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.
Italian antique inlaid wooden desk, mid-1800s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian antique inlaid wooden desk, mid-1800s A desk made entirely of wood with a dark ebonized finish, enhanced by refined inlaid decorations in lighter shades along the top and dra...
Wood
French Ewer wine service, cut Crystal handle ornate chiseled solid silver 19th
By Henri Soufflot 1
Located in Paris, FR
19th-century French twisted and hand-engraved crystal ewer with sterling silver mount. The handle is beautifully adorned with stylized acanthus leaves, while the upper part of the mo...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
French Porcelain Tete a Tete Tea Set Circa 1875
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Elegant 19th century porcelain in white gold and crimson raspberry. The teapot with lid, sugar bowl with lid, creamer, two tea cups with tray. The tray measures 17 wide, 12.75 deep a...
Porcelain
Befort Jeune stamped Boulle Marquetry Style French Cabinet Gilt Napoleon III
By Befort Jeune, André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Boulle Marquetry cabinet Stamped Befort Jeune in Napoleon III Period" Beautiful piece of furniture from the Befort house, in brass and pewter boule marquetry on an ebony veneer back...
Marble, Brass, Bronze, Pewter
$1,117Sale Price|20% Off
French Stucco Mirror with Bronze Patina Vegetal Patterns, Napoleon III c. 1890
Located in Labrit, Landes
French bronze patina stucco mirror Beautiful frame with an ornamentation on the top with two birds on a vegetal decor Plant decoration on the stucco...
Mirror, Stucco
$1,552Sale Price / set|38% Off
19th Century Pair of Hand-Painted Paris Porcelain Urns
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A fine pair of antique French urns in 'Porcelain de Paris', and dating from the early 19th century. These sensational vases are decorated w...
Porcelain, Paint
A Napoleon III Period Sèvres Style Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Garniture
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Large and Exceptional Napoleon III Period Gilt-Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Three-Piece Clock Garniture. By Denière, Paris. Comprising a mantle clock and pair of eight-light...
Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Fireplace Grate or Fire Basket
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Updated Description: 19th century French Napoleon III period fireplace grate. Made of brass and and a recently forged grate. The condition is good.
Brass, Wrought Iron
$1,432Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Child’s Velvet Armchair with Decorative Fringe
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
Charming 19th-century French child’s armchair upholstered in a warm terracotta velvet, adorned with a refined bullion fringe and traditional nailhead trim. This delightful piece perf...
Velvet, Elm
Pr Vintage Hand Crafted French Napoleon III-Style Gilded Bronze Sconces
Located in New Orleans, LA
A fine diminutive pair of vintage late 1920’s French gilded bronze wall sconces in the Napoleon III-style having frosted glass rose petal shades. The round back plates with laurel le...
Bronze
19th Century Napoleon III Period Mother-of-Pearl and Marquetry Drinks Box
Located in London, GB
A Fine Napoleon III Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid and Marquetry Drinks Box Of serpentine rectangular form, veneered primarily with burr yew, and tulipwood crossbanding, thuya wood, ebony and mother-of-pearl inlays, the hinged lid set with a mirror on the inside; a mechanism allowing the glass drinks set to rise in tandem with the lid, with four engraved and gilt decanters...
Mother-of-Pearl, Glass, Tulipwood, Yew
19th Century French André-Charles Boulle Style Cave à Liqueur
Located in Dallas, TX
The incredibly intricate brass inlay that embellishes the lid and front façade of this cave à liqueur is reminiscent of the technique utilized by Andre-Charles Boulle while hand-craf...
Metal, Brass
19th Century French Fireback / Backsplash 'Allegory of Navigation'
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
19th Century French Napoleon III Period fireback with an allegory of Navigation. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request, it can be made blac...
Iron
Antique French Walnut Sewing Set Case, Napoleon III Étui, Needle Case
Located in Greven, DE
This dainty yet highly detailed sewing set was crafted in the late 19th century by skilled French artisans. The case, also known as an étui, is made from walnut and has a tapering r...
Walnut
Napoleon III Second Empire Ebonized and Inlaid Credenza
Located in San Francisco, CA
A tour de force of the Second Empire Style, circa 1852–1870, this credenza represents a time when French design was characterized by richness of inspiration and materials for newly w...
Brass
Exceptional Napoleon III Bronze Mounted And Ebonized Writing Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine Antique French Bronze mounted writing table with particularly fine form dating to the late 19th Century. The table features all over Bronze mounts including Caryatid figures o...
Bronze
GUICHE Palais Royal - Gilt Bronze Clock with Puttis
Located in Beaune, FR
Very pretty model for this gilded bronze clock from the Napoleon III period in Louis XV rocaille style dating from the 19th century. Very good quality of gilding and entirely origina...
Bronze
19th Century Hand painted curved Dutch Tray Table
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful Metal Tray Table, on stand . Hand painted flowers in Gold . In the middle a Bird .Love the curves on the tray ,and on the stand ,beathiful .
Metal
Antique French Napoleon III Style 'The Pub' Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Early 20th century French Napoleon III fireback with a pub scene. The fireback is made of cast iron and the patina is black / pewter. This product weighs more than 65 kg / 143 lbs....
Iron
Rare Tripod Gardener with Caryatids, Paris Art Foundry, 19th century
Located in Pistoia, IT
Rare antimony tripod gardener with green patina, Paris art foundry, second half of the 19th century. The giardiniera consists of three female figures mounted on tripods, their arms r...
Other
$2,660Sale Price|20% Off
19thc French Napoleon III Cut Crystal Candelabra attributed to Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Beautiful 19thc French Napoleon III Crystal Candelabra/ Centerpiece. Incredible work on this piece. Shades included. Attrib. Baccarat.
Crystal
Religious Sculpture in Plaster, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Religious sculpture in plaster, 20th century. 20th century religious sculpture in painted plaster. Dimensions : H: 45cm, W: 32cm, D: 16cm Contact us before ordering to confirm pro...
Plaster
Museum Quality French White Marble Roundel Relief of Emperor Napoleon III, 1860
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A museum quality French white marble roundel relief of Emperor Napoleon III, circa 1860. The quality of this marble sculpture of Napoleon III is trul...
Marble
Vintage-Style Panoramic Decorative Panel Mounted on Canvas, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Panoramic decorative panel in vintage-style paper is made from vintage-style paper, carefully printed, aged, and hand-crumpled before being mounted on canvas. Inspired by early ninet...
Canvas, Paper
Antique Napoleon III French Liquor Cellar/ Liqueur Box/ Glass Decanters / 1830
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Exquisite Napoleon III cave à liqueur, crafted in France during the second quarter of the 19th century. The ebonized case is richly inlaid with brass and mother-of-pearl, showcasing ...
Metal, Brass
$1,360Sale Price|20% Off
Napoleon III bronze photo frame
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Napoleon III bronze photo frame Origin France Circa 1900 Napoleon the Third style gilt bronze frame decorated with perfectly set colored stones Materials Gilded bronze and paste ston...
Multi-gemstone, Bronze
$1,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Iron Garden Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Iron Garden Urns still show the aged forest green painted finish that was popular during the era, along with a century and a half of pati...
Iron
19th Century French Napoleon III Hand Painted Opaline Glass Vase
By Cristalleries De Baccarat, Baccarat
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
An opulent hand hand-painted opaline glass vase probably made by Baccarat. Delightful handpainted with a rich flower bouquet of wild roses and forgot-me-not flowers, gilt lines and a...
Enamel
Patinated Steel Bed, Width 140cm, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Beautiful bed in patinated steel, decorated with volutes, Greek frieze and ending with bronze spinning tops. Bears a WC mark surrounded by a circle. Good general condition, w...
Steel
French 19th Century Napoleon III Cabinet
Located in Vilnius, LT
French antique Napoleon III cabinet. Wood is black color polished surface, decorated with inlaid brass decor and bronze details ourside. Inside the cabinet there are two shelves. ...
Marble, Bronze, Brass
Antique Pastel Coloured Napoleon III French Aubusson Entre-Fenetre Runner Rug
Located in Milan, IT
A very finely woven Aubusson rug in the so-called 'entre-fenetre' format, distinguished by a Louis XIV type of architectural pattern rendered in delicate pastel shades. These were b...
Wool
Decorated French Napoleon III Fireplace Tools, 19th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
19th century French fireplace tool set. The tool set consists of tongs, shovel, and a stand. The exceptionally decorated tools are made of wrought iron and the stand of cast iron. Th...
Wrought Iron, Iron
Pair of French Napoleon III Chairs
Located in Haywards Heath, GB
Pair of French Napoleon III chairs with original upholstery. Good strong, sturdy condition.
Fabric
$400Sale Price|36% Off
19th Century French Porcelain Vase, Gilt Floral Design, Napoleon III
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This exquisite vase, dating from the late 19th in France, showcases a stunning floral design embellished with luxurious gold accents. The intricate craftsmanship highlights the elega...
Porcelain
Table box with mechanical musical movement by Swiss company Reuge S.A Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large oval table box with mechanical musical movement by the Swiss company Reuge S.A. in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guilloché and on fine ...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century Napoleon III Marquetry Jardiniere or Planter
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine 19th century French Napoleon III marquetry jardinière, or cache pot, made with inlaid veneers of burled walnut with mother of pearl inlay and ebonized trim. Bronze mounted wit...
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Pair Antique French Napoleon III Marble Ebonized / Gilt Wooden Pedestals
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Elevate your decor with this exquisite Pair of Antique French Napoleon III Ormolu-Mounted Inlay Marble Ebonized/Gilt Wooden Pedestals. These pedestals are a true testament to the opu...
Marble
$3,820Sale Price|20% Off
1890 French Antique Napoleon III Signed Baccarat Candelabrum/Candle Holder Large
By Baccarat
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Grand Scale c1890's French Napoleon III Baccarat Crystal 3 Light Candelabra. Massive piece! Hand painted floral decor with 24K shades. Floral painted bells. Please look closely at pi...
Crystal
19th Century Napoleon III Jardiniere or Planter
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Napoleon III bronze mounted marquetry jardiniere, or planter, with inlaid veneer of kingwood. Decorated with two hand-painted Se`vres porcelain medallions, one with a ...
Bronze, Zinc
Bohemian Cut Crystal Box, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bohemian cut crystal box, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bohemian cut crystal box, brass mounting, late 19th century, Napoleon III period. Dimensions : H: 15cm, W: 19cm, D: 11c...
Crystal, Brass
French mid 19th century Napoleon III Period Japanese Lacquer, Ormolu and Giltwoo
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French mid 19th century Napoleon III Period Japanese Lacquer, Ormolu and Giltwood desk. This stunning rectangular Bureau Plat is finished on all sides whi...
Brass, Ormolu
Painting "Le Moineau de Lesbie" by C.G. Brun, French School, 1860
By Charles Guillaume Brun
Located in PARIS, FR
Dimensions with frame : Height : 116 cm (45.7 in.) ; Width : 144 cm (56.7 in.) Dimensions without frame : Height : 85 cm (33.5 in.) ; Width : 118 cm (46.5 in.) Atrium with a rich Pompeian decor in which a young woman lying on a bed is playing with a sparrow, not paying attention to the man sat at her feet. This painting is a major work of art of C. G. Brun, well-know for the precision of his technic, by the elegance of its composition, the pureness of the colors, the refinement of the touch and the expressivity of the characters. This rare intimist scene in a interior decorated in the Pompeian style perfectly illustrates the taste of the time for the discovery of the villas of Pompei, thanks to the archeological excavations of the 18th century and the books published about them. To arrange its interiors based on the models of the Pompeian villas is then a trend that the most important people of that time will follow, as the Prince Napoléon, cousin of the Emperor Napoléon III, who orders the construction of a splendid Pompeian villa on the Avenue Montaigne, of which nothing remains but a few pictures and a painting by Gustave Boulanger, dated 1861 and called Répétition du « Joueur de flûte » et de la « Femme de Diomède » chez le Prince Napoléon. This painting illustrates the poem « Fletus passeris Lesbiae » from the collection « Carmina » written by Catulle (87-54 av. J.-C.) : in his work, the author, in love with Lesbie, a married woman living in Rome, puts on a show a sparrow as the main center of interest of its mistress who neglects her suitor. This theme has been represented many times in painting, like the version by Raphaël Poggi exposed at the Salon of 1865, or Lawrence Alma-Tadema in 1866 or Edward Poynter in 1907. Painting exposed, as reference number 467, at the Salon of 1861 on the picture rail of the Palais des Champs-Elysées Charles Guillaume Brun, born in Montpellier in 1825 and died in Paris in 1908, was registered in 1847 at the Paris Beaux-Arts school, where he studied under the direction of François- Edouard Picot (1786-1868) and of Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889). His participation in the Paris Salon began in 1851 with genre subjects (Young girl doing her morning prayer), but as soon as 1853, he regularly sent Orientalist scenes, located in Algeria (Prayer in 1859, Rendez-vous in Constantine in 1861, Moorish woman...
Giltwood, Canvas
Antique Crucifix Holy Water Font French Napoleon III
Located in Labrit, Landes
Holy water font crucifix Napoleon III, French, 19th century Wood, plated-brass and brass Metal benitier holy water font representing a shell. The crucifix is of painted wood, held i...
Brass
$1,592Sale Price / set|45% Off
Napoleon III Ebonized Charivari Chairs, Velvet, France, Circa 1850
Located in Malibu, CA
Original Napoleon lll ebonized charivari chairs. Made in France, circa 1850's. Reupholstered in a warm rich taupe crushed velvet. Seat height: 17.75 in (45 cm) One of the pair is sl...
Gesso, Velvet, Hardwood
Napoleon III Black Gutta Percha Inkstand, Late 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The black inkstand with a molded lion decoration with a shell pen tray. The two glass inkwells on either end.
Rubber
Napoleon III floor mirror
Located in Belgrade, RS
An exceptionally sumptuous and, at the same time, elegantly imposing large mirror with a matching low console is a true representative of the Napoleon III style, which originated in ...
Marble, Brass, Bronze
19th Century French Napoleon III Etagere, Sidetable, Marquetry, Paris circa 1870
Located in Greven, DE
Antique etagere with fine inlay work Paris Wood, brass around 1870 Dimensions: H × W × D: 77 × 50 × 37 cm Description: Three-tier side furniture with a single-light body and a sur...
Brass
Stunning Little Antique Box with Decorated and Gilt Perfume Bottles Napoleon III
Located in Lisse, NL
If you are looking for the perfect gift for a lady. . .look no further. This magnificent, 19th century box is made of beautiful and mint condition boxwood and it comes with the original, gilt perfume...
Crystal
$12,900 / set
Set of 10 Louis XVI Style Painted and Gilded Chairs
Located in New Orleans, LA
A set of 10 painted and gilded Napoleon III dining chairs in the Louis XVI style. The set includes 2 armchairs and 8 side chairs. A set of 10 matching chairs is certainly very rare e...
Wood
19th Century French Dessert Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak dessert buffet from France. The top is banded and has a beveled and hand carved decorated edge. The top then lifts to reveal a marble serving surface, which is hel...
Marble
Sèvres Porcelain Box, Enamelled and Gilded, 20th Century, Napoleon III Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sèvres porcelain box, enamelled and gilded, 20th century, Napoleon III style. A 20th century Napoleon III style Sèvres porcelain enamelled and gilt box with gilt brass mounting. Di...
Porcelain
Napoleon III Marble Top & Marquetry Sideboard Cabinet
Located in Hanover, MA
Napoleon III kingwood, satinwood and fruitwood marquetry inlayed salon cabinet with surmounted by a conforming inset black veined marble top and having gilt brass moldings and mounts...
Marble, Brass
European Napoleon III Striped Velvet & Fringe Boudoir Chair
By George Smith
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Lovely, petite velvet boudoir chair in the style of George Smith with stripe velvet upholstery, fringe and nailheads. Small scale yet comfortable for adult use. Not marked or signed.
Upholstery, Wood
A Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
A refined pair of 19th century French library chairs in the Napoleon III taste, distinguished by their elegant proportions and classic turned leg...
Fabric, Silk, Hardwood
19th Century Inlaid Wood French Napoleon III Sewing Table, 1880s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French sewing table from the second half of the 19th century. A Napoleon III furniture, finely inlaid with geometric decorations in walnut, maple, burl, rosewood, mahogany, and high-...
Wood
$512Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Antique Porcelaine de Paris Handpainted Wedding Vase
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A wonderful antique Porcelain de Paris wedding vase (or Vase d'Eglise de Mariée), dating from the 19th century and featuring an exquisite handpainted design of wildflowers, set again...
Porcelain
Marvelous 19th Century French Antique Jewelry Box Napoleon III in Burl Wood
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Marvelous Napoleon III 19th century antique Jewelry box in Burl wood from France. Impressive wood grain with slight curved edge on t...
Wood, Burl
Antique French Napoleon III Fireback / Backsplash, 19th Century
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
19th century French Napoleon III fireback with Napoleon and his horse. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a natural brown patina. Upon request it can be made black / pewter. I...
Iron
Fake Book Concealing Two Liqueur Decanters, Napoleon III Style, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Fake book concealing a small liqueur cabinet from the early 20th century, Napoleon III style, comprising two liqueur decanters with four small crystal glasses, one decanter broken at...
Wood
$3,329Sale Price|20% Off
Picture Frame Green and pink enamel Guilloche Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table photo frame in 925/1000 sterling Silver gold plated with translucent two-tone striped enamels fired on guilloche and hand-engraved ornaments. Late Empire Napoleon ...
Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate