Napoleon III Seating
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
Rare Suite Of 20 + 2 Gilded Wood Chairs, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Rare set of 20 gilded wooden and wood chairs, frame models (seats and backs), with lion paw-shaped front feet.
Seats and backs are covered with red fabric.
20 chairs as is, most of...
Category
19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Rare 19th Century Folding Chair in Gilt Wood, Napoleon III Period
Located in NICE, FR
We present you with this exquisite and original 19th century folding chair, crafted from carved and gilded wood as if to imitate a bamboo f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Bamboo
French Napoleon III Style Gilt Wood Knot Base Ottoman
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fantastic and very decorative French Pouf Ottoman with an intricate Gilt Wood Knotted Rope base. With good size and a high Cushion custom upholstered in a William Morris type Leaf ...
Category
20th Century Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Set of 4 of Turned & Carved Mahogany Burgundy Upholstered Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 French Empire-style (2nd quarter 19th Century) mahogany side chairs with turned back rails, a central back burgundy leather upholstered panel and seat with decorative brass ...
Category
20th Century French Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Brass
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....
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Oak
Napoleon III Stool
Located in Houston, 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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Linen, Wood
19th C French Armchair and Footstool in 'Fan Palm’ Fabric
Located in Hastings, GB
A beautiful 19th century French Napoleon lll armchair and footstool, upholstered in our exclusive Tropics 'Fan Palm' fabric.
This stunning Armchair and Footstool dating from around 1860, have been painstakingly covered in the luxurious Fan Palm fabric from our Tropics range, designed in-house. The Armchair and Footstool were made as a pair, the curved shaping on the front edge of the Armchair sits together perfectly with the curved shape of the footstool. The frame retains the roots of it's history, the patina of the turned mahogany legs bearing testament to its' 160 year life.
100% organic cotton gabardine, piped with designers guild 'Varese' grey velvet.
Dimensions:
Armchair 80cm width, 88cm height, 40cm seat height, seat depth 50cm
Footstool 67cm width/depth, 40cm height
The armchair and footstool are being sold as a set, the price is for the armchair and footstool, we cannot sell separately
All of our antique pieces have been especially hand picked by us and reupholstered in either our own exclusive luxury fabrics designed in house, or in a sumptuous fabric that has been exclusively chosen for the item. Ensuring that every piece from our Antiques Collection is a true one off that cannot be found anywhere else.
Our pieces of furniture are genuine antique/vintage pieces and therefore can have some signs of age related use or wear, this adds to the character and uniqueness of each of them. All of our hand picked antique furniture pieces...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cotton, Wood
19th Century French Antique Hand Carved Low Back Chair Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
French hand carved mahogany low back chair with tapestry upholstery decorated with Louis XV style flowers.
France, 1860
Napoleon III period.
Measures: 63 x 46 x 45 cm.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Mahogany
French Napoleon III Marquise Chair in Tropics "Leopard' Fabric
Located in Hastings, GB
Beautiful antique French Napoleon III marquise chair
This extremely rare 19th century antique French Napoleon III marquise chair, also affectionately...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cotton, Wood
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, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Linen, Wood
Napoleon III painted armchair, 19th c.
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armchair in black lacquered and painted wood with Japanese style decor, Napoleon III period. France, late 19th c.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Faux Rosewood Voltaire Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century French Voltaire Armchair with a faux rosewood painted finish. This imposing lounge chair has a wide well-sprung seat pad sitting on pl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Antique Pair of Napoleon III circa 1890 Bergere Armchairs & Matching Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of original circa 1890 Napoleon III Louis XVI style bergère armchairs with matching occasional table
These chairs come with ...
Category
1890s European Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Oak
Pair of French Upholstered Armchairs in Red Fabric
Located in Buchanan, NY
A striking pair of 19th century French Napoleon III armchairs. Skillfully crafted and luxuriously upholstered in a vivid red ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric
A Superb Pair of French Napoleon III Gilt Salon Chairs
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Superb Pair of French Napoleon III Gilt Salon Chairs
These Elegant Chairs have been re upholstered in a fine linen Toile de Jouy fabric, they have a deep serpentine shaped front a...
Category
1850s Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Giltwood
Royal Louis XV or Rococo Tapestry Sofa and Chairs, Gold, Napoleon III, 1880
Located in Berlin, DE
Louis XV tapestry / tapestry suite, Napoleon III, circa 1880.
Genuine gold leaf on solid wood. Hand-carved wooden body. Very old and decorative French sofa set...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Napoleon III Mustard Velvet Piano Stool, 19th Century
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
2 Original Napoleon III Chairs, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 Original Napoleon III Chairs, France, 1850s
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Beech
Pair of Napoleon III Carved and Paint Decorated Fauteuils
Located in Bridgeport, CT
In cream paint with a shaped crest rail with leafy finials, reeded arms with acanthus leaves and raised on tapering cylindrical reeded legs with floral tops. In a striped pink floral...
Category
19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Napoleon III Period Fireside Chair, Fully Restored
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Napoleon III period fireside chair, fully restored
this chair has been recently restored.
if the fabric does not please there is just the fabric to ch...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Walnut
19th century French Napoleon III Bamboo Style Chair, 1870s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very beautiful caned chair from the Napoleon III period in very good condition.
Beech structure imitating bamboo. Caned seat without damage.
Very elegant and light chair.
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cane, Beech
Pair of French Napoleon III High Back Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
High, curled back French Napoleon III chairs newly upholstered Cowtan and Tout cotton stripe.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Napoleon III Armchair, France Second Half of the 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A Napoleon III armchair on s-shaped legs with a curved frame. The high, rounded backrest as well as the seat and armrests are upholstered. The golden patinated frame is decorated wit...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Giltwood
Napoleon III chest bench in walnut, France, circa 1860
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Walnut chest bench, Napoleon III circa 1860.
Good condition.
Dimensions:
height 102 cm
width 135 cm
depth 45 cm
Seat dimensions: height 41 cm, width 111 cm, depth 35 cm
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Antique French Napolean 19th Century Ebonized Black and Ivory Salon Armchair
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning Napolean French salon armchair ebonized with ivory striped sild fabric as shown. Features brass mounts and nailheads and front legs have castors. Why not own the best?
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Brass
Napoleon III Chiavari Solid Wooden Hand-Crafted Gold Leaf Chairs, France, 1960
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of 50 chairs, sold by units. Napoleon style solid wooden hand-crafted chairs. With turned bars in the back and turned legs. Gold leaf finished.
Category
1960s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th Century French Hand Carved Wooden Piano Swivel Chair Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
Very delicate and rare hand carved wooden piano swivel chair made in mid 19th century during Napoleon III period. Having no restoration so far the chair i...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
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 Seating
Materials
Straw, Bentwood
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...
Category
20th Century Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Two Armchairs, Black Wood, Napoléon III Period - 2nd Half of the Nineteenth
Located in LES LILAS, FR
Two Armchairs in Black Wood, Napoléon III Period.
They go with a pretty bench.
Seat in excellent condition
Minor structural damages as you can see on the photos.
They are sold as...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Bentwood
Set of Four 19th Century Napoleon III Period Louis XIV Style Side Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of Four 19th Century Napoleon III Period Louis XIV Style Side Chairs is a superlative example of the revival of timeless French style and flair that occurred during the reign of ...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Fabric, Oak
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 Seating
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Napoleon III Faux Bamboo Chair, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon III faux bamboo chair, France, 1850s.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
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.
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cane, Beech
Original Napoleon III Armchair, Blackened Wood, Mother-of-pearl Inlay
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Original Napoleon III armchair, blackened wood, mother-of-pearl inlay.
Small lack of mother-of-pearl on an armrest.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Original Napoleon III Ebonized Chair, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Original Napoleon III ebonized chair, France, 1850s.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Rare Suite of 9 Napoleon III Period Chairs in Blackened Beech
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare suite of 9 Napoleon III period chairs in blackened beech.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Ottomans, Upholstered, Padded and Buttoned, Napoleon III Style
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Pair of French ottomans, upholstered, padded and buttoned, with separate top cushions, Napoleon III Style, often referred to as "Le Style Rothschild...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Damask
Pair of 19th Century French Louis V Style Fruitwood Armchairs
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of 19th century French Louis V Style Fruitwood and Cane armchairs.
Napoleon III Period circa 1860's
having the original brown leather on the arms
Category
Late 19th Century North American Antique Napoleon III Seating
Pair of Hand-Painted Napoleon III Chairs - France, 1880s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Exquisite pair of ebonized side chairs, hand-painted with a decor of birds, butterflies and foliage.
Original deep pink satin seat cover...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
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 Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Set of Four Painted and Gilt Napoleon III Fauteuils
Located in Washington, DC
A set of four painted and gilt napoleon III fauteuils, seat and back are reconditioned and covered with new cotton and silk fabric. Wonderful pat...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Pair of French Great Quality Black Leather 19th Century Armchairs
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A large and very comfortable pair of Napoleon III antique French library armchairs. Quality black leather and studded on the front & back edges,...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Brass
Rare and Original Rattan Lounge Chair, Napoleon III Period
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Rare and original rattan lounge chair, Napoleon III period
to be restored.
Slots, holes and gaps, the structure remains solid and stable.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Rattan
Pair of Antique French Napoleon Ebonized Oval Back Salon Chairs 19th Century
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant pair of oval back black ebonized chairs with ivory striped upholstery and stunning brass mounts and nailhead trim. Front legs have castors. Age appropriate wear which is to...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Armchair
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century Napoleon III armchair.
Category
19th Century Antique Napoleon III Seating
Napoleon Iii seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III seating 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 seating created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, more furniture and collectibles, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III seating 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 seating, popular names associated with this style include Bourgeois Boheme Atelier, J.&J. Khon, Aubusson Manufacture, and Baker Furniture Company. 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 seating differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $373 and tops out at $41,810 while the average work can sell for $3,247.