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.
19th Century French Napoleon III Black & White Ceramic Dessert Plates, Set of 6
Located in Dallas, TX
Use this elegant set of six antique plates to serve appetizer or desert to your guests! Crafted by LM & Cie, Creil et Montereau in France, circa 1860, each hand painted ceramic plate...
Ceramic
Set of 2 Old Christofle Coaster Silver Plated, circa 1880
By Christofle
Located in Paris, FR
A very nice and high-quality set of 2 Old Christofle silver-plated, world-famous French factory, each bottle coaster, 19th century. Measures: D 16 cm, H 2.5cm. In 1852 Napoleon II...
Silver Plate
$790 / set
H 0.4 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Salta Square Coaster, Alpaca Silver & Green Natural Onyx Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
$395 / set
H 0.4 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
SALTA Square Coaster, Alpaca Silver & Black Natural Onyx Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
$3,800 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver Plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Gallia, Marcel Eduoard Sandoz, Christofle
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. All 12 animals are different. Original case. Aver...
Silver Plate
$395 / set
H 0.4 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Salta Square Coaster, Alpaca Silver & Cream Natural Onyx Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
SALTA Round Coaster, Alpaca Silver & Black Onyx Natural Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
$217 / item
H 0.39 in Dm 7.88 in
Handmade Rock Ceramic Dessert Plates - Set of 2 - Black & White Splatterware
By OWO Ceramics
Located in Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, AR
One-of-a-kind ceramic dessert plates specially designed to enliven and enrich your table setting and home. Also perfect for lunch or breakfast, these playful and functional splatter plate...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery
$395 / set
H 0.4 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Salta Square Coaster, Alpaca Silver & Green Natural Onyx Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
$1,100 / set
H 0.4 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Set of Salta Square Coasters, Alpaca Silver & Natural Onyx Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Salta Round Coaster, Alpaca Silver & Black Onyx Natural Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images that led us to design our largest collection. It has pure and contemporary lines, a classic vision but with modern design. The chosen materials are alpaca and onyx...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
$790 / set
H 0.4 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Salta Square Coaster, Alpaca Silver & Brown Natural Onyx Stone
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Stone, Onyx, Metal
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate Creil et Montereau
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century French Blue & White Pagoda Plate signed Creil et Montereau. 8.7 inches diameter.
Ceramic, Faience
$3,308 / set
H 1.19 in Dm 9.85 in
Dinner Plates Hand Painted by Froment-Richard for Creil & Montereau circa 1880
Located in Paris, FR
Table set for 12 people "Le Parisien" by Creil & montereau. 12 different patterns with children playing with vegetables, eggs, frogs, nuts, snails, etc. Creil & Montereau marks with ...
Ceramic, Faience
French Barbotine Enameled Plates Birds in Vine, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
French plate, enameled barbotine Birds in vine Some very light chips on the edges of the plate (please see photo). Comes with the plate holder if you want to hang it on the wall. Goo...
Enamel
Sold
H 0.79 in Dm 8.47 in
French Three Barbotine Enameled Plates Birds in Flowering Trees, Late 19th C
Located in Labrit, Landes
French plate, enameled barbotine Birds in flowering trees. Each bird has been painted with different colors which make each plate different. Comes with the plate holder if you want t...
Enamel
Sold
H 11 in W 10.5 in D 7 in
19th Century French Napoleon III Gilt Brass and Glass Complete "Cave a Liqueur"
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a bar area with this elegant and colorful antique liquor cave. Created in France circa 1880, the bar essential sits on small scrolled feet over a ...
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Boulle Baccarat Crystal Cave A Liqueur Set
Located in Forney, TX
A very fine quality Napoleon III Second Empire period (c.1852-1870) cave à liqueur. Exquisite Parisian work, dating to the third quarter of the 19th century, featuring rich Boulle worked case with serpentine shaped front, hinged lid and side panels finished in luxurious plum mahogany open to reveal an interior fitted with trailing foliate grape vine gilt bronze ormolu mounted and handled removable cradle serving tray accompanied by four Baccarat Crystal signed decanter...
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Brown Patinated Bronze Ewers
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A pair of brown patinated bronze ewers with black marble base, Napoleon III period, 19th century. Great decoration. Measures: H: 66 cm, W: 24 cm, D: 15 cm.
Bronze
Antique Napoleon III French Green Carved Glass Decanter
Located in Munich, DE
This elegant tall wine decanter has been embellished with finely cut floral elements. The glass is of an intensive fir tree color and belonged to a French household.
Glass
Set of 8 Old Christofle Coaster silver Plated, 19th Century
By Christofle
Located in Paris, FR
Very nice set of 8 Old Christofle silver plated, world-famous French factory, each bottle coaster, 19th century. Measures: D 16 cm, H 2.5cm. In 1852 Napoleon III ordered to Christ...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 0.5 in Dm 6.5 in
A Pair Papier-Mâché Coasters with Scalloped Edges, Star Pattern, France, 19th c.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of papier-mâché wine bottle coasters from the Napoleon III period. They are in the gold star pattern with scalloped edges. This pair is in remarkable condition showing almost no...
Lacquer
19th Century French Napoleon III Black and White Ceramic Plates, Set of 12
Located in Dallas, TX
Use this elegant set of twelve antique plates to serve appetizer or desert to your guests! Crafted by Leboeuf et Thibault in Montereau, France, circa 1880, each hand painted ceramic plate features funny courting scenes or anecdotal daily events with French wording; each plate is further embellished with floral decor around the rim. The Napoleonic plates...
Ceramic
Sold
H 0.5 in Dm 7.25 in
Mid-20th Century French Painted Napoleonic Sarreguemines Ceramic Plates Set of 9
Located in Dallas, TX
Use this elegant set of eight antique plates to serve appetizer or desert to your guests! Crafted in Sarreguemines, France, circa 1950, each hand painted ceramic plate features the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte with an illustrated scene and one of his famous quote in French during his reign. Scenes of battle field, interacting with his soldiers, encounter with the Emperor of Austria, etc... The Napoleonic...
Ceramic
Blue Glass Bonbonniere Mounted in Silvered Metal, Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon III bonbonniere made of a cylindrical dark blue molded glass vase circled by a decorative silvered metal mount. It stands on a circular gadroon base with four legs. Four bal...
Metal
19th Century French Black and White Napoleonic Plates from Creil - Set of Six
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant set of six antique plates was crafted in France, circa 1870. Each hand-painted plate features an illustrated scene from the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. The landscapes include silhouettes of famous Paris monuments...
Porcelain