French Napoleon Iii Box
Antique Mid-19th Century French Decorative Boxes
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Boxes
Wood, Bone, Silk
Antique Mid-19th Century French Decorative Boxes
Bronze
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Leather, Shell, Wood
Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Crystal
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Walnut, Paper
Antique Early 1900s French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Enamel
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Bronze, Enamel
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Bronze
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Other
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Burl
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Agate
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Crystal, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Agate, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Boxes
Wood, Lacquer
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Crystal, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Opaline Glass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Silver
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Crystal, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Early 1900s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Bronze, Enamel
20th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Porcelain
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Wood, Burl
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Wood
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Copper
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Bone, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Jewelry Boxes
Ormolu
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Boxes and Cases
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Wood, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Tea Caddies
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Wood
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French Napoleon Iii Box For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Napoleon Iii Box?
A Close Look at Napoleon-iii Furniture
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.
Finding the Right Boxes for You
From mere trinkets to useful receptacles that serve a distinct purpose, antique boxes as decorative objects have come in many forms over the years. No matter what they’re made of or where they end up in your home, decorative boxes add both style and storage to your space.
The decorative box that is likely most common is the jewelry box. These boxes were originally known as jewel caskets and were in common use in Ancient Egypt, as most Egyptians wore some sort of jewelry. A portable jewelry box, in its original intended use, was integral to keeping your jewelry safe and secure. This accessory has transformed in size, shape and appearance over the years. Initially it was common for a jewelry box to bear intricate ornamentation. Whether they’re mid-century modern works of marble and brass or feature playful Art Deco–style geometric decor, jewelry boxes boast real staying power.
Snuff boxes began to soar in popularity during the 17th century (and were commonplace in European homes by the mid-19th century). The boxes, some hand-painted with landscape scenes, some made from gold, porcelain or stone, contained a small amount of tobacco, which users would sniff, or “snuff,” throughout the day. Some particularly ornamental snuff boxes featured enameled designs or were set with precious gems and were given as gifts or party favors, particularly at the coronation of royalty or other lavish events.
Whether you’re organizing important mail in the foyer or tucking away medications in your bathroom, antique boxes — be they metal tea caddies, sterling-silver decorative boxes or Victorian cigar boxes made of oak (even if you don’t smoke) — are a sophisticated solution to help keep the surfaces in your home clutter-free. And no matter if you’re seeking a decorative box to beautify a desktop or bestow upon a loved one, you are sure to find something you love in the collection of antique and vintage boxes on 1stDibs.