Rococo Desks
Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
19th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Desks
Wood, Paint
20th Century French Rococo Desks
Bronze
1740s Dutch Antique Rococo Desks
Walnut
19th Century French Antique Rococo Desks
Ormolu
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Desks
Elm, Yew
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Desks
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Antique Rococo Desks
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Desks
Wood
1740s German Antique Rococo Desks
Oak
1970s Italian Vintage Rococo Desks
Leather, Wood
Late 18th Century Scandinavian Antique Rococo Desks
Walnut, Giltwood
1760s Brazilian Antique Rococo Desks
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rococo Desks
Leather, Wood
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Rococo Desks
Oak
19th Century English Antique Rococo Desks
Wood, Satinwood
Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Desks
Mahogany
20th Century Italian Rococo Desks
Leather, Cherry
1890s German Antique Rococo Desks
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Rococo Desks
Bronze
Late 19th Century European Antique Rococo Desks
Walnut, Glass
1940s Vintage Rococo Desks
Metal
Early 20th Century English Rococo Desks
Brass
Early 20th Century Unknown Rococo Desks
Mother-of-Pearl, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English Antique Rococo Desks
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Desks
Mahogany
19th Century European Antique Rococo Desks
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rococo Desks
Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Desks
Walnut
1820s Dutch Antique Rococo Desks
Fruitwood, Walnut
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Desks
Pewter
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Desks
Wood, Paint
1960s Italian Vintage Rococo Desks
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Rococo Desks
Wood, Paint
18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Desks
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary European Rococo Desks
Wood
1890s Italian Antique Rococo Desks
Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Desks
Leather, Mahogany