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Directoire Bureau Plat

Fine French Bronze Mounted Leather Top French Directoire Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb, French Directoire style desk. The desk is adorned with bronze and brass ormolu
Category

Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Directoire-Style Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Chicago, US
Directoire/Napoleon III style desk composed of one large center and two side dovetailed drawers
Category

Early 20th Century Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Directoire-Style Bureau Plat Desk
Directoire-Style Bureau Plat Desk
$3,500
H 29.25 in W 57 in D 28.5 in
Directoire Style Small Bureau Plat
Located in Sheffield, MA
Directoire Maison Jansen style desk. Label inside drawer inscribed "A. Alavoine and Co., NY and
Category

Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Directoire Style Small Bureau Plat
Directoire Style Small Bureau Plat
$2,400
H 29.75 in W 36.5 in D 22 in
French Empire Bureau Plat Desk 1880 Directoire
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French Empire Bureau Plat desk circa 1880 in the Directoire manner Top quality mahogany with a
Category

Antique 1880s Empire Desks

Materials

Wood

A Directoire style ebonized mahogany writing desk / bureau plat, C. 1945.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
In the manner of late 18th-century French design, this elegant and finely proportioned desk exemplifies the neoclassical restraint and symmetry characteristic of the late 18th-centur...
Category

Early 20th Century Argentine Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Ebonized Leather-top French Bureau Plat Faux-Partner's Desk
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Ebonized French Bureau Plat Faux-Partner's Desk with Tooled Red Leather Top and Tapered
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Rare Flame Mahogany Bronze Mounted Leather Top Francois Linke Desk Bureau Plat
By François Linke
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category

Vintage 1910s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Recent Sales

Directoire brass-mounted fruitwood bureau plat
Located in San Francisco, CA
Directoire brass-mounted fruitwood bureau plat of small size, the facade apron fitted with two
Category

Antique 19th Century French Sofa Tables

Materials

Brass

French Directoire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat, circa 1900
Located in Salisbury, GB
A French Directoire style mahogany bureau plat. The turned legs with brass fluting and brass edging
Category

Antique Early 1900s European Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Directoire Style Gold Mirrored Top Desk by Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in New York, NY
A very sleek directoire style gold mirrored top bureau plat by Jansen. Bronze mounted with two
Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks

Materials

Wood, Mirror

Directoire Bureau Plat, France circa 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Directoire Bureau Plat, France, circa 1800. Spacious and chic Directoire desk and the perfect piece
Category

Antique 1790s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Directoire Bureau Plat, France, circa 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Mahogany veneered French Directoire desk standing on square pointed feet, with four drawers and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Directoire Bureau Plat, France, circa 1800
Directoire Bureau Plat, France, circa 1800
H 29.93 in W 57.68 in L 29.93 in
Bronze Mounted Leather Top Inlaid Kingwood Directoire Bureau Plat Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb French-made bronze mounted inlaid desk with bronze wrapping the top and brass and bronze ormolu everywhere. The desk is inlaid in tulipwood with a kingwood case. The...
Category

Vintage 1940s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Fine 19th Century French Directoire Bureau Plat Writing Table or Desk
Located in London, GB
A highly figured Directoire period French bureau plat, veneered throughout with highly figured
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Franch Bureau Plat
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant and fine made French Directoire bureau plat, circa 1900. Mahogany with bronze mounts on top
Category

Antique 1890s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Franch Bureau Plat
Franch Bureau Plat
H 30.71 in W 64.97 in D 32.68 in
Antique French Empire Revival Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique French gilt bronze mounted mahogany Empire Directoire bureau plat, circa
Category

Antique 1860s French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Directoire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in Manhasset, NY
French Directoire style mahogany bureau plat, circa 1940s, the black tooled leather insert top over
Category

Vintage 1940s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Directoire Style Ebonized Bureau Plat
Located in Doylestown, PA
A chic ebonized bureau plat with a cream-colored tooled leather top, circa 1950, from Argentina
Category

Vintage 1950s Argentine Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Directoire-Style Mahogany Bureau Plat/Desk
Located in New York, NY
Directoire-Style Mahogany Bureau Plat/Desk
Category

20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Directoire Period Mahogany Petit Bureau Plat
Located in London, GB
A Directoire period mahogany petit bureau plat, with a drawer to one side and brown leather top.
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Directoire Period Mahogany Petit Bureau Plat
H 28.35 in W 32.49 in D 20.87 in
Directoire Style Leather-Top Bureau Plat Desk
Located in New York, NY
Directoire-Style Leather-top Bureau plat desk on Tapered legs ending in brass sabots, desk features
Category

20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

French Directoire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat, Early 20th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early 20th century Directoire style mahogany bureau plat/desk featuring embossed brown leather
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Desks

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

French Directoire Style Ebonized Bureau Plat Desk with Leather Top
Located in New York, NY
Oversized French Directoire-style ebonized bureau plat desk with leather top on tapered legs ending
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century Directoire Period Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Directoire period mahogany bureau plat, having leather lined writing surface
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Early 19th Century Directoire Period Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Directoire period mahogany bureau plat, having leather lined writing surface
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Signed French Directoire Style Ebonized Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat Desk
By Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a stunning signed Maison Jansen bronze mounted ebonized lacquer bureau plat with a black
Category

Vintage 1940s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Directoire Style "Bureau Plat" Desk in Cherry with Leather Top
Located in Round Top, TX
French Directoire style "Bureau Plat" desk in cherry with leather top. This desk features two pull
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry, Leather

French Directoire Louis XVI Leather Top Writing Table Desk Bureau Plat
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous smaller writing desk in the Directoire taste, circa 1940. The desk is made of
Category

Vintage 1940s American Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique French Directoire Ebonized Bureau Plat w/3 Drawers
Located in Chicago, IL
Exquisite antique French ebonized and gilded Directoire style bureau plat with three drawers and a
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Giltwood

French Directoire Style Black Lacquer and Brass Bureau Plat
Located in Danville, CA
polished and lacquered. Keywords: Louis XVI, Directoire
Category

Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Directoire Style Bronze Mounted Writing Desk or Bureau Plat
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
form of this writing desk or bureau plat is specifically Directoire - a period which took components
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Directoire-Style Leather-Top Bureau Plat/Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
An over-sized Louis XVI-style leather-top writing desk on tapered legs ending in brass sabots.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Signed Maison Jansen Leather Top Louis XVI Directoire Writing Desk Bureau Plat
By Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous signed Maison Jansen desk from France. The desk is made of solid walnut and has subtle brass details and wonderful design. The beautiful original leather top has g...
Category

Vintage 1940s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Black Leather Top French Directoire Style Writing Desk Bureau Plat, Circa 1960
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Directoire Style Leather-Top Bureau Plat Desk on Tapered Legs
Located in New York, NY
Directoire Style Leather-Top Bureauplat Desk on Tapered Legs
Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables

French Directoire Style Ebonized Desk by Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Manhasset, NY
French Directoire style bureau plat, overall ebonized with parcel-gilt banding, the rectangular
Category

Vintage 1960s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

French Directoire Style Flame Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning French Directoire style mahogany bureau plat writing desk with nicely aged patina
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Directoire Style Leather Top Bureau Plat
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Directoire style leather top inlaid 3-drawer bureau plat with bronze accents.
Category

20th Century Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Directoire-Style Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
This Directoire/Napoleon III style desk is composed of one large center and two side dovetailed
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Directoire Desks

Materials

Brass

Directoire-Style Bureau Plat Desk
Directoire-Style Bureau Plat Desk
H 29.5 in W 57 in D 28.75 in
Antique French Directoire Style "Bureau Plat" Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Antique French Directoire style "Bureau plat" desk of solid, ebonized walnut with a lustrous French
Category

Vintage 1930s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf

Late 18th Century French Directoire Mahagony Bureau Plat
Located in Berlin, DE
A late 18th century Directoire mahogany bureau plat or writing desk. The rectangular brass banded
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Directoire Neoclassical Green Leather Top Mahogany Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Directoire Neoclassical / Empire style green leather top mahogany bureau plat
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Directoire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat with Leather Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th century French Directoire style mahogany bureau plat with leather top, 5 drawers with fitted
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

French 19th Century Directoire Style Mahogany Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French 19th century Directoire style mahogany bureau plat, circa 1890, features a richly
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

#3141 Mahogany Directoire Bureau Plat
Located in New York, NY
Mahogany Directoire Bureau Plat with Mahogany Veneers on Drawer Fronts and Finished Back. Leather
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

FRENCH DIRECTOIRE BUREAU PLAT Circa 1800
Located in London, GB
French Directoire period mahogany bureau plat. Gilt tooled faded green leather top with slides on
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks

Materials

Mahogany

FRENCH DIRECTOIRE BUREAU PLAT Circa 1800
FRENCH DIRECTOIRE BUREAU PLAT Circa 1800
H 30.32 in W 58.94 in D 32.01 in
Italian Late 18th Century Directoire Bureau Plat or Writing Desk in Cherrywood
Located in Firenze, IT
A beautiful Directoire writing desk or bureau plat in cherrywood with ebonized details and very
Category

Antique 1790s Italian Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry

French Directoire Style Bureau Plat
By A. Belokopytoff
Located in Southampton, NY
1950'S BRASS BANDED MAHOGANY DIRECTOIRE STYLE BUREAU PLAT WITH EXTENDING TOOLED LEATHER INLAID
Category

Vintage 1950s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

French Directoire Style Bureau Plat
French Directoire Style Bureau Plat
H 31 in W 57 in D 29.5 in
#3041 Mahogany Directoire Style Bureau Plat
Located in New York, NY
Distinctive Mahogany Directoire Style Bureau Plat with Flame Mahogany Veneers on Drawer Fronts and
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Fine French Directoire Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in Woodbury, CT
TURNED LEGS WITH BRASS CAPS, 3 DRAWERS AND FAUX DRAWERS ON BACK, GOLD TOOLED DARK BROWN LEATHER TOP
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Fine French  Directoire Mahogany Bureau Plat
Fine French  Directoire Mahogany Bureau Plat
H 29.75 in W 50.75 in D 25.5 in
French Directoire Style Black Lacquered Bureau Plat c1950
Located in London, GB
French Directoire style black lacquered small Bureau Plat with bronze mounts - in the style
Category

Vintage 1950s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

A 19th Century Bureau Plat in the Directoire Manner
Located in London, GB
A late 19th century century brass inlaid mahogany bureau plat, having a brown leather top
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Directoire Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th Century Directoire cherry bureau plat, French or Italian
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Leather

Directoire Desk
Directoire Desk
H 28.5 in W 39.5 in D 20.25 in
French Directoire Fruitwood Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French Directoire Fruitwood desk/bureau plat. It has a single drawer with four
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks

Materials

Fruitwood

French Directoire Fruitwood Desk
French Directoire Fruitwood Desk
H 30 in W 41.5 in D 24.5 in
Directoire Maple Bureau Plat
Located in New Orleans, LA
Turned legs with leather top and single drawer
Category

Antique 19th Century French Side Tables

Directoire Maple Bureau Plat
Directoire Maple Bureau Plat
H 28.75 in W 36 in D 19.5 in

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Directoire Bureau Plat For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal directoire bureau plat for your home. A directoire bureau plat — often made from wood, metal and animal skin — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer directoire bureau plat, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A directoire bureau plat is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Neoclassical styles are sought with frequency. Maison Jansen each produced at least one beautiful directoire bureau plat that is worth considering.

How Much is a Directoire Bureau Plat?

The average selling price for a directoire bureau plat at 1stDibs is $6,775, while they’re typically $1,900 on the low end and $29,500 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Desks-writing-tables for You

Choosing the perfect writing desk or writing table is a profoundly personal journey, one that people have been embarking upon for centuries.

Queen Atossa of Persia, from her writing table circa 500 B.C., is said to have been the originator of the art of handwritten letters. Hers was reportedly the first in a long and colorful history of penned correspondence that grew in popularity alongside literacy. The demand for suitable writing desks, which would serve the composer of the letters as well as ensure the comfort of the recipient naturally followed, and the design of these necessary furnishings has evolved throughout history.

Once people began to seek freedom from the outwardly ornate styles of the walnut and rosewood writing desks and drafting tables introduced in the name of Queen Victoria and King Louis XV, radical shifts occurred, such as those that materialized during the Art Nouveau period, when designers longed to produce furniture inspired by the natural world’s beauty. A prime example is the work of the famous late-19th-century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí — his rolltop desk featured deep side drawers and was adorned with carved motifs that paid tribute to nature. Gaudí regularly combined structural precision with decorative elements, creating beautiful pieces of furniture in wood and metal.

Soon afterward, preferences for sleek, geometric, stylized forms in furniture that saw an emphasis on natural wood grains and traditional craftsmanship took hold. Today, Art Deco desks are still favored by designers who seek to infuse interiors with an air of luxury. One of the most prominent figures of the Art Deco movement was French decorator and furniture designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. With his use of neoclassical motifs as well as expensive and exotic materials such as imported dark woods and inlays of precious metals for his writing desks, Ruhlmann came to symbolize good taste and modernity.

The rise in appreciation for Scandinavian modernism continues to influence the design of contemporary writing desks. It employs the “no fuss” or “less is more” approach to creating a tasteful, sophisticated space. Sweden’s master cabinetmaker Bruno Mathsson created gallery-worthy designs that are as functional as they are beautiful. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto never viewed himself as an artist, but, like Mathsson, his furniture designs reflected a fondness for organic materials and a humanistic approach. Danish designers such as Hans Wegner introduced elegant shapes and lines to mid-century desks and writing tables, often working in oak and solid teak.

From vintage desks to contemporary styles, 1stDibs offers a broad spectrum of choices for conducting all personal and business writing and reading activities.