Napoleon III period blackened wood shelf / console. Rich floral and bird decoration. Napoleon III furniture in blackened wood is part of the decorative styles characteristic of the Second Empire (1852-1870), a period marked by the reign of Napoleon III in France. Blackened wood was a popular technique for finishing furniture, particularly in the 1860s and 1870s, and was part of a broader movement of neo-Renaissance and neo-classical influence that dominated the design of the period. Height 147 cm. Width 101 cm. Depth 37 cm. Normal traces of use and age. No significant damage. L: 101 W: 37 H: 147