Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
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
French 19th century Napoleon III Period Wood, Porcelain and Ormolu planter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III Period Louis XVI st. Tulipwood, Kingwood, Sévres Porcelain and Ormolu Jardinière planter. This impressive three section j...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Glazed Porcelain Apothecary/Pharmacy Jar - 'CERAT: SIMPLEX'
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid-19th century french glazed porcelain apothecary/pharmaceutical jar with lid - 'CERAT: SIMPLEX'
By: Langlois (in the style of)
Material: ceramic, porcelain, paint, enamel
Techniq...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Enamel
Pair 19th Century French Verdigris Spelter Vases on Marble Bases Signed Moreau
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a mantel, console or buffet with this elegant pair of antique vases. Crafted in France circa 1880 and made of spelter (or white metal), the vases stand on a square red marbl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Spelter
Pair Of Columns Decorated With Fragments Of Earthenware And Porcelain
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Pair Of Columns Decorated With Fragments Of Earthenware And Porcelain, Art Populaire About 1900
Category
20th Century Italian Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble
Pair of Napoleon Third Style Vases
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Par de Floreros estilo Napoleon tercero
bronce, enamel y onyx
midcentury XIX
PERFECTO ESTADO
ORIGEN FRANCIA.
The Napoleon III style had its heyday during the 1850s and 1880s. Emperor...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Enamel
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Pair of large porcelain vases with "Valentine blue" background
Located in Paris, FR
Important pair of porcelain vases of baluster form with high neck, of Napoleon III period. The cobalt blue background called "Valentine's Blue" highlights a large cartouche of polych...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
19th Century Pair of Large Cassolettes with Mascarons in Violet Breccia Marble
Located in NICE, FR
We present you with this exquisite pair of cassolettes crafted from violet breccia marble, dating back to the Napoleon III era. They feature highly decorative bronze embellishments s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Pair of Napoleon III Amphorae
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pair of Napoleon III amphorae
great quality piece
Sevres-style
Porcelain and gilt bronze
Hand painted and signed J bouzon
Champleve enamel
perfect...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Pair Antique French Napoleon III "Jeweled" Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns, Ca 1875
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Napoleon III gold bronze and "jeweled" porcelain urns, circa 1865-1885.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Set of Two Opalescent "Girasole" Murano Glass Vases
Located in Austin, TX
Italian Murano glass pair of hand blown "Girasole" vases in an opaline glass shining in a rainbow of prismatic hues. We love the beauty of these handcrafted glass pieces, with slight...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Murano Glass
Porcelain "Dove" Planter by L'Escalier de Cristal, France, circa 1880
Located in PARIS, FR
Inscribed HA et Cie and numbered 403
Signed in red Escalier de Cristal Paris
Beautiful planter in gilded and painted porcelain. The rounded belly with a platinum background is decor...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Celadon Vase in Faience, Silver Plate and Silver Leaf, 19th Century Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Celadon vase in faience with silver plate and silver leaf, 19th century period Napoleon III.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Metal
19th Century Pair of Small Old Sèvres Blue Porcelain Vases
Located in Marseille, FR
19th century pair of small old Sèvres blue porcelain vases 19th century gilt bronze frame.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
French Sevres bronze and porcelain vase, Cloisonne 19th century
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
French Sevres bronze and porcelain vase, Cloisonne 19th century
Antique blue sevres porcelain masseter with intricate design on the base and neck, hand ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Napoleon III Bronze & Enameled Cobalt Porcelain Vases, Circa 1870
Located in New Orleans, LA
Exquisitely Made Antique French Napoleon III Gold Bronze Mounted Cobalt Porcelain vases with Enameling, Circa 1870-1880.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Enamel, Bronze
Pair Of Bronze Pedestals, Italy, 19th Century
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Pair Of Bronze Pedestals, Italy, 19th Century
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Painted and Gilt "Porcelaine de Paris" Vase with Swan Motif
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique vase was created in France circa 1880 by "Porcelaine de Paris" factory. Round in shape with a long and wide neck, the colorful porcelain vessel is decorated with a hand painted outdoor scene featuring swan, lily pads and reed motifs. The decor is further embellished with gilt accents throughout, including around the rim. This tall fluted vase is in excellent condition, and adorns soft colors in the green, blue, and cream color palette, with gilt accents; it would make a nice addition on a table, mantle, or a console.
Porcelaine de Paris is a French porcelain manufacturing company, founded by Jean-Marx Clauss theApril 11, 1822. Jean-Marx Clauss wanted to draw inspiration from the great Parisian porcelain...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Ewers
Located in Paris, FR
Important pair of Napoleon III ewers in chased gilt bronze with rich decoration in relief of stylized foliage, friezes of palmettes, and vine branches framing a frieze of putti reali...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Gustave-Joseph Chéret Terracotta Jardiniere Urn
Located in New York, NY
Finely executed urn by sculptor Joseph Chéret (French, 1838-1894) inset with period aluminum liner for flowers. Epitomizes the mid-19th century Second Em...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Terracotta
19th Century French Onyx Pomp Jug/Vase Bronze Silvered Napoleon III
Located in Berlin, DE
19th century French onyx pomp jug/vase bronze silvered Napoleon III
Carcass made of onyx with rich silvered bronze elements. Egg-shaped soffit, retracted neck and round, profiled pe...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Onyx, Brass
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze Centerpiece on Marble Base
Located in Dallas, TX
An exceptional 19th century French Napoleon III period bronze centerpiece on marble base depicts Bacchus and Ariadne in full relief, plus an intriguing dragon's tail handle on each s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
Ceramic Vase Napoleon III Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Ceramic vase Napoleon III period.
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Vases and Vessels
Materials
Ceramic
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 Vases and Vessels
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Gold
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 Vases and Vessels
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 Vases and Vessels
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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Marble, 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 Vases and Vessels
Materials
Bronze
Napoleon Iii vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage vases and vessels created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with enamel, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III vases and vessels made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases and vessels, popular names associated with this style include Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Ferdinand Barbedienne, Porcelaine de Paris, 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 vases and vessels differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $7,500 and tops out at $245,000 while the average work can sell for $32,000.