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 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
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 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 France Deep Ebony Black Carved Daybed With Upholstered Bolsters
Located in High Point, NC
Carved daybed with upholstered bolsters in Deep Ebony Black. The deep ebony black surface highlights scroll-carved ebonized frame, black upholstery with bolster pillows, characterist...
Iron
Early 19th Century French Empire Swan Neck Mahogany Daybed, Paris
Located in Astoria, NY
An elegant early 19th-century French Empire daybed sourced from Paris, France. Crafted from solid mahogany, it features the iconic swan-neck ends with finely carved heads, floral ros...
Fabric, Mahogany
Antique Chinese Woven Top Ruyi Daybed, 19th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
Distinguished by its fine materials and balanced proportions, this antique Chinese daybed was masterfully crafted with an eye for decorative det...
Rattan, Wood
$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
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
Rare 19th Century Napoleon III Brocade Sofa
Located in Puglia, Puglia
French sofa from the 19th century, Napoleon III period. The sofa has been restored and the upholstery replaced with a beautiful Italian Brocade. France...
Brocade, Beech
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
Early 19th Century French Empire Daybed or Lit de Repos
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant early 19th century French lit de repos with a richly figured wood frame and distinctive outscrolled ends. The long paneled front rail is detailed with carved borders and a ce...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$10,800
H 20.28 in W 76.78 in D 29.93 in
Guillerme & Chambron Daybed or Bench with Side Table in Oak and Fabric
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron, daybed bench, oak, fabric, France, 1960s. This low bench or daybed shows the admirable, characteristic details of the French designer duo Guillerme and Chambr...
Fabric, Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian Daybed
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Elegant mid-20th Century Italian daybed/window seat in the manner of Paola Buffa. In a sycamore wood veneer frame with an open, interlocking elliptical design to both ends and fini...
Upholstery, Sycamore
Late 19th Century Swedish Period Gustavian Day Bed
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A rare to source late 19th Century Swedish period freestanding Gustavian day bed repainted in soft blue. This model is normally is decorated on just...
Wood
19th Century French Carved Wood Day Bed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible empire style carved wood daybed from France, late 19th century. Long oak wood frame with high sides showing beautiful carved rosette detail. Newly added blue linen cushion...
Linen, Oak
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
French Wrought Iron Daybed, 19th C.
Located in Astoria, NY
French Wrought Iron Daybed, 19th century, atop casters. 46.5" H x 74.5" W x 40.25" D. Provenance: From the Collection of Laura and Lewis Kruger.
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 37.41 in W 74.02 in D 31.89 in
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
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