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.
$3,120Sale Price|35% Off
Napoleon III French Travel Fall Front Desk in Rosewood and Boxwood Veneer 1860s
Located in Huntington, NY
Napoleon III French travel fall front desk in rosewood and boxwood veneer 1860s. With inset leather fall front. Small compartment in top. Cut outs to interior for ink wells & paper organizing...
Brass
Boulle Style Secretary, Napoleon III Period
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb Boulle-Style Secrétaire, Napoleon III Period Magnificent Napoleon III period secrétaire, dating from the late 19th century, crafted in the renowned Boulle style. This refined...
Bronze
19th Century Inlaid Napoleon III Secretary Desk
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Napoleon Desk/Secretary with gilt bronze molding and inlaid details.. It has a beautiful pink marble top. Its sides are in blackened pear and its facade in cedar. It has rosewood fr...
Marble
Antique 19th Century Secretary Simulated Chiffonier, Napoleon III Period
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique 19th century secretary simulated chiffonier, Napoleon III period A magnificent secretary simulated chiffonier. It is created with gre...
Bronze
French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts
Located in Savannah, GA
This extraordinary French Second Empire period secre´taire a' abattan features flame mahogany, gilt brass-mounts and retains its original dark grey speckled granite top. Decorated th...
Granite, Brass, Ormolu
French Brown 7 Drawers Gilt Brass Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle 19th
Located in Paris, FR
Unique, Beautiful and rare Week Drawers Cabinet, elegant small chest of drawers in wood marquetry in frieze, ebony, amaranth fillets and Greek ebony on the drawers. Marquetry on the...
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
French Ebonized Burled Walnut Secretary Desk Bookcase with Sevres Style Figures
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite French ebonized and burled walnut secretary desk bookcase embodies the grandeur of 19th-century craftsmanship, beautifully adorned with Sevres style porcelain medallio...
Bronze
19th Century Louis XVI Floral Marquetry Writing Cabinet or Lady's Secrétaire
Located in Berlin, DE
19th Century Louis XVI Floral and Musical Instruments Marquetry Writing Cabinet or Lady's Secrétaire, also called "Bonheur du Jour" A 19th century bonheur du jour writing cabinet or...
Wood
Antique Napoleon III Secretary Desk in Marquetry and Gilt Bronzes
Located in PARIS, FR
legant antique secretary desk from the Napoleon III period, crafted in ebonized wood and richly decorated with fine marquetry in precious woods, highlighted with decorative stringing...
Bronze
$3,425Sale Price|32% Off
19th Century French Marble-Top Secretaire in Blackened Wood Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
Lady's secretaire of blackened wood and nets decorated with rosettes and scrolls in gilded brass. It opens on the front with a drawer and a flap discovering niches and small drawers ...
Wood
Napoleon III Secretary In Blackened Pear Wood - Brass Marquetry
Located in Brussels, BE
Napoleon III Secretary In Blackened Pear Wood - Brass Marquetry
Wood
$27,683Sale Price|25% Off
Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Large cylinder desk in mahogany and flamed mahogany veneer in the Empire style. This secretary with semi-cylindrical flap has eight drawers with pa...
Marble, Bronze
French Brass Inlaid Ladies Bureau Desk
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A top quality French rosewood brass inlaid desk, with tambour front, you have to pull open the drawer to release the tambour and then fold over the original velvet writing surface, l...
Brass
Amazing Secretary "À Abattant" Napoleon III French, 19th Century VIDEO
Located in Madrid, ES
AMAZING SECRETARY "À ABATTANT" NAPOLEON III French, 19th century in painted and gilded wood with bronze applications, interior with six drawers, l...
Bronze
$14,099Sale Price|20% Off
Napoleon III Marquetry Secretary Vitrine Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique 19th century Napoleon III table desk Bonheur Du Jour. Upper part showcase with three shelves and lower part with a couple of drawers and extendable top and legs with black...
Metal
$4,040Sale Price|20% Off
19thc French Napoleon III Inlaid A.C Boulle style Top Portion "Bonheur Du Jour"
Located in Opa Locka, FL
This beautiful piece of furniture is the Top Portion Only of a 19thc French Napoleon III Boulle Inlaid "Bonheur Du Jour". This piece has been dated to the last portion of the 19thc b...
Bronze
$4,724Sale Price|20% Off
Dressing Table Ladies France Napoleon III in Bronze and Wood, 19th Century
By Napoléon III
Located in Milano, IT
Amazing Napoleon III style women's grooming of circa 1800. French toilet with original ormolu holders and working lock and key. The upper part rises up t...
Brass, Bronze
Secretaire Napoleone III, France, 19th Century, Black
Located in Prato, IT
France, second half '800 Lastronate in ebanized wood. Inlay in brass, copper, pewter, mother-of-pearl. Marble top in "Fior di pesco". Inside three drawers with leather top with g...
Brass
19th Century French Marble-Top Secretaire Bronze Decoration Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
French chiffonier forming secretary, inlaid with violet wood and rosewood, flap opening with four drawers with red marble top. Falling cuffs and keyh...
Small French Travel Secretary Napoleon III in Rosewood and Boxwood Veneer 1860s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Small French travel secretary Napoleon III in rosewood and boxwood veneer. Rare and extremely decorative antique furniture due to its size and finish....
Leather, Boxwood, Rosewood
$2,811Sale Price|30% Off
H 37.8 in W 38.59 in D 20.48 in
19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk with Folding Front Part
Located in Sofia, BG
French mahogany writing desk with folding front part and hidden drawers in the upper part. There are also three big drawers in the lower p...
Mahogany
$14,500
H 84 in W 48 in D 24 in
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Birch
George III Double Secretary Bookcase of Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English double secretary bookcase of mahogany from the late Georgian era, c.1780, featuring a crown moulded top with two astragal glazed doors, each side opening to four long ...
Brass, Metal
19th Century French Boulle Inlaid Side Cabinet or Credenza
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French Boulle serpentine fronted credenza, having shaped glazed doors to either end with shelves within. The central door with classical scrolling fo...
Brass
18th Century George III Secretary Bookcase
Located in Solebury, PA
A distinguished 18th-century George III mahogany astragal glazed bureau bookcase, also referred to as a secretary desk or writing cabinet, is crafted from rich plum pudding mahogany....
Mahogany
George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
Mahogany
George III Mahogany Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George III mahogany secretary, circa 1800. The pediment with dental moldings, two glass doors with through mullions, a slant top, desk interior with central prospect door flanked by ...
Brass
French Ormolu-Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant by Millet
Located in London, GB
The brèche d'Alep marble top above a long frieze drawer, the hinged fall front with gilt-tooled brown leather writing-surface, the fitted interior with four open compartments and a long drawer, above two cupboard doors, the interior with one shelf, on spreading foliate feet, the gilt-bronze banding to the left side signed Millet à Paris.
Fruitwood, Tulipwood
Early French Art Deco Desk in Nutwood, circa 1925
Located in Ulm, DE
Small desk with fluting Walnut, shellac hand polished Early Art Deco, France around 1925 Dimensions: Width: 90 cm height: 72 cm Depth: 55 cm.
Nutwood
$2,720Sale Price|20% Off
H 42.92 in W 44.1 in D 17.33 in
Cabinet Black and Gold Napoleon III 1860 France marble Top André-Charles Boulle
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Cabinet Black and Gold Napoleon III 1860 France marble Top André-Charles Boulle
Brass
19th Century Venetian Lacquer Painted Secretary Bookcase Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
An elegant and imposing late 19th century two-part Italian secretary bookcase cabinet or desk crafted in the Venetian and Rococo Revival period styles. The piece features a beautiful...
Wood, Lacquer, Paint, Glass
$28,229
H 53.75 in W 24.02 in D 13.19 in
Napolean III Black Laquer Marble Chiffonier Commode, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A 19th Century Napoleon III walnut black lacquer refinished five-drawer chest of drawers chiffonier with marble top and gilded bronzes mounts, handles and bronze corners. It stands ...
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 54.34 in W 30.32 in D 20.08 in
Opulent Secretary in Napoleon III - Makart Style, Vienna, circa 1880
Located in Greven, DE
Opulent Secretary Desk in the Makart Style with Brass and Mother-of-Pearl Inlays Vienna Ebonized wood, brass, mother-of-pearl c. 1880 Dimensions: H × W × D: 138 × 77 × 51 cm Descr...
Brass
Sold
H 53.55 in W 27.96 in D 13.78 in
Napoleon III Ebony Chiffonier with Secretary Desk, Brass Inlay Detailing
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and practical Napoleon III style chiffonier with hidden secretary desk has been professionally refinished, and now shines in deepest ebony with richly contrasting brass...
Brass
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870. Very good condition, after professional renovation. The furniture is finished in high gloss in French polish. dimensions: height 138 ...
Walnut
Sold
H 57.5 in W 29.25 in D 15 in
Antique French Napoleon III Inlaid Ormolu Marble Top Secretaire Desk Chest 1860
Located in Portland, OR
An exceptional French antique Napoleon III inlaid ebonized & ormolu mounted marble top secretaire chest, circa 1860. This superb antique French secretaire abattant has a black & white veined marble top, with a reverse breakfront gilded bronze frieze below, the front of the secretaire is very finely inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl & gilt bronze 'rope twist' decoration. The chest has eight drawer fronts with gilded cast bronze garland decorated lock escutcheons, three of the drawers are dummy & form the fall front for the pull down secretary, which has the original blue velvet writing surface and engraved lock-plate. The interior is made of the finest flame grained satinwood and has two drawers with lozenge shaped inlay, the top of the chest with a pair of very finely cast gilt bronze caryatid brackets, the base with a corresponding pair of gilt bronze acanthus shaped brackets. The secretaire is raised on turned bun feet with gilt bronze mounts and a shaped skirt also with a gilt bronze mount, the sides of the chest with inlaid bronze stringing. Condition is excellent, this exceptional French antique secretary chest...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 60.5 in W 31.25 in D 19.5 in
Antique Ebonised Boulle Ormolu Desk Cabinet Bonheur du Jour Kunst Mobel Denmark
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique Napoleon III French style ebonzied Boulle & ormolu Bonheur du Jour by Nordisk Kunst & Mobel-Etablissement, Copenhagen Denmark, 1903. In remarkable condition. Thi...
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870. Very good condition, after professional renovation. The furniture is finished in high gloss in French polish. dimensions: height 138 ...
Walnut
Sold
H 50.4 in W 31.89 in D 16.54 in
Mid 19th Century French Semainier or High Chest with Secretary Compartement
Located in Greven, DE
Antique pier chest of drawers with secretary compartment - so-called Semainier Galbé France Rosewood circa 1870 Dimensions: H x W x D: 128 x 81 x 42 cm Description: Lavishly decor...
Rosewood
Sold
H 50.01 in W 26.78 in D 13.78 in
Black French Secretary Napoleon III and Boulle Brass Gilt Bronze 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Small Secretary In Boulle Marquetry, Napoleon III Period Napoleon 3" Beautiful and elegant little lady's secretary in brass boule marquetry on an ebony veneer background. Marquetry o...
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 84.26 in W 39.38 in D 21.66 in
Boulle Marquetry Style French Black Secretary Bonheur du Jour Napoleon III
Located in Paris, FR
"Bonheur Du Jour In Boulle Marquetry Napoleon III Period - Gradin Desk - Two Bodies - Showcase" This gorgeous piece of furniture is at the end of restoration and will be finished at ...
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 57.49 in W 33.86 in D 19.69 in
Diehl French Black Tall 8 Drawers Gilt Brass Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle 19th
Located in Paris, FR
Unique, Beautiful and Large Cabinet Secretary Weekly Planner style Stamped "Diehl" by Charles Guillaume Diehl In Boulle Marquetry style and Napoleon III Period, 19th Century. Rare weekly organizer in brass boulle marquetry with scroll patterns, interlacing and foliage, with a leafy urn in the center of the drawers. Composed of 8 visible drawers (2 doubles and 4 singles) of good size thanks to a good depth, this piece of furniture combines aesthetics and practicality. It includes a beautiful ornamentation of gilded bronzes with multiple ingot molds, high and low falls, and on the falncs spandrels...
Marble, Bronze, Brass
Sold
H 66.93 in W 61.42 in D 15.75 in
Tall 24 Drawers French Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle Marble Gilt Bronze 19th Cent
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful Rare Large Notary "Cartonnier" with 24 Drawers in Napoleon III Period and Boulle Style Marquetry Rare piece of furniture, this large 24-card notary case with rich orname...
Bronze
Tiny French Secretaire, Walnut, Mid 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique secretary France Walnut Mid 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 145 x 93 x 38 cm Description: Decorative French writing desk f...
Walnut