The Gothic Revival movement (also called Victorian Gothic or Neo-Gothic) emerged in Britain in the 1740s, and reached its height in the late-19th century. Gothic Revival furniture's characteristics include such decorative flourishes as pointed arches, floral details, finials, heraldic motifs and linenfold carving.
The movement was rooted in religious and social conservatism. Gothic Revival's proponents, who included Charles Barry and A.W.N. Pugin, the architects of London’s Houses of Parliament (designed in 1840), believed that the art and architecture of the Middle Ages were authentically spiritual and inherently moral.
In the United States, the Gothic Revival movement shaped both public buildings and private houses. Numerous American schools were built in the early-19th century in a style now called Collegiate Gothic. Many builders and craftsmen were inspired by Andrew Jackson Downing’s widely read 1850 book Architecture for Country Houses, which posited that a family’s home should exemplify their values — and that the Gothic Revival style was particularly well-suited to scholars and clergymen. Furniture with detailing that mirrored that of Gothic Revival buildings appeared in the same period. Such pieces typically feature dark, intricately carved wood, and upholstery in velvet or leather.
Much like the castles or cathedrals that inspired them, Gothic Revival chairs, bookcases and beds make a bold design statement. And while you probably don’t have to cross a moat or raise a portcullis to get through your front door, a Gothic Revival piece will declare that your home is indeed your castle.
THEODORE ALEXANDER SECRETAIRE DESK & GOTHIC REVIVAL WiNDSOR BROWN LEATHER CHAIR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite, vintage Theodore Alexander folding writing table desk with hidden storage and bro...
Leather, Hardwood
Gothic Revival English Desk of Bleached Oak with Linenfold Motifs, circa 1830
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English bleached oak Gothic Revival desk with linenfold motifs from the first half of the 19th century. This English desk features a rectangular top over three drawers and two sid...
Wood, Oak
Gillows of Lancaster attri., Gothic Revival Oak Architect's Desk
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. A rare Gothic Revival architect's folding desk. The top has opposing slides opening to reveal a compartment for storing drawing utensils etc. The ...
Oak
A W N Pugin Attri, Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with Linenfold & Floral Carving
By Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin
Located in London, GB
A W N Pugin attributed, A Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with finely executed carved gallery to the top and a sloping writing area opening to reveal storage...
Oak
Restored Gothic Revival Desk Side Bookcases Drawer Writing Slope Pugin Gillows
By Pugin, Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare Gothic Revival circa 1840 solid oak partner desk with top drawer writing slope and side bookcases made by either Gillows of Lancaster or Pugin Where to begin, this desk has been on a journey, when I first received the piece it looked like it had been French polished and waxed around 20 times, it had a very clumpy sticky finish, my restorers have stripped back all that horrible guck, they have then lightly stained and French polished it the correct way which has kept all the period patina and simply made it golden, The leather top and writing slope top has been replaced with fully aniline natural cattle hide leather that was plain, I’ve then had my leather polishers dye it this gorgeous whisky brown colour. Lastly there was various small timber repairs which have been done with antique timber...
Leather, Oak
Late 19th Century British Victorian Walnut & Rosewood Davenport Desk
Located in Middleburg, VA
Late 19th Century British Victorian Walnut & Rosewood Davenport Desk Beautiful piece with has a slant lift-top and side drawers for plenty of storage. Measures: 33" H, 27" W, 24" D
Rosewood, Walnut
$2,319Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.75 in W 21 in D 45.5 in
Desk , Small English Knee Hole Desk with Tooled Leather Top, Serpentine Front
Located in Toronto, CA
A serpentine curved front, small English kneehole desk in classical mahogany Georgian styling. The gold(ish) brown antique looking tooled leather...
Leather, Hardwood
$5,493
H 30.12 in W 54.34 in D 41.93 in
Antique English Victorian Double Sided Oak Twin Pedestal 18 Drawer Kneehole Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning circa 1880 Victorian English oak antique knee hole 18 drawer desk A wonderful desk, ...
Leather, Oak
$14,500
H 84 in W 48 in D 24 in
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Birch
$4,172
H 29.5 in W 60 in D 47.5 in
Alfred Waterhouse A Gothic Revival Oak Partners Desk With Two Drawers Each Side
By Alfred Waterhouse
Located in London, GB
Alfred Water House in the style of. A Gothic Revival oak Partners desk with a large open writing area and a pair of drawers to each side and a turned gallery to each end and below the drawers with a central opening for more leg room. The graduating turned legs united by conforming turned gallery to each end on original brass and ceramic castors. A well-designed architectural desk for two...
Oak
$2,861Sale Price|30% Off
H 37.8 in W 38.59 in D 20.48 in
19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk with Folding Front Part
Located in Sofia, BG
French mahogany writing desk with folding front part and hidden drawers in the upper part. There are also three big drawers in the lower p...
Mahogany
English Walnut Burl Three-Drawer Writing Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
Created for us by an English cabinetmaker with whom we have been associated for over 30 years, this walnut writing desk has Classic lines that would blend well in a modern setting. I...
Leather, Walnut, Burl
English Walnut Burl Two-Drawer Writing Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
This two-drawer walnut writing desk is made for us by our English cabinetmaker. Using time-honored techniques, this table is created in just the same fashion as it would have been 20...
Leather, Walnut, Burl
$11,751
H 28.75 in W 38 in D 21.07 in
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...
Bronze
19th Century Victorian Carved Mahogany Desk
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Selling is a top quality, unusual mid-Victorian copy of a Chippendale carved desk. The top drawer of the desk, when opened, reveals a rising writing panel and two lift up panels with...
Mahogany
$3,250
H 31 in W 60 in D 30 in
Theodore Alexander Jodhpur Campaign Writing Desk, Mahogany & Brass Fittings
Located in Stamford, CT
A Theodore Alexander Jodhpur Campaign writing desk with brass fittings on removable sawhorse legs. The Jodhpur Campaign writing desk is part of a collection designed by Theodore Alex...
Brass
English Mahogany Leather Top Writing Desk, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany two-drawer leather top writing desk with carved molded edge, original brasses and terminating on chamfered tapered legs, Late 18th century. Desk is finished on all ...
Antique Mahogany Davenport Desk by Gillows of Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in King's Lynn, GB
An antique solid mahogany Davenport desk, dating to circa 1820–1835, spanning the late Regency and early William IV periods, by Gillows of Lancaster, stamped “Gillows • Lancaster” to...
Leather, Mahogany
Neo-Ghotic Bureau - England - Late 19th Century - Carved Oak
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
This exquisite Neo-Gothic bureau is a true masterpiece, merging fine craftsmanship with historical elegance. Crafted likely in the late 19th to early 20t...
Oak
Sold
H 67.5 in W 29.25 in D 18.5 in
Antique Gothic Revival Victorian Rosewood & Marble Mirrored Secretary Desk C1850
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Gothic Revival secretary offers rosewood construction with upper having stylized finials over case with double glass doors opening to mirrored interior with storage compar...
Rosewood
Sold
H 42.5 in W 33.5 in D 16 in
Rare Gothic Revival Carved Oak Secretaire / Desk w. Church Window Panels & More
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare, wonderful and practical, Gothic Revival desk cabinet with a great patina. If you like Gothic Revival furniture then we are certain you will like this very rare and good quality made, hand-carved Gothic desk...
Bronze
Sold
H 59.45 in W 42.13 in D 18.12 in
Rare Gothic Revival Writing Desk Carved Oak Antique 19th Century Angels Dragons
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exceptional & Breathtaking ! This very high quality Gothic Revival writing desk / secretaire marked 1887. Carved from European oak with superb craftsmanship and numerous details ! The 2 doors are decorated with angels & the top also displays 2 angels. There are 2 dragons on the top piece, gothic faces are made as handle grips for the 4 drawers. The desk has carved gothic panels...
Velvet, Oak
Gothic Revival Coromandel and Brass Lap Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Highly-prized coromandel, or East Indian ebony, was used to create this beautiful 19th-century British Gothic Revival lap desk. The desirable wo...
Brass
Neo-Gothic Oak Lectern, 19th Century
Located in Beaune, FR
Neo-Gothic style oak desk in good condition. It opens to two doors on either side. The top is used as a writing desk and opens. This desk is in good condition.
Oak
Sold
H 30 in W 43.25 in D 25.5 in
19th Century Edwards and Roberts Leather Top Desk with Faux Bamboo Legs
Located in Richmond, VA
Fantastic quality 19th century Neo-Gothic leather top desk with faux bamboo cluster legs made by Edwards and Roberts. Paneled sides and back, Blind fret...
Leather, Mahogany
Sold
H 30.2 in W 55 in D 29.6 in
Outstanding Gothic Revival Desk w. Quality Carved Church Window Panels & Guards
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderful Gothic Revival desk with an amazing presence and patina. If you like Gothic Revival furniture then we are certain you will like this quality made and quality carved Gothic desk. This fine and practical specimen comes with very attractive, church-window-like panels. This intricate oak desk comes with four wonderful and deeply hand carved Gothic knight...
Wrought Iron, Brass
Sold
H 43.5 in W 28 in D 14 in
Antique Walnut Gothic Revival Drop Front Writing Desk Hastings Furniture Co
By Hastings
Located in Toledo, OH
Antique walnut Gothic Revival drop front writing desk by Hastings Furniture Co. circa 1920's. Hand painted sailing ship on leather front. Wroug...
Walnut
19th Century French Carved Oak Gothic Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Highly carved French gothic desk in oak with ornately-carved panels to the front and linen-fold carving to each side and with turned and carved colu...
Oak
19th Century English Ebonized Barley Twist Library Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic mid-19th century English library table or desk featuring barley twist legs and stretchers. Made in the gothic revival period of mid-19th century. Crafted from oak having a ...
Oak
Sold
H 28.9 in W 78.4 in D 39 in
Large and Rare, Hand Carved Antique Gothic Revival Oak Partners Desk, circa 1920
Located in Lisse, NL
Impressive and beautiful, hand-crafted antique double sided desk. Everyone knows about first impressions and how much they can mean for a pr...
Brass, Iron, Wrought Iron