Napoleon III Rococo Revival Lacquered Nightstand with Mother-of-Pearl Floral Inlay & Gilded Cabriole Legs

Design & Inspiration

Place this nightstand beside a bed and the room finds its character. The rose-lacquered ground — warm, powdery, unmistakably French — works like a blush against candlelight, while the dense mother-of-pearl and abalone floral panels across every face shift from cream to iridescent teal depending on where the light falls. This is Napoleon III Rococo Revival at its most theatrical: the Second Empire's appetite for luxury surface, applied to a domestic object that begins and ends every day in your presence.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The carcass is built from solid beech, cut into an octagonal plan with canted corners — a silhouette that allowed the Second Empire ateliers to multiply their decorative panels and give the piece a jewel-box quality. Every surface is lacquered in a soft rose ground, then inlaid by hand with cut pieces of white mother-of-pearl (petals, stamens) and dark abalone shell (leaves, stems), building floral compositions that continue across the top, the drawer fronts, and the angled side panels. Fine ivory-toned stringing frames each panel, adding architectural precision to what is otherwise an exercise in romantic ornament. The two drawers run on smooth wooden slides and are fitted with circular mother-of-pearl knob pulls. Below, a gilt egg-and-dart molding belt separates the carcass from the base, and four deeply carved cabriole legs — their knees exploding with acanthus scrollwork — carry the piece on scroll-footed pads. The gilding is applied over gesso and burnished to the high warmth characteristic of Second Empire workshop practice.

Dimensions & Details

Width: 70 cm / Depth: 45 cm / Height: 64 cm
Weight: 15 kg
Two drawers with mother-of-pearl knob pulls
Octagonal canted carcass
Gilded egg-and-dart lower molding belt
Four gilded acanthus-carved cabriole legs with scroll feet
Hand-inlaid mother-of-pearl and abalone floral marquetry on all panels and top surface

Handcrafted in Egypt

Faithfully reproduced by Brass & Wood's artisans in Egypt, this nightstand draws from the design vocabulary of Napoleon III's Second Empire period (1852–1870) — an era defined by the Parisian taste for eclectic luxury, ornate gilding, and the revival of Rococo decorative exuberance. Each piece is handcrafted individually: the inlay work alone requires dozens of hours of hand-cutting and fitting. The result is a nightstand that functions as a statement object, as worthy of admiration by day as it is of use by night. Customization of lacquer color and inlay pattern is available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials is this nightstand made from?

The carcass is solid beech with a rose lacquer finish. Decorative inlay consists of white mother-of-pearl and dark abalone shell, hand-cut and set into the lacquered ground. The legs are solid wood with a gesso-and-gold-leaf gilded finish. Drawer pulls are mother-of-pearl.

Is assembly required?

Minimal assembly is required — typically attaching the legs to the carcass. Full instructions are included with delivery.

Can this nightstand be customized?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customization of the lacquer ground color, inlay pattern, and gilding tone. Contact our team to discuss bespoke options before placing your order.