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.
$2,895 / set
Pair of 19th Century French Upholstered Stools
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century oak stools from France with newly upholstered tops. The seats are newly upholstered in linen and have nail head trim decoration. The frames of the stools are...
Abalone, Oak
$3,695 / set
Pair of 19th Century Turned French Stools
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century oak stools from France with newly upholstered tops in linen finished with a single welt. The frames have hand-turned barley twist legs, joined by matching stretc...
Linen, Oak
$1,295 / set
Pair of French Turned Stools
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of turned oak stools from France, circa 1900. The seats have beveled edges and follows down to simple aprons and hand turned splayed legs, joined by simple stretchers with mold...
Oak
Antique Giltwood Napoleon 111 Style Rope and Tassel French Stool
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Napoleon 111 Style Carved Giltwood Rope=Twist Stool. This piece was highly popular in the late 19th Century. Heavily inspired by A.M.E.Fournier, a renowned Parisian House. Th...
Giltwood
Modern Sculptural Stool with Twisted Rope Base after AME Fournier 21st Century
Located in Troy, MI
Sculptural rope leg stool by Ballard Designs 21st Century production A modern adaptation of the 19th Century Napoleon III tabouret stool by A.M.E. Fournier Twisted and knotted rope ...
Linen, Beech
$3,400
Napoleon III Stool
Located in Chireno, TX
Napoleon III stool, circa 1870-1889: ebonized frame newly covered in white linen. Note: Regional differences in humidity and climate during shipping may cause antique and vintage wood...
Linen, Wood
$536Sale Price|41% Off
Napoleon III Walnut Piano Stool French, circa 1880
Located in Labrit, Landes
Piano stool height-adjustable to be recovered. Circa 1880, French, of the period Napoleon III Good condition. Shipping: L35 P35 H49 7,2 kg.
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair French Napoleon III Style Rope Twist Upholstered Stools / Ottomans
Located in New York, NY
Pair of finely crafted button-back upholstered stools in the French Napoleon III style with rope twist gilt wooden frames each measuring 25 inches across and 19 inches tall.
Wood
Antique Napoleon III Stool, Upholstered Walnut, France, Circa 1880
Located in Schwerin, MV
Victorian solid wood three-legged stool, upholstered, antique. The stool stands on 3 intricately turned wooden legs that are connected at the bottom. It has a padded, crescent-shaped...
Organic Material, Wood
French Napoleon III Style Faux Rope Stool or Ottoman by Cugini Lanzani
Located in Plainview, NY
French Napoleon III Style Faux Rope Stool or Ottoman by Cugini Lanzani This French Napoleon III style stool by Cugini Lanzani features an exquisite, hand-carved wooden frame meticul...
Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century French Oak Tripod Stool
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century carved oak tripod stool from France. the top has a beveled and hand carved edge surrounding a hand carved seat. the seat sits upon three hand turned barley twist ...
Oak
19th Century French Oak Turned Stool
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak stool from France. The seat has a wide molded edge, surrounding a banded seat with a handle I the center for easy portability. The seat measures 12.88 inches x 12....
Oak
19th Century French Shoe Shine Stool, Solid Walnut, Circa 1850-1870
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French shoe shine stool made of solid walnut. The upholstered seat opens to a felt lined interior for storing polish and brushes. Small...
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century Napoleon III Piano Stool with Mustard Velvet Upholstery
Located in Lisbon, PT
A Napoleon III piano stool from the 19th century, crafted from solid wood and upholstered in mustard velvet. A rare decorative gem. This tripod piano stool embodies the elegance and...
Upholstery, Chestnut
Tabouret, 19th. century, Napoleon III
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Elegant Napoleon III tabouret featuring a hand-carved giltwood frame. The upholstered, tufted (buttoned) seat appears to have been reupholstered at some point in the past, while reta...
Fabric, Giltwood
19th Century Oak Stool, Leather Upholstery, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century oak stool, leather upholstery, Napoleon III period. 19th century oak stool, leather upholstery, Napoleon III period. Dimensions : H: 38cm, W: 73cm, D: 43cm Contact us...
Leather, Oak
$1,636Sale Price|20% Off
Children's Stool in the Style of Thonet, circa 1880
By Thonet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Children's stool in the style of Thonet, circa 1880.
Cane, Beech
$6,300 / set
Pair of Walnut French Napoleon III Style Stools
Located in New York, NY
Pair of walnut French Napoleon III style stools /ottomans. Upholstered in a linen-blend.
Linen, Walnut
20th Century Napoleon III Style Lacquered Rope Twist Upholstered Tabouret
Located in Dallas, TX
Napoleon III style stool or ottoman with twisted rope design after the model by A.M.E. Fournier, circa 20th century. Lacquered, the piece has a fabric circular seat on rope-twist molded seat-rails on knotted rope legs...
Upholstery, Wood
Perriand Style Tripod Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic wood stool from France in the style of Charlotte Perriand. Made in the 1960s with three legs. No hardware. Good vintage condition.
Wood
Low Stained Pine Milking Stool, 21st C.
Located in New York City, NY
Two available; priced individually. Small stools with great character. Newly produced.
Pine
Hexagonal Tripod Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stubby wooden hexagonal stool, made in France, circa 1950s. Thick seat with three rounded legs. No nails or hardware. Great lines and shape. Petite stoo...
Wood
$1,630Sale Price|20% Off
H 20.08 in W 29.14 in D 29.14 in
Fully Restored George III Style Hand Carved Bench Stool with Lion Hairy Paw Feet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this fully restored absolutely sublime George III style vintage hand carved mahogany bench stool A very well presented hand carved stool, each leg starts at the top with a lions main then flows downwards with elegant cabriolet legs and finishes with Lions hairy paw feet The timber has all been stripped back, stained and French polished, its in perfect order This piece is designed as a large dressing table...
Upholstery, Hardwood
$7,104 / item
H 18.12 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Jade Stool by Draga & Aurel Resin and Brass, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Jade stool features ethereal transparency and a reflective surface that plays naturally with light. The brightly colored seat rests on a cylindrical brass base, whose distinctive vei...
Brass
Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet leopard print upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, cha...
Velvet, Beech
Burgundy Vintage Stool, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet burgundy upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characte...
Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet Rope and Beech Stool, France 1950s
By Adrien Audoux and Frida Minnet
Located in Almelo, NL
A rare and highly collectible French mid-century stool by Adrien Audoux & Frida Minet, featuring a beautifully handwoven rope seat on a sculptural beech tripod base. An iconic exampl...
Rope, Beech
Hollywood Regency Gilt Rope & Tassel Vanity Stool in Leopard Velvet
By Dorothy Draper, Niccolini, Napoléon III
Located in Saint Louis, MO
1960s Italian gilt iron rope and tassel Hollywood Regency vanity stool newly professionally reupholstered in leopard velvet. This sexy vanity stool has been well cared for with a sturdy gilded metal frame in its original gilt finish. Pill box style seat cushion as per original design. Golden metal frame is sturdy and features original gilt finish. Leopard velvet infuses sultry organic forms that add depth and compliment the golden frame. Black piping highlights the black points in the fabric and contrasts the gilt frame. The sort of rope and tassel furniture...
Iron
Pair of 19th Century Italian Upholstered X-frame Stools
Located in London, GB
Pair of 19th century Italian upholstered X-frame stools Italian, c. 1840 Height 53cm, width 49cm, depth 40cm This pair of refined stools features a plush, upholstered seat and an el...
Textile, Upholstery, Walnut
Hollywood Regency Gilt Iron Rope & Tassel Vanity Stool in Chic Leopard Velvet
By Napoléon III, Niccolini, Dorothy Draper
Located in Saint Louis, MO
1960s Italian gilt iron rope and tassel Hollywood Regency stool fully professionally restored with new leopard velvet upholstery and seat cushion. Incredibly sturdy and impressively well made of iron, this Napoleon III style rope and tassel stool was likely made by Italian designer Niccolini but is unmarked as were most of his pieces. The sort of rope and tassel furniture...
Iron
Italian Neoclassical X-Form Stool
Located in Sheffield, MA
An elegant Italian neoclassical X-form stool painted Ivory and decorated with giltwood floral and vegetal ornaments. The stool has upholstered seat covered in paisley design fabric. ...
Wood
Louis XIV style giltwood stool
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XIV Style giltwood Stool with foliage baluster feet joined by stretchers with Acanthus leaves Upholstered with a white Coton. Can be recovered with customer own fabric on request
Wood
Pair of French Brutalist tripod stools, 1950s
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A rare pair of French Brutalist-style tripod stools, crafted from solid wood and featuring a particularly expressive, sculptural aesthetic. Each stool consists of a thick wooden sea...
Walnut
Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet leopard print upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, cha...
Velvet
1900-1909 France Warm Mustard Gold Carved Ebonized Bench
Located in High Point, NC
Carved ebonized bench in Warm Mustard Gold. The warm mustard gold surface highlights turned legs, mustard gold upholstered seat, characteristic of France furniture making in the napo...
Wood
19th Century Mustard Wood Napoleon III Adjustable Piano Stool
Located in High Point, NC
This piece presents as a piano/vanity stool, distinguished by turned wood legs, mustard/gold velvet tufted top. Originating in France during 19th Century, it shows the construction t...
Fabric, Wood
19th Century Mustard Wood Napoleon III Adjustable Piano Stool
Located in High Point, NC
This piece presents as a piano/vanity stool, distinguished by turned wood legs, mustard/gold velvet tufted top. Originating in France during 19th Century, it shows the construction t...
Fabric, Wood
Napoleon III Style Bamboo Foot Stool
Located in Astoria, NY
Napoleon III Style Bamboo Foot Stool, with leopard print upholstery. 19.5" H x 19" W x 18.5" D. Provenance: From a New York City Estate.
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of 19th Century French Walnut Upholstered Stools
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century walnut stools from France with newly upholstered seats in linen, and finished with a single welt. The seats are supported on lovely walnut frames, which have wo...
Linen, Walnut
1880s French Napoleon III Gilt Faux Bamboo Stool Gold Carved Wood
Located in High Point, NC
This charming 1880s French Napoléon III gilt faux bamboo stool exemplifies the period’s fascination with exoticism and decorative refinement. Crafted in carved wood and finished in a...
Faux Bamboo, Giltwood
Late 19th Century Pair of French Walnut Stools
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century pair of French walnut stools with rush seats. The seats are hand-woven from rush, and are supported on gorgeous walnut frames with hand turned legs, joined by sim...
Rush, Walnut
Antique Upholstered Piano Chair from France, circa 1880
Located in Schwerin, MV
Antique French Piano Stool, Swivel Stool - Napoleon III, circa 1880 Discover the charm and elegance of this antique French piano stool: The stool...
Metal
A French Belle Époque Curule Stool circa 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A French Belle Époque Curule Stool with armrests Gilded wood richly carved with scrolls, shells and acanthus leaves Red damask upholstery in perfect condition Louis XV Style Circ...
Silk, Giltwood
Pair of 19th Century French Walnut Stools
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of lovely turned 19th century walnut stools from France. The seats have been newly upholstered in linen and finished with a single welt, for added design interest. The seats a...
Linen, Walnut
Sold
H 44.25 in W 21.5 in D 24.5 in
Theodore Alexander Bar Stools Napoleon III Mahogany Scoop Back Brown Leather
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Theodore Alexander bar stools Inspired by Napoleon III and Louis XV styling. Features a hand carved mahogany scoop back, a padded brown/co...
Leather, Mahogany
French 19th Century Mahogany and Velvet Footstool
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French mahogany and velvet-upholstered Campaign footstool made in the 1800’s with modern appeal to use anywhere around the home. This comfortable seat is wrapped in a chartreuse ve...
Textile, Mahogany
Antique Piano Chair, 1880
Located in Schwerin, MV
Antique piano stool - hand-turned swivel stool, around 1880. This exquisite piano stool from the Napoleon III era combines historical elegance with o...
Metal
Sold
H 44.5 in W 25 in D 21.5 in
3 Theodore Alexander Napoleon III Mahogany Scoop Back Red Leather Bar Stool
Located in Dayton, OH
Set of 3 An Evening At Ease by Theodore Alexander. Inspired by Napoleon III and Louis XV styling. Features a hand carved mahogany scoop back, a padded red leather upholstered seat,...
Brass
Napoleon III Giltwood Bamboo Silk Velvet Stool
Located in Houston, TX
Napoleon III gilt bamboo stool newly upholstered in a verde green striated silk velvet with loose down feather seat cushion.
Silk, Velvet, Bamboo