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.
Napoleon III Revival Centre Table Sevres Plaques Ormolu
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Superb quality circular centre table in the opulent French Napoleon III taste Lavishly mounted in ormolu with intricate scrolling foliate and shell decoration throughout The top rich...
Ormolu
French Centre Table Malachite Napoleon III Revival
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Exceptional Napoleon III style centre table of striking decorative impact, featuring a circular top richly finished in faux malachite with intricate gilt scrolling foliate designs ra...
Malachite
French Napoléon III Walnut Pedestal Table with Carved Feet from the 1850s
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Napoleon III round walnut pedestal table with carved base from the mid 19th century. This French table was born in the 1850s, at a time when the first French president, known as Louis Napoléon Bonaparte was about to become Emperor Napoleon III. This table features a circular top sitting above an exquisitely carved base. The turned pedestal is raised on four feet made of a combination of various scrolls, outlined with delicate incisions. The ensemble rests on four casters. With its lovely patina and richly carved silhouette, this French Napoleon III walnut table...
Wood, Walnut
$900Sale Price|72% Off
Antique Napoleon III style Writing / Center Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Napoleon III style black lacquer and gilt bronze mounted writing / center table, late 19th century. With a black lacquer top banded with gilt bronze and a later glass top, a frieze drawer on one side, resting on black lacquer cabriole...
Bronze
$7,364Sale Price|40% Off
Napoleon III Table in the Manner of Boulle tortoiseshell and Brass
Located in Kastrup, DK
Very beautiful Napoleon III table made in Boulle marquetry inlay with brass, red tortoiseshell and ornamentation of gilt bronzes. Ebonised wood. 1 drawer. France, circa 1860.
Bronze
Antique French Napoleon III Marble Top Giltwood Console Center Table, 1870
Located in SEDLEC-PRČICE, CZ
French Napoleon III giltwood center table with hand-carved dragons and a specimen marble top, created circa 1870. This exceptional French Napoleon III giltwood center table represent...
Marble
French Napoleon III Black Centre Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
A French Napoleon III serpentine console table or salon table in ebonized wood with elaborate and fine ormolu details. Four cabriolet legs, each leg decorated with an ormolu mount of...
Ormolu
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
Napoleon III Inlaid Wood and Gilt Bronze Mounted Drop-Leaf Table
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully inlaid and ebonized French centre table from the Napoleon III Era or third quarter of the 19th century. The table rests on four turned ebonized legs joined at the botto...
Ebony, Kingwood
Dramatic Napoleon III Ebonized and Dore Console
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very well made Console with a dramatic and Stately presence. A classic serpentine Napoleon III console table, ebonized with elaborate and fine dore details. The top with an inlaid ...
Brass
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Distress Paint Decorated Swedish Napoleonic Style Center Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This striking Swedish Napoleonic style center table is a fine example of early 19th-century inspired craftsmanship, boasting a rich patina and distressed paint finish that enhances i...
Wood
French Napoleon III Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu, and Porcelain center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and extremely high quality French 19th century Napoleon III Period Mahogany, Giltwood, Ormolu, and Sévres Porcelain center table. This sensational circular table is ra...
Ormolu
19th Century French Gueridon Table, Circa 1850, Antique Center Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Superb 19th Century French Gueridon
Marble, Bronze
Napoleon III Style French Inlaid Brass Bronze Boulle Turtle Top Center Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Napoleon III Style French Inlaid Brass Bronze Boulle Turtle Top Center Table. Item features breathtaking brass/bronze boulle work inlay throughout including the stunning top, sides, ...
Brass, Bronze
Large French Empire Style Napoleon III Gilt-Bronze Surtout-de-table Coffee Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large French Empire style Napoleon III gilt bronze Surtout-de-table, now a coffee table with later gilt bronze legs with paw-feet, ...
Bronze
Pair of Mahogany Library Tables, Napoleon III Style, Circa 1880
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Pair Of Mahogany Library Tables, Circa 1880
Mahogany
19th Century French Giltwood Center Table with Carved Apron and Marble Top
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This elegant French center table is a refined example of 19th-century decorative furniture, showcasing the timeless appeal of hand-carved and gilded wood paired with a marble top. Th...
Marble
Tortoiseshell, Brass, ebonized Fruitwood and Ormolu Boulle center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most impressive and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III Period Tortoiseshell, Brass, ebonized Fruitwood and Ormolu Boulle center table. This stunning center table is rais...
Brass, Ormolu
Stunning Napoleon III French Empire Revival Occasional Centre Table Marble Top
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade in France circa 1850 Napoleon III Empire revival occasional centre table A good looking and extremely well made piece. The ...
Marble
French Mid-19th Century Napoleon III Period Boulle Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent French mid 19th century Napoleon III period Boulle center table. The table is raised on cabriole legs with a wrap around ormolu sabots. At the top of each leg is a fine...
Carrara Marble, Brass, Ormolu
19th Century Louis XV Giltwood Center Table with Marble Top
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very charming oval shaped Napoleon III period gilt wood center table with marble top. This ornate table stands on four shapely cabriole legs linked by ...
Marble
French 19th Century Napoleon III Period Ebony Ormolu and Giltwood Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Napoleon III period Ebony, ormolu, and giltwood center table. The circular table is raised by an elegantly curved triangular support with cut corner...
Ormolu
$6,493Sale Price|20% Off
Impressive Napoleon III salon table with Boulle inlays around 1870
Located in Berlin, DE
Impressive Napoleon III salon table with Boulle inlays around 1870 Ebonized frame with brass marquetry on a tortoiseshell ground. Oval curved top and frame with drawer and contoured...
Brass
Napoléon III Period Marquetry Table with Gilded Brass Ornaments
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This exquisite marquetry center table dates back to the Napoléon III period, exemplifying the elegance and craftsmanship characteristic of mid-19th-century French design. The tableto...
Brass
$4,236Sale Price|30% Off
France, Napoleon III Table 1850-1870 with Ebony and Bronze Mountings
Located in Kastrup, DK
Napoleon III table in ebonized wood with ebony and gilded bronze mountings and brass inlays. One large drawer. Crafted with high craftsmanship. France, 1850-1870.
Bronze
$34,190Sale Price|35% Off
Exceptional Quality French Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Center Table, Attrib F. Linke
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
An exceptional quality Louis XVI style French ormolu-mounted mahogany and leather coffee center table, attributed to Francois Linke, Paris, circa 1880. With exceptional quality or...
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Grand Oval Center Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Grand Oval Center Table is large enough to serve as an intimate dining table! Hand-crafted from dense, old-growth oak to literally last for c...
Oak
RARE NAPOLEON III TABLE 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
RARE NAPOLEON III TABLE 19th Century French, in mahogany wood and marquetry, top with concentric circles and marquetry decoration of vegetal motifs. Ceramic flower stand with polych...
Porcelain, Mahogany
French, 1850s Napoléon III Period Center Table with Carved Motifs and Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Napoléon III period Alsatian wooden center table from the mid 19th century, with carved stacked-coin style motifs, foliage and natural patina. Created in the Eastern region ...
Wood
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Mahogany Marble Top Center Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Napoleon III Period Mahogany Marble Top Center Table was designed to impress all who enter the home. Hand-crafted from exotic imported mahogany, it features a bo...
Marble
$3,996Sale Price|20% Off
Napoleonic Style Creme Painted Marble Top Center Table Sevres Style Placques
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Napoleonic Style crème painted marble top center table is an extraordinary example of fine European decorative arts, combining elegant French design, ornate craftsmanship, and l...
Carrara Marble
Napoleon III centre table, 19th century
Located in MILL, NL
Napoleon III centre table / coffee table Originally from France, c. 1860–1880. Ebonised base. Richly decorated with large gilded bronze ornaments. The leg is inlaid with copper pipi...
Bronze, Copper
Impressive Table First Empire Napoleon III Late 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Impressive table first Empire Napoleon III Late 19th century gilded bronzes and Inlay Amazing marquetry work Measures: Diameter: 152cm Height: 79cm x 92cm perfect condition.
Wood
Center Table Attributed To Gabriel Viardot
Located in BARSAC, FR
Beautiful center table in solid mahogany richly carved on the belt of scrolls and bats, top with scalloped corners surmounted by an ogee acroterion decorated with a beaded frieze. F...
Mahogany
French Victorian Ebony Inlaid Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian (19/20th Century) ebony and bronze rectangular center table with 8 swirl design legs connected with an open geometric design stretcher and a top inlaid with pearl & ...
Brass, Bronze
Antique Hand Carved Parcel-Gilt Walnut Napoleon III Marble-Top Table
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A 19th century carved walnut table with marble top. The dark green and white original marble inset top with expertly carved edge, on the a...
Marble
Impressive Pair of Tables First Empire Napoleon III Early 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Impressive pair of tables First Empire Napoleon III early 19th century Diameter: 115cm Height: 82 Italian Hight Quality Marble with amazing top with Snails and Ammonites perfect...
Marble
$15,196
Elegant antique wood table
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant veenerd wood table with brass trim and stunning gold-gilded feline feet, a turned central column, and a sail-shaped top. Tuscan manufacture, Lucca, First Empire, ca. 1820.
Wood
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Napoleon III Period Exotic Wood Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Louis XV st. Napoleon III period exotic wood marquetry and ormolu center table. The table is raised by elegant cabriole legs with beautiful pierced wra...
Ormolu
19th Century, Italian Inlaid Wood Centre Table by Luigi and Angiolo Falcini
Located in IT
19th Century, Italian Inlaid Wood Centre Table by Luigi and Angiolo Falcini This valuable center table in veneer and inlaid wood, was made b...
Wood
Antique French Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Centre Table
Located in London, GB
This table is an exquisite piece of French antique furniture. The table is covered with beautiful marquetry work and finely-cast gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts. The table features a...
Ormolu, Bronze
19th century, Italian Fine Octagonal Sail Plan Center Table by Luigi and Angiolo
Located in IT
19th century, Italian Fine Octagonal Sail Plan Center Table by Luigi and Angiolo Falcini This wood central table consists of a octagonal sail plan, octagonal in shape, finely inlaid...
Ebony