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Napoleon III Furniture

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 Ships From: Europe
Style: Napoleon III
Pair of Terracotta Urnes Vases castle , spain XIXs
Located in DÉNIA, ES
This exceptional Pair of Urnes Vases second parts of the XIXs , Provenance Castle Near the district of Biarritz ! 1. Historical and cultural signifi...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

19th Century France Napoleon III° Kingwood Gilt Bronze Center Table
Located in Roma, RM
Center table, Napoleon III in purple ebony wood - French provenance,19th century era Four-footed center-leg base surmounted by bronzes depicting putt...
Category

1840s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Sèvres Porcelain Box, Napoleon III Period, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
" Sèvres porcelain box, Napoleon III period, 19th century. " Sèvres porcelain box, signed, gilt bronze mounting, rich decorations inside and out, Napoleon III period, 19th century. ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Napoleon III walnut fireplace surmounted by an important alcove
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This impressive fireplace made in walnut wood during the second half of the 19th century shows a very rich and eclectic decoration typical of the Second Empire's taste. Its rolled ja...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Walnut

The Jews In Front Of Solomon's Wall, Framed Engraving, Alexandre Bida, 19th Cent
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large framed engraving entitled Jews before Solomon's Wall (translated into Hebrew and German): Jewish believers are presented in prayer in front of the wall, standing or kneeling. The artist Alexandre Bida paid a lot of attention to clothing details and facial expressions; the importance of the moment is reinforced by the deliberate choice of using black and white Engraving framed in a gilded frame (wear and losses) and glazed (cracked window in the lower left corner), foxing on the paper It bears the words " Drawn by Bida", "Alphonse Masson Aqua forti" and "Pollet sculpsit" Alexandre Bida (1813-1895) is a painter and engraver from Toulouse, who was a student of Eugène Delacroix. A traveling painter, at the age of 30 he embarked on a long trip to Greece, Turkey and Syria. With his proposals for orientalist drawings...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Paper

Spectacular 19th Century Bookcase In Lacquered Wood – 6.50m
Located in BARSAC, FR
Very large bookcase in white/sky blue lacquered fir wood, opening with four double glass doors in the upper part and four solid double doors in the ...
Category

1860s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Dutch Napoleon III Log Basket, 19th Century
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th century Dutch Napoleon III firewood basket holder. The log holder is made copper with a wrought iron handle. Also called 'Frisian nail bucket'. Was used for the transport of mil...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Copper, Wrought Iron

Portrait Of Young Woman, Oil On Canvas XIXth Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Oil on canvas, portrait of a young woman with a romantic air, in a light dress and wearing a hat held back by a veil, seated next to a jug Gilt wood frame (some lacks in the beading...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Canvas

After Canova, Dancer And Musician In Bronze, XIXth Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Pair of bronzes of a dancer and a musician, on a Paris porcelain base, model of sculptures after Canova Restored bases, normal wear to the patina and decoration XIXth century Heig...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

C Deschamps, Portrait Of Woman, In Black Dress, XIXth Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large oil on canvas, portrait of an elegant woman in a black dress and a fan, seated and smiling Portrait signed Camille Deschamps and dated 1889 in ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Paint

Candelabra In Porcelain And Bronze, Japonisme, XIXth Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Porcelain candelabra painted with flower decoration, with a base and a bouquet of 7 lights, in bronze with a brown patina, in the Japanese or Escalier de Cristal style Good general ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Ormolu Bronze Candlesticks After Juste-Aurele, Mid 19th Century
By Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
"Pair of Cast Ormolu Bronze Candlesticks After Juste-Aurele Meissonnier, Mid 19th Century The finest ormolu candlesticks that we have offered for sale. There are multiple correlatio...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

The Storm, Oil On Canvas, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large oil on canvas representing an accident between a horse-drawn carriage and a rider, against a backdrop of a rough sea landscape, which flooded the path after the storm After ...
Category

19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Paint

Large Gilded Trumeau with Birds, Putti and Woman’s Face on Openwork Decoration
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This sumptuous gilded wood trumeau is richly decorated in the style of the Second Empire. The majestic decoration is largely inspired by the ornamental grammar of the past centuries, with scrolls, neoclassical friezes...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Giltwood, Plaster

Bronze Sculpture David Winner by Antonin Mercié
Located in TOULOUSE, FR
Bronze with beautiful brown patina representing King David victorious over Goliath. It rests on a circular base, decorated with oriental motifs. Signed hollow on the base: "A. Merc...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Engraved Crystal Cup, Gilt Bronze Mounting
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Engraved crystal cup, Gilt Bronze Mounting". Beautiful cut and engraved crystal cup, gilt bronze mount, 19th century, Napoleon III period.
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

19th Century Porcelain Inkwell - Vieux Paris
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful porcelain inkwell, very decorative with colorful birds and gold colored accents. This object is not marked, but the style and design indicate that this is 'Vieux Paris' p...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Large Napoleon III Clock in Black Belgian Marble and Gilt Bronze by Raingo Frère
Located in BARSAC, FR
Large and very elegant Napoleon III period mantel clock in black Belgian marble and rich ornamentation in finely chiseled gilt bronze. Wire movement signed by the house Raingo Frère...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu

Napoleon III Rounded White Carrara Marble Top Gueridon Table
Located in IT
Napoleon III coffee table, late 1800s, from Veneto Italy. In walnut wood and top in white carrara marble. Feet show black lacquered details. Conservative restoration with pad polish...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Carrara Marble

Important Pair of Louis XV Rocaille Candelabras Stamped Millet in Paris
Located in BARSAC, FR
Important pair of very finely chiseled gilt bronze candlesticks in the Louis XV Rocaille style, with seven sconces and presenting a rich and majestic decoration of acanthus and oak foliage in windings and scrolls. Massive and very imposing, these candelabras from the end of the 19th century were intended for the decoration of the palaces during the second empire. Stamped MM, Maison Millet founded by Blaise Millet...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Napoleon III Clock in Gilt Bronze Signed Benoît Félix Richond in Paris
By Richond Frères
Located in BARSAC, FR
Magnificent Napoleon III clock in finely chiseled gilt bronze with a lush decoration inspired by Louis XVI. Enamelled dial signed Richond, Japy Frères movement in Paris. Superb original gilding. Benoît Félix Richond, born November 12...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Ormolu

Napoleon III Pair of French Cachepots Porcelain De Paris Hand Painted
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest that you read the whole description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Elega...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

1950 Pair of Maison Baguès Tables Bamboo Decor in Gilt Bronze with Chinese Lacq
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of gilt bronze tables with bamboo decor, claw feet with Chinese lacquer wooden tops decorated with landscape, birds, fisherman on a boat, pine cones at the end of the uprights ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Magnificent Flat Desk in Blackened Wood and Bronzes, Napoleon III Style
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
Magnificent flat desk in blackened wood, Napoleon III style, made by the house "Gouffé". The Gouffé company is a great French furniture manufacturer whose quality of manufacture i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

French Bronze Mounted Chinoiserie Floral Painted Inkwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A good quality bronzed mounted French porcelain inkwell with Chinoiserie floral painted designs possibly made by Samson of Paris in the second half of the 19th century. The inkwell i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Brass

"Wallace Fountain", in cast iron fountain
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Green painted, the fountain was made out of cast iron. It is crowned with a dome and four sea monsters are placed on the ridge. The dome rests on four caryatids draped in antique (see our article caryatid ). They are based on a large octagonal plinth decorated with shells and bas-relief newts wrapping around the Poseidon's trident. At the end of the 19th century, the arrival of Wallace fountains...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Iron

French 19th Century Pair of Framed Porcelain Plaques
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A French 19th Century hand painted polychromed Pair of Porcelain Plaques One Representing two Putti in the clouds, among one is hitting the Arrow of Love After the painting by Adolphe-William Bouguereau...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Porcelain, Giltwood

Antique German 'Judgement of Solomon' Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th Century German Napoleon III period fireback with a Judgement of Solomon. A Solomon Judgment is in most cases a judgment in which none of the opposing parties have an advantage i...
Category

19th Century German Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Iron

A pair of decorative storm lamps
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A pair of decorative storm lamps, each with a candle holder enclosed in a clear glass shade set on a turned gilt-brass support with a collar of petals and a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Marble

Antique French Napoleon III Fireplace Screen or Fire Screen, 19th Century
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th Century French Napoleon III 4-panel fireplace screen. The screen is made of brass, iron and iron mesh. It is in a good condition and is fit for use ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique French Napoleon III Fireplace Screen or Fire Screen, 19th Century
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th Century French Napoleon III four-panel fireplace screen. The screen is made of brass, iron and iron mesh. It is in a good condition and is fit for u...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Napoleon III Style Desk Armchair, France, circa 1880
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Superb office / desk chair with crosiers / butts. Structure in oak, carved with acanthus leaves. Seat in brown leather, imitation crocodile skin. Empire / Napoleon III style, ...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood, Oak

French Napoleon III Style 'Napoleon' Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, NL
20th century French Napoleon III style fireback with Napoleon on his horse. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a black / pewter patina. It is in a good condition and does n...
Category

20th Century French Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Iron

Napoleon III Style Table and Chairs in Blackened Wood, France, circa 1870
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Living room set consisting of one old living room / game table and its two chairs. The whole is in blackened wood carved on a floral theme. The seats and backs of the chairs are ...
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Velvet, Wood, Paint

Henri Picard, Louis XV Style Chest Of Drawers in Marquetry Bronze, Napoleon III
Located in NONANCOURT, FR
Chest of drawers between two opening by two drawers without curved crosspiece. It is in marquetry of kingwood on a rosewood background, decorated with intertwined foliage and shells ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Napoleon III 'Justice' Fireback / Backsplash
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th century French Napoleon III fireback with the Goddess Justice. The personification of justice balancing the scales of truth and fairness dates back to the Goddess Maat, and late...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Iron

French Ormolu Pressed Flower Photo Frame
Located in Newark, England
Fine French late 19th century ormolu mounted photo frame. The frame beautifully cast with a gilded bronze scrolling patterned surround. The boarder sweeping across the top of the frame in three separate sections hinged from top to bottom between each panel. The ormolu boarding beautiful glass panels with pressed flowers...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Ormolu

French Napoleon III Rosewood and Baccarat Crystal Liquor Cellar
Located in LEGNY, FR
Rosewood liquor cabinet with bone marquetry representing doves. The glassware, probably from Baccarat, includes four decanters and 12 gold-decorated glasses. To report a small chip...
Category

1890s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Napoleon III Style Tall Austrian Wooden Frame Mercury Mirror and Gold Decoration
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Sumptuous and imposing frame in Second Empire style with ground mirror executed with mercury original of the time, the frame was made with precious craftsmanship between 1865 and 1870 in Austria in precious African mahogany feather with processing "lastronatura" and enriched by elegant and refined giltwood decorations at the corners and a finish of golden acanthus leaves along the edge of the mirror. The ground mirror was made with the ancient technique of mercury, which consisted of placing the metal above a series of layers of tin flattened on the glass, the mercury was then smoothed and polished with a special stone and buffered, the mixture thus obtained was called "quicksilver". This technique was developed by the Venetian Master Glassmakers (Master Dal Gallo 1507); the Serenissima placed the process under secret, but over time it leaked out of the city and spread to European countries, first of all, Austria and France. The Napoleon III style (Second Empire) together with the Neo-Renaissance style, belongs to that particular Eclectic period that distinguished European countries in the second half of the 19th century; in short, the Napoleon III style took up the more serious and austere forms of the First Empire, but with the eclecticism that distinguished the period, it made it more graceful, refined and elegant, reflecting and well representing the social, cultural and economic period that Europe was living at the time. The "lastronatura" is a craft technique that was already widespread during the sixteenth century and remained unchanged until the mid-nineteenth century before the Industrial Revolution; the exact term is the Italian "lastronatura" untranslatable into English (possibly slab?), in fact, the "lastronatura" is very different and older than wood-veneer. The technique consisted in cutting by hand with saws the trunks of trees of noble wood (walnut, mahogany, briar, feather, etc..) in many layers with a thickness ranging from 4 to 6 millimeters, which were then applied to the furniture for decorative purposes; the finishing of this process was very complex: the layer of wood was treated with natural earth dissolved in water for the desired tonality, it was antiqued with stone, it was fixed with shellac applied with a brush and finally the polishing was carried out in 12 passages with a cotton pad soaked in shellac, straw-colored oil with powder of pumice stone. The "lastronatura" is not to be confused with the veneer that is modern processing, in fact, the layer of wood is cut by machine and the thickness is below 1 mm., while that of the"lastronatura", as already mentioned, is from 4 to 6 mm. This ancient technique, applied to our frame, has allowed us to enhance the colors, the flaming, and the grain of the precious African feather...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century German Napoleon III 'Coat of Arms' Fireback
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th century German Napoleon II fireback with an unknown coat of arms. The fireback is made of cast iron and has a black / pewter patina. It is in a good condition and does not h...
Category

19th Century German Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Iron

Pair of Crystal Vases
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of crystal vases Napoleon III period, late 19th century. In perfect condition. Diameter : 19 cm Height : 40 cm.
Category

1870s European Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

F.Barbedienne a Gilt Bronze and Cloisonné Enamel Candlestick
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) A very fine gilt bronze and great quality polychrome cloisonné enamel hand candlestick. Signed F.BARBEDIENNE Circa 1875.  
Category

1870s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Enamel, Ormolu

Antique French Napoleon III Fireplace Screen or Fire Screen, 19th Century
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th century French Napoleon III four-panel fireplace screen. The screen is made of brass, iron and iron mesh. It is in a good condition and is fit for use in front of the fireplace.
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Antique French Fireplace Tools or Fire Tools, 19th Century
Located in Amerongen, NL
19th century French Napoleon III fireplace tool set. The toolset consists of a stand and two fire irons all made of polished brass. It is in a good condition and is fully functional....
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Brass

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 Furniture

Materials

Brass

20th Century Wood and Bronze Napoleon III Style French Writing Desk, 1930
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Large French writing desk from the first half of the 20th century. Moved and rounded furniture in rosewood, walnut, mahogany and fruitwood richly adorned with gilded and chiseled bro...
Category

1930s French Vintage Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Fireplace Screens
Located in Amerongen, NL
These fire screens can be bought separately. Prices vary somewhat. The indicated price is the average excluding shipping to North-America and Europe. You can see all our current fir...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

19th Century Napoleon III Porcelain Vases Urn Royal Vienna Painted, 1870s
Located in Roma, RM
A real Vienna porcelain urn, with Classic figural scenes. Period 19th century in very good state of conservation, this is a beautiful example of fine Vienna royal...
Category

1860s Austrian Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Large Antique Oval French Mirror, circa 1880
Located in Paris, FR
Antique oval mirror giltwood decorated with stylized ribbons and daisy flowers. Re-gilding to the leaf patinated. Modern glass mirror. Antique wood back. Antique frame width 7 cm / 2...
Category

1880s French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Set of 12 Talking Plates, French Military Signed by Creil Montereau 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Amazing complete set of 12 talking plates showing each one a different and incredible situations in the French military life by the 19th century. Bea...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

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 Furniture

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

1900 Mirror Venice Antic Deco
Located in Paris, FR
Mirror Venice, decoration has Classic art with warriors' portraits, and allegory has the beauty with women in cartridges, frame in pine, circa on 1900, g...
Category

Early 1900s Italian Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Materials

Glass

Napoleon III Tufted Settee and Two Armchairs, France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Napoleon III two-seater settee and two armchairs, with button-tufted backs, upholstered in a lustrous silvery-blue crushed velvet, with bullion fringe. The set has a rolled edge. ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Furniture

Napoleon Iii furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Baccarat, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, and Ferdinand Barbedienne. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $49 and tops out at $2,500,000 while the average work can sell for $3,313.

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