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Napoleon III Antiquities

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
Pair of Empire Sphinx, Bronze and Alabaster, France 19th Century Napoleon III
By Napoléon III
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful pair of Sphinx made of bronze skillfully worked, sealed to a green alabaster base. The sphinxes have an excellent workmanship and are depicted winged. Finely chiseled. In e...
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Early 1800s French Antique Napoleon III Antiquities

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Marble, Brass

Pair of Empire Sphinx, Bronze and Alabaster, France 19th Century Napoleon III
Pair of Empire Sphinx, Bronze and Alabaster, France 19th Century Napoleon III

Pair of Empire Sphinx, Bronze and Alabaster, France 19th Century Napoleon III

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Napoleon Iii antiquities for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III antiquities 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 antiquities created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III antiquities 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 antiquities, popular names associated with this style include and Napoléon III. 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 antiquities differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $817 and tops out at $7,232 while the average work can sell for $989.

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