Skip to main content

Napoleon III Urns

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.

to
8
35
33
2
2
1
243
208
164
129
68
59
43
37
31
30
30
29
22
19
19
19
5
2
26
18
18
15
12
17
16
35
31
2
1
Height
to
Width
to
35
35
35
1
1
1
1
Style: Napoleon III
Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Pair of light green marble cassolettes with gilded bronze ornamentation: garlands of flowers and leaves, putti heads, pine cone lids Some wear and scratches, old restorations to the...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century
Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Pair of green marble cassolettes with rich gilded bronze ornamentation: women's heads, goats' feet, lid with pine cone Good general condition, some chips in the marble 19th century...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century
Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century

19th Century Pair of Cassolettes in Marble and Gilt Bronze
Located in NICE, FR
We present you with this set of exquisite cassolettes from the Napoleon III period. Crafted from Pyrenean marble, specifically the Bénou Breccia kind, and enhanced with gilded bronze...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Pair of Cassolettes in Marble and Gilt Bronze
19th Century Pair of Cassolettes in Marble and Gilt Bronze

19th Century Pair of Cassolettes in Marble and Gilt Bronze

Pair Of Large Bronze And Marble Cassolettes, Napoleon III, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Pair of large green marble cassolettes with rich gilt bronze ornamentation: knots, garlands of flowers and leaves, putti raising their arms towards the flame on the lid (socket) Aft...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair Of Large Bronze And Marble Cassolettes, Napoleon III, 19th Century
Pair Of Large Bronze And Marble Cassolettes, Napoleon III, 19th Century

Pair Of Large Bronze And Marble Cassolettes, Napoleon III, 19th Century

Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze & Brass Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze & Brass Urns represent the mastery of metal sculpture exhibited by the French during this wonderful era and are of a nice size ...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Brass, Bronze

Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze & Brass Urns
Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze & Brass Urns

Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze & Brass Urns

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Pair of red marble cassolettes, with bronze ornamentation: rams' heads, pearl threads, pine cones Cassolettes late 19th century, in good general condition, note some scratches on th...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century
Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century

Pair Of Marble And Bronze Cassolettes, 19th Century

Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs
Located in La xara, VC
This exceptional Pair of Urnes Vases second parts of the XIXs , Provenance Castle Near the district of Biarritz ! 1. Historical and cultural signifi...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs
Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs

Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs

Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs
Located in La xara, VC
This exceptional Pair of Urnes Vases second parts of the XIXs , Provenance Castle Near the district of Biarritz ! 1. Historical and cultural signifi...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs
Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs

Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs

Large 19th Century German Gilt-Trimmed Meissen Porcelain Vase
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Queens, NY
19th century German large blue and white Meissen porcelain vase with gilt trim and scroll handles.
Category

19th Century German Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Gold

Large 19th Century German Gilt-Trimmed Meissen Porcelain Vase
Large 19th Century German Gilt-Trimmed Meissen Porcelain Vase

Large 19th Century German Gilt-Trimmed Meissen Porcelain Vase

French Ormolu Mounted Pink Sevres Vase, (19th Century)
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Lisbon, PT
A beautiful antique decorative pink porcelain Sèvres Style urn with a hand-painted background of a guitar musician and his lady. A Serenata scene. In the back a lake scene with a ca...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Metal, Bronze

French Ormolu Mounted Pink Sevres Vase, (19th Century)
French Ormolu Mounted Pink Sevres Vase, (19th Century)

French Ormolu Mounted Pink Sevres Vase, (19th Century)

19th Century French Brass Jardinière or Planter
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French brass Jardinière or planter. Lovely antique French Napoleon III heavy weight brass jardiniere, planter or cachepot. This fantastic French planter is beautifully d...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Brass Jardinière or Planter
19th Century French Brass Jardinière or Planter

19th Century French Brass Jardinière or Planter

Napoleon III Blue Royal Lidded Vases Hand Painted Landscapes and Bronze Handles
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Firenze, IT
A pair of Napoleon III late 19th century French oval shaped lidded vases rendered in Blue Royal glazed porcelain in the style of Sevres manufacture. These very fine large scale decor...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Bronze

Napoleon III Blue Royal Lidded Vases Hand Painted Landscapes and Bronze Handles
Napoleon III Blue Royal Lidded Vases Hand Painted Landscapes and Bronze Handles

Napoleon III Blue Royal Lidded Vases Hand Painted Landscapes and Bronze Handles

Good Pair of Gilded and Patinated Bronze, 19th Century Mantel Urns
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine pair of decorative mantel ewers or urns are French and were made, circa 1870. Cast in bronze the pair has been carefully patinated all-over then gilded in decorative areas ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Slate, Bronze

Good Pair of Gilded and Patinated Bronze, 19th Century Mantel Urns
Good Pair of Gilded and Patinated Bronze, 19th Century Mantel Urns

Good Pair of Gilded and Patinated Bronze, 19th Century Mantel Urns

Pair of Ormolu-Mounted Fluorspar Vases
Located in New Orleans, LA
These Napoleon III French urns exemplify the elaborate revival styles that dominated the Second Empire. The baluster-form fluorspar vases are adorned b...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Stone, Ormolu

Pair of Ormolu-Mounted Fluorspar Vases
Pair of Ormolu-Mounted Fluorspar Vases

Pair of Ormolu-Mounted Fluorspar Vases

Pair of 19th Century French "Chinoiserie" Porcelain Vases
By Jacob Petite
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of French campana shaped urns with chinoiserie painted and gilded figurative and floral decoration, that was very popular in the mid-19th ce...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 19th Century French "Chinoiserie" Porcelain Vases
Pair of 19th Century French "Chinoiserie" Porcelain Vases

Pair of 19th Century French "Chinoiserie" Porcelain Vases

Napoleon III Cut Crystal and Ormolu Vase
Located in New York, NY
In the early 19th century the typical, but fine flower vase was made of porcelain. The better ones were mounted in gilt bronze. But the most fashionable were of cut crystal and gilt ...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Crystal

Napoleon III Cut Crystal and Ormolu Vase
Napoleon III Cut Crystal and Ormolu Vase

Napoleon III Cut Crystal and Ormolu Vase

Large French 19th Century Patinated Bronze Centerpiece Urn on Marble Base
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French Large 19th Century Patinated Bronze centerpiece Urn on Marble Base. Stunning French 19th century Napoleon III period bronze urn raised on a black marble base. The centerpiece urn has a molded rim on the top. Front and back are decorated with a central classical mask...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Large French 19th Century Patinated Bronze Centerpiece Urn on Marble Base
Large French 19th Century Patinated Bronze Centerpiece Urn on Marble Base

Large French 19th Century Patinated Bronze Centerpiece Urn on Marble Base

Antique Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase with Marine Subject
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This beautiful vase was created in France, in the period when Napoleon III was Emperor (1852-1870). It is designed in the style of Sèvres Manufactory porcelain. Sèvres goods are often beautifully hand painted with pastoral and mythological scenes, and marine subjects. These tended to be set within finely parcel gilt and jewelled frames, offset against turquoise ‘bleu celeste’ or navy 'bleu Sèvres' grounds. The porcelain vase is of classical Amphora form, with a slender elongated neck, a large ovoid body with a slightly waisted base, and a splayed foot. The vase is topped by a porcelain crown, which is navy coloured and decorated with gilding, porcelain ‘jewels’ and a gilt bronze (ormolu) pinecone finial. The navy vase...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase with Marine Subject
Antique Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase with Marine Subject

Antique Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase with Marine Subject

19th Century French Napoleon III Ormolu & White Marble Urns, circa 1850
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique Mid-19th century French Ormolu mounted on white marble urns on green marble bases. CONDITION In Great Condition - No Damage. Size Height: 36cm Width: 15.5cm Depth: ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century French Napoleon III Ormolu & White Marble Urns, circa 1850
19th Century French Napoleon III Ormolu & White Marble Urns, circa 1850

19th Century French Napoleon III Ormolu & White Marble Urns, circa 1850

Late 19th Century Pair of Blue Bresse Enamel Jardinières
Located in Paris, FR
Late 19th century pair of jardinières in blue enamel from Bresse. Multicolored medallions depicting delicate flowers are framed by white and red enamel beads and gilded arabesques. E...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Enamel

Late 19th Century Pair of Blue Bresse Enamel Jardinières
Late 19th Century Pair of Blue Bresse Enamel Jardinières

Late 19th Century Pair of Blue Bresse Enamel Jardinières

19th Century Pair of Hand-Painted Paris Porcelain Urns
By Porcelaine de Paris
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A fine pair of antique French urns in 'Porcelain de Paris', and dating from the early 19th century. These sensational vases are decorated w...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Porcelain, Paint

19th Century Pair of Hand-Painted Paris Porcelain Urns
19th Century Pair of Hand-Painted Paris Porcelain Urns

19th Century Pair of Hand-Painted Paris Porcelain Urns

Sienna Marble Urn / Vase w/ Nero Portoro Marble Base & Brass Ball Feet, c.1880's
Located in Ross, CA
Late 19th century French Napoleon III Urn / Vase. Made of sienna marble and brass ball feet, mounted on on a square Nero Portoro marble base.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Siena Marble, Brass

Sienna Marble Urn / Vase w/ Nero Portoro Marble Base & Brass Ball Feet, c.1880's
Sienna Marble Urn / Vase w/ Nero Portoro Marble Base & Brass Ball Feet, c.1880's

Sienna Marble Urn / Vase w/ Nero Portoro Marble Base & Brass Ball Feet, c.1880's

A Fine French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Trophy Cherub & Maiden "Love & Victory"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Trophy Cherub & Maiden "Love & Victory" in the shape of a vessel, raised on a rouge royal marble base, circa 1870-...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

A Fine French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Trophy Cherub & Maiden "Love & Victory"
A Fine French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Trophy Cherub & Maiden "Love & Victory"

A Fine French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Trophy Cherub & Maiden "Love & Victory"

Continental Ormolu-Mounted Marble Urn
Located in New York, NY
Continental ormolu-mounted marble urn. Onyx stone urn in browns, beige and grey cream with foliate ormolu outward scrolling handles and richly chased lid all on incurving square base...
Category

1870s European Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Continental Ormolu-Mounted Marble Urn
Continental Ormolu-Mounted Marble Urn

Continental Ormolu-Mounted Marble Urn

Pair Antique French Napoleon III Sèvres Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns Circa 1890s
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique French Napoleon III sèvres porcelain & gold bronze urns circa 1890's.
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Bronze

Pair Antique French Napoleon III Sèvres Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns Circa 1890s
Pair Antique French Napoleon III Sèvres Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns Circa 1890s

Pair Antique French Napoleon III Sèvres Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns Circa 1890s

Covered Cup in Marble from the 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Covered cup in marble from the 19th century.  
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble

Covered Cup in Marble from the 19th Century
Covered Cup in Marble from the 19th Century

Covered Cup in Marble from the 19th Century

Beautiful Pair of Early 20th Century French Red Marble Cassolettes
Located in Madrid, ES
Beautiful Pair of Early 20th Century Red Marble Cassolettes (H+/- 31 cm.) good condition
Category

Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Urns

Materials

Marble

Beautiful Pair of Early 20th Century French Red Marble Cassolettes
Beautiful Pair of Early 20th Century French Red Marble Cassolettes

Beautiful Pair of Early 20th Century French Red Marble Cassolettes

Pair of Napoleon III Amphorae
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
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 Urns

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Pair of Napoleon III Amphorae
Pair of Napoleon III Amphorae

Pair of Napoleon III Amphorae

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 Urns

Materials

Breccia Marble, Bronze

19th Century Pair of Large Cassolettes with Mascarons in Violet Breccia Marble
19th Century Pair of Large Cassolettes with Mascarons in Violet Breccia Marble

19th Century Pair of Large Cassolettes with Mascarons in Violet Breccia Marble

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 Urns

Materials

Bronze

Pair Antique French Napoleon III "Jeweled" Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns, Ca 1875
Pair Antique French Napoleon III "Jeweled" Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns, Ca 1875

Pair Antique French Napoleon III "Jeweled" Porcelain & Gold Bronze Urns, Ca 1875

Gustave-Joseph Chéret Terracotta Jardiniere Urn
By Gustave-Joseph Chéret
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 Urns

Materials

Terracotta

Gustave-Joseph Chéret Terracotta Jardiniere Urn
Gustave-Joseph Chéret Terracotta Jardiniere Urn

Gustave-Joseph Chéret Terracotta Jardiniere Urn

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 Urns

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze Centerpiece on Marble Base
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze Centerpiece on Marble Base

19th Century French Napoleon III Period Bronze Centerpiece on Marble Base

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 Urns

Materials

Wood

Pair of Napoleon III Moroccan Burr Thoya Wood Urns
Pair of Napoleon III Moroccan Burr Thoya Wood Urns

Pair of Napoleon III Moroccan Burr Thoya Wood Urns

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 Urns

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Pair of French 19th Century Napoleon III St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Tazzas
Pair of French 19th Century Napoleon III St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Tazzas

Pair of French 19th Century Napoleon III St. Patinated Bronze and Ormolu Tazzas

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 Urns

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of French Mid-19th Century Napoleon III Period Ormolu Tazzas
Pair of French Mid-19th Century Napoleon III Period Ormolu Tazzas

Pair of French Mid-19th Century Napoleon III Period Ormolu Tazzas

Napoleon Iii urns for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III urns for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage urns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III urns made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Spain pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original urns, popular names associated with this style include Gustave-Joseph Chéret, and Meissen Porcelain. 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 urns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $528 and tops out at $22,850 while the average work can sell for $4,291.

Recently Viewed

View All