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Napoleon III Coffee and Cocktail Tables

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
Period: 20th Century
Coffee Table, Flat Display Case, Early 20th Century, Napoleon III Style.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Coffee table, flat display case, early 20th century, Napoleon III style. Coffee table, flat display case, in light wood veneer, bronze and painted p...
Category

Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Bronze

MAITLAND SMITH French Napoleon III Ebonized Reverse Painted Coffee Table
Located in Charlotte, NC
A French Napoleon III style oval coffee table by Maitland Smith. Solid wood painted an ebony color with gold painted trim, reverse painted top with inset glass cover, gold painted ga...
Category

Late 20th Century Philippine Napoleon III Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Brass

French Turn of the Century Napoleon III St. Giltwood and Marble Coffee Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most decorative French turn of the century Napoleon III st. giltwood and Brèche Polychrome marble coffee table. The circular coffee table is raised by exceptional ...
Category

20th Century French Napoleon III Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Marble

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20th Century Louis XIII Style Walnut Coffee Table
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Vintage French Brass and Marble Coffee Table
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Beech Wood and Oak Round Coffee Table, Early 20th Century
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1920s English Vintage Napoleon III Coffee and Cocktail Tables

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Giltwood Coffee Table
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XVI style giltwood coffee table We can supply marble, glass, or bespoke top on demand.  
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2010s British Napoleon III Coffee and Cocktail Tables

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Giltwood Coffee Table
Giltwood Coffee Table
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1940-1950 Coffee Table Tray Lacquer of China Maison Bagués in Brass Bambou Deco
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1950-1970 Round Coffee Table in the Style of Maison Baguès Lacquer of China
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1950-1970 Coffee Table in the Style of Maison Baguès Red Lacquer of China
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Golden bronze coffee table with amounts ending by tops of palm tree. Top with flowers and perrokee in lacquer of China, circa 1950-1970.
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1970 Pair of Coffee Table by Maison Bagues Lacquer of China Palm Tree Model
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1970s French Vintage Napoleon III Coffee and Cocktail Tables

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Napoleon Iii coffee and cocktail tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III coffee and cocktail tables 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 coffee and cocktail tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III coffee and cocktail tables 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 coffee and cocktail tables, popular names associated with this style include Maison Marnyhac, and Maitland Smith. 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 coffee and cocktail tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,895 and tops out at $74,500 while the average work can sell for $11,115.

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