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Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

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
19th C. Antique Swiss Cylinder Roll Music Box 6 Tune Airs with Inlaid Case
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C. Antique Swiss Cylinder Roll Music Box 6 Tune Airs with Inlaid Case and Works Very Nicely. Circa 19th Century. Measurements: 5.25" H x 16.75" W x 7.5" D.
Category

19th Century Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

A Brass Butterfield Type Dial French Early 18th Century
Located in Firenze, IT
signed Buterfield A Paris., the octagonal dial with hinged gnomon and bird pointer, inset compass and engraved with hour scales, the reverse engraved with towns and their latitudes, ...
Category

Early 18th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Napoleon III Prie Dieu or Prayer Chair.
Located in Labrit, Landes
Prayer chair or Prie-Dieu of the period Napoleon III, French, 19th century Exotic wood and velvet with golden braid. Can be recovered to suit your interior. Good antique condition.     
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Set of 11 19th Century Bois Durci Portrait Roundels
Located in London, GB
Set of 11 19th century Bois Durci portrait roundels French, 19th Century Largest: Height 1.5cm, diameter 15.5cm Smallest: Height 1cm, diameter 11.5cm This set of 11 panels depicts ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Other

Iconostasis door depicting the Annunciation, Balkans? 19th century
Located in PARIS, FR
Carved and gilt wood door from an iconostasis representing the Annunciation to Mary by the archangel Gabriel. The word "iconostasis" comes from the Greek εἰκονοστάσι(-ον) (eikonostás...
Category

1880s Balkan Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Giltwood

Little 19th Century Notebook with Pencil
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A small antique notebook. At the front cover is a hand painted medallion depicting the Palais Bourse building, the Paris stock exchange. Surrounded wi...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric, Paper

SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY NAPOLEON III'S BAROMETER
Located in Firenze, FI
This beautiful wall barometer with room thermometer is a highly valuable craftsmanship, attributable to French manufacture and dating back to the period of Napoleon III (approximatel...
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Antique Trade Scale Brass and Painted Cast Iron, France, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
This trade scale was made in the late 19th century in France. It was a scale used by traders for retail. Brass and painted cast-iron Patina and signs of use which make this antique o...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Iron

Pair 19th Century Decorative Desktop Signalling Cannons
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Pair 19th Century decorative desktop cast iron signalling cannons set on carriages with working wheels.
Category

19th Century English Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron

Antique Trade Scale Brass and Cast Iron, France, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
This trade scale was made in the late 19th century in France. It was a scale used by traders for retail Brass and Cast-Iron Patina and signs of use which make this antique object ver...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Iron

19th Century Russian Icon from the Moscow School, depicting "Our Lady of Kazan"
Located in NICE, FR
We present you this exquisite and extremely rare Russian icon adorned with a gilt silver oklad, bearing the marks of both the silversmith and the assayer, and measuring 31.5 x 26.5 c...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pocket Watch, 19th century
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Magnificent 19th century pocket watch. The glass is detached and bumps at the sides. On the back on the watch, there is a perpetual calendar
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1890s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Gold

19th Century French Napoleon III Carved Mahogany Prayer Bench with Green Velvet
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this elegant antique prayer chair in a bedroom for your daily devotions! Crafted in France, circa 1870, the traditional mahogany kneeler sits on...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Velvet, Mahogany

COLLECTABLE ANTiQUE FRENCH NAPOLEON III LEATHER & HAND PAINTED CARD GAMES CASE
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super collectable antique Napoleon III leather embossed and hand pa...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

French Bamboo & Rattan Doll's Bedroom, Playhouse, ca.1900
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French bamboo & rattan doll's bedroom, playhouse, France, ca.1900. Bamboo, rattan, wicker & fabric. The set consists of a bed, a table, an armchair and a chaise longue. It is in very...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric, Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan

19th Century French Table Sundial And Compass
Located in Firenze, IT
Shipping policy No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). Brass sundial with folding gnoman. ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Antique Trade Scale Brass and Cast Iron, France, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
This trade scale was made in the late 19th century in France; It was a scale used by traders for retail Brass and Cast-Iron Patina and signs of use which ma...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Iron, Brass

Antique & Unique Napoleon II Inlaid Burl Box w. Gilt Perfume Flasks / Bottles
Located in Lisse, NL
Incredible workmanship and amazingly intricate, antique Napoleon II box, mid 1800s When it comes to collectible and high value boxes, this little, fit-for-a-king gem from the 1850s is right up there with the rarest and most beautiful we ever saw. We know it should not be THE reason why you would purchase something of this quality and beauty, but with ever fewer craftsman being able to create anything remotely great, the value of this type of antique can...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Marquetry Game Box, Mother of Pearl
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century Napoleon III marquetry game box is made of rosewood, ebonized pearwood, and thuya and features a central bronze cartouche detailed with mother of pearl inlay. Inside, five removable palisander trays...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Game Box, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Game box, 19th century. Napoleon III period game box, 19th century in precious wood marquetry. Measures: H: 5 cm, W: 22 cm, D: 13 cm.
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Napoleon III Period Mahogany Prie Dieu ~ Prayer Kneeler
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Mahogany Prie Dieu ~ Prayer Kneeler is a stunning example of devotional art! Rendered from exotic imported mahog...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Holy Water Font Crucifix Shell and Silver French Napoleon III
Located in Labrit, Landes
Holy water font crucifix Napoleon III, French, 19th century Benitier crucifix holy water wall font late 19th century. The crucifix is cut from th...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Antique Napoleon III Parisian Giltwood Barometer, "Bodeur a Paris", Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
Napoleon III style, sometimes referred to as The Second Empire style, was greatly influenced by the Neoclassical aspects of the Louis XVI period. This giltwood barometer from Paris w...
Category

1830s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Glass

Italian Crucifix Representing Roman and Vatican Monuments, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Crucifix adorned with a micro mosaic of colored glass Chromed brass Around the Christ on the cross, you can see monuments of Vatican and of Rome ( Saint Peter's Basilica, Pantheon...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Vintage Trade Scale Wood and Metal, France, circa 1940
Located in Labrit, Landes
This trade scale was made in the 1940's in France. It was used to weigh food. Oak Shipping: L50 P57 H28 18,1Kg.
Category

1940s French Vintage Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

Original Opera and Theatre Costume Watercolor Design by Charles Betout, Paris
Located in New York, NY
Charles Betout was the principal costume designer for the Comedie-Francaise in Paris for twenty years until his death in 1939. This is costume was designed for the 1926 production of...
Category

Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Large custom Painted Sacre Coeur Basilica Birdcage
Located in New York, NY
This birdcage is a large, custom-made enclosure that was painted in a beautiful duck egg blue color and made during the mid-20th century. The design of the cage is modeled after the...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Napoleon III Period Blackened Wood Cigar Humidor
Located in LEGNY, FR
Cigar humidor in blackened wood and brass nets XIX. This slightly curved box on the front has four cigar racks and a drawer. Two brass cartridges adorn...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Pearwood

French Original Cased Pair Silver Baptismal Oil Containers
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine and scarce French pair silver Baptismal oil containers in its original leather fitted travelling case dating from 1850. The two cylindrical shaped oil containers are conjoined and both have tight fitting covers mounted with crosses. The oil containers have engraved initials OC and SC probably denoting oil and incense which would have been used in the baptismal ceremony. The identical lids too are similarly marked to ensure that these are not mixed up. The containers appear to have a slightly gilded finish to the interior and the oil containers are engraved to the bases and date 1850. They come in their original leather case with a small brass hook...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Napoleon III Gilt Bronze & Boulle Barometer & Thermometer Gervais Durand
Located in Miami, FL
Exquisite Pair of fine Antique Gilt Bronze Mounted Tortoiseshell Inlaid Ebonized Boulle Marquetry Instruments by Gervais-Maximilien-Eugene Durand. Originals featuring exquisite bronz...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Brass

French Antique Leather Bound Books
Located in Austin, TX
French antique books with Moroccan leather black spine, gold leaf imprinted title and blue and black covers. A large selection available, also in red, bl...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Wall Plaque Sculpture Medallion Woman Figure Signed B. Feinberg, Late 19th C
Located in Labrit, Landes
Terracotta woman figure medallion, wall plaque Signed by Bernanowitch Hirsch Feinberg, Russian artist with an international carrier between Good condition with good patina due to ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Terracotta

19th Century Napoleon III Marquetry Wall Cabinet
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th Century French Napoleon III miniature wall cabinet with fine quality marquetry inlay of rosewood, walnut and mahogany. Beautifully detailed with brass trim and escutcheons and...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

19th Century Asian Napoleon III Period Iron Wood and Brass Opium Pipe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice Asian Napoleon III period blackened iron wood and gilded brass opium pipe. Dragon head on the top. Asian scripts on the wood. Very nice quality and condition.
Category

1870s Chinese Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Cabinet 19th Century, Napoleon III Period, Style Boulle
Located in Warsaw, PL
This wooden cabinet is designed in the Boulle style. This style was very popular around the time of Napoleon III. The characteristic of this style is the use of small pieces of wood in furniture, inlaid designs with many different materials: precious wood, precious stones, enamel, ivory, seashells, metal, marble etc. In addition, to express the royal style, the "Boulle" style also uses a large amount of gilded copper on the furniture, such as tiger claw decoration, mirror border decoration, leaf decoration, etc. The main elementsof this cabinet is ebony and turtle shell, with decorative details and gilded legs. This is a pretty prominent highlight in the overall black and gold color scheme. Moreover, the head of a woman is in the middle of the cabinet with waves in her hair and grape vines could be representing the Greek goddes of spring Spring. Surrounding the head are beautiful acanthus motifs incorporated in every layer and surface of the cabinet. Symmetricallly on the left and right side of the head are two identical faces, with one being the lock of the cabinet where key goes. The four corners of the cabinet have blooming carnations to create a feeling of spring coming. The details are collaged, decorated with golden bronze leaves in a classic French style. On the edges of the cabinet are sculptures of two women wrapped around with cloth and leaves. Through it, the author highlights the beauty of the woman's status in the past. On the side panels of the cabinet is placed a gilded face of a man with wings...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Tortoise Shell, Wood

Rare Napoléon III Game Box in Boulle Style Marquetry, France, 1880s
Located in Paris, FR
Rare Napoléon III game box circa 1880 made in Boulle Marquetry style with its game chips. The outside is in blackened fruitwood with materials as brass decoration lines and a Horn...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

French Virgin and Child Chromo-Lithograph, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Virgin and child chromo-lithograph, French, late 19th century Golden frame Good antique condition For shipping: 5 x 31.5 x 47.5 cm 0.8kg.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Pair of Porcelain Portrait, 19th Century Gilded Bronze Frame Signed A.Giroux
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of porcelain and enamelled portraits featuring a man and a woman of the 17th century. It is most likely a portrait of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Austria. The two porcelain m...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Cabinet 19th Century Styl Boulle Blue Turtle Shell
Located in Warsaw, PL
French antique Boulle cabinet. Wood is decorated with inlaid brass and turtle, bronze details outside. Inside the cabinet there are two shelves. Cabinet top is marble. Perfect co...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Napoleon III Walnut and Brass Scale with Set of Weights
Located in Dallas, TX
This Classic, antique scale with original plates was created in Dijon France, circa 1870. Rectangular in shape, the fruit wood scale embellished with marquetry fillet decor, features the original removable brass plateaus...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

19th Century Bronze Sculpture of Napoleon Crossing the Alps
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A LOVELY late 19C Bronze Sculpture of Napoleon Crossing the Alps. 19th Century Bronze of Napoleon on Horseback in Battle, with c...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

French Crucifix Vitrine and Oval Frame, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Crucifix in its oval vitrine, French, late 19th century Golden frame Good condition For shipping: 9/51/60 cm, 3.3 kg.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass, Wood

Large Venetian Glass Pipe
Located in Firenze, IT
SHIPPING POLICY: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). The elongated shaft with moulded g...
Category

1890s Italian Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Art Glass

French Crucifix Vitrine and Frame, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Crucifix in its vitrine, French, late 19th century Golden frame Good condition For shipping: 46/38/8 cm 2.4 kg.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Late 19th Century Terrestrial Globe, French
Located in Firenze, IT
SHIPPING POLICY: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). By Charles Delagrave, Paris. On eb...
Category

1890s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Door Lock, Large Decoration, 19th Century, with Key
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Door lock, large decoration, 19th century, with key Measures: H 17 cm, W 11 cm, P 3 cm.
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Mobilier Louis-Philippe Napoleon III by Colette Lehmann, First Edition
Located in valatie, NY
Mobilier Louis-Philippe Napoleon III by Colette Lehmann. Paris: Èditions Ch. Massin, 1976, French text. Hardcover with dust jackets. 81 pp. Illustrates the beds, seating, tables, cas...
Category

Late 20th Century French Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

19th Century Silver-Gilt Bracelet with Micromosaic Medallions
Located in Paris, FR
Silver-gilt bracelet composed of three medallions decorated with micromosaics on a black onyx background. The micromosaics feature multicolored bouquets of flowers, and the setting i...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Onyx, Silver

Antique Sevres Style plaque - "The last Supper"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Large Antique French Sevres Style Porcelain Hand Painted Plaque Depicting "The Last Supper" after Leonardo da Vinci, within an exceptional Onyx and Champleve enamel frame. Circa 18...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century French musical automaton clock
Located in London, GB
This fine, antique mantel clock is constructed in ebonised wood by the renowned Parisian maker of automata, Xavier Tharin (French, active mid 19th Century). The clock face is set onto a curled, stylized pediment atop the clock case. The face is of white enamel, featuring black Roman numerals and signed 'Tharin a Paris', and is bordered in beaded ormolu. The pediment in which the face is set is decorated with ormolu mounts of stylized acanthus leaf form. The pediment is set onto a rectangular frame of ebonised wood, inside which is set a musical automaton...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

French Smoker Set in Red Glazed Earthenware 19th Napoleon III, De Bruyn Fives
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Five-piece smoker set. Four pots including a covered tobacco pot and a red faience tray which has a floral pattern. Very nice enamelled earthenware work. ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Napoleon III Period Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer, Attributed to Raingo Frères
Located in London, GB
This stunning gilt bronze clock and barometer pair was created in circa 1860 in France. The two have been attributed to Raingo Frères, the prestigious, ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Napoleon III Picture "St Jerome and the Lion" in Fabric - France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Unique and exquisite picture representing the biblical episode of Saint Jerome removing the thorn from the Lion's paw. The picture is made entirely of fabric, and is in relief. The scene is set in an oasis in the desert...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Napoleon III Black Lacquered Humidor on Stand
Located in Woodbury, CT
This outstanding showpiece has been meticulously crafted and then coated in a rich, thick, ebony lacquer. Numerous classic design elements include the broken pediment above a single...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ormolu

Fine French Carved Giltwood Barometer
Located in Westwood, NJ
An unusual and fine French carved giltwood barometer with military theme of carved instruments ad weaponry.
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Collectibles and Curiosities

Napoleon Iii collectibles and curiosities for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III collectibles and curiosities for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage collectibles and curiosities created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III collectibles and curiosities made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original collectibles and curiosities, popular names associated with this style include Charles Betout, Europa Antiques, Gervais Durand, and Gustave De Bruyn. 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 collectibles and curiosities differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $49 and tops out at $80,835 while the average work can sell for $1,505.

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