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.
$2,046Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antique French Bronze & Marble Three-Piece Mantel Set Clock Napoleon III
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III French two marbles mantel clock late 19th century circa 1890. Set of a clock and two pedestals. Mercury pendulum The French movement of the clock will be checked befor...
Marble, Brass
Monumental Antique French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock by Maison Marquis
Located in New York, NY
A very unusual and quite monumental antique French Louis XVI style Napoleon III ormolu mantel clock by Maison Marquis, the Movement by Languereau, Paris, 1860: surmounted by an urn i...
Enamel, Bronze
Gilt and Patinated Bronze Antique French Clock Set by Picard
By Henri Picard
Located in London, GB
Comprising a central clock and a pair of flanking candelabra, the central circular dial surrounded by a laurel wreath and bow ormolu mount, with plaques depicting biblical scenes in relief on either side, surmounted by a large patinated bronze group, the pair of ten light candelabra similarly decorated with patinated bronze male...
Marble, Bronze
$180,000Sale Price / set|23% Off
Important Cercles Tournants Rotary Clock set by Deniere
Located in Tarzana, CA
Very Large Important and Rare Napoleon III Period Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Sculptural rotary 3-piece clock set ("Pendule A Cercles Tournants") compr...
Bronze
19th Сentury Napoleon III Period Clock
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A 19th century Napoleon III period clock in Griotte marble and Regula. Contact us before ordering to confirm product availability. Measures: H: 43 cm, W: 25 cm, D: 17 cm.
Griotte Marble
Large French Gilt-Bronze Mantel Clock, signed Marquis à Paris, c. 1860–1880
Located in Tarzana, CA
A magnificent gilt-bronze mantel clock of monumental form, richly cast and finely chased in the Rococo-revival style. The case is surmounted by a celestial globe above a pierced flor...
Bronze, Ormolu
Second Empire Period Patinated and Gilt Bronze Three-Piece Clock Set
Located in London, GB
This three-piece mantel clock set contains a clock and two candelabra. The set was produced circa 1860, during the Napoleon III period, and demonstrates the eclecticism typical to de...
Ormolu, Bronze
Majestic 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Candelabras and Clock Garniture
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Wonderful imperial antique french gilt bronze garniture with clock and a pair of candelabras very finely hand worked with nice floral design and beautiful angels, very decorative for...
Bronze
$1,249Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antique French Bronze and Marble Mantel Set Clock Cherub Putti Napoleon III
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III French gilded bronze mantel clock with putti cherub on the top of the clock late 19th century circa 1890. Set of a clock and two amphora...
Marble, Bronze
$1,105Sale Price / set|50% Off
Antique French Bronze and Marble Mantel Set Clock Cherub Putti Napoleon III
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III French clock named "The hour will ring" (visible inscription) signed by the sculptor Lorenzo Vergnano with stamp and number 553 on the back. It represents a building p...
Metal
$4,324Sale Price|20% Off
French Clock Napoléon III Original Label on the Back, 1867
By Napoléon III
Located in Milano, IT
French watch Napoléon III Original label on the back 1867 Important French watch III with original label of the retailer beautiful back of the watch. The ...
Bronze
Important Napoleon III Period Cartel, 1870, Dial Signed by Gorini Daleau
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Important Cartel d'époque Napoléon III, 1870, cadran signé par Gorini Daleau, à Poitiers. Bronze d'or original Measures: H 91cm, L 44cm, P 20cm. Contact us before ordering to confir...
Bronze
Sèvres Style Ormolu Mounted Mantel Clock by Kreisser
Located in London, GB
This gilt bronze mounted mantel clock is formed about a beautiful sky-blue, parcel gilt Sèvres style porcelain vase. The enamel dial is mounted within a gilt bronze drum that is drap...
Ormolu, Bronze
Napoléon III Marble Mantle Clock by James Pradier, France, Circa 1860
By J. Pradier
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Napoléon III Marble Mantle Clock With A Patinated Bronze Figure of 'Phryné' by James Pradier. France, Circa 1860. Surmounted by a finely cast pa...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Napoleon III Clock Empire French 19th Century 50cm x 26cm x 15cm good condition
Bronze
$4,640Sale Price|20% Off
H 23 in W 16.5 in D 6 in
French Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Clock of a Seated Roman Emperor
By Claude Galle
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late French Empire period mantel (fireplace) clock showing a seated Roman emperor in finely chased patinated bronze holding a sword in one hand and a Roman banner in the other. He ...
Bronze
$940
H 24 in W 19.5 in D 5 in
Antique Napoleon III French 19th C. Ebonized Mother of Pearl Inlaid Wall Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 19th Century Napoleon III Era French wall clock by Sarda Besancon. Features an oviform with serpentine ebonized wood and a glass face. The beautiful clock face is enameled porcel...
Porcelain, Glass, Hardwood
Important German Neoclassical Table Clock by David Roentgen
By David Roentgen
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An important and rare table clock from the workshop of David Roentgen. The case with an oval stepped plinth top with gilt bronze handle, decoration of the case with ormolu mille raie banding, beaded edges and brass fluted columns to the front flanking the square brass dial, foliate engraved spandrels to the corners, centred by the white enamel Arabic chapter ring, signed Delolme, pierced brass hands, convex glazed bezel, square plated eight-day movement with four back-pinned pillars, verge escapement, silk suspension, rack and count wheel strike, striking the hours and quarters on two bells above, the back plate also signed, glazed side panels. There is only a small series of comparable table clocks from the workshop of David Roentgen known. The present clock seems to be the first example of the cooperation between David Roentgen and the court clockmaker Delolme in Brunswick. The case is meticulously crafted and both case and movement are of superb quality. David Roentgen, called the "most celebrated ébéniste in Europe" by his contemporaries, was a successful entrepreneur who transformed the business founded by his father, Abraham Roentgen...
Bronze
French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Wall Clock
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This 19th century clock is stunning with its diamond shaped rippling clock frame of ebony painted wood. Mother-of-pearl floral and foliate designs are inlaid in differently stained m...
Mother-of-Pearl, Mahogany, Hardwood, Porcelain
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Three-Piece Clock Set
Located in Astoria, NY
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Three-Piece Clock Set, circa 1870, comprising: a clock surmounted by two-handled urn with a circular dial inset with enameled numerals, with acanthus scrolls...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock Freres Paris
Located in New York, NY
Style of Robert Osmond, circa 1776. Movement signed 'Freres, Paris,' third quarter of the 19th century.
Bronze
$17,235 / set
H 15.75 in W 25.99 in D 11.82 in
Large 19th Century Bronze Bachuss Clock Set, by Deniere
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive 19th century Louis XVI style Bachuss influenced bronze and gilded ormolu clock garniture. The pair of four branch candelabra each supported by bronze putti, raised ...
Bronze
French Massive Mantel Clock of Psyche and Cupid Signed Deniere
Located in London, GB
French massive mantel clock of Psyche and Cupid signed Deniere. Superb example after the original late 18th century model by Claud Michalon. This version was made by the famous early...
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique French Gilt Bronze Rococo Clock
By A.D. Mougin
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A large, superb and very decorative original antique French clock by the famous maker A.D. Mougin. It is boldly modelled in the Rococo style in finely gilded bronze. Asymmetric waisted case, decorated profusely with sweeping acanthus leaves, 'C' scrolls and floral swags. To the top is a large elaborate final of a stylised flaming lamp...
Bronze
French 19th Century Napoleon III Mother of Pearl Inlay Wall Clock
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stunning 19th century wall clock, diamond in shape, with rippling clock frame of ebony-painted wood. mother of pearl astral and filigree designs is inlaid in differently stained ma...
Mother-of-Pearl
$39,500 / set
H 30 in W 12 in D 12 in
Exceptional French Three Graces Piece Rotary Mystery Clock Set Candelabra Suite
By Henry Dasson
Located in Roslyn, NY
Exceptional 19th century, French 'Three Graces' annular dial clock, bronze and marble clock, with Roi-de-bleu enamel globe surmounted by Cupid. The ...
Marble, Bronze
French Gilded & Champleve Clock Garniture
Located in Newark, England
Fine French late 19th century three-piece clock garniture comprising of a pair of candle sticks and clock in a matching set. The garniture boldly cast with rococo influence in the Lo...
Metal, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century Cloisonné Bronze Watch-Holder
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A 19th century cloisonné bronze watch-holder, Napoleon III period, signed Barbedienne.
Bronze
Cloisonné Bronze Watch-Holder
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A 19th century cloisonné bronze watch-holder, onyx base, Napoleon III period.
Bronze
Gilded Bronze Clock "Venus and Cupid" in the Louis XVI Style
Located in Paris, FR
Gilt bronze clock decorated with Venus on her chariot pulled by a couple of doves. She is joined in the clouds by her son Amour holding a helmet in his hand. The white enameled dial with Arabic numerals and openwork hands is signed "Levol à Paris". The plate is signed Planchon. The figures rest on an oval white marble base decorated with gilt bronzes of garlands of flowers and ribbons in the Louis XVI style. There are also two urns carved in marble decorated with flowers and topped with flames. The clock is carried by four small feet in gilt bronze. Its mechanism is signed "Planchon Paris". Mathieu Planchon (1842-1921) was a watchmaker, historian and theorist of watchmaking. He settled in Paris, in the Palais-Royal, in the 1870s. He also worked with Jean E. ROBERT-HOUDIN, a famous clockmaker and automaton maker before becoming a famous illusionist. He studied the systems of "Pendules Mystérieuses" and his work will be followed by Maurice Couet who will ensure the creation of these famous mysterious clocks for the famous jeweller CARTIER. Planchon will also reconstitute the clock that Viollet-Le-Duc gave as well as the monumental clock...
Bronze
Sold
H 30.71 in W 23.63 in D 9.85 in
Majestic 19th Century French Gilt Bronze Candelabras and Clock Garniture
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Wonderful imperial antique french gilt bronze garniture with clock and a pair of candelabras very finely hand worked with nice floral design and ...
Bronze
Second Empire clock
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Second Empire clock, gilt bronze, 19th century. Measures: H: 57 cm, W: 31 cm, D: 17 cm.
Bronze
Sold
H 24.02 in W 18.9 in D 5.52 in
French Napoleon III Oeil De Boeuf Wall Mounted Pendulum Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III Oeil de boeuf wall clock South West of France Ebonized wood The French movement is in good working order The case is in very good condition with only very minor sign...
Wood
Napoleon III French Wooden Clock
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden clock from 1860s France. A classic circular shape, evocative of French Bistro style, with a wide wooden rim painted a stylish black. Roman numera...
Metal
Statuary Marble and Blue Porcelain Clock Garniture with Ormolu Mounts
Located in London, by appointment only
19th century 3-piece clock garniture comprising of a clock and pair of 4 branch candelabra. Statuary marble with classical blue porcelain columns with C...
Marble, Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century French Mantel Clock Ormolu Mounted Mantel
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French late 19th century mantel clock, the case of carved mahogany accented with ormolu mounts. A French label inside the back traces its history through a French family, starting ...
Mahogany
19th Century French Gilt Mantel Clock with Wood Base, Girl with Bird
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th century French gilt mantel clock with wood base, girl with bird This Napoleon III ornate mantel (fireplace) clock has a great gilt finish. It was ...
Spelter
Sold
H 24.22 in W 19.69 in D 5.52 in
Rare French Napoleon III Oeil De Boeuf Hand Painted Wall Mounted Pendulum Clock
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Napoleon III Oeil De Boeuf wall mounted clock with hand painted rural scene An absolutely stunning hand painted piece, it would look amazing in any setting I bought this from a clock dealer in Belgium...
Wood