Napoleon III Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Antique Napoleon III Period Bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
One of a kind Antique Napoleon III Period Bronze ewer. Kept in sparkling condition. Perfect for hallway Decor.
Category
18th Century French Antique Napoleon III Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Materials
Bronze
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The four sculptural figures of seated children are attributed to Jean-Jacques Feuchère (1807-1852) and represent the four elements of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Each figure is accompanied by its corresponding attribute. Fire holds a flaming torch and sits atop a dragon. Water sits atop a dolphin and perhaps originally held a trident spear. Earth holds grapes and ears of wheat accompanied by a lioness and cub. Air holds a billowing robe and sits atop an exotic bird. The circular top of the centrepiece with beaded rim and cast in relief to the basin with strapwork and lion masks. The underside of the basin similarly cast with additional detail of herm figures above a belt of intertwined vine leaf and mice. The whole supported on a baluster upright hung with volutes and fruiting swags above a spreading socle and oval foot.
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Napoleon Iii serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III serveware, ceramics, silver and glass 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, popular names associated with this style include Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Franco Salimbeni, Haviland & Co., and Porcelaine de Paris. 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 serveware, ceramics, silver and glass differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $126,500 while the average work can sell for $2,444.
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