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Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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
Napoleon III style chest of drawers, France, circa 1880.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Napoleon III style chest of drawers, France, circa 1880. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation, finished in high-gloss French polish Dimensions: height 12...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Royal French Chest of Drawers, Napoleon III, circa 1870, Paris
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal French chest of drawers, Napoleon III, circa 1870, Paris. Tulip veneer with cube marquetry and gilded bronze fittings in the form of ribbons, roc...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Classic English Commode, Dresser or Sideboard Light Grey Patinated, 1880s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Welshdresser - chest of drawers - sideboard in solid oak and veneered light gray color finish, England 1880 Classical furniture with fluted legs and drawers. 2 large drawers and the...
Category

1880s British Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

Small Napoleon III Chest of Drawers, France 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
This exquisite little Napoleon III dresser stands on four curved legs. It has three drawers. It is decorated with a beautiful rosewood veneer and is embellished with bronze fittings....
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble

French Auxiliary Table Commode Napoleon III Style Burgundy marble
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind French auxiliary furniture, Louis XV style, Napoleon III period in precious woods and with marquetry, originating in an important Parisian workshop in the mid-19th century. This rare piece of furniture is adorned with light wood marquetry that adds contrast and refinement to the whole. The top is made of Griotte inlaid marble. Rouge Griotte, also known as Rouge Du Roi, is a marble of Belgian origin, characterized by its intense red color. On its surface, beautiful white veins intertwine while rounded "knots" adorn the underlying texture. Some nodes are real fossils of shells, mollusks, ammonites. Under the marble top there is a sliding rosewood drawer outlined in bronze, with a maple wood interior, accompanied by an original gilt bronze lock...
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Commode Style Boulle of French 19th Century Napoleon III Period
Located in Warsaw, PL
This commode is an exceptional example of 19th-century French craftsmanship, presenting a refined rectangular chest of drawers with a black lacquered finish and an intricate design e...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

Salon Boulle Chest of Drawers Chest of Drawers Napoleon III, Paris
Located in Berlin, DE
Salon Boulle chest of drawers Napoleon III Paris circa 1850-1880 Rectangular and curved body. Meuble d'appui boulle / Chest of drawers Napoleon III Paris circa 1850-1880 The high-qu...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Exotic Wood Cabinet
Located in Warsaw, PL
A stunning French 19th century Napoleon III period ebony, ormolu, marble and exotic wood cabinet. The cabinet is raised by elegant topie shaped feet with fine foliate ormolu bands. T...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Napoleon Iii commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage commodes and chests of drawers created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, asian art and furniture, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III commodes and chests of drawers made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original commodes and chests of drawers, popular names associated with this style include André-Charles Boulle, Diehl Manufacturing Co., Henri Picard, and Maison Gouffé. 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 commodes and chests of drawers differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,039 and tops out at $69,424 while the average work can sell for $7,639.

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