Napoleon III
Napoleon III furniture — produced during France's Second Empire under Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie — is the most eclectic and exuberant of the 19th-century French styles: an ambitious revival of all the earlier French royal styles simultaneously, in ebonized wood, lacquer, Boulle marquetry, ormolu, and porcelain plaques. The style furnished the grand hôtels particuliers and country houses of the Second Empire bourgeoisie, and it fills Texas estate sales to this day. Austin Auction Gallery has sold over 275 Napoleon III period lots.
What it's Worth
Napoleon III vitrine cabinets in ebonized wood with ormolu banding typically bring $600–$3,000 depending on size, condition, and the quality of any porcelain plaques. Boulle-work pieces — tables, cabinets, mantel clock sets ('garnitures') — bring $800–$5,000+ depending on scale and condition of the Boulle marquetry. Pairs of torchères or pedestals bring $500–$3,000 per pair. Bronze doré and ormolu objects from the period bring $400–$4,000 depending on quality and subject. Mantel clock garnitures (clock with two flanking urns or candelabra) bring $400–$2,500 for standard quality; exceptional examples by named retailers bring more. The condition of Boulle marquetry is critical: lifting or replaced tortoiseshell significantly reduces value.
Vitrine cabinets $600–$3,000; Boulle pieces $800–$5,000+; clock garnitures $400–$2,500
