Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
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
GUSTAVE ODIOT – Pair Of Crystal and Vermeil Ewers Circa 1870/1880
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Magnificent pair of ewers in scalloped crystal, set in a vermeil setting chiselled with waves, oval model in the shape of a gourd.
Dimensions: Height 30 cm – width 17 cm – base 10.5...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
5 Bohemian Crystal Glasses, Red Cabochon, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
5 Bohemian crystal glasses, red cabochon, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
Five Bohemian crystal glasses, red cabochon, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
h: 18cm, d: 7cm
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Cup, Taste Vin, in Bohemian Crystal, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Cup, Taste Vin, in Bohemian Crystal, 19th Century, Napoleon III period.
Cup, Taste Vin, 19th century, Napoleon III period, in enamelled Bohemian crystal with vine decorations.
h: 10...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Pair of Large Bohemian Crystal Tumblers, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Large Bohemian Crystal Tumblers, 19th Century, Napoleon III period.
Pair of 19th century goblets, Napoleon III period, in red Bohemian crystal, one in gold and one in silver...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Pink Crystal Dinner Service, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pink crystal dinner service, 19th century
Splendid pink crystal dinner service, containing 5 glasses, a cup with its spoon and their tray....
Category
1860s European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Pair of Baccarat Crystal Bouquetières, Soliflores, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Baccarat crystal Bouquetières, Soliflores, Napoleon III period.
A pair of Baccarat crystal cornets, 1860, soliflores, Napoleon III period.
H: 32,5cm , d: 11cm
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
A Set of 10 Ruby Gilt Wine Glasses, Antique French Circa 1900. Fleur de Lis
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vibrant set of ruby red and interesting gilt wine goblets featuring a fleur de lis design. Nice and tall and in very good antique condition. We attribute to one of the finer French...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Gold
5 Bohemian Crystal Glasses, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
5 Bohemian crystal glasses, 19th century.
Five Bohemian crystal glasses, red cabochons and gilding, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
h : 18cm , D : 7cm
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Strawberry dish in Bohemian crystal.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Strawberry dish in Bohemian crystal"
Strawberry service with sugar bowl and cream jug in enameled Bohemian crystal, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
Dish: h: 12cm, w: 24cm, d: 28cm
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Napoleonic Tantalus Liquor Cabinet, 19th Century
Located in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Presenting an exquisite antique French Tantalus liquor cabinet that transports you back to the elegance of the mid to late 1800s. This remarkab...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Brass
Green Bohemian Crystal bottle, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Green Bohemian Crystal bottle, 19th Century"
19th century Napoleon III period bottle in cut and gilded Bohemian crystal, restoration to the stopper.
h...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Pair of crystal pineapple holders, 19th century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of crystal pineapple holders, 19th century
Pair of Bohemian crystal pineapple holders with red and white overlay and large crystal pendants, 19t...
Category
1860s European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
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 Crystal Serveware
Materials
Rosewood
Goblet with its Glass, End of 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Goblet with its glass, end of 19th century
A late 19th century Bohemian crystal goblet with its glass, engraved with a hunting scene in amber ...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Bohemian Crystal Covered Cup
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A Bohemian crystal covered cup and saucer, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
Category
1870s European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Pair of Violet Bohemian Crystal Bells, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of violet Bohemian crystal Bells, 19th century.
Pair of Bohemian crystal bells in purple with gold highlights, 19th century.
Measures: H: 26 cm, D:...
Category
1870s European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Bohemian Crystal and Silver Plated Metal Bowl, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bohemian crystal and silver plated metal bowl, 19th century
Bohemian crystal and silver plated metal bowl, 19th century.
H: 13 cm, W: 34 cm,...
Category
1870s European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
19th Century French Ormolu and Crystal Drinks Set
Located in London, GB
A drinks set of the Napoleon III Period
The ormolu rectangular frame, rising from swept feet, with a running arcaded gallery, fitted with a mirror plate base houses a suite of four lead glass crystal stoppered decanters of square form, with floral gilt highlights, and a suite of eight stemmed spirit glasses...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Antique French Grand Cut Crystal Compote / Bowl with Bronze Footed Base
Located in Toronto, ON
A stunning and large scale antique French cut crystal compote / bowl with ornate bronze trims circa 1880. Measuring 12” tall, this piece makes an e...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
A Pair of French Hand Blown Slice Cut Crystal Flutes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of French cut crystal stemmed flutes. The cutting style around the top is thumbprint while the body is slice cut.
This pair would service well as toasting glasses...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Pair of Bohemian Eagles, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Bohemian eagles, 19th century, hunting scenes, Napoleon III period.
Measures: H: 33 cm, W: 18 cm, D: 15 cm.
Category
1870s European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Bohemian Crystal Liqueur Barrel
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bohemian crystal liqueur barrel, gold enameled, 11 glasses, 19th century, Napoleon III.
Measures: H 33 cm, D 36 cm.
Category
1860s European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
19th Century Blue Opaline Perfume Bottle with Enamel Decoration
Located in Paris, FR
Mid-19th century blue, opaline crystal set composed of a small flask, its stopper and a small, flower-shaped cup. The perfume bottle and flask are decorated with enameled and silver ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Opaline Glass
Cut Crystal Cup or Small Vase
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A cut crystal cup or small vase, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
Measures: H: 18 cm, D: 11 cm.
Category
19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Late 19th Century Crystal and Gilt Bronze Centrepiece
Located in Paris, FR
Red and transparent crystal centerpiece composed of a flared vase and cup. They are engraved with leafy rinceau, grape vines, and scrolling foliage. Gilt bronze mounts are decorated ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Important Cup in Gilt Bronze and Cut Crystal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Important cup in gilt bronze and cut crystal, Napoleon III period, 19th century.
Measures: H 25 cm, W 34 cm, D 24 cm.
Category
19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Suite of 4 Ewers in Silver and Crystal, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Set of four ewers in crystal cut with twisted ribs and silver mount. Every ewer has a relief wave design at the neck, a shell beak and twisted handle. The hinged lid is decorated wit...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Baccarat Cave à Liqueur
Located in New Orleans, LA
This striking and rare Napoleon III-period cave à liqueur is masterfully modeled to represent the Cirque d'Hiver, or Winter Circus. Built in Paris in 18...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal
Petite French 1860s Napoleon III Period Crystal Toiletry Bottle with Silver Neck
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Napoleon III period petite crystal toiletry bottle from the mid-19th century, with silver neck. Born in France during the reign of Emperor Na...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Mid-19th Century White Opaline Water Set
Located in Paris, FR
White opaline water set highlighted with golden stripes, garlands of plants, and small flowers. The set is composed of a round tray, a glass, a sugar bowl, a...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Opaline Glass
Jam Pot in Crystal and Silver, Signed Martial Fray
By Marial Fray
Located in Paris, FR
Jam pot in Baccarat crystal and silver, resting on an octagonal foot. The handles are decorated with foliage and fluting. The domed lid is topped by two gadroo...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Napoleon Iii crystal serveware for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III crystal serveware for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage crystal serveware created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with crystal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III crystal serveware made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original crystal serveware, popular names associated with this style include Bohemia Crystal, and Marial Fray. 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 crystal serveware differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $120 and tops out at $24,850 while the average work can sell for $2,663.
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