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.
19th Century French Napoleon III Ormolu & Marble Ebonized Cabinet Sideboard 1860
Located in Portland, OR
A splendid and extravagant 19th antique French ebonized and ormolu mounted marble top credenza sideboard cabinet, Napoleon III, circa 1860. This exquisite quality antique French cre...
Marble, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Napoleon III-style Boulle Marquetry Sideboard
Located in Beaune, FR
Stunning Napoleon III-era Boulle marquetry sideboard at counter height, in very good condition. The sideboard is richly adorned with chiseled gilded bronze and features a single door...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Dessert Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak dessert buffet from France. The top is banded and has a beveled and hand carved decorated edge. The top then lifts to reveal a marble serving surface, which is hel...
Marble
19th Century Italian Bird’s-Eye Maple Chest of Drawers Commode
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning fine quality antique, circa 1860s/1870s Italian chest of drawers commode. Hand-crafted in Italy in the third quarter of the 19th century, influenced by Napoleon III Se...
Carrara Marble, Brass
19th Century French Dessert Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak dessert buffet from France with a banded edge around the top , which also features a beveled and hand carved decorated edge. The top li...
Oak
Imposant buffet deux corps/bibliothèque en chêne massif et noyer Napoléon III
Located in TOURCOING, FR
Imposant buffet deux corps/bibliothèque en chêne massif et noyer d'époque Napoléon III
Oak, Walnut
$13,300
French Oak Enfilade
Located in Woodbury, CT
French oak enfilade with three-plank top, breadboard ends and thumb moulded edge over three drawers and three paneled doors. Robust carved doors se...
Oak
19th Century French Dessert Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak dessert buffet from France with a lovely detailed hand carved and scalloped backsplash, over three shelves. The top is wonderfully grai...
Oak
Napoléon III Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Buffet by Maison Grohé, circa 1860
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A large and impressive Napoléon III gilt-bronze mounted mahogany buffet with a rouge marble top, by Maison Grohé. French, circa 1860. Stamped twice...
Bronze
Important Pair of Napoleon III Dressers with Hunting Decor
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Important pair of Napoleon III dressers with hunting decor.
Wood, Amboyna
French Napoleon III Buffet Cabinet with Its Original Marble Top, circa 1820
Located in East Point, GA
A French Napoleon III buffet, with its original marble top, from the early 19th century. This antique console from France, circa 1820's, features its original marble top over a case which houses a single drawer at top, over a pair of doors (with right door fitted with a single wreath shaped brass escutcheon), and flanked within column form front side posts with decorative brass capitals. The doors open to reveal a single shelf within and plentiful storage. The skirt is clean and linear, with sides having a recessed panel design each. The cabinet is raised on thickly rounded front legs...
Marble
French Two-Door Fruitwood Buffet
Located in Woodbury, CT
Two drawers over two shaped and recessed panel doors are the traditional arrangement for buffets and this one doesn’t disappoint. Even more delightful is the fact that the scalloped ...
Fruitwood
Ebonized Inlay Credenza, English, Circa 1850, Napoleon III Style
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A spectacular cabinet/credenza from England circa 1850, displaying many of the audacious characteristics as the Third Empire style of France within the same time period. Presented in...
Brass
Antique French Napoleon III Buffet Vitrine, Marble Top
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Antique French Napoleon III style buffet vitrine topped with a black marble. Three doors with adjustable shelf, three dovetailed drawers and two keys, one for drawers and one for doo...
Marble
19th Century Carved Oak Dessert Buffet From France
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak dessert buffet from France. On the top there is a glorious hand carved backsplash and four hand carved crown finials. There are three shelves, all with carved front ...
Oak
Large French Buffet, 19th Century, Carved Fruitwood and Marble Top
Located in Madrid, ES
Large French Buffet, 19th Century Carved fruitwood and marble top Dimensions: 260 x 150 x 65 cm Impressive 19th-century French historicist-style buffet, crafted from finely carved f...
Fruitwood
Monbro - Important Meuble D'appui Napoleon III
Located in BARSAC, FR
Georges Alphonse Bonifacio Monbro (1807, 1884) known as MONBRO AINE Exceptional harmoniously curved meuble d'appui with moving shapes opening two large doors with geometric marquetry...
Bronze
High buffet In Marquetry, Napoleon III, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Beautiful sideboard at support height in marquetry of different types of diamond-shaped wood, with rich gilded bronze ornamentation and a Wedgewood p...
Marble, Bronze
French Louis XVI st. Napoleon III Period Tulipwood and Marble buffet/cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Napoleon III Period Tulipwood and Marble buffet/cabinet. This exceptional single door cabinet is raised on a bombee shap...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
$4,886Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Walnut Buffet with Carrara Marble
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Napoleon III period walnut buffet with carrara marble reflects a fascinating period in French history when all the styles were revived, including the timeless neo...
Carrara Marble
Near Pair of Mahogany Consoles Dessertes by Maison Grohé, French, circa 1860
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A near pair of mahogany consoles Dessertes with exceptional gilt bronze Ram’s Head Mounts, by Maison Grohé. Stamped ‘GROHÉ / A PARIS’. Grohé, Guill...
Bronze
$5,200
H 67.5 in W 61.5 in D 24.38 in
19th Century Napoleon III Ebonized Cabinet, Hand-Carved Wood, France
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A magnificent cabinet from 19th century France (Napoleon III) carved with a paneled design, architectural and Neoclassical elements over the ebonized exterior which enhances the magn...
Brass
French 19th Century Louis XV Painted Buffet a Deux Corps
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This 19th-century French buffet a deux corps is elegant in design and made playful by its more recent powder blue paint color. It is crafted in the Louis XV style, which comes throu...
Brass
$58,450Sale Price|22% Off
H 36.25 in W 70.38 in D 25.88 in
French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany Ormolu-Mounted Commode
By Léon Kann
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French palatial 19th-20th century Louis XVI style mahogany and ormolu-mounted "Marie Antoinette Style" medallion commode with a Fleur de Pêche marble top, after a model by Ben...
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Painted Buffet
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Early 19th century French painted buffet with three drawers above two shaped doors. 1820. Code: 8655 Dimensions: W: 65" (165.1 cm) H: 40...
Oak
$4,600
H 41.75 in W 87.25 in D 21.25 in
French 19th Century Empire Flame Mahogany Marble Top Sideboard / Buffet
Located in Carmine, TX
Spectacular French antique Empire sideboard made of flam mahogany, The wood has been finished with a lustrous French polish outside and inside. the buffet has threes drawers over Fou...
Marble, Bronze
$3,638
H 39.38 in W 52.76 in D 23.63 in
19th Century Italian Charles X Walnut Chest Of Drawers / Commode
Located in Viterbo, VT
Chest of drawers handmade in Italy in the early 1800s using walnut. The chest shows beautiful lines and proportions as well as fantastic character accumulated over the years. The thr...
Walnut
19th C French Provincial Oak Buffet a Deux Corps
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This antique French Provincial buffet deux corps is a classic piece crafted from solid oak with dovetail drawers and a 1.25" drawer box. It features original working locking key, and...
Oak
$2,295
H 51 in W 42.5 in D 21 in
Early 19th Century Red Painted and Bird's-Eye Maple Chest of Drawers from Maine
By L.Sprat, Bridgton 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th century high country original red painted chest of drawers from Bridgton, Maine. The construction is the very best with dovetailed drawer...
Wood
Early 19th Century French Marble Top Buffet
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Large 19th Century French original painted two-door buffet. With a marble top, inside the two large doors is a shelved interior and two shallow drawers. Circa 1810. With restoration.
Marble
Italian 18th Century Commode A' Portes
Located in Round Top, TX
A very elegant mid-18th century Buffet - Commode A Portes from Northern Italy. Beautifully constructed from painted wood with molded panels to the 2 doors and sides, an interior sli...
Wood
Buffet A Deux Corps
Located in Washington, DC
Louis XVI painted greyish/green buffet a deux corps
Wood, Paint
$3,695
H 38.98 in W 49.22 in D 22.05 in
19th Century Italian Walnut Carlo X Chest Of Drawers / Commode / Dresser
Located in Viterbo, VT
Chest of drawers hand-crafted in central Italy in the early 1800s using walnut and decorated with book-matched walnut veneer and fruitwood inlay. The chest features five inset drawer...
Walnut, Fruitwood
19th Century French Renaissance Hunt Vaisselier Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Renaissance Hunt Vaisselier Buffet was artistically sculpted to celebrate the bounty of the earth, and perform a display, serving...
Oak
Buffet - 19th Century
Located in Porto, PT
Buffet - 19th Century. Portuguese, 19th century; made of chestnut wood; turned legs and beams. Gilded copper hardware and fittings. With two drawers simulating four. Dimensions: 80x1...
Wood
Painted Buffet Deux-Corps from Normandy
Located in Vista, CA
Cabinet doors and cornice present a scroll theme, ending in a simple plinth with central circular designs. The top glass front cabinet contains two shaped wood shelves to beautifull...
Glass, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 63.78 in W 36.23 in D 21.26 in
Napoleon III bonheur du jour secretary desk in wood and marquetry
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large Napoleon III "bonheur du jour" secretary desk. The structure is made of solid wood and ebonized veneer. The upper section features two hinged doors opening onto shelves, while ...
Wood, Ivory, Tortoise Shell
Sold
H 40.56 in W 31.89 in D 14.97 in
Napoleon III Buffet, Restored Wood with Brass & Marble Accents, France
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Dresse d'appui Napoléon III ouvrant à une porte. Ce meuble restauré présente un décor de rubans torsadés faits de laiton, palissandre et nacre dans un fond de poirier noirci. Les qua...
Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass
Large Carved Oak Sideboard, Napoleon III Style
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This large oak sideboard in the Napoleon III style features an architectural structure and richly detailed carved decoration. The upper section includes four glazed doors framed by f...
Oak
Sold
H 42.13 in W 33.08 in D 17.33 in
French Napoleon III Cabinet Buffet Entrée Black Ormolu, Belgian Black Marble
By Napoléon III
Located in Valladolid, ES
Amazing and unique French Napoleon III Entrée, 19th century. High corpuscular leather in polished ebony veneer over solid softwood. The front is articulated with a wide door centered...
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu
Sold
H 37.25 in W 65.25 in D 14 in
Antique French Napoleon III Ebony Ormolu Marble Sevres Porcelain Credenza 1860
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique French Napoleon III burl inlaid with a marble top and ormolu mounted credenza/cabinet, inset with a Sevres porcelain portrait ...
Ormolu
Sold
H 31.5 in W 51.97 in D 20.87 in
Napoleon III Style French Buffet Chest of drawers wood bronze black marble
Located in Valladolid, ES
Outstanding and one of a kind French Napoleon III style sideboard in exotic and precious woods such as rosewood. Counter top in black marble and bronze throughout its presentation. I...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 146.86 in W 153.55 in D 29.93 in
19th Century Monumental Carved Walnut Mirrored French Buffet by Guéret Frères
By Guéret Frères
Located in Baambrugge, NL
An important and monumental-sized carved Walnut mirrored French buffet by Guéret Frères, Rue Lafayette 216, Paris. Napoleon III style, between 1870 and 1877. Renowned for their exqu...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 31.5 in W 51.97 in D 20.87 in
Napoleon III Style French Buffet Chest of drawers wood bronze black marble
Located in Valladolid, ES
Spectacular and one of a kind French Napoleon III style sideboard in exotic and precious woods such as rosewood. Counter top in black marble and bronze throughout its presentation. I...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Oak Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak buffet from France. The top is banded and has a beveled and hand carved decorated edge, following down to paneled sides, which...
Oak
19th Century French Dessert Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak dessert buffet from France. the top is banded and has a beveled and hand carved edge, following down to paneled and hand carved decorated aprons on the sides and two drawers in the same style in the front of the piece. The drawers have hand carved handles in the form of branches for added design interest. There are two lower shelves, with carved and decorated edges, separated by hand turned barley twist shelf...
Oak
19th Century French Dessert Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak dessert buffet from France. The top is banded and has a beveled and carved decorated edge around the top in a nulled pattern. The top lifts to reveal a marble surface for serving which remains open with a scalloped bracket. The top follows down to paneled sides and two drawers in the front with hand carved decorated drawer fronts. The piece has two lower shelves, separated by hand turned barley twist shelf...
Marble
19th Century French Renaissance Revival Walnut Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Renaissance Revival Walnut Buffet is a masterpiece of the artisans around the environs of Paris who strove...
Brass
Black Double Buffet Cabinet, Napoleon III, France, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Rare Buffet cabinet Two pieces in Boule Marquetry in Napoleon III style. Cupboard, four doors decorated with brass Boulle marquetry, with a character motif surrounded by vaults and foliage, reproduced on each of the doors. Rich ornamentation of gilded bronzes with lion head drops at the top and flat drops at the bottom, multiple ingot molds, spandrels framing...
Marble, Bronze, Brass
Antique French Napoleon III Style Buffet Signed Soubrier, Paris
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Napoleon III style mahogany buffet with bronze mounts and marble top, circa 1890's. With a 1.25" thick elongated D shaped white marble top, over two front pull out drawers an...
Marble, Brass, Bronze
19th Century Tall French Dessert Buffet
Located in High Point, NC
19th century tall oak dessert buffet from France. The top is banded and has a beveled and carved edge around the top, following down to paneled sides and two paneled and hand carved ...
Oak