Napoleon III Cabinets
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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Item type: Antique and Vintage
Style: Napoleon III
Napoleon III Cabinet, Petite Armoire, French 19th Century
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Napoleon III cabinet or Petite armoire, French 19th century
Ebonized, Boulle Style details, bronze inlay, gilt bronze mounts, marble top. Its neoclas...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Display Cabinets by Henri Picard
By Henri Picard
Located in London, GB
A remarkable pair of display cabinets
By Henri Picard of Paris
Constructed in mahogany, with extensive and superlative ormolu decoration. The cabinets of rectangular form, rising...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Second Empire Period Gilt Bronze and Kingwood Display Cabinet
Located in London, GB
Second Empire period gilt bronze and kingwood display cabinet
French, c. 1860
Measures: Height 218cm, width 128cm, depth 42cm
This fine displ...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Large Napoleon III Mahogany Brass Gilt Large Bookcase Cum Showcase Curio
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Circa 1850-60
Handsomely designed solid Mahogany Cabinet with Brass Inlay and surround. Beautiful patina, details and finesse abound this mag...
Category
1850s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Vernis Martin, Kingwood and Mahogany Cabinet by Linke
By Maison Grimard
Located in London, GB
A fine cabinet of the Napoleon III period
Retailed by Grimard of Paris
Almost Certainly by François Linke
Constructed in Kingwood and mahogany, with extensive decoration of high qu...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Guillaume Grohe antique Napoleon III Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
Napoleon III period cabinet stamped "GROHE".
Napoleon III period cabinet in rosewood and mahogany. Inlaid with marquetry. Gold-plated bronze fittings.
Late 19th century
Signed by Guillaume Grohe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
French Display Cabinet, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
French rosewood cabinet vitrine with one drawer, glass door for display circa 1880, five shelves, antique key included. Minor wood loss.
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Napoleon III Rosewood Curved-Legs Side Cabinet Commode
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal and rosewood. Three-body, curved body on short curved legs. Reddish brown, white veined marble slab. Finely chased, fire-gilt bronze.
(O-221).
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
19th Century in the Style of the Louis XV Napoleon III Inlaid Cabinet
Located in Berlin, DE
Bois-Satiné-veneer, all-round covering mirror veneer and marquetry on solid conifers. With finely chiselled, highly decorative, perforated rocaille, fire-gilded bronze fittings. Two-...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Napoleon III Caribbean Mahogany Curio Cabinet
Located in Stamford, CT
Napoleon III Caribbean mahogany, brass-mounted and gilt curio cabinet, circa 1840.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Napoleon III Nut Wood Half Cabinet/ Vertiko with Inlay Works, France, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Marvellous nut wood half cabinet/ Vertiko from the Napoleon III period in France, circa 1880. Veneered in fine nut wood, this prestigious antique half cabinet...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Napoleon III Period Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Mounted Cabinet by Louis Grade
Located in London, GB
Napoleon III period gilt bronze and porcelain mounted cabinet by Louis Grade
French, circa 1860
Measures: Height 160cm, width 82cm, depth 4...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Napoleon III Style Black Column Cabinet
Located in Berlin, DE
An extraordinary column-style cabinet in classicist style.
Solid, ebonized softwood. Octagonal shaped body on a slightly profiled multi-stepped base. Slightly protruding cover plate...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble
French Stone Overlay Ormolu Mounted Cabinet, 19th Century
Located in Cypress, CA
Impressive 19th century French Napoleon III stone overlay ormolu mounted ebonized cabinet with black marble top.
The shaped black marble top is over a gilt bronze mounted frieze in an leaf-tip motif with an egg and dart border, above a large single door...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Stone, Marble, Bronze
Napoleon III Cabinet Buffet Boulle Style, France, 1860
Located in Chorzów, PL
Cabinet manufactured in the 19th century, in France, modeled on the 17th century, baroque furniture of the French ebéniste, A. Ch. Boulle.
This piece of furniture is single-door cab...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Tortoise Shell
19th Century Louis XVI Floral Marquetry Writing Cabinet or Lady's Secrétaire
Located in Berlin, DE
19th Century Louis XVI Floral and Musical Instruments Marquetry Writing Cabinet or Lady's Secrétaire, also called "Bonheur du Jour"
A 19th century bonheur du jour writing cabinet o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Pair 19th Century Pietra Dura Bonheur Du Jours
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality pair of Napoleon III Pietra Dura bonheur du jours. With semi precious stone inlaid to the doors and ormolu mounts.
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Napoleon III Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Vilnius, LT
French antique Napoleon III vitrine cabinet is after renovation. Wood is decorated with inlaid brass and bronze details. Inside there are two glass shelves. Side parts are with perfe...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Pair of French Napoleon III Figural Ormolu and Porcelain Mounted Side-Cabinets
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of French Napoleon III figural ormolu and porcelain (probably Sevres) mounted tulipwood Meuble A Hauteur D'Appui. The rectangular shaped body fitted with a white mar...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Napoleon III Painted Tôle Cabinet, circa 1880s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Very unusual Napoleon III iron cabinet, painted with a wood trompe-l'oeil. Elegantly outlined in black tubular iron, lending definition to its elegant lines: the bombé bottom section...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Tôle
Fine Renaissance Style Ebonized Cabinet
Located in Montreal, QC
Renaissance style, Napoleon III period, ebonized pearwood cabinet inlaid with painted Belgian black marble plaques all hand-painted with flower designs to imitate Pietra Dura; the to...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Napoleon III Mirrored Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This impressive cabinet has it original etched mirrored doors and gilded carved wood accents. It is in great condition and will create a real statement. The cabinet has an ebony fini...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Mirror, Oak
Fine and Unusual Napoleon III period antique French Boulle marquetry cabinet
Located in London, GB
Fine and Unusual Napoleon III period antique French Boulle marquetry cabinet
French, c.1870
Height 165cm, width 174cm, depth 51cm
This piece is a splendid, ebonised wood antique cabinet...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu, Brass
Napoleon III Black Lacquered Humidor on Stand
Located in Woodbury, CT
This outstanding showpiece has been meticulously crafted and then coated in a rich, thick, ebony lacquer. Numerous classic design elements include the broken pediment above a single...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Ormolu
Napoleon III Armoire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Napoleon III Armoire with 4 glass windows on the door.
Can be used as a bookshelf , wardrobe or curio cabinet.
Beautiful black patina. Four shelves, one shelf with 2 dra...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Oak
French Cabinet Napoleon III and Boulle Brass Gilt Bronze 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Rare cabinet in Boulle marquetry style with brass threads on an ebony veneer background, curved in shape on the sides and the front, with a drawer. This piece of furniture is very or...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
An Exceptional Napoleon III Cabinet with Large Hand Painted Sevres Plaques.
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An Exceptional Napoleon III cabinet with Sevres porcelain hand painted plaques by Narcisse Vivien. The cabinet by Famed architect cabinet maker and interior designer, Leon Marcotte. ...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble
Royal Count Cigar Box Humidor French Napoleon by Alphonse Giroux 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Cigar Humidor Signed by Alphonse Giroux Count Boulle Crown Napoleon III Period Napoleon 3"
Beautiful cigar humidor in fruit wood marquetry and brass fillets. Precious gorgeous woods....
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Brass, Bronze
French Vitrine Napoleon III Display Cabinet Satinwood 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Elegant Napoleon III display cabinet - or vitrine - in satinwood
Circa 1880 on this work of art
Satinwood complemented by intricate gilt fixtures including cherub corner mounts
Insid...
Category
1880s Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Satinwood
Diehl French Black Tall 8 Drawers Gilt Brass Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle 19th
Located in Paris, FR
Unique, Beautiful and Large Cabinet Secretary Weekly Planner style Stamped "Diehl" by Charles Guillaume Diehl In Boulle Marquetry style and Napoleon III Period, 19th Century.
Rare weekly organizer in brass boulle marquetry with scroll patterns, interlacing and foliage, with a leafy urn in the center of the drawers. Composed of 8 visible drawers (2 doubles and 4 singles) of good size thanks to a good depth, this piece of furniture combines aesthetics and practicality. It includes a beautiful ornamentation of gilded bronzes with multiple ingot molds, high and low falls, and on the falncs spandrels...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Brass
Befort Jeune French Black Cabinet Napoleon III Sèvres Porcelain Gilt Bronze 19th
Located in Paris, FR
Very beautiful and elegant support unit in Boulle marquetry from the Napoleon III period, stamped by BEFORT Jeune, a leading cabinetmaker from the second half of the 19th century. Ve...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Black French Cabinet Napoleon III and Boulle Brass Gilt Bronze 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant French Curved Cabinet In Boulle Marquetry style and Napoleon III.
Curved in shape with convex sides. Boulle marquetry in brass and rich ornamentation of gilded bronzes with...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Tall 24 Drawers French Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle Marble Gilt Bronze 19th Cent
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful Rare Large Notary "Cartonnier" with 24 Drawers in Napoleon III Period and Boulle Style Marquetry
Rare piece of furniture, this large 24-card notary case with rich orname...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Inlaid Wood Napoleon III Style French Corner Cupboard, 1980
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French corner cupboard from the second half of the 20th century. Napoleon III style furniture decorated with floral inlay in rosewood, wal...
Category
Late 20th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Wood
20th Century Inlaid Wood French Napoleon III Style Corner Cabinet, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French corner cabinet from the mid-20th century. Napoleon III style furniture richly adorned with gilded and chiseled bronze and brass. Sh...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Napoleon III Cabinet
Located in Vilnius, LT
French antique Napoleon III cabinet.
Wood is decorated with inlaid brass and bronze details ourside.
Inside the cabinet there are two shelves.
Cabinet top is marble.
This cabinet...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Straw Work Marquetry Game Table
By Joseph Cattaneo
Located in San Francisco, CA
A one-of-a-kind French Napoleon III-period game table with exceptional straw work marquetry throughout.
Cabinet covered almost entirely inside and out with tens of thousands of pieces of intricately applied pieces of natural and dyed straw. Hinged top inlaid with an oval town and seascape medallion with the legend “Les Environs de Bayonne” (“The Surroundings of Bayonne”). Additional scenes of French life and elaborate flora designs decorate the front, back, and sides. Brass wreath escutcheon plate frames lock with included key.
Opens to reveal a brilliant blue silk lined lid embellished with striking heraldic vignettes with a Christian motif. Interior fitted with multiple puzzle-like compartments, drawers, and containers, some of which are concealed under a pair of beautifully realized depictions of floral arrangements. Signed in French “Joseph Cattaneo il fit” (roughly, “Made by Joseph Cattaneo”) on main removable compartment.
Underneath the cabinet is a pull-out chess or checkers board with diminutive red & white carved bone chess pieces...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Oak Cabinet
Located in Sheffield, MA
A large version of a French confiture, hand-carved with Rococo design on the front and double paneling on the sides. Hinged door with lock and key and...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
Napoleon Iii cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III cabinets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III cabinets made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original cabinets, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, A. Bastet Lyon, André-Charles Boulle, and Charles-Guillaume Winckelsen. 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 cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,024 and tops out at $293,051 while the average work can sell for $9,453.
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