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.
Circa 1930's Pair Portrait Vases Orange Accent
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1930's Pair Portrait Vases Orange Accent Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questio...
Ceramic
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.
Plaster
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.
Plaster
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....
Bronze
19th Century Pair of Austro-Hungarian Vases in Silver Gilt with Gemstones
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of small Etruscan-shaped vases. Austro-Hungarian craftsmanship from the 19th century in silver-gilt and cabochons. They are carved with fluting and vegetal patterns and adorned ...
Silver
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...
Marble, Bronze
$1,680Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair French Ormolu Candle Holders "Grape Pickers"
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Pair French Ormolu Candle Holders "Grape Pickers". Beautiful set, must see photos.
Bronze
Regulate Pocket Tray , XIXth century
Located in Beaune, FR
Regulate pocket tray supported by pierrot, harlequin and polichinelle. Good condition. Dimensions Height 15cm Width 24cm Depth 12cm
Bronze
Palatial & Rare Napoleon III French Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock, Detouche
By C. Detouche
Located in Long Island City, NY, 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...
Bronze, Ormolu