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Napoleon III Side 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
Number in Set: Single Piece
Napoleon III Electric Blue Silk Giltwood Bamboo Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Napoleon III gilt wood side chair newly upholstered in an electric blue silk seat with orange silk trim welt and medallion.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Giltwood

Napoleon III Duchesse Brisee
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original two part Duchesse Brisee. Arm chair and Ottoman. In solid condition with a linen upholstery and nail heads. Air chair dimensions are W: 26" D: 29" H...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Linen, Bentwood

Napoleon III Chair with Turned Beech and Velvet for Child French, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
Napoleon III French chair for child late 19th century Turned beech, with patina, The fabric in a good quality. Two marks in the velvet, nothing dist...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Beech, Velvet

Charming Napoleon III Period Chair, in Blackened Pear and Velvet
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Charming Napoleon III period chair, in blackened pear and velvet. Good general condition, including velvet and padding.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Pearwood

19th Century French Napoleon III Period Rosewood Salon Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Rosewood salon chair is an elegant example of Fine French craftsmanship using exotic imported wood from the Americas. Sometimes called Kingwood, rosewood is known for its natural beauty, color, hardness, and ability to last for eons. This example combines elements of the Louis Philippe form with accents from the Louis XVI style, with a graceful shield-shaped seatback carved with flowing ribbon at the top of the arched crown. The remainder of the seatback follows tailored lines accented with scrolls for a tailored opulence. The seat itself is beautifully contoured and upholstered in mohair, and features gracefully scrolled legs, with the front legs molded for added visual appeal while retaining an austerity of form that is the essence of understated elegance. If you act fast, a twin chair...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Mohair, Rosewood

Antique Parlor Chair with Nobilis Floral Fabric
Located in Munich, DE
1950s European Parlor Chair refurbished and done with a floral pattern from the firm Nobilis. This chair fits well with a wide array of settings.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Handsome Pair of Period French Napoleon III Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant pair of Napoleon III black french antique chairs having original paint and frame. Front legs have original casters. Bought in Avignon, Fra...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Antique French Napoleon III Folding Chair Wooden and Azure Velvet
Located in Tourcoing, FR
Antique French Napoleon III folding chair gilded wooden and azure velvet in its original state, circa 1865.
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Velvet

Napoleon III Style Slipper Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
The slipper chair reflects the Napoleon III style of the mid-19th century with gold brocade fabric with deep cushion affect and exuberant fringe. Fr...
Category

20th Century Unknown Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Napoleon III Folding Chair
Located in New York, NY
More sculpture than furniture, this finely-carved 1860s folding chair has a gilded and gessoed wood frame, and the original cut-silk-velvet upholstery material that was woven to fit....
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Related Items
Antique French Louis Philippe Gold Bronze and Rosewood Parlor Chair, circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis Philippe gold bronze and rosewood parlor chair with red and gold upholstery, Circa 1880.
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Bronze

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 Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

19th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Three-Piece "Duchesse Brisee"
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful antique fruitwood "Duchesse Brisee" (French for broken duchess), or chaise, was crafted in Provence, circa 1890. The set is made up of two armchairs (his and hers), an...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Walnut, Fabric

Two Napoleon III Caned Beech Chairs, French, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Two french chairs Napoleon III, made circa 1880. Beech and cane in faux-bambou style. Antique, late 19th century. Sound and solid. Shipping: L42 / H 89 / P 55 cm 13 kg.
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Cane, Beech

French 19th Century Duchesse Brisee
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 19th century Duchesse Brisee. Dimensions of the large bergere is 28'' W x 32'' D x 39'' H Dimensions of the ottoman is 28'' W x 17'' H Dimensions of the small bergere...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Giltwood

Pair of 19th Century Napoleon III Opera Chairs in Ebonized Wood
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A gorgeous pair of 19th century Napoleon III opera chairs in ebonised wood, each with a wonderfully ornate spindle back and a gilded decoration of flowers and foliage on the top rail...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Napoleon III Opera Chairs in Ebonized Wood
Pair of 19th Century Napoleon III Opera Chairs in Ebonized Wood
No Reserve
H 33.86 in W 16.93 in D 15.75 in
Napoleon III 19th Century French Chaise Longue
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This elegant French Napoleon III chaise longue is a timeless classic. Its sophisticated "chapeau de gendarme" shape is one of its most distinctive features, evoking a sense of regal sophistication. The chaise longue has the original upholstery. Although sold as-is, the option for custom upholstery services is available upon request, ensuring this stunning piece can be adapted to any individual taste or style. Bring an air of 19th century French elegance to your space with this exceptional Napoleon III chaise longue. We have only restored the wooden part, polished the feet with shellac. Sold as is. We always recommend upholstering vintage seats...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Beech

Original Hand Carved and Blackened Reclaimed Oak Sculptural Accent or Side Chair
Located in New York, NY
This hand-carved and blackened reclaimed oak chair, designed by Rooms Studio (from their 2018 Wild Minimalism collection), is inspired by the legacy of traditional Georgian craftsmanship. The Sculptural Chair is meticulously handcrafted of ancient wood, and features a diamond shape cut-out on the top rail, which is curved gently, cradling the back, with a round seat and circular cross stretcher. About the Design Studio: Works of Rooms Studio refers to the sculptural forms and abundant materials in juxtaposition with the feminine instincts. Born and raised in Tbilisi, Georgia, the duo behind the Rooms, Nata Janberidze and Keti Toloraia, lean towards preserving the inherited craftsmanship techniques unique to the region. Massive wood and stone objects are hand-crafted using traditional techniques to create raw and symbolic forms often rooted in the designers' childhood memories. Growing up in a culturally diverse environment, where the two worlds - Western and Eastern collide, remarkably influenced their design language. Over the years, Rooms has created eight independent collections and collaborations equally memorable and representative of the duo's perpetual mission to bring life to omitted elements of a former life. Through their series of works, Janberidze and Toloraia try to examine the boundaries between the public and private. Experiencing adolescent years in the 90s - a significant decade of cultural and societal shifts - their work is a narrative of personal experiences of womanhood. By contrasting the new feminine monumental shapes with architectural brutality, Rooms challenges the status quo and also bridges the conventional and contemporary design with a confluence of female energy. The work of Rooms Studio has concerned itself with questions of nomenclature since the Tbilisi-based design atelier was co-founded by Nata Janberidze and Keti Toloraia in 2007. Take, for instance, the studio’s name: in adopting the basic unit of interior space as the title of their practice, Janberidze and Toloraia also emphasized the emotional force of interiority and inner life in determining their creative output. The studio’s largest U.S. exhibition to date, "Distant Symphony," expands upon this impulse to focus inward. The title is again a chief concern—some of the objects included here were designed during the global pandemic, under a regime of forced isolation that made the studio’s typically collective work process untenable. The pieces shown here are the results of Rooms’ search for a way forward. The first room, an antechamber of sorts, evokes the intimate quality of a private home. Shown here are trinkets and personal effects chosen by Janberidze and Toloraia for their emotive qualities; a low background noise emphasizes the climate of urban domesticity. The ensuing gallery space features highlights of Rooms’ recent design output. Here, the subtle scent of organic materials provides a sensory indication of the atelier’s interest in dichotomies: natural and man-made, personal and collective, local and cosmopolitan.   In light of the global circumstances, Janberidze and Toloraia felt it was especially important to pursue collaborative work. Rooms invited three artists—Shotiko Aptsiauri, Salome Chigalashvili and Mariana Chkonia—to conduct a dialogue and shared design process. As such, this exhibition is a kind of polyphonic meditation on a need for solitude and desire for companionship. The practice of polyphonic singing, essential to Georgian folk culture, is reinterpreted here as a design endeavor. Chigilashvili, working with unprocessed yarn, interpreted folk motifs by adapting embroidery to the scale of furniture with expansive stitches applied to painted boards...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Oak, Reclaimed Wood, Wood

Handcrafted Matrice Chair in Gold Steel and Blue Velvet
Located in MONTROZIER, FR
Matrice side chair is a steel corset compressing a velvet fleece, an organic, carnal form, compressed by a wire mesh. The interaction of two antagonistic materials reminds us of the poetry of blown glass, the bodice on the waist, the imprint left on the body by the wicker chairs. We tried to give the seat a feeling of comfort, both visually and in its use. The iconic Chesterfield sofa quickly became a reference to be summoned. Matrice is a reinterpretation, a sensitive statement of its imprint: the upholstery here is turned over like a glove, revealing the wire mesh structure. The latter forms a corset compressing the softness of the seat and backrest to give it an organic geometry. Matrice is customizable on demand (colors of steel and fabrics, other fabrics), modular in chair or multi-seater bench, and each piece is numbered. This handcrafted chair...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Steel, Metal

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Duchesse Brisée
Located in Charleston, SC
19th century French duchesse Brisée armchair with accompanying footstool in Louis XV style, the seat with slightly concave back, oak back rail with central carved rosette. Both the c...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Linen, Oak, Paint

French Antique Duchesse Brisée or Lounge Chair and Ottoman Original Unrestored
Located in Chicago, IL
French Antique Duchesse Brisée, sort of. This particular French chair and ottoman have been together for decades, but were not born at the same...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Stamped early 18th Century Louis XVI Duchesse Brisee Longue Chair French Bergère
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Extremely rare French Louis XVI Duchesse Brisee (Chaise Longue or Lounge chair) by Nicolas-Jean Marchand, circa 1730s. Beautifully hand carved oak wood, newly restored and reupholstered with Casamance blue velvet fabric. Both chairs are signed (Estampillee) by Marchand at the bottom. Nicolas-Jean Marchand was a Louis XVI cabinetmaker well known for his furniture workshop in rue Saint-Nicolas. Marchand provided the King's court through Gilles Joubert...
Category

1730s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Oak

Previously Available Items
1860s French Wooden Armchair with Upholstered Seat and Back
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden armchair with upholstered seat and back produced in France circa 1860. High-backed and featuring detailed carvings in the apron and armrests, this plush armchair...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Hardwood

Napoleon III Slipper Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Napoleon III slipper chair recently covered in leopard velvet.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Wood

Napoleon III Slipper Chair
Napoleon III Slipper Chair
H 35.44 in W 19.69 in D 23.63 in
Late 19th Century French Bergère Upholstered in Schumacher Fabric
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th Century French Bergère upholstered in Schumacher Betty Chintz (178401) fabric with Charee Silk Stripe (60920) on the back of the chair and arms....
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

19th Century French Napoleon III Ebonized Bobbin Nursing Chair
Located in Birmingham, AL
19th century French Napoleon III ebonized bobbin nursing side chair circa 1850s, having a turned wooden bobbin frame with turned finials above an upholste...
Category

1850s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Oak

Chiavari Leopord Velvet Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Classic Italian brass Napoleon III style Chiavari chair newly upholstered in a luxurious Nobilis Leopord Velours.
Category

Mid-20th Century European Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Brass

Chiavari Leopord Velvet Chair
Chiavari Leopord Velvet Chair
H 37.25 in W 16 in D 16 in
Country French Napoleon III Period Ladder Back Prie Dieu or Prayer Chair
Located in Birmingham, AL
Country French Napoleon III period ladder back prie dieu or prayer chair handcrafted of walnut having the original velvet upholstery, circa 1...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Napoleon III Period Prie Dieu or Prayer Chair
Located in Birmingham, AL
19th century French Napoleon III period prie dieu or prayer chair handcrafted and carved of solid walnut in Lyon, circa 1880s. This beautiful...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Early French Napoleon III Stripped Chair
Located in Hastings, GB
French Napoleon III stripped back chair. Rare early 19th century bedroom / occasional chair. Giltwood cabriolet legs with original castors. The chair is stripped back ready for uphol...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Wood, Giltwood

Early French Napoleon III Stripped Chair
Early French Napoleon III Stripped Chair
H 29.53 in W 19.3 in D 23.63 in
Set of 4 Napoleon III Giltwood Side Chairs
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Set of 4 Napoleon III (Possibly Venetian), giltwood side chairs, late 19th century. These chairs have excellent original gilding with areas of touch up.
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Gold Leaf

Set of 4 Napoleon III Giltwood Side Chairs
Set of 4 Napoleon III Giltwood Side Chairs
H 39.75 in W 21 in D 23.5 in
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...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Napoleon III Style Petite Black Lacquer Tapestry Chair, France ON SALE
Located in Sofia, BG
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1808-1873) was Emperor of France from 1852-1870 under the name of Napoleon III. In a way, the artistic codes of the Napoleon III style — also called Second Empire style — were presented at the Exhibition of 1844, during the reign of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans. Ornamentation and decoration are the focus points of this period. There were plenty of high-quality furnishings and fabrics. Second Empire designers were renowned for their imposing interior designs. In a room, the focal points were the fireplace mantels, mirrors, candelabras, sconces and chandeliers. The decorative elements used, such as atlantes and caryatids, were synonymous with luxury. The Second Empire style can be summed up with in one word: abundance. There is an abundance of inspiration, a profusion of materials and a richness of decoration, made up of a generous mix of 17th and 18th century styles. This period is famous for its tortoiseshell and metal marquetry furniture in the style of André-Charles Boulle, Louis XV and Louis XVI-style living rooms, and Renaissance-Henri II-style dining rooms. The Second Empire style can be summed up with in one word: abundance. There is an abundance of inspiration, a profusion of materials and a richness of decoration, made up of a generous mix of 17th and 18th-century styles. This period is famous for its tortoiseshell and metal marquetry furniture in the style of André-Charles Boulle, Louis XV and Louis XVI-style living rooms, and Renaissance-Henri II-style dining rooms. The Louis XVI style or more precisely the furnishings made for Marie-Antoinette set the tone for the Second Empire interiors. The Empress Eugénie, who adored Marie-Antoinette, initiated the resurgence of Louis XVI-style elements such as flower-baskets and tied ribbons. The Louis XVI-Empress-style copied and was inspired by the works of Carlin, Weisweiler and Riesener and was presented to the public at the Universal Exhibition of 1867. Important names of the time include Bellangé, Beurdeley (Imperial warrant), Cremer, Dasson, Grohé, Diehl, Fourdinois (the Empress' Warrant), Linke and Sormani. The cabinetmaker Antoine Krieger created “meubles à mécanisme” (furniture with a special, sometimes secret mechanism) inspired by 18th century furniture. Small side tables on rollers were made as well as black lacquered...
Category

1890s French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Napoleon III Fauteuil, French Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Napoleon III Fauteuil, the French side chair is newly reupholstered in an antique hemp fabric, standing on four small hand carded waln...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Side Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Hemp, Walnut

Napoleon Iii side chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III side chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage side 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 side chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Portugal 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 side chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $712 and tops out at $17,753 while the average work can sell for $1,571.

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