Napoleon III Seating
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
Pair of French Napoleon III Blue Tufted Armchairs
Located in Buchanan, NY
An exquisite pair of French Napoleon III tufted armchairs. Upholstered in a stunning vintage blue fabric, these chairs have a serious presence that...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric
Pair of Large Napoleon III Armchairs in Gold and Red
Located in Buchanan, NY
A unique and colorful pair of 19th century French Napoleon III armchairs upholstered in a golden yellow patterned fabric and ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric
small Napoleon III lounge circa 1930/1950 good condition
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
small Napoleon III lounge circa 1930/1950
good condition
including 1 sofa and two armchairs
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Set of 12 Napoleon III Period Painted Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of 12 Napoleon III Period Painted Dining Chairs possess a regal elegance that cannot be denied! The combination of classical design and timeless naturalistic motifs are the essen...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Walnut, Paint
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Rosewood Salon Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Rosewood salon chair is an elegant example of Fine French craftsmanship using exotic imported wood from the Americas. Sometimes called Kingwood, rosewood is known for its natural beauty, color, hardness, and ability to last for eons. This example combines elements of the Louis Philippe form with accents from the Louis XVI style, with a graceful shield-shaped seatback carved with flowing ribbon at the top of the arched crown. The remainder of the seatback follows tailored lines accented with scrolls for a tailored opulence. The seat itself is beautifully contoured and upholstered in mohair, and features gracefully scrolled legs, with the front legs molded for added visual appeal while retaining an austerity of form that is the essence of understated elegance.
If you act fast, a twin chair...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Mohair, Rosewood
Pair of French Napoleon III Sofas
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Stunning pair of French sofa's in the Napoleon III style, circa 1880.
These classic sofa's feature an elegantly shaped frame which includes their...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery
Napoleon III Ebonized Slipper Chair
Located in Essex, MA
Slightly arched back upholstered in gold cut velvet raised on turned tapered fluted legs.
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Paint
French Napoleon III Chaise Longue XIX eme
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
French Napoleon III chaise longue.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Beech
2 Original Chiarivari Napoleon III Ebonized Chairs, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 Original Napoleon III ebonized chairs, France, 1850s.
Wear and lack of gilding.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Rare 19th Century Napoleon III Brocade Sofa and Two Armchairs
Located in Puglia, Puglia
French sofa and two armchairs from the 19th century, Napoleon III period. The whole set has been restored and the upholstery replaced with a beautiful Italian Brocade...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Brocade, Beech
Small Armchair Designed as a Dog Bed
Located in Buchanan, NY
An exceptional small French armchair designed for a dog. This small armchair is not just a chair - it's a piece of history. Constructed in the 1920s, with French craftsmanship and qu...
Category
1920s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Méridienne Époque Napoléon III Velours Rose
Located in NAVILLY, FR
Méridienne crapaud d'époque napoléon III fin 19e en velours rose à motifs en relief et puis envoi noirci se terminant par une rouletteassise et tissu entièrement restaurée il y a moi...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Velvet
Elegant Ebonized Napoleon III Armchair with New Upholstery
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French Napoleon III ebonized salon armchair with lovely carved acanthus leaf crest, cabriole legs, and new upholstery. France, circa 1880. Wonderful as head dining chair...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century French Oak Settee
Located in High Point, NC
19th century French settee made from oak. The back is carved and has three vase shaped carved panels, following down to a seat with a bevelled edge along the front, and turned arms. ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Oak
Original Napoleon III Armchair, Blackened Wood, Mother-of-pearl Inlay
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Original Napoleon III armchair, blackened wood, mother-of-pearl inlay.
Small lack of mother-of-pearl on an armrest.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
19th Century Napoleon III Caned Child Chair
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful 19th century French Napoleon III Period child chair made in blackened beech and cane.
Used condition.
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cane, Beech
Carved French Oak Salon Throne Chair, Original Pictorial Upholstery
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Carved French Oak Salon Throne Chair, Original Pictorial Upholstery
This lovely old High Back chair retains its original hand made pictorial fabric back rest, this is in muted sha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Oak
Vintage Pair of Walnut Chairs "Chauffeuse" French, circa 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Chauffeuse French Napoleon III, circa 1880.
The feets are in walnut
Antique, 19th century.
It can be recovered with the fabric of your choice to suit your interior.
Sound and sol...
Category
1960s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
2 Original Napoleon III Chairs, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 Original Napoleon III Chairs, France, 1850s
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Beech
Pair of French Great Quality Black Leather 19th Century Armchairs
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A large and very comfortable pair of Napoleon III antique French library armchairs. Quality black leather and studded on the front & back edges,...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Brass
Napoleon III Walnut Piano Stool French, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
Piano stool height-adjustable to be recovered.
Circa 1880, French, of the period Napoleon III
Good condition.
Shipping:
L35 P35 H49 7,2 kg.
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Rare Pair of Voluptuous Seats, Portugal circa 1880
Located in Paris, FR
Two very rare love chairs from a Portuguese brothel, circa 1880.
They are in gilded carved wood, the upholstery and the velvet have been completely redone to the original.
Category
1880s Portuguese Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Velvet, Giltwood
Set of Six Napoleon III Style Faux Rope Cerused Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing set of six hand-carved faux rope Spanish dining chairs made in the Napoleon III taste. The set consists of four side chairs and two host armchairs measuring 23.5 inches wide ...
Category
20th Century Spanish Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric, Beech
Set of Eight Italian Giltwood Faux Bois Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Sublime set of eight Italian dining chairs featuring hand-carved faux bois gilt wood frames. Crafted in the old world style from beech frames covered in layers of gesso (plaster), ro...
Category
20th Century Italian Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Gesso, Fabric, Giltwood
Rare Suite of 9 Napoleon III Period Chairs in Blackened Beech
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare suite of 9 Napoleon III period chairs in blackened beech.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
2 Napoleon III Low Chairs, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 original Napoleon III low chairs, France, 1850s.
Price is for 1
2 are available
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Antique French Iron Campaign Style Daybed
Located in Sheffield, MA
Add glamour and style with this Napoleon III cast iron lounging day bed to any room. Create your own 24" x 74" seating area with a mattress, seat cushion and decorative pillows to ma...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Iron
Pair Of Papier Mâché Armchairs, XIXth Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Beautiful pair of papier-mâché armchairs, decorated with painted flowers and butterflies or in mother-of-pearl, on a black lacquered background
The seat is in caning, in good condit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Paper
Living Room Set - Hans Makart, Austria, 1850s, Restored
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique set of living room furniture from around 1850. Furniture in very good condition, professionally renovated, polished to a high gloss. Seats and backrests upholstered with high-quality fabric. Original furniture designed by Hans Makart...
Category
1850s Austrian Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
2 Napoleon III Chairs, France, circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 Napoleon III armchairs, France, circa 1930.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Style Napoleon III Sofa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An unsual french settee, the settee is heavily tufted and trimmed with matching tassels and contrasting fringe,
very good condition, sold as is.
Category
1960s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric
20th Century Empire Style Napoleonic Swan Armchair
Located in Berlin, DE
Napoleonic pavilion armchair in Empire style.
Very exact fine-carved sculpture made of solid, blackened beechwood. Poliment gold-plated. Scratched frame on plastically carved legs e...
Category
20th Century French Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Large French 19th C Napoleon III Tufted Sofa
Located in Buchanan, NY
Large scale Napoleon III sofa with cabriole legs. The back is heavily tufted as are the rolled arms. The sofa has been stripped down to the mus...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric
Pair of Napoleon III Red Chairs Upholstered French, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III French red chairs late 19th century
The chair have been re-upholstered.
The chairs are similar but one is bigger than the other.
Chair 1: D 18.1 in ; (46 cm) W 16.5 i...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
2 Original Napoleon III Low Chairs, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 original Napoleon III low chairs, France, 1850s.
price is for 1
2 are available
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Walnut, Alligator, Wood
Napoleon III Originale Bergere, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon III faux bamboo chair, France, 1850s.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Napoleon III Pair of Straw Chairs, France 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Very charming wood and straw Napoleon III pair of straw chairs, low seating, in a good condition.
France 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood, Straw
Napoleon III Style Leather Upholstered Club Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
A stylish black leather Napoleon III club or lounge chair. Chair has typical Napoleon III style legs and leather upholstery with nail finish.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery
19th Century French Window Seat
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak window seat from France with an exquisitely hand carved back, depicting a central carved face surrounded by acanthus leaves. The arms are hand turned and are attache...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Oak
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Hand Painted Tole Fireside Chair
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Called a chaise chauffeuse or fireside chair in English due to its low seat height of 15 inches, this mid-nineteenth century French Napoleon III period hand painted tole chair...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Silk, Wood
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Mahogany Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th century French Napoleon III period mahogany chairs reflects the stately classically-inspired architecture of the ancients, accentuated by bronze castings of rosettes and li...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Napoleon III French Crapaud Armchairs Boucle Armchairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of Napoleon III French Tufted Crapaud armchairs. Walnut frame fully restored, newly upholstered in bouclé.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Bouclé
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Upholstered Dining Chairs, Set of 4
Located in Forney, TX
A rare set of four period Napoleon III Second Empire dining chairs, hand-crafted of solid fruitwood in France in the third quarter of the 19th century.
Finished in luxurious Pari...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Fruitwood
Antique Parlor Chair with Nobilis Floral Fabric
Located in Munich, DE
1950s European Parlor Chair refurbished and done with a floral pattern from the firm Nobilis. This chair fits well with a wide array of settings.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Italian Comini & Modonutti Carved Knotted Rope Chairs, Set of 8
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Napoleon III style dining chairs. Featured in a solid wood with a light white washed wood finish. Each having frames carved to resemble rope, with knots on arms and above eac...
Category
20th Century Italian Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Hollywood Regency Style Rope & Tassel Chair with Matching Ottoman in Blue Velvet
Located in New York, NY
Rope and tassel chair with matching ottoman in blue velvet. The chair has a carved wood rope style frame with beautiful, newly upholstered, velvet upholstery.
Chair measures: 27.5 W...
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Antique French Garden Folding Dining Chairs
Located in Sheffield, MA
Say it with style with this set of 4 antique French folding bistro style dining chairs. Leave them out or fold them up to save space. Great dinin...
Category
20th Century French Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Iron
Pair of French Ottomans, Upholstered, Padded and Buttoned, Napoleon III Style
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Pair of French ottomans, upholstered, padded and buttoned, with separate top cushions, Napoleon III Style, often referred to as "Le Style Rothschild...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Damask
French Napoleon III Marquise Chair in Tropics "Leopard' Fabric
Located in Hastings, GB
Beautiful antique French Napoleon III marquise chair
This extremely rare 19th century antique French Napoleon III marquise chair, also affectionately...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Napoleon III Pair of Carved Sapele Wood Bedroom Chairs
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.
Particular pair of...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Sapele Wood
Napoleon III Chiavari Solid Wooden Hand-Crafted Gold Leaf Chairs, France, 1960
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of 50 chairs, sold by units. Napoleon style solid wooden hand-crafted chairs. With turned bars in the back and turned legs. Gold leaf finished.
Category
1960s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th C French Armchair and Footstool in 'Fan Palm’ Fabric
Located in Hastings, GB
A beautiful 19th century French Napoleon lll armchair and footstool, upholstered in our exclusive Tropics 'Fan Palm' fabric.
This stunning Armchair and Footstool dating from around 1860, have been painstakingly covered in the luxurious Fan Palm fabric from our Tropics range, designed in-house. The Armchair and Footstool were made as a pair, the curved shaping on the front edge of the Armchair sits together perfectly with the curved shape of the footstool. The frame retains the roots of it's history, the patina of the turned mahogany legs bearing testament to its' 160 year life.
100% organic cotton gabardine, piped with designers guild 'Varese' grey velvet.
Dimensions:
Armchair 80cm width, 88cm height, 40cm seat height, seat depth 50cm
Footstool 67cm width/depth, 40cm height
The armchair and footstool are being sold as a set, the price is for the armchair and footstool, we cannot sell separately
All of our antique pieces have been especially hand picked by us and reupholstered in either our own exclusive luxury fabrics designed in house, or in a sumptuous fabric that has been exclusively chosen for the item. Ensuring that every piece from our Antiques Collection is a true one off that cannot be found anywhere else.
Our pieces of furniture are genuine antique/vintage pieces and therefore can have some signs of age related use or wear, this adds to the character and uniqueness of each of them. All of our hand picked antique furniture pieces...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Antique French Parlour Settee in Tropics 'Fan Palm' Fabric
Located in Hastings, GB
A very rare antique French Parlour Settee, upholstered in our exclusive Tropics 'Fan Palm' fabric
This exceptional French settee dating from around 1...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Wonderful French Giltwood Knotted Rope Round Ottoman Tabouret Silk Upholstery
By Napoléon III
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful French Napoleon III giltwood knotted rope round ottoman / tabouret / pouf silk stripe upholstery on casters.
Category
1920s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Silk, Giltwood
2 Original Chiarivari Napoleon III Ebonized Chairs, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 original Napoleon III ebonized chairs, France, 1850s
wear and lack of gilding.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Pair 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Armchairs with Leather & Bronze Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th century French Empire Mahogany armchairs with leather & bronze mounts are ideal for the Conference Room, an office environment, a large game table...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Bronze
French Armchair / Armchair / Bergère Napoleon III
Located in Berlin, DE
French armchair / armchair / bergère Napoleon III
Solid wood, carved, painted in gold.
Slightly curved frame on fluted legs. Slanted, fluted, slightly rising armrests. Curly, bac...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Antique French Napoleon III Style "Chaise Percée" Toilet / Throne, a Curiosity
Located in Madrid, ES
A fun and decorative curiosity, this late 19th century French Napoleon III (nephew of Bonaparte I) or Second Empire style "throne" is a fine example of elegant furniture making meeting functional necessity. Known as a "Chaise...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Metal
Napoleon Iii seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III seating for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage seating created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, more furniture and collectibles, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III seating made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original seating, popular names associated with this style include Bourgeois Boheme Atelier, J.&J. Khon, Aubusson Manufacture, and Baker Furniture Company. 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 seating differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $373 and tops out at $41,810 while the average work can sell for $3,247.
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