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.
Pair of French 19th Century Green Cast Iron Garden Urns by Alfred Corneau
Located in Hastings, GB
An outstanding and highly decorative pair of French 19th-century cast iron garden urns, meticulously crafted by the renowned Alfred Corneau Foundry in Charleville, France. This scarc...
Cast Iron
$3,250 / set
Pair of 19th Century French Cast Iron Urns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning pair of 19th-century French cast iron urns, exuding classical elegance and fine craftsmanship. These decorative urns feature intricately designed scalloped rims that creat...
Iron
$7,200 / set
Grand Pair Of 19th Century French Garden Urns
By Alfred Corneau, Corneau Freres
Located in Houston, TX
Grand Pair Of 19th Century French Garden Urns. Offered is an extra large pair of 19th century French cast iron garden urns with large exaggerated handles. Our French Napoleon III iro...
Iron
$1,960Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Iron Garden Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Iron Garden Urns still show the aged forest green painted finish that was popular during the era, along with a century and a half of pati...
Iron
Pair of large 19th Century green painted Napoleon III urns with handles
Located in Washington, DC
Pair of 19th Century French Napoleon III Garden Urns. This is an extra large pair of 19th century French cast iron with large decorative exaggerated handles. This pair would work w...
Iron
Pair of Napoleon III Urns with Original Polychromy
Located in New York, NY
Retaining their original polychromy in the neo-Gothic style, these pieces represent a trend typical of the Second Empire—large planters intended for exterior spaces with either intri...
Iron
Napoleon III Urn, Charleville Design
Located in Washington, DC
Napoleon III Urn, Design, Charleville Design Cast Iron
Iron
19th Century Green French Urn with Handles
Located in Hastings, GB
19th century French cast iron urn with decorative twin handles Bottle green with orangey colored undertones, stunning shape, 58cm width, 39cm depth, 32cm height.
Iron
French Sevres Style Porcelain and Ormolu Urn
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French Napoleon III porcelain urn, dating to approximately 1880. The urn features a rich yellow ground decorated with gilt ornamentation and hand-painted scenic reserves, including...
Porcelain, Paint
$2,850 / set
Pair of Napoleon Cast Iron Urns
Located in Washington, DC
A pair of Napoleon cast iron urns.
Iron
Pair of Italian Carved Marble Neoclassical Urns with Lotus Motif
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Italian Carved Marble Neoclassical Urns with Lotus Motif ,Sold in Pairs Only. Offered is a pair of strikingly sculptural Italian carved marble urns, executed in richly vein...
Carrara Marble
Pair of Octagonal Reconstituted Stone Urns
Located in London, GB
A pair of octagonal mid-20th century reconstituted stone urns in the neoclassical style with carved foliate detail raised on small socles, Eng...
Stone
Pair of Solid Granite Large Urns
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of tall granite urns, carved from one piece of solid stone. Unpolished. They are heavy! The depth of the inside opening is 7.5”. Diameter of opening is 12”.
Granite
19th Century French Cast Iron Urn
Located in Ongar, GB
A very decorative French 19th century cast iron urn which is decorated with a pair of Lion heads. It has a beautiful patina with ol...
Iron
Pair of Large Italian Urns
Located in Hudson, NY
Stamp says: Arte Italica, Made in Italy.
Ceramic
Pair of 19th Century Cast Iron Urns on Marbleized Pedestals
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely pair of Campania form urns on painted and marbleized bases are from the 19th century. The urns show more wear and surface than the pedestals and both were used indoors as...
Iron
$1,295
H 17 in W 23.75 in D 23.75 in
19th Century French Neoclassical Cast Iron Garden Urn in Deep Green
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A large, Neoclassical cast iron garden urn from the 19th century, exhibiting all the elegance and grandeur of the period. Painted in a deep green, the urn features iconic and timeles...
Iron
Pair of Italian Palatial Garden Urns/Medici Vases with Carved Marble
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of beautiful bell-shaped palatial garden urns carved with fine white marble depicting classical imagery of female figures and grapevines. Inspired...
Marble
Pair of Antique 19th Century Cast Iron Neoclassical Garden Urns
Located in Peabody, MA
A pair of 19th century cast iron neoclassical urns, with traces of Gustavian blue paint within the exterior of their reeded bowls. Unmarked, though most likely French.
Cast Iron
19th Century Pair of Black Cast Iron Urns
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century pair of black cast iron urns with baluster pillars and unusual cabbage leaf tops sitting on solid tapering squared bases. The...
Iron
Pair 19th Century Neoclassical Cast Iron Garden Urns
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century Neoclassical Cast Iron Garden Urns are ideal for exterior or interior use. Each is a heavy casting that features a splendid neoclassical design inspired by ancient...
Iron
Pair of Cast Iron Garden Urn Planters with Weathered Patina
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A beautiful pair of cast iron garden urn planters with a naturally weathered patina. Originally painted white, they retain traces of old paint alongside areas of exposed iron and rus...
Cast Iron
Sold
H 16.75 in W 24.5 in D 15.13 in
Pair of 19th Century French Cast Iron Garden Urns Attributed to Alfred Corneau
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th century French cast iron Garden urns attributed to Alfred Corneau. This rare pair of Mid-19th Century French cast iron garden urns are adorned with well detailed griffin handles are heavy weight and in very good condition. Our outstanding pair of 19th century French cast iron urns is attributed to Corneau Charleville...
Iron
Dragon Handled French Green Cast Iron Tazza Urns
Located in Hastings, GB
Finely cast pair of Dragon handled French cast iron Tazza Urns. Dating to circa 1860, France. Exceptionally well cast heavy iron urns, dragons adorn either side, each with wings ou...
Iron
19th C Corneau Frères Charleville Silver Grey Cast Iron Urn
By Corneau Freres
Located in Hastings, GB
Dating to circa 1860 this stunning heavy cast iron urn by the Corneau Charleville Foundry is in superb condition. This piece is in it's raw iron...
Iron
19th Century Corneau Frères Charleville Cast Iron Urn
By Corneau Freres
Located in Hastings, GB
Dating to circa 1860 this stunning heavy cast iron urn by the Corneau Charleville Foundry is in superb condition. Height 40.5 cm x Width 47cm (h...
Iron
Large 19th C Corneau Frères Charleville Grey Cast Iron Urn
By Corneau Freres
Located in Hastings, GB
Dating to circa 1860 this stunning heavy cast iron urn of large proportions by the Corneau Charleville Foundry is in superb condition. Measures:...
Iron
19th Century Large French Cast Iron Jardinière Planter
Located in Hastings, GB
19th C large French cast iron jardiniere / planter. This large size antique jardiniere is stunning highly decorative in design with a flut...
Iron
Planter in Gilt Bronze and Copper Patina Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Planter in gilt bronze and copper patina bronze, the Napoleon III period, 19th century. Measures: H 22 cm, W 42.5 cm, D 20 cm.
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Cast Iron Urns or Jardinieres
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful pair of cast iron jardinieres, so-called 'Vases Chambord' on shallow fluted feet, with gadrooning at the lower body, a leave rim and scrolled foliate handles. Remains of gr...
Iron
Pair of Large French 19th Century Terracotta Vases
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of great vases, Napoleon III era, made in terracotta with decoration of vegetable motifs. The vases can be disassembled into three parts.
Terracotta
Mid-19th Century antique Pair of French Zinc Urn Finials on plinths
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mid 19th Century, Impressive pair of zinc finials decorated with swags, leaves and topped with a pomme de pin. The draped urn finials originate from a chateau located in the Loire re...
Zinc
Pair of French Napoleon III Cast Iron Jardinieres
Located in Round Top, TX
A wonderful pair of French Napoleon III period cast iron Jardinieres. The pair retains the original black painted finish. A lovely addition to any interior or exterior setting.
Iron
Napoleon III Pair of Gilt Bronze and Alabaster Cassolettes
Located in Encino, CA
Very fine pair of Louis XVI style Napoleon III ormolu bronze and white alabaster cassolettes of ovoid form. A pine cone finial crowns the top. The pine cone finial lifts the alabas...
Alabaster, Ormolu, Bronze