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.
Antique Pair French Blue Opaline Gilded Enamel Glass Perfume Bottles Flacon 1850
Located in Portland, OR
A very elegant pair of antique French Napoleon III blue enameled & gilded Opaline glass glass scent bottles or falcons, circa 1850. This lovely pair of blue Opaline glass scent bottl...
Enamel
$750Sale Price|21% Off
19th Century French Green Glass Demijohn
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental French hand blown glass demijohn or carboy with a rich, green glass color. Featuring a large neck with the glass nearly 1" thick where it was...
Glass
Napoleon III-Style Cut Crystal Perfume Flacon in Gilt Bronze, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
A sophisticated perfume bottle crafted from cut crystal and encased in a lace-gilded bronze frame featuring delicate decorative reliefs. The lid showcases a prominent design of a she...
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Blue Opaline Perfume Bottle with Enamel Decoration
Located in Paris, FR
Mid-19th century blue, opaline crystal set composed of a small flask, its stopper and a small, flower-shaped cup. The perfume bottle and flask are decorated with enameled and silver ...
Opaline Glass
Pair of Bottles in Painted and Gilded Opaline, Napoleon III period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of bottles in Ppainted and Gilded Opaline, Napoleon III period. Nice pair of 19th century bottles, Napoleon III period, in painted and gilded opaline, crystal stopper...
Crystal
$900Sale Price|25% Off
Baccarat Blue Opaline Bubble Bath Bottle with Top Napoleon III Era
Located in Miami, FL
A large stunning French blue opaline glass bubble bath bottle dating from the 19th century. Unsigned Baccarat piece. Very attractive with vibrant colors. Overall good condition...
Opaline Glass
Perfume holder Empire style ornaments enamel like wood Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Experience the epitome of refined luxury with this cylindrical handbag perfume holder, masterfully crafted from 925/1000 gold-plated sterling silver. Topped with a screwed cap, it sh...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Petite French 1860s Napoleon III Period Crystal Toiletry Bottle with Silver Neck
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Napoleon III period petite crystal toiletry bottle from the mid-19th century, with silver neck. Born in France during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III, this lovely toiletry...
Crystal, Silver
$5,458 / set
Mid-19th Century Pair of Green Opaline Flasks
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of green opaline perfume flasks with pointed stoppers and flower-shaped saucers. The stoppers and flasks are decorated with diamond-shaped patterns that have gilded stripes outl...
Opaline Glass
Green Demijohn, Glass Wine Bottle, France, 1950s
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
This large light turquoise demijohn is a classic French demijohn from the 1950s. Light green / turquoise pressed glass with visible air pockets. A timeless home decor to set accents, as a floor vase with...
Glass
Opaline Perfume Bottle by Jean-Baptiste Desvignes
Located in Paris, FR
Small perfume bottle in white opaline with a ball-shaped stopper. Golden stripes, gold, and a dark blue wreath of roses, anemones, and forget-me-...
Opaline Glass
$9,500 / set
H 12 in Dm 5 in
Pr. 19th Century Antique Bohemian White Over Clear Crystal Maiden Portrait Vases
Located in New York, NY
A pair of 19th century Louis XVI style Bohemian white over clear crystal maiden portrait vases with hand-painted gilt décor. Each is beautifully hand-painted with gorgeous maidens lo...
Crystal
$6,526 / set
H 4.73 in Dm 3.35 in
19th Century Pair of Opaline Crystal Perfume Bottle by Jean-Baptiste Desvignes
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of perfume bottles with their ball-shaped stoppers in “bulle de savon” (soap bubble) Opaline. They are each decorated with a frieze of gol...
Opaline Glass
French Art Deco Glass Perfume Bottle
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco molded clear glass perfume bottle with a black glass fan stopper.
Glass
19th Century Perfume Box - Napoleon III - Crystal Bottles
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique marquetry wooden box for perfume. The box dates from the French Napoleon III period, circa 1880-1890. The box features those original crystal perfume bottles, bea...
Burl
$1,128
H 3.75 in W 5 in D 2.5 in
Stunning Little Antique Box with Decorated and Gilt Perfume Bottles Napoleon III
Located in Lisse, NL
If you are looking for the perfect gift for a lady. . .look no further. This magnificent, 19th century box is made of beautiful and mint condition boxwood and it comes with the original, gilt perfume...
Crystal
$2,907
H 8.67 in Dm 3.94 in
Antique Bohemian Biedermeier Overlay Enameled Glass Perfume Bottle, 19th Century
Located in Rostock, MV
An exceptional 3-layer cut overlay uranium green glass perfume bottle from the Biedermeier era. This piece is crafted from clear transparent glass, double...
Glass, Opaline Glass, Uranium Glass
$395Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.6 in Dm 3.88 in
French Victorian Opaline Glass Enameled Scent Bottle with Stopper
Located in Miami, FL
French Victorian Opaline Glass Enameled Scent Bottle with Stopper Offered for sale is a fine quality French Victorian opaline glass scent bottle w...
Opaline Glass
Vintage French Glass Perfume Bottle
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage French low, wide glass perfume bottle with pleated body and tall teardrop-shaped stopper
Glass
Pair of Napoleon III Empire Vases Brass, France, 1860
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Original pair of Napoleon III Empire vases brass, France, 1860. Original condition. Nice applications.
Brass
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...
Wood
Baccarat opaline wine bottle - Napoleon III period circa 1860
By Baccarat
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine Baccarat opaline wine decanter or bottle gilt with fine gold fleur-de-lys patterns, Napoléon III period circa 1860. Gilt has been outstandingly preserved after over 150 years,...
Opaline Glass
Pair of Opaline Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of opaline bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A pair of opaline bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Dimensions : H: 21cm, D: 11cm Contact us before ordering ...
Opaline Glass
Sold
H 6.89 in Dm 3.55 in
Bohemian Overlay Bottle, Enamelled and Gilded, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bohemian overlay bottle, enamelled and gilded, 19th century, Napoleon III period. 19th century bottle, Napoleon III period, in bohemian overlay, enamelled and gilded H: 17.5cm, D: 9cm
Opaline Glass
19th Century Bottle, Napoleon III Period, in white Enamelled Opaline.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century bottle, Napoleon III period, in white enamelled opaline. White opaline bottle enamelled gold and decorated with a frieze of colours, 19th century, Napoleon III period. ...
Opaline Glass
Sold
H 6.7 in Dm 3.55 in
Red, Gold and White Opaline Overlay Bottle, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Red, gold and white opaline overlay bottle, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bottle in red, gold and white opaline overlay, 19th century, Napoleon II...
Opaline Glass
Bottle and 2 Glasses in Yellow cut Bohemian Crystal, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Bottle and 2 glasses in yellow cut Bohemian crystal, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bottle and two glasses in yellow cut Bohemian crystal, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Bot...
Crystal
Pair of Regule Ewers on Marble Base.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of regule ewers on marble base. A pair of 19th century Napoleon III period ewer in regula on a marble base. h: 60cm, w: 27cm, d: 18cm
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Blue Opaline Overlay Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Blue Opaline Overlay bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A pair of blue opaline overlay bottles with gold highlights and floral decorat...
Opal
Sold
H 7.88 in Dm 3.15 in
Pair of Bohemian Crystal Perfume Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Bohemian Crystal Perfume Bottles, 19th Century, Napoleon III period. Pair of Perfume Bottles, 19th century, Napoleon III period in red Bohemian crystal enamelled in silver. ...
Crystal
Crystal Overlay Bottle, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Crystal Overlay bottle, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A 19th century crystal overlay bottle, Napoleon III period, decorated with ivy in bloom. h: ...
Crystal
Sold
H 9.06 in W 5.12 in D 4.34 in
Pair of Perfume Bottles, Gold and Silver Enamelled Bohemian Crystal, XIX Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Perfume Bottles, Gold and Silver Enamelled Bohemian Crystal, 19th Century. A pair of cornucopia-shaped perfume bottles, Bohemian crystal enamelled with gold and silver, 19th...
Crystal, Gold, Silver
Crystal Overlay Bottle, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Crystal Overlay bottle, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A 19th century crystal overlay bottle, Napoleon III period, decorated with ivy in bloom. h: ...
Crystal