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.
Antique Pair French Blue Opaline Gilded Enamel Glass Perfume Bottles Flacon 1850
Located in Portland, OR
A very elegant pair of antique French Napoleon III blue enameled & gilded Opaline glass glass scent bottles or falcons, circa 1850. This lovely pair of blue Opaline glass scent bottl...
Enamel
$1,049Sale Price / set|25% Off
19th Century Blue Opaline Perfume Bottle with Enamel Decoration
Located in Paris, FR
Mid-19th century blue, opaline crystal set composed of a small flask, its stopper and a small, flower-shaped cup. The perfume bottle and flask are decorated with enameled and silver ...
Opaline Glass
$750Sale Price|21% Off
19th Century French Green Glass Demijohn
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental French hand blown glass demijohn or carboy with a rich, green glass color. Featuring a large neck with the glass nearly 1" thick where it was...
Glass
$900Sale Price|25% Off
Baccarat Blue Opaline Bubble Bath Bottle with Top Napoleon III Era
Located in Miami, FL
A large stunning French blue opaline glass bubble bath bottle dating from the 19th century. Unsigned Baccarat piece. Very attractive with vibrant colors. Overall good condition...
Opaline Glass
Petite French 1860s Napoleon III Period Crystal Toiletry Bottle with Silver Neck
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Napoleon III period petite crystal toiletry bottle from the mid-19th century, with silver neck. Born in France during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III, this lovely toiletry...
Crystal, Silver
Perfume holder Empire style ornaments enamel like wood Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Experience the epitome of refined luxury with this cylindrical handbag perfume holder, masterfully crafted from 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver. Topped with a screwed cap, it sh...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
$4,021Sale Price / set|25% Off
Mid-19th Century Pair of Green Opaline Flasks
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of green opaline perfume flasks with pointed stoppers and flower-shaped saucers. The stoppers and flasks are decorated with diamond-shaped patterns that have gilded stripes outl...
Opaline Glass
Pair of Bottles in Painted and Gilded Opaline, Napoleon III period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of bottles in Ppainted and Gilded Opaline, Napoleon III period. Nice pair of 19th century bottles, Napoleon III period, in painted and gilded opaline, crystal stopper...
Crystal
Art Nouveau - Style Sterling Silver Pedestal, Based Vase by Gorham
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau-Style, sterling silver, pedestal-based vase, Gorham Mfg. Company, Providence, Rhode Island, year-hallmarked for 1923. Hammered in design and chased with flowers. Measures...
Sterling Silver
Green Demijohn, Glass Wine Bottle, France, 1950s
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
This large light turquoise demijohn is a classic French demijohn from the 1950s. Light green / turquoise pressed glass with visible air pockets. A timeless home decor to set accents, as a floor vase with...
Glass
$1,311
H 3.55 in W 1.19 in D 0.87 in
19th Century Small Gold and Porcelain Scent Perfume Bottle in Box
Located in Delft, NL
19th century small porcelain scent perfume bottle in case Porcelain bottle with white and blue painted union pattern The gold mounting on the bottle is marked with the Dutch gold...
Gold
Opaline Perfume Bottle by Jean-Baptiste Desvignes
Located in Paris, FR
Small perfume bottle in white opaline with a ball-shaped stopper. Golden stripes, gold, and a dark blue wreath of roses, anemones, and forget-me-...
Opaline Glass
French Cut Crystal Flower Vase Amethyst or Pink Red
Located in Miami, FL
French Cut Crystal Flower Vase in Amethyst to Pink-Red Radiating timeless elegance, this French cut crystal flower vase embodies the refinement of fine Bohemian tradition. Attribute...
Crystal
$3,134
H 6.11 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Posey Holder or Tussy Mussy from 1878
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Sheffield, 1878 by Roberts & Belk, this very attractive, Victorian, antique, sterling silver Posey holder, or tussy mussy, has scroll pierced...
Sterling Silver
$9,500 / set
H 12 in Dm 5 in
Pr. 19th Century Antique Bohemian White Over Clear Crystal Maiden Portrait Vases
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 19th century Louis XVI style Bohemian white over clear crystal maiden portrait vases with hand-painted gilt décor. Each is beautifully hand-painted with gorgeous maidens lo...
Crystal
$5,428
H 5.12 in W 1.97 in D 1.97 in
19th Century Victorian Gilt Sterling Silver Posey Holder Hallmarked London, 1869
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London, in 1869, by Alexander Macrae, this stunning, antique, Victorian, sterling silver Posey holder, or tussie mussie, is gold-plated, and...
Sterling Silver
$3,322 / set
H 10.24 in W 11.42 in D 4.14 in
Nice Baccarat Crystal and Jacques Adnet Liquor Bottles Set
Located in Brussels, BE
Nice Baccarat crystal and Jacques Adnet liquor bottles set, circa 1930. In perfect and original conditions. With key.
Crystal, Metal
Lalique Crystal “Mascotte Equus” Men Perfume Bottle
By Lalique
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Lalique Crystal Flacon Collection “Mascotte Equus” men perfume bottle. It features a frosted crystal horse standing on his hind legs over a round crystal base surrounded by...
Crystal
French Art Deco Glass Perfume Bottle
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco molded clear glass perfume bottle with a black glass fan stopper.
Glass
Antique Sterling Silver Scent or Perfume Bottle with Chased Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique perfume bottle is signed by an unknown English maker and dates to approximately 1898 and done in the period Victorian style. The bottle is done in sterling silver with a...
Sterling Silver
Baccarat opaline wine bottle - Napoleon III period circa 1860
By Baccarat
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine Baccarat opaline wine decanter or bottle gilt with fine gold fleur-de-lys patterns, Napoléon III period circa 1860. Gilt has been outstandingly preserved after over 150 years,...
Opaline Glass
Pair of Opaline Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of opaline bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A pair of opaline bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Dimensions : H: 21cm, D: 11cm Contact us before ordering ...
Opaline Glass
Sold
H 6.89 in Dm 3.55 in
Bohemian Overlay Bottle, Enamelled and Gilded, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bohemian overlay bottle, enamelled and gilded, 19th century, Napoleon III period. 19th century bottle, Napoleon III period, in bohemian overlay, enamelled and gilded H: 17.5cm, D: 9cm
Opaline Glass
19th Century Bottle, Napoleon III Period, in white Enamelled Opaline.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century bottle, Napoleon III period, in white enamelled opaline. White opaline bottle enamelled gold and decorated with a frieze of colours, 19th century, Napoleon III period. ...
Opaline Glass
Sold
H 6.7 in Dm 3.55 in
Red, Gold and White Opaline Overlay Bottle, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Red, gold and white opaline overlay bottle, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bottle in red, gold and white opaline overlay, 19th century, Napoleon II...
Opaline Glass
Bottle and 2 Glasses in Yellow cut Bohemian Crystal, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bottle and 2 glasses in yellow cut Bohemian crystal, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bottle and two glasses in yellow cut Bohemian crystal, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bot...
Crystal
Pair of Regule Ewers on Marble Base.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of regule ewers on marble base. A pair of 19th century Napoleon III period ewer in regula on a marble base. h: 60cm, w: 27cm, d: 18cm
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Blue Opaline Overlay Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Blue Opaline Overlay bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A pair of blue opaline overlay bottles with gold highlights and floral decorat...
Opal
Sold
H 7.88 in Dm 3.15 in
Pair of Bohemian Crystal Perfume Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Bohemian Crystal Perfume Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III period. Pair of Perfume Bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period in red Bohemian crystal enamelled in silver. ...
Crystal
Crystal Overlay Bottle, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Crystal Overlay bottle, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A 19th century crystal overlay bottle, Napoleon III period, decorated with ivy in bloom. h: ...
Crystal
Sold
H 9.06 in W 5.12 in D 4.34 in
Pair of Perfume Bottles, Gold and Silver Enamelled Bohemian Crystal, XIX Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Perfume Bottles, Gold and Silver Enamelled Bohemian Crystal, 19th Century. A pair of cornucopia-shaped perfume bottles, Bohemian crystal enamelled with gold and silver, 19th...
Crystal, Gold, Silver
Crystal Overlay Bottle, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Crystal Overlay bottle, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A 19th century crystal overlay bottle, Napoleon III period, decorated with ivy in bloom. h: ...
Crystal