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.
Napoleon III Gutta Percha Desk Accessory Pen Holder, circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
An outstanding testament to 19th-century craftsmanship, this exceptional Napoleon III Gutta Percha pen holder was masterfully designed at the end of the 19th Century. The piece was m...
Latex
Wood Pen Holder, Black and gold Color Japan 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Wood Pen Holder, Black and gold Color Japan 19th Century
Wood
$847Sale Price|20% Off
Pocket Magnifying Glass in fired enamel two-tone stripes on guilloche Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Personal pocket magnifying glass in 925/1000 silver with translucent enamel in two-tone stripes on guilloche and hand-engraved in the French Empire Napoleon III style, second half of...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
NAPOLEON III Antique 1870 French Desk Tray Set In Gray Marble And Gilt Ormolu
By Napoléon III
Located in Miami, FL
A Napoleon III desk set in marble and ormolu. This is a beautiful and flamboyant desk tray set created in Paris France during the Napoleon III per...
Marble, Bronze, Gold, Ormolu
Saint-Louis Bedside Water Carafe & Pair of Bottles
Located in Atlanta, GA
Saint-Louis Bedside Water Carafe comprising of a plate, carafe and glass, with finely chiseled ormolu fittings. Additionally, a pair of matching bottles with faceted crystal stoppers...
Crystal, Bronze
$864Sale Price|49% Off
19th Century French Walnut and Brass Writing Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...
Brass
Calligraphy Box, XXth century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Calligraphy Box, XXth century. Calligraphy box with 2 brushes, dry ink, ink plate and small porcelain container with spoon in the original box. Dimensions : H: 4 cm, W: 17 cm, D: 1...
Textile
Collection of 9 Napoleonic figures, 19th century. Priced per figure.
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of 9 Napoleonic figures, 19th century. Great accessory for gentlemens library. German Porcelain Napoleonic Commanders, 6@4", 3 @ 4.5" X 4" 9 PCS. Priced per figure nine...
Porcelain
Three Solid Mahogany Display Stands, 19th Century, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Three solid mahogany display stands, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Three Napoleon III period solid mahogany display stands, 19th century, 1 large stand plus two others forming ...
Bronze
Large Brass Magnifying Glass and Paper Weight
Located in London, GB
Large decorative magnifier lens with domed glass magnification, encased in eye shape brass cast frame. Very decorative piece that can also be displayed a s paper weight of desk acces...
Brass
Edwardian Sterling Silver and Deep Pink Enamel-Mounted Magnifying Glass
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian, sterling silver and deep pink guilloche enamel-mounted magnifying glass, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1905, James Scholes -maker. Glass...
Metal, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage Wood Pen Holder and Lighter Set, Italian Design, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage wood pen holder and lighter is an original object realized in the 1970s. Original wood and metal. Made in Italy. The set includes: a geometr...
Metal
Edwardian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel-Mounted Magnifying Glass
By George Hope
Located in New York, NY
Large, Edwardian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel-mounted magnifying glass, Birmingham, England, 1906, Geo. Hope - maker. Measures almost 9 inches long x 3 3/4 inches diame...
Metal, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Marble
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
H 4 in Dm 11.75 in
Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870 A rare and unusual Napoleon III patinated bronze and ormolu crown from France, circa 1870. This distinctive work fea...
Bronze, Ormolu
Italian Artist Piero Dorazio Paper weight for Saint Louis France
By Piero Dorazio 1, Saint Louis
Located in Milan, IT
Italian Artist Piero Dorazio Paper weight for Saint Louis France. Signed and Numbered: Saint Louis France 62/350 Dorazio
Glass
PAIR OF 19th Century French CHENETS Louis XVI Style
Located in Madrid, ES
PAIR OF 19th Century French CHENETS Louis XVI style, in gilded metal. Dim.: 29 x 13 x 5 cm good conditions
Metal
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Inkwell from France, C. 1840
Located in Dallas, TX
This piece of nineteenth-century French elegance is sure to be the envy of any collector. The Napoleon III gilt bronze inkwell is a prized find, crafted in circa 1840 France with int...
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Giltwood Watch Holder
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully carved figural giltwood pocket watch stand.
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.5 in W 17.75 in D 10 in
Large Antique Campaign Burr Walnut Writing Box. English. Dated 1871
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful burr walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware Expertly restored Original brass topped inkwells Working secret drawers* R...
Brass
Antique French Desk Accessory, Ormolu, Cut Glass and a Quill Pen
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This charming antique French souvenir desk accessory from the 20th century beautifully captures the romance of Paris in a compact and highly decorative form. Crafted as a letter hold...
Metal
$775
H 1.13 in W 4.38 in D 6.38 in
Vintage 1980s Gucci Desk Set Accessories - Leather Pen + Paper Holder & Tray
By Gucci
Located in St. Louis, MO
Nice 1980s Gucci - Italy designed leather desk accessories set, includes pen holder, note paper holder and small tray. The leather pieces have the classic green and red stripe, with ...
Ceramic, Leather, Suede
$2,101Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 5.32 in W 12.01 in D 9.06 in
Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With Key
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With A Tooled Black Leather Scriver Slope will include A Single Glass Inkwell A vintage pen S moder...
Brass
$750
H 7.29 in W 9.85 in D 9.06 in
Early Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box with Originally Paint
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, most likely used to keep writing supplies and office materials.
Pine
18th Century Italian Marble Holy Water Fonts in Napoleon III Style
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Pair of 18th Century Italian Holy Water Fonts. In good condition. Perfect for Soap Dishes. Unique set purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us wit...
Marble
Antique French Boulle Writing Box
Located in Northampton, GB
Edged In Brass From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this French Boulle Writing Box. The Writing Box of small form having a square shaped body veneered in ebonise...
Brass
Pair of 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Marble Incense Burners.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of 19th century gilt bronze and marble incense burners. Pair of 19th century incense burners, Napoleon III period, gilt bronze and marble. ...
Marble, Bronze
c. 1865 French Napoleon III Table Top Writing Desk Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
French, circa 1865, Napoleon III table top writing desk box. Burl amboyna, ebony & boulle inlays. Opens to undulating divided stationary compartment &...
Velvet, Burl
Sold
H 7 in W 15 in D 11.875 in
Circa 1850 French Burl Elm and Brass Mounted "Ecritoire" Traveling Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Introducing the ecritoire de voyage, a beautiful and functional travel desk hand-carved in France circa 1850. Constructed with a gorgeous burl elm exterior and brass elements reflecting the Napoleon III period (known as Second Empire) during which it was made. Second Empire pieces drew inspiration from multiple periods, and in this particular case, the ecritoire features motifs from the Empire period, which coincided with the reign of Napoleon III’s uncle, Napoleon Bonaparte. The elder Napoleon favored themes found in ancient civilizations, such as Rome, Greece, and Macedonia, reflecting his belief that he was a contemporary of the likes of Caesar, King Leonidas...
Metal, Brass
Sealing Seal, Sterling Silver and Garnet, Period, XIXth Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
Lovely old seal, in finely chiseled solid silver. It represents a religious figure dressed in a Benedictine monk's robe and brandishing a cross with his right hand. He rests barefoot on a chiseled silver globe representing the Earth, magnified by 12 small encrusted “round cut” garnets. This is placed on a base forming a cylinder, finely chiseled, monogrammed in Gothic letter. Period: 19th century Dimensions: Height: 7cm - Diameter: 2cm Four Hallmarks (illegible): Two on the left sleeve and Two on the base. This religious figure refers to Saint Benedict...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 5.91 in W 12.99 in D 7.87 in
Special writing Set, inkwell, bronze, silvered, Napoleon III, ~1880, France
Located in Wien, AT
Very decorative writing set, of the last third of the 19. century - Napoleon III. Made out of (probably fire gilded) bronze with richly designed décor with patinated and silver-plate...
Bronze
Sealing Seal, Zebra Jasper and Silver, Period: 19th Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
Very nice seal in green zebra jasper with black stripes. The zebra jasper is the "anti-apathy" stone. It allows to be optimistic in spite of the str...
Silver
Cloisonné Bronze Desk Set, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Cloisonné bronze desk set, 19th century A cloisonné bronze desk set composed of a pair of candlesticks, an inkwell, a penholder, Napoleon III period, 19th century. Measures: Candle...
Bronze
Gilt Bronze And Enamel Cloisonné Office Set End of XIXth Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Gilt Bronze And Enamel Cloisonné Office Set End of XIXth Century " Set composed of a desk set inkwell with paper cutter, paper press, letter holder pair of cup in capital and clo...
Bronze, Enamel
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze and Marble Inkwell
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Marble and gilt bronze Empire style writing case. It is composed of two containers with removable glass cups. The lids are decorated with foliage and braids. In the centre, there is ...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 4.73 in W 8.67 in D 5.91 in
Napoleon III Desk Inkwell in Boulle Marquetry, France, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Napoleon III inkwell in Boulle style Marquetry in a special Queen's style marquetry composition of Brass and mother of pearl in all facades even on its back. It rests on 4 bronze fee...
Bronze, Brass
Early 20th Century Cloisonné Bronze Desk Set in Napoleon III Style
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Early 20th century cloisonné bronze desk set in Napoleon III style. Measures: Inkwell - H 10 cm, W 26 cm, D 16 cm Tampon - H 6, W 13 cm, D 7 c...
Bronze
Inkwell in Meissen Porcelain, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Inkwell in Meissen porcelain, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Measures: H 19 cm, W 36 cm, D 16 cm.
Porcelain
Inkwell in Gilded and Cloisonné Bronze and Onyx
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Inkwell in gilded and Cloisonné bronze and onyx, 19th century, Napoleone III period. Measures: H 17 cm, W 37 cm, D 22 cm.
Onyx, Bronze