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Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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
Wäckerlin desk chair, 800, Italy
By Adja Yunkers
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
The chairs with women's names... Wäckerlin, steam-curved Mulberry desk chair with Vienna straw seat and hand-wrought iron hardware. A piece of history dating back to the end of the ...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Straw, Bentwood

Wäckerlin desk chair, 800, Italy
Wäckerlin desk chair, 800, Italy

Wäckerlin desk chair, 800, Italy

$889
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H 35.5 in W 23 in D 26 in
Green Velvet Office Desk Chair, Italy 1970s
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Green Velvet Office Desk Chair, Italy 1970s A vintage velvet desk chair, manufactured in Italy in the 1970s. Steel golden chromed structure and beautiful green velvet cover. Chromed...
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1970s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Green Velvet Office Desk Chair, Italy 1970s
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Green Velvet Office Desk Chair, Italy 1970s

$854 Sale Price
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H 31.5 in W 20.08 in D 21.26 in
Osvaldo Borsani P99 Desk Chair for Tecno, Italy 1957
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Milan, IT
All original Osvaldo Borsani P99 Desk Chair for Tecno, Italy 1957 Original applied Tecno label and brass labels Reference: Osvaldo Borsani – architect, designer, entrepreneur. Giampi...
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1950s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Osvaldo Borsani P99 Desk Chair for Tecno, Italy 1957
Osvaldo Borsani P99 Desk Chair for Tecno, Italy 1957

Osvaldo Borsani P99 Desk Chair for Tecno, Italy 1957

$5,218 Sale Price
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H 31.11 in W 24.02 in D 22.05 in
Oak revolving desk chair
Located in Cheshire, GB
Oak revolving office chair with comb back above the solid seat. Raised up on four cabriole legs terminating in castors. Dimensions Height 36 Inches he...
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Early 20th Century British Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Oak revolving desk chair
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Oak revolving desk chair

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H 36 in W 25 in D 20 in
Vittorio Nobili for Fratelli Tagliabue Medea Desk Chairs, Italy, 1950s
By Vittorio Nobili
Located in LEWES, GB
A pair of original Vittorio Nobili Medea office or desk chairs with swivel base, for Fratelli Tagliabue, Italy, 1950s. Price per chair. Fast shipping worldwide.    
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Mid-20th Century Italian Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Metal

Vittorio Nobili for Fratelli Tagliabue Medea Desk Chairs, Italy, 1950s
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Vittorio Nobili for Fratelli Tagliabue Medea Desk Chairs, Italy, 1950s

$3,009 / item
H 33.86 in W 24.02 in D 21.66 in
Carlo Ratti Walnut Desk Chair for Compensati Curvati Italy
By Carlo Ratti
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A sculptural molded dark walnut plywood swiveling Hourglass desk chair with stainless steel star base . The unique styling of the chair would make it a statement piece in any home of...
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Carlo Ratti Walnut Desk Chair for Compensati Curvati Italy
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Carlo Ratti Walnut Desk Chair for Compensati Curvati Italy

$1,575
H 34.5 in W 18 in D 20.75 in
Italian Antique Walnut Newly Upholstered Open Armchair Office Desk Chair
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian carved walnut wood armchair in good conditions and fully newly upholstered in white fabric with very elegant shape and great color of wood to highlight the detailed...
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Italian Antique Walnut Newly Upholstered Open Armchair Office Desk Chair
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Italian Antique Walnut Newly Upholstered Open Armchair Office Desk Chair

$1,482
H 36.62 in W 23.23 in D 22.05 in
Modern Director's Desk Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
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21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Modern Director's Desk Chair
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Modern Director's Desk Chair

$2,097 / item
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Antique oak desk chair
Located in Eindhoven, NL
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1890s American Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Antique oak desk chair
Antique oak desk chair

Antique oak desk chair

$1,126
H 32.68 in W 24.02 in D 24.41 in
Victorian Mahogany Office Chair / Desk Chair
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
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Late 19th Century English Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Victorian Mahogany Office Chair / Desk Chair
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Victorian Mahogany Office Chair / Desk Chair

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19th Century French Desk Armchair With Gondola Backrest
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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19th Century French Desk Armchair With Gondola Backrest
19th Century French Desk Armchair With Gondola Backrest

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Napoleon III Mahogany Armchair
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Napoleon III mahogany armchair, circa 1835. Concave shaped crest rail and back making this chair very comfortable, C scrolled arms, turned and tapered front legs ending in brass cast...
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1850s European Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Napoleon III Mahogany Armchair
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Napoleon III Style Desk Armchair, France, circa 1880
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
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Napoleon III Style Desk Armchair, France, circa 1880
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Napoleon III Style French Chair "Antique Master" Fabric Dedar
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Napoleon III Style French Chair "Antique Master" Fabric Dedar
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Napoleon III Desk Secretary Writing Table and Its Armchair France, 19th Century
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1870s French Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Napoleon III Desk Secretary Writing Table and Its Armchair France, 19th Century
Napoleon III Desk Secretary Writing Table and Its Armchair France, 19th Century

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French Empire Napoleon III Mahogany and Leather Desk Chair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A 19th century French Napoleon III desk or side chair with a round leather-upholstered seat with brass studs, the mahogany frame embellished with brass Empire style details. The cha...
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1870s French Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

French Empire Napoleon III Mahogany and Leather Desk Chair
French Empire Napoleon III Mahogany and Leather Desk Chair

French Empire Napoleon III Mahogany and Leather Desk Chair

H 30 in W 18 in D 20 in
Ralph Lauren Brook Street Desk and Clivedon Black Velvet Office Chair
By Ralph Lauren
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning Ralph Lauren Brook street Mahongay desk with brown leather top and Clivedon black velvet armchair with walnut frame RRP £17,300. Both pieces are in good used condition throughout, the desk has some light patina marks here and there, the desk has two sliding tables so your children or colleges can come and work with you or simply if you need more room. The chair is upholstered in premium jet black velvet which is more expensive than the leather upholstery, it’s a silky and soft as they came but very think and hard wearing We have lightly cleaned waxed and polished both pieces, the right side sliding shelf on the desk has some marks, otherwise, there isn’t actually much to point out, the pair is stunning Brook street desk...
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21st Century and Contemporary Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Leather, Velvet, Mahogany, Walnut

Ralph Lauren Brook Street Desk and Clivedon Black Velvet Office Chair
Ralph Lauren Brook Street Desk and Clivedon Black Velvet Office Chair

Ralph Lauren Brook Street Desk and Clivedon Black Velvet Office Chair

H 39.77 in W 68.9 in L 39.77 in
19th Century Napoleon III Round Back Leather Chair with Original Brass Casters
Located in Chicago, IL
This handsome Napoleon III round back leather chair is from Paris, France and was made from leather and brass, c. 1880. The chair features a b...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Brass

19th Century Napoleon III Round Back Leather Chair with Original Brass Casters
19th Century Napoleon III Round Back Leather Chair with Original Brass Casters

19th Century Napoleon III Round Back Leather Chair with Original Brass Casters

H 34 in W 22 in D 27 in
19th Century Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchair
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique Napoleon III mahogany fauteiul or open armchair in the fabulous Empire Style, circa 1850 in date. The mah...
Category

1850s Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchair
19th Century Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchair

19th Century Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchair

H 38.59 in W 25.6 in D 22.05 in
19th Century Pair of Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique pair of Napoleon III mahogany fauteiul or open-arm chairs in the fabulous Empire Style, circa 1850 in date. The mahogany is beautiful in colour and has been embellished with striking ormolu mounts. The padded arms have gilt bronze rosettes and are supported by square section tapering front legs with finely cast gilt bronze sphinx head mounts and terminating in gilt bronze claw feet, with plain sabre legs to the rear. The chairs have been beautifully reupholstered in a striking emerald green velvet. Add a touch of class to your home with this exceptional set of antique...
Category

1850s Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Pair of Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs
19th Century Pair of Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs

19th Century Pair of Napoleon III Mahogany and Ormolu Armchairs

H 38.59 in W 25.6 in D 22.05 in
19th Century Set of Four Napoleon III Mahogany & Ormolu Armchairs
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique set of four Napoleon III mahogany fauteiul or open-armchairs in the fabulous Empire Style, circa 1850 in date. The mahogany is beautiful in color and has been embellished with striking ormolu mounts. The padded arms have gilt bronze rosettes and are supported by square section tapering front legs with finely cast gilt bronze sphinx head mounts and terminating in gilt bronze claw feet, with plain sabre legs to the rear. The chairs have been beautifully reupholstered in a striking emerald green velvet. Add a touch of class to your home with this exceptional set of antique...
Category

1850s Antique Napoleon III Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Ormolu

19th Century Set of Four Napoleon III Mahogany & Ormolu Armchairs
19th Century Set of Four Napoleon III Mahogany & Ormolu Armchairs

19th Century Set of Four Napoleon III Mahogany & Ormolu Armchairs

H 38.59 in W 25.6 in D 22.05 in

Napoleon Iii office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage office chairs and desk chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III office chairs and desk chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 office chairs and desk chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,440 and tops out at $2,400 while the average work can sell for $2,227.

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