Louis XVI Desks
LOUIS XVI STYLE
Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.
Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.
Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.
The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.
Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.
to
8
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
61
38
100
5
1
713
200
174
163
159
111
106
97
80
53
37
26
25
20
13
11
10
3
17
63
20
6
10
5
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
100
62
52
29
23
95
79
4
4
4
106
102
104
2
1
1
1
1
Style: Louis XVI
Antique French Louis XVI Style Drop-Down Desk Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition:
Original Vintage Condition, Missing 2 Pulls On Bottom Drawer
Materials: Mahogany, Missing 2 Pulls On Bottom Drawer
Category
1920s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany
19thc French Louis XVI Style Bureau Plat Desk with Ormolu in Diminutive Size
Located in Savannah, GA
Handsome diminutive size French Louis XVI lady's writing table constructed of mahogany and featuring a black leather top with gold Greek key border, foliate bronze ormolu mounts and ...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Marquetry Writing Desk/ Bonheur du Jour
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Louis XVI Style Marquetry Writing Desk / Bonheur du Jour—Circa 1900s
This exquisite French Louis XVI-style bonheur du jour is a marquetry-inlaid writing desk, crafted in Fran...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French writing Table 2 drawers in Solid Cherry Wood - Louis XVI Directoire style
Located in Landivy, FR
This writing table is part of the Mélanie collection, a modern interpretation of the French Directoire style of the late 18th century.
This style is famous for its straight, classi...
Category
2010s French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood, Oak, Cherry
French Provincial Louis XV Painted Desk Attributed to John Widdicomb, Circa 1960
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk
Attributed to John Widdicomb
USA, Circa 1960s
Solid cherry wood, with original cream and pink painted finish, and origina...
Category
1960s American Vintage Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Style Leather Top Ormolu Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Chicago, US
Bureau Plat desk in the style of Louis XVI. Original inset brown leather writing surface with bronze trim and gold embossing detail at center and corners of the top. Three drawers wi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
French Louis XVI Mahogany and Marble Roll Top Desk
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style mahogany roll top desk with rectangular gallery marble top resting above 3 keyed drawers. The roll top reveals a gilt embossed leather desk top, under 3 brass ...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Marble
French Original Black Painted Portable 18th Century Writing Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An original black painted portable desk from the end of the 18th century. With owner initials, the desk has a French hand-written address on the inside. ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood
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 Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Bureau Plat with Ormolu Bronze Mounts
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This elegant Louis XVI-style bureau plat, crafted from rich mahogany wood and adorned with exquisite ormolu bronze mounts, epitomizes classic French sophistication. The desk features...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Louis XVI Style Roll Top Desk in Mahogany and Gilt Bronze
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An imposing Louis XVI style roll top desk in beautifully figured mahogany and having finely chased and gilded bronze mounts; the green marble top with a bronze gallery above three lo...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Extendable Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite Circa 1900 Louis XVI style bureau plat exemplifies the refined craftsmanship and elegant design characteristic of the period. The desk is meticulously constructed with...
Category
Early 20th Century British Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Secretary with Cylinder Top & Tambour Front Northern Europe circa 1800
Located in Miami, FL
A Louis XVI secretary desk in mahogany with satinwood inlays. Offers a cylinder top that opens to reveal a series of small drawers surrounding...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Leather, Mahogany, Satinwood
French Louis XVI Style Diminutive Ebonized Writing Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic French diminutive ladies writing table or desk featuring a black lacquer ebonized finish. Made in the neoclassical Louis XVI taste with a simple clean design and minimal dec...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
French 19th century Louis XV/XVI st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and marble desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most elegant French 19th century Louis XV/XVI st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Fleur de Pêcher marble desk. This impressive rectangular desk is raised on four cabriole Mahoga...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Marble Top Library Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand French 19th century library table, writing table, or bureau plat featuring an Italian Carrara marble top inset. Crafted in the neoclassical Louis XVI taste, the frieze is decorated on each side with strands of delicate bell flowers centered by floral reserves. The corners have carved rosettes and are supported by fluted legs having acanthus tops. The legs are conjoined by gracefully curved stretchers centered with an acanthus finial...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Carrara Marble
19th Century French Boulle Louis XVI Style Mazarin / Desk
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 19th century French Boulle Mazarin desk, having wonderful classical scrolling decoration and subjects inlaid in brass and tortoiseshell t...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Mahogany And Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat By Martin Carlin
Located in Essex, MA
This desk is by one of the finest makers in France during the fourth quarter of the 18th century under the reign of Louis XVI.
Stamped M.CARLIN and JME on underside. Two commodes...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
20th Century Italian Louis XVI Style Inlaid Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant Italian Louis XVI style writing desk. Rare and precious solid walnut wood. Comfortable size for a practical use. The desk has elegant straight legs. Equipped with four practi...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Style Cylinder Bureau, By François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Rare Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Cylinder Bureau. By François Linke, Paris. Index Number 100. France, Circa 1890.
The top with three quarter pierced gallery. The cylinder front centred by a gilt-bronze foliate framed oval decorated with floral marquetry and a harp and books representing lyric poetry. Flanked by twin-light gilt-bronze candelabra. The roll-top enclosing an arrangement of four small drawers and five small compartments above a gilt-tooled green leather writing surface. The frieze fronted by a central drawer with spring-loaded secret release and faced with a relief-cast plaque of cloudborne putti representing the arts. The flanking drawers with gilt-bronze acanthus cast handles and fruiting cornucopia...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
French Mahogany Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted with figured flame mahogany, this writing desk features a luxurious leather inlaid surface. The meticulously designed structure includes five drawers surrounding a generous k...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood
Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Galleried Mahogany Burl and Marquetry Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
An outsanding Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted , Mahogany Burl and Marquetry Desk with top gallery. Very good antique condition. Intricate Marquetry work all over to the legs terminati...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
A Fine French 1940s Louis XVI Style Cherrywood Desk
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine French Neoclassical cherry writing table in the style of Louis XVI with one drawer, bronze pull and sabots, and a leather top.
Category
1940s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Parquetry and Bronze Cartonnier Writing Desk with Clock
Located in London, GB
Cartonnier in the Louis XVI Manner after the Original by Simon Oeben
Constructed in kingwood and having extensive parquetry inlay, with well cast and extensive fire gilt bronze enhancements. The writing section of oblong form with re-entrant corners, housing three frieze drawers and with a tooled brown leather top; the shouldered tapering legs dressed with imbricated bronze mounts: lions masks at the ends: the frame having a guard bronze rail...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
SALE 19th Century French Louis XVI Mahogany Inlaid Ladies Desk Brass Ornaments
Located in Sofia, BG
This is a beautiful antique French mahogany inlaid Ladies writing desk made circa 1890. The fall front opens to reveal an interior of leather writing surface, and bank of three drawe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Louis XVI Style Cylinder Desk
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis XVI style mahogany cylinder desk with bronze mounts and a marble top, circa 1920. This desk has a nice quality bronze mounts, a Fine quality marble top, tambour cylinder and a ...
Category
1920s European Vintage Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Rolltop Desk after Jean-Henri Riesener Attributed to Maison Beurdeley
Located in Paris, FR
Remarkable Louis XVI style rolltop writing desk with marquetry latticework pattern. The front of the desk features six drawers. The rolling cover is embellished with a beautiful marquetry medallion surrounded by ormolu garlands. It opens to reveal six small drawers and an extendible writing surface covered with brown leather and framed with gold-colored motifs. The central drawer under the cover has a secret opening underneath, that can be opened by pressing a button. The top of the desk is bordered with an openwork frame. The sculpted, gilt bronze ornamentation features a bas-relief frieze of cupids playing and an allegory of Sculpture. The desk is set on four tapered legs.
Attributed to Beurdeley, one of the most important dynasties of furniture makers in the 19th century (1818-1895), particularly famous for the quality of their gilded bronze frames and the choice of precious materials for the ornamentation of their furniture and objets d'art. This piece was created in the 19th century after a rolltop desk delivered on December 21, 1784 by Jean Henri Reisener...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Style 19th-20th Century Bronze Mounted Desk Manner Linke
Located in Manhasset, NY
Louis XVI style 19th-20th century bronze mounted desk manner Linke. This spectacular French desk can sit center room as it is finished on all sides with its stunning parquetry inlays...
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Bureau cylindre
Located in PARIS, FR
Bureau à cylindre en acajou et placage d'acajou moucheté toutes faces, filets d'ébène et ornementation de bronze ciselé et doré et de laiton, le dessus de marbre blanc associé en par...
Category
Late 18th Century European Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
Secrétaire à abattant d'époque French Louis XVI Style Secretary c. Late 19th C.
Located in Westfield, MA
This Secrétaire à Abattant, crafted in the French Louis XVI style in the late 19th century, remains a striking example of neoclassical elegance and masterful craftsmanship. The rich ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Maison Jansen Inspired French Louis XVI Ebonized Desk Available in Any Dimension
Located in Chicago, IL
Maison Jansen inspired French Louis XVI style ebonized mahogany desk, with gold or brass accents, made here at Old Plank in our very own worksho...
Category
2010s American Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Louis XVI Leather Top Mahogany Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A mahogany and brass mounted bureau plat desk, with a leather inset writing surface and three frieze drawers, on turned legs French. The original Lou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Cylinder Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A palatial scale mahogany cylinder desk in the Louis XVI style; the superstructure with rectangular galleried bleu turquin marble top over four frieze drawers, the paneled cylinder f...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany
French Tortoise Wood Louis XVI Style Maison Jansen Partners Desk or Bureau Plat
Located in Manhasset, NY
Tortoise wood Louis XVI style Maison Jansen partners desk or bureau plat. The finest of quality and gilt metal bronze mounts are seen on this stunning monumental partners desk...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood
Vintage Theodore Alexander Louis XVI Style Writing Desk from Althorp Collection
Located in Westfield, MA
This Vintage Theodore Alexander Louis XVI Style Writing Desk from the Althorp Collection exemplifies the timeless elegance of French Louis XVI design, beautifully executed by the ren...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
18th century Louis XVI Walnut Bureau, France
Located in Atlanta, GA
An 18th century French Louis XVI Bureau in Walnut with drop front, inner writing surface and cubby holes.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique Louis XVI Style French Demi Lune Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Fine antique Louis XVI style desk crafted in mahogany and kingwood featuring a tooled leather top with a cross banded border and brass gal...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Style Brass Mounted Marble Top Cylinder Desk
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Louis XVI style brass mahogany cylinder desk with brass mounted marble top gallery over three fitted drawers surmounting a cylinder case with compartmentalized interior, i...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Marble, Brass
18th Century Dutch Satinwood Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An 18th century Dutch satinwood abbatant or drop front desk, with gilded beading and inlaid brass stringing. The case also has various exotic woods inlaid into the satinwood. There i...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Satinwood
Louis XVI Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Bureau Plat, 19th Cenury
Located in Spencertown, NY
The rectangular desk with Greek key tooled black leather top, with 3 drawers below and tapering legs and gilt bronze sabots and casters.
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
French Marquetry Slant Top Ladies Writing Desk, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
French marquetry ladies slant top three-drawer writing desk with floral motif inlay, flanking step back interior drawers, leather writing surface, carved scalloped skirt, original or...
Category
1780s French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Gold, Ormolu
Large Louis XVI Style French Mahogany Cylindrical Bureau, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Louis XVI Style Cylindrical Bureau with slides, leather writing surface, fitted interior and marble top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Painted Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful 19th century French Louis XVI style painted writing desk. This piece has a lovely patina and a nice leather top. Nice! Note: This is a recent patina
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany And Ormolu Mounted Partners Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany and ormolu mounted partners desk signed by Victor Raulin. The desk is raised by circular tapered fluted legs...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XVI secretary is a truly astonishing work of the cabinetmaker's art! Hand-crafted from solid old-growth in...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Oak
Antique French Louis XVI Style Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 19th century French partners desk with a tooled red leather top over a case crafted in mahogany with four drawers on either side decora...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Desk in Wood, 1900, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk.
The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinction.
You want to live in the golden yea...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI, Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Centre Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th-20th century Louis XVI. Mahogany and gilt-bronze mounted centre - Writing table with tooled leather top, Paris, circa 1900.
Measures: Height 29 1/2 inches (74.9 cm)
...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
French Bureau Plat Louis XVI Desk Marquetry Inlay
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous French bureau plat desk with marquetry inlay
Desk is in the Louis XVI manner and features original ormolu fixtures including maiden leg mounts
The marquetr...
Category
1980s Vintage Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood
Large Notary Writing Desk Louis XVI Style
Located in BARSAC, FR
Rare Louis XVI style notary writing desk made of mahogany frieze marquetry and light wood and rosewood fillet friezes.
Four solid mahogany fluted legs joined by a spacer shelf.
Fre...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany
French Desk with Ormolu and Brass Mounts Louis XVI Style
Located in Toronto, CA
French Desk with Ormolu and Brass Mounts Louis XVI Style
On offer here a Timeless Piece of French Elegance that is sure to elevate
your home o...
Category
20th Century Spanish Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Hardwood
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Inlaid Ladies Desk with Vitrine
Located in Sofia, BG
This is a beautiful French antique mahogany inlaid ladies writing desk, circa 1870 in date. The fall front opens to reveal an interior of writing surface, and bank of two drawers. Th...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Louis XVI Style Mahogany and Parquetry Bureau a Rognon
Located in Montreal, QC
Although of kidney shape, this desk is more substantial than generally found in such a form. The top has a pierced brass gallery enclosing a fanning kingwood veneer. The leather slide-out writing surface is enclosed by a pair of tambour shutters which, when rolled back, reveal small drawers. The desk is flanked by three curved drawers...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany
French Louis XVI Style Parquetry Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A high-quality French Louis XVI style desk with geometric parquetry in mahogany with gilt-bronze mounts, including swags at the corners. The desk has three drawers with working locks...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
Fine Italian 18th Century Ormolu-Mounted Parquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Rome, IT
Very fine Italian 18' century ormolu-mounted Parquetry Secretaire a Abattant with a dark Grey marble top.
Measures: cm. 170 x 105 x 46.
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood
French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Bureau Plate by Krieger
Located in Brighton, Sussex
.A fine quality late 19th century Mahogany Louis XVI style bureau plat, having wonderful scrolling foliate gilded rococo style ormolu mounts to the elegant cabriole legs and drawer f...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Italian Louis XVI style desk with drawers and pyramid feet plus chairs
Located in Cantù, IT
Italian Louis XVI style desk with drawers and pyramid feet plus chairs
Category
20th Century Italian Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Wood
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Tulipwood, Kingwood and Charmwood Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant and high quality French mid-19th century Louis XVI style tulipwood, kingwood and charmwood two drawer writing desk with two pull outs. The desk is raised by slender sq...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Louis Xvi desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Louis XVI 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, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XVI 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 John Vesey, Antoine Krieger, Comatec, and Conrad Mauter. 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 $975 and tops out at $192,403 while the average work can sell for $9,500.