Napoleon III Mahogany Executive Swivel Chair — Button-Tufted Camel Leather with Gilt Brass Cresting

Design & Inspiration

Place this chair behind a bureau plat and the room acquires a new center of gravity. The shaped cartouche back — its silhouette arching upward to a carved gilt brass cresting — speaks to a period when authority was expressed through ornament as much as posture. Drawing from the design vocabulary of the Napoleon III Second Empire era (1852–1870), this executive swivel fauteuil de bureau merges the theatrical flair of Rococo Revival with the practical demands of a working desk chair: height adjustment, five-point caster base, and full 360° rotation. It is a chair that performs its history without losing its function.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The frame is built from solid mahogany, shaped and jointed by hand before receiving a deep hand-rubbed finish that brings out the wood's natural warmth. The scrolled armrests terminate in padded leather arm caps — a small detail that reveals the chair's ergonomic thinking beneath its period dress. Antique gold brass mounts appear at three deliberate points: the crest of the backrest, the front seat rail corners, and flanking the cartouche crest — each cast and applied individually. The upholstery is genuine camel leather, button-tufted across the backrest in the capitonné tradition, framed by a continuous brass nailhead trim that defines the boundary between wood and leather with precision. The five-star swivel base, finished to match the frame, sits on twin-wheel casters suitable for hard floors and carpet alike.

Dimensions & Details

Width: 65 cm / Depth: 62 cm / Height: 128 cm
Seating capacity: 1 person
Wheel count: 5 casters
Upholstery: Genuine camel leather, button-tufted
Wood species: Mahogany
Wood finish: Hand rubbed
Brass accents: Antique gold
Country of origin: Egypt

Handcrafted in Egypt

Every chair in the Brass & Wood collection is built by hand in Egypt, where craftsmen trained in European joinery and classical carving traditions shape each component individually. The capitonné tufting is done by hand — each button set to equal tension across the backrest. The brass mounts are cast, finished, and hand-applied, not adhesive-bonded. This is production in the tradition of the 19th-century Parisian ateliers that first created these pieces: unhurried, accountable, and signed in the quality of every joint and stitch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials is this chair made from?

The frame is solid mahogany with a hand-rubbed finish. The upholstery is genuine camel leather, button-tufted with a brass nailhead border. Decorative mounts are antique gold brass, cast and hand-applied at the backrest crest and seat rail corners.

Is the seat height adjustable?

Yes. The five-point swivel base includes a pneumatic height adjustment mechanism, allowing the seat height to be set to the user's desk and ergonomic preference.

Can this chair be customized?

Yes. Brass & Wood accepts customization requests for leather color, wood finish tone, and brass hardware finish. Contact our team before ordering to discuss available options and lead times.