$5,129
H 27.96 in W 24.81 in D 15.75 in
Writing Desk, Small Desk in Marquetry and Gilded Bronze, Napoleon III Period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Writing desk, small desk in marquetry and gilded bronze, Napoleon III period. Small desk, writing desk from the Napoleon III period, 19th century, in marquetry and gilded bronze. H:...
Bronze
$3,264
H 27.56 in W 21.26 in D 14.57 in
Writing Desk, Small Louis XVI-style Desk in Wood and Gilded Bronze.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Writing desk, small Louis XVI-style desk in marquetry and gilded bronze. Small Louis XVI-style writing desk, early 20th century, in marquetry and gilded bronze. H: 70 cm, W: 54 cm, ...
Bronze
$18,775
H 25.79 in W 39.38 in D 25.6 in
Antique French Louis XVI Marble Gold gilded Salon Ladies Writing Table 1800
Located in Doha, QA
This incredibly intricate and elegant Louis XVI French ladies writing desk table is originated from France ca late 18th-beginning of the 19th century.
Marble, Gold
$5,316
H 31.5 in W 36.62 in D 24.81 in
Louis XVI Style Center Table or Desk in Lacquered and Gilded Wood, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
Italian Louis XVI Style Center Table or Desk in Lacquered and Gilded Wood, 19th Century This exceptional Italian center table or desk exemplifies the refined elegance of the Louis X...
Glass, Giltwood
$4,430
H 13 in W 11.82 in D 6.11 in
Fire-gilded French Empire-style writing set Bronze ca. 1850 Goddess Psyche
Located in Münster, DE
Writing Set France, circa 1850 Bronze with black patina and partial gilding, depicting the goddess Psyche; height 33 cm, width 30 cm, depth 15.5 cm On a austere, rectangular, dark...
Bronze
Unavailable
H 28.75 in W 29.53 in D 21.66 in
19th Century, Napoleon III, Writing Desk in Inlaid Wood, Gilded Bronze
Located in PALERMO, IT
Ancient and elegant small French writing desk from the 19th century, Napoleon III period, made of precious exotic wood with applications in gilded and finely chiselled bronze.
Bronze
Unavailable
H 30.32 in W 51.19 in D 29.93 in
19th Century Napoleon III Writing Desk Inlaid with Fruit Wood, Gilded Bronze
Located in PALERMO, IT
Elegant desk in walnut wood, finely inlaid with a floral motif with fruit wood. Important applications in gilded bronze adorn the desk.
Bronze
Fine Quality Gilded French Louis XV Writing Desk Table with Glass Top
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Gilt. Glass top. Removable top compartments. 48 1/2" h x 33 1/2" w x 22" d. Condition Gilt loss. Chipped wood. Wood missing from front.
Walnut
Sold
H 57.78 in W 24.25 in L 57.78 in
Ebonized and Gilded Maison Jansen Style Writing Table Cartonnier Desk
By Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Maison Jansen style leather top ebonized cartonnier desk with gilt trim and two drawers.
Leather, Wood
19thc. Carved and Gilded Writing Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully Carved an d Gilded Writing Table
Wood, Leather
Sold
H 29 in W 53.38 in D 28.13 in
Antique Country French Desk, Leather Top with Gilded Embossed Border. Restored
Located in Highwood, IL
Antique Country French Desk or Writing Table with a most unusual curved side. The bottom of the Antique French Desk is for the most part all original and we did not refinish the wood...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 35 in W 27 in D 15.5 in
Antique 19th Century French Gilded & Painted Cylinder Desk by Paul Sormani 1875
By Paul Sormani
Located in Portland, OR
A fine late 19th century antique French painted & gilded mechanical Cylinder desk, by Paul Sormani, circa 1875.
Gold Leaf
Louis XV Rosewood Marquetry & Gilded Bronze Desk
Located in Austin, TX
French antique Louis XV style rosewood desk with rich decor of gilded bronzes. Original tan leather top and French polish finish.
Ormolu
19th Century Noir Desk with Gilded Carving 'Napoleon III'
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful black desk with red felt top and generous application of gold ormolu on drawers and legs.
Ormolu
Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Desk, Black with Gilded Bronze Details
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Louis XV style bureau plat desk, black with gilded bronze details. Tooled leather top. Ebonized. Dimensions: 63” W x 29.5” H x 31.5” D Leg space: 23.5" Side drawers (2): 13.25” ...
Bronze
Sold
H 37.75 in W 30 in D 22 in
Bailey Banks and Biddle Vernis Martin Painted Desk on Gilded Background Louis XV
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic French-made Vernis Martin Paint decorated writing desk made for Bailey Banks & Biddle - the Tiffany of Philadelphia, PA.
Bronze
Sold
H 31 in W 39 in D 20 in
18th-century, Louis XV Rance Red Carved Marble & Gilded Iron Swan-legged Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This 18th-century French marble top table would be among the world's most lux desks, vanities or serving tables. Deep 'rouge de rance' marble top, a la Versailles, sculpted and burni...
Marble, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 29.75 in W 47.5 in L 29.75 in
French Ebonized Gilded Louis XV Leather Top Writing Desk Table, circa 1960
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a very attractive and clean desk with sleek lines and great French design. The desk is great for a smaller space and is high style and ready to take home or have delivered to...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.14 in W 39.77 in D 23.23 in
19th Century Napoleon III Marquetry and Gilded Bronze Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Spectacular 1880s French antique desk in precious rosewood and walnut marquetry. The line is typical of the Napoleon III with elegant wavy legs. Rich decoration in finely chiseled gi...
Ormolu
French Painted Writing Desk Console with Gilded Details
Located in Troy, MI
French wood writing desk and/or console table with antique white painted finish and gilded details.
Brass
20th Century French Lacquered and Gilded Writing Desk
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French desk of the 20th century. Furniture in ornately carved, lacquered and gilded wood of beautiful line and good taste.
Faux Leather, Wood
19th Century Ebonised Desk with Gilded Accents
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1850 writing desk has an ebonised finish, scalloped top with a black leather writing surface and gilded border, cabriole legs with carved and gilded flowers at the base. Single...
Leather
Rare marquetry French desk with gilded bronze candle holders
Located in Vancouver, BC
Rich Louis XV style writing desk of ovoid form inlaid all round, one long drawer below a leather surfaced writing slide; six additional drawers above the writing surface; mounted wit...
Ormolu
Sold
H 29.53 in W 40.56 in D 22.05 in
Louis XVI Style Kingwood and Walnut Writing Table with Gilded Handles
Located in Salisbury, GB
Louis XVI style Kingwood and walnut centre standing kneehole writing table with gilded handles and leather top. 5 drawers to the front and 5 dummy drawers to rear, standing on squa...
Kingwood, Walnut
Sold
H 29.53 in W 49.61 in D 27.56 in
19th Century Napoleon III Colored Woods Gilded Bronzes Bureau Plat
Located in Tricase, Italia
France, 19th century. Napoleon III writing table with a beautiful serpentine shape, inlaid with precious polychrome woods, supported by four cabriole legs, enriched with gilded bronz...
Sold
H 30 in W 51 in D 31.5 in
French Napoleon III Style Writing Table with Gilded Accents and Cabriole Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Napoleon III style midcentury ebonized wood writing table features a sinuous top with gilded accents in the border over four cabriole legs.
Brass
Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H. Clearance: 27"
Wood
Italian 1930's Burl Walnut Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
A very fine Italian 1930's burl walnut writing table or desk, the large rectangular surface is supported by an elegantly curved apron consisting of two large drawers atop robust angl...
Brass
$162,167
H 90.95 in W 61.03 in D 77.56 in
IMPORTANT BISHOP JAMES STANLEY 1508 KING HENRY VII ENGLiSH OAK TUDOR TESTER BED
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly important, Museum quality, English Tudor King Henry VII Oak tester bed made for an...
Oak
$5,433
H 31.11 in W 54.34 in D 30.32 in
Large Louis XV style flat desk, marquetry and gilt bronze, 19th century work
Located in NICE, FR
Large Louis XV-style 19th-century flat desk in solid beech veneer with inlay, opening with three drawers including a central drawer in the waistband with floral bronze fittings and r...
Bronze
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Writing Table, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French Louis XVI style mahogany bureau plat. Having an inset leather top, gilded ormolu mouldings and scrolling foliate mounts to the frieze, two fri...
Ormolu
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.
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
Fans of the French film star may be surprised to learn that he had a flair for furniture with sleek lines and disco-era flash.
Like other pieces in the firm’s Candy Box collection, the cheerful limited-edition design showcases French craft.
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.