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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
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

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

19th Century French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Oak Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Diminutive 19th century French oak writing table or desk. Featuring a single drawer case supported by carved barley twist legs conjoined by an H-shaped stretcher. The oak top has a l...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Oak Desk
19th Century French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Oak Desk

19th Century French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Oak Desk

Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from France~ ~Beautiful French writing desk or sofa table with elegant features!~ ~Lovely barely twist legs as well as barley twist stretcher and ...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style
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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H 29.75 in W 48 in D 27 in
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1970s North American Vintage Louis XIII Desks

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H 30 in W 52 in D 24 in
Rare Antique circa 1860 Library Writing Table Desk with Twin Writing Slopes
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H 31.11 in W 55.12 in D 31.5 in
19th Century French Oak Library Desk Console Sofa Table Barley Twist Louis XIII
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19th Century French Oak Library Desk Console Sofa Table Barley Twist Louis XIII
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19th Century Carved Oak Pedestal Desk
19th Century Carved Oak Pedestal Desk

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19th Century English Victorian Oak Writing Desk
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19th Century English Victorian Oak Writing Desk
19th Century English Victorian Oak Writing Desk

19th Century English Victorian Oak Writing Desk

H 29.25 in W 48 in D 32.25 in
Thomasville French Provincial Louis XV Oak Writing Desk with Bookcase Hutch Top
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Thomasville French Provincial Louis XV Oak Writing Desk with Bookcase Hutch Top
Thomasville French Provincial Louis XV Oak Writing Desk with Bookcase Hutch Top

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H 74 in W 36 in D 18 in
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19th Century Louis XIII Style Walnut Barley Twist Library Table

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Antique Women's Wooden Desk, France, circa 1880
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Women's desk, made in France in circa 1880. Good condition. Currently under renovation. Wood: oak dimensions: height: 78 cm, width: 80 cm, depth: 61 cm
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Antique Women's Wooden Desk, France, circa 1880
Antique Women's Wooden Desk, France, circa 1880

Antique Women's Wooden Desk, France, circa 1880

H 30.71 in W 31.5 in D 24.02 in
19th Century French Carved Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French carved oak sofa table writing desk barley twist Black Forest ~Direct from France~ ~Lovely antique French writing desk or sofa table with elegant features~ ~F...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

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19th Century French Carved Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII
19th Century French Carved Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII

19th Century French Carved Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII

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French 19th Century Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 19th century desk.
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

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French 19th Century Desk
French 19th Century Desk

French 19th Century Desk

H 30.75 in W 52.5 in D 25.5 in
18th Century, Spanish, Carved Walnut Two-Piece Bargueno Cabinet and Base
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Complete your library or study with this antique fruitwood "Bargueno" or "Vargueno" from Spain, circa 1780. Built in two-pieces, the Spanish desk features a portable cabinet with forged side handles for traveling purposes, and a separate base with barley twist legs. The top cabinet features front marquetry decor and geometrical diamond inlay motif, embellished with two iron latches and the sides, and a pull down door revealing a theater with multiple drawers and a writing surface. The inside includes two small doors and nine separate compartments for easy storage and sorting mail. The trunk sits on four carved legs with bottom stretcher, and has a large drawer across the front for additional storage. The versatile, useful cabinet is in good condition with a rich walnut patina throughout. The Bargueño or Vargueno desk...
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18th Century, Spanish, Carved Walnut Two-Piece Bargueno Cabinet and Base
18th Century, Spanish, Carved Walnut Two-Piece Bargueno Cabinet and Base

18th Century, Spanish, Carved Walnut Two-Piece Bargueno Cabinet and Base

H 17 in W 42 in L 17 in
19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome 19th century French bureau plat writing table or desk featuring barley twist legs and stretchers. Made in the grand Louis XIII taste fronted by a large 33 inch storage drawe...
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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

H 30 in W 41 in D 25.5 in
19th Century French Carved Walnut Barley Twist Writing Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Petite 19th century French carved walnut writing table, library table, or desk. Features thick barley twist legs and a stretcher centered by a two-sided finial. Made in the grand Lou...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

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Iron

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
Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from France~ ~Beautiful French writing desk or sofa table with elegant features!~ ~Lovely barely twist legs as well as barley twist stretcher and ...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style
Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style

Antique French Oak Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII Style

H 31 in W 41.252 in D 25.252 in
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Writing Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
French 19th century oak library table or writing table desk made in the Louis XIII taste. Features barley twist legs and stretchers. Su...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Brass

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

French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Writing Desk

H 29 in W 47 in D 29.5 in
Superbe 18th Century French Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Superbe 18th century French desk.
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Oak

Superbe 18th Century French Desk
Superbe 18th Century French Desk

Superbe 18th Century French Desk

H 30.5 in W 62.25 in D 34.5 in
Antique French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk in Solid Walnut Unrestored
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French desk in the style of Louis XIII and probably made around the turn of the century. We found this Louis XIII style desk in the Toulouse area of France, which is known fo...
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1890s French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk in Solid Walnut Unrestored
Antique French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk in Solid Walnut Unrestored

Antique French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk in Solid Walnut Unrestored

H 29 in W 59 in D 39.38 in
19th Century French Desk "a gradin"
Located in Stockbridge, GA
19th century French desk "a gradin".
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Desk "a gradin"
19th Century French Desk "a gradin"

19th Century French Desk "a gradin"

H 40.75 in W 51 in D 24.5 in

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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