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.
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Unusual 18th Century French Boulle & Brass Inlaid Snuff Box w/ Candleholder
Located in Atlanta, GA
This diminutive yet opulent 18th or 19th-century French snuff box exemplifies the Boulle-style, renowned for its intricate gilt and inlaid brass decoration against a tortoiseshell ba...
Brass
Burlwood & Hand Painted French Napolean III Style Cigar Humidor
Located in Incline Village, NV
Beautiful condition and highly attractive mid 20th century French Napolean III style burlwood and hand painted humidor for cigars or possibly tea leaves. Shaped in a square with a ro...
Burl
Snuffbox two-tones enamel stripes Guilloche Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, 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...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Snuffbox basket with flowers, in Florentine Renaissance style, Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco 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 ...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
$6,955 / item
H 10.24 in W 10.83 in D 11.82 in
Hundred Cigar Solid Bog-Oak Humidor, Cedar Lining & Brass Jointing
Located in London, GB
Dovedale — has designed two different humidors, a smaller humidor carrying fifty cigars and a more substantial to take a hundred cigars. Both are lined with Spanish cedar to keep the...
Brass
Paradigm Humidor Company Cigar Box Marquetry Wood Inlay
By Dunhill
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Paradigm Wood Inlay Marquetry Humidor Cigar Box 5.5 h x 12 w x 9.5 d Preowned vintage Refer to images.
Wood
$3,750
H 7.29 in W 8.67 in D 5.32 in
Stunning Original Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Wood Cigar Box Humidor House
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this rather lovely antique original circa 1880 Black Forest Wood musical Cigar box Humidor with built in music box A very good looking and well ...
Wood
$426Sale Price|67% Off
H 0.75 in W 2.25 in D 1.5 in
19th Century Sterling Silver Snuffbox Birmingham 1848 by Rolason Bros
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely little sterling silver snuffbox, fully hallmarked with gold plated interior. Lovely chasing on lid and sides, classic high Victorian repousse w...
Sterling Silver
19th Century Dog House Cigar Box or Humidor
Located in San Francisco, CA
Charming 19th Century cigar box or humidor guarded by a metal dog with glass eyes on a short lease. These boxes are perfect for collectors of boxes...
Metal
English 18th Century Gold-Mounted Agate Snuff-Box
Located in Paris, FR
Agate box or snuff-box in of circular form with gently bombé sides, the gold mounted lid is chased with scrollwork. Probably Georges II period. Unmarked gold...
Agate, Gold
$16,759Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.58 in Dm 7.68 in
20th Century Sterling Silver Italian Gilded and Enameled Table Box
By Salimbeni
Located in VALENZA, IT
Round haped silver gilded 925/1000 table box with translucent enamels on guilloche with hand-painted floral miniatures and gold paillons Made in Italy 1.400 grams The Miniatures are hand-painted on a usually white homogeneous enamel base. The same colored glazes are used, but ground much finer, which are mixed with special oils to form an infinite palette of colors. The paint must be gradually dried on electric stoves...
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Napoleon III Ebonized Cigar Cabinet
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A stylish Napoleon III cigar cabinet, crafted with ebonized wood, brass inlays, and a distinctive medallion at the top, this late 1800s piece reflects the refined style of the Napole...
Brass
$1,317Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.3 in W 1.1 in D 1.1 in
Georgian Louis XVI 18th Century Dutch Silver Snuff Box Scent Box 1782
By Edward & Sons, Sheffield 1, Barbour Silver Co., Odiot, Durham Silver Co.
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
18th century Dutch silver scent box On top a Depiction of Vice Admiral Zoutman The victor of the Dogger Bank Battle Made by Dirk Hoep 178...
Sterling Silver
Italian Silver and Enamel Box
Located in Newark, England
GUILLOCHE ENAMEL AND SILVER GILT From our collectables category, we are delighted to offer this incredible quality Italian Mid-Century Modern Silver and Enamel Box. The Silver and E...
Gold Plate, Silver, Enamel
$280
H 2.25 in W 9.5 in D 5.88 in
Beautiful Hand Crafted Cigar Humidor Box Catchall Antique Austria, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A cigar or desktop catchall box from Austria in the 1900s, made of patinated brass and wood, sounds like a unique and valuable antique. The fact that this particular box is an antique from the early 1900s adds to its value and collectability. Depending on the condition and other factors such as the brand or maker, it could be worth a significant amount of money to collectors of antique smoking...
Metal
FORNASETTI Cigar Humidor
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian wooden cigar humidor box with cammei design on faux marble / made in Milan Italy by Fornasetti, in the 1980s Original metal label inside Measures: width 10 inches, de...
Wood
Snuff box Enamel Stripes and miniature Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Shaped snuff box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fire-enameled stripes and fine oval enameled miniature in center cm. 3 x 4 hand-painted by ...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 2.76 in W 5.91 in D 3.55 in
19th Century French Enameled Porcelain and Ormolu-Mounted Jewelry Casket
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Very finely hand-painted enamel on porcelain jewelry casket. Rectangular shape in colored red, white and gold “coteau” enamels on a gold paillon and a turquoise blue sèvres backgrou...
Ormolu, Enamel
19th Century French Napoleon III Rosewood Cigar Holder Box with Brass Mounts
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique two-tone fruitwood box was crafted in France, circa 1870; the twelve-cigar holder stands on small bun feet, and features a top finial knob with rotating open and...
Brass
Ferdinand Barbedienne Damascene Gold and Silver Inlaid Bronze Box
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) A very fine quality damascene gold and silver inlaid and patinated bronze circular box, circa 1875 In original black leather and red silk fitted b...
Silver, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Sold
H 5.12 in W 29.53 in D 18.9 in
Rare and Huge Napoleon III Boulle Pharmacy Cabinet Box, France, 1850
Located in Paris, FR
Rare and large apothecary pharmacy cabinet box in Boulle style marquetry in Napoleon III Signed Weber. Exceptionally big dimension cabinet...
Brass, Bronze, Copper
19th Century French Twelve-Cigar Holder Box with Brass Mounts and Music Box
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant antique rosewood box from France, circa 1870; the twelve cigars holder features a rotating top finial with open and close mechanism where ...
Brass