask, Silk, Velvet
Late 20th Century Empire Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Late 20th Century French Empire Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Empire Dining Room Chairs
Ultrasuede, Wicker, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Empire Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
1980s Vintage Empire Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Sapele Wood, Upholstery
19th Century French Antique Empire Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
Early 2000s American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
Late 20th Century American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Velvet, Mahogany
2010s Italian Empire Dining Room Chairs
Walnut
1970s Unknown Vintage Empire Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Cane
Early 20th Century American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century American Antique Empire Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Empire Dining Room Chairs
Ebony
Late 20th Century American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Bronze
1980s Vintage Empire Dining Room Chairs
Cotton, Wood
Late 20th Century Asian Empire Dining Room Chairs
Wood
1980s Italian Vintage Empire Dining Room Chairs
Lacquer, Upholstery, Velvet, Foam, Wood, Mahogany, Giltwood
Late 20th Century Empire Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Hardwood
Late 20th Century American Empire Dining Room Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1970s Italian Vintage Empire Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Velvet