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
EARLY 19th CENTURY TEN EMPIRE CHERRY CHAIRS
Located in Firenze, FI
Ten elegant, finely carved, solid cherry wood chairs. The chairs feature slightly curved legs at the front, with feral tips, and a lyre-shaped backrest made of Swiss pine, carved and...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Cherry, Fruitwood
$11,011 / set
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
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
French 19th century Empire st. patinated wood and Giltwood settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and large scale French 19th century Empire st. patinated wood and Giltwood settee. This exceptional settee is raised by seven supports, with four being circular front legs...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Giltwood
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
$1,898 Sale Price / set
50% Off
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
Empire Mahogany Bench with Blue Linen Upholstery, Satinwood and Gilt Bronze I
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 Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
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
19th Century French Empire Period Daybed
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Elegant 19th Century French mahogany Period Empire meridienne or day bed of lovely proportions. With bronze escutcheons and floral roundels to both sides. Two bolster cushions. A bea...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
19th C. French Empire Mahogany Desk Armchair with Scroll Arms and Leather Seat
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant 19th-century French Empire desk chair, carved circa 1870, features a sculptural mahogany frame with a rich, warm patina and classic neoclassical lines. The barrel-form b...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of French Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Vienna, AT
Walnut frame with a tapestry manufactures about 1870 in France, carved with acanthus leaves and palmettes and painted with gold, the armrests supported by gilt griffins partialy pai...
Category
1870s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Tapestry, Walnut
$3,939 / set
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
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
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
French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French 19th century Empire st. Mahogany and Ormolu bench. This wonderful rectangular bench with a fitted leather seat is raised by four scrolled legs with a bottom Ormolu ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
Mahogany Settee Made in France, Circa 1780
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Settee has a mahogany frame with tapered hand front legs with hand-carved decorative flowers on each leg and the seat back. The cushion is upholstered in a modern striped fabric.
Category
1790s French Antique Empire Seating
Set of 4 natural rustic style chairs en wood and leather from the 1930s
Located in Cantù, IT
Set of 4 natural rustic style chairs en wood and leather from the 1930s - dark solid wood frame, oval back with carved details with brown leather seat with studded finish and underst...
Category
20th Century Italian Empire Seating
Materials
Animal Skin, Wood
American Empire Style Carved Mahogany
Beige, Red,
Striped Upholstery Sofa
Located in Queens, NY
American Empire three-seat sofa with a carved mahogany frame with scroll arms, upholstered in a vertically striped beige, green, and red fabric, and resting on four large carved oval...
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric
Fine Pair Of French Empire Style Upholstered Armchairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Pair of burl walnut Empire style armchairs with upholstered seats and backs featuring fine craftsmanship with a square top rail and stylized carved accent on front of each arm suppor...
Category
19th Century Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Burl
Restored Empire Seating Set, Spruce, Cherry Wood, Polish, Austria, 1850s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Sofa dimensions
Height: 70 cm (27.6 in)
Width: 130 cm (51.2 in)
Depth: 53 cm (20.9 in)
Seat height: 48 cm (18.9 in)
Armchair dimensions
Height: 70 cm (27.6 in)
Width: 65 cm (27.6 in...
Category
1850s Austrian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Spruce, Lacquer, Fabric, Cherry
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
$4,000 Sale Price / set
60% Off
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
Set of 3 Italian Empire style Painted and Giltwood Stools, C. 1890.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A refined trio of stools, each featuring a white-painted and giltwood frames with classical carved details and turned tapering legs. The combination of painted surfaces, gilded acce...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
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
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
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
Finely Carved Mahogany Settee Loveseat Empire Claw Feet Tall Back CLEAN
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Finely Carved Mahogany Settee Loveseat Empire Claw Feet Tall Back CLEAN
Category
20th Century American Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Sofa Bench French Empire Mahogany Brass Brown France
Located in New York, NY
A rare sofa made in France during the Empire period, circa 1790-1810. Mahogany frame with gilded brass decor shaped as palm leaves. Tapered legs en...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Side Chair by Friedrich Rambach, master carpenter, Stockholm active 1834-1861.
Located in Stockholm, SE
A unique Empire lounge chair with brass detail on neckrest. By master carpenter Friedrich Rambach, active in Stockholm, Sweden between 1834-1861. Beautiful "Emma" chair like style wi...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Brass
Mint Condition Empire Sofa Sette Loveseat Couch Fine Carved Details Lions Feet
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Note: Full price include new upholstery service, buyer to provide fabric.
Mint condition empire sofa sette loveseat couch fine carved details lions feet.
The frame is stunning vint...
Category
20th Century American Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique 19th Century American Empire Ottoman
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique 19th century American Victorian Empire box seat ottoman or stool featuring large crotch flame mahogany wood veneer with rolling casters. The ottoman has a large size seat mak...
Category
19th Century American Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Empire Style Carved Giltwood Tub Chairs with Green Velvet Upholstery.
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Important Pair of Empire Style Carved Giltwood Tub Chairs with Green Velvet Upholstery. The Lion Monopedia side supports feature finely carved detail and a realistic pose.
These...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Velvet, Giltwood
French Empire Mahogany Settee, Early 19th Century
Located in London, by appointment only
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Settee
An Empire finely carved dark figured mahogany three seat settee, the back is surmounted by facing scrolls with strigilated flutes be...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Style Mahogany Library Tub Fauteuil de Bureau or Desk Chair
Located in Nashville, TN
Of generous proportions and presence . The front mounted with well cast bronze mounts (of some size and weight ). The top with French interpretations of the Greek Caryatids (very att...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Wood
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
Mid 19th century Swedish birch empire stool
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century birch empire stool circa 1850.
Scandinavian empire period stool made in birch. Shaped support handles which flow through to the 4 splayed legs. Original floral ta...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Tapestry, Birch
Empire Style High Sided Bench with Gilt Details and Mohair Velvet Upholstery
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1920s French Empire style wooden stool has an antique white painted frame with gilded details and new gray mohair velvet upholstery. Two stools available at the time of posting...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Seating
Materials
Gesso, Upholstery, Wood
Restored Empire Sofa, Walnut, Spruce, Revived Polish, Austria, 1810s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This Empire-style sofa from the early 19th ceThis Empire-style sofa from the early 19th century was crafted in Austria and represents an exceptional example of furniture craftsmanshi...
Category
1810s Austrian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Walnut, Spruce
An Empire Style Mahogany Desk Chair, By Kahn, Paris
By Kahn
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Empire Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Desk Chair, By Kahn, Paris.
Incised ‘L. KAHN’ to the back of the mounts.
The bow-shaped top rail applied with a gilt-bronze anthemion m...
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Russian Empire Side Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of Russian Empire Side Chairs - Original untouched finish newly reupholstered seat in Jim Thompson fabric.
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
$6,090 / set
Empire Solid Mahogany Desk Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Empire mahogany desk chair or fauteuil de bureau.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mahogany
$7,200 Sale Price
28% Off
19th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Pair Armchair
Located in Tarry Town, NY
19th century French Empire style handcrafted gilt bronze mahogany framed upholstered pair of armchair. Each armchairs is set on four straight mahogany legs, the front two of which ar...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
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
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
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
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
Antique 19th Century French Empire Gold Bronze
Mahogany "Lit de Repos" Daybed.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 19th century French Empire Gold Bronze & Mahogany "Lit de Repos" Daybed.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany Pink Chaise
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) mahogany chaise with bronze trim and large pink and gold cushion upholstery
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
Italian Neoclassical Hall Bench
Located in New York, NY
Italian neoclassical hall bench. Large and handsomely proportioned cassapanca / walnut bench in two parts with upper dentil carved trim around arms and paneled back. All fitted into ...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Walnut
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
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
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
French Empire Period Mahogany Armchair with Swans
Heads
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Empire period mahogany fauteuil or armchair with saber legs and swans' heads on the arms. The chair is upholstered neoclassical-patterned cut mohair fabric.
Category
19th Century French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Mohair, Mahogany
Russian Empire Period Desk Chair
Located in Pembroke, MA
Lovely burled birch wood ("loupe de bouleau de Carélie") desk chair from the Russian Empire, and recently reupholstered in French damask fabric wi...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Damask, Upholstery, Burl, Birch
Pair 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchairs with Leather
Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchairs with Leather & Bronze Mounts are ideal for the Conference Room, an office environment, a large game table, or just to use around th...
Category
1890s French Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Pair of Empire / Biedermeier Solid Beech Bergeres, New Upholstered
Located in Darmstadt, DE
An elegant pair of Empire/Biedermeier bergères crafted from solid beech wood in the early 19th century.
Both chairs have been fully restored, hand-polished, and newly upholstered wit...
Category
19th Century German Antique Empire Seating
Materials
Beech
$8,305 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Carved Empire Upholstered Chairs, Set of 10
Located in Annville, PA
The set of 10 Carved Empire Upholstered Chairs comprise of a group with 2 arm chairs and 8 side chairs. All chairs with a carved top rail and featuring a fully upholstered back which...
Category
2010s Empire Seating
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
$7,535 / set
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
Italian Empire Style Black Lacquered Scroll Armchair
Located in Chicago, IL
Pretty Empire Style Black Lacquered Black Scroll Armchair most likely made in Italy. Has a pretty seat upholstery.
The chair has wear and some previ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Seating
Materials
Upholstery
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
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.