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.
Napoleonic Empire Cushion French Silk Thread Embroidery silk tassels chasuble
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Napoleonic Empire cushion gold cannetille embroidered on silk satin. Cushion with a rich, colorful, heavenly and luxurious appaerance. Made of genuine satin and woven silk 19th cent...
Silk, Down, Satin
$755Sale Price|20% Off
French Needlepoint Throw Cushion Animals Pillow Metallic Thread Cannetille Gold
By Bernard Van Orley
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Antique French pillow - throw cushion with incredible detailed floral design and texture. Style: Antique, Flemish, French, Renaissance, Celtic, Medieval 19th century needlepoint and...
Metallic Thread
$955Sale Price|70% Off
Napoleonic Empire Cushion French Silk Gold Metallic Thread Cannetille Embroidery
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Large Napoleonic Empire cushion gold cannetille embroidered on silk satin. Cushion with a rich, colorful, heavenly and luxurious appaerance. Made of genuine silk satin and 19th centu...
Gold
French Provincial Floral Needlepoint Tapestry Style Lumbar Pillow Cushion
Located in New York, NY
Pastel colored Floral French Provincial style Lumbar needlepoint pillow. Made of wool with a cream colored backing. It measures 17 x 13 inches. Needlepoint on the front is Pristine a...
Wool
$69Sale Price|50% Off
H 11.82 in W 11.42 in D 0.04 in
12"x12" 100% Silk Cushion Cover. Embroidered Throw Pillow. Handmade Throw Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
New Hand-Embroidered 100% Silk Cushion Cover – Authentic Uzbek Textile Art Elevate your home décor with this exquisite hand-embroidered Suzani cushion cover, crafted from 100% pure ...
Silk
$62Sale Price|40% Off
H 19.69 in W 12.6 in D 0.04 in
13"x20" Handmade Cushion Cover. Vintage Toss Pillow. Throw Pillow. Lumbar Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Add a touch of history and warmth to your space with this vintage handmade Turkish wool rug cushion cover. Crafted from authentic hand-knotted Turkish rugs, each piece is one-of-a-ki...
Wool, Cotton
$99Sale Price|50% Off
H 20.08 in W 19.69 in D 0.04 in
20"x21" Silk Cushion Cover. Embroidered Pillow. New Throw Pillow. Accent Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
New Hand-Embroidered 100% Silk Cushion Cover – Authentic Uzbek Textile Art Elevate your home décor with this exquisite hand-embroidered Suzani cushion cover, crafted from 100% pure ...
Silk
Antique Textile Pillow from Turkestan, Cotton & Metallic Thread, 1920
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Exceptional pillow made of gold metallic thread embroidery on cotton foundation with beautiful artistic geometric motifs. Fine cotton backing. Salvaged from larger antique tribal textile.
Metallic Thread
$1,312 / set
H 19.69 in W 13.78 in D 4.73 in
Silver Sequined Cushions Rectangular Hand Embroidery on Silk Color Peppercorn
Located in Hamburg, DE
1 pair of cushion with silver sequins color antique silver, hand embroidered on the front panel, back side plain silk Bruno triplet # 68 color pep...
Silver
Antique Needlepoint Cushion
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rectangular needlepoint cushion with tassel fringe, French, 19th century Measures: 22" x 12".
Canvas
$1,800Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 13 in W 18 in D 4 in
Pair of Brocaded Silk with Metallic Thread Dries Van Noten Fabric Cushion
Located in New York, NY
A pair of newly made Brocaded silk with metallic thread dries Van Noten fabric cushion.
Fabric
Tiger Cat Animal Print Cotton Throw Pillow
Located in New York, NY
A new tiger cat animal print cotton throw pillow, with zipper and insert. In original wrapping (new/never used.) Made in the USA. Measures: 14" x 14" Black...
Cotton
$80Sale Price|55% Off
H 17.33 in W 16.93 in D 0.04 in
Silk Hand Embroidery Cushion Cover. Suzani Sham. Decorative Throw Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Decorative cushion cover made of hand embroidery silk on linen background, flowers and vine motifs, linen backing with zipper, no insert. Delicate and specialised washing advised. ...
Cotton, Linen, Silk
$2,750
H 29 in W 24.5 in D 0.05 in
19th C. Islamic Textile Ottoman Empire Silver Metallic Threads Antique Fragment
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
19th C. Islamic Textile Ottoman Empire Silver Metallic Threads Antique Fragment. Early 19th century antique Islamic Ottoman Empire metallic threads embroidered silk textile. Antique oriental byzantine textile depicting embroidered flowers depicting branches filled-in with silk floss threads creating an intricate embroidered pattern. On two of the corners, the antique textile...
Silk
$99Sale Price|50% Off
H 19.69 in W 18.12 in D 0.04 in
19"x20" Silk Embroidery Cushion Cover. Traditional Pillowcase. New Throw Pillow
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Infuse your home with the rich heritage of Central Asia with this exquisite Hand-Embroidered Suzani Cushion Cover, crafted by skilled artisans in Uzbekistan. This stunning textile is...
Cotton, Silk
Pair of Mitered Fortuny Cushions in the Malmaison Pattern
Located in New York, NY
A pair of mitered Fortuny fabric cushions in the Malmaison pattern, silk blend backing material and silk bias edging, brown and gold color way with tan stripe motif, the pattern, nam...
Cotton, Silk
Napoleon III Aubusson Tapestry Cushion
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This Aubusson tapestry fragment is unusual in that the floral pattern is solely in shades of tan and brown. The bullion fringe is from Houlès of Paris and the fill is down. The bac...
Silk, Wool, Down
Napoleon III Aubusson Tapestry Cushion
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This Aubusson cushion with a cream ground has a floral motif in shades of rose and pink. The panel is set on a cream/beige velvet front and back. The bullion passementerie is from ...
Silk, Wool, Down
Pair of Napoeon III Aubusson Tapestry Cushions
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of cushions hand made of finely woven silk and wool Aubusson tapestry. They are down filled, trimmed with Houlès tassled passem...
Silk, Wool, Down