Empire Seating
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. 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.
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Style: Empire
Antique American Empire Classical Carved Mahogany Paw Foot Cornucopia Arm Sofa
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Empire Classical Carved Mahogany Paw Foot Cornucopia Arm Sofa. Item features carved paw feet with leafy cornucopia carvings, carved top rail, great antique sofa. Cir...
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Swedish Empire Karl Johan Wood Sofa 19th Century Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish Empire Karl Johan style sofa dating c. 1830
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Birch
19th Century Empire Revival Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Period Empire side chair: This highly stylized chair has brass inlay and ormolu features to include reclining goddesses, feathers and detailed Roman feet all newly upholstered in a b...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Empire Style Childrens Chair
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An elegant and rare childrens 'Bergère chair made in Empire style. Made of finely carved beechwood. At the top swan heads, which is a typical ornate of the Empire style. Upholstered ...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Beech
Set of 6 French Empire Dining Chairs in Mahogany with Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of 6 French Empire dining chairs in mahogany with bronze mounts are a stylish expression of the genre, with exotic imported ma...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
Empire Mahogany Bench with Blue Upholstery, Satinwood and Gilt Bronze Inlay
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Empire bench crafted in mahogany with gently curved legs.
The end panels are adorned with satinwood line inlay and gilt bronze mounts set in ebonized fields.
The seat has be...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
1930s Hickory Chair Empire Klismos Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
1930s Hickory Chair Company Empire Klismos style Mahogany and Upholstered Seat Side Chairs. Measure 18" in width, 21" in depth 34.5" tall. Seat height is 18".
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs with Versacesque Decoration
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Pair of maximalist empire revival style armchairs featuring Versace inspired motifs. The chairs have a classic gondola shaped frame with faux leather naugahyde upholstery. The faux l...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Seating
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chair, Northern Europe, late 19th century. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chair from around 1890, Northern Europe.
The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 96 cm / seat height. 45 cm / width 47 cm...
Category
1890s Scandinavian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Walnut
Pair of Swedish Empire Armchairs in Black w/Gold Accents from the Mid-19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Swedish Empire armchairs from the mid-19th century by furniture maker F. Pettersson. These antique chairs from Sweden have an elegan...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Salon empire
Located in PARIS, FR
Mobilier de salon en acajou et bois doré, comprenant quatre chaises, quatre fauteuils, deux bergères et un canapé.
4 Chaises : Hauteur : 91 cm – Largeur : 49 cm – Profondeur : 38 cm
4 Fauteuils : Hauteur : 97,5 cm – Largeur : 63,5 cm – Profondeur : 51 cm
2 Bergères : Hauteur : 99 cm – Largeur : 70 cm – Profondeur : 54 cm
1 Canapé : Hauteur : 106 cm – Largeur : 181 cm – Profondeur : 62 cm
Provenance : Vente Palais GALLIERA...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
$14,271 / item
Dining Chairs Swedish Set of 6 Empire Mahogany Gilded Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Dining chairs Swedish set of 6 Empire mahogany gilded Sweden. A set of six dining chairs made during the Empire / Karl Johan period in Sweden 1810-1830. Veneered in a beautiful dark ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
19th Century Pair of Mahogany Armchairs in the Directoire style
Located in NICE, FR
Elegant pair of Empire period armchairs, 19th century, crafted in solid wood and representative of refined French taste.
These seats stand out with their finely chiseled bronze orn...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Antique French Empire Bergere
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A lovely period French Directoire bergere, restored and upholstered in silk velvet. Lovely armchair with beautiful turned legs and columnar supports at the arms.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Armchairs
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Pair of Russian neoclassical parcel-gilt mahogany armchairs
Each armchair made during the Empire period in Russia. The mahogany veneered frame with gilded details. With unusual tu...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Giltwood
$7,500 / set
19th Century Baltic Mahogany Long Bench - Antique Empire Silk Sofa, Canapé
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique Baltic long bench with two pillows made of hand carved Mahogany, in good condition. The three seater sofa, settee is stand...
Category
Mid-19th Century Baltic Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany
Pair Of 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of 19th Century French Empire Chairs.
Offered is a lovely pair of early 19th century French period Empire chairs, fauteuils or side chairs. This pair of chairs are adorned with ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
$11,850 / set
Pair Antique Russian Empire Chairs, Circa 1820-1830
Located in Rochester, NY
A great looking pair of antique Russian Empire circassian walnut chairs in beautifully aged original finish / finely detailed ormolu mounts / gilded paw like front feet / newly con...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
Antique 19th C Empire Star & Shield Coat of Arms Dining Chair
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th C Empire star & shield coat of arms dining chairs
Priced each.
Additional information:
Materials: Mahogany
Color: Olive
Period: 19th Century
Styles: Empire
Numb...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Set of Empire Armchairs / Chairs, Maple Wood, Paris, 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Seat group made of maple wood with rosewood intarsia, France, presumably G. Alphonse Jacob, the last of the famous Eben family, probably second quarter of the 19th century. Semi-circ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Maple
$6,537 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Empire-Style Dining Chairs, Set of 6
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a charming set of six carved and inlaid mahogany dining chairs in the French Empire style. The chairs date to the second half of the 20th century and are in very good conditi...
Category
20th Century French Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
$2,950 / set
Pair of Italian Empire Dining Chairs From Early 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A pair of Italian early 19th Century Empire dining chairs in solid walnut.
This Tuscan pair of chairs, with swan decoration on the back, was likely crafted in the city of Lucca. This...
Category
1820s Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Walnut
1940s Carved Gilt Wood Swan Barrel Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, carved wood swan club chairs on castors set you could hope to find. In the style of George S...
Category
1940s English Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Rare Pair of 1st Empire Benches from Parma, 18th Century Italian Settees
Located in New Orleans, LA
A rare and important pair of 18th-century neoclassical -1st Empire benches from Parma, retaining their original gilded and polychrome finish. Each with finely carved lion-head arm te...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Antique French Empire Swan Neck Mahogany Daybeds W/ Cream Woven Fabric - A Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite pair of early 19th-century French Empire daybeds, sourced directly from Paris, France. Masterfully crafted from solid mahogany, these daybeds feature sleigh-shaped frame...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Empire Venetian Sofa Attributed to Valentino Panciera Besarel
By Valentino Besarel
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Precious mid-19th century Venetian sofa attributable to Valentino Panciera Besarel in hand-carved walnut, restored and finished to wax. Coated with precious original Venetian brocade...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Pair of Antique Empire Black & Gold Chairs W Red Clarence House Seats
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Pair of Antique Empire Black & Gold Chairs W Red Clarence House Seats. Each has been freshly upholstered in red Clarence House fabric with gold stars. This listing is from one pair ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wood
Empire Period Mahogany Sofa-Bed, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa-bed of the Empire period in solid mahogany and mahogany veneer with rich decoration of finely chased and gilded bronzes. This sofa is decorated in front of a lyre in the center,...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
18th Century French Neoclassical Mahogany High Back Armchairs, Silk Upholster
Located in Firenze, IT
These French Neoclassical mahogany armchairs, dating from the late 18th to early 19th century are a legacy of craftsmanship, a touch of Parisian elegance for your home, potentially a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Silk, Wood, Mahogany
$6,660 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair of Danish Late Empire Birch Armchairs With Inlay, 1810-1820
Located in Kastrup, DK
A pair of elegant late empire armchairs.
Crafted in birch wood with marquetry inlaid on backrest in the form of vases. Fine line inlays on backrest and apron.
The tops of the bac...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Birch
Pair of Chic French Empire Style Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of large French Empire style mahogany armchairs reupholstered in Ralph Lauren silk/linen fabric.
Category
20th Century French Empire Seating
Materials
Linen, Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique Anglo Indian Empire Settee or Sofa
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and unusual 19th Century Anglo Indian sofa handcrafted in teak with pegged construction featuring a rolled crest with carved pineapple and inscribed sea serpents, rounded arm ca...
Category
Early 19th Century Indian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Reed, Teak
Painted Pine and Oak Storage Bench or Settle
Located in Baltimore, MD
This Box Bench has a great form and has all the characteristics we look for in a Central European Storage Bench. For most of its length the top rail is flat, only following a curve ...
Category
Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Oak, Pine
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Swan Grecian Sofa Newly Reupholstered
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Swan Grecian Sofa Newly Reupholstered In a Green Velvet
This antique classic Empire style carved mahogany tufted Grecian...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Mahogany
Pair of 19th Century Armchairs from the Empire Period
Located in NICE, FR
These splendid Empire period armchairs symbolize the opulence, refinement and luxury characteristic of the Napoleonic era. Beautifully carved and adorned with sophisticated details, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Milling Road for Baker French Empire design by Daryl Carter settee
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a French empire style settee designed by Darrell Carter for milling Road by Baker furniture Company. The settee has a white lacquered finished to the frame with newly upholst...
Category
2010s Indonesian Empire Seating
Materials
Wood
Empire Satinwood Figural Gilt Bronze Mounted Fauteuil de Bureau, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Luxurious 19th century French Empire, Napoleon III period, 1852-1870, satinwood gilt bronze mounted desk chair. Fine hand chased figural bronze mounts depicting classical maidens at the arm rests, rosettes, laurel leaf garlands...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Barrel Armchairs, 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
Pair of French Empire Barrel Armchairs, 19th century
This beautiful pair of French Empire barrel armchairs dates back to the 19th century and combines elegance with exceptional craft...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
$12,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
2 Karges French Empire Regency Klismos Dining Arm Chairs Provincial
Located in Dayton, OH
Two vintage Karges French Empire dining arm or accent chairs. Painted white with gold carved accents, scrolled arms, brass plates, saber legs and red upholstery.
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Hardwood, Paint
$760 Sale Price / set
24% Off
19th Century Empire Style Parcel Gilt Mahogany Armchair
Located in El Monte, CA
A stately 19th Century Empire Style armchair crafted from Mahogany with detailed gilt carvings and a neoclassical print green silk upholstery. Featuring a gilt sunburst and Eye of Go...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
19th c, Danish Revolving Desk Chair
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional 19th century Danish revolving desk armchair in mahogany with marquetry and brass casters, from the Empire period. Ca 1850, Denmark.
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Brass
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Tufted Parlor Sofa Newly Reupholstered in Leather
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Empire Style Carved Mahogany Tufted Back Parlor Sofa on Casters Newly Reupholstered in Full Grain Espresso Italian Leather
This antique Empire st...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-Century Modern Empire Style Campaign Armchair with Red Wood Finish
Located in Dallas, TX
A handsome antique empire style campaign armchair, walnut, with green and white striped fabric cushions for seat and back. Brass lion paw feet....
Category
17th Century North American Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Duncan Phyfe Style Love Seat Settee with Scrolling Arms
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Duncan Phyfe style loveseat settee with scrolling arms and featuring a floral print upholstery and matching side pillows. Infuse your home with timeless sophistication with Hollywood...
Category
1950s American Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Empire Solid Mahogany Ball Foot Curule Bench Seat Low Stool
Located in West Chester, PA
Wonderful antique bench with curved seat and solid mahogany curule frame on ball feet.
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany & Bronze Twin Size Daybed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French 19th Century Empire mahogany twin size daybed with applied bronze decorations. Structurally sound with repair done on legs, see photos. Nice finish, bolt together construction...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Side Chair
Located in London, GB
Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze side chair
French, late 19th century
Measures: Height 94cm, width 52cm, depth 52cm
Crafted from mahogany, this unusual side chair...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire style Black Wood and Velvet Armchair, 1850s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1850 / armchair / wood, velvet / Empire / Antique
French Empire style armchair made around 1850. This characterful chair features a blackened wooden frame with gracefully c...
Category
1850s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
1900's Empire Ivory Tan Silk/Satin Upholstered Settee
Located in Louisville, KY
This early 1900's settee is a unique Empire style with simplistic and elegant lines with scrolls and intricately carved claw feet. This piece is done in a beautiful ivory and tan sil...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of 19th Century Empire Lyre Back Dining Chairs
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of 19th century Empire Lyre back dining chairs
Wonderful pair of walnut dining chairs with carved double eagle head and lyre carving.
Mea...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Walnut
Late 19th Century Empire Mahogany Arm Chairs
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A pair of antique Empire style armchairs. The armrest and legs are made of solid mahogany, the backrest is made of veneered mahogany. An elegant design with curved armrests and taper...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
$2,616 / set
Set of Three Painted Pine Children's Chairs
Located in Baltimore, MD
These delightful plank seat children’s chairs are in a rustic Empire style, with a scroll at the top of the back rail and turned legs at the front. In old worn buttermilk paint. Seat...
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Empire Seating
Materials
Pine
Swedish Late 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Stool
Located in Skanninge, SE
A very stylish and elegant 19th century model. Newly upholstered in cream white/yellow fabric. The mahogany frame is in a good unrestored condition. This stool/banquette is free stan...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Black Ebonized Empire Style Swan Bench
Located in Houston, TX
20th Century Empire style bench featuring Neoclassical style carved swan frame newly padded and upholstered in a Chanel style chuncky tweed.
Category
20th Century Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Empire Banquette or Window Seat in Birch with Marquetry Inlays, circa 1800
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A Swedish Empire banquette/sofa in birch with marquetry embellishments which include foliage and urns and line-inlaid figures of the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. Lower cabinets open to reveal drawers, while top cabinets offer shelving.
Note: Needs upholstery...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Birch
Elegant Antique French Carved Wood Recamier Bench with Bronze Mounts
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant and rare French 19th century mahogany recamier bench having pronounced curved sides and lovely carved cabriole legs that terminate in gilded hairy paw feet. There are other g...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
Empire Bench in Mahogany with Walnut and Maple Inlays
Located in Kastrup, DK
A beautiful Empire bench crafted from mahogany with gracefully curved legs.
The end panels feature central inlays of walnut and light maple detailing.
The seat has been newly upholst...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany, Maple
Antique Pair French Empire Armchair Fauteuils Chairs, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant antique pair of French Empire Revival upholstered back mahogany armchair fauteuils, circa 1880 in date.
The mahogany is beautiful in colour with superb patina. Th...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Early 19th Century Solid Walnut Antique Bench
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Antique Italian empire bench early 19th century. The bench is made of solid walnut wood. Excellent antique good conditions of the wood. Characterized by a seat with folding panels.
Category
Early 1800s Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Walnut
$3,330 Sale Price
20% Off
Empire-Style Curule Stool with Upholstered Seat
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An extremely elegant 19th-century Empire-style curule stool standing on veneered, curved X legs linked by a turned baluster-shaped stretcher and terminating in lion's paws. The padde...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Beech
Empire seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire seating for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage seating created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, more furniture and collectibles, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Empire seating made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original seating, popular names associated with this style include Modenese Gastone, Europa Antiques, Century Furniture, and Drexel. 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 seating differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $325 and tops out at $151,397 while the average work can sell for $4,884.