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.
19th Century Walnut Gueridon or Side Table with Tripod Base
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This elegant 19th century Napoleon III period walnut guéridon, or pedestal side table, exemplifies the timeless charm of classical French and English-inspired furniture design. Craft...
Walnut
French Marble and Bronze Gueridon Table
Located in New York, NY
Antique bronze gueridon in the French Napoleon III period style with variegated charcoal/green marble top and x-form stretcher and scrolling foliate supports. 30 1/4 inches tall and...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Bouillotte Table with Marquetry Inlay
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A fine French Louis XVI style 'Bouillotte' table, in wood veneer and marquetry, with an inlaid beige veined marble top surrounded by an openwork brass gallery. The gambling card game...
Marble, Brass
Napoleon III Black Lacquer Guéridon Pedestal Table, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
This Napoleon III 19th century black lacquer guéridon pedestal table embodies the elegance and opulence of the era. Featuring a fluted wooden base, a captivating marble top, and in...
Brass
Fine French Napoleon III Lacquered Tilt-Top Table
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine French 1880s black lacquered "burgauté" tilt-top table with a central painted floral motif surrounded by a mother of pearl inlay and gilded foliage.
Wood
19th Century French Gueridon Table, Circa 1850, Antique Center Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Superb 19th Century French Gueridon
Marble, Bronze
French Napoleon III Kidney Shape Guéridon Table, Wood & Brass, 1880s
Located in Lisbon, PT
This charming French guéridon table from the Napoleon III period exudes sophistication. The classic kidney shape and rich combination of wood and brass make it a versatile piece for ...
Brass, Copper
French Napoleon III Black Lacquer Guéridon Table, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
This charming French black lacquer refinish guéridon table from the Napoleon III period exudes sophistication. The classic kidney shape and rich combination of wood and brass make it...
Brass
H. Picard, "Bacchantes" Gueridon, France, circa 1860
By Henri Picard
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare circular gueridon resting on a tripod base in finely chiseled and gilded bronze, supporting a matched Ural malachite top, circled by a frieze of water leaves and pearls. The bas...
Malachite, Bronze
$2,184Sale Price|20% Off
French Napoleon III Style Tulipwood and Mahogany Table
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A round decorative French Napoleon III occasional pedestal table in mahogany with an inlaid tulipwood and mahogany bordered top with gilt bronze banding. The apron has decorative gil...
Bronze
$1,218Sale Price|20% Off
Napoleon III Period Mother of Pearl Folding Gueridon, 1870s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice Napoleon III period Blackened pearwood and mother of pearl inlay foldin Gueridon from the 1870s. The base has a nice gilt marquetry and the top is made with mother of pea...
Mother-of-Pearl, Pearwood
A Fine Napoléon III Sèvres Style Porcelain-Inset Onyx Table
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Napoléon III Gilt-Bronze Mounted and Sèvres Style Porcelain-Inset Onyx Guéridon. The circular top inset with a large circular porcelain plaque painted with Madame de Pompado...
Onyx, Ormolu
19th Century French Napoleon III Round Tripod Boulle Jardinière with Cover
By Ecole Boulle
Located in Bochum, NRW
Round jardinière with cover. Made of ebonized wood and brass moldings, Boulle marquetry décor of blossoms and fillets in mother of pearl and brass. It is supported by three sinuous f...
Wood
Napoleon III Pedestal Table In Black Wood With Painted Floral Decoration
Located in PARIS, FR
Napoleon III Pedestal Table in Black Lacquered Wood with Floral Painted Decoration – 19th Century. An elegant Napoleon III period pedestal table, crafted from black lacquered wood, ...
Wood
Neoclassical Parcel-Gilt and Painted Gueridon Table, France, circa 1860
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Exquisite neoclassical Napoleon III period French parcel-gilt and painted solid oak gueridon or occasional table having breakfront circular top with raised central plinth surmounting...
Oak, Paint, Giltwood
French Napoleon III 1860s Walnut Guéridon Side Table with Radiating Veneer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Napoleon III walnut guéridon side table from the mid-19th century, with radiating veneer, single drawer and lower shelf. Born in France during the Second Empire, this exquis...
Walnut
Charming Cherry Wood Side Table Napoleon III Period Good Condition
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Charming cherry wood side table Napoleon III period Good condition, patina of the tray to be reviewed.
Cherry
Napoleon III Painted Round Tilt-Top Table, Late 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The tilt-top painted with faux marble design in the center surrounded by a vine and leaf pattern.
Paint
Porcelain Pedestal Table "Allegory of Music", 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Table guéridon in white enamelled porcelain, resting on a tripod foot, from the Napoleon III period. This small pedestal table is enamelled with a rich decoration of polychrome flowe...
Bronze
Elegant Napoleon III period gueridon in walnut circa 1850/1870
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Elegant Napoleon III period gueridon in walnut circa 1850/1870
Walnut
$15,233
H 37.01 in W 18.51 in D 14.97 in
Italy 18th Century Louis XV Walnut Side Table Gueridon with Drawings
Located in Brescia, IT
18th Century Louis XV Italian (Tuscany) walnut side table with drawings. It was a work table to contain embroidery accessories, a very charming piece. It shows a beautiful proportio...
Walnut
19th century marble topped centre table / Gueridon
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Good quality 19th century mahognay and marble topped Gueridon French circa 1860;s Height 74 cms , width 97cms depth 97cms
Sapele Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Walnut Bouillotte Table with Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French Louis XVI style walnut Bouillotte table with marble top Antique French Louis XVI style walnut Bouillotte table with a bron...
Marble
$2,995
H 27.25 in Dm 26.75 in
Simple and Sophisticated French Travertine Marble Metal and Brass Gueridon Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Elevate your space with the simple yet sophisticated charm of this French Travertine Marble, Metal, and Brass Gueridon Table. A perfect blend of timeless materials and elegant design...
Travertine, Brass, Steel
$3,250 / set
H 26.5 in Dm 17 in
French Directoire Gueridon Tables, Black Marble & Bronze, 20th Century
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine pair of Stone and Bronze Gueridon tables in classic French Directoire style, well crafted and elegantly detailed with circular black marble tops with striations supported by...
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Bistro Table - Gueridon
Located in Round Top, TX
Classical mid-19th century Bistro Table - Gueridon from the Provence area of France. Soundly constructed from cast iron with a beautifully patina'd marble top.
Marble, Iron
19th Century French Charles X Gueridon Table with Bronze & Marble
Located in Queens, NY
French Charles X-style (19/20th Century) round bronze gueridon end table with 3 scroll legs supporting a black marble top and shelf with a lower stretcher having a finial.
Marble, Bronze
$2,500
H 30.63 in W 29.63 in D 29.63 in
19th Century French Mahogany Gueridon Bouillotte Table, Marble Top
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A charming French mahogany Gueridon Bouillotte table originally used for playing cards. Topped with white marble and surrounded by a pierced brass gallery that’s nicely patinated. Tw...
Marble, Brass
19th century French Empire Mahogany and black marble Gueridon table
Located in Malton, GB
This is a very smart 19th century French empire Gueridon table. The columned base with ormolu decoration is in extremely good condition as is the black marble with only a few light s...
Mahogany
French Gilt Two Tier Bronze Gueridon Table with Black Marble Top
Located in Essex, MA
A fine quality French gilt bronze and black marble gueridon table with impressive casting to lower acorn finial, hair paw feet on casters. Directoire or Regency style French guerido...
Marble, Brass
George III Mahogany Tilt-Top, 18th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
A George III mahogany tilt-top table, 18th century. 32 inches wide by 32 ⅝ inches deep by 27 inches tall; 45 inches tall tilted up
Mahogany
English Mahogany Tilt-Top Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
While there is nothing extraordinary about this mahogany tilt-top table no fancy, carved edge or claw and ball feet there is nothing particularly ordinary, either. The top is just th...
Mahogany
19th Century French Bleached Mahogany Marble topped Gueridon
Located in Arundel, GB
A fine quality 19th Century bleached Mahogany Gueridon. Raised on carved lion paw feet with brass castors. A triform pedestal displaying bookmatched veneers. Topped with a speckled g...
Belgian Black Marble
Early 20th Century French Bistro Table with Faux Marble Top and Brass Rim
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French bistro table, crafted circa 1920, has the classic café scale and silhouette that make these pieces so easy to place throughout the home. The round faux marble top...
Brass, Iron
Marble Topped Gueridon
Located in Arundel, GB
19th century French Gueridon. Bleached mahogany with a 3 sided pedestal base raised on decorative, stylised lion paw feet and topped with grey figured marble top.
Marble
A Mid 19th Century French Antico Verde Marble Gueridon Table
Located in London, GB
France, circa 1860. A mid-nineteenth century French mahogany gueridon, the circular antico verde marble top supported by a baluster stem with applied brass anthemions, issuing from ...
Marble
Petite French Gueridon with Marble Top and Brass Gallery, 19th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This charming French guéridon, dating from the 19th century, beautifully embodies the elegance and refinement of small accent tables from the period. Designed with a round marble top...
Marble, Brass
19th century French Napoleon III Inlay and Walnut Gueridon, 1870s
Located in LEGNY, FR
This unique Napoleon III walnut table features exquisite inlays across the entire tabletop and its sculpted pedestal base, creating sumptuous floral and butterfly motifs. With its ex...
Walnut
Sold
H 17.72 in W 15.75 in D 19.69 in
French Vintage Walnut Leather Console Table Style Napoleon III - 60s
By Napoléon III
Located in Bussiere Dunoise, Nouvel Aquitaine
French Vintage wooden oval Walnut Console Table Style Napoleon III from the 60s Handcrafted charming console- The Table Surface is covered with embossed Leather in grey gold and rest...
Metal
Sold
H 30.71 in Dm 22.45 in
A 19th Century Sèvres Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Pedestal Table, Napoleon III.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A 19th century Sèvres porcelain and gilt bronze pedestal table, Napoleon III period. A 19th century Napoleon III period Sèvres porcelain and gilt bronze pedestal table. H: 78cm, D: ...
Bronze
19th Century French Gueridon Pinewood Side Table - Antique Serving Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An original, antique French Gueridon table from the Napoleon III period. The round top is made of hand crafted painted Pinewood and the chassis is a tripod. In original condition wit...
Pine
19th Century French Gueridon Side Table - Antique Corner Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An original, antique French Gueridon table from the Napoleon III period. The painted Parisian Pinewood side table has a very decorative scalloped e...
Pine
19th Century French Gueridon Pinewood Table - Antique Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An original, antique French Gueridon table from the Napoleon III period. The painted Pinewood side table has a very decorative scalloped edge and e...
Pine
Napoleon III Period Gueridon or Occasional Table
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very ornate Mid-19th century guéridon, or occasional table, featuring three circular tiers – each one encircled by an intricate gallery of openwork bronze. Each tier is beautifully...
Brass