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Federal Desks

FEDERAL STYLE

Following the Revolutionary War, the American republic referenced the Roman Republic in its designs to celebrate its independence and declare itself a powerful new country. Imbued with neoclassical elements like those being promoted by architect Robert Adam in Great Britain, antique Federal-style furniture was the first distinctly American style in its melding of ancient influences, European aesthetics and national pride.

Dating roughly from 1790 to 1830, the style featured angular furniture with saber legs and smooth surfaces that contrasted with the curvy Rococo style that was previously in fashion. Eagles were common ornamental motifs on Federal-period furniture, as were cornucopia, lyres, garlands and scrolls, adding subtle flair to pieces characterized by clean lines, geometric symmetry, balanced shapes and a sense of grandeur.

Instead of sculptural carvings, authentic Federal-style furniture was adorned with inlays and patterned veneers that showcased the rich character of different grains and types of wood. As social life tended to be informal in the young country, furniture was often lightweight, so it could be easily rearranged in a drawing room or bedroom. Pieces like dining tables with drop leaves and sideboards became popular, replacing larger chests of drawers.

The Federal style varied by region: Artisans in Charleston, South Carolina, decorated chairs with carved backs, for instance, while those in Baltimore, Maryland, preferred painted details. Its major proponents included father-and-son cabinetmakers John and Thomas Seymour in Boston, Duncan Phyfe and Charles-Honoré Lannuier in New York and Samuel McIntire in Salem, Massachusetts.

Find antique Federal tables, mirrors, storage cabinets and other Federal furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

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Style: Federal
Mid 20th Century Solid Mahogany Federal Kidney Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid 20th Century Solid Mahogany Federal Kidney Desk in great vintage condition. Top newly and professionally refinished and flawlessly working drawers Measures 46" in width x 22" in...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Federal Cherrywood Desk and Glassdoor Bookcase
Located in Sheridan, CO
A Late Federal Cherrywood Desk and Bookcase, Circa 1830. This unique piece includes a folding desk and make a fabulous looking compact desk with plenty of storage in bookcase above. This was possibly a clerk's desk. Includes plenty of storage and desk...
Category

Early 18th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century American Walnut Federal Style Drop-Front Desk
Located in Louisville, KY
Circa 1830's, this walnut Federal Sheraton style plantation desk has a single front drawer on the lower desk and double doors on the upper piece. The double doors open to reveal intr...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Circa 1800-1805 Mahogany Federal Hepplewhite Tambour Desk, Massachusetts
Located in Louisville, KY
This stunning inlaid Mahogany Federal Hepplewhite Tambour Desk, most likely originated in the Massachusetts area between 1800-1805 time period...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Huge Partners Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This is the Huge Partners Desk in the Niagara Furniture collection. This desk behemoth matches a number of other pieces which we produce. The fantastic solid mahogany top frame is in...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Oval Partners Desk
Located in Annville, PA
One of the most complicated items that we produce at Niagara furniture our Oval Partners Desk is also one of the most popular. The top section of the desk consists of a three-paneled...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Mahogany Partners Desk
Located in Annville, PA
A fine quality Mahogany Partners Desk from Niagara Furniture with raised door panels and a rich brown color finish similar to that found in English antiques. The three-paneled writin...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Large Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
Inspired by an antique desk and bookcase this Large Mahogany Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture is impressive in both it’s design and scal...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Banded Mahogany Partners Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This beautiful Banded Mahogany Partners Desk is crafted as an antique reproduction. The figural mahogany in the drawer and door panels displays a rich color and a fine grain that are...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Burled Partners Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This beautiful burled partners desk by Niagara Furniture is crafted as an antique reproduction. The fine quality veneers in the drawer and door panels displays a rich color similar t...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Leather, Wood

Mahogany Credenza
Located in Annville, PA
This Mahogany Credenza matches a number of other items in the Niagara Furniture office collection. The credenza utilizes three part construction, the top and two pedestals separate f...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Large Mahogany Credenza
Located in Annville, PA
Decorative and functional this great quality four part Large Mahogany Credenza from Niagara Furniture can solve a lot of your storage and display needs either at home or in the workp...
Category

2010s Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Federal Birch Slant Front Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early 19th century Federal Birch New England Slant Lid Desk likely New Hampshire in origin around 1800-1830. Made of solid Birch with four large graduated inlaid drawers ...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Birch

American Federal Mahogany & Satinwood Butler's Desk with Paw Feet. NY, C. 1810
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany butler's desk with a carved molded edge, three upper drawers with original brass knobs, sliding fall front interior desk with Satinwood drawers and pigeon h...
Category

1810s American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Federal Mahogany and Birch Inlaid Secretary/Desk sq
Located in Water Mill, NY
Federal Mahogany and Birch inlaid secretary/desk with contrasting veneers and bone pulls.
Category

1790s American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Birch, Mahogany

90" Baker Executive Partners Desk
Located in Pasadena, TX
Baker partners desk Stunning pedestal leather top executive desk made by BAKER. Functioning drawers on both sides serve as guest or partner de...
Category

1980s American Vintage Federal Desks

Materials

Burl

Federal Partners' Desk in Mahogany, Philadelphia, circa 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful Philadelphia partners desk in mahogany with gadrooned top and apron resting on center pedestal with carved baluster and legs, and ending in brass casters with lions' paw ...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Fall-Front Desk
Located in Buchanan, MI
Handsome and functional Regency mahogany fall front desk, server, entry way piece, great inlay, elegant form. Exceptional exaggerated arched foot.
Category

19th Century North American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Satin

Related Items
Victorian Mahogany Partners Desk
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is an unusual, good quality, Victorian mahogany partners desk. Having a polished solid mahogany top with three drawers to the...
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19th Century English Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Victorian Mahogany Partners Desk
Victorian Mahogany Partners Desk
H 29.14 in W 47.25 in D 14.18 in
Antique Federal Hepplewhite Birdseye Maple & Mahogany Secretary Desk C1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Shipping Rates - Reliable Service & Fully Insured*** An antique Federal or Hepplewhite secretary offers birdseye maple and mahogany construction with up...
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Mid-19th Century Antique Federal Desks

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Birdseye Maple, Mahogany

Important Louis Majorelle Art Nouveau Bookcase Desk Desk-Chair & Filing Cabinet
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique museum quality, 4-piece Parisian Art Nouveau office furniture set. As far as we know, this is the most complete, Louis Majorelle office furniture set that has been offered in the world in the past 50 years. Most collectors and enthousiasts will know how rare a set like this is, but what makes it even more astonishing is its condition. Apart from the leather on the back of the original desk chair, this set could hardly be in better condition and it would certainly grace any museum for applied arts. The only known office set that comes close to this original and complete set is in the collection of the MAAS museum in Sydney, Australia. So if you are looking for an original, great condition and very rare, antique office interior by one of the world's best Art Nouveau designers then this is your chance. We are convinced it will be the only one you'll ever get. Also, because the Majorelle filing cabinet in this set is the first one of its kind that we have ever seen. For this amazing set of four we have created three listings so that we are able to show you enough pictures of the many hand carved and hand-crafted wooden, bronze, glass and design details per item. Mind you, this stunning and almost 8 feet tall 'bibliotheque' or 'library bookcase' is the first one of the three listings that, together, show and describe this unique Louis Majorelle office of amazing quality and beauty. In image 8 of this listing is a photo of the complete set as shot in one of our facilities. This here Majorelle bookcase is the largest and best condition specimen that you will ever see and the workmanship is as good as you will ever be able to find. The deeply hand carved organic plant motifs are simply amazing and these motifs are to be found in all four pieces that this set consists of. What makes this stunning and predominantly solid nutwood bookcase extra special are the inlaid geometrical patterns in both the door panels and in the sides. However, the most impressive and aesthetically special features are the mint condition art glass panels with the top quality forged and hand hammered brass details in the upper part of each door. These metal worker's details, by the way, are the same organic plant motifs as the hand carved ones in the legs and in the 'roof' of this largest ever Majorelle cabinet (as shown in image 9 of this listing). Especially with the doors open you can see the vivid irridescent colors that are in the glass art panels. Below these art glass panels in the doors are large and also superb condtion, beveled glass windows. All the bookshelfs inside of this work of art bookcase are height adjustable and all are in very good condition too. All three doors come with perfect working locks and each door has its own bronze Majorelle designed key (one key is original and we had two more cast). Finally, this antique and museum quality, Art Nouveau gem...
Category

Early 20th Century French Federal Desks

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Iron

Federal Cherry Slant Lid Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice size late 18th century American Cherry Chippendale slant front desk with white Pine secondary wood. Four molded graduated dra...
Category

Late 18th Century Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Cherry

Federal Cherry Slant Lid Desk
Federal Cherry Slant Lid Desk
H 42 in W 36 in D 19 in
19th Century American Walnut "Wells Fargo" Desk by Wooton Desk. Co
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality and impressive standard grade American walnut Wootton Desk Co. "Wells Fargo" desk, of substantial form, with three quarter galle...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Walnut

Antique Early American 19th Century Pine Plantation Desk
Located in Forney, TX
An early American 19th century pine plantation desk with nicely aged patina. Born in the Mid-Atlantic region / Southern United States, circa 1800s, hand-crafted of solid pine wood with mellow warm tone and rich grain patterns, primitive one-piece construction, having a stepped molded cornice above a tall pair of paneled cabinet doors, opening to reveal an interior fitted with shelves and divided slots for documents, plank boarded back with old metal patch, over a lift-top writing slope with spacious storage underneath, the apron adorned with simple decorative pilasters...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Pine

Chippendale Style Mahogany Partners Desk
Located in Montreal, QC
This superb desk is a copy of one made by Thomas Chippendale in 1766 for Sir Rowland Winn . The original masterpiece of English cabinetry is at his residence, Nostell Priory in Yo...
Category

1940s English Vintage Federal Desks

Materials

Leather, Wood

American Federal Mahogany & Satinwood Butler's Desk with Paw Feet. NY, C. 1810
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Federal mahogany butler's desk with a carved molded edge, three upper drawers with original brass knobs, sliding fall front interior desk with Satinwood drawers and pigeon h...
Category

1810s American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian Walnut & Burl Cylinder Secretary Desk & Bookcase, circa 1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique secretary offers walnut and burl paneled construction with upper bookcase having broken arch crest over double glass door case seated on desk with cylinder opening to writ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Walnut, Glass

Danish Rosewood Desk and Bookcase with Sliding Doors, 1950
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
A beautiful Danish rosewood desk cabinet with upper shelving. Features adjustable shelving with additional storage behind the 2 sliding doors and an extendable writing surface. Has a...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Federal Desks

Materials

Rosewood

American Mahogany Partner's Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful Mahogany Partner's Desk with glass knobs. Top refinished and everything else cleaned and ready to go! Two wide drawers per each side with smaller drawers below. Beautiful c...
Category

1880s American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany

American Mahogany Partner's Desk
American Mahogany Partner's Desk
H 29 in W 58 in D 35.5 in
French Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant / Secretary desk, circa 1800
Located in Lucenec, SK
The secrétaire à abbatant or fall front desk is nearly identical to the desk 5th President James Monroe brought back from France in 1797. These desks are ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Federal Mahogany Secretary Desk With Bookcase Attributed to Imperial Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Federal style bureau with tambour doors, fold-out desk, and bookcase hutch top Attributed to Imperial Furniture of Grand Rapids USA, circa 1940s Carved flame mah...
Category

1940s American Vintage Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

19th Century Poplar Federal Slant Front Flip Top Schoolmasters Desk
Located in Southampton, NJ
A stunning piece of history in this circa 1860 American Slant Front Schoolmasters desk constructed with Poplar wood with hand carved geometric legs t...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Steel

New England Birch Slant Front Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early 19th century Federal Birch New England Slant Lid Desk likely New Hampshire in origin around 1800-1830. Made of solid Birch with four large graduated inlaid drawers...
Category

Early 19th Century North American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Birch

New England Birch Slant Front Desk
New England Birch Slant Front Desk
H 40.75 in W 37.5 in D 18.5 in
Exceptional Bench Made George Washington Desk in Tiger Maple
Located in Milford, NH
A fine quality bench made George Washington desk in tiger maple, with rectangular top featuring two removable graduated document or stationary b...
Category

Late 20th Century American Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

American Federal Mahogany Secretary Desk Chest of Drawers, circa 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
An interesting and somewhat unusual secretary desk constructed in two parts with an upper case that lifts free of the lower base for safe transport. It is designed with a series of e...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique American Federal Classical Period Mahogany Butler's Secretary Dresser NY
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique American Federal Classical period mahogany and maple butler's secretary, dresser desk, circa 1830. New York or Baltimore. The dresser ...
Category

1830s American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

Federal Style Mahogany & Cherry Tambour Secretary Desk and Bookcase
Located in Milford, NH
A beautiful Sheraton, Federal style, two part Mount Vernon Hickory Chair Company cherry secretary with crossbanded mahogany veneers, its upper case with a molded cornice surmounting ...
Category

1990s American Federal Desks

Materials

Cherry, Mahogany, Satinwood

Federal Mahogany Sideboard or Server with Butler’s Desk, Boston, circa 1810
By Seymour School
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a figured mahogany veneered sideboard or server with fitted hidden butler’s desk with drop down leather writing surface and compartmentalized interior, surmounting ...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

American Early 19th Century Mahogany Partner's Pedestal Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early 19th century American mahogany partner's pedestal desk featuring embossed brown leather top, moulded edge and 8 drawers below with center knee hole.  
Category

Early 19th Century North American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Diminutive American Federal Mahogany Writing Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
19th century mahogany writing table or desk made in the federal style in a diminutive scale. The table is fronted by two storage drawers with round brass pulls. Supported by elegant ...
Category

19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Southern Federal Walnut Slant Front Desk, Piedmont Region Virginia 1800-1820
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This Southern Federal solid walnut desk, dating to circa 1800-1820 and made in the Piedmont Region of Virginia, features a stringed slant front center...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Sheraton Flame Mahogany Tambour Secretary Desk, circa 1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Sheraton Tambour secretary offers deeply striated mahogany construction with upper double door cabinet over two lower drawers and surmount...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Federal Desks

Materials

Metal

Federal desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Federal 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, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Federal desks made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks, popular names associated with this style include and Baker Furniture Company. 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 $1,516 and tops out at $18,500 while the average work can sell for $4,675.

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