Napoleon Iii Boulle
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Ormolu
Antique 1840s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Gueridon
Brass
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Tea Caddies
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Ebony
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Gueridon
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique 19th Century French Side Tables
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Glass
Crystal, Bronze
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Pedestals
Antique 1870s French Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Baroque Revival Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Side Tables
Ebony
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Tables
Bronze, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Fireplaces and Mantels
Belgian Black Marble, Copper
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III More Desk Accessories
Tortoise Shell
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace Mirrors
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Napoleon III Planters and Jardinieres
Brass, Ormolu
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Tortoise Shell
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Inkwells
Brass
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Tortoise Shell
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Tortoise Shell
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Inkwells
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Barware
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Napoleon III Bookcases
Brass
Antique 1880s English Napoleon III Cabinets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Napoleon III Vitrines
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Jars
Brass
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Desks
Brass
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Secretaires
20th Century Italian Cabinets
Brass
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Buffets
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Clocks
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III End Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Planters and Jardinieres
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Napoleon III Pedestals and Columns
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Barware
Glass, Burl
- 1
- ...
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.








