Skip to main content

Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

French, 1810-1892

Founded by one-time Parisian wallpaper dealer Ferdinand Barbedienne and engineer Achille Collas, one of the most revered foundries in 19th-century France began with the invention of a revolutionary 1830s-era device that could produce proportional reproductions — large or small — of sculptures. Collas’s machine, which yielded miniature likenesses of antiquities for the interiors of homes the world over, was pivotal to the success of the F. Barbedienne Foundry. The successful firm earned prestigious awards and critical acclaim and created exquisite bronze candleholders, clocks and lamps for a range of wealthy and prominent clients. 

The duo first launched their company under the name Société Collas et Barbedienne, and early on, they optimized chemical processes for pigmenting and patinating their bronze statuettes. After Collas died in 1859, Barbedienne forged on alone, and the company’s name changed to simply F. Barbedienne.

Barbedienne employed more than 300 workers at that point, and the Maison created a range of furnishings and decorative objects that featured the integration of marble and ormolu accents. However, with the onset of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the foundry was forced to retrofit its molds, and the production of cannons replaced sculptures, furniture and vases.

When Ferdinand Barbedienne passed away in 1891, his nephew and heir, Gustave Leblanc, took over as president, changing the name to Leblanc-Barbedienne. Leblanc expanded production into Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, carrying on the company's legacy with monumental sculptures, and models and securing production rights for famous statues. Paul-Alexandre Dumas, an Art Nouveau maker and student of Louis Majorelle, succeeded Leblanc until the company's closing in 1952.

Barbedienne pieces had been exhibited regularly in the 19th century and were especially prevalent at Europe’s international expositions and world’s fairs, where they received numerous prizes. Today, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris holds dozens of Barbedienne works in its collection, including intricate mirrors, vases and cups created by Louis-Constant Sévin at the foundry. For more than two decades, Sévin created lamps, boxes and more at Maison Barbedienne. Working alongside award-winning chaser Désiré Attarge, Sévin designed Napoleon III-era works that greatly appealed to European nobility.

Other notable artists who collaborated with Barbedienne included Eugene Aizelin, Emmanuel Fremiet, Antonin Mercié, Emile Guillemin, Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain and Auguste Rodin.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique Ferdinand Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and more.

to
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
70
26
25
18
18
Creator: Ferdinand Barbedienne
Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Madrid, ES
Title: Bronze Inkwell Date/Period: XIX century Dimension: 18 x 19 cm. Materials: Bronze, glass Additional information: Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892). Gilt bronze inkwell...
Category

Early 19th Century French Baroque Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze

Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century
Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century

Ferdinand Barbedienne, Gilt Bronze Inkwell, 19th Century

$1,795
Related Items
Fine 19th Century Gillows Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Kidney Shaped Table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Benington, Herts
An extremely fine gilt bronze mounted parquetry kidney shaped writing table attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. English Circa 1865 The rosewood lozenge trellis inlaid kidney shape...
Category

1860s English Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze

Fine 19th Century Gillows Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Kidney Shaped Table
Fine 19th Century Gillows Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Kidney Shaped Table

Fine 19th Century Gillows Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Kidney Shaped Table

$11,602
H 28.75 in W 38 in D 21.07 in
19th C. English Victorian Brass-Inlaid Burlwood Writing Desk with Inkwells
By James Allen
Located in Morristown, NJ
A finely constructed 19th-century English portable writing slope, crafted in richly figured burlwood with a contrasting mahogany crossbanded edge and a central brass escutcheon. The ...
Category

1860s English Victorian Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Brass

19th C. English Victorian Brass-Inlaid Burlwood Writing Desk with Inkwells
19th C. English Victorian Brass-Inlaid Burlwood Writing Desk with Inkwells

19th C. English Victorian Brass-Inlaid Burlwood Writing Desk with Inkwells

$1,230
H 6.5 in W 17 in D 10 in
19th Century Venetian Desk
Located in Charlottesville, VA
This is a charming Venetian desk. It is beautiful in decoration.
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Wood, Paint

19th Century Venetian Desk
19th Century Venetian Desk

19th Century Venetian Desk

$2,400
H 31 in W 35 in D 19 in
French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI, Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Centre Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th-20th century Louis XVI. Mahogany and gilt-bronze mounted centre - Writing table with tooled leather top, Paris, circa 1900. Measures: Height 29 1/2 inches (74.9 cm) ...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze

French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI, Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Centre Table
French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI, Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Centre Table

French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI, Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Centre Table

$5,160 Sale Price
20% Off
H 29.5 in W 39.75 in D 23.5 in
French 19th-20th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Desk, Bookcase & Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th/20th Century Empire Revival Style Mahogany and Gilt-Bronze Mounted Three-Piece Study or Office Suite, comprising of a desk with leather top, a horse-shoe-shaped armchai...
Category

Early 1900s French Empire Revival Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze

French 19th-20th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Desk, Bookcase & Chair
French 19th-20th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Desk, Bookcase & Chair

French 19th-20th Century Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Desk, Bookcase & Chair

$27,850 Sale Price / set
30% Off
H 70 in W 82 in D 18 in
French 19th-Century Louis XV Style Figural Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bureau-Plat Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Palatial French 19th-Century Louis XV style figural gilt bronze mounted tulipwood marquetry three-drawer bureau-plat cartonnier with Dual clock-works by Lenoir, Paris, surmounted wit...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th-Century Louis XV Style Figural Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bureau-Plat Desk
French 19th-Century Louis XV Style Figural Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bureau-Plat Desk

French 19th-Century Louis XV Style Figural Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bureau-Plat Desk

$450,000
H 62.5 in W 82 in D 41 in
19th Century French Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Writing Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine and well-proportioned 19th century French Louis XV style ladies desk. The case is veneered with marquetry decoration and embelli...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Writing Desk
19th Century French Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Writing Desk

19th Century French Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Writing Desk

$3,500 Sale Price
53% Off
H 29.75 in W 23.63 in D 40.13 in
19th Century English Walnut Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
This is a walnut desk made in England, circa 1840. The top has a nicely shaped green leather writing surface with gold tooling. There is a hand carved gadrooned edge around the entir...
Category

1840s English Chippendale Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Walnut

19th Century English Walnut Desk
19th Century English Walnut Desk

19th Century English Walnut Desk

$32,000
H 32 in W 69.5 in D 31.5 in
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Gilt Bronze Malachite Desk/Dressing Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Late 19th century French Louis XV rare malachite gilt bronze dressing table that converts into a desk.
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Malachite

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Gilt Bronze Malachite Desk/Dressing Table
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Gilt Bronze Malachite Desk/Dressing Table

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Gilt Bronze Malachite Desk/Dressing Table

$22,500
H 47 in W 31 in D 17 in
French 19th Century Desk-Vitrine
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This French Desk is amazing, it has a top with its original old glass and very useful for storage. It is made of walnut with a kaki color leather top. From the floor to the top of th...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Leather, Glass, Walnut

French 19th Century Desk-Vitrine
French 19th Century Desk-Vitrine

French 19th Century Desk-Vitrine

$4,300
H 79.5 in W 41 in D 29 in
French 19th Century Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
This secretary desk opens up and offers a beautiful writing space, along with areas to store your writing material. The secretary has bronze mounts, a marble top and Venis Martin...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Secretary
French 19th Century Secretary

French 19th Century Secretary

$12,500
H 54 in W 33 in D 15.25 in
Exquisite 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exquisite Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry and Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre The stepped rectangular top with pierced three quarter gallery ab...
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ferdinand Barbedienne Desks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Exquisite 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre
Exquisite 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre

Exquisite 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre

$55,000
H 48 in W 55 in D 26 in

Ferdinand Barbedienne desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Ferdinand Barbedienne desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Ferdinand Barbedienne desks, although gold editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks by Ferdinand Barbedienne were created in the Baroque style in france during the 19th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks by and Europa Antiques. Prices for Ferdinand Barbedienne desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,664 and can go as high as $1,664, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,664.

Recently Viewed

View All

More Ferdinand Barbedienne Furniture

Ferdinand Barbedienne Dressers
Ferdinand Barbedienne Decorative Objects
Ferdinand Barbedienne Lighting
Ferdinand Barbedienne Building and Garden Elements
Ferdinand Barbedienne Tables
Ferdinand Barbedienne Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Ferdinand Barbedienne Wall Decorations
Ferdinand Barbedienne Figurative Sculptures
Ferdinand Barbedienne Vases
Ferdinand Barbedienne Candelabras
Ferdinand Barbedienne Mantel Clocks
Ferdinand Barbedienne Urns
View All Popular Desks Searches