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
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.
Category
1950s Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Linen, Walnut
$6,300 / set
Napoleon III Style Wingback Chairs Pair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below.
Shipping Quote Information
The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Mahogany, Cotton
$2,771 Sale Price / set
25% Off
Officer's Armchair, Maison Pardon Paris, 19ème
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Rare officer's armchair signed by Maison Pardon in Paris, France 1820-1830. This armchair, originally used by Napoleon Bonaparte's officers, is made of riveted and welded metal. It h...
Category
1820s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Metal, Brass
French Scrolled Back Napoleon III Slipper Chair with Fringe
Located in Buchanan, NY
This lovely 19th century French Napoleon III slipper chair features a gracefully scrolled back, and has been upholstered in an elegant fabric with an abstract leafy design with birds...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery
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
$13,200 / set
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
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
French 19th Century Armchair in Distressed Purple Velvet with White Braided Trim
Located in Buchanan, NY
A captivating French 19th century distressed purple velvet armchair. Crafted in 19th century France, in the distinctive Napoleon III style, this armchair is elegant and timeless. It ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery
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.
H: 38cm, W: 73cm, D: 43cm
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Leather, Oak
C19th Napoleon III Ebonised Cane Seat Armchairs (Sold Separately, Four Available
Located in London, GB
C19th Napoleon III ebonised cane seat armchairs (sold separately, four available).
Striking French Gothic Revival chairs with turned legs, stretchers, armrests and carved back. In v...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Cane, Beech
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
$1,454 Sale Price
20% Off
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
1950-1970 Pair of Stools Gilded Brass Style Rope in the Style of Maison Baguès
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of stools in brass tray iron, amounts in the shape of rope with spacer and node, circa 1950-1970, Good condition.
Category
1950s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Brass
20th Century Empire Style Napoleonic Swan Armchair
Located in Berlin, DE
Napoleonic pavilion armchair in Empire style.
Very exact fine-carved sculpture made of solid, blackened beechwood. Poliment gold-plated. Scratched frame on plastically carved legs e...
Category
20th Century French Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Original Napoleon III Armchair, Blackened
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Original Napoleon III armchair, blackened wood,
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood
Carved French Oak Salon Throne Chair, Original Pictorial Upholstery
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Carved French Oak Salon Throne Chair, Original Pictorial Upholstery
This lovely old High Back chair retains its original hand made pictorial fabric back rest, this is in muted sha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Oak
Antique French Napoleon III Carved Armchairs Newly Upholstered In Leather - Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Napoleon III Carved Armchairs Newly Upholstered in Deep-Red Distressed Italian Leather - Pair
Antique pair of Napoleon III period armchairs with curly frame and armr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Leather, 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
Rope Twist Napoleon III Style Suite Seating Armchair & Settee Chesterfield Sofa
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of Napoleon III style early 20th century Rope Twist seating
A stunning little suite, the armchairs come up for sale occasional...
Category
Early 20th Century English Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
$5,283 Sale Price / set
30% Off
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
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
2 Napoleon III Low Chairs, France, 1850s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
2 original Napoleon III low chairs, France, 1850s.
Price is for 1
2 are available
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Wood, Velvet
$1,418 / item
Napoleon 3 Style "Crapaud" Armchair, Covered with Satin, circa 1950, Baroque
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon 3 style "crapaud" armchair, covered with satin, circa 1950, baroque
and its footrest, all covered with yellow satin, slightly discolored satin, and small spots.
Category
1950s French Vintage Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Satin, 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
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
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 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
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
Jacob Et Josef Khon, 4 Fauteuils 101/f, circa 1902, Set of Four Napoleon III
By Thonet, J.&J. Khon 1
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Jacob Et Josef Khon, 4 Fauteuils 101/f, circa 1902,Set of four Napoleon III curved and blackened wood armchairs,
Original fabric.
Category
1880s Austrian Antique Napoleon III Seating
Materials
Bentwood
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 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
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
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.
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