The Louis XVI-Empress-style copied and was inspired by the works of Carlin, Weisweiler and Riesener and was presented to the public at the Universal Exhibition of 1867. The Empress Eugénie, who adored Marie-Antoinette, initiated the resurgence of Louis XVI-style elements such as flower-baskets and tied ribbons. The Louis XVI style or more precisely the furnishings made for Marie-Antoinette set the tone for the Second Empire interiors. This period is famous for its tortoiseshell and metal marquetry furniture in the style of André-Charles Boulle, Louis XV and Louis XVI-style living rooms, and Renaissance-Henri II-style dining rooms.

There is an abundance of inspiration, a profusion of materials and a richness of decoration, made up of a generous mix of 17th and 18th-century styles. The Second Empire style can be summed up with in one word: abundance. The Second Empire brought recognition to decorative art and artists like the ornamental sculptor Henri-Alfred Jacquemart (1824-1896), the famous metalworker Charles Christofle (1805-1883), and the cabinetmaker Alfred Beurdeley. The decorative elements used, such as atlantes and caryatids, were synonymous with luxury. In a room, the focal points were the fireplace mantels, mirrors, candelabras, sconces and chandeliers. Second Empire designers were renowned for their imposing interior designs.

There were plenty of high-quality furnishings and fabrics. Ornamentation and decoration are the focus points of this period. In a way, the artistic codes of the Napoleon III style - also called Second Empire style - were presented at the Exhibition of 1844, during the reign of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1808-1873) was Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870 under the name of Napoleon III.

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