Napoleon III 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
Table Box Sterling Silver Striped Paillons in pure Gold and flowers Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round table box in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fired enamels, with “paillons” in pure gold on the upper circle, fine floral miniature fired enamelled by the painter Ren...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
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 Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Paul Sormani Marquetry Token Box, 19th Century.
By Paul Sormani
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 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 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 Boxes
Materials
Bronze
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 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 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 Boxes
Materials
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique French 19th Century Napoleon III Jewelry Box Inlaid Brass Pearl Thuya
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Marvelous & luxurious ! This most rare 19th century French antique Napoleon III jewelry box.
Great large size jewelry box that can be used to store your jewelry in style! Very rar...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Wood
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 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 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 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 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 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 Boxes
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Cigar and Music Box, Early 20th Century, Napoleon III Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Cigar and music box, Early 20th Century, Napoleon III style.
Cigar box and music box, early 20th century in silver-plated metal and stone, certainly alabaster, 6 cigar holders, whic...
Category
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Stone, Alabaster, Metal, Silver Plate
Napoleon III Ormolu Engraved Casket
Located in New Orleans, LA
This serpentine-shaped engraved ormolu jewelry casket is an exquisite Napoleon III work of art. Reminiscent of works by Alphonse Giroux, a renowned purveyor of fine goods to the Fren...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Palais Royal gilt bronze and mother of pearl jewellery casket or trinket box
Located in London, GB
A very good quality and unusual Palais Royal gilt bronze and mother of pearl jewellery casket or trinket box dating from the first quarter of the nineteenth century.
The box is in g...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Wood Inlaid Cigar Carrousel - Napoleon III
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique wooden cigar carousel.
A typical object from the French Napoleon III period.
When you turn the top knob, the doors on all sides open and the cigars appear.
The ci...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Copper
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 Boxes
Materials
Rosewood
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 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 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 Boxes
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Napoleon III 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 walnut wood and adorned with intr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Brass
Large 19th Century French Napoleon III Marquetry Jewelry Box, Marked Lucie
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This large mid nineteenth century marquetry box from the Napoleon III period features a burl thuya wood field surrounded by a concentric border of intricately inlaid ebonized pearwoo...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Bronze
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 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 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 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 Boxes
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Napoleon III Period Jewelry Box
Located in San Antonio, TX
This 19th Century Napoleon III Period Jewelry Box is a true testament to the elegance and sophistication of its era. Crafted with meticulous attention...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Period Marquetry Cigar Box, Music Box
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid nineteenth century French Napoleon III period marquetry cigar presentation box is constructed of rosewood and is marked Cigares on the top in lemon wood inlay. Additional i...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Bronze
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 Boxes
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Boxes
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Gilt Bronze Jewelry Box depicting Lovers from Classical Antiquity
Located in NICE, FR
We present you this exquisite gilded bronze box hailing from the Napoleon III period. It represents a scene from Classical Antiquity that captures the romantic rendezvous between two...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Bronze
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 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 Boxes
Materials
Bronze, Iron, Other, Cut Steel, Steel
Boulle marquetry tea box, Napoléon III period, late 19th century signed Vervelle
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
Beautiful Boulle marquetry and blackened wood tea box / tea caddy, brass pattern inlaid, mahogany veneer inside. Mid 19th century circa 1840 - 1850, typic...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Brass
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 Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique French Napoleon III Game Box in Boulle Marquetry
By Ecole Boulle
Located in Bochum, NRW
Antique French Napoleon III gambling chest in "Boulle" Marquetry, with game elements inside. Second half of 19th century.
Small wood gambling chest with playing cards and mother of p...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III 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 Boxes
Materials
Iron
French Marquetry Jewelry Box Napoleon III
Located in SAINTE-COLOMBE, FR
French Marquetry Jewellery Box Napoleon III
This Napoleon III Marquetry Jewellery Box features a beautifully inlaid marquetry floral design to t...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Steel, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Napoleon III Bombay Wood Marquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique French tea caddy in Napoleon III style, wit a bended “forme arbalète” lid. The box is veneered with various types of wood, burl wal...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Burl and Mother-of-Pearl Cigar Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
XIX cigar cellar in magnifying glass and marquetry.
This box has four cigar racks and a drawer. A cartouche in marquetry
and mother-of-pearl decorates the top of the box.
Excellent ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Burl
French Napoleon III Jewelry Box in Black Lacquer with Asian Decor, 19th Century
Located in Bochum, NRW
French Napoleon III Jewelry Box in Black Lacquer with Asian Decor, 19th Century.
A square jewelry box with ribbed edges, decorated with gold courtie...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
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 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 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 Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Paul Sormani Signed Parisian Napoleon III Period Glove Box
By Paul Sormani
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 Boxes
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
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 Boxes
Materials
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
Late 19th Century French Wood Veneer Marquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique French tea caddy in Napoleon III style. The box is made of veneer beechwood, with beautiful grain. The lid is in slayed with lighter maple ...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Boxes
Materials
Beech, Birdseye Maple
Napoleon Iii boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III 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 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 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 boxes, popular names associated with this style include Franco Salimbeni, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Europa Antiques, and Paul Sormani. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $179 and tops out at $1,000,000 while the average work can sell for $1,726.
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