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.
French 19th Century Napoleon III Parquetry Game Table
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Refined French game table from the second half of the 19th century, crafted in the Napoleon III period with exquisite geometric marquetry and delicate bronze mounts. The ingenious de...
Fruitwood
$2,191Sale Price|20% Off
French Napoleon III Ebonised Walnut Inlaid Card Table, circa 1860
Located in Seaford, GB
Antique French Napoleon III Inlaid Card Table 📜 Provenance – Napoleon III Period Inlaid Card Table, France, circa 1860 Sourced from a private collection in Lyon, this exceptional F...
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
19th Century Napoleon III Boulle Style Console and Game Table
Located in Germantown, MD
This 19th century serpentine front fold top console and games table captures the essence of André Charles Boulle’s work perfectly; with classical designs in brass inlay to the top, ...
Bronze, Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Mahogany Console / Game Table
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th Century mahogany wood beautifully proportioned console or game table with a flip top leather details when open resting on a slightly curved cabriole legs. The table is in ...
Leather, Mahogany
French Marquetry Inlay Tea Table With Japanned Motif, C.1880
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in from France, this charming French 19Th C. Marquetry Tea Table With Japanned Design Top. The design of the top is all hand crafted marquetry...
Fruitwood
Napoleon III Painted Round Tilt-Top Table, Late 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The tilt-top painted with faux marble design in the center surrounded by a vine and leaf pattern.
Paint
$4,585Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.94 in W 38.19 in D 20.08 in
Antique Card Table, French, Burr Walnut, Fold over, Games, Victorian, circa 1870
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique card table. A French, burr walnut fold-over games table, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870. Highly appealing, rare antique gaming table Displays a desirable aged patina Exquisite burr walnut shows fine grain interest Rich caramel hues shine through the wax polish finish The fold-over top offers a wonderful view of its quarter book-matched walnut Decorated with boxwood inlay and a gently chamfered edge Rotating through 90 degrees before folding out to reveal the playing surface Shaped, emerald green baize a treat for the eyes The brass hinges shaped to match the gaming surface Attractive carved front apron replete with scrolled foliate ormolu decoration to the knees Standing upon gently swept cabriole legs with brass tipped toes Vintage deck...
Walnut
$4,300
H 28.5 in W 38.25 in D 38.25 in
Antique French Provincial Walnut Folding Wine Table, Circa 1880
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A small, round antique French Provincial wine folding table made of hand crafted Walnut, in good condition. The Vigneron tables are used in France as oc...
Walnut
English Hepplewhite Crotch Mahogany Game Table, Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
English Hepplewhite crotch mahogany flip top game table with Satinwood string inlay, Tulip wood cross banding, baise lined interior and terminating on tapered squared legs with spade...
$1,502Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.93 in W 31.7 in D 22.84 in
French Game Table Napoleon III Period - Louis XV Style - 19th Century - France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very nice game table on high legs style Louis XV from the Napoleon 3 period of the 19th century. The wood is finely inlaid with floral and vegetal motifs. The legs are curved, the tips of the legs are in metal, while metal decorations are present on the tops of the legs. The table opens to the depth and rotates to the length. The game board, once opened, is held in place by a drawer that opens on the right side (also serving as storage for the games). The table top measures 116cm (45.6 inch) x 58cm (22.8 inch) Very fine and sophisticated work, this table will give elegance to any type of interior decoration. The Louis XIV style is a furnishing style covering more or less the period of the reign of Louis XIV (1661 to 1715). This style is characterized by the majesty and richness of its furnishings. The Louis XIV style follows the Louis XIII style. The furniture is increasingly luxurious, but unlike previous styles, it is almost no longer inspired by architecture. There are two kinds of furniture: ceremonial furniture richly decorated with veneers and inlays (especially with André-Charles Boulle), solid giltwood and bourgeois furniture in solid wood. The style is characterized above all by its absolute symmetry and an important and ostentatious Dimension. The Louis XIV style is of Italian and ancient inspiration. The style emerged with the advent of the reign of Louis XIV in 1661 and lasted until the end of the 17th century. In 1690, on the death of Lebrun, decorator to the King, the style declined and was gradually replaced by the Regency style. The Palace of Versailles is obviously extremely and lastingly marked by the Louis XIV style. His long reign made it possible to impose the unique style of the Grand...
Wood
$2,450
H 29.5 in Dm 27.5 in
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Round Tilt-Top Table in Painted Finish, Circa 185
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautiful mid-19th century Swedish round table reflecting the refined simplicity of the timeless Gustavian tradition. The circular top rests on ...
Wood
American Mahogany Game Table. Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany flip top game table with hand stenciled centered lyre pedestal, resting on saber legs with stenciled acanthus motif and original brass casters.
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Tilt-Top Table in Painted Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined 19th-century Swedish tilt-top table embodying the restrained elegance of the Gustavian period. The circular top rests on a gracefully turned pedestal support terminating in...
Wood
American Mahogany Demi-lune Game Table. Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany flip top demi-lune game table with double gate legs, Burl walnut skirt, intricate inlaid Satinwood, terminating on bulbous reeded legs. Dealers please call for tra...
19th Century English Rosewood Game Table
Located in High Point, NC
A fine 19th century rosewood game table from England. The curved front has a hand beaded edge and wonderfully grained as well. The table top is constructed ingeniously to fold open a...
Rosewood
$2,113Sale Price|55% Off
H 29.93 in W 39.38 in D 22.84 in
French Art Deco Card Table with Walnut and Maple Inlays, 1940
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Elegant Art Deco card table in walnut, the top has inlays and opens like a book, insides in maple with an inlaid wind rose.
Maple, Walnut
$1,643Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.14 in W 33.86 in D 16.93 in
Louis 15 Style Mahogany Console Game Table Napoleon 3 Period
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful mahogany flip top card table forming a console when folded. The board in playing position is covered with a green felt finished with a braid and rests on an elegant Louis X...
Mahogany
19th Century Walnut / Burr Walnut English Game / Card Table
Located in Savannah, GA
This is a game table made in England, circa 1870. The table is made of walnut and burr walnut. The top has a fabulous quality cut of the finest burr walnut. The 4 sides of the top ar...
Walnut, Burl
Antique French Napoleon III Inlaid Card Table
Located in Seaford, GB
Antique French Napoleon III Inlaid Card Table 📜 Provenance – Napoleon III Period Inlaid Card Table, France, circa 1860 Sourced from a private collection in Lyon, this exceptional F...
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
19th Century Napoleon III Polished Iron and Brass Bistrot Pedestal Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique gueridon was crafted in Paris, France, circa 1870. The intricate iron base sits on three paw feet over a carved stem embellished with acanthus leaf motifs. The s...
Brass, Iron
Sold
H 30.52 in W 37.41 in D 18.63 in
ANTIQUE FRENCH NAPOLEON III 1850 EBONiSED BOULLE CARD TABLE FOR RESTORATION
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this totally original, unrestored, Napoleon III Boulle card games table with ebonised frame and green baize playing surface Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price A very expensive and collectable mid 19th century Boulle table...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Tea Tables, Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of 19th century Tea Tables, Napoleon III period Nice pair of tables, end of sofa of the XIXth century, Napoleon III period in rosewood ...
Bronze
19th Century Napoleon III Polished Iron Bistrot Gueridon Table with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful antique gueridon was crafted in Paris, France, circa 1870. The intricate iron base sits on three paw feet over a carved stem embellished with acanthus leaf motifs. The surface is dressed with a white and grey marble top set...
Marble, Iron, Brass
19th Century French Neoclassical Walnut Flip-Top Game Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Neoclassical Walnut flip-top game table is an exquisitely preserved relic from the Napoleon III Period, when those who had the luxury of leisure time entertained ...
Felt, Walnut
Early 20th Century Napoleon III Marble Top Polished Iron Bistrot Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This exquisite, antique gueridon was crafted in Paris, France, circa 1920. The intricate base sits on three paw feet decorated over a carved stem embellished with acanthus leaf motif...
Marble, Iron
Sold
H 30 in W 23 in D 23 in
French Antique Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Envelope Games Card Table, C. 1870
By Henry Dasson
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A French Antique Ormolu-Mounted mahogany envelope games card table, C. 1870, attributed to Henry Dasson. A very elegant and high quality, French Louis XVI style, mahogany and bro...
Bronze, Ormolu
Napoleon III Parquetry Card Table by Sormani
By Sormani
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Napoleon III parquetry card table by Sormani, the shaped hinged top with ormolu ribbon and bead guilloche edging, decorated overall in kingwood, tulipwood and satinwood diamond tre...
Ormolu
Sold
H 30.32 in W 32.29 in D 22.84 in
19th Century French Game Table, Napoleon III, Carved and Inlaid Wood and Bronzes
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing game table or card table in inlaid wood with flowers and garlands, embellished with bronzes in all the contour as well as the flaps of the legs. It has a drawer and turning i...
Bronze
19th Century French Draw Leaf Table
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak draw leaf table from France. The top and leaves have lovely parqueted central banded panels, following down to a simple apron and supported on hand-turned bobbin pat...
Oak
Tea Table, Style Louis XV, Napoleon III
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Tea table, Louis XV style, in rosewood veneer, with an animated shape with double trays inlaid with rosewood with floral decorations and bronze side cuffs. Curved legs, ormolu ornam...
Bronze