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
Henredon Mahogany Distressed Leather French Empire Regency Club Lounge Armchair
By Henredon
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare vintage Henredon Furniture Jockey club / lounge / library / office elbow arm chair. Made of mahogany featuring Empire / Regency styling with scrolled arms and distressed leathe...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Seating
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
$1,880 Sale Price
20% Off
2 Henredon Celerie Kemble French Empire Curule Cowhide Stools Ottomans Bench
Located in Dayton, OH
Two vintage Henredon Celerie Kemble French Empire Curule Style Stools / Ottomans / Footrests or Benches. Features an X frame "s" scrolled design, black lacquered finish with brown u...
Category
Late 20th Century American Empire Seating
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
$2,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Period Hand Carved Walnut Armchairs, Bergeres
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This pair of early 19th century French Empire period walnut armchairs features hand carved details of laurels on the seat back and shells at the top of the armrests. The seat backs a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
French 19th Century Velvet Armchair with Fringe
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A 19th century French Napoleon III style armchair with a tall back at a slight recline in an angular profile that is at once restrained and welcoming. This example is upholstered in...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
French 19th Century Mahogany Pair of Empire Arm Chairs
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This stunning pair of French Empire style mahogany barrel (or tub) armchairs are 19th century, reflecting the period’s extravagance and passion for noble materials in every aspect of...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
Antique Danish Empire Sofa, 19th Century, Detailed Woodwork & Striped Fabric
Located in Odense, DK
A stunning Empire-style sofa from the 19th century, featuring exquisite craftsmanship and intricate wood detailing. The frame boasts elegantly rounded armrests, finely carved columns...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Textile, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Recamier in Striped Jacquard
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite early 19th century French Empire chaise longue, or recamier, sourced in Provence. Handcrafted from mahogany, the frame is carved with classical motifs, its scrolled ends...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Jacquard, Mahogany
Set of 2 early Empire solid mahogany wood and sheepskin armchairs, France 1820s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1820 / 2 armchairs / mahogany, sheep skin / Romantic / Antique / Empire
Set of two early Empire armchairs constructed of solid mahogany wood and with sheepskin upholstery. ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Sheepskin, Mahogany
Pair 19th Century Empire Scalamandré Tiger Velvet Bergère Chairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th Century diminutive Italian Empire Scalamandré Tiger Velvet Bergère chairs composed of mahogany and gilded accents. and newly upholstered in Scalamandré Tiger Velvet.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Mahogany
Kindel Empire Dining Chairs Set of 8
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below.
Shipping Quote Information
The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code.
Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A
Set of 8 Kindel Empire...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Empire Seating
Materials
Cherry, Wood
$2,771 Sale Price / set
25% Off
French Regency Style Ebonized Chair W/ Gilt Neo-Classical Swans & Tiger Velvet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a killer chair! It is a regency style ebonized arm chair with neo-classical giltwood swan arms and paws. The tiger velvet is new. The chair is unmarked and is possibly by Pat...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Fruitwood, Giltwood
$2,246 Sale Price
25% Off
Small 19th century Swedish empire birch sofa
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small 19th century Swedish empire birch sofa circa 1860
Good quality Swedish empire period birch sofa upholstered in kalim woven fabric.
Small sofa or a very comfortable single cha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Birch
Pine and Oak Storage Bench or Settle
Located in Baltimore, MD
What an outstanding Box Bench! The oak and the pine contrast beautifully to create a deep rich warmth perfect for this piece. For most of its length the top rail is flat, only follo...
Category
Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Oak, Pine
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Daybed
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Early 19th century French Empire daybed.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Sofa Schumacher Sabi Tiger Velvet
Located in Houston, TX
Early 19th Century Empire sofa. This handsome burl veneer sofa features ebonized and gilt columns, urn finials, with two hidden drawers, all newly upholstered in Schumacher abstract ...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wood, Burl
Empire mahogany armchairs by Jacob Frères, France, 19th century
By Jacob Frères, Madeleine Castaing
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine pair of mahogany Empire gondola armchairs, very confortable gondola chair model. The armrest are swan-shaped and front legs are lion-legs-shaped. The seats are covered with a ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Mahogany
$9,495 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Pair 19th Century Ebonized Empire Style Black Hair Hide Armchairs
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th Century ebonized mahogany Empire style fauteuil with winged caryatids, newly upholstered in a deep espresso hairhide.
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Black French Antique Empire Ebonized Mahogany Sofa Bench, Recamier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French sofa bench-recamier made of hand crafted ebonized Mahogany, in good condition. The canapé is particularized by two side backrests, standing on four arched wooden...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Ebony, Mahogany
A Pair of French Empire Style Corner Chairs
Located in Vienna, AT
French Empire or Napoleon III style mahogany corner armchairs with ormolu mounts, arms rest on seated sphinx. Original upholstery, good original condition. New upholstery and also co...
Category
1880s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Brass
Rare Set of Twelve 19th Century Empire Chairs in Mahogany, Brass and Velvet
Located in Meer, VAN
Rare Set of Twelve Early 19th Century Empire Dining Chairs in Mahogany, Inlaid Brass and Velvet
This is a very large and rare set of twelve elegant dining chairs from the (late) ‘em...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Brass
Turkish Sofa From The Empire Period
Located in Charmes, FR
Elegant Empire period sofa, early 19th century, with a solid mahogany frame. It features a straight backrest framed by flat uprights topped with turned pommels, typical of the Empire...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wood
19th Century Empire Style Mahogany Framed Upholstered Sofa
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Very beautiful North American Empire style mahogany wood framed upholstered sofa with matching bolster pillows and mahogany frame scroll...
Category
1820s American Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
French 1st Empire Armchair with Carved Dolphins' Heads
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A fine Empire armchair with four elegant saber legs, upholstered in vertical cream and crimson stripes, and featuring ornately carved dolphins' heads at the base of each shaped arm r...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wood
Milling Road for Baker French Empire Settee designed by Darryl Carter
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a French empire style settee designed by Darryl Carter for milling Road by Baker. This settee has a white lacquer finish to the frame with new upholstery el tiger gray Chenil...
Category
2010s Indonesian Empire Seating
Materials
Wood
Empire Revival Gondola Dining Chair Finished With An Ebonised Frame, Grey Damask
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Empire Revival Gondola Dining Chair Finished With An Ebonised Frame, Grey Damask Upholstery & Red Velour Piping.
Quality and luxurious designed chairs, elegant but robust with rich ...
Category
Late 20th Century British Empire Seating
Materials
Damask, Silk, Velvet
Set of Four Danish Empire or Biedermeier Chairs with Marquetry, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Four Danish Empire or Biedermeier Chairs with Marquetry, circa 1820
Denmark
Birch tree
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 83 x 48 x 46 cm, seat height: 48 cm
Description:
R...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Birch
Impressive Pair of Empire Black Leather & Gilded Club Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Impressive pair of Empire style black and gilded wood club chairs having black leather upholstery, curved backs and arms in the form of swans resting on saber shaped legs. The backs...
Category
1990s American Empire Seating
Materials
Leather, Wood
$2,470 Sale Price / set
35% Off
Antique chair, Northern Europe, circa 1890. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chair from the end of the 19th century, Northern Europe.
The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. The seat and backrest are covered with new f...
Category
1890s Scandinavian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Walnut
Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Sofa
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Trenton, NJ
nfuse your home with timeless sophistication with this Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Sofa. Its ebonized wood frame features exquisite carvings that highlight the skill and craftsmanship...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
$1,170 Sale Price
35% Off
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
19th Century Empire Walnut Upholstered Settee
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely tailored walnut Empire settee. The top rail is flanked by two graceful sloping arms, joining two brass classical female heads crowing two front straight tapering le...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Brass
Six 19th Century French Empire Style Mahogany Dining Chairs W/ Floral Tapestry
Located in Astoria, NY
An elegant set of six late 19th century French Empire dining chairs sourced from Provence, France. Beautifully hand-crafted from solid mahogany wood with handsome gondola frame. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Tapestry, Mahogany
Dutch Marquetry Empire Settee, circa 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Offers mahogany frame with inlays in satinwood of flowers and foliage along back crest, "S" scroll arms and slipper feet. Features upholstered seat, back and inside and outside arms....
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Cotton, Twill, Upholstery, Satinwood, Kingwood, Mahogany
Set of 14 Empire Period Dining Chairs, circa 1820
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very smart set of fourteen solid and elegant dining room chairs dating from 1820' s between the Empire and the Restauration period.
Although very simila...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
Set of Six Napoleonic Empire Style Bronze Mounted Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary set of six mahogany dining chairs made in the grand Napoleonic Empire taste. The chairs feature beautifully crafted mahogany frames with rich, deep woodgrains on the fi...
Category
20th Century French Empire Seating
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Lacquered Empire Style Sofa with Leopard Fabric
Located in San Francisco, CA
Great statement piece with white lacquer wood finish and leopard printed upholstery. Loads of drama for either a simple or layered decor.
Category
1950s American Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Antique Mahogany Child Armchair, France
Located in Munich, DE
This charming children’s armchair is made out of mahogany with fine carving. It is newly upholstered with a discretely patterned fine, lustrous fabric in green with golden spots.
Paris, circa 1810...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
Gorgeous Pair of French Empire Carved Walnut Armchairs with Dolphin Armrests
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome pair of classic French Empire walnut square back carved armchairs with stunning dolphin armrests.
Measures: Seat height 17.5
Arm height ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Empire Marquetry Sofa in Mahogany with Satinwood Inlays, circa 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A lovely and well-proportioned marquetry sofa with arched back, scroll arms and short Grecian curved legs in mahogany embellished with inlays of festoo...
Category
1810s Dutch Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Satinwood, Upholstery, Mahogany, Tulipwood
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Library Chairs
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An excellent quality pair of 19th century mahogany
library armchairs, in the French empire taste, having
swept back and moulded scrolling arms with C-scroll
supports raised on elegant moulded sabre legs
(A relative typical design in the early to mid-19th century
these chairs are in the French Empire taste which was most
popular at the time, with the added benefit of being much
more sturdy and practical than the English Regency Chaise...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Scandinavian Empire Sofa in Mahogany with Ormolu and Upholstery, circa 1815
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An elegant Empire Swedish Karl Johan sofa with graceful lines in mahogany with satinwood line inlay, ormolu and ebonized details. Offers scrolled arms and saber feet with upholstered...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Neoclassical Style Empire Armchairs with Gilt Details
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant pair of neoclassical-style armchairs in the French Empire tradition, crafted with refined mahogany frames and adorned with intricate gilt accents. These striking chairs featu...
Category
1970s French Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Gold
19th century Swedish carved birch sofa
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century swedish carved birch sofa circa 1880.
Elegant Swedish formal sofa which seats a comfortable 3. Straight back with shaped birch border. Roll top arms with carved acant...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Birch
French Federal EmpireStyle Victorian Cherry Wood Armchairs, Set of Four
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Amazing set of 4 Empire Style Armchairs, ornately decorated with bronze appliqué, leaf foot caps and stunning bronze griffin arm details. The commanding chairs are made of solid Cher...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Empire Style Gondola Dining Chairs – Set of 6
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Dimensions: H 35” x W 19.5” x D 17.5” x SH 19”
Set of 6 Vintage Empire Gondola style dining chairs. Features solid mahogany construction with curved slat back and seats with origina...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
19th Century Empire Carved Mahogany & Cut Velvet Upholstered Bergere
Located in Atlanta, GA
This striking armchair is a fine example of 19th-century Empire furniture, marrying neoclassical authority with updated decorative luxury. The frame, likely crafted from mahogany or ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Mid Century Empire Leather Upholstered and Nailhead Studded Mahogany Arm Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid Century Empire Style full grain Leather Upholstered and Nailhead Studded Mahogany Arm Chair. Measures 22" in width, 24" in depth and 34" in height. Seat height is 19" and arm h...
Category
1960s American Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Chaise Lounge Daybed
Located in San Francisco, CA
Elegant Empire Period black lacquered walnut chaise or daybed with brass ormolu decoration. Has its original horsehair mattress.
Sturdy and sound, b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wool, Upholstery, Walnut
French Empire Style Mahogany Daybed with Ormolu Mounts and Velvet Upholstery
Located in Chicago, IL
20th century French Empire style mahogany daybed on casters with ormolu gilt bronze mounts in floral/thistle decoration and original wood jo...
Category
20th Century French Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
$8,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Consulat Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular arched padded back above a padded seat and tapering front legs topped with the head of a sphinx and ending in paw feet.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Mahogany
$3,850 Sale Price / set
61% Off
Meyer Gunther Martini French Empire Swan Armchairs Pair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details Below.
Shipping Quote Information
The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster.
Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A
Pair of 1970s Meyer Gunther Martini French Empire Swan Armchairs...
Category
1970s Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Cotton, Wood
$2,996 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Rider Gold Velvet and Brass Dining Chair
Located in New York, NY
Parisian Flair. Our modern homage to an Empire style dining chair. Our rider dining chair is petite and glamorous, but ultra-comfy. Great as a dinin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Empire Seating
Materials
Nickel
$1,050 / item
Rare Needlepoint Empire Salon (One Sofa and Two Armchairs)
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa and two armchairs in mahogany. The armrest is adorned with dolphins and saber-shaped legs.
Circa, 1830.
Rare upholstery of complete needlepoint...
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Armchair with Red Floral Striped Damask Upholstery
Located in Queens, NY
French Restoration mahogany armchair having a rectangular headrest topped by a tapering gadrooned crest, upturned scroll arms with acanthus embellishments, upholstered back and seat ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Upholstery
French Empire Style Walnut, Bronze, and Marble Table and Chairs Living Room Set
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Empire-style walnut and marble eight-piece salon set with golden and light yellow fabric and bronze mounts.
Impressive French Empire style eight-piece salon suite made of waln...
Category
1920s French Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Burlwood Chair
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th Century French Empire burl wood chair featuring stylized ormolu to include swans, lyre, acanthus and ribbons with lion's paw sabots. Seat newly...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Sword Bench Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French gilt Empire sword bench with ultra sueded fabric. Beautiful carving details. Leave as is or have your upholstery shop recover and tighten frame.
Category
1950s French Vintage Empire Seating
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Empire Period Fauteuils with Vintage Upholstery, Early 19th C.
Located in Morristown, NJ
A fine matched pair of French Empire period fauteuils, each with a rectangular padded back, removable cushioned seat, and elegantly reeded and carved arms. The mahogany frames displa...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Metal
Four Italian Dining Chairs Empire Style Red Gold Upholstery 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
A set of four solid walnut chairs in the fabulous Empire style with ormolu decorations, made in Italy in the 20th century, in good condition.
The walnut frame is beautiful in color ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
$1,899 Sale Price / set
50% Off
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 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.