Empire Stools
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 19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Walnut, Upholstery
19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Birch
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Birch
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Stools
Brass
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Ormolu
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Wood, Upholstery
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Stools
Walnut
19th Century North American Antique Empire Stools
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Beech, Giltwood
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Stools
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Giltwood
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Bronze
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Stools
Mid-20th Century French Empire Stools
Iron
20th Century British Empire Stools
Mahogany
19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Pine
19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Walnut
Early 20th Century Empire Stools
Upholstery, Oak
Early 20th Century Empire Stools
Brass
Early 1800s Antique Empire Stools
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Empire Stools
Teak
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Wood, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century Empire Stools
Wood, Upholstery, Silk, Fabric
1960s American Vintage Empire Stools
Walnut, Plywood
1880s Chinese Antique Empire Stools
Poplar
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Stools
Upholstery, Walnut
1830s French Antique Empire Stools
Mahogany
19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Stools
Wood
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Stools
Beech
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Stools
Velvet, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Walnut
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Wood
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Stools
Upholstery, Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Stools
Pine
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Stools
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Stools
Paint
19th Century French Antique Empire Stools
Giltwood, Velvet