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 ...
Ormolu
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...
Bronze
$1,496Sale Price|25% Off
French Empire Gilt Gold Leaf Bench Oversized 48"
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 ...
Gold Leaf
Elegant Pair of Empire Benches, Copenhagen, Denmark
Located in Kastrup, DK
Pair of Empire benches crafted in mahogany. The high, architecturally designed sides feature string inlay in satinwood, topped with an ebonized panel and mounted with gilt bronze orn...
Brass
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...
Bronze
Empire Style Painted Iron Bench, 19th Century, French
Located in El Monte, CA
A highly decorative and unique 19th century French empire painted and parcel gilt cast iron upholstered bench. Parcel gilt border is of a rich gold with warm red undertone painting ...
Iron
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Bronze
Unavailable
H 17.72 in W 59.45 in D 19.69 in
21st Century Empire-Style Bed Bench with Plated Fabric by Modenese Interiors
By Modenese Gastone
Located in PADOVA, Italy
This lovely pleated bench by Modenese Gastone Interiors will make a classy statement at the foot of a bed or as part of the decor in any living or night space. Upholstered in a white...
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Original Vintage Hindustan Ambassador Car Taxi Bench
Located in Senden, NRW
Stunning modification of an original Hindustan Ambassador car, the Asian automobile all-rounder of India, similar to the VW Beetle for two people. The taxi bench stands firmly on a w...
Metal
Pair of Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze-Mounted Tabourets
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Empire style gilt bronze-mounted mahogany tabourets or X-frame stools, with scrolled arms with gilt bronze medallions and upholster in a green linen moiré, as well as the s...
Ormolu
Sold
H 28 in W 44.5 in D 18.5 in
Pair French Empire Style Ebonized & Brass Mounted Upholstered Benches
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions: 28 inches High x 44.5 inches wide x 18.5 inches deep. Seat height 19 inches. This elegant pair of French Empire style benches, dating to the second half of the 20th cen...
Brass
Handsome leather and wrought iron military campaign sale bench.
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a hand wrought iron and leather campaign style bench. This bench has a dark brown leather basket weave to the seating. The bench has a hand wrought iron sleek empire style fr...
Iron
Danish Early 19th Century Empire Black Polished Mahogany Bench
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Danish early 19th century empire bench. Frame in mahogany with a black French polish. Newly upholstered in a teal velour fabric. Scrolled spindle sides with geometric brass i...
Brass
Antique Late Empire Benches, Denmark
Located in Kastrup, DK
Decorative late empire benches crafted in solid elm wood. Seat upholstered in striped linen from Colefax & Fowler in the beige and blue palette. Seat height: 48 cm. Arms joined by ...
Bronze
Sold
H 21 in W 31.5 in D 16.5 in
Vintage Regency Empire Style Curule Iron Figural Swan Bench After Maison Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful iron curule bench stylized after Maison Janse, circa 1970s. Features a woven metal seat and figural brass swan heads.
Brass, Iron
Empire Style Upholstered Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary empire-style bench in great condition hand-crafted out of mahogany wood and professionally restored by our craftsmen team. This vintage piece features scrolled legs ...
Brass
Italian Empire Style Iron Bench
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorative Italian Empire style iron bench with swans. A great accent piece!
Iron
Italian Empire Style Polished Steel and Leather Bench
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome Italian Empire style polished steel and leather bench. Notice the swans on the top part of the metal. A quality piece!
Steel
Empire French Upholstery Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This antique brass bench has been professionally reupholstered in bright red color mohair fabric and given a square tufted design. The bench has new foam inserts, top-stitch details,...
Brass
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Bench
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Russian Empire bench. This mahogany bench features a pierced backrest adorned with peacocks and arrows in the middle and gilded bronze mounts on top. Armrests decorated wit...
Bronze
Sold
H 17.72 in W 47.25 in D 17.72 in
Early 19th Century Danish Empire Bench in Mahogany with Linen Seat Cushion
Located in Kastrup, DK
Danish empire bench. Mahogany apron with brass inlays. Tapered legs. Newly upholstered linen seat cushion. Denmark, early 19th century.
Brass
Sold
H 18 in W 19 in D 14.75 in
Pair of French 1880s Walnut Empire Style Curule Stools with New Upholstery
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Empire style Curule walnut tabourets stools from the late 19th century, with new upholstery and nailhead trim. Born in France during the last quarter of the 19th cen...
Brass
Sold
H 19 in W 24.5 in D 13.5 in
Antique Savonarola Italian Regency Empire Style Cast Iron Griffin Bench Stool
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Savonarola Italian Regency Empire style cast iron Griffin bench stool. Item includes cast iron frame, metal seat, winged griffins/ lions, X-frame base, 19th century. Measurem...
Iron
Antique French Empire Style Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 1900's Empire Style French Bench is made out of Mahogany Wood and has been professionally restored. The Bench has been newly stained in deep black color with a lacquered ...
Brass
French 19th Century Empire Style Petite Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This French 19th century Empire style stool is made out of maple wood covered with a beautiful exotics burl veneer and has been professionally restored. This petite stool has been ne...
Brass
Antique French Forged Iron Bench
Located in Austin, TX
French antique forged iron bench with a strong design. This hand-hammered piece has bronze bun feet and detailing. The top cushion has been newly upholstered. There is a pair of matc...
Bronze, Iron
Sold
H 20.75 in W 38.5 in D 15.25 in
French 1870s Empire Style Walnut Bench with Bronze Mounts and Velvet Upholstery
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Empire style walnut bench from the late 19th century, with velvet upholstered seat and bronze mounts. Born at the end of Napoleon III's reign during the third quarter of the...
Bronze
Pair of Empire-Style X Form Painted Stools
Located in Sheffield, MA
The pair of 20th century Empire-style Curule benches are painted black with protective brass feet and escutcheons. The center bar is turned wood. The padded seats are newly upholster...
Brass
Late 19th Century French Empire Style X Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 1890's French Empire-style X-shaped bench features a mahogany frame stained in a rich mahogany color with a lacquered finish. The sides of the bench have a turned handle bar and...
Brass
Rider Gold Velvet and Brass Bench
By Jonathan Adler
Located in New York, NY
Golden glow. Our updated take on Empire style, the Rider Bench doubles as a tiny table when topped with a tray. An embroidered plush velvet seat on sabot-detailed legs. Gleaming bras...
Brass
Sold
H 26.25 in W 30 in D 17 in
French Turn of the Century Iron Upholstered Stool with Bronze Griffin Heads
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French iron stool from the turn of the century (19th to 20th century) features a rectangular smooth muslin upholstered seat with comfy cushion, supported by four iron legs adorn...
Bronze, Iron
French Empire Style Polished Wrought Iron Three-Seat Bench
Located in Dallas, TX
Add extra seating to a mudroom or covered outdoors space with this nicely forged iron bench from France. The simple bench stands on eight straight legs embellished with a rectangular...
Iron
French Antique Empire Mahogany Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French, 1900s Empire bench. Mahogany wood frame, in original dark mahogany finish. Seat has burgundy color leather and coil springs for better comfort with nailhead decoration around...
Brass
Sold
H 33.47 in W 65.36 in D 21.66 in
18th Century Black Italian Empire Brass Inlaid and Vienna Straw Benches
Located in IT
A pair of ebonized walnut wood sofas from Lombardy, Italy, mid-20th century. Back splats are inlaid with brass motives and linked to a sinuous arm support, ending with a swan. Legs ...
Brass
1930s Antique Empire Style X-Pedestal Metal Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 1930s antique Empire style bench features a metal frame with a curved wood seat with its original finish. The X-pedestal leg design is adorned with gilt duck heads at its base. ...
Metal
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.
Don’t underestimate a good bench — antique and vintage benches are storage pieces, stylish accents and statement-making additional seating.
Today, benches are a great option to maximize seating in your house and outdoor space. The perfect option to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in foyers and entryways, benches can also transform dining areas, making it possible to host a hungry family with limited space. Whether you’re sprucing up your entertaining with upholstered Empire-style benches or adding more options to a dining room that’s seen a farmhouse makeover, this humble furnishing has only become more versatile over the years. Designers have recognized the demand for a good bench, crafting the convenient seating alternative from a range of materials, including wood, iron and even concrete.
Mid-century modern benches from George Nakashima, Charlotte Perriand and the pared-down Platform bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller are classics of innovation, but maybe you’re looking for an unconventional design approach to your home's seating. Opt for something totally outside the box — an antique pine church-pew bench paired with a vintage wool throw and stationed under the mounted coatrack in your mudroom is a distinctive touch.
For your outdoor oasis, a wrought-iron patio bench is the obvious choice but not the only option. An enclosed back patio would do well to inherit a rattan bench with cushions, but it can be susceptible to weathering and should be covered or moved indoors when not in use.
Whatever your seating arrangement needs are, find vintage, new and antique benches for every space on 1stDibs.