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Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

NAPOLEON III STYLE

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.

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Style: Napoleon III
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. H: 15cm, W: 19cm, D: 11cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Paul Sormani Marquetry Token Box, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Paul Sormani marquetry token box, 19th century. Precious wood and bone marquetry token box, Napoleon III period, 19th century. H: 10cm, W: 36cm, D: 26cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bone, Wood

Green Opaline Box, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Green opaline box, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A 19th century Napoleon III period green opaline box with brass mount. H: 11cm W: 14cm D: 9cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Large Jewelry Casket After Clodion
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large Napoleon III Jewelry Casket In chiseled and silvered bronze, decorated with putti scenes in the style of Claude Michel dit Clodion (...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Wooden Liquor Cabinet Napoleon III with Crystal Interior
Located in Sofia, BG
An wooden ebonised and hand-painted liquor cabinet in Napoleon III style with brass inlay. Exterior opens in three directions to elegantly reveal a crystal service surrounded by poli...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

Swiss Made Music Box from the End of the XIXth Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Swiss made music box from the end of the XIXth century. Swiss made music box from the XIXth century, Napoleon III period, (small damage). h: 10cm, w: 30cm, d: 18cm
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Snuffbox basket with flowers, in Florentine Renaissance style, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rounded rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling Silver gold plated with beautiful fire enamelled miniature hand-painted by the painter Renato Dainelli of a basket with flowers, in ...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate

Snuffbox two-tones enamel stripes Guilloche Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with two-tone translucent stripes fired enameled on guillochè and fine hand-engraved on all sides, French Empire Napoleon...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Rare Pair of Sèvres Porcelain Boxes, Brass Mounts, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare Pair of Sèvres Porcelain Boxes, Brass Mounts, 19th Century, Napoleon III period. A pair of Sèvres porcelain boxes, brass mounts, very large boxes, painted decorations on porcel...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Enamelled Bronze Box, Signed F. Barbedienne, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Enamelled bronze box, signed F. Barbedienne, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Yellow, blue and red enamelled bronze box, signed F. Barbedienne, 19th century, Napoleon III period. ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Decorative Ebonised Box - Stones and Bronze Mounts - Napoleon III
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique decorative Napoleon III wooden box. Beautifully decorated with copper and bronze elements and round cut stones cut (tiger eye). The box is made of black lacquered...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Red Bohemian Crystal Enamelled Box, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Red Bohemian crystal enamelled box, 19th century, Napoleon III period. White and gold enamelled red Bohemian crystal case, brass mount, 19th century, Napoleon III period. h: 9cm, w:...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Box, Bohemian Crystal Box, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Box, Bohemian crystal box, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bohemian crystal box, brass mounting, double handle, 19th century, Napoleon III period. h: 11.5cm, w: 15cm, d: 9cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Box, Bohemian Crystal Box, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Box, Bohemian crystal box, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bohemian crystal box, brass mounting, 19th century, Napoleon III period. h: 11.5cm, w: 13cm, d: 9cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Very Large Black French Napoleon III Boulle Brass Decorative Box 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Very beautiful and really super large box in brass Boulle marquetry style with triple fillets, with the count's crown and the coat of arms of the counts of Brittany, France on the c...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Gilt Bronze and Enamel Plaque Box, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Gilt bronze and enamel plaque box, 19th century. Gilt bronze and enamel plaque box, signed central painting, 19th century, Napoleon III period. h: 5,5cm, w: 14,5cm, d: 12,5cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Sèvres Porcelain Box and Chest, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sèvres porcelain box and chest, 19th century. A Sèvres porcelain box, richly decorated with 3 paintings on the belt and one on the top, enhanced with gold, Napoleon III period, 19th...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Large Antique French Boulle Napoleon III Marquetry Box
By Audige
Located in Vilnius, LT
Antique 19th century French Boulle/Napoleon III marquetry box. The wooden box is decorated with inlaid brass and tortoiseshell and red silk textile inside. Including key. Signed: Aud...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Box, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Porcelain and gilt bronze box, 19th century. Porcelain box in painted and gilded porcelain and gilded brass for the frame, very fine decoration, signed Latour.   H: 15cm, W: 40cm, D...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Chased and Gilt Bronze Box, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Chased and gilt bronze box, Napoleon III period. Chased and gilt bronze box with a nice enamel plaque, green velvet interior, with its original key, Napoleon III period, 19th Centur...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Covered Vase with Atlantes, attr. to A. Giroux, France, circa 1880
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful ovoid-shaped covered vase in patinated bronze with golden highlights, with rich rotating decoration in relief. The lid, symbolizing Night, is decorated with a turtle, a moo...
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Napoleon III Style Box
Located in San Antonio, TX
This 19th Century Napoleon III Box is a splendid example of the craftsmanship and elegance characteristic of the Napoleon III era. Crafted from rich black walnut wood and adorned wit...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique French Napoleon III Marquetry Box
Located in Vilnius, LT
Antique 19th century French Napoleon III marquetry box. The walnut burl wooden box is decorated with inlaid brass and mother of pearl with the new brown colour velour textile. The ke...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique French Boulle Napoleon III Marquetry Box
Located in Vilnius, LT
Antique 19th century French boulle marquetry box. The wooden box is decorated with inlaid brass and tortoiseshell. Including key. After high quality renovation. Very good/excellent a...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

19th Century Napoleon III Game Box with Burl Wood and Brass
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique game box from the French Napoleon III period. The box is made of book veneer match, inlaid with brass trims. This box shows the fine craftsmanship of the ebenist wh...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Napoleon III card holder
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Napoleon III card holder (card fray) Gilt bronze and enamel Origin France Circa 1900 Gilt bronze and Cloissone enamel with hand-painted Sevres porcelain plate signed by E. Horche Per...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

French Walnut Burr Campaign Writing Slope Brass Inlay 19th C
By Napoléon III
Located in Cheltenham, GB
An exceptionally fine quality example of an early 19th century burr wood campaign writing slope, in beautifully grained burl, with polished brass inlaid, of French origin. Opening to...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique French Napoleon III Cut Crystal & Bronze D'ore "Fan Box" circa 1870-1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Most Unusual Antique French Napoleon III Era Cut Crystal and Bronze D'Ore "Fan Box" Circa 1870-1880.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Bohemian Crystal Box, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bohemian crystal box, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bohemian crystal box, brass mounting, engraved hunting scene, 19th century, Napoleon III period.     h: 13cm , w: 25cm, d: 10cm
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal, Brass

19th Century French Napoleon III Floral Inlaid Rosewood Decorative Jewelry Box
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a coffee table or a shelf with this elegant antique box. Created in France circa 1880, the rectangular cabinet is decorated with elegant floral inlaid work in each corner an...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century French Burl Elm Inlaid Jewelry Box with Drawer & Inside Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a coffee table or a shelf with this elegant antique box. Created in France circa 1880, the rectangular cabinet is decorated with an elegant floral inlaid star motif on the t...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Mercury Glass, Burl, Elm

Music Box with Automatons and Bells made by Karrer
Located in Zonhoven, BE
Large music box with 3 automatons and 10 bells made in about 1875 by Karrer in Teufenthal (Swiss). Karrer was an maker of Quality items and are very ra...
Category

1870s Swiss Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Iron, Other, Cut Steel, Steel

Italian Brown Wrapped Leather Table Box with Gold Tooling and Brass Feet
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Italian Brown Leather Jewelry Box with Gold Tooling. Large Italian gilt tooled leather wrapped table box, with domed top gilt decoration, raised on four bronze paw feet. Vintage leather wrapped trunk with solid brass ornate feet, the top opens to reveal a lined interior with decorative endpaper with ample storage space. This stylish, whimsical and chic large storage box...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Clock with Musical Box by BA Bremond
By Baptiste-Antoine Brémond 1
Located in Zonhoven, BE
Extremely rare musical clock. The the BA Bremond musical mechanism plays 8 tunes as indicated on the original tunesheet. On the left there is the winding lever on the right there are...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Iron

Early 20th Century French Repousse Brass and Wooden Box with Sailboats Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France, circa 1920, the antique wood and brass coffer is decorated on the top with a repousse sail boat scene in the manner of Claude Vernet. T...
Category

Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

PERFUME BOX WITH LID French Napoleon III 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
PERFUME BOX WITH LID French Napoleon III 19th Century in ebonised wood, tortoiseshell and gilded metal. Interior with three golden glass bottles. Defects of age Dim.: (box) 11 x 1...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

French Cranberry Glass Box
Located in Newark, England
French Cranberry Glass Box. The box of oval form with chamfered lid and brass mounts decorated throughout with a central band of enamelled greek ke...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

TABLE CLOCK French, circa 1740 Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
TABLE CLOCK French, circa 1740. Tortoiseshell coated wooden box, with gilded bronze applications, decorated with plant motifs and a mask. Enamelled dial with Roman numerals, inscri...
Category

18th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Table Box Enamel on guillochè with “paillons” in pure gold on the upper circle S
Located in Firenze, FI
Round table box in 925/1000 sterlin silver gold plated with fired enamels, with “paillons” in pure gold on the upper circle, fine fired enamelled miniature with hand-painted floral i...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold

Antique Paul Sormani Signed Parisian Napoleon III Period Glove Box
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce very fine quality Napoleon III Period (1852-1870) gilt bronze ormolu mounted inlaid glove box by important Parisian ébéniste Paul Sormani (1817-1877) Exquisitely hand-cra...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Rare Box with a Hand-Painted Medallion of a 19th Century Man, Napoleon III
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Rare box with a hand-painted medallion of a 19th century man, Napoleon III period." Miniature box decorated with a hand-painted portrait from the 19th century, Napoleon III period....
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Repousse Silver Plated on Copper Jewelry Box
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant, antique Napoleon III copper box in your master bath to keep your jewelry safe and organized. Crafted in France circa 1880, the ornate ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver Plate, Copper

French 19th Century Brass Red Agate Stone Jewellery Box Napoleon III
Located in Paris, IDF
A beautiful French 19th century Napoleon III polished agate and brass mounted jewellery box, all sides composed with a total of height panels of vividly-hued red agate stone, atop ba...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Agate, Brass

French Napoleon III Period 19th Century Leather Sewing Kit with Bronze Hardware
Located in Atlanta, GA
French 1850s Napoléon III period leather case sewing kit with bronze hardware and blue velvet interior. Take a step back into the lavish world of the mid-19th century with this Frenc...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Antique & Unique Napoleon II Inlaid Burl Box w. Gilt Perfume Flasks / Bottles
Located in Lisse, NL
Incredible workmanship and amazingly intricate, antique Napoleon II box, mid 1800s When it comes to collectible and high value boxes, this little, fit-for-a-king gem from the 1850s is right up there with the rarest and most beautiful we ever saw. We know it should not be THE reason why you would purchase something of this quality and beauty, but with ever fewer craftsman being able to create anything remotely great, the value of this type of antique can...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass, Bronze

19th Century French Repousse Brass Clad Coal Bin on Casters with Hunt Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France, circa 1870, the antique brass coffer is mounted on a wooden frame, and stands on caster wheels. The slant top opens up with stopping chain revealing inside storage...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Marquetry Game Box, Mother of Pearl
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century Napoleon III marquetry game box is made of rosewood, ebonized pearwood, and thuya and features a central bronze cartouche detailed with mother of pearl inlay. Inside, five removable palisander trays...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Important Box, Sèvres Porcelain Box, Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Important box, Sèvres porcelain box, Napoleon III period. Sèvres porcelain box, jewelry box, decorated with gallant scenes, signed, gilded brass mount, very nice quality, 19th cen...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Napoleon III Liquor Cellar
Located in BARSAC, FR
Beautiful Napoleon III liqueur cellar in blackened wood and marquetry of brass, mother-of-pearl, and rosewood fillets. Interior lined with a crystal service with beautiful floral dec...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Ebony

French Napoleon III "Boulle" Marquetry, Nacre and Gilded Brass Gloves Box
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice French Napoleon III "Boulle" marquetry, tortoiseshell, nacre and gilded brass decorative gloves box. Restored by a cabinetmaker.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Walnut and Brass Writing Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...
Category

1890s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

19th Century Napoleon III Box with Japanese Decoration
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Rare quality of execution for this precious Napoleon III period box in rosewood, pewter, brass, copper, bone and mother-of-pearl (burgau and sea-ear). All the sides are decorated wit...
Category

1870s European Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Game Box, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Game box, 19th century. Napoleon III period game box, 19th century in precious wood marquetry. Measures: H: 5 cm, W: 22 cm, D: 13 cm.
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Paul Sormani Fruitwood Box Dedicated to Marie, Dated 1868
Located in New York, NY
Our fruitwood jewelry chest with bronze mounts and plaque dedicated to Marie comes from the esteemed Parisian cabinet maker, Paul Sormani (1817-1877). Signed and dated on the brass.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Bohemian Crystal Box, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bohemian crystal box, 19th century Bohemian crystal box, white and gold enameled, circa 1880, Napoleon III period, mounted with gilt brass. Meas...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Crystal

Porcelain Box, Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Porcelain box, late 19th - early 20th century. Porcelain box from the end of the 19th century or beginning of the 20th century, gilded brass, very nice painted scene with gold dec...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Napoleon III Style French Walnut Table Box
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Eleg...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Walnut, Paper

Important Berlin Porcelain Covered Pot
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Important Lidded Pot In Berlin Porcelain. Beautiful Lidded Pot in Berlin Porcelain, Manufacture KPM of the 19th century. Dimensions: H: 40,5cm, D: 33,5cm.
Category

19th Century German Antique Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Porcelain

Napoleon Iii decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III decorative boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III decorative boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative boxes, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Paul Sormani, and A. Aucoc. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $333 and tops out at $20,970 while the average work can sell for $1,726.

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