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Louis XIII Desks

LOUIS XIII STYLE

Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.

When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.

From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.

The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.

Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.

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Style: Louis XIII
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fine 19th century French carved oak library table, or writing table desk made in the grand Louis XIII taste. Features thick barley twist legs conjoined on the bottom with barley twis...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Oak

French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Table Desk
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Table Desk

French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Table Desk

French 19th Century Louis XIII Style Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French hand carved desk has an angular shaped top over a single drawer in the apron. Four striking and stylized turned legs are connected by a similar stretcher. Cleaned and pol...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Louis XIII Style Desk
French 19th Century Louis XIII Style Desk

French 19th Century Louis XIII Style Desk

19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Spectacular 19th century French bureau plat writing table or desk featuring barley twist legs and stretcher. Crafted from oak in the grand Louis XIII style fronted by a large 27 inch...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk

19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk

19th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
Charming mid-19th-century French rustic writing, kitchen, or side table in the Louis XIII style, sourced from Provence. Handcrafted from solid walnut with two spacious drawers featur...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk
19th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk

19th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk

Antique French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
Late 19th-century French writing desk or side table crafted in the Louis XIII style, sourced from Provence, France. Expertly hand-crafted from solid walnut, it features three storage...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk
Antique French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk

Antique French Louis XIII Style Walnut Writing Desk

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Previously Available Items
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Antique French Louis XIII Style Walnut Barley Twist Writing Desk

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French 19th century desk.
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French 19th Century Desk

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18th Century, Spanish, Carved Walnut Two-Piece Bargueno Cabinet and Base
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19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
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19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk

19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk

H 30 in W 41 in D 25.5 in
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Located in Rio Vista, CA
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19th Century French Carved Walnut Barley Twist Writing Table
19th Century French Carved Walnut Barley Twist Writing Table

19th Century French Carved Walnut Barley Twist Writing Table

H 30 in W 35.5 in D 23 in
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19th Century French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Oak Desk

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H 29.5 in W 31.5 in D 19.5 in
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Located in Shreveport, LA
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Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style
Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style

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Louis Xiii desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XIII desks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, 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, oak and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XIII desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Netherlands pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 $2,645 and tops out at $4,800 while the average work can sell for $3,933.

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