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Baroque Desks

BAROQUE STYLE

The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.

Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.

Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.

Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.

Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Baroque
Spanish Baroque Walnut And Giltwood Vargueno
Spanish Baroque Walnut And Giltwood Vargueno

Spanish Baroque Walnut And Giltwood Vargueno

Located in Essex, MA

A good example of a piece that used to sell for 30-40,000 wholesale. With an upper section with a fold down writing surface opening to an elaborate interior fitter with many drawers ...

Category

Late 17th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Iron

Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Library Table / Writing Table
Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Library Table / Writing Table

Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Library Table / Writing Table

Located in Charleston, SC

Late 17th Century Baroque Desk / Writing or Library Table with two drawers supported an elegant lyre-shaped base with intricately carved legs connected by wrought iron stretchers. th...

Category

Late 17th Century Italian Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Wrought Iron

Early 19th Century Spanish Baroque Carved Mixed Wood Writing Desk
Early 19th Century Spanish Baroque Carved Mixed Wood Writing Desk

Early 19th Century Spanish Baroque Carved Mixed Wood Writing Desk

Located in Astoria, NY

An extraordinary early 19th-century Spanish Baroque writing desk sourced from Provence, France. The table features exquisite and intricate hand-carved floral motifs throughout the en...

Category

Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Wrought Iron

17th Century North Italian Ebonized Baroque Desk
17th Century North Italian Ebonized Baroque Desk

17th Century North Italian Ebonized Baroque Desk

Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire

An unusual late 17th century North Italian Baroque ebonized writing desk - of serpentine form. Featuring a knee-hole type design with a pull-out writing desk flanked by a pair of cup...

Category

17th Century Italian Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Pine

English 18th C. Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk
English 18th C. Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk

English 18th C. Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk

Located in Vero Beach, FL

English 18th Century Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk This is a fine example of the English spinet in its most fully devel...

Category

18th Century English Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Tulipwood

Cassetone Bureau Desk Ebonised Rosewood Bone Rome Baroque Bird Flower Lion Tulip
Cassetone Bureau Desk Ebonised Rosewood Bone Rome Baroque Bird Flower Lion Tulip

Cassetone Bureau Desk Ebonised Rosewood Bone Rome Baroque Bird Flower Lion Tulip

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Exceptional Roman Baroque Ebonised, Rosewood Cassettone with bone inlay and magnificent brass handles Magnificent transition piece displaying classical ornamentation within a tradit...

Category

1690s Italian Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Bone, Ebony, Rosewood, Ivory

Bargueño or desk with bridge base. Wood, metal. Spanish school, 17th c
Bargueño or desk with bridge base. Wood, metal. Spanish school, 17th c

Bargueño or desk with bridge base. Wood, metal. Spanish school, 17th c

Located in Madrid, ES

Bargueño or wastepaper basket with bridge base. Wood, metal. Spanish school, 17th century. In need of some restoration. Bargueño or covered waste-paper basket placed on a support ...

Category

17th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Other

Vargueno, Bargueno, Escritorio, Taquillon, Spanish, Baroque, Walnut, Velvet
Vargueno, Bargueno, Escritorio, Taquillon, Spanish, Baroque, Walnut, Velvet

Vargueno, Bargueno, Escritorio, Taquillon, Spanish, Baroque, Walnut, Velvet

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Spanish writing desks of this period are the most distinctive pieces of Spanish furniture conceived as visual displays of incredible virtuosity. The characteristic decoration of the ...

Category

Early 17th Century Spanish Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut

Baroque Secretary Desk, Switzerland 1750
Baroque Secretary Desk, Switzerland 1750

Baroque Secretary Desk, Switzerland 1750

Located in Belmont, MA

Baroque Secretary Desk, Switzerland, Circa 1750 A refined mid-18th century Swiss Baroque secretary desk with an elegant bombe front and beautifully figured walnut veneer. The slanted...

Category

1750s Swiss Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Old Italian Surprise Bar
19th Century Old Italian Surprise Bar

19th Century Old Italian Surprise Bar

Located in Madrid, ES

Old Italian surprise bar from the nineteenth century, in light fruit woods-it has a tray lifting system that is stored inside and is movable. It is decora...

Category

19th Century Italian Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Wood

Majestic Italian Desk, circa 1820
Majestic Italian Desk, circa 1820

Majestic Italian Desk, circa 1820

Located in Budapest, HU

Piece of extreme beauty. It belonged to a famous scholar of Dante Alighieri. On one side desk, above the lectern, behind wardrobe with two pullers. Very fine inlays in almost all s...

Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Baroque Secretaire, Lake Constance Region
18th Century Baroque Secretaire, Lake Constance Region

18th Century Baroque Secretaire, Lake Constance Region

Located in Belmont, MA

18th century baroque secretaire, Lake Constance region. Two-drawer body on curved square feet, foldable desk, inside six drawers, a wide shelf and a sec...

Category

1750s German Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Baroque Secretaire, South German, 1750-1760
18th Century Baroque Secretaire, South German, 1750-1760

18th Century Baroque Secretaire, South German, 1750-1760

Located in Belmont, MA

Unique 18th century Baroque secretaire, South German, probably Lake of Constance region, circa 1750-1760. Elaborate bombe shaped Baroque secretaire with beautiful walnut, elmwood an...

Category

1750s German Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut

FRENCH DESK WITH XIX CENTURY MARQUETRY ELEGANT 19th CENTURY
FRENCH DESK WITH XIX CENTURY MARQUETRY ELEGANT 19th CENTURY

FRENCH DESK WITH XIX CENTURY MARQUETRY ELEGANT 19th CENTURY

Located in Madrid, ES

FRENCH DESK WITH XIX CENTURY MARQUETRY ELEGANT XIX CENTURY DESK IN GEOMETRIC MARQUETRY AND GREEN INK. IT IS DECORATED WITH GILDED BRONZE. IT KEEPS ITS ORIGINAL KEY. MEASURES: 70X87X4...

Category

19th Century French Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Wood

Desk Swedish Early 18th Century Baroque Period Sweden
Desk Swedish Early 18th Century Baroque Period Sweden

Desk Swedish Early 18th Century Baroque Period Sweden

Located in New York, NY

Desk Swedish Baroque Period Sweden. A rare Swedish Baroque desk in a stunning condition and patina from the Swedish King Fredrik I period. Structu...

Category

Late 17th Century Swedish Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Baroque Bureau-Desk, Northern Italy, Lombardy, circa 1720
Baroque Bureau-Desk, Northern Italy, Lombardy, circa 1720

Baroque Bureau-Desk, Northern Italy, Lombardy, circa 1720

Located in CH

Baroque Bureau Cabinet (Desk) Northern Italy, Lombardy, circa 1720 Walnut burl and fruitwood veneer, inlaid with reserves and fillets; bronze mounts and knobs This elegant Baroque b...

Category

Early 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut, Burl

Baroque Style Black Lacquer Walnut Desk, 20th Century
Baroque Style Black Lacquer Walnut Desk, 20th Century

Baroque Style Black Lacquer Walnut Desk, 20th Century

Located in Lisbon, PT

A baroque style black color refinished walnut writing table with a serpentine rectangular top, rounded frieze, deeply sculpted cabriole legs, pipe legs and wide drawer.Comfort and or...

Category

Early 20th Century French Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut

Venetian Painted Desk
Venetian Painted Desk

Venetian Painted Desk

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A rare, Venetian, serpentine painted writing desk/coiffure table. Six drawers with 4 original keys. Hand painted foliate swags decorate the sides which meet relief profiles

Category

Late 18th Century Italian Antique Baroque Desks

Materials

Wood, Paint

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Located in Bradenton, FL

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Baroque desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Baroque desks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Baroque desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, and Ferdinand Barbedienne. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,664 and tops out at $77,050 while the average work can sell for $10,874.