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Napoleon III Settees

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
French Napoleon III Style Settee in Gold Velvet
Located in Buchanan, NY
This elegant French Napoleon III settee is upholstered in a plush floral patterned gold velvet with tassel adornments and matching bullion fringe. The beautifully curved back and bui...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Upholstery

French Napoleon III Settee with Ebonized Arms
Located in Buchanan, NY
An unusual French 19th Century Napoleon III Tufted Sofa with ebonized arms. This stunning small scale Napoleon III sofa is a true testament to the elegance and craftsmanship of the e...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Upholstery

French Napoleon III Style Settee
Located in Buchanan, NY
A handsome small French sofa or settee in the Napoleon III style. The classic “chapeau de gendarme“ shape of the back balances perfectly with the gen...
Category

Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Upholstery

19th Century Confident / Conversation Seat / Tête-à-tête
Located in Paris, FR
19th century confident in rosewood. France, circa 1860.
Category

1860s Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Rosewood

19th century demi-borne / Half seat in rosewood
Located in Paris, FR
Very unusual 19th-century demi-borne in rosewood and damask fabric with an attached planter in the back. France, circa 1860
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Damask, Rosewood

French Napoleon III Round Scroll Back Small Scale Sofa
Located in Stamford, CT
Petite French Napoleon III round scroll back sofa, circa 1880s. Turned black legs with original castors. Recently upholstered in Manuel Canovas 'Marius' in Ciel (light blue and white...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Linen, Wood

19th Century French Napoleon III Curved Sofa, Newly Upholstered Bouclé fabric
Located in Paris, FR
Two-seat curved settee from the late 19th Century. Lovely shape and curves. Very comfortable seat. Front legs raised upon brass casters. This sofa has been fully restored and newly ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Brass

Small Scaled French 19th Century Settee
Located in Buchanan, NY
An elegant French early 20th century small scale settee in the Napoleon III style. This French settee is a timeless piece of furniture that embodies classic elegance. Its gracious cu...
Category

Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Upholstery

Rive Droite Confident by Bourgeois Boheme Atelier 'Silver Cast Bronze Legs'
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This classic Napoleon III style armchair or tête-à-tête has been restyled. It is the perfect conversation piece. We have used white bronze legs and added a modern touch to the upho...
Category

2010s American Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Bronze

Napoleon III French Settee
Located in Houston, TX
Napoleon III French settee upholstered in off-white ticking and burlap. Ready to be re-covered in your own fabric. Constructed circa 1870-1889 with wood and iron frame, turned and eb...
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Brass, Steel, Iron

Rive Droite Confident by Bourgeois Boheme Atelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Classic Napoleon III style armchair or tête-à-tête has been restyled. It is the perfect conversation piece. This version has turned wooden legs with the traditional Napoleon II...
Category

2010s American Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Pair of Rare 19th Century Napoleon III Brocade Armchairs
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of 19th century armchairs, Napoleon III period. The armchairs have been restored and the upholstery has been replaced with a beautiful Italian Brocade...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Brocade, Beech

Rare 19th Century Napoleon III Brocade Armchair
Located in Puglia, Puglia
19th century armchair, Napoleon III period. The armchair has been restored and the upholstery has been replaced with a beautiful Italian brocade. Franc...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Brocade, Beech

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...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Brocade, Beech

French Napoleon III Settee in Muslin
Located in Buchanan, NY
A wonderfully proportioned small French settee from the Napoleon III period with a gracious curved back. This late 19th century settee has been stripped down to the original muslin l...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric

French Napoleon III Walnut Sofa Banquette French Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Elegant Napoleon III walnut banquette or sofa. France circa 1890, The upholstery and the fabric has been recently changed. Very good antique condition. A little stain on the fabri...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

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...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Iron

Large French 19th C Napoleon III Tufted Sofa
Located in Buchanan, NY
Large scale Napoleon III sofa with cabriole legs. The back is heavily tufted as are the rolled arms. The sofa has been stripped down to the mus...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric

Antique French Parlour Settee in Tropics 'Fan Palm' Fabric
Located in Hastings, GB
A very rare antique French Parlour Settee, upholstered in our exclusive Tropics 'Fan Palm' fabric This exceptional French settee dating from around 1...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Cotton, Wood

19th Century Napoleon III Ebonized Salon Suite Reupholstered
Located in Staffordshire, GB
19th century Napoleon III ebonized salon suite, sourced from Paris and reupholstered in 'Limerence' velvet, circa 1860. Measures: Sofa H 107 x W 136 x D 55cm Seat height 45cm Chai...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Hardwood

Rive Droite Confident by Bourgeois Boheme Atelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This classic Napoleon III style armchair or tête-à-tête has been restyled. It is the perfect conversation piece. We have used white bronze legs and added a modern touch to the uphols...
Category

2010s American Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Bronze

Rive Droite Confident by Bourgeois Boheme Atelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This Classic Napoleon III style armchair or tête-à-tête has been restyled. It is the perfect conversation piece. This version has turned wooden legs with the traditional Napoleon II...
Category

2010s American Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Wood, Velvet

Late 19th Century Vintage French Napoleon III Settee Reupholstered White Linen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Period French Napoleon III sofa in ebonized wood, with decorative brass filet (strip) and turned and fluted front legs resting on brass rings,...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Wood

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Vintage Giltwood Love Seat Conversation Settee Mid 20th Century
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This is a fantastic English vintage giltwood love seat or conversation "Sociable Settee" mid 20th century in date. It is of clover leaf outline and has four individual seats with...
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French Carved Walnut Louis XV Small Scale Settee Canape, Circa 1930
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Carved wood frame. Upholstered. Measures: 38 3/4" H x 47 1/4" W x 26" D. Seat height 20". Condition Scratches. Finish loss. Stains and tears to upholstery. Splits and chips in wood.
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Collinson & Lock. An Anglo-Japanese Mahogany Settee with carved & scrolled arms
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French Louis XV Style Cane Back Settee
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Large French Louis XV style cane back settee, also called canapé or sofa. Sofa in a very good state, no damage to the cane, rare find. Double-caned s...
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French Louis XV Style Cane Back Settee
French Louis XV Style Cane Back Settee
H 39.88 in W 68 in D 29 in
French Louis XV Style Upholstered Settee
Located in Sheridan, CO
French Louis XV style settee / salon sofa, 20th c., having carved rocaille crest, in a floral upholstery, with foliate handholds, above shell motif apron, rising on cabriole legs, en...
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French Louis XV Style Upholstered Settee
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Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Empire Couch Honey Color, 2-3 Seat, 19th Century Ormolu
Located in LONDON, GB
Rare Swedish Biedermeier 2-3 seat sofa couch in classic light honey color French polish finish with wonderful curved arm detailing and ormolu style decorative ends and motifs in the ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Birch

19th Century French Napoleon III Curved Sofa, Newly Upholstered Bouclé fabric
Located in Paris, FR
Two-seat curved settee from the late 19th Century. Lovely shape and curves. Very comfortable seat. Front legs raised upon brass casters. This sofa has been fully restored and newly ...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

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Danish Classic 1930s "Banana-Style" Settee or Bench in Red Velvet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic, rare and very elegant Danish 1930s bench or settee in the style of Kaare Klint and Frits Henningsen. The settee is unmarked as was most often the...
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1930s Danish Vintage Napoleon III Settees

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French Louis XVI Style Cane Curve Back Settee
Located in Southampton, NJ
A very sweet small scale Louis XVI style settee in pink & green damask stripe jacquard floral upholstery; enhanced with a single custom goose down bolster cushion. Excellent vintage ...
Category

20th Century American Napoleon III Settees

Materials

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French Settee in Red Velvet Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Settee, velvet fabric, stained beech, France, 1930s This exquisite settee of France origin adopts stylistic motifs of the 19th century Victorian Era as can been seen in the ornate ...
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1930s French Vintage Napoleon III Settees

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Velvet, Beech

French Settee in Red Velvet Upholstery
French Settee in Red Velvet Upholstery
H 36.62 in W 53.15 in D 31.5 in
British Colonial Carved and Cane Settee with Swan Neck Back and Scrolling Arms
Located in Yonkers, NY
A British Colonial carved wooden settee with swan neck back and out-scrolling arms, cane seat and turned legs. This British Colonial carved wooden settee, originating from antique So...
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Early 20th Century Southeast Asian Napoleon III Settees

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Cane, Wood

Previously Available Items
French 19th Century Settee in Muslin
Located in Buchanan, NY
A captivating small-scale French 19th century settee from the Napoleon III period. Its gracefully rounded back and built-in lumbar support offer exceptional comfort, making it the pe...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Upholstery

Napoleon III Style Ebonized "Indiscret" Armchair
Located in New York, NY
Napoleon III style three-seater armchair or "Indiscret," the frame in a Neoclassical form and on shaped tapering legs, now upholstered in a graphic black and gray pattern. Dimens...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric, Wood

French Tufted Napoleon III Settee
Located in Buchanan, NY
French Tufted Napoleon III Settee A wonderfully proportioned small French settee from the Napoleon III period having a gracious curved back with exquisite tufting. The settee has bee...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric

French Tufted Napoleon III Settee
French Tufted Napoleon III Settee
H 36 in W 58 in D 34 in
Low-Profile Napoleon III French Banquette
Located in Houston, TX
Low-profile Napoleon III French banquette, or settee, circa 1860-1879. Turned, ebonized legs front legs set into brass casters. Ebonized, hand-carved ...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

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Brass

Small French Settee with Rounded Back
Located in Buchanan, NY
An elegant French early 20th century small scale settee in the Napoleon III style. Perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any room, this small scale settee is a great choice. It has a gracious curved back with built-in lumbar support - typical of seating during this period, and rolled arms. It needs to be reupholstered (see photos). Once done, this settee will be amazing. Sold as is. We always recommend reupholstering vintage seating...
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Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Settees

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Fabric

Small French Settee with Rounded Back
Small French Settee with Rounded Back
H 33.5 in W 61 in D 34 in
Small French Napoleon III Tufted Sofa in Yellow Silk Fabric
Located in Buchanan, NY
An  exquisitely tufted small sofa or settee with graceful rolled arms and back. Both the back and seat are tufted in a yellow/ gold damask silk and the back is upholstered in a contr...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric

French Napoleon III Exotic Wood Sofa Banquette, French, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Elegant Napoleon III exotic wood banquette or sofa. France circa 1890, The upholstery is good and the fabric has to be changed. Good antique condition. Shipping: L171 P83 H90...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Pair of Rare 19th Century Napoleon III Brocade Armchairs
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of 19th century armchairs, Napoleon III period. The armchairs have been restored and the upholstery has been replaced with a beautiful Italian Brocade...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Brocade, Beech

Large Round White-Linen Upholstered Banquette
Located in Houston, TX
Large round white-linen upholstered banquette dating to the late 19th century. Newly upholstered in white linen, with diamond tufted back. Raised...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Linen, Wood

​​Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period
Located in Paris, FR
A central seat, also called “borne” from the Napoleon III period, circa 1860. Painted white wood frame, upholstered with "moiré" blue fabric.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Conversation Settee or Borne Settee from the Napoleon III Period
Located in Paris, FR
A central seat, also called “borne” from the Napoleon III period, circa 1860. Gilt wood frame, upholstered with beige rose satin silk fabric.
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

Materials

Fabric, Giltwood

19th Century French Pink Tufted Settee
Located in Buchanan, NY
French 19th century Napoleon III tufted pink settee with scrolled arms and curved back. Very good vintage condition. Ref #: SN0215-17 Dimensions: 29”H x ...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Settees

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Napoleon Iii settees for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III settees for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage settees created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III settees made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original settees, popular names associated with this style include and Bourgeois Boheme Atelier. 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 settees differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $999 and tops out at $9,500 while the average work can sell for $4,355.

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