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.
Pair of 3rd Quarter 19th Century Napoleon III French Tole & Iron Single Beds
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
3rd quarter 19th century pair of French tole & iron single beds. Napoleon III period. Superb faux bois walnut & satinwood paintwork on the head & foot boards inlaid with mother of pe...
Metal, Iron
French Napoleon III Black Carved Ebonized Bed with Cherubs
Located in Miami, FL
Queen-size bed with an impressive Renaissance-style headboard and footboard, crafted from beautiful walnut wood. The bed has a fabulous large heavily carved cherub This original Ital...
Walnut
19th Century French Napoleon III Child's Bed
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Napoleon III Period child's bed made of solid cherry wood, with column form supports and iron curtain rails. Beautiful book matched...
Brass, Iron
French Napoleon III Bed Headboards in Gilt Bronze, Hand-Crafted, 1890
Located in Valladolid, ES
Beautiful French bed headboards in gilt bronze, Napoleon III. Measurements 140 cm tall and 134 cm the other, 7 cm wide and 95 cm wide both, they ...
Bronze
French Wrought Iron Folding Campaign Bed
Located in Astoria, NY
French Wrought Iron Folding Campaign Bed, with scroll form motif on casters. 40.25" H x 33.5" W x 75.5" D. Provenance: From the Collection of Laura and Lewis Kruger.
Wrought Iron
Patinated Steel Bed, Width 140cm, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Beautiful bed in patinated steel, decorated with volutes, Greek frieze and ending with bronze spinning tops. Bears a WC mark surrounded by a circle. Good general condition, w...
Steel
Antique French Hand Painted Ornately Decorated Bed Frame in Oak Pine Slats
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this sublime quality, antique French hand painted Napoleon II style bed frame This bed is of the finest quality, it has some good age to it, it is an original hand painted French piece not later reproduction model, it looks every bit of French opulence...
Oak, Pine
French Napoleon III Hand Carved Black Lacquer Bed
Located in Lisbon, PT
A rare late 19th Century Napoleon III black lacquer varnish refinished period french palatial bed in solid wood (size 181.5 x 210 cm) with painted floral lacquer panels. Very rare pe...
Brass
Large 19th Century Italian Giltwood Upholstered Headboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Mid 19th Century Italian hand-carved giltwood and painted wall mounted headboard from the Piedmont region. The pop-out panel is upholstered in nat...
Linen, Giltwood
ANTIQUE FRENCH DUCK EGG BLUE HAND PAiNTED ORNATELY DECORATED BED FRAME IN OAK
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime quality, antique French Duck Egg Blue hand painted Napoleon II style bed frame Please note th...
Oak
Single Bed Frame With Bench, Light Solid Wood, Napoleon III Style, 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Single bed frame with bench, made of light solid wood, Napoleon III style, 20th century. Bed frame with bench, 20th century, Napoleon III style, light solid wood. H: 105 cm, W: 185 ...
Wood
H 93 in W 65.63 in D 88 in
A French Louis XIX/XV Style Giltwood Carved Figural Queen-Size Bed with Cherubs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French Louis XIX/XV Style Giltwood Carved 'Baroque Revival' Figural Queen-Size Bed with Cherubs. The tall ornately pierced carved headboard, crowned...
Silk, Giltwood
H 18.12 in W 16.93 in D 13 in
19th Century Hand Painted Corner Child's Armchair by "Winsor and Newton"
Located in Sofia, BG
Small corner child's armchair in the "Chinese" style, with floral decoration painted on a black background. There is "Winsor and Newton" lab...
Wood
H 20.75 in W 17.5 in D 8 in
Mid-19th Century Child’s Grain Painted Miniature Chest of Drawers
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-19th century Benchmade child’s grain painted Miniature chest of drawers. A country piece in the American Empire style, with a step-back drawer and backsplash, above the case with...
Wood
H 45 in W 77.75 in D 56.75 in
1930s French Art Deco Painted Wrought Iron Full Size Bed Frame
Located in Astoria, NY
A charming 1930s French Art Deco full-size bed frame, sourced from Provence, France. Crafted from solid wrought iron, it features painted geometric designs that culminate in an elega...
Wrought Iron
H 32 in W 21 in D 14.5 in
19th Century Pet or Doll Bed
Located in East Hampton, NY
Exquisite pet/ doll bed in the Louis XXI style. all original silk brocade drapery and upholstery. and remnants of trims. mattress is stuffed horsehair. ostrich feather floret. (the h...
Silk
H 45.28 in W 86.62 in D 37.8 in
Exceptional 19th Century Hand Carved Italian Walnut Day Bed Cherub Putti's Angel
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare Circa 1840-1860 hand carved walnut Italian daybed with cherub putti decoration and chesterfield tufting What a find! Thi...
Walnut
H 40.16 in W 37.41 in D 78.75 in
Pair of painted iron single beds, 1960s
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Pair of 1960s single beds in orange painted iron, original color and brass details. Sound structure, heavy material and quality finish. Ideal for a second home or a bedroom set wit...
Brass, Iron
H 98 in W 43.5 in D 20.25 in
Antique French Napoleon III Carved Mahogany 5 Piece Bedroom Suite, Circa 1880.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rare Antique French Napoleon III Carved Mahogany 5 Piece Bedroom Suite, Circa 1875-1885. Extraordinary workmanship. Bed: 58" x 76" Interior. Headboar...
Marble
H 45 in W 82 in D 1.75 in
Hand Crafted Kingsize Headboard by Portladin
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional handcrafted oak headboard, having radiating spokes, suggestive of a sunrise/sunset. The headboard will accommodate a King Size mattress, it is in very good, original, cl...
Oak
H 95 in W 40 in D 77 in
Pair Neoclassical Style Black Iron Twin Campaign Canopy Beds
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of wonderful 20th Century campaign style canopy black iron twin beds.
Iron
H 22 in W 30 in D 17.5 in
19th Century Diminutive French Provincial Child’s Chest of Drawers
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th century Diminutive French Provincial Child’s chest of drawers This child’s Baroque style French country chest of drawers has a finely ser...
Fruitwood
H 62.21 in W 60.63 in D 80.71 in
19th Century Baroque Queen Bed, Original Four Solomonic Poster Lisbon Bed
Located in Miami, FL
19th century Baroque bed, original Lisbon bed This Queen size 4-poster bed is hand carved with elaborate details, spiral turned post, 3D open spiral twist spindles, and Moorish deta...
Walnut
H 70.08 in W 59.06 in D 78.75 in
Antique Italian Bed Napoleon III Period Iron Double Size
Located in Buxton, GB
This Antique Italian Napoleon III Iron Double Bed is a luxurious and stylish addition to any bedroom. Crafted from iron with intricate inlay details of romantic scenes, this bed feat...
Iron
H 73.43 in W 77.96 in D 81.5 in
Napoleon III bed in walnut, 19th century
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This imposing Napoleon III bed in walnut was crafted in the latter half of the 19th century The bed’s gadrooned frame is adorned at the foot with a shell motif surrounded by foliage...
Walnut
H 37.41 in W 72.84 in D 53.15 in
Amazing Napoleon III Empire bed, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Napoleon III Empire bed, 19th century France made of mahogany and ormolu decorated with "swan necks" and supported on claw feet, upholstered in green floral fabric on a beige backgro...
Wood
H 75 in W 62.5 in D 85.5 in
Brass Inlaid French Dor'e Figural Bronze Boulle Ebonized Near Queen Bed
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb bed which is decadently adorned in dor'e gilt bronze with figures and flaming septres and inlaid in tortoise with brass. The bed is part of an entire set including a...
Bronze
H 79.14 in W 70.87 in D 1.19 in
Large Headboard in Painted Iron, Genoa, Xixth Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large iron headboard (180cm) painted in burgundy-brown tones, decorated with flowers and scrolls painted in silver and gold Good condition Italian work from the 19th century, from...
Iron
H 74.81 in W 59.06 in D 3.94 in
Important French Headboard in Carved and Gilded Wood 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Important French headboard in carved and gilded wood 19th century. France Dimensioni 190x150 cm Very good condition.
Wood
H 55.71 in W 57.88 in D 79.53 in
Napoleon III Bed with Hand Painted Florals and Mother of Pearl Detailing
Located in Trensacq, FR
Charming Napoleon III bed with hand-painted florals and inlaid mother of pearl. Black Lacquered four-post bed with gilded detailing and brass finials, prettily adorned with beautif...
Iron
H 10 in W 55 in D 32 in
19th Century French Napoleon III Carved Giltwood Ciel de Lit or Bed Canopy
Located in Dallas, TX
Dress a master bedroom with this elegant antique canopy. Crafted in France circa 1870 and curved in shape, the "Ciel de Lit" is decorated with a cherub ...
Giltwood
H 51 in W 61 in D 69 in
Napoleonic Style Solid Walnut and Iron Queen Width Bed Circa 1820s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Wood. Iron. With headboard, footboard and rails. 50 1/2" h x 60 1/4" w x 2 1/8" d. Condition Missing pieces of wood. Scratches.
Wrought Iron
H 102.25 in W 61 in D 2.75 in
Antique Napoleon III Empire Mahogany & Ormolu Sleigh Bed, Full Size, c1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Napoleon III French Empire sleigh full size bed frame offers mahogany construction with scroll form head and foot boards raised on scroll ...
Ormolu
H 51.19 in W 27.56 in D 1.58 in
19th Century Austrian Hand Painted Iron Pair of Bed Frames, 1890s
By Joz. & Leop. Quittner
Located in LEGNY, FR
Iron bed, child’s bed frame includes factory symbol from Jos & Leop Quittner Factory in Vienna, ca. 1889 The two bed frame are made of iron, and the decorations are finely hand pain...
Iron
H 52.75 in W 76.25 in D 4.25 in
Napoleon III Style Brass and Iron Decorated King Headboard
Located in Sheffield, MA
Napoleon III style king bed headboard is constructed of iron and bronze painted black with elaborate solid brass detailing, including filigree rosettes and pediments. The outer posts...
Brass, Iron