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.
Mid 19th Century Tea caddy - Napoleon III - Ebonized and Inlayed
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant Napoleon III period tea caddy, finely decorated with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay forming a geometric clover pattern on the lid, framed by delicate brass stringing. The ri...
Brass
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 ...
Beech, Birdseye Maple
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...
Brass
Exceptional 19th C Parquetry Tea Caddy with Serpentine Sides Marked TAHAN Paris
By Tahan Paris
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
An exceptional double chamber tea caddy with geometric parquetry panels with crossbanded edges. Each of the four sides of serpentine form and raised on a conforming plinth base edged...
Brass
French Napoleon III Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Single Tea Caddy Compartment From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to bring to market this Antique French Boulle Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy o...
Bronze, Ormolu
Boulle marquetry tea box, Napoléon III period, late 19th century signed Vervelle
By Maison Vervelle Audot Successeur
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...
Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Wood Marquetry Teacaddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined antique French tea caddy from the end of Napoleon III. The box is beautifully inlaid with different types of wood and brass, outside around ...
Brass, Bronze
19th Century French Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very fine. Early 19th century Napoleon tea caddy. Brass inlay. Crystal vessel (not original).
Crystal, Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Vervelle Ebonized Box with Brass Inlay
By Maison Vervelle Audot Successeur
Located in Pearland, TX
A 19th century French ebonized box with brass inlay, the lock signed Vervelle Faut. Vervelle was a famed French maker of boxes, caskets and cabinetry, renowned for their fine craftsm...
Metal, Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Wood Marquetry Teacaddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined antique French tea caddy from the end of Napoleon III. The box is beautifully inlaid with different types of wood and brass, outside around ...
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
The burgundy / brown lacquer is decorated with gold depicting figures and buildings in a landscape. The caddy stands on four carved wooden feet in the shape of claws. The interior contains a single pewter canister...
Paper
Antique George III Sterling Silver Locking Tea Caddy
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Georgian English sterling silver locking tea caddy; an addition to our silver teaware collection. This exceptional antique Georgian sterling silver tea caddy has an oval form. The surface of the tea caddy is plain and unembellished, with an applied reed decorated border to the upper and lower rims. This antique silver tea caddy retains the original hallmarked domed flush hinged cover; the flush hinge indicates the fine quality of this piece. The cover is surmounted with the original and exceptional silver topped oval button style finial. This antique Georgian tea caddy...
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
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.5 in W 13 in D 10 in
Antique French Napoleon III Boulle Marquetry Brass Tortoiseshell Keepsake Box 13
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Napoleon III era French Marquetry Boulle box. Red and black tortoiseshell with foliate brass inlay. Decoration on top includes the monogram LS. Rectangular form ...
Brass
English Shagreen Tea Caddy 19th with Bone Finial
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique English shagreen cased six sided wooden tea caddy with nice silver mounts, bone finial and undivided interior. Comes with small silver pin to ...
Silver
Jewelry box Napoleon III
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jewelry box Napoleon III Materials gilt bronze and ceramics Origin France Circa 1880 No Restorations Excellent condition Materials gilt bronze and ceramics ALL CERAMIC PLATES ARE PER...
Bronze
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
19th Century Chinese Black Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Tampa, FL
Nineteenth century Chinese chinoiserie black lacquer tea caddy richly decorated in gold. The exterior shows delicate garden scenes with birds, flowers, and foliage painted with fine ...
Lacquer
19th Century English Regency Tea Caddy
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A large English tea caddy. It is mahogany with brass feet.
Brass
$1,495
H 5 in W 13 in D 9.5 in
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...
Bronze
Circa 1870 Napoleon III French Tea Caddy
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1870 Napoleon III French Tea Caddy. Fine quality with Old Paris Porcelain fittings - 2 tea caddies & a sugar caddy. The box is inlaid with engraved brass. Each porcelain ca...
Brass
French Louis XV Boulle Dome-top Box
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century French Louis XV Boulle Box By Tahan Of Paris. Dome shaped rectangular hinged box is veneered in red and gold faux tortoiseshell with brass accessories. Interior is lined...
Tortoise Shell
Napoleon III Tantalus, 19th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
Napoleon III period mother of pearl inlaid Tantalus, opening to reveal fitted interior, fully stocked with four carafes and sixteen liqueur glasses. 11" H x 14" W x 10" D (approx)
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
19th Century Petite Tin Tray
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very charming antique toleware tin tray, beautifully hand-painted with sprays of wild roses and a laurel frieze. The tradition of applying paint...
Tin
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Rosewood Tea Box
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century Napoleon III period tea box or tea caddy features marquetry of rosewood in an inlaid chevron pattern. Bronze edging around the top lends strength as well ...
Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Burr Walnut Inlay Teacaddy
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique French tea caddy from the Napoleon III style period. The box is beautifully inlaid with different types of wood and copper trim. The...
Brass
19th Century French Tea caddy Napoleon III with Porcelain Bottles
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique tea caddy from the French Napoleon III period. The box is veneered with various types of wood and decorated with beautiful bronze ornaments. The interior is furnish...
Porcelain, Wood
Sold
H 5 in W 10.25 in D 6 in
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Palisander Marquetry Tea Box, Bronze Trim
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century Napoleon III period tea box or tea caddy features marquetry of palisander in an inlaid chevron pattern. Bronze edging around the top and base outer edges ...
Bronze
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H 4.73 in W 9.85 in D 4.73 in
19th Century Napoleon III Tea Caddy Inlaid with Copper and Mother of Pearl
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique Napoleon III tea box. The box is made of blackened wood, inlaid with small pieces of mother-of-pearl and copper piping. The interior ha...
Wood
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H 10.63 in W 13 in D 9.45 in
Napoleon III French Wooden, Blown Cut Glass with Gold Filigree Travel Decanter
Located in Valladolid, ES
Stunning and one of a kind French travel decanter, Napoleon III, circa 1860, 19th century. Wooden box with inlaid brass that opens front and side doors...
Crystal, Ormolu
19th Century Wood Marquetry Tea Caddy
Located in Paris, FR
19th century tea caddy, the box is crafted of ebony and boasts intricate inlay of brass accented by mother of pearl. Inside, the wooden-lined interior includes two containers for tea...
Brass
Sold
H 7.09 in Dm 7.09 in
Candy Box, Napoleon III Period, 1870, Painted and Gilded Porcelain Gilded Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Candy box, Napoleon III period, 1870, painted and gilded porcelain, gilded bronze Measures: H 18cm, D 18cm.
Bronze