Napoleon III Decorative Objects
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
Inkwell in red marble with "Allegory of writing" in gilt bronze, signed H.CHAPU
By Henri Chapu
Located in Paris, FR
Inkwell in red Griotte marble and gilt bronze representing an allegory of writing by Henri Chapu (1833-1891). This old 19th century inkstand is ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Inkwell FRENCH MANUFACTURING OF THE EARLY 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Inkwell
FRENCH MANUFACTURING OF THE EARLY 1900s
Empire style inkwell in yellow Siena marble with gilded bronze inkwells and sphinx.
48 x 23 cm Height 20.
Category
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Small 19th Century Bronze Figure of Allegory of Manufacture
Located in Berlin, DE
Small 19th century patinated female bronze figure of the allegory of manufacture featuring a spindle, a hammer and a gear-wheel. The female figure holding up her light tunic and look...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Fine and Small Antique Bronze of a Packhorse by T. Gechner
Located in London, GB
A fine mid-19th century brown patinated cast bronze animalier figure of a work horse in harness. Very fine detail and a beautiful quality bronze. Signed in the bronze T. Gechter for ...
Category
1850s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
"Blind Love" Patinated Bronze Statuette of Cupid Seeking Love Blindfolded
Located in Marseille, FR
Blind love bronze 19th century symbolized by a cupid seeming to play hackney jersey with brown patina on gilded bronze base. Note a difference in patina between the upper part and th...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Bronze Figure of Young Psyche by Paul Duboy
By Paul Duboy
Located in Paris, FR
This brown and gold patinated bronze figure was crafted by the French sculptor Paul Duboy. It features a little girl, psyche, standing on a naturalistic base. The bronze sculpture is set upon a round marble plinth...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Fine Porcelain Mounted Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in London, by appointment only
France, circa 1880
The ormolu case mounted with fine painted porcelain scenes of a courting couple. This unusual mauve colour pallet emphasizes the...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Marble, Ormolu and Bronze Garniture Set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period black Belgian marble, ormolu and patinated bronze garniture set. The three pi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Boulle Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period ormolu, tortoiseshell, and brass inlaid Boulle clock. The clock is raised by handsome ormolu paw feet with acanthus le...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Bronze Sculpture Femme Aux Colombes by Charles-Alphonse Gumery
Located in Paris, FR
Bronze sculpture with brown patina by Charles-Alphonse Gumery, featuring a smiling young woman with doves. This bronze statuette is signed: Gumery ROME. Charles Gumery most probably ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Ernestine Sirine-Real "Bust of a Man", Signed Plaster
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Ernestine Sirine-Real (1899-1994) "Bust of a man". Signed and dated 44, plaster.
Category
1930s French Vintage Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Plaster
19th Century Ormolu Bronze Antique Candlestick Holders with Putti
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of antique candlestick holders crafted of beautiful ormolu or gilt bronze. They feature a figure of a child standing on a ribbed cylind...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Mid-19th Century Wooden Coffer Inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl
Located in Paris, FR
Sizeable rectangular, wooden coffer with its key. The blackened wood is inlaid with mother-of-pearl and brass. The lid and the main face of the box are r...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
A French 19th Century Clock Garniture
Located in London, GB
A French 19th Century gilt bronze clock garniture. The clock has two cherubs, holding the clock, on a white marble and Ormolu mounted ba...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Paris Porcelain Compote
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century French Paris porcelain compote of bold form. Blue and gilt Rococo decoration. Good large scale centerpiece, circa 1860.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Napoleon III Moroccan Burr Thoya Wood Urns
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A pair of Napoleon III Moroccan burr thoya wood urns, turned from the solid, each in the form of a slender urn and cover on a shaped base, with an ormolu flame finial, beading and la...
Category
1850s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Naturalist Ormolu Candelabra Lamps in Auguste Cain Taste
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilt bronze three-light candelabra lamps topped by Dionysus (Bacchus for the Romans) and a Maenad (Bacchante for the Romans). Dionysus is represented wearing the skin of a fa...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
An elegant mantle piece clock with vases made in Paris circa 1860
Located in London, GB
An elegant mantle piece clock with its accompanying vases made in Paris circa 1860. Very much in the Jacob Petit style and most probably from his fa...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Ceramic Vase Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Ceramic vase Napoleon III period.
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Correspondence Box Napoleon III
Located in Madrid, ES
Correspondence box, Napoleon III period, composed on the top of two flaps. Their facades are embellished with Square and Rectangle Marquetry. In add...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
2 Frames in Gilded Stuccoed Wood, Decorated in Imitation of Bamboo, Late 19th
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 Frames in gilded stuccoed wood, decorated in imitation of bamboo
Late 19th century.
A groove allows them to be used with a painting, an engraving or a mirror
The useful dimensio...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of French 19th Century Bronze Candelabra with Animal Motif
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of French 19th century bronze candelabra with animal motif.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Ernestine Sirine-Real "Bust of a Woman", Unsigned Plaster
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Ernestine Sirine-Real (1899-1994) "Bust of a woman". Unsigned plaster. Measures: H. 61cm.
Category
1930s French Vintage Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Plaster
Pair of 19th Century 3-Light Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A pair of 19th century bronze and ormolu candelabra, with beaded nozzles held by well cast winged cherubs perched on spheres, ending on square plinth bases.
Category
1840s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Italian Carved Marble Figure of a Young Girl by Caroni
By Emanuele Caroni
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A lovely 19th century carved Carrara marble figure of a young girl waving her right hand as a dove rests on her dress, she is standing aside a basket with a ball of string and a gar...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Carrara Marble
Pair of Gueridon Tripods in Mahogany Wood Napoleon III 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Gueridon Tripods in mahogany wood Napoleon III 19th century
with marble top and finely chiseled and gilded bronze finishes. Napoleon III period....
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Painted Porcelain Vase Royal Cobalt Blue, Nast Manufactory
By Nast
Located in Lisbon, PT
This exquisite 19th century French porcelain vase features a striking royal cobalt blue glaze and a hand-painted pink dress motif. Attributed to the Nast manufactory, this unique pie...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Column and Vase in Gold Cobalt Blue Ceramic and Decals, 1920s, Set of 2
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Vase with glazed ceramic column and pure gold decoration. The base and vase are designed together and feature a classic, elegant and sinuous design. The decoration starts from bottom...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold
Gilt Bronze, Bronze and Marble Clock Set Garniture
Located in London, by appointment only
A fine 19th century clock garniture, the clock with a finely cast and patinated bronze cherub sitting on a rouge marble column with ormolu mounts, he carries the clock movement in a ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Bronze
Very large terracotta, Provence 19th century
Located in PARIS, FR
Very large terracotta ( 1.70m) depicting a young woman raising her garment slightly with her left arm to climb down from a rock.
The right arm close to the body, the hand must have b...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Small Ewers Decorative Gilt Bronze
Located in Marseille, FR
Pair of small ewers decorative gilt bronze.
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Pair of French 19th Century Napoleon III St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Tazzas
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A wonderful and charming true pair of French 19th century Napoleon III st. patinated bronze and ormolu tazzas. Each tazza is raised by a square ormolu base with concave corners and a...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Napoleon III Period Ormolu Tazzas
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning pair of French mid 19th century Napoleon III period ormolu tazzas. Each tazza is raised on an ebony mottled base with a Boulle tortoiseshell and etched brass inlay column ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
An antique French champlevé enamelled vase with a polished gilt metal body
Located in London, GB
An antique French champlevé enamelled vase with a polished gilt metal body upheld by two putti in gilt bronze on a white marble base, the border decorated with a turquoise champlevé...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Fine Porcelain Mounted Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in London, by appointment only
France, circa 1880.
The ormolu case mounted with fine painted porcelain scenes of a courting couple. This unusual mauve color pallet emphasizes the...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Napoleon III Porcelain Basket
Located in New Orleans, LA
A delightful French basket mounted in doré bronze which provides the framework for the six panels veneered in mother-of-pearl and set with French porcelain plaques...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Sevres-Style Garniture
Located in London, GB
A beautiful turquoise Sèvres-style clock garniture, hand-painted on 18th century Sèvres porcelaine blanks but decorated in the 19th century most prob...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
An unusual pair of French vases hand painted in bright enamel colours
Located in London, GB
An unusual pair of French vases hand painted in bright enamel colours of scenes of putti drinking and having fun . Decorated on a dark background with allegorical emblems on the bac...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell, circa 1875.
A truly exceptional and jewel like quality inkwell encrier, made with the finest ormolu, mounted on bloodstone. A true collectors and one of a kind piece.
Revival of the ancient régime in the late 19th century was paramount to the French furniture and bronze casting firms of the Belle Epoque. Imitation in the highest regard and replication of those tastes and styles was prevalent throughout the Paris Faubourg, where the most talented bronziers and ébénistes established their workshops. The present inkwell encrier recalls the late 18th century's obsession with hardstones - a taste expounded above all by the duc d'Aumont and, subsequently Marie-Antoinette. Such hardstone-mounted pieces, reminiscent of Renaissance schatzkammer objects, enjoyed a revived popularity at the end of the 18th century through the impetus of both the marchands-mercier and, more importantly, the hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, where the duc d'Aumont himself established a workshop in 1770 specializing in the cutting and polishing of precious hardstones.
This exceptional inkwell encrier, sumptuously-mounted with finely chased gilt-bronzes, incorporates a highly-prized material such as bloodstone.
Sometimes called the Sunstone, the meaning of Bloodstone comes entangled in fascinating history. The Ancient Greeks held the Bloodstone as a gem with glorious powers. They referred to it as Heliotrope, which directly translates to Sunstone. It was believed to have heavenly healing powers gifted by the gods and most certainly when it came to healing all things related to the blood. Even as we move forward into the Middle Ages, the Bloodstone takes another mystical story under its wing. It was believed to be formed from Christ's blood. It was said that during the Crucifixion, a few red spots of his blood dripped...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Palatial & Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock, Detouche
By C. Detouche
Located in New York, NY
A Palatial and Extremely Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Regulateur de Parquet Clock by Louis-Constantin Detouche, Paris, Circa 1850
An exceptional testament to the grandeur and technical mastery of 19th-century French horology, this palatial and extraordinarily rare Napoleon III ormolu and patinated bronze Regulateur de Parquet clock stands as a crowning achievement of the renowned Parisian horologist Louis-Constantin Detouche. Created circa 1850, this monumental timepiece exemplifies the perfect synthesis of artistic opulence and mechanical precision, distinguishing itself as one of the most impressive works from Detouche’s illustrious oeuvre.
At over six feet tall, this clock’s imposing scale and decorative grandeur make it an object of immense historical and aesthetic significance. The case, crafted from the finest French ormolu, features two majestic patinated bronze seated putti, serving as allegorical figures and underscoring the artistic sophistication characteristic of the Second Empire style. The white enamel dial, elegantly signed "C. Detouche/Paris," affirms its prestigious maker, while the movement, meticulously numbered 7064 and bearing the stamps "C. Detouche RUE St. MARTIN" and "C. DETOUCHE 158 R. St MARTIN 160," speaks to the highest standards of 19th-century horological craftsmanship. Further distinguishing this piece is the medaille d’argent stamp, a testament to the numerous accolades and awards bestowed upon Detouche for his innovations in timekeeping.
A Masterpiece of Horological Artistry:
Louis-Constantin Detouche was not merely a clockmaker; he was a visionary whose contributions to horology redefined precision and complexity. This particular regulator clock...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Important Cercles Tournants Rotary Clock set by Deniere
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very Large Important and Rare Napoleon III Period Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Sculptural rotary 3-piece clock set ("Pendule A Cercles Tournants") compr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Napoleon Iii decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Ferdinand Barbedienne, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Europa Antiques, and Baccarat. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $167 and tops out at $2,500,000 while the average work can sell for $3,368.
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