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Empire Office Chairs and Desk 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
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Armchair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
The mahogany frame of this Empire chair has gained a fine patina and is embellished with fantastic ormolu throughout the design. A combination of rosette and palm motifs soften the s...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal, Brass

French 19th Century Upholstered Vanity Chair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
We love this charming vanity chair from France, hand built during the 1800s. The carved mahogany frame has gained a fine patia over the decades and continues to be sturdy and level. ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Textile, Wood, Mahogany

Empire Mahogany Desk Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The desk chair with carved diamond motif on crest and richly carved griffin wings above articulated paw feet with tan colored leather upholstery. Height: 30" Seat height: 17" Depth: ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

19th Century French Empire Mahogany and Leather Desk Armchair with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a man's office or study with this elegant antique armchair. Hand carved in France circa 1890 and built of mahogany, the armchair stands on tapered legs decorated with gilt b...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Bronze

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 Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood, Fabric

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 Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

French Empire Black Leather Swivel Chair
Located in New York, NY
19th Century French Empire style ormolu mounted mahogany open swivel base arm chair with black leather seat and back.
Category

19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Ormolu

Empire Style Mahogany Library Tub Fauteuil de Bureau or Desk Chair
Located in Nashville, TN
Of generous proportions and presence . The front mounted with well cast bronze mounts (of some size and weight ). The top with French interpretations of the Greek Caryatids (very att...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood

The Last King's Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare and important carved mahogany Empire Period armchair attributed to Jacob Desmalter, France circa 1800, of neoclassical form inspired by the design of Percier et Fontaine, archit...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Style Armchair on Casters.
Located in Buchanan, NY
A classic Empire style desk or tub chair with brass mounted decorations. For lovers of classic elegance and sophistication, this vintage American tub chair is sure to elevate any spa...
Category

1950s American Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Beech

Empire Mahogany Fauteuil de Bureau, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The early 19th century desk chair with ram's head arms and turned legs, is attributable to Jacob Desmalter and dates to circa 1805.
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Solid Mahogany Desk Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Empire mahogany desk chair or fauteuil de bureau.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Russian Empire Period Desk Chair
Located in Pembroke, MA
Lovely burled birch wood ("loupe de bouleau de Carélie") desk chair from the Russian Empire, and recently reupholstered in French damask fabric...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Burl, Birch, Fabric, Damask, Upholstery

Antique Empire Tub Arm Desk Chair 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French mahogany Empire "fauteuil du bureau", desk chair, Circa 1850 in date. It has a curved back and an upholstered leather seat. The mahogany is bea...
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Related Items
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Early 20th Century German Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Jean Prouvé Pair of "Standard Chairs" / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
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Pair of "Standard chairs" by Jean Prouvé is raw yet elegant and classic modernist furniture. Because of their simplistic design the chairs have become one of the most popular objects...
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Pair of Solid Lucite Vanity Chair, 1940s
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Pair of solid lucite chairs We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'View All From Seller'. And you can see more objects to the style for sale. Why are there so many antiques in Argentina? In the 1880 – 1940 there was a grate wave of immigration encouraged by the periods of war that were taking place. 1st World War took place between 1914 and 1918 2nd World War took place between 1939 and 1945 The immigrants options were New York or Bueno Aires. Tickets were cheap and in Buenos Aires they were welcomed with open arms, as it was a country where everything was still to be done. Argentina was the country of new opportunities, labour was needed and religious freedom was assured, in many cases the of the family travel first until they were settled and then the rest of the family members join them. In the immigrant museum “Ellis Island Immigrant Building” in New York you can se the promotional posters of the boats that would take them to a new life. Between the years 1895 and 1986, Argentina had the highest DGP (gross domestic product) per capita in the world according to the Maddison Historical Statistics index, this situation arose due to the large amount of food being exported to European countries, which were at war. The Argentinean ships left the port of Buenos Aires with food, but they returned with furniture, clothes and construction elements, (it´s common to see this the old buildings of the historic neighbourhood of San Telmo, the beams with the inscription “Made in England)”, as well as many markets that were built in Buenos Aires, such us the San Telmo Market, whose structure was brought by ship and afterwards assembled in 900 Defensa Street. With the great influence of European immigrants living in the country, the children of the upper classes travelled to study in France, resulting in the inauguration of “La Maison Argentinienne”, on 27th of June 1928, in the international city of Paris, which hosted many Argentinians that were studying in Frace. It´s the fourth house to be built after France, Canada and Belgium, being the first Spanish-speaking one. Still in place today (17 Bd Jourdan, 75014, Paris, France). Many of the children of these wealthy families who attended international art exhibitions, museums and art courses abroad, took a keen interest in the European style. This is why Buenos Aires was at the time referred as “The Paris of South America”. Between the years 1890 and 1920 more than a hundred Palaces were built on Alvear Avenue the most exclusive avenue in Buenos Aires. Today some of these palaces have been transformed into museums, hotels and embassies. In the year 1936, the Kavanagh building was inaugurated, it was the tallest reinforced concrete building in South America. During 1994 the American Society of Civil Engineers distinguished it as an “international engineering milestone”, and it´s now considered a World Heritage of Modern Architecture. At the time was common to hire foreign architects such as Le Corbusier, who visited Buenos Aires/Argentina in 1929 and in 1948 he drew up the blueprints for a house built in La Plata City (which was declared a World Heritage Site). In 1947, the Hungarian architect Marcelo Breuer designed “Parador Ariston” in the seaside city of Mar del Plata. After an Argentinean student at Harvard University convinced him to come to Argentina. He worked on an urban development project in the Casa Amarilla, area of La Boca. The Ukrainian architect, Vladimiro Acosta, arrives in Argentina in 1928 and worked as an architect until que moved to Brazil. Antonio Bonet, a Spanish architect who worked with Le Corbusier in Paris, arrives in Argentina in 1937, where he carried out several architectural works and in 1938 designs the well-known BFK chair...
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Early 19th Century Gondola-Style Caned Desk Chair
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An interesting Louis XVI-style desk chair in moulded and sculpted beech, with caned seat and back, dating from the beginning of the 19th century. Of particular note are the gondola-s...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Beech

  • Early 19th Century Gondola-Style Caned Desk Chair
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H 29.93 in. W 22.25 in. D 16.74 in.
Gainsborough Armchair 19th century
Located in Vosselaar, BE
Good 19th century Gainsborough armchair in mahogany with new crimson linnen upholstery. This type of chair was named after the famous painter ...
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Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

  • Gainsborough Armchair 19th century
  • Gainsborough Armchair 19th century
  • Gainsborough Armchair 19th century
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H 37.8 in. W 27.5 in. D 28.3 in.
20th Century, Chaise Beinaise, French Industrial Workshop Chair by Henri Lieber
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
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Mid-20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Iron, Metal

Pair of Chairs 60° in Leather and Wood, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Wooden table with chromed bronze ferrules Style: 60° Italian Materials: wood, leather and Chrome Finish: polyurethanic lacquer We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art No...
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1960s Italian Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Chrome

  • Pair of Chairs 60° in Leather and Wood, Italian
  • Pair of Chairs 60° in Leather and Wood, Italian
  • Pair of Chairs 60° in Leather and Wood, Italian
  • Pair of Chairs 60° in Leather and Wood, Italian
H 36.23 in. W 17.72 in. D 17.72 in.
Charles Eames for Herman Miller Mid-Century Upholstered Shell Office Chair
Located in Countryside, IL
Charles Eames for Herman Miller mid-century upholstered shell office chair. This chair measures: 25 wide x 22 deep x 32 high, ...
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1970s American Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Charles Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century Upholstered Shell Office Chair
Located in Countryside, IL
Charles Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century upholstered shell office chair This chair measures: 25 wide x 22 deep x 32 high, w...
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1970s American Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Pair of Vintage Mid-Century Danish Modern Oak & Leather Chairs by Børge Mogensen
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This pair of Model 3241 chairs was designed during the 1960s by Børge Mogensen for the Danish manufactory Fredericia Stolefabrik. The solid frame of the chairs is made of oak wood in...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Oak

Charles Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century Upholstered Shell Office Chair
Located in Countryside, IL
Charles Eames for Herman Miller Mid Century upholstered shell office chair This chair measures: 25 wide x 22 deep x 32 high, w...
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1970s American Vintage Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Previously Available Items
Antique Empire Tub Arm Desk Chair 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French mahogany Empire "fauteuil du bureau", desk chair, Circa 1850 in date. It has a curved back and an upholstered leather seat. The mahogany is bea...
Category

1850s French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

  • Antique Empire Tub Arm Desk Chair 19th Century
  • Antique Empire Tub Arm Desk Chair 19th Century
  • Antique Empire Tub Arm Desk Chair 19th Century
  • Antique Empire Tub Arm Desk Chair 19th Century
H 29.14 in. W 24.02 in. D 20.48 in.
Empire style mahogany and leather desk chair with Egyptian decor
Located in VERSAILLES, FR
The office chair is made of quality mahogany veneer with a very fine grain, the color of the mahogany is not dark but rather soft, in harmony with the slightly darker soft veining that adorns this mahogany veneer. This armchair is decorated with gilded bronzes representing the busts of Egyptian women, foliage motifs such as palmettes, leaves and stylized flowers. All the bronzes are original, none are added. The armchair is upholstered in beautiful green leather and the upholstery is of high quality. This "Return from Egypt" style armchair is a fine example of the Empire style produced at the end of the 19th century. It can also be combined with our desk of the same style. " Empire Style Mahogany Middle Desk with Egyptian Décor...
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1890s French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Solid Birch Russian Style Dual Eagle Back Barrel Shaped Armchair
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic solid birch style dual eagle barrel chair. The chair can be used for an office desk or as an accent chair or even in a bedroom for a vanity. The chair dates to th...
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Early 2000s European Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Birch

Swivel Desk Chair, Northern Europe, 2nd Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Empire-style swivel desk chair with brass slats and fluted gold patinated legs and armrests and high rounded back, veneered in mahogany.
Category

Late 19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Empire Mahogany, Bronze and Leather Desk Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a man's office or study with this elegant antique armchair. Hand carved in France circa 1890 and built of mahogany, the armchair stands on tapered legs decorated with gilt b...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Bronze

Russian or Baltic Empire Desk or Corner Chairs With Stenciled Leather Seats
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Russian or Baltic Empire desk chairs or corner chairs with curved backs in partly ebonized wood with metal inlay elements, the upholstered seat raised on square legs tapering...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Italian Empire Period Mahogany Leather Upholstered Desk Chair
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having an open concave back with shaped undercurled handles, the maroon leather upholstered fitted seat resting on turned and tapering front legs and splayed rear legs, first quarter...
Category

1810s Italian Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Pair of Louis XVI Revival Armchairs French, Early 20th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Pair of French open armchairs side or desk chairs Louis XVI revival, circa 1900 The fabric can easily be changed to wear with your interior, The upholstery is the original: suita...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Upholstery, Beech

Late 19th, Century, French Empire Style Mahogany Side Chair-English
Located in San Francisco, CA
A excellent quality late 19th century mahogany side chair in the French empire style with superb ormolu mounts probably by EH Kahn & Co. London. Back, side rail, seat rails are all...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of Empire Armchairs Mahogany Desk Chairs French 20th Century to Recover
Located in Labrit, Landes
Pair of French Empire Revival open armchairs side or desk chairs, early 20th century The fabric can easily be changed to suit your interior A few brands on varnish, please see pho...
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Early 20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

19th Century Oak Danish Klismos Chair Re-Upholstered in 1930s Silk Fabric, 1860
Located in Berlin, DE
This elegant 19th century oak Klismos chair is re-upholstered in a beautiful 1930s Chinese Fashion Silk Fabric. The chair with its great shape was made in the 1860s in Denmark. It i...
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1860s Danish Antique Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Silk, Upholstery, Oak

Empire Armchair Desk Chair French 20th Century Green Leather
Located in Labrit, Landes
French Empire Revival open armchair side or desk chair, early 20th century The green leather seat can easily be changed to suit your interior Good vintage condition with nice pati...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood, Leather

Empire office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs

Find a broad range of unique Empire office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage office chairs and desk chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire office chairs and desk chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 office chairs and desk chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at US$1,073 and tops out at US$24,500 while the average work can sell for US$4,714.

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