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.
Édouard Garnier Sèvres Porcelain Vases Chromolithograph, Plate XLVI, 1892
Located in Downingtown, PA
Édouard Garnier Sèvres Porcelain Vase Garniture Chromolithograph, Gilt Framed This chromolithograph reproduces a garniture of three covered Sèvres soft-paste porcelain vases on deep...
Paper
$441Sale Price|20% Off
Late 19th-Century French Equestrian Prints by Ernest Alexandre Bodoy, A. Legras
Located in Glasgow, GB
Late 19th-Century French Equestrian chromolithograph prints by Ernest Alexandre Bodoy, A. Legras. Capturing the exhilarating energy of equestrian steeplechase scenes, as originally...
Wood, Lacquer, Paper
Édouard Garnier Sèvres Porcelain Vases Chromolithograph, Plate XXV, 1892
Located in Downingtown, PA
Édouard Garnier Sèvres Porcelain Vases Chromolithograph, Plate XXV, Framed This chromolithograph reproduces three Sèvres soft-paste porcelain vases on deep bleu grounds, drawn by Éd...
Paper
19th Century Continental Print, Napoleon III Style, Paper, France
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Continental Print. Beautiful print, see detailed pics. Contact us for more information.
Paper
Gustave Doré, “Chasse au Condor”, 1862 Color Lithograph, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
This large and dramatic 19th-century color lithograph depicts an exotic hunting scene titled Chasse au Condor (Australie). Set within a rugged and expansive landscape, the compositio...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Old Original Engraving with soldiers characters France 19th
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is an engraving,black color. Representing Soldiers. It has been made in France in the 19th Century. With the collection stamp.
Paper
Set of Three 19th Century French Hand-Colored Fashion Engravings in Frames
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with charm and narrative using this delightful set of three antique French engravings. Published in Paris circa 1880, the prints are taken from La Saison, Journal Ill...
Giltwood, Paper, Glass
$614Sale Price|20% Off
Chromo-Lithograph Boat of Nymphs by H Clementz in Its Frame, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Boat of Nymphs by Hermann Clementz. Clementz was a German genre and portrait painter (1852-1930). In 2012, the original oil painted of this lithograph "Boat of Nymphs" was found in...
Paper, Wood
$175Sale Price|30% Off
Antique Napoleon Bonaparte First Consul at Malmaison Print Burl Frame
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte depicted as the First Consul. The original artwork was created by the French painter Jean-Baptiste Isabey. He is standing in front of the C...
Burl, Paper
Antique Sèvres Blue-Ground Covered Vases Gilt Chromolithograph After Garnier
Located in Downingtown, PA
Édouard Garnier Sèvres Porcelain Vases Chromolithograph, Plate XXXVII, Framed This chromolithograph reproduces three covered Sèvres soft-paste porcelain vases on deep bleu grounds, ...
Paper
Suite of 5 Framed Engravings, Antique Scenes, 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Suite of 5 Framed Engravings, Antique Scenes, 19th Century. Suite of 5 framed antique engravings from the 19th century, depicting scenes in ...
Paper
Old Original Engraving with soldiers characters France 19th set of 10
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is an engraving, with blue, Red colors. Representing Soldiers in place Vendôme, and Place du Chatelet in Paris.. It has been made in France in the 19th Century. With the collect...
Paper
Old Original Engraving with soldiers characters Dutch 17th Century Set of 12
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is an engravings set of 12, with black color. Representing Soldiers. It has been made in Holland in the 17th Century.
Paper
Old Original Engraving with soldiers characters in Paris France 19th
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is an engraving, with blue, Red colors. Representing Soldiers in place Vendôme, and Place du Chatelet in Paris.. It has been made in France in the 19th Century. With the collect...
Paper
19th Century French Color Women Fashion Prints Framed Dated 1890 "Set of Five"
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a bathroom or a walking closet with this collection of antique "Mode de Paris" fashion prints. Crafted in France during the Napoleon III period...
Giltwood, Paper
Jean François Millet (French, 1814-1875), "La Couseuse", Etching on Laid Paper
Located in Morristown, NJ
Jean François Millet (French, 1814–1875) La Couseuse (The Seamstress), circa 1855 Etching in dark brown ink on laid paper A quietly powerful etching by the renowned French Realist J...
Paper
Nargeol Adrien Pair Prints Painted Watercolor With Gilded Frames
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Pair of prints engraved by burin and painted in watercolor; both are a tribute to Cupid; the name Cupid - meaning desire, lust - was given by the Romans to the Greek god of love, actually called Eros. Alternatively, he was called just Love always by the Latins. As the son of Aphrodite, goddess of love, he, like his mother, was capable of any act, even deplorable. In the first print, which has been cut out and shaped, there are two young girls offering God a basket of fruit and a goblet of wine; in the second print a mature woman is about to be hit by Cupid's love arrow; both prints have been made with a beautiful burin engraving, then finished with delicate watercolors. The frames are handmade in gilded wood. The prints were made between 1850 and 1855 by Adrien Nargeol (see signature) a prolific and talented French engraver and were published in the "Journal des Demoiselles...
Wood, Paper
G. Doré (1832–1883) Chasse à l’Ours (Russie), lithograph, 1862, Paris, France
Located in NICE, FR
This striking 19th-century color lithograph depicts a dramatic hunting scene titled Chasse à l’Ours (Russie). Set within a vast, snow-covered landscape, the composition captures a mo...
Glass, Wood, Paper
19th Century Engraving, under Glass, Depicting "the Family Museum"
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century engraving, under glass, depicting "The Family Museum". Contact us before ordering to confirm product availability. Measures: H 21cm, L 14cm, P 1cm
Paper
Steel Engraving from the 19th Century of Rembrandt by Francesco Novelisme
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Steel engraving from the 19th century of Rembrandt by Francesco Novelisme, 1992. Measures: H 21cm, L 16cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product availability.
Paper
Steel Engraving from the 19th Century Representing a Painting of Rembrandt
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Steel engraving from the 19th century representing a painting of Rembrandt by Franceso Novesllsine. 1892 Measure: H 23cm, L 19cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product avail...
Paper
“Chasse au Cerf (France)” Color Lithograph by S. Le Pippre, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
French color lithograph titled “Chasse au Cerf (France)”, depicting a dynamic hunting scene set within a wooded landscape. The composition captures the dramatic moment of a stag hunt...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Steel Engraving of the Portrait of Peter Paul Rubens
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Steel engraving of the portrait of Peter Paul Rubens, 19th century. Measures: H 27cm, L 20cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm product availability.
Paper
19th Century Engraving, under Glass, Representing an Elegant Front and Back
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century engraving, under glass, representing an elegant front and back Contact us before ordering to confirm product availability. Measures: W 31cm, D 21cm, H 5cm.
Paper
Academic engraving titled "Baptism in Lower Alsace" after by François Flameng
Located in Argenteuil, IDF
Rare and beautiful etching on wove paper with a watermark, BFK Rives, signed, titled, and published by the Société Française des Amis des Arts around 1900. Title "BAPTEME DANS LA BASSE-ALSACE" engraved by Léopold Flameng (1831-1911), after the painting by his son François Flameng (1856-1923) The etching and plate are in perfect condition, with slight fading on the fringed edges. Dimensions: "Baptème dans la Basse-Alsace" etching: Sheet: 325 x 460 mm - Engraving: 200 x 254 mm - Engraving plate: 250 x 300 mm Engraved signature: Léop. Flameng under the engraving in the center Engraved signature François Flameng 1890-91 in the engraving lower right & Blank signature of the Société Française des Amis des Arts under the engraving lower left. Léopold Flameng, Belgian painter and engraver, was born to French parents. He was a student of Luigi Calamatta and Jean Gigoux. His skill as a burinist brought him to the attention of Charles Blanc, and his collaboration on publications such as L'Artiste and the Gazette des beaux-arts, with Léon Gaucherel, was one of the first engravers for this magazine, which would establish his reputation. Georges Duplessis, art historian, quotes him in a work published in 1869: "Léopold Flameng rose in his time to the rank of master." He received a medal at the 1878 World's Fair. Known for his etchings after Jan van Eyck, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Ingres, and Eugène Delacroix, he illustrated several books on Paris as well as numerous literary works by classical and contemporary authors, including Boccaccio, Paul Scarron, Victor Hugo, and François Coppée. François Flameng was the son of the famous painter and engraver Léopold Flameng. He attended the Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris for his secondary education. Learning to paint from his father, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the studio of Alexandre Cabanel, then in those of Pierre Edmond Alexandre Hédouin and Jean-Paul Laurens. As early as 1870, he produced several reproductions of works by painters Alfred Sisley, Édouard Manet, and Claude Monet for the catalog of the Durand-Ruel Gallery. In 1875, he made his debut at the Salon des Artistes Français with his painting "Le Lectern." He received numerous commissions for portraits, historical scenes, and decorative paintings. His academic style, combining precise drawing and mastery of color, appealed to the bourgeoisie and aristocracy of the time. During his career, François Flameng was elevated to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor and elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. He left behind a considerable artistic legacy. His works, preserved in the world's greatest museums, bear witness to his exceptional talent and his significant contribution to French art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Société Française des Amis des Arts was founded in 1885 at the Palais de l'Industrie for the development of the arts, supported by numerous distinguished subscribers: Messrs. Gaston Doumergue (President of the French Republic), Baron Edmond de Rothschild, Count Greffulhe, the brothers Alfred, Jules, and Léon Bernheim, Louis Boucheron, Edgar Brandt, Emile Buland, Paul Chabas, Viscount Guy de Dampierre, Colonel Francis E. Drake, André Fallières, Louis Lévy, Paul Louchet, Maurice Moisset, Louis Montagné...
Paper
Philae Island, framed engraving, XIXth century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large framed engraving representing a view of the island and the temple of Philae: "general view taken from the North West side" It bears the mentions "Balzac del", "Paris ag Fort" ...
Paper
Pair of 19th Century Belgian Botanical Lithographs
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of framed prints of 19th century lithographs, Belgium, circa 1870. The two prints depict five different peaches; the first Alexander and R...
$359Sale Price|62% Off
H 22.84 in W 15.75 in D 0.04 in
Antique Map of Principality of Monaco, Late 19th Century, Paper Print
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
ST/619 - "Old Geographical Atlas of Italy - Topographic map of ex-Principality of Monaco" - ediz Vallardi - Milano - A somewhat special edition ---
Paper
Antique Print of Madrid, Early 19th Century, Paper, Circa 1820
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Madrid'. View of Madrid, published in Hildburghausen, Germany.
Paper
Large Original Antique Print By Gustave Doré, " Minos "
By Gustave Doré
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Sensational image by Gustave Doré Woodcut engraving Published C.1880 Unframed. Free shipping
Paper
Set of Four 19th Century Equestrian Prints
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of four 19th century equestrian prints.
Framed 19th Century French Victorian Engraving Prints in Giltwood
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of French Victorian (19th Century) prints of engravings titled \"Vestale\" (a reference to Gaspare Spontini\'s 1807 opera \"La vestale\") and \"Euterpe\" (Greek mythology\'s mus...
Giltwood
$2,000
H 25 in W 27.5 in D 1 in
19th-Century Pair of Equestrian Engravings – Framed Antique Hunting Prints
By William Barraud
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Bring the allure of the English countryside into your home with this remarkable pair of antique equestrian prints. These hand-colored engravi...
Wood, Paper, Glass
19th Century Hand Tinted Botanical Lithographs - 12 Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand tinted botanical lithographs. Framed and matted with linen. Four individual lithographs within one frame. 12 available.
Linen, Wood, Paper
$768 / set
H 16.54 in W 12.21 in D 0.04 in
Pair of Antique Flower Prints, Italian, Late 19th Century, Paper
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Pair of Italian prints , collected from "Winter Flowers" and "Autumn Flowers" dated 1894 - authors: Arnaldo Ferraguti and Tito Chelazzi. Now I have only these two prints, because ...
Paper
19th Century Painted Lithograph Depicting Yacht "Julia"
By C. G. Grehen
Located in Long Island City, NY
19th century lithograph by C.G. Grehen Depicting Yacht "Julia" built by George Steers. Hand-painted by W. Marsh Esq. and dedicated to James M. Waterbury Esq.
Alken Cockfight Prints, 19th Century
By Henry Alken
Located in Savannah, GA
Henry Thomas Alken (British, 1785-1851) A set of 3 cockfighting scenes; two images drawn and engraved by C.B. Stock, the other (diptych) by Henry Alken, published in London by W.C. ...
Glass, Wood, Paper
19th Century Print on Paper Antique Greek Vase
Located in Brescia, IT
Antique Greek vase print on paper 19th Century France This is a beautiful baroque print of an antique Greek vase. Contemporary wooden black ...
Paper
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H 14.26 in W 18.9 in D 0.79 in
Hand colored etching : view of Château de Vincennes - Napoléon III period - 1860
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine hand-colored etching showing the Chateau de Vincennes in 1860, with la Sainte Chapelle on the right. It is set into a solid mahogany frame with a French varnish finish. Frame...
Paper
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H 14.26 in W 18.9 in D 0.79 in
Hand colored etching : view of Paris, St Paul church - Napoléon III period 1860
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine hand-colored etching showing St Paul Church in Paris (Le Marais, beginning rue de Rivoli, ending rue Saint Antoine) in 1860 : a picturesque and charming depiction of mid-19th ...
Paper
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H 14.26 in W 18.9 in D 0.79 in
Hand colored etching : view of Paris, St Jacques Tower - Napoléon III period
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine hand-colored etching showing Saint Jacques Tower (La Tour Saint Jacques in Paris) - Paris, in 1860 : a picturesque and charming depiction of mid-19th century with a lot of cha...
Paper
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H 14.26 in W 18.9 in D 0.79 in
Hand colored etching : view of Paris, Town Hall - Napoléon III period - 1860
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine hand-colored etching showing Paris Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville de Paris) in 1860 : a picturesque and charming depiction of mid-19th century seen from quai de Corse, with a lot o...
Paper
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H 18.9 in W 14.26 in D 0.79 in
Hand colored etching : view of Paris, ND de Lorette inside - Napoléon III period
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine hand-colored etching showing church Notre Dame de Lorette inside in 1860 : a picturesque depiction of this church in the mid-19th century, with many characters. It also shows ...
Paper
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H 18.9 in W 14.26 in D 0.79 in
Hand colored etching : view of Paris, Panthéon - Napoléon III period - 1860
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine hand-colored etching showing the Panthéon in Paris in 1860 : a picturesque and charming depiction of mid-19th century upper class life there, with a lot of characters, stores ...
Paper
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H 18.9 in W 14.26 in D 0.79 in
Hand colored etching : view of Paris, place Vendôme - Napoléon III period - 1860
Located in GRENOBLE, FR
A fine hand-colored etching showing place Vendôme in Paris in 1860 : a picturesque and charming depiction of mid-19th century upper class life there, with a lot of characters, stores...
Paper
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H 37.8 in W 42.92 in D 2.37 in
French Napoleon III Engraving “Battle of Marengo” by Jacques-Joseph Coiny
By Louis Aimé Lejeune
Located in Valladolid, ES
Exceptional and unique engraving made by the engraver Jacques-Joseph Coiny, after the painting by Louis-François Lejeune on the Battle of Marengo (1800). Louis-François Lejeune was a...
Fruitwood, Paper
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H 37.8 in W 42.92 in D 2.37 in
French Napoleon III Engraving “Battle of Marengo” by Jacques-Joseph Coiny
By Louis Aimé Lejeune
Located in Valladolid, ES
Exceptional and unique engraving made by the engraver Jacques-Joseph Coiny, after the painting by Louis-François Lejeune on the Battle of Marengo (1800). Louis-François Lejeune was a...
Fruitwood, Paper
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H 0.04 in W 4.34 in D 5.91 in
Old Original Engraving with soldiers characters Dutch 17th Century Set of 3
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This is an engravings set of 3, with black color. Representing Soldiers. It has been made in Holland in the 17th Century.
Paper
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H 14.18 in W 11.03 in D 1.19 in
Regnier, Bettanier, Morlon, French Color Lithographs With Period Gold Leaf Frame
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Parti...
Wood, Paper
First Edition Prints 'Description de L'Egypt'
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Three framed early 19th century first edition prints - 'Description de L'Egypt'. After Napoleon conquered Egypt in the early 1800s he sent teams of...
Wood