Napoleon Iii Boulle
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Planters, Cachepots and Ja...
Bronze, Zinc
Antique Mid-19th Century French Dry Bars
Crystal, Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Vitrines
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Planters, Cachepots and Jardini...
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Tea Caddies
Tortoise Shell
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Art
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Objects
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Center Tables
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Side Tables
Antique 19th Century French Tea Caddies
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Boxes
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Cigar Boxes and Humidors
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Cabinets
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Barware
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Cabinets
Brass, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Card Tables and Tea Tables
Antique 19th Century French Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Vitrines
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Center Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass, Bronze
Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Vitrines
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Floor Mirrors and Full-Length M...
Copper
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Gueridon
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Buffets
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III More Desk Accessories
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass, Bronze
Antique 1810s French Napoleon III Desks
Tortoise Shell
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Game Tables
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Brass
Antique 1850s English Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Chairs
Wood
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Planters and Jardinieres
Ormolu
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Tray Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Barware
Crystal, Bronze, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Brass
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Napoleon Iii Boulle For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Napoleon Iii Boulle?
A Close Look at Napoleon-iii Furniture
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.








