1940s Carved Gilt Wood Swan Barrel Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, carved wood swan club chairs on castors set you could hope to find. In the style of George Smith. Outstanding design i...
Upholstery, Wood
$2,353Sale Price / set|20% Off
Empire Style Pair Of Italian Chairs "King" With "Vienna Straw"
Located in Prato, Tuscany
Empire Style Pair of Italian Chairs (Lucca) "King" with "Vienna Straw" We kindly suggest you read the entire description, as we aim to provide detailed technical and historical info...
Straw, Walnut
Original antique Empire Armchair circa 1860-1880 Massive Mahogany bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Original Empire armchair circa 1860-1880 massive mahogany 2 beautiful armchairs from an Empire room. Each 2 figures provided cast bronze. The chairs have a nice curve, in a top...
Mahogany
$763Sale Price / set|65% Off
Pair of Stately Antique French Empire Style Armchairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pair of high quality gorgeous vintage French Empire style club chairs from Bloomingdale's with handsome carved dolphin armrests. Probably walnut, faux painted a greige color. #4271 ...
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...
Beech
Swedish Empire Club Chairs, Gilt Finish, Green Stripe Upholstery
Located in Queens, NY
2 Swedish Empire-style (20th Century) gilt club chairs with green lacquered claw feet and stripe upholstery (PRICED EACH)
Giltwood
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...
Bronze
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...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 33.86 in W 23.23 in D 17.33 in
Antique Bergere Barley Twist Library Armchair with Brown Leather Seat
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique Bergere library armchair with barley twist form & brown leather upholstered seat, 1800s One popular furniture technique is a type of wood turning that first appeared in En...
Leather, Cane, Beech
19th Century Bergère Beech & Leather Armchairs Empire Legs
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Bergère Beech Armchair With Tan Leather Seat Pad Upon Empire Legs Circa 1800's Two Chairs In Stock Price Per Chair
Leather, Cane, Beech
French Empire Style Parcel Gilt Carved Mahogany Swan Chair
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant French empire style carved mahogany barrel back chair with exquisite gold details and the most magnificent gold swans on both of the arms! Upholstered in a cream silk fabric.
Silk, Mahogany, Giltwood
Sold
H 33 in W 26 in D 24 in
Pulaski French Empire Regency Figural Carved Dolphin Barrel Back Club Chair Seat
By Pulaski Furniture Corporation
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th century Pulaski Furniture barrel back arm chair. Features a mix of French Empire and Regency styling. Includes figural dolphin (delphin; Delphinus) arms and saber scrolled ...
Upholstery, Birch
Vintage Carved Walnut Framed Empire Style Armchair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A vintage Empire style leather 'faux-alligator' upholstered open armchair with carved scrolled arms and raised on out-swept sabre legs.
Wood
French Empire Style Swan Arm Tub Chair
Located in Atlanta, GA
20th century upholstered tub chair of carved and gilded walnut made in the French Empire style. The floral carved and gilded upper crest rail beautifully curves and terminates into p...
Upholstery, Walnut, Giltwood
Sold
H 36 in W 31 in D 28 in
Empire Neoclassical Gilt Gondola chair, Empress Joséphine, Swans, Silk lounge
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Empire style gilt gondola chair after the iconic design (1803) by the Jacob Frères for Empress Joséphine, Swans, Kravet couture raw silk. The Jacob Frères most famous client was J...
Silk, Wood
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchair
Located in San Marino, CA
A lovely 19th century French mahogany empire armchair featuring a curved back crest, scrolled arms and shaped legs. The back is fully upholstered.
Mahogany
Pair of Maitland-Smith Hand-Carved Mahogany Empire Armchairs
By Maitland Smith
Located in San Diego, CA
A pair of hand-carved mahogany empire armchair with gold metallic leaf swan accents and light yellow moire silk fabric by Maitland-Smith, circa 1980. Measures: Arm height is 30.5".
Mahogany
Upholstered Paris Chair, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
A comfortable Parisian chair, reupholstered. Original carved wood frame and iron casters in its front legs, circa 1890.
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 33 in W 25.5 in D 25.5 in
Chairs Pair Swedish 20th Lounge Chairs Century Mahogany Green Velvet Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Chairs Pair Swedish 20th Lounge Chairs Century Mahogany Green Velvet Sweden. Pair of club chairs made during the early 20th century in Sweden. Frame made from mahogany, upholstered i...
Mahogany
Club or Library Chairs Pair, Covered in "Leopard" Fabric
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Elegant and antique pair of Empire high chairs - New padding for hygiene with unusual modern tissue (it may be changed). Very interesting price for closing activities. M/927.
Walnut
Pair of Swedish Empire Armchairs
Located in Miami, FL
In mahogany and on carved feet with brass castors, the scroll arms with carved anthemion leaves at the top. In very good condition.
Wood
Pair of Philippe Starck Swan Armchairs
By Philippe Starck
Located in Antwerp, BE
Stunning set of silver Empire Chairs Philippe Starck designed these for the London Hotel Sanderson silvered swan arms and sabre legs Very rare !
Wood
Pair of Tufted Leather Empire Style Armchairs
Located in San Mateo, CA
A gorgeous pair of carved mahogany armchairs. These chairs have an arched incurved padded back and a moulded frame. The backs and seats are upholstered in tufted burgundy leather wit...
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Exemplary French Empire Club Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
A pair of exemplary shaped and decorated French Empire club chairs or bergères in mahogany. Arms with gilt-wood palmettes, fishtails and dolphin heads over carved pedestals with flut...
Mahogany, Giltwood, Upholstery
Winner Pair of French Empire Carved Wood and Upholstered Bergeres
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Bold white and red plaid fabric and super soft down seats, heavy figured and carved mahogany chairs with beautiful details such as flowers in the front top corners and brass nail hea...
Fabric, Wood
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Club Chairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of fine quality Empire influenced pair of French club chairs, circa 1900 Beautifully shaped swoop back, tapered legs. Measures: Seat height 17 1/2" Seat depth 20 1/2" ...
Mahogany
Empire bergere
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Empire style mahogany inlaid bergere with bronze mounts, circa 1910. This chair has large and fabulous bronze mounts. The chair was most likely made in France.
Bronze
$6,000 / set
H 40 in W 27 in D 24 in
Pair of Louis XVI Style Giltwood Fauteuils / Armchairs, France Circa 1900
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
An attractive & very comfortable pair of giltwood fauteuils, both frames decorated with carved & molded foliate motifs, showing arched crest-rails with upholstered backs, sided by pa...
Giltwood, Fabric
$8,237 / set
H 43.31 in W 71.66 in D 29.53 in
Seating Set of Baroque Sofa and Two Armchairs, Budapest, 1870s
Located in Budapest, HU
Beautiful baroque seating set consisting of a sofa and two armchairs. Extraordinary workmanship of the woods made according to the canons of the time. Measures sofa: Depth 75 cm,...
Velvet, Wood
$24,000 / set
H 42 in W 33 in D 26 in
French Pair of Louis XVI Style Marquise Bergere Giltwood Armchairs
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French pair of Louis XVI style marquise bergère armchairs, gilt wood, 19th century. In the clean and classic Louis XVI style, the name Marquise is attributed due to their exceptiona...
Velvet, Wood
$4,240Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.5 in W 85 in D 28 in
Antique 19th C. American Empire Flame Mahogany Claw Foot Parlor Sofa Couch 85"
Located in Dayton, OH
Fine American Empire parlor sofa / couch with classical form and masterful carvings. Made of flamed mahogany featuring carved back crest and flared rolled arms accented with carved f...
Mahogany, Burl
19th Century Ornate Louis Philippe Giltwood Mirror
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A large and highly decorative Louis Philippe period giltwood console mirror with arched top in the Louis XV style. The curvaceous frame of this 19th century mirror is beautifully age...
Gold Leaf
1960s French Toile Barrel Back Wood Castors Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning chairs you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, it bei...
Brass
$12,450
H 44 in W 78 in D 55.5 in
French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Campaign Day Bed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt-Bronze Mounted "Lit en Bateau" Officer's Campaign Bed. The "Boat Shaped" frame, surmounted with columns with Empire style gi...
Bronze
18th Century Italian Console Table with Gold Leaf & Faux Marble Top
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
18th Century Italian Console Table with Gold Leaf & Faux Marble Top Gorgeous piece purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos. Message us with any questions.
Marble
$1,160Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 34.75 in W 24.75 in D 21.25 in
Antique Pair of French Louis XVI Style Walnut Fauteuil Armchairs, 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of French Louis XVI style fauteuil armchairs offer caved walnut frame with foliate crest surmounting medallion form upholstered back, raised on reeded and tapered leg...
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
French Louis XVI Style Bergère
Located in Westwood, NJ
Inspired by an 18th-century original, this fauteuil features a finely carved frame with a paper twist arched top rail, gently downswept padded arms terminating in intricate scrolls, ...
Wood
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...
Wood
$61,942
H 88.98 in W 70.87 in D 94.89 in
Renaissance Style Oak Tester 4 Poster Bed Armorial Tapestry Bedspread King Size
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A vintage king size oak tester or four poster bed in the Renaissance style. Hand carved with Adam & Eve carvings in the headboard, figurative sculptures in the bedposts, three carve...
Oak
$24,850 / set
H 41.88 in W 24.25 in D 31.25 in
Fine Pair of French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Carved Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 19th-20th century Louis XVI style giltwood carved bergères, the recently upholstered and restored armchairs with a padded back, sides and loose cushion seat in ...
Fabric, Giltwood
French Pair of 19th Century Louis XVI Style Girandoles
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This dazzling pair of French girandoles are in wonderful antique condition. While technically they are candelabra for wax taper candles, the abundance of crystals draped and suspende...
Crystal, Brass
Extraordinary Pair Of Ram’s Head Club Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An exceptional pair of club chairs with intricately carved frames with bold Rams Head arms. The generous seats and backs are custom upholstered in a fine and deep Celadon hue faux su...
Fabric, Wood
1940s French Toile Barrel Back Cane Blue White Chair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1949s with this exquisite blue and white toile cane chair. The ultra rare chair exudes an air of history and refinement. Outsta...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
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.
Traditionally covered in leather and abundantly luxurious, antique and vintage club chairs are among the most comfortable pieces of furniture that you could ever bring into your living room. The classic club chair is one of the 52 types of chairs to know when decorating your home.
While the club chair was especially popular in France during the 1920s — known there as fauteuil confortable (or “comfortable armchair”) — modern versions are derived from those used in 19th-century English gentlemen’s clubs, which is believed to be the origin of their name. A riff on the traditional armchair, these seats typically have low backs, extra-wide armrests and more than sufficient padding to support extended lounging.
Well-known modern interpretations of the club chair can be found in Marcel Breuer’s pared-down Wassily lounge chair and in the cube-like seats of the LC collection, designed by Charles-Édouard “Le Corbusier” Jeanneret, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand. Debuting in 1956, the celebrated Eames lounge chair was a fresh, subversive new take on the classic English club chair and a culmination of experimentation by Charles and Ray Eames, its inventive creators.
When shopping for any style of club chair, be it a mid-century modern club chair, an Art Deco club chair or another type, you’ll want to think about the room you have in mind for this distinct seating. Club chairs occupy a lot of real estate, as they’re usually larger than standard chairs. (You’ll want to make certain that there is at least one foot of space around the chair, for example, to ensure the sitter doesn’t feel cramped and that there is room to move freely around the furnishing.) And although they were originally upholstered in leather, contemporary iterations of the club chair can be found in fabric and plastic.
Introduce a decadent atmosphere and a whole lot of comfort in your living room or reading nook. Explore a collection of antique, new and vintage club chairs on 1stDibs.