Louis XV Desks
LOUIS XV STYLE
The style of 18th-century French furniture was guided by the court. When Louis XV, who reigned from 1715–74, focused royal life on the smaller salons of Versailles rather than its grand chambers, it transformed the aesthetics away from the imposing and angular furniture that characterized the style of Louis XIV. A broader focus on comfort and more delicate forms define antique Louis XV furniture, with nature-inspired carvings, wood inlays, curved cabriole legs, asymmetrical shapes and rounded oval seat backs. The furnishings changed throughout the king’s life, as he ascended to the throne as a child and then grew to establish his own tastes.
Pieces like the bergère, an upholstered armchair with a wide cushion that fit the flowing dresses in fashion at the time, reflected this more informal court. Introduced at the start of Louis XV’s reign, bergère chairs in this style were deeper and broader than other chairs of the period.
Louis XV tapestries and carpets tended to be floral and colorful, and design elements were borrowed from Asia. Dutch-born cabinetmaker Bernard van Risenburgh brought lacquer techniques influenced by Japan and China into his luxuriously made furniture. Along with its fine details, the furniture of the era also featured new innovations including mechanical devices. Jean François Oeben, a royal cabinetmaker, created such intricate pieces as a mechanical table for Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress. It involved a sliding top and a writing surface that extended from its marquetry panels.
During the later years of Louis XV’s reign, there was a shift from the ostentatious rocaille style, part of the exuberantly decorative Rococo movement in Europe for which designers such as Nicolas Pineau and Juste-Aurèle Meissonier are known. The style under Louis XVI would return to boxier forms, but with a neoclassical touch inspired by the ancient world.
Find antique Louis XV bedroom furniture, seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
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Style: Louis XV
Antique French Louis Style Kidney Shaped Desk With Clock And Candelabras
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Louis IV Style Kidney Shaped Desk with a Clock and Two Candelabras
This exquisite Antique French Louis IV Style Kidney Shaped Desk is a stunning addition to any offic...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Louis XV Desks
Materials
Wood
Early Paint Antique French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Desk & Stool
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning early painted circa 1880-1900 French Louis XV style Bureau plat writing table with later stool
This is a wonderful find, the burea...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass
$4,013 Sale Price / set
25% Off
French Late 18th Century Louis XV Period Oak Desk/Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and very elegant French late 18th century Louis XV period oak desk/side table. The table is raised by lovely slender cabriole legs with fine hoof feet. The apron displays ...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass
20th Century French Louis XV Inlaid Marble and Ormolu Bombe Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage French Louis XVI style commode features shaped Italian green marble-top surmounting two-drawer chest in bombe form having book matched inlay with cast bronze mounts and raise...
Category
20th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Louis XV Style Writing Desk by François Linke
Located in New Orleans, LA
Superior craftsmanship and elegant bronze work characterize this tambour front roll top writing desk by François Linke, the most important French ébéniste of his time. Linke is celeb...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Cylinder Bureau
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted marquetry cylinder bureau.
Stamped to the reverse of the bronze mounts 'PB'.
The top of Sarrancolin marble above a tambour with a central mount depicting Minerva. The marquetry depicting allegories of Geography and Astronomy. The interior has a green-leather covered pull out writing slide below an arrangement of drawers and cubby-holes. The back and sides intricately inlaid with marquetry of military and Maritime trophies. The sides with pullout leather-lined slides. The kneehole with a frieze drawer and three short drawers to the sides.
France, Circa 1880.
This desk is inspired by the bureau de roi, begun by Jean-François Oeben and completed by Jean-Henri Riesener for Louis XV in 1769 (now at Versailles) featuring similar marquetry panels, as well as a bureau à cylindre, also by Riesener, formerly thought to have been made for King Stanislas of Poland, but now identified as being supplied to the comte d'Orsay (now in the Wallace Collection). The present lot is however most similar in form to a secrétaire à cylindre...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bureau de Dame, by François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bureau de Dame, by François Linke.
Signed to the bronze mount ‘F.Linke’.
Linke Index Number 1650.
This very fine and unusual bureau de dame ha...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XV Style Kingwood & Ormolu Mounted Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine 19th century French Louis XV style Kingwood, Walnut and ormolu mounted Bonheur Du Jour, the superstructure fitted with twin panel door applied w...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Tulipwood and Kingwood Ladies Writing Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XV St. tulipwood and kingwood ladies writing desk. The desk is raised by four slender cabriole legs with fine wrap-around ormolu sabots, kingwood...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat
Located in Montreal, QC
This fine piece dates from the third quarter of the 19th century and has many of the characteristics of a period piece, although made later. The mahogany is exceptionally well-chosen...
Category
1870s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
Black Lacquered Ormolu Desk / Bureau Plat
Located in Dallas, TX
French Louis XV writing desk featuring cabriole legs, exquisite ormolu, and a glossy black lacquered top. The elegant gilt bronze fittings protect the edges and at the same time acce...
Category
1940s French Vintage Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass
19th Century Bureau de Dame
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French Louis XV style Kingwood, ormolu mounted bureau de dame with parquetry inlaid to the whole, various drawers to the top and fri...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
$47,419
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Mahogany and Ormolu Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XV st. mahogany one drawer desk. The desk is raised by four slender, elegant cabriole legs with highly chased ormolu foliate mounts at the top, c...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Amazing Louis XV Style Bridge Desk 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Louis XV style bridge desk 19th century
France
with geometric marquetry made of rosewood and lemongrass.
In excellent condition.
Measurements: 84 x 44 x 68 cm.
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Wood
Italian Burl Walnut Venetian Rococo Slant Front Desk, 18th Century
Located in CH
Italian burl walnut Venetian Rococo slant front desk, 18th century.
A Louis XV period walnut and burl walnut veneered Bureau. The inside of the s...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
French 18th Century Louis XV Period French Desk in Kingwood and Tulipwood
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely high quality French 18th century Louis XV period kingwood, tulipwood and ormolu desk, signed ‘Bernard Ebeniste’. This most elegant desk is raised by slender cabriole leg...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
18th Century Walnut Large Buffet Louis XV, France
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique Louis XV buffet cabinet, made circa 1770
Walnut and brass
Good patina.
Good antique condition
Shipping:
136 x 159 x 58 cm 81 kg.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
$2,940 / item
19th Century English Bureau Plat in the Manner of Edward Holmes Baldock
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine 19th century Louis XV style Walnut, Ebony and floral marquetry Bureau Plat in the manner of Edward Holmes Baldock, the serpentine shaped top inset with a panel of tooled leather within a border of scroll work and floral trails, the corners with shell and cabochon and foliate clasp mounts, above two frieze drawers decorated with floral marquetry and similar opposing dummy drawers, on cabriole legs applied with scrolling foliate and rocaille mounts trailing to sabots.
Footnotes:
Edward Holmes Baldock (1777-1845) is documented in London Trade Directories of the period in various capacities but first appears listed at 7 Hanway Street, London in 1805 described as a '..dealer in china and glass'. But by 1826 the various facets of the business included '..buying and selling, exchanging and valuing china, cabinets, screens, bronzes etc'. Baldock's business seems to have largely involved trading in foreign items and between 1832-7 he was the purveyor of earthenware and glass to William IV and later purveyor of china to Queen Victoria from 1838 until his death. He is known to have repaired, re-modelled and adapted furniture...
Category
19th Century English Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XV Style Bombe Secretary Inlaid Marquetry, Signed, Henry Dasson.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Louis XV style bombe secretary inlaid marquetry, Ormolu Mounted. Signed Henry Dasson.
This 19th century bombe tulipwood secretary is built with superior craftsmanship and intricate ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
Antique Louis XV Bureau Plat or Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 18th Century Louis XV bureau plat handcrafted in classic style with mahogany and kingwood, featuring the original tooled oxblood leather top on a brass bound case with thr...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass
Large Transitional Style Bureau Plat After Oeben
By Jean-François Oeben
Located in BARSAC, FR
Exceptional bureau plat based on the model made by Jean-François Oeben around 1750 and currently on display at the Louvre Museum. This desk uses the same basics as the famous desk of...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Kingwood and Ormolu Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Louis XV st. kingwood and ormolu desk. The desk is raised by beautiful cabriole legs with fine wrap around ormolu sabots and a striking ormolu fill...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Louis XV Style Heavily Detailed Inlay wi Leather Topped Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Louis XV Style Heavily Detailed Inlay Kingswood & Mahogany with Brass Ormolu Mounted Blue Leather Topped 3 Drawer Writing Desk
A stunning piece that combines exquisit...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
19th Century Louis XV Style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French 19th century Louis XV style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk.
Elegant French burlwood and ormolu mounted Lady’s cylinder desk. The single door cabinet is raised by slend...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
$7,600 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Louis XV Style Ladies French Marquetry Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Louis XV style Marquetry desk with embossed leather top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Wood
Henredon French Provincial Style Walnut Desk
Located in Pasadena, TX
Mid Century Louis XV Queen Anne Style Desk by Henredon Furniture.
French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk features cabriole legs and a scalloped apron edge. There is ample k...
Category
1960s American Vintage Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
Sloping Desk, Louis XV Style, Precious Wood Veneer, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Office of slope, Louis XV style, veneer of precious wood, 19th century, Napoleon III.
Measures: H 93cm, L 65cm, P 43cm.
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Wood
Fine French Louis XV Bureau Dos D' Ane/ Secretaire/ Desk
Located in Westport, CT
Fine and elegant French Louis XV Bureau D'Os Dane in walnut adorned sparsely with floral marquetry inlay to its fall front top above three drawers finishing on cabriole legs and bron...
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Transforming Table, Ladies Desk, Secretaire, Walnut, France ca 1860
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique secretary, lady's desk
France
Walnut
around 1860
Dimensions: H x W x D: 90 x 59 x 53 cm
Description:
Quite extraordinary small piece of transforming furniture...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
Louis XV Secretaire, France 1770
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite secretaire de dame, France 18th century, beautiful kingwood veneer on front, sides, top, back and the inside. The writing surface is covered with leather. With original bro...
Category
1770s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Kingwood
$9,600 Sale Price
20% Off
A French Louis XV Style Rosewood Veneered Bureau en Pente
Located in San Francisco, CA
a good French Rococo Style Fall Front Desk having a rectangular top with an undulating herring bone-veneered slant front, opening to reveal a hand-tooled leather writing surface belo...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Rosewood
French Bureau Plat Marquetry Leather Top Desk with Orig. Ormolu Mounts, C. 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
French bureau plat marquetry leather top three drawer desk with hearing bone inlays, three opposite side faux drawers, original floral ormolu mounts, brass escutcheons, brass knobs, ...
Category
1770s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu, Brass
Louis XV style flat desk in marquetry and rich gilt bronze mounted
Located in Paris, FR
Flat desk in rosewood marquetry and rich ormolu ornamentation, decorated with satyr heads and foliage. Beautiful work in the Louis XV style, similar to that produced by Linke, Beurde...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood, Tulipwood, Ormolu and Leather Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most exquisite and very high-quality French 19th century Louis XV style kingwood, tulipwood, ormolu, and leather desk. The desk is raised by elegant slender cabriole legs with fine...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Large Antique French Louis XV Bureau Plat Desk After Charles Cressent
Located in New York, NY
Monumental antique bureau plat (desk) in the French Louis XV style after the original design by Charles Cressent (1685-1768), 80 by 38 by 32.5 inches, finely crafted with kingwood an...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
French Ladies Desk Kidney Bean Bonheur Du Jour Louis XV-style
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous French ladies desk of kidney bean form The desk is Louis XV-style and features parquetry inlay work to the top, back and ...
Category
1930s Vintage Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
French Louis XV Italian Bronze Figural Ormolu Brown Leather Top Desk Bureau Plat
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Louis XV Style Italian Bronze Figural Ormolu Brown Leather Top Desk Bureau Plat. Item features ornate bronze figural ormolu, finished back with bronze face and parquetry inlay...
Category
Mid-20th Century Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Napoleon III Period Boulle Bureau Plat
By Befort Jeune
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular French 19th century Louis XV style Napoleon III period brass inlaid, tortoise shell and ormolu Boulle Bureau Plat stamped Befort Jeune...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Small Mahogany and Rosewood Middle Desk, Napoleonic Period
Located in HÉRIC, FR
This magnificent bureau, crafted during the Napoleon III era in the mid-19th century, is a perfect example of the elegance and refinement of the late Louis XV style.
Crafted in mahog...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Leather, Wood
Louis XV Style Lacquered Wood Flat Desk by A.E. Beurdeley, France, Circa 1890
Located in PARIS, FR
Stamped twice A Beurdeley a Paris on the crosspieces.
Elegant Louis XV style double-side desk in lacquered wood and gilded bronze. It is adorned on all sides, in foliated bronze car...
Category
1890s French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
$103,342 Sale Price
30% Off
Louis XV style walnut roll top desk with large drawer and upper compartments.
Located in Oakville, ON
A charming roll top desk in the style of Louis XV made in walnut having interesting and attractive hand carved elements. The size is perfect to fit in smaller place in your home. it is highly decorative and functional. There is a large drawer as well has a leather table top that will accommodate a laptop...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XV Style Boulle Ladies Bombe Bureau
Located in Dublin, IE
A magnificent 19th century French ormolu mounted and brass marquetry inlaid bombe bureau in the Louis XV style with three quarter brass gallery top, the fall front to reveal a superb...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
French 18th Century Louis XV Period Rosewood And Bronze Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 18th century Louis XV period Rosewood and bronze desk. The desk is raised by four elegant tapered cabriole legs with fine scrolled acanthus leaf designed feet a...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
20th Century writing Desk Louis XV Piano-Black Bureau Plat
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century writing Desk Louis XV Piano-Black Bureau Plat
Majestic bureau plat in Louis XV style.
Piano black polished veneer on solid Pinewood with r...
Category
20th Century Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
French Louis XV St. Tulipwood, Kingwood, And Ormolu Desk, Signed By Krieger
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome French late 19th century Louis XV st. Tulipwood, Kingwood, and Ormolu desk, signed by Krieger. The Bureau Plat desk is raised by elongated cabriole legs with fine pierced ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
A Rare Louis XV Walnut & Parquetry Slant Front Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Sheffield, MA
A Rare Louis XV Walnut Parquetry
Slant Front Desk of interesting and unsual proportions.
18th Century
Height 40 in. Width 42 in. Depth 24 in.
Provenance:
Private Collection, Sa...
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XV Desks
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Side Table/Writing Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XV St. Charnwood, tulipwood, and ormolu side table or writing desk. The table is raised by beautiful cabriole legs with fine wrap-around pierced ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood and Ormolu Desk, Attributed to Linke
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite French 19th century Louis XV St. kingwood and ormolu desk, attributed to Linke. The kidney-shaped desk is raised by the most elegant slender cabriole legs with superb pi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Tulipwood and Kingwood Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. tulipwood and kingwood bureau plat desk, possibly by G. Durand. The desk is raised by four elegant slender cabriole legs ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ebonized Fruitwood And Ormolu Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XV st. ebonized Fruitwood and ormolu desk. The Bureau Plat is raised by slender cabriole legs with pierced ormolu sabots decorated with acanthus ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French Mid-19th Century Louis XV Style Tulipwood and Kingwood Bureau Plat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very handsome French mid 19th century Louis XV st. tulipwood and kingwood Bureau Plat. The desk is raised on cabriole legs accented at the top with finely chased ormolu mounts. Thr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Signed Sormani
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XV style kingwood and tulipwood Bureau Plat signed Sormani, Paris. Raised on four...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Mahogany and Ormolu Center Table/Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb French 19th century Louis XV style Moucheté mahogany and ormolu center table/desk. The striking table is raised by elegant cabriole legs with fine-fitted foliate ormolu sabo...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Provincial Louis XV Walnut Desk or Vanity
Located in Buchanan, MI
Great looking Louis XV Provincial walnut desk. Two doors flanking center drawer, all up on cabriole legs. Very good color and patination. Would work well as a number of items includi...
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
Louis Xv desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Louis XV 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, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XV desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Gervais Durand, François Linke, Alexandre Chevrié, and Paris. 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 $720 and tops out at $275,000 while the average work can sell for $9,885.