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.
Antique French Napoleon III Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Vanity Mirror Watch Stand
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare antique French Victorian vanity mirror. Made of gilded bronze featuring Neoclassical and Rococo styling with an intricate openwork motif of foliate scrolls and acanthus leaves....
Bronze
19th Century Napoleon III Champlevé Enameled Gilt Bronze Standing Mirror
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Small standing mirror with ormolu, or gilt bronze, frame covered in an exquisite design of champlevé enameling, with delicate interlacing and flo...
Bronze, Enamel
A Napoleon III Period Table Mirror in Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Enamelled Porcelain
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A Napoleon III period gilt bronze and Sèvres enamelled porcelain table mirror, 19th century. Dimensions : H: 37.5cm, W: 23cm, D: 4cm Please contact us before ordering to confirm av...
Bronze
Table Mirror, Gilded Bronze Tabletop Mirror With an Onyx Base, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Table mirror, gilded bronze tabletop mirror with an onyx base, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Tabletop mirror, 19th-century table mirror from the Napoleon III period, made of gi...
Onyx, Bronze
$1,840Sale Price|30% Off
Silver Plated Bronze Table Mirror, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A silver plated bronze table mirror, 19th century A silvered bronze table mirror with mercury glass, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Contact us before ordering to confirm product...
Bronze
$2,262Sale Price|40% Off
Napoleon III period chased gilt bronze table mirror.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon III period chased gilt bronze table mirror . Napoleon III period table mirror in chased and gilded bronze, beveled glass, 19thcentury antique. H:50cm, W: 30cm, D:2cm Contac...
Bronze
$1,464Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French Gentleman's Vanity or Table Mirror
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An antique gentleman's vanity toilet mirror, or 'Psyche', dating from the 19th century and beautifully crafted from gleaming mahogany. This tilting table-top mirror is full of charac...
Fruitwood
c.1870–1885 Napoleon III French Ormolu Opaline Vanity Mirror, Paris, 13in
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Exceptional French Napoleon III vanity mirror dating from circa 1870–1885, crafted in Paris during the height of the Second Empire. This luxurious toilette de dame piece features fin...
Marble, Bronze
Set of Mirrors, Triptych Mirrors and a Pair of Mirrors, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Set of mirrors, triptych mirrors and a pair of mirrors, 19th century. Set of mirrors, a triptych mirror and a pair of mirrors in gilt metal and wallpaper decorations, 19th century, ...
Metal
Large French Napoleon III Period Table Mirror With Drawer, circa 1880
Located in Paris, FR
Large antique French Napoleon III period blond fir table mirror with storage drawer. Modern glass mirror. Wood back. Drawer dimensions 42 x 16 cm / 16.53 x 6.29 .in Glass dimensions...
Mirror, Wood
Napoleon III Period Table Mirror in Chased and Gilt Bronze on wood.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon III period table mirror in chased and gilt bronze on wood. Napoleon III period table mirror in chased and gilt bronze on wood, bevelled glass, 19th century antique. Dimens...
Bronze
$1,920Sale Price|30% Off
Important Vanity Mirror in Bronze Patine from the 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Important vanity mirror in bronze patine from the 19th century with original bezeled mercury mirror. Measures: 60cm x 37cm x 4 cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product avai...
Bronze
Auguste Moreau - Bronze Toilet Mirror
Located in Beaune, FR
Exquisite Rococo-style dressing mirror signed Auguste Moreau. Beveled glass and griotte marble base. Dimensions: Height 30.5cm, Width 14cm, Depth 11cm
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Vanity Bronze Mirror
Located in Plainview, NY
An exquisite late 19th century French Louis XV vanity mirror. The bronze carved mirror features impressive details with two cherubs. The mirror ...
Bronze
Napoleon III Period Gilt French Mirror Circa 1860
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Napoleon III period gilt French Mirror, circa 1860. Repetitive motif borders - beading along the mirror plate followed by a flat border to a modified acanthus leaf border and boldly ...
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Italian Gilt Wood Table Mirror, Italy, 1950s
Located in Lille, BE
Mid-century Italian table mirror dating from the 1950s. The frame is made from gilt wood with a warm aged finish. Its compact size makes it easy to place on a console, dressing table...
Giltwood
19th Century French Napoleon III Giltwood Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century French Napoleon III Giltwood Mirror. Offered is a stunning mid 19th century French Napoleon III or Louis XV style giltwood mirror with original glass and wood back. This...
Mirror, Giltwood
$2,429Sale Price|34% Off
H 47.25 in W 31.5 in D 3.94 in
19th Century French Grand Gilt Wood Crystal Mirror from Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
19th Century French crystal mirror in grand stucco and gilded wood frame decorated with a putti holding a quiver and a torch on the top. Very goo...
Stucco, Wood
Antique Mirrored Tabletop Tray, Silver Plate, European, 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mirrored Oversized Tabletop Tray from the Early to Mid-19th Century. The European ornate silver plate tray is a very versatile accessory, with lots of functionality, including sittin...
Silver Plate
$1,702
H 9.06 in W 3.47 in D 0.4 in
Rare French Empire Gilt Bronze Champlevé Enamel Hand Mirror c.1810
Located in Hannover, DE
An exceptionally rare and highly refined French hand mirror from the Empire period, dating to approximately 1805–1815. Beautifully executed in finely cast gilt bronze and lavishly de...
Bronze, Enamel, Gold Leaf
Antique Vanity Mirror
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and rich antique vanity or dressing table mirror, circa early-20th century. Mirror is rectangular with directional flexibility (north and ...
Mirror, Wood
19th Century Indian Tabletop Vanity Mirror
Located in Topanga, CA
A charming teak tabletop vanity mirror with scrolled side supports, original arched top mirror frame and a drawer at the bottom. The mirror surface reveals the passage of time with a...
Glass, Wood
Antique George III Mahogany Dressing Table Mirror
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III mahogany dressing table mirror having the original mirror plate, three drawers with original brass handles Lovely original colour and condition. Dimensions: He...
Other
Table Mirror in cooper Art Nouveau Period, Austia 1900
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Small Mirror in Art Cooper, copper color. Table Mirror, it has been in Austria circa 1900.
Art Glass
$425Sale Price|20% Off
H 13.78 in W 9.85 in D 7.09 in
Antique Table Mirror Gilded Bronze Vanity Mirror Art Nouveau
Located in Poperinge, BE
Antique table mirror, dressing mirror or make-up mirror with jewelry tray and original mirror glass made entirely of gilded bronze, graceful floral and animal decoration, entirely in...
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Sold
H 12.21 in W 8.67 in D 3.15 in
Rocaille-style Silver-Plated Metal Table Mirror, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th-century Rocaille-style silver-plated metal table mirror, Napoleon III period. Napoleon III period table mirror, 19th century, Rocaille style, silver-plated metal. H: 31 cm, W: ...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 11.42 in W 9.06 in D 0.79 in
Napoleon III-era Table Mirror with Silver-Plated Metal Frame on Velvet.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon III-era table mirror with silver-plated metal frame on velvet. Napoleon III-era table mirror, 19th century, silver-plated metal on velvet. H: 29 cm, W: 23 cm, D: 2 cm Plea...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 15.75 in W 9.06 in D 0.79 in
Table Mirror in Silvered Bronze, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Table mirror in silvered bronze, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A 19th century Napoleon III period silver plated bronze table mirror, decorated with musical instruments, bevelle...
Bronze
Sold
H 11.03 in W 8.67 in D 1.19 in
Table Mirror and its Two Vases, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Table mirror and its two vases, 19th century, Napoleon III period. A table mirror and its two enamelled and cloisonné bronze vases, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Vases: H: 23c...
Bronze
Sold
H 2 in W 15.75 in D 11.75 in
19th Century French Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Footed Mirror Plateau Tray
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb 19th Century French Napoleon III period gilded bronze mirrored table plateau footed tray with ornate handles, foliate and floral details, ...
Bronze
Sold
H 11.03 in W 8.67 in D 0.79 in
An Enamelled Bronze Table Mirror, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An enamelled bronze table mirror, 19th century, Napoleon III period. An enamelled bronze table mirror, bevelled mirror, 19th century, Napoleon III period. H: 28cm, W: 22cm, D: 2cm
Bronze
Sold
H 66.93 in W 51.97 in D 28.75 in
Napoleon III style dressing table in black lacquered wood and 3 mirrors
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Napoleon III style dressing table in black lacquered wood and 3 mirrors Wear consistent with age and use. Antique Furniture - Napoleon III Measures : 132cmx61cm H top:73cm TH:170...
Mirror, Wood
Sold
H 10.5 in W 18.5 in D 1 in
19th Century French Napoleon III Bronze Wall Fan Mirror with Beveled Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall, a vanity, or dresser with this intricate fan mirror. Crafted in France, circa 1880, and unique in shape, this heavy bronze features finely ...
Bronze
Napoleon III Cobalt and Clear Glass Table Mirror
Located in New York, NY
The rectangular beveled mirror plate bordered by clear dots on a blue ground surround, mounted with daisy form glass appliques. With easel form back.
Glass, Wood
Вronze and Enamel Сloisonné Decorative Mirror
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A ?ronze and enamel ?loisonné decorative mirror, 19th century, Napoleon III period Measures: Height: 33,5 cm Width: 21,5 cm.
Bronze
Gilt Bronze Mirror and Porcelain Plates
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Gilt bronze mirror and porcelain plates Late 19th century. Measures: height: 42 cm Width: 33 cm.
Bronze
Table Mirror, End of the 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Table mirror, end of the 19th century, Napoleon III period, silver. Restoration on the lower right. Measures: H: 37 cm, W: 27 cm, D: 2 cm.
Silver