Empire Armchairs
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
Pair of French Consulate Arm Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Consolate mahogany (circa 1800) open arm chairs with beige leather seat and square back with an open X design (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
$28,000 / set
Set of Four 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A set of four French Empire fauteuils-armchairs in carved and veneered mahogany with beautiful carving and scale.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Fauteuils in Mahogany with Bronze Doré Ormolu, circa 1810
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exquisite pair of Empire armchairs/ fauteuils in fine mahogany with bronze dore´ ormolu mounts decorating the upper crest and lower back splat, with rosettes and palmettes on legs...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Continental Walnut Armchair
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality continental carved walnut armchair, remaining in very good condition.
Width: 73cm Depth: 102cm Height: 100cm.
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Walnut
An Elegant Pair Italian Empire Pale-green Painted and Parcel-gilt Armchairs
Located in San Francisco, CA
each with incurved back sloping to join a tight seat flanked by bowed arms ending in swan neck terminals; raised on cabriole legs; adorned overall with giltwood acanthus leaves, bell...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
$12,640 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Swedish Empire revival mahogany 3 piece lounge suite
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish empire revival mahogany 3 piece lounge suite circa 1900.
We are pleased to offer this empire revival suite from Sweden.
Set consists of 2 armchairs with matching table. Th...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Empire Armchairs
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Gold Bronze Mounted Mahogany Armchair, Circa 1880-1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Empire Style Gold Bronze Mounted Mahogany Armchair, Circa 1880-1890.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair Empire Style leather armchairs
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Pair Empire Style leather armchairs very wide and comfortable with golden print on the seat and back
Category
1980s French Vintage Empire Armchairs
Materials
Leather, Birch
$1,827 / set
Pair of Continental Rustic Style Wooden Armchairs with Carved Owl Head Armrests
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Continental Rustic style open armchairs having gold and brown upholstered seat and back with carved owl arm supports (PRICED AS PAIR)
Category
20th Century Unknown Empire Armchairs
Materials
Gold
Pair of Late 19th Century Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of late 19th century lounge chairs are in the Empire style. The curved arms end with carved acanthus leaves. The seats and borderin...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Linen, Wood
$4,800 / set
French Empire Mahogany Arm Chair
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire style (19th Cent) mahogany round back dolphin arm chair with bronze trim and gold upholstery
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Gianni Versace Armchairs from the Vanitas 1994 Collection
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare pair of elegant and unique mahogany and gilt armchairs designed by Gianni Versace, part of the 1994 Vanitas Furniture collection. The front legs have columnar shaping and tape...
Category
1990s Italian Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Chairs 1950
s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Empire style chairs made in high quality wood and red fabric. in a very good condition.
PRICE PER PIECE.
Category
1950s Belgian Vintage Empire Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$1,750 / item
French Empire Style Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A true masterpiece of early 19th-century design, this luxurious armchair boasts an ebonized wood frame adorned with intricate gold detailing. The sweeping, low arms gracefully terminate in hand-carved stylized swans, embodying the grandeur of classical French aesthetics.
The finely carved frame is further embellished with palmette and lotus leaf motifs, lending an air of regal sophistication. The fully upholstered inside back and seat cushion, crafted in plush crushed...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Wood
$5,844 / item
Empire Armchairs, Pierre-Benoît Marcion, France, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Set of eight armchairs by the French ébéniste Pierre-Benoît Marcion, with carved lion's heads and paw feet. The frame is made of polished mahogany. The backrests and seats are newly ...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
Elegant Danish Empire Armchair, circa 1810
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant and decorative Empire armchair. Made in mahogany, with light wood inlaid (lemon tree). Oval backboard in ebonised wood. Front of arms in the form of wooden cut grippers with ...
Category
1810s Danish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany, Velvet, Wood, Fruitwood
Vintage Pair of Empire Style Fauteuils with Carved Dolphin Arms by Century, USA
Located in Morristown, NJ
Late 20th c., high quality American made pair of custom upholstered Fruitwood frame armchairs, labeled under seat.
This pair of armchairs from Century Furniture Industries in Hickor...
Category
1980s American Vintage Empire Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of French Empire mahogany armchairs.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Empire Salon Suite, France 1810, Manner of Jacob Desmalter (1770-1841)
Located in Leimen, DE
Empire Salon Suite, France 1810
Step back in time to the opulent era of 19th-century France with the exquisite Elegant Empire Salon Suite, crafted i...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Late 19th Century Carved and Painted Wood Classical Style Open Armchairs
Located in Hudson, NY
This pair of chairs Swedish or Scandinavian in manufacture were made circa 1880-1900. Of large-scale and finely carved they are in the Empire or Regency taste. Decorative elements in...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Armchairs Fauteuil White Carved Back 1800s 1900s Antique Empire
Located in Lewes, England
Unusual Late 1800s early 1900s French antique pair of armchairs in original white paint with carved backs and beautiful curved arms and legs. They hark back to Napoleon's favorite Em...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bentwood
$3,833 Sale Price
43% Off
19th Century Unique Empire Armchair Around 1820, France, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
19th century Unique Empire armchair around 1820, France, Mahogany
Solid mahogany wood, France around 1820/30.
Finely carved swan's heads on each armrest. Extremely high quality a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Empire Period Mahogany Fauteuils, France ca. 1810-20
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Empire Period French carved mahogany fauteuils from the early 19th century.
Each with a rectangular padded back with downcurved reeded arms, the bow front upholstered seat...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
19th Century Gold Gilt and Painted Empire Armchair
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is a beautiful Empire chair that we purchased in Naples, Italy. This is a classic style, with a fun pop of color with blue velvet that can be left as is or can be reupholstered ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Paint
$2,396 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Empire Mahogany Armchairs Stamped "Jacob D R Medee"
Located in Stamford, CT
This pair of capacious, perfectly designed and executed chairs was created by the workshop of George Jacob and his son, Francois, during the Empire period at their Parisian workshop ...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Green Armchairs with Bronze Mounts
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Empire style (19th Cent) mahogany Armchairs with bronze trim and eagle heads with green seat
Both chairs are in antique condition.
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Empire design Fauteuils in Mahogany, France, circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined pair of Empire design Fauteuils, each constructed in richly-figured mahogany. The pair French in origin, and dating from the fourth quarter of the 1800s.
Each chair with upholstered seat and back surrounded by exposed frames. The seats flanked by carved down-swept arms, and resting atop four splayed tapering legs.
Reference: "The Antiques Directory...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery
French Empire Blond Mahogany Swivel Leather Chair with Bronze Trim
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire blond mahogany swivel armchair upholstered in gilt embossed red leather with brass nail head trim and having bronze embellishments and medallions throughout with hoof s...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
a Pair of Newly Upholstered French Empire Armchairs One Stamped J. Louis
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic pair of French Empire period open armchairs in well figured and carved mahogany; each with a square back topped by a bow shaped carved frieze featuring folliate rosettes and downscrolled arms. Where the arms join the chair rail there are carved anthemians and palmettes. These two chairs are presented in the green Empire fabric...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Mahogany Armchair
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely empire style mahogany armchair from the end of the 19th century
Very good quality bronze and beautiful mahogany
Very beautiful armchair which can be used as a library chair or...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounted Armchairs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A striking pair of late French Empire mahogany armchairs, highly decorated with gilded bronze mounts on the upper back rail and all round the bottom of the seat as well. The curved open front arms terminate in carved dolphins. The chairs have been re-upholsterd in a cream and dark green striped antique silk fabric...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Silk, Mahogany
$5,600 Sale Price
30% Off
Pair Empire Gilt Arm Chairs Fauteuil
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous pair of French Empire Revival armchairs in gilt
Frames have been hand carved and are very intricate
Very comfortable to sit in - solid and sturdy
Seats, ar...
Category
1980s Vintage Empire Armchairs
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of Empire Armchairs, France ca. 1810
Located in Leimen, DE
Pair of Antique Empire Armchairs from France, Circa 1810
Discover this exquisite pair of Empire armchairs, crafted in France around 1810. These elegant chairs feature rich mahogany ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
$3,797 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Set Of 2 Antique Empire Style Armchairs Made In Mahogany From 1920s
Located in Lejre, DK
A pair of Danish Empire style hand-polished mahogany armchairs with striped fabric from around the 1920s.
Measurements in cm: H:84 W:52 D:47 SH:50
This product will be inspected ...
Category
1920s Danish Vintage Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
French Arm Chairs Gilt Seats Empire Hand Carved
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous pair of French gilt arm chairs in the Empire manner
Very comfortable with wide arms and cushioned seats, backs and arms
Chairs have just been reupholstered hence odour and s...
Category
1920s Vintage Empire Armchairs
Materials
Giltwood
$1,745 / set
Large armchair in walnut, leather and bronze, Empire style, circa 1930/1950
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Large armchair in walnut, leather and bronze, Empire style, circa 1930/1950
the leather on the back of the seat back has been replaced
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Empire armchair, French manufacture
Located in Baranzate, IT
Empire armchair made of wood and Vienna straw seat. France 1810.
Category
1820s French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Pair of French Empire Mahogany Armchairs One Stamped J Louis
By Jean Pierre Louis
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A classic pair of French Empire period open armchairs each with a square back topped by a bow shaped carved frieze featuring folliate rosettes and downscrolled arms. Where the arms ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
Baltic Set of 6 Empire-Armchairs, Mahogany, Design by Georg Friedrich Hetsch
Located in Göttingen, NI
A rare Baltic set of 6 Empire-armchairs - design by Georg Friedrich Hetsch
Mahogany richly carved and veneered
Side frame construction with inlaid upholstered seat on turned f...
Category
1820s Danish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Mahogany
19th C Italian Biedermeier Mahogany Reclining Lounge Chair w/ Cast Iron Hardware
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C Italian Biedermeier Mahogany Reclining Lounge Chair with Cast Iron Hardware. Item features a reclining back, solid wood frame, beautiful wood grain, distressed finish, nicely ...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Amazing Set of Armchair and 2 Chair First Empire Napoleon III Early 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of armchair and 2 chair First Empire Napoleon III early 19th Century
France
measure armchair: 86cm x 64cm x 54cm
measures chairs: 82cm x 50cm x 45cm
wood
proveniente : Roman...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of 20th Century French Armchairs Neo Gotic Style
By France"
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of polished wrought iron armchairs dating from the 70s. French work. Neo-Gothic style. Beautiful work done by hand. Measures: 54 x 86 x 48 cm 3250 EURO.
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Set of Four French Empire Fauteuil Armchairs in the Manner of Jacob Frères
Located in Long Island City, NY
These four early 19th-century Empire fauteuil armchairs, in the manner of the Jacob Frères cabinetmaking firm of the late 18th century, each feature a distinctive pediment-shaped cre...
Category
1810s French Antique Empire Armchairs
19th Century France Furnished Armchair Group
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid maple. Curved frame on curly legs. Strong curved supports in rolled volutes ending for slightly rising armrests. High-profile, contoured backrest frame with a wide finish. Seat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Maple
$7,300 Sale Price
20% Off
C19th pair of Swedish armchairs with decorative fretwork detailing
Located in London, GB
A pair of pretty but not overly fussy late C19th upholstered later painted Swedish open armchairs.
The backs have a decorative fretwork border detail and turned stretchers.
Reuphols...
Category
1870s Swedish Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Pine
Pair French Empire Chairs
Located in Swadlincote, GB
Wonderful pair French Empire chairs, ebony legs and recently upholstered in linen, very good overall condition,
32" high
29" wide
30" overall depth
20" seat depth
14" seat height
...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Ebony
Neoclassical Empire Early 19th Century Mahogany Desk Armchair
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual North European mahogany desk armchair with original brass castors. Fully carved armrests with eagle heads, the design probably by a designer from Berlin or Copenhagen (e.g...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Brass
Important Empire Early 19th Century Fauteuil by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Despite his long life, very little is known about the general production of menuisier (chairmaker) Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864) and even less about his use of bent laminates, which must be viewed as the most advanced of its kind until the appearance of Michael Thonet’s work of the 1830s.
The profound reverence for the classical world in enlightened circles in early 19th century Europe and the United States often resulted in the archaeological resurrection of the art, architecture, and design of ancient Greece and Rome. No chair employing the innovative technique of bending wood more boldly expresses this allegiance to the past than this armchair painted in le style antique and based on the ancient Roman sella...
Category
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Pair Of French 19th Century Empire St. Patinated Wood And Giltwood Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking pair of French 19th century Empire style Patinated wood and Giltwood armchairs. The pair of throne chairs are raised on impressive front quiver like circular tapered legs ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and patinated Wood armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality set of four French 19th century Empire style Mahogany and patinated Wood armchairs. Each attractive arm chair is raised on four tapered Mahogany legs. The...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Pair Of French Early 19th Century Empire Period Patinated Wood Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of French early 19th century Empire Period patinated wood armchairs. The pair are raised on front circular tapered legs with gilt carved foliate bands at the top and bottom wh...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
20th Century Napoleonic Swan Chair in the Empire Style Beechwood Poliment Gilded
Located in Berlin, DE
Very exact Fine-carved sculpture made of solid beech. Poliment gilded. Arranged frame on plastically carved legs ending in claws. Armrests volute-shaped bent in swan head. High-backe...
Category
20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Beech
Empire Style White and Gold Pair of Armchairs, Sharkskin Style Trim, 1950s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Empire style white carved wood with gold highlights pair of armchairs.
Standing on two front tapered legs and two back saber legs. Straight apron and uprights, rectangular backseat ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Empire Style Armchairs in Gilt and White Wood, 1950s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Empire style armchairs in white carved wood with gold highlights.
Standing on two front tapered legs and two back saber legs. Straight apron and uprights, rectangular backse...
Category
Mid-20th Century Empire Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Empire armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Empire armchairs 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 armchairs 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 armchairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include Century Furniture, Jacob Freres Rue Meslée, Modenese Gastone, and Jean Joseph Chapuis. 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 armchairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $495 and tops out at $151,397 while the average work can sell for $5,637.
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