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.
French Napoleon III Crapaud Armchair in Red and White Ticking Stripe, Circa 1860
Located in London, GB
A late 19th-century French Napoleon III crapaud armchair, circa 1870. The beechwood frame is traditionally constructed with sound hand-joinery and retains its excellent, original lo...
Iron
Napoleon III Style Ebonized Cabinet with Marble Top
Located in Vienna, AT
Napoleon III style. Cabinet, drawer at the top, lockable door behind which shelf. Dark polished / lacquered body, decorated with brass Intarsia band, details of gilded bronze. Top of...
Marble
20th Century Inlaid Wood Marble Top French Napoleon III Style Sideboard, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French sideboard from the second half of the 20th century. Curved and curved furniture, finely inlaid with floral decorations in walnut, rosewood, maple and fruitwood. Sideboard rich...
Marble
Museal Tahan-Paris Perfume Box, Herringbone Pattern Veneer and Crystal Bottles
By Tahan Paris
Located in Bochum, NRW
Highly Collectible Perfume Casket, Napoleon III Period (pre-1882), with Expertise. A rectangular perfume box veneered in rare wood, featuring a finely executed herringbone pattern. T...
Brass
Napoleon III Period Gilt French Mirror Circa 1860
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Napoleon III period gilt French Mirror, circa 1860. Repetitive motif borders - beading along the mirror plate followed by a flat border to a modified acanthus leaf border and boldly ...
Mirror, Wood, Paint
19th Century French Burl Walnut Sideboard
Located in Louisville, KY
Stunning 19th Century French Burl Walnut Sideboard with two panel drawers each with intricately carved floral motifs within the center panels, each drawer has brass hardware with orn...
Brass
1870s French Napoleon III Floral Striped Velvet Crapaud Armchair
Located in London, GB
An exceptionally elegant French Napoleon III Crapaud (toad) armchair, circa 1875, designed in the distinctive style of the celebrated Parisian workshop Maison Krieger. This beautiful...
Brass
Antique French Porcelain Centerpiece or Bowl
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty 19th century French porcelain centerpiece decorated in blue, white and gold, having an extravagant composition with cherubs and mythological cats joined by a brass chain around...
Brass
Iron Lantern French, Napoleon III Black with Stained Glass Panels, circa 1910
Located in Verviers, BE
Studio multicolored stained glass hanging pendant. Studio stained glass hanging lamp. Featuring stained glass pieces with enclosing blue,...
Metal, Wrought Iron
A Monumental and Exceptional French Ormolu and Turquoise Sevres Porcelain Clock
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Monumental and Exceptional French Ormolu and Turquoise Sevres Porcelain Clock, circa 1875 Immerse yourself in the splendor of 19th-century French artistry with this monumental an...
Ormolu
French Napoleon Velvet Chauffeuse chair from Ann Getty's antiquity collection
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Antique, French Napoleon III tufted velvet and needlework chauffeuse chair, part of Gordon and Ann Getty's personal antiquity collection, the Getty's acquired at Butterfield and Butt...
Upholstery, Velvet
$395Sale Price|20% Off
Limoges Porcelain Lidded Candy Dish Trinket or Antique French Jewelry Box
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful hand painted Limoges porcelain candy dish, trinket, or jewelry box. This gorgeous French jewelry box is adorned with traditional decor...
Porcelain
Napoleon III Marquetry Side Table, France, circa 1870
Located in Atlanta, GA
This refined Napoleon III side table, dating to around 1870, embodies the elegance and craftsmanship of 19th-century France. The shaped top is beautifully inlaid with marquetry, depi...
Rosewood
French Thuya Burl Jewelry Box with Brass Inlay, Late 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
French Thuya Burl Jewelry Box with Brass Inlay, Late 19th Century A fine late 19th-century French jewelry box, circa 1880–1900, veneered in richly figured Thuya burl with decorative...
Brass
French Faux Bamboo Bird's Eye Maple Cabinet
Located in Bradenton, FL
French Faux Bamboo Bird's Eye Maple Cabinet. Cabinet features a beautifully figured birds-eye-maple facade accented with carved bamboo moldings. This was an iconic decorative motif p...
Faux Bamboo, Birdseye Maple
Garonne Chaise Lounge by Bourgeois Boheme Atelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Our Classic Garonne chaise lounge has five Napoleon III style turned wooden legs. From every angle, you see its distinctive elegant curved lines. This piece is perfect for cuddling up with a good book in front of the fireplace or simply lounging around after a long day. Covered in a mint green velvet...
Velvet, Oak
Napoleon III Style Slipper Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
The slipper chair reflects the Napoleon III style of the mid-19th century with gold brocade fabric with deep cushion affect and exuberant fringe. Fr...
Fabric
French Napoleon III Boulle Tea Caddy
Located in Northampton, GB
Single Tea Caddy Compartment From our Tea Caddy collection, we are delighted to bring to market this Antique French Boulle Tea Caddy. The Tea Caddy o...
Bronze, Ormolu
Sarreguemines France "La Vie Militaire" Set of 12 Military Ceramic French Plates
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
French Sarreguemines Faience Plates set Set of 12 "La Vie Militaire". Set of antique look Sarreguemines plates featuring exquisite black and white lattice and foliate borders, comple...
Ceramic
$5,962Sale Price|25% Off
Blackened Wood Napoleon the 3d Sofa
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and unique sofa is made of blackened wood and fabric. It has a very nice shape. This canape must be re-upholstered (what we can arrange if you wish with fabric of your choice). This is a French work Napoleon the 3...
Fabric, Wood
Gilt Framed Herbier Botanical Specimens from the early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Framed and PressedEarly 20th century "Herbier" Botanical Specimens 19" H x 13" W each. Sold as set of 4. Herbier specimens were collected and pressed from plants found around the w...
Wood, Paper
19th Century French Napoleon III Armchair in Calico, Ready for Re-Upholstery
Located in London, GB
A classic 19th-century French Napoleon III armchair, circa 1870. This elegant library or lounge chair features its original proportions with a comfortably raked back and scrolled a...
Cotton, Calico, Upholstery, Wood, Beech
$1,573Sale Price|20% Off
Napoleon III Style French Dressing Table With Mirror And Faux Drawer
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest that you read the entire description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our objects. Particu...
Bronze
$3,768Sale Price|39% Off
19th Century Crystal and Bronze Chandelier of 9 Lights
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A fabulous, traditional gilt brass, bronze and cut crystal chandelier of nine lights, dating from the second half of the 19th century. This outstanding piece is richly decorated with...
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
19th Century Napoleon III Child's Bed, Solid Cherry Wood, Hand-Crafted
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Napoleon III Period child's bed made of solid cherry wood, with column form supports and iron curtain rails. Beautiful book matched wood panels and side rails w...
Brass, Iron
Pair of French Napoleon III Chairs
Located in Haywards Heath, GB
Pair of French Napoleon III chairs with original upholstery. Good strong, sturdy condition.
Fabric
French 19th century Petite ‘Sèvres’ Jardinière with Gilt Bronze Mount, c. 1870
Located in London, GB
A very beautiful antique petite-size French ‘Sèvres’ jardinière, planter, cachepot or table centerpiece bowl, made in France in the Napoléon III era ...
Bronze
Crystal Pair Of Candelabras By Baccarat, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Important pair of candelabras by Baccarat, 19th century, Napoleon III period, crystal. Pair of large 19th-century crystal candelabras, Napoleon III style, by Baccarat, with five arm...
Crystal
Fine Antique French Napoleon III Period Boulle Marquetry Ebonized Vanity Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare French Napoleon III Second Empire Period (1852-1870) Boulle marquetry table. France, almost certainly Parisian work, Mid-19th Century, executed in sophisticated Louis XV tas...
Metal, Brass, Bronze
An Exquisite French Silver and Malachite Bust of Napoleon, By Emile Pinedo
By Émile Pinedo
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exquisite French Silver and Malachite Bust of Napoleon, By Emile Pinedo This exquisite French silver and malachite bust of Napoleon, masterfully crafted by the esteemed sculptor...
Malachite, Sterling Silver
Rare Monumental Pair of 18th Century Louis XV Gilt Bronze Lily Candelabra
Located in London, GB
A truly magnificent and rare pair of 18th Century Louis XV / Ancient Regime period ecclesiastical candelabra, representing the pinnacle of 18th-century sacred decorative art. Execute...
Bronze, Ormolu
Carved alabaster base, Italy circa 1880
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Carved alabaster base, Italy around 1880 very pretty base for a small table.
Alabaster
Exquisite Napoleon III French Ormolu Figural Basket Centerpiece, Circa 1880
By Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
An exquisite Napoleon III French ormolu figural basket centerpiece, Circa 1880, Attributed to Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley. Depicting four mercury-gilded bronze ormolu cherubs holding a basket, the base with trophies and scrolling. This monumental centerpiece...
Ormolu
J. Mégemond, Samovar and its matching Tray, France, circa 1870
Located in PARIS, FR
Signed MEGEMOND PARIS Elegant silver-plated bronze samovar, composed in its upper part of a handled teapot, surmounted by a lid with a finely worked finial, and flanked on either si...
Bronze
$1,543Sale Price|30% Off
Antique lace and silk parasol or umbrella with bamboo pole
Located in Valladolid, ES
Outstandind and very refined antique lace and silk parasol with a bamboo pole. This French parasol dates from the late 19th/early 20th century. It is crafted from exquisite French la...
Silk, Bamboo
Napoléon III Ebonized Étagère with Marble Top and Gilt-Bronze, 1870s
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French ebonized étagère from the 1870’s, combining practical storage with refined decorative detailing. The three-tier design features clover-form shelves with delicately engraved ...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Sèvres Porcelain Two-Light Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant and richly decorated, this pair of antique French Napoleon III lamps was originally made as oil lamps and later converted for modern electrical use. Crafted in France circa 1...
Bronze
French 19th Century Napoleon III Cabinet
Located in Vilnius, LT
French antique Napoleon III cabinet. Wood is black color polished surface, decorated with inlaid brass decor and bronze details ourside. Inside the cabinet there are two shelves. ...
Marble, Bronze, Brass
French Napoleon III Black Carved Ebonized Bed with Cherubs
Located in Miami, FL
Queen-size bed with an impressive Renaissance-style headboard and footboard, crafted from beautiful walnut wood. The bed has a fabulous large heavily carved cherub This original Ital...
Walnut
$52,560Sale Price|20% Off
Exquisite Neo-Grec Ormolu & Champleve Enamel Jardiniere by Barbedienne & Sévin
By Louis-Constant Sevin, Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A French Neo-Grec Ormolu and Champlevé Enamel Jardinière by Ferdinand Barbedienne and Louis-Constant Sévin, circa 1870 An outstanding ormolu-mounted and champlevé enamel jardinière,...
Enamel, Ormolu
Antique Armchairs Reupholsted Chauffeuse Napoleon III French late 19th Centuty
Located in Labrit, Landes
Chauffeuse little armchair French of the Napoleon III period circa 1880. The feets are in wood, the fauteuil has been recently reupholstered and recovered. Antique, 19th century. Sol...
Upholstery, Beech
Lecoultre & Riviere Monkey Orchestra Musical Automata Picture, France, c. 1865
Located in London, GB
An extremely rare museum quality monkey ‘chamber orchestra’ automata musical picture, made in France in c. 1855 and signed ‘Riviere’. The picture is in extraordinarily good origina...
Metal
French Napoleon III Chaise Longue with Turned Legs, C. 1860
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An elegant French Napoleon III chaise longue dating to circa 1860, distinguished by its graceful chapeau de gendarme crest and classic serpentine silhouette. Embodying the refined co...
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Small Scale French Napoleon III Armchairs with Diamond Tufting
Located in Buchanan, NY
gently curved backs with diamond tufting. These lovely small scale French Napoleon III armchairs feature lovely turned legs, and gracefully curved arms. The classic “chapeau de gend...
Upholstery
Napoleon III Style Leather Wingback Recliner Library Armchair
By Bradington Young, Hancock & Moore
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Add a touch of nobility to your space with this reclining Napoleon III style leather wingback fireplace armchair in the manner of Bradington Young and Hancock & Moore. This handsome ...
Brass
Large Canton porcelain bowl, China, 19th century circa 1880
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine Canton porcelain bowl, beautiful hand-painted model decorated with polychromatic traditional Chinese palace scenes with a number of picturesque characters. The scenes are fram...
Porcelain
A French Ormolu Mounted Kingwood and Vernis Martin Console Table, Circa 1880
Located in Long Island City, NY
A French Ormolu-Mounted Kingwood and Vernis Martin Marble Top Console Table / Buffet, circa 1880. Crafted from rich Kingwood in the 19th century, this console table features parque...
Bronze, Ormolu
Italian Contemporary Napoleon III Style - Black and Gold Antiqued Wood Bookcase
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Beautiful Bookcase designed and handcrafted by us with structure in solid wood, lacquered in black and antique gold and entirely hand-carved. These bookcase, made from high-quality ...
Wood
Antique 19th Century Secretary Simulated Chiffonier, Napoleon III Period
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique 19th century secretary simulated chiffonier, Napoleon III period A magnificent secretary simulated chiffonier. It is created with gre...
Bronze
19th Century Lacquered Small Cabinet
Located in Paris, FR
Petite 19th-century armoire in ebony veneer, adorned with brass inlay decoration. It opens with two doors with panels of Chinese lacquer from the 17th century, featuring birds on fl...
Granite, Brass
19th Century French Napoleon III Andirons or Firedogs
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
19th century French Napoleon III andirons made of wrought iron. The condition is good.
Wrought Iron
Pharmacy Balance Scale, Late 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
a fine late 19th-century pharmacy balance scale in walnut and ebonized wood. This pharmaceutical laboratory balance scale is housed in its original gl...
Walnut
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
F. Barbedienne, A Suite of Three French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardinieres
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Ferdinand Barbedienne, An Exquisite Suite of Three French Ormolu and Champleve Enamel Jardinieres / Garniture C. 1870, The Design Attributed to Louis Constant Sevin. Comprising of t...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Napoleon III Style French "Chinoserie" Hand-Painted Metal Tray
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest that you read the entire description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our objects. Origina...
Iron
19th Century French Napoleon III Spring Driven Roasting Jack
Located in Amerongen, Amerongen
Functional and beautiful 19th century French Napoleon III roasting jack made of cast iron, wrought iron, brass and copper. It is used for cooking in a kitchen fireplace. The set cons...
Brass, Copper, Iron, Wrought Iron
$1,114Sale Price|20% Off
French Stucco Mirror with Bronze Patina Vegetal Patterns, Napoleon III c. 1890
Located in Labrit, Landes
French bronze patina stucco mirror Beautiful frame with an ornamentation on the top with two birds on a vegetal decor Plant decoration on the stucco...
Mirror, Stucco
$4,632Sale Price|62% Off
19th Century Large Crystal and Bronze Chandelier of 12 Lights
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A glittering gilt brass, bronze and cut crystal tiered chandelier of twelve lights, dating from the second half of the 19th century. This truly magnificent piece features a crisply c...
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
18th Century Dutch Longcase Grandfather Clock by Rutgerus van Meurs
Located in New York, NY
Antique (late 18th century) longcase clock by the Dutch firm, Rutgerus van Meurs (1738–1800) with a beautiful burr walnut veneer with fruitwood string inlay, and gilt bronze mounts i...
Brass
Set of Four Napoleon Brandy/Cognac Snifters with Silver Plated Brandy Warmer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Set of four Napoleon brandy or cognac snifters. The classic Napoleon letter “N” surrounded by a classical laurel wreath. The letter N, laurel wreath a...
Gold Leaf