Empire Chairs
Antique 18th Century French Chairs
Linen, Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Chairs
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Chairs
Cherry
Antique 19th Century German Empire Armchairs
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Armchairs
Giltwood
Antique 1820s American American Empire Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1840s Unknown Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1820s American American Empire Chairs
Brass
20th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
Cane, Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century American Chairs
Antique 1810s French Empire Side Chairs
Chenille, Cherry, Softwood
Antique 1830s French Chairs
Beech
Antique 1840s Chairs
Other
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Empire Chairs
Cotton, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Antique Late 18th Century French Empire Chairs
Wood
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Leather, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Giltwood, Wood
20th Century Italian Dining Room Chairs
Wood, Glass, Leather, Upholstery
Antique Early 1900s Swedish Empire Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 1880s French Empire Revival Lounge Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
20th Century Living Room Sets
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Armchairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Lounge Chairs
Wood, Fabric
Antique Mid-19th Century Russian Empire Chairs
Birch
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Upholstery, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Side Chairs
Ormolu
20th Century French Empire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Brass
Late 20th Century French Empire Dining Room Chairs
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American Organic Modern Lounge Chairs
Rattan
Antique 19th Century European Empire Side Chairs
Wood, Paint
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Dining Room Chairs
Boxwood, Kingwood, Rosewood, Satinwood
Antique 19th Century Empire Chairs
Mahogany
Vintage 1920s European Empire Chairs
Cotton, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
Vintage 1910s French Empire Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Empire Chairs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century French Empire Chairs
Wood, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs
Vintage 1950s French Empire Lounge Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Side Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Cotton, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Antique 19th Century French Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Austrian Chairs
Antique Late 19th Century European Empire Revival Lounge Chairs
Metal
Antique 1880s Swedish Empire Chairs
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Empire Chairs
Other
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Chairs
Bronze
Antique 1880s Swedish Empire Chairs
Fabric, Giltwood
Early 20th Century French Empire Chairs
Brass, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Armchairs
Walnut, Fabric
Antique 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Side Chairs
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Side Chairs
20th Century Empire Chairs
Cherry
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Empire Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Empire Chairs?
Finding the Right Seating for You
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.
- What is an Empire chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021An Empire chair refers to a piece of seating furniture created in the Empire style. A phase of the neoclassical style, the Empire style gets its name from the rule of the Emperor Napoleon I. The furniture is colossal, weight-wise, and richly adorned with bronze and marble. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary Empire chairs from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
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