It’s not a jewel, but New Orleans antiques dealer M.S. Rau’s latest acquisition rivals one. It was, after all, commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III, a leader known for lavish living, and was custom-made by French royal jeweler Alexis Falize.
The silver-gilt claw-foot reading lamp features turquoise medallions and colored glass screens. Created circa 1865, it is now available to purchase for $48,850 from M.S. Rau.
“It is exceedingly rare to encounter such an exquisite masterpiece by the 19th century’s most renowned jeweler, Alexis Falize, and it is even more extraordinary for it to have been owned and used daily by someone as monumental as Emperor Napoleon III,” Bill Rau, the antiques gallery’s third-generation owner, tells JCK. “It is not merely a work of art but a tangible link to the opulent world of the Second Empire. Adorned with intricate details, precious materials, and imperial insignia, this lamp stands as a testament to the unparalleled skill and creativity of its maker and the refined taste of its royal owner.”
During the 19th century, Falize was celebrated for his innovative designs and mastery of techniques such as cloisonné enamel. He drew inspiration from diverse artistic traditions, including Japanese, Islamic, and the Renaissance, which he incorporated into exquisitely detailed pieces. Falize’s reputation for creating luxurious, one-of-a-kind jewelry attracted the patronage of royal families and aristocracy across Europe, including the Russian imperial court.
Napoleon III’s library lamp stands approximately 17.5 inches tall and has a pearl-adorned sphinx on the base. It comes in its original Moroccan leather case embossed with a crown and the letter N. Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, reigned as emperor from late 1852 to September 1870.
(Photos courtesy of M.S. Rau)
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