Napoleon III furniture is French furniture made during the Second Empire, the reign of Emperor Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870. Rather than forming a single coherent style, it is characterised by a rich eclecticism that revived and combined earlier French styles, particularly those of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, alongside Renaissance and exotic influences.
Typical pieces include ebonised and blackened pearwood cabinets inlaid with brass and tortoiseshell in the Boulle manner, side cabinets mounted with gilt bronze and porcelain plaques, marquetry tables, lavishly upholstered deep-buttoned chairs and the fashionable pouf and confidante. The period benefited from new industrial methods, which allowed fine ornament to be produced more widely, while leading Parisian makers continued to produce exceptional hand-made work for the court and the wealthy. Furniture from this period is often confused with earlier eighteenth-century pieces, so construction, mounts and the quality of finish should be examined carefully. Lifting veneers, missing brass inlay, worn gilding and damaged lacquer are common problems. Well-preserved Napoleon III furniture brings a theatrical, opulent note to a room and sits comfortably in both classic and more eclectic schemes.
