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.
19th Century Napoleon III Period Mahogany Wall Bed
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Napoleon III Period Mahogany Wall Bed is a superbly well-preserved example of French style and ingenuity from the Second Empire! Hand-crafted from exotic imported mahog...
Mahogany
19th Century French Napoleon III Walnut Daybed or Bench
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive 19th century walnut daybed or bench seat made in the grand French Napoleon III period. The walnut frame features large round padd...
Fabric, Walnut
French Circa 1860 Original Painted Green Napoleon lll Cast Iron Daybed Rococo
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A wonderfully worn circa 1860 Napoleon lll cast iron daybed, with a intricate floral scroll work design with a nod to the rococo style Original green paint, faded, chipped, scratc...
Iron
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Empire Daybed with Gilt Accents
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century French Empire daybed, also known as a ‘chaise lounge,’ is crafted from rich reddish-brown mahogany and mahogany veneer. It features an upholstered mattress and two ...
Mahogany
19th Century French Walnut Bench
Located in High Point, NC
19th century carved walnut bench from France with a newly upholstered seat in linen and finished with welted decoration. The upholstered seat is scalloped and is enclosed in a molded...
Linen, Walnut
$4,680
H 34.75 in W 86.5 in D 35.5 in
Antique French Louis XV Style Walnut Cane Daybed W/ Light Green Linen
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite late 19th century French provincial daybed in the Louis XV style, sourced from Provence, France. Hand-crafted from solid walnut with sleigh-form ends, each framed in its...
Fabric, Linen, Cane, Walnut
A French Painted Louis XVI-Style Daybed, C. 1920.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elegant white-painted frame with teal upholstery, featuring arched footboards flanked by turned posts topped with decorative finials. A refined example of Louis XVI-inspired design, ...
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
$3,112Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 80.71 in D 34.26 in
19th Century French Louis XV Period Carved Walnut Daybed
Located in Miami, FL
Magnificent 18th century French Louis XV period daybed. The bed needs a reupholstered , we can do it with the color velvet you choose.
Velvet, Walnut
Elegant 18th Century Tuscan Rococo Daybed, Newly Upholstered
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant 18th century Tuscan Rococo daybed, newly upholstered.
Wood, Giltwood
Bronze and Leather Daybed or Bench by Nicos Zographos
Located in Atlanta, GA
Bronze and caramel color leather daybed or bench, designed by Nicos Zographos, American, circa 1960s. Retains warm original patina to the bronze.
Metal, Bronze
Italian Neoclassical Style Iron Scrolled Daybed
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stylish Italian iron daybed featuring large, dramatic scrolled ends with x-form stretchers. The daybed has a fitted cushion measuring 8 inches deep upholstered with newer fabric. Sup...
Iron
All Black Cowhide Fur Upholstery Custom Daybed Large Bench
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Stylish custom made all black cowhide upholstery sofa daybed.
Cowhide
Art Deco Daybed, circa 1930's
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of Fabric,Wood The Fabric shows signs of use Original condition.
Fabric, Wood
Napoleon III slipper chair, 19th century
Located in MILL, NL
Napoleon III slipper chair 19th century, slipper chair / chair. Ready for reupholstering. Sturdy and solid. Stands on elegant black legs with brass castors. Dimensions: 50W x 80H x...
Textile, Wood
French Ebonized Daybed with Graceful Lines, circa 1930s
By André Arbus
Located in Stamford, CT
A French ebonized daybed newly upholstered in Belgian linen. Designed in the style of Andre Arbus.
Beech
Exquisite 19th Century French Daybed
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Exquisite 19th century French daybed, Louis XV style. As the stairways of houses and apartments in France are narrow, they build ...
Fabric, Walnut
Sold
H 32.68 in W 59.85 in D 32.68 in
Meridienne - Day bed - Lounge chair - Bench Napoleon III - France XIXth
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful Meridian - Day bed - Lounge chair - Bench with Burgundy, raspberry pink, off-white upholstery. Magnificent meridian from the Napoleon III - Second Empire period with a wide...
Upholstery, Wood
Napoleon III Walnut Alcove or Daybed Sofa
Located in Hudson, NY
This daybed or sofa was made originally in France circa 1870 in the Napoleon III style and is constructed of walnut and burled walnut veneers used to dramatically show off the wood selection and grain patterns. Large profiles and massive flat or concave and convex long grained area of regular walnut have been used to border complex very figured areas of veneered burl walnut Boldly scaled and very masculine the original rail on one side has been removed and a permanent rail with a notched upper area in the head and foot boards to accommodate an upholstered wooden back which was clearly just screwed in in the past allowing for the use as a sofa in a guest room also used as a sitting room. The head and foot boards are finished on both side so its clear that it was always meant to be seen form an alcove bed...
Wood, Walnut, Burl
1860 Green Napoleon lll Cast Iron Daybed Rococo Style
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A wonderfully worn circa 1860 Napoleon lll cast iron daybed, features curved sides with intricate floral scroll work figures and faces with a nod to t...
Iron
Antique French Iron Campaign Style Daybed
Located in Sheffield, MA
Add glamour and style with this Napoleon III cast iron lounging day bed to any room. Create your own 24" x 74" seating area with a mattress, seat cushion and decorative pillows to ma...
Iron
Sold
H 40.25 in W 83 in D 35.5 in
Antique French Napoleon III Carved Flame Mahogany Figural Swan Day Bed, c1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Napoleon III daybed offers mahogany frame with carved scroll swan neck arms and raised on paw feet, floral cushion and roll bolster pillows included, c1880. Meas...
Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
Swedish 19th Century Napoleon III Un-Upholstered Daybed
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish daybed from the end of 19th century from the Napoleon III time also called in Sweden the Oskarian period from the name of the Regent king Oskar II. Please note that this d...
Fabric, Birch
Sold
H 30 in W 78 in D 31 in
Napoleon Sleigh Daybed in Argentine Rosewood and Savel Elegance from Costantini
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
The Napoleon Sleigh daybed is Costantini's contemporary take on a Classic. Shown here in natural Argentine rosewood with Savel elegance velvet fabric....
Wood
Antique French Napoleon III Chaise Longue
Located in Hastings, GB
Antique French Napoleon III Chaise Longue Wonderful Shaping, Rarer Right Arm Facing (Raf) Horse Hair/Seaweed Filling, Cotton Calic...
Wood
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Cast Iron Daybed or Sleigh Bed
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This 19th century French Napoleon III period daybed features a cast iron frame detailed with central cartouche and masque flanked by scrolling branches and leaves that extend out to ...
Iron
19th Century Napoleon III French Black Cast Iron Daybed
By Napoléon III
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing and beautiful black cast iron or wrought iron daybed, it can be folded in half Ideal for a porch, covered garden, large terrace or even a beautiful room, In a very good con...
Iron
French 19th Century Daybed with Tufted Velvet
Located in Buchanan, NY
French 19th century iron bed upholstered with tufted red velvet.
Iron
French Napoleon III Cast Iron and Painted Sleigh Daybed
Located in Atlanta, GA
Entirely constructed of cast iron, the frame of "sleigh" form with the head taller than the foot, the centre section with bobbin form supports, raised on circular tapering legs, lack...