Napoleon III Desks and Writing 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
20th Century Inlaid Wood Gold Bronze Italian Writing Desk Napoleon III Style
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian writing desk from 20th century. Napoleon III style furniture inlaid and veneered in walnut, mahogany, maple and fruitwood enriched by fake inlay with hand-painted floral deco...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Wood and Gold Bronze French Napoleon III Era Writing Desk, 1880
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French writing desk from the late 19th century. Napoleon III furniture, wavy and rounded, carved and veneered in mahogany wood. Finished for the center desk enriched with gilded and ...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Inlaid Wood French Writing Desk, 1920s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Small French writing desk from the early 20th century. Furniture finished from the center inlaid in woods of palisander, rosewood, mahogany, maple and fruitwood of beautiful line and...
Category
1920s French Vintage Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
20th Century Inlaid Wood Gold Bronze Italian Writing Desk Napoleon III Style
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian writing desk from 20th century. Napoleon III style furniture inlaid and veneered in walnut, mahogany, maple and fruitwood enriched by fake inlay with hand-painted floral deco...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Alexandre Chevrie, Museum French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Royal Executive Desk
Located in New York, NY
Alexandre Chevrie, a museum quality French ormolu mounted mahogany Royal Executive "Empire" Desk, circa 1875.
Double sided desk with six solid bronze lions paw feet, framed ormolu lions on both sized, jewel quality ormolu medusa heads concealing the drawer locks, and exquisite ormolu frieze designs throughout. With original red leather top.
Truly the best quality desk with the most sophisticated design for this Napoleon III period.
There was a similar bedroom set in this style that was made for King...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Empire Revival Ormolu Mounted Partners Desk 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A superb Napoleon III Ormolu Mounted Empire Revival Flame Mahogany Partners Pedestal Desk, Circa 1870 in date.
This imposing Empire Revival partners desk is mounted with fine ormolu...
Category
1870s Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Writing Table
Located in High Point, NC
19th century oak writing table from France with a beveled edge around the top, following down to paneled sides and hand carved and scalloped aprons. The front of the table contains t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
1800's Antique French Napoleon III Period, Burlwood, Leather, Writing Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Gorgeous Antique Desk, Writing, French Napoleon III Period, Burlwood, Leather Lining, 1800s, 19th Century!
French Napoleon III period writing desk, mid to late 19th c., superstructure with two drawers, over shaped drop-front writing surface, opening to leather lining, with two additional drawers, lower case fitted with single frieze drawer, on cabriole legs, approx 42"h, 31.5"w, 20.5"d
Wear and imperfections commensurate with being moved, age and use.
212t20
The top priority of Napoleon III style furniture was comfort. However, the furniture remained highly decorative. This attention to form, as well as function, can be seen in intricately upholstered chairs...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Fine French Napoleon III Period Porcelain Plaque Mounted Ebonized Writing Table
Located in Forney, TX
A spectacular French Napoleon III Second Empire period (1852-1870) magnificently decorated ebonized wood writing table.
Exceptionally fine quali...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Porcelain, Oak, Wood
20th Century Inlaid Wood French Writing Desk, 1920s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Small French writing desk from the early 20th century. Furniture finished from the center inlaid in woods of palisander, rosewood, mahogany, maple and fruitwood of beautiful line and...
Category
1920s French Vintage Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
19th Century Napoleon III Walnut Partner's Desk with Faux Leather
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Napoleon III walnut partner's desk with faux leather is a stunning transitional piece that embodies styles influenced by the three greatest eras of human endeavor! The u...
Category
1870s French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Faux Leather, Walnut
A Napoleon III Parquetry Pedestal Desk By Guillaume Grohé
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Important Napoleon III Gilt-Bronze Mounted Parquetry Pedestal Desk, By Guillaume Grohé. France, Circa 1860.
Stamped to the top edge of one door 'GROHE FRERES...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Period French Napoleon III Mahogany Bonheur Du Jour Antique Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Forney, TX
A charming Napoleon III Second Empire Period (1852-1870) mahogany Bonheur Du Jour de dame(ladies writing desk) circa 1860
Hand-crafted in France the third quarter of the 19th centur...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Rare Napoleon III Boulle Desk 1860 France André-Charles Boulle
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Rare Napoleon III Boulle desk of very high quality, 1860 France
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Exceptional Napoleon III Bronze Mounted And Ebonized Writing Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine Antique French Bronze mounted writing table with particularly fine form dating to the late 19th Century. The table features all over Bronze mounts including Caryatid figures o...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Napoleon III Writing Desk with Unusual Marble Top, circa 1870
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine Napoleon III period writing desk in mahogany, with gilt-bronze mounts and brass banding, the surface composed of an unusual and richly-colored marble top.
The deep red and ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Petite circa 1880 French Napoleon III Black Lacquer Two-Drawer Writing Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Striking original Antique French Napoleon III Bureau Plat, Writing Table or Ladies Desk. Highlighted by polished brass decorations, the black ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Napoleon III Shopkeepers Desk C.1840
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This French shopkeepers desk, crafted during the reign of Napoleon III period (mid-19th century), is a fine example of the era’s elegant and functional design. Made from ebonized woo...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
19th Century Writing Desk
Located in London, Park Royal
French, Napoleon III period, writing desk. Handmade in ebonized wood and cased with brass, ormolu.The top is covered with bevelled glass.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French 19th century Napoleon III Period Ebony, Brass and Ormolu desk
By Befort Jeune
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most impressive French 19th century Louis XV st. Napoleon III Period Ebony, Brass and Ormolu Boulle desk, attributed to Befort Jeune. This high quality rectangular des...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
19th Century French Walnut Writing Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
French walnut writing table. Within the frieze are two drawers with moulded decoration and silvered handles. The turned, tapering reeded legs are joined by a carved stretcher with ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Wood and Gold Bronze French Napoleon III Era Writing Desk, 1880
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French writing desk from the late 19th century. Napoleon III furniture, wavy and rounded, carved and veneered in mahogany wood. Finished for the center desk enriched with gilded and ...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Marble-Top Secretaire in Blackened Wood Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
Lady's secretaire of blackened wood and nets decorated with rosettes and scrolls in gilded brass. It opens on the front with a drawer and a flap discovering niches and small drawers ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Napoleon III Period Desk, 19th century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Napoleon III period desk, 19th century.
Desk, 19th century display case, Napoleon III period, circa 1880, missing shelf boards.
Dimensions...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Napoleon III Ebonized Desk with Marble Inlay, France, 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Ebonized desk with compartments on either side. Central drawer decorated with a cherub. Marble inlay. Leather top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
Napoleon III Secretaire Desk by Diehl
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An unusual amboyna Napoleon III secretaire desk by Diehl, the rectangular top above a single long frieze drawer which opens to reveal a leather-inset secretaire with a pigeonhole fla...
Category
1860s French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Amboyna
Antique French Boulle Centre Table Bureau Plat C.1860
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French Boulle Centre Table Bureau Plat C.1860
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Beautiful rectangular Napoleon III Writing Desk early century black and gold
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful rectangular 1920 Napoleon III writing desk, walnut structure, walnut, leather top with gold workings and brass fixtures. measure cm...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Ebonised Wood, Gilt Bronze and Pietra Dura Desk
Located in London, GB
Antique Mid-19th century ebonised wood, gilt bronze and Pietra Dura desk,
French, c. 1860s
Dimensions: Height 77cm, width 134cm, depth 78cm
This ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stone, Ormolu
19th Century, Italian Inlaid Wood Centre Table by Luigi and Angiolo Falcini
By Luigi and Angelo Falcini
Located in IT
19th Century, Italian Inlaid Wood Centre Table by Luigi and Angiolo Falcini
This valuable center table in rosewood veneer and inlaid, was ma...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French 19th century Napoleon III Period Fruitwood and Ormolu desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III Period Regence st. Ebonized Fruitwood, Leather and Ormolu Boulle desk. This stunning three drawer desk is raised by fo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Neoclassical Ebonized Swedish Center or Library Table
Located in Houston, TX
Neoclassical ebonized Swedish center table, or library table, hand-carved in Second Empire, or Napoleon III style. Will make an excellent writing tabl...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Boulle-styled panelled desk Napoleon IIV, late 1800s in bronze
Located in Milano, IT
Behold the exquisite beauty of an antique Boulle-style desk from the late 1800s, a true masterpiece that once graced the era of Napoleon III. This desk is not just a piece of furnitu...
Category
1880s French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze, Brass
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Napoleon III Period Mounted Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th Century Louis XV st. Napoleon III period ebony, brass inlaid and ormolu mounted Boulle desk. The two drawer desk is raised by cabriole legs elegantly decorated...
Category
19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Rare Napoleon III French Empire Bureau De Plat Gilt Bronze Writing Table Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Napoleon III French Empire desk with gilt bronze oversized fittings
A very decorative and collectible desk in period lightly restored condition throughout. The desk comes complete with all original gilt bronze fixtures and fittings including two keys for the locks. It has four large drawers to the front, the left drawer is a very large single drawer with a safe drawer...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Transition-Style Writing Desk from the Napoleon III Period
Located in NICE, FR
This small writing desk from the 19th century is crafted in rosewood with inserted brass fillets. It exhibits a transitional blend of elements representative of both Louis XV and Lou...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
French Napoleon II mahogany and gilt bronze center desk circa 1855
Located in Milano, IT
French center desk with solid mahogany veneer frame decorated with mercury-gilt bronzes such as sphinx heads, lion paws and friezes.
Top covered in leather. Two drawers.
Napoleon III era, Second Empire, ca. 1851/55.
Dimensions: H. 77 cm. L. 135 cm. D. 70 cm.
Notes
Under the influence of Marie Antoinette, French artists began to draw inspiration from the 18th-century archaeological discoveries made in the Mediterranean during the time of Louis XVI. After the Revolution of 1789, under the Consulate of Napoleon Bonaparte (1799-1804), the Egyptian campaign drew even more attention to one of the cradles of civilizations.
The "retour d'Egypte" style culturally and artistically had great success in France and Europe and reached as far as Russia; but much of this "Egyptomania" was politically driven to divert attention from the military failure of this campaign (defeat at Abukir, destruction of the French fleet by Admiral Nelson). The peak of this style's success was reached when the book "voyages dans le Basse et la Haute Egypte pendants les campagnes du general Bonaparte" by Dominique Vivant Denon...
Category
1850s French Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Napoleon Brass Ormolu Mounted 3 Drawer Writing Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Napoleon Brass Ormolu Mounted 3 Drawer Writing Desk
Antique French Napoleon III writing desk, made of mahogany wood, covered with remarkable marquetry veneers and fin...
Category
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Napoleon III Desk or Side Table
Located in Leimen, DE
Discover an extraordinary side table or desk that traces its origins to the period between 1860 and 1870, originating from the artistic craftsmanship of Belgium. This unique piece st...
Category
1860s Belgian Antique Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Napoleon Iii desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III desks and writing 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 desks and writing tables, popular names associated with this style include Maison Gouffé, Alexandre Chevrié, Paris, and Charles-Guillaume Diehl. 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 desks and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $395,000 while the average work can sell for $6,348.