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
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
$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
$554Sale 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
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
$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
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
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
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
$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
$3,272Sale Price|20% Off
Napoleon III Black Lacquer Piano Stool, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A Napoleon III black lacquer refinished piano stool from the 19th century, crafted from solid wood and upholstered in mustard velvet. A rare decorative gem. This tripod piano stool ...
Fabric, Walnut
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
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
$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
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
$1,692Sale 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
19th Century French Walnut Stool
Located in High Point, NC
19th century walnut stool from France with a wonderfully thick top which has a handle design cutout of the top and a multi-level beveled edge, following down to a lovely hand scallop...
Walnut
$7,345 / 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
$1,500
H 19.5 in Dm 15.5 in
19th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut and Leather Adjustable Piano Stool
Located in Dallas, TX
This carved antique fruitwood stool was created in Provence, France circa 1880. Standing on cabriole legs ending with escargot feet, the piano seating is decorated with floral motifs...
Walnut, Leather
19th Century, French, Pine Wood Stool
Located in IT
19th Century French pine wood stool found in the South of France.
Pine
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
Midcentury Oak Stool with Turned Wood Legs, 1960s, France
By Charles Dudouyt, Charlotte Perriand
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Introducing a fantastic midcentury wooden stool, crafted in France during the 1960s. This piece is constructed without the use of hardware, boasting an elegant round seat and gracefu...
Oak
French 19th Century Louis XVI Walnut Stool / Upholstery Seat
Located in Carmine, TX
An elegant French Louis XVI walnut stool dating to the 19th century, featuring a finely carved circular frame with fluted, tapered legs and classic neoclassical detailing. The genero...
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
Late Victorian Dark Walnut Piano Stool with Sheet Compartment
Located in Germantown, MD
A late Victorian Walnut Piano Stool featuring a lift-up seat that reveals a built-in compartment for storing sheet music. It is characterized by its darl walnut wood construction and...
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century French Walnut Upholstered Stool
Located in High Point, NC
19th century walnut stool from France with newly upholstered seat in linen. This stool is lovely! The seat has Benn newly upholstered in linen and finished with single welt decorat...
Linen, Walnut
French 19th Century Empire Style Walnut Stool / Upholstery Seat
Located in Carmine, TX
A handsome French 19th-century Empire stool crafted in richly figured walnut, featuring elegant curved X-form supports joined by a turned stretcher. The generously upholstered seat p...
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
$944Sale Price|58% Off
H 19.69 in W 32.29 in D 14.57 in
19th Century French Régence Style Walnut Piano Bench or Stool
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very pretty 19th century Régence style piano stool in polished walnut, its padded cushion upholstered in a delicate needlepoint tapestry featuring a design of rosebuds and leaf spr...
Upholstery, Walnut
French 19th Century Louis XVI Walnut Stool / Upholstery Seat
Located in Carmine, TX
A charming 19th-century French Louis XVI Revival stool crafted in walnut, featuring elegant turned and fluted legs joined by a shaped H-stretcher for added stability. The generously ...
Upholstery, Walnut
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
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
Sold
H 13.78 in W 36.23 in D 36.23 in
Antique French 19th C Mustard Velvet Napoleon III Stool or Foot Bench
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Delight in the charm of this French 19th-century Napoleon III style stool or foot bench, featuring an elegant mustard velvet upholstery. The vintage velvet upholstery has been clean...
Cotton, Velvet
Antique French 19th C Napoleon III Style Stool or Foot Bench
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Refined 19th Century Napoleon III Style Stool or Foot Bench with a distinctive blue linen upholstery, ca. 1880. This exquisite stool serves as a comfortable complement to any sofa, ...
Linen, Wood