Under Napoleon III’s rule, Paris underwent a great rebuilding overseen by Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, which created grand avenues and lavish landmarks like the Paris Opera. Antique Napoleon III–style furniture was flamboyant and eclectic. It was also known as Second Empire style since it followed and referenced the Empire style of his uncle Napoleon I.
Developing from 1852–70, Napoleon III furniture was plush and ornate, matching the fashion for masked balls and socializing in salons. It borrowed freely from earlier French styles including Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI as well as aesthetics from around the world, from antiquity to Asian art. As writer Gustave Claudin remarked in 1867, the country’s architects worked in “a style which one would be tempted to call neo-Greco-Gothico-Pompadour-Pompeian.”
Napoleon III chairs were completely covered with velvet and lined with tassels; pouf footstools invited people to put up their feet. Sofas were upholstered with tapestries, and beds were adorned with gilt bronze and theatrical canopies. The addition of conservatories to homes led to new indoor-outdoor furniture, while the spirit of hygiene promoted by Baron Haussmann inspired bright, floral motifs.
Although the most ostentatious designs were for the elite, as seen in the Napoleon III apartments preserved in the Louvre, where red velvet, gilding and chandeliers create a cacophony of luxury, these trends influenced homes across classes as manufacturing made design increasingly accessible. Papier-mâché furniture allowed for elaborate shapes that would have been difficult to carve in wood. The malleable material was painted with chinoiserie patterns and decorative designs. It was mass-produced by factories such as Jennens and Bettridge with varnishing and mother-of-pearl inlays creating an effect reminiscent of Asian lacquer. (Surfaces that had been “japanned” — a specialty of Jennens and Bettridge — were intended to resemble lacquer work that was created in East Asia.)
Find a collection of antique Napoleon III decorative objects, tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Covered Bowl in Red and Gold Bohemian Crystal, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Covered bowl in red and gold Bohemian crystal, 19th century. A 19th century red and gold Bohemian crystal covered bowl, Napoleon III period. Dimensions : H: 38cm, D: 14cm Contact ...
Crystal
Napoleon III Porcelain Basket
Located in New Orleans, LA
A delightful French basket mounted in doré bronze which provides the framework for the six panels veneered in mother-of-pearl and set with French porcelain plaques...
Bronze
Empire planter with bronze mount 19th Century
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Empire planter with bronze mount 19th Century Antique cut glass planter with a gilt bronze mount with a neoclassical design with 4 ladies, two on each side with ribbons and ornaments...
Bronze
Napoleon III Gilt Brass Woven Oval Basket, France, 1870s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Napoleon III Gilt Brass Woven Oval Basket, France, 1870s 13" W × 10.5" D × 3" H Elegant and finely executed, this Napoleon III–period gilt brass oval basket, France, circa the 1870...
Brass
$310Sale Price|31% Off
Green Glass Basket Center Piece or Empty Pocket, French circa 1900
Located in Labrit, Landes
French green molded glass basket, to be used as a center piece or empty pocket. Decorated with vegetal and floral motifs on imitation wickerwork. Good condition Shipping: 10 ...
Glass
Mid-19th Century Hand-Painted French Porcelain Urn, Napoleon III Style
Located in Stockbridge, GA
19th century French porcelain urn painted with polychrome decoration.
Porcelain
A 19th C French Wirework Log Carrier Basket This is a charming piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A 19th C French Wirework Log Carrier Basket This is a charming piece based on the design of a French Tuileries Flower Basket, it is made in heavy wrought iron, one thing to point o...
Iron
POCKET EMPTYER - Carrara Marble Contemporary Pocket Emptier by Sfero Design
Located in Cologna Veneta, IT
POCKET EMPTYER (Pocket Emptier) - Designed by Sfero Design The Carrara marble pocket emptier ("Svuotatasche" in Italian), inspired by Virgil Abloh's aesthetic, features a regular, ...
Marble, Carrara Marble
Vintage Oval Woven Rattan Basket with Lid and Geometric Motifs
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese vintage unusual oval-shaped rattan basket from the mid-20th century, with lid and geometric motifs. Crafted in China during the midcentury period, this woven rattan basket...
Rattan
French Porcelain Compote Basket
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful French oval white and gold pierced Paris Porcelain compote basket tazza bowl in the Empire style, circa late 19th century, France...
Porcelain
$909
H 15.75 in W 14.97 in D 21.66 in
THESA Oval Storage Basket by Limac Design, Woven Leather, Modern
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
THESA storage basket in woven leather is the new proposal by LIMAC Design® Class among the multipurpose bins for the home, hotel and naval sector. Made of leather with an ergonomic h...
Leather
$2,400
H 9.65 in Dm 11.82 in
Late 19th Century Napoleon III Empire Gilt Bronze Putti and Marble Centerpiece
Located in Berlin, DE
Late 19th Century French Empire gilt bronze putti and marble centerpiece The centerpiece stands on a triangular, fluted base with arched feet; on th...
Marble, Bronze
$4,201
H 12.21 in W 16.54 in D 9.45 in
A Large Sèvres Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Bowl, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A large Sèvres porcelain and gilt bronze bowl, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A Sèvres porcelain and ormolu bowl, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Dimensions : H: 31cm, W: 42...
Bronze
$634
H 2.56 in W 13.39 in D 11.82 in
Crab-Shaped Woven Basket - Decorative Straw & Wood Basket - France 1970s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Crab-Shaped Woven Basket - Decorative Straw & Wood Basket - France 1970s Unusual decorative basket, a truly original piece! This charming, zoomorphic decorative basket is craft...
Straw, Rattan, Wood, Fruitwood
Small 19th Century French Bronze Mortar with Pestle
Located in Dallas, TX
This small bronze mortar and pestle are from 19th century France. The outside of the mortar has been adorned with mascarons and geometric patterns that rise from chased sides. The pe...
Bronze
19th Century English Dairy Bowl
Located in High Point, NC
19th century sycamore dairy bowl from England. The outside rim is decorated with routing for added design detail. These bowls were used around the farm or dairy farm to collect mil...
Sycamore
Bamboos Oval Cup or Center Piece
Located in Paris, FR
Cup or center piece bamboos oval with polished stainless steel cup structure on gold-plated 24-karat on stainless steel base.
Gold Plate, Stainless Steel
Davis Hall Nantucket South Shoal Lightship Hand Woven Basket, circa 1870s
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful and quite rare and hard to find nantucket lightship basket by Davis Hall, (1828-1906). Hall's baskets are prized by collectors of lightship baskets worldwide. This basket is made with his traditional swing handle and rounded lollipop connecting two ends. Hall cultivated his basket-making skill on the South shoal lightship after the American Civil War...
Wood, Cane, Rattan
Marble Bowl, 20th Century, Napoleon III Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Marble bowl, 20th century, Napoleon III style. A 20th century grey marble bowl in the Napoleon III style. Dimensions : H: 24cm, D: 35cm Contact us before ordering to confirm produc...
Marble
Sold
H 8.67 in W 11.03 in D 7.49 in
Gilt Bronze and Hand-Painted Porcelain Jewellery Box, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Gilt bronze and hand-painted porcelain jewellery box, Napoleon III period, 19th century. Gilt bronze and hand-painted porcelain jewellery box, Napoleon III period, 19th century. H: ...
Bronze
20th Century Porcelain Bowl and Aperitif Stand, Napoleon III Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
20th century porcelain bowl and aperitif stand, Napoleon III style. H: 10cm, D: 33cm
Porcelain
Sold
H 9.06 in W 18.12 in D 7.88 in
Porcelain biscuit basket decorated with putto and feline, 19th century
Located in Paris, FR
A large biscuit-type white porcelain basket featuring a putto guiding a prancing fawn adorned with a garland of flowers, harnessed to a richly molded chariot with rocaille decoration...
Porcelain
Sold
H 12.21 in W 15.75 in D 7.88 in
Opaline Bowl with Gilt bronze Mounting, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Opaline bowl with gilt bronze mounting, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A Napoleon III period cup, 19th century, in two-coloured opaline, gilt brass mount. H: 31cm, W: 40cm, D: ...
Opal, Bronze
Silvered Bronze and Crystal Cup by Christofle, 19th Century.
By Christofle
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
" Silvered Bronze and Crystal Cup by Christofle, 19th Century. " Bronze cup by the Maison Christofle in silvered bronze and crystal, 19th century antique, Napoleon III period. h: 16...
Crystal, Bronze
Cup in Bohemian Overlay, Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Cup in Bohemian Overlay, Napoleon III period. Napoleon III period cup, 19th century in Bohemian Overlay, silver mounting. H: 30cm, D: 38cm.
Crystal, Silver
Sold
H 36 in W 18 in D 13 in
19th Century French Copper Planter on Integral Three-Leg Wrought Iron Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
This large antique copper planter was crafted in France, circa 1880. Round in shape and dressed with iron side handles, the large decorati...
Copper, Wrought Iron
Mid-19th Century French Brass Repousse Cache-Pot on Integral Pedestal Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
This large antique brass planter was crafted in France, circa 1870. Round in shape and dressed with lion head figure side handles, the decorativ...
Brass
Bronze and Crystal Basket, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bronze and crystal basket, 19th century. Bronze and crystal basket, 19th century, Louis XVI style, beautiful gilding and chasing, Napoleon III period. In perfect condition Measure...
Crystal, Bronze
Sold
H 1.19 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in
French Tray Napoleon III Style in Metal Hand Painted with Gold Paint
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Large French Toilet or bath tray...
Metal
19th Century French Brass Repousse Cache-Pot on Integral Pedestal Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
This large antique brass planter was crafted in France, circa 1880. Round in shape, the decorative cache pot stands on an integral circular...
Brass
19th Century Crystal and Bronze Cup
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A 19th century crystal and bronze cup A beautiful crystal bowl with gilt bronze trim. Louis XVI style Napoleon III period Diameter: 31 cm Height: 15,5 cm.
Crystal, Bronze