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.
Baccarat Tableware, Cups, Crystal and Silvered Bronze, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Baccarat tableware, cups, crystal and silvered bronze, Napoleon III period, 19th century. Baccarat table setting, centrepiece, cups, Napoleon III period, silvered bronze and crystal...
Crystal, Bronze
Christofle Silver Plated Menagère in its Box.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Christofle silver plated menagère in its box. Christofle silver-plated menagère, box, silver-plated dinner services by Christofle, Napoleon III style, 20th century. 12 forks 12 spoo...
Silver Plate
19th Century French Napoleon III Black and White Hunt Scenes Plates, Set of 10
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant set of ten antique plates was crafted in Sarreguemines, France, circa 1870. Each hand painted plate features an illustrated hunt scene. Every black and white ceramic plate has French writing narrating the event including the first one which reads: "Bien des chasseurs se vantent du gibier qu'ils ne tuent pas: lui au contraire en tue beaucoup et ne se vante pas". They are: "Chasse aux Canards Sauvages", "Chasse aux Faisans", "Battue aux Chevreuils", "Chasse aux Cailles...
Ceramic, Faience
19th Century French Toleware Painted Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French hand painted toleware tray of the Napoleon the III era, circa 1850's. The hand-painted French metal tray is decorated with flowers and leaves o...
Metal
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
19th Century Tea Cutlery Set - Silver - Complete in Inlaid Box - Napoleon III
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined and complete antique silver tea set, dating from circa 1870. The set consists of 12 silver tea spoons, a sugar tong, a tea strainer, a...
Silver
Set of Four Baccarat Chrysoprase 'Uranium' Covered Cups on stands
By Baccarat
Located in Montreal, QC
A set of four French Baccarat chrysoprase (uranium) green opaline art glass covered cups, each with matching stands. The beautiful green body of t...
Glass
$3,200 / set
19th Century Limoges Game Bird Set
By Limoges
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century game bird set with 12 plates, all measuring 9.25 inches in diameter x 1.25 inches in height, and a large platter measuring 18.25 inches long x 12.5 inches wide x 2....
Ceramic
Salins-lès-Bains Rare French Art Majolica Ceramic Asparagus Set, Late 19th C.
By Salins
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Art Majolica Ceramic Asparagus Set by Salins-lès-Bains, France, Late 19th Century. This exquisite and rare French art majolica asparagus set, crafted by Salins-lès-Bains in t...
Ceramic, Majolica
Pair Italian Silver Wine Cask Toothpick Holders
Located in New York, NY
Pair Italian silver wine cask toothpick holders. Antique silver Napoleon III era table decorations in the form of two wine barrel / beer casks on stretcher form stands realistically ...
Sterling Silver
Antique French .950 Silver 5-Piece Carving Service with Gigot in Box
Located in Pembroke, MA
A finely-chased French .950 fine silver five-piece carving service comprising a caving knife, a carving fork (with adjustable resting stand for raising it off of the table), a serving fork with bone tines, a serving spoon with bone bowl, and a handle for holding a leg of lamb ("manche a gigot...
Silver
Silver-Plated Cutlery Set for a Child, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Silver-plated cutlery set for a child, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A Napoleon III period silver-plated children's cutlery set in a case, 19th century. H: 4cm, W: 25cm, D: 21.5cm
Silver Plate
20th Century French Tray
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite early 20th-century painted sheet metal tray is a beautiful example of vintage decorative artistry. Featuring a delicately hand-painted floral design, the centerpiece s...
Sheet Metal
19th Century Set of Mason's Plates
Located in High Point, NC
19th century set of four English ironstone plates, signed Mason's over a crown and banner. The plates are transfer decorated in a pattern of florals ...
Ironstone
Early 19th C Cutlery Tray W/ Scallop Edges
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th C Cutlery tray w/ Scallop Edges. Hand crafted. Good Condition.
Wood
19th Century Limoges Game Bird Set
By Limoges
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century game bird set with 12 plates, all measuring 9.25 inches in diameter x 1.25 inches in height, and a large platter measuring 18.25 inches long x 12.5 inches wide x 2....
Ceramic
$1,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 3.75 in W 4.25 in D 2.75 in
19th Century Baccarat Gilt Bronze & Crystal Double Salt Cellars, a Pair
By Baccarat
Located in Atlanta, GA
Excellent pair of gilt bronze double cherub salt cellars! Fully marked to bottom. Each with removable crystal bowls, which i will be including a 5th (incase one breaks!).
Crystal, Bronze
$3,800 / set
H 0.79 in W 3.94 in D 0.79 in
Set of 12 Fine French Art Deco Silver Plated "Gallia" Knife Rests by Christofle
By Gallia, Christofle, Marcel Eduoard Sandoz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of 12 fine French Art Deco silver plated knife rests designed by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz for the Gallia collection of Christofle. All 12 animals are different. Original case. Aver...
Silver Plate
$6,927
H 7.49 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
George III Period Antique Sterling Silver Tankard, London 1774 John King
By John King
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1774 by John King, this wonderful, George III period, Antique Sterling Silver Tankard, is of traditional straig...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Cutlery Set, Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage cutlery set was realized in the mid-20th century. This silver plate vintage set is made up of 61 cutleries (forks, knifes, spoons) reali...
Silver Plate
$2,994 / set
H 1 in W 1 in D 1 in
Dax by Christofle France Silver Plated Flatware Set Service, 42 Pieces
By Christofle
Located in Big Bend, WI
Modern clean lines make this pattern forever timeless. Dinner size Dax by Christofle France silver plated flatware set, 42 pieces. This s...
Sterling Silver
$6,927
H 8.08 in W 6.3 in D 5.52 in
George III Period Antique Sterling Silver Tankard, London 1781 William Cox III
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1781 by William Cox III, this handsome, George III period, Antique Sterling Silver Tankard, is baluster shaped ...
Sterling Silver
$605 / item
H 14.97 in W 6.7 in D 3.94 in
Vase Genke CS3 - Contemporary Minimalist Decor in Brass and Steel by Noom
Located in Paris, FR
Genke Vase — part of the Suprematic Collection by NOOM, designed by Kateryna Sokolova, embodies the brand’s signature fusion of contemporary, bold, sculptural design with functional ...
Brass, Steel
$4,237 / set
H 16.15 in Dm 5.91 in
Pair of Empire Vases "Views of Versailles" Napoleon III 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of empire vases "Views of Versailles" French, in porcelain from the 19th century. 19th century polychrome and gilded decoration, with the central reserve at the center with t...
Porcelain
Boxed Set, Silver-Plated Dinner Services, Menagère in its Box.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Boxed set, silver-plated dinner services, menagère in its box. Set of 6 forks and 6 spoons, box, silver-plated dinner services in its case, Napoleon III style, 20th century. H: 5cm,...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 1.97 in W 14.97 in D 9.06 in
Poultry Carving Set, Silver Plated Metal and Carved Wooden Handle.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Poultry carving set, silver plated metal and carved wooden handle. Poultry set, box, silver plated metal and carved wooden handle, in its original case, Napoleon III style, 20th cen...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 24.61 in W 7.88 in D 4.34 in
Large Pair of Ewers in Patinated Bronze, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large pair of ewers in patinated bronze, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A pair of 19th century ewers in patinated bronze, Napoleon III period. ...
Bronze
Silversmith Odiot - Cruet / Vinegar In Solid Silver/Crystal Late 19th Century
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Oval-shaped solid silver cruet/vinegar, terrace mounted on four spinning tops, comprising four crystal bottles, a sprinkler and a mustard bottle surrounded by a frame decorated with...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 12.21 in W 17.72 in D 11.82 in
173-Piece Set Silver Plated Tableware - Christofle - Malmaison - Complete
By Christofle
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A great set silver plated tableware, complete for 12 persons, made by the French brand Christofle. The name of the model is Malmaison. The set is in great condition, beautiful color and brilliance. Original Christofle canteen...
Silver Plate
Set of 6 Porcelain Dinner Plates from the Maison Charles Pillivuyt et Cie
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A gorgeous set of 6 plates from the Maison Charles Pillivuyt et Cie, a manufacturer of high-quality porcelain founded in 1818. Each piece is hand-painted with a delicate rose- pink b...
Porcelain
Group of 13 French Parcel-Gilt 19th Century Silverware Pieces
Located in Leesburg, VA
A group of 13 exceptional French parcel-gilt 19th century silverware pieces Anonymous (unmarked) Probably Paris, France / ca. 1885 Silver, Horn and celluloid shell Approximate sizes: between 18.5 to 26 cm A unique group of thirteen Napoleon III period silverware pieces, beautifully styled and richly decorated, featuring gilt embellishments, an engraved monogram—set in cartouches on each handle—and the incorporation of a shaped blonde Horn fork...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 1.58 in W 2.76 in D 1.58 in
Pair of 19th Century Silver Salt Cellars with Crystal Liners Marked Delheid
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful set of two solid silver salt cellars by the Belgian maker Deheid Frères. The inside is gold plated and fitted with crystal liners. The gilding was applied to prevent salt-o...
Crystal, Silver
French Coffee Can & Saucer 'Sevres'
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Newark, England
French 19th century Sevres style coffee can and saucer. The beautifully decorated set a fine example of 19th century French porcelain with a bold blue celes...
Porcelain
Set of Six 19th Century Silver Oyster Forks
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful set of six antique silver oyster forks. The forks have thick handles, making them easy to handle. The have elegant ornamented finish. There are s...
Silver
Sold
H 1 in Dm 8.25 in
19th Century French Napoleon III Black & Beige Paris Monuments Plates, Set of 12
By Luneville
Located in Dallas, TX
These elegant twelve antique plates were crafted in Luneville, France, circa 1870. Each hand painted plate features a famous Paris landmark including "Place de la Concorde", "Palais ...
Ceramic, Faience
Set of Kettles, Coffee Pot, Milk Jug and Sugar-Basin
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of kettles, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar-basin, silvered metal, ebony, early 20th century. Measures: Kettles H 25 cm, L 18cm, W 9cm Coffee pot H 17, L 26 cm, W 11 cm Milk ju...
Metal