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Napoleon III Industrial and Work 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
19th Century French Black Wooden Working Table with Brass Decoration
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century work table in blackened wood inlaid with brass fillet, the lid reveals a tray with three compartments and a niche, it opens with a belt pocket. Curved legs, trim brass ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Industrial and Work Tables

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Black Wooden Working Table with Brass Decoration
19th Century French Black Wooden Working Table with Brass Decoration

19th Century French Black Wooden Working Table with Brass Decoration

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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Industrial and Work Tables

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19th Century French Oak Drapers Table
19th Century French Oak Drapers Table

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French 19th Century Etabli - Work Table
French 19th Century Etabli - Work Table

French 19th Century Etabli - Work Table

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French 19th Century Empire-Style Dressing Table
French 19th Century Empire-Style Dressing Table

French 19th Century Empire-Style Dressing Table

H 62.38 in W 30.63 in D 20.13 in
French Provincial Work Table, 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
French Provincial fruitwood work table or console table, 19th c., rectangular top, over two drawers to front and side, rising on tapered legs.
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French Provincial Work Table, 19th Century
French Provincial Work Table, 19th Century

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19th Century French Bistro Table
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
French bistro table, made of iron, wonderful aged patina, circa 1920.
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1920s French Vintage Napoleon III Industrial and Work Tables

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19th Century French Bistro Table
19th Century French Bistro Table

19th Century French Bistro Table

H 29.93 in Dm 23.63 in
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Located in Baton Rouge, LA
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French 19th Century Work Table

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H 32.63 in W 65.75 in D 30.75 in
Antique French Inlaid Napoleon III Side Table / Vanity 19th Century Marquetry
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
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19th Century French Wooden Shaving Mirror
Located in High Point, NC
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19th Century French Antique Napoleon III Industrial and Work Tables

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19th Century French Wooden Shaving Mirror
19th Century French Wooden Shaving Mirror

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Previously Available Items
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Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
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19th Century French Black Iron Bistrot Table with Original Weathered Marble Top
19th Century French Black Iron Bistrot Table with Original Weathered Marble Top

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Antique French Baker's Patisserie Table Base
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Large French 19th Century Draper's Table with Dark Finish

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French Antique Carpenter's Work Bench
French Antique Carpenter's Work Bench

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Napoleon Iii industrial and work tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Napoleon III industrial and work tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage industrial and work tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with brass, fruitwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Napoleon III industrial and work tables made in a specific country, there are and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original industrial and work tables, popular names associated with this style include and Gradé. 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 industrial and work tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,027 and tops out at $1,027 while the average work can sell for $1,027.

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