Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Danish Rococo Slant Front Desk, circa 1770
Located in Huntington, NY
A Rococo slant front desk with a simple recessed top carving. Desk opens to a large work space with 13 small drawers, 2 small cubbies, 2 document holders with elaborate column carvin...
Brass, Iron
Remarkable Swedish Writing Desk, Rococo, c. 1752-1773
Located in Djursholm, SE
Swedish writing desk, Stockholm, mid-18th century. A remarkable example of Swedish Rococo, in the manner of Lorentz Nordin, court cabinetmaker in Stockholm from 1743 and master of th...
Bronze
$14,000Sale Price|22% Off
Venetian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Lacquered by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic late 19th century Italian secretaire cabinet or bookcase made in the Venetian Rococo taste. Crafted from walnut the two-part case features a speckled lacquer finish centered by a cartouche shaped window with a painted bust by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The bureau cabinet has a bombe shaped dresser base with a drop front diminutive writing table. The drop front has two storage drawers and a small pigeon hole storage above. Below the desk are two small drawers and two large storage drawers with rocaille patinated brass pulls. The dresser is supported by small cabriole legs with scrolled feet. The dresser is surmounted by a bookcase with a painted door depicting a nobleman holding a chicken. The painting is painted on board titled "Venezia" and signed by Yeager with a fictitious date of 1725. The door opens to a three-shelf bookcase. The case is topped with a pediment having a cartouche shaped window and corniced top. The entire secretary is speckled with a mustard yellow tone over a taupe background. This whimsical cabinet...
Brass
18th Century Swedish Bombe Shaped Bureau Signed by Eric Holm
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th Century Swedish period Rococo bombe shaped bureau. Signed by the renowned Stockholm furniture maker Eric Holm. Fall front desk upends to work space and storage drawer and shelv...
Wood
Rococo 18th century Swedish yew and elm bureau desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rococo 18th century yew and elm bureau desk circa 1750. Stunning swedish rococo period bombe shaped bureau. Beautifully made from yew wood and elm, using various techniques such a...
Elm, Yew
Swedish Rococo Writing Desk, Pine & Leather, Gilt Bronze, 1760s
Located in Ljungby, SE
This beautifully crafted Swedish Rococo writing desk is a distinguished piece of Stockholm workmanship from the 1760s-70s. The desk features gracefully curved legs and three finely v...
Bronze
Swedish Rococo Slant Front Desk, circa 1760
Located in Huntington, NY
A Swedish Rococo slant front desk. Front opens to reveal a large work surface, ten pull out drawers, seven cubbies and two pull out document holders. A sliding cover at the base open...
Brass, Iron
Swedish Rococo Slant Front Corner Desk, circa 1760
Located in Huntington, NY
An unusual Swedish Rococo slant front corner desk. Desktop opens to reveal an ample working surface, ten small drawers with brass knobs and a locking cubby door. Interior tastefully ...
Brass, Iron
Swedish Marquetry Inlaid Drop-Front Desk with Bombe Case
Located in Brentwood, TN
A Swedish drop-front desk, crafted in wood with marquetry inlay and a gracefully shaped bombe-form case. The facade is decorated with scrolling inlaid motifs across the fall front an...
Wood
French Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Mounted Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
French porcelain and gilt bronze mounted writing desk French, 19th Century Height 116cm, width 91cm, depth 51cm This stunning bonheur du jour was made in France during the 19th...
Ormolu
Bureau Bookcase Oak German Serpentine Front Original Brassware Working Locks
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A large, museum quality, 18th century, German, oak bureau bookcase with a serpentine front, original brassware and working locks As fine an example of this model of German cabinet f...
Oak
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Metal, Brass
$3,029
H 28.75 in W 47.25 in D 25.6 in
Swedish Functionalist Writing Desk, Bauhaus-Inspired, Mid-20th Century
Located in Balen, BE
This striking Swedish writing desk dates from the late 1930s to 1940s and reflects the Functionalist design language that emerged in Scandinavia during the interwar period, influence...
Steel
Petite Queen Anne Style 1880s Walnut Slant-Front Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A late 19th century Queen Anne style small walnut mini slant front desk on stand resting on graceful cabriole legs ending in pad feet. The slant drop front,...
Walnut
Cherry Slant Front Desk
Located in East Aurora, NY
A nice early 19th century Cherry slant front desk probably Pennsylvania or Virginia. Nicely dovetailed case resting on tall bracket feet. The interior sur...
Cherry
18th Century English Oak Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 18th Century English oak bureau with later paint finish. 1780 Height to the underside of the desk - 67cm
Brass
18th Century English Painted Bureau / Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
18th C English painted oak bureau with good fitted interior and brass handles. 1760 Height to underside of desk - 64cm
Brass
$1,330
H 38 in W 33 in D 20 in
18th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Desk. Slant Front Writing Secretary.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
18th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Desk. Slant Front Writing Secretary. This 18th century English bureau desk has 3 rows of graduated hand do...
Brass
Oval Louis XVI Writing Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
An oval Louis XVI style writing desk. Three panels of black leather are framed with a scrolled gilt border. Four dovetailed drawers with beveled paneled fronts, open with round brass...
Brass
Remarkable Art Deco French Streamline Executive Desk C. 1930’s
Located in Bernville, PA
Remarkable French Art Deco Streamline executive desk. Simple chrome accents on the base complements the elegant design. The asymmetric design features a drawer bank with a file drawe...
Chrome
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 ...
Vintage Regency Drexel Writing Desk
By Drexel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A masterpiece of classic design, this vintage writing desk by renowned maker Drexel embodies the grace and sophistication of the French Provincial style. The desk's exquisite silhoue...
Brass
Edwardian Kidney shaped writing desk
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Very good quality early 20th century mahogany and inlaid writing desk English circa 1900 with original brass handles , castors and leather insert Having 9 mahogany lined drawers , th...
Mahogany
Sold
H 42.52 in W 41.74 in D 20.48 in
A Black Rococo Foldable Writing Desk With Drawers, Circa 18th Century Sweden
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful 18th Century Rococo style writing desk in pink and black (bluish black) featuring a cuff mechanism that opens up to a writing tab...
Pine
Rococo 18th century yew and elm bureau desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rococo 18th century yew and elm bureau desk circa 1750. Stunning swedish rococo period bombe shaped bureau. Beautifully made from yew wood and elm, using...
Yew
19th c. Swedish Rococo Painted Fall Front Desk
Located in Wichita, KS
A 19th century Swedish fall-front bureau in the Rococo style wearing beautiful black paint, circa 1800. One large drawer with key, scalloped apron, and slender cabriolet legs. There ...
Wood, Paint
French Rococo Desk Louis XV Style
Located in Buxton, GB
This Rococo-style writing desk was crafted in the 1950s, featuring a stunning rosewood finish and intricate carvings that exude the elegance of the Louis XV style. The antique desk b...
Bronze
Sold
H 54 in W 42 in D 28.5 in
Antique Dutch Early 19th Century Walnut Marquetry Cylinder Desk / Bureau 1820
Located in Portland, OR
A Fine & exceptional antique early 19th century Dutch Rococco marquetry inlaid cylinder bureau/desk, Circa 1820. The desk is sumptuously and profusely inlaid with fruitwood marquetr...
Fruitwood, Walnut
Dutch Rococo Marquetry Miniature Desk
Located in Essex, MA
With curved lid opening to a fitted interior with three drawers below and bracket feet. Beautifully crafted in a bombe form. Much time and skill went into making this piece. Sometime...
Walnut
19th Century Northern Italian Rococo Writing Desk Cabinet
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and magnificent Italian Rococo pewter inlaid fruitwood three piece writing desk with beautiful rich patina. Born in Northern Italy in the first half of the 19th century, exquisite hand-crafted construction, featuring fine quality craftsmanship, materials and detailing throughout. The exceptionally executed, impressive large scale antique writing desk surmounted by serpentine upper portion fitted with nine drawers and a locking cabinet with original key included; the mid-portion with shaped fall-front writing surface panel concealing five short shelve pigeonhole cubbies, flanked on each side by deep drawers, and resting atop four large chest drawers; the façade with highly attractive richly figured burled veneer outlined with fine pewter inlay and contrasting exotic woods inlays; standing on carved walnut cabriole legs joined by curved X-shaped cross stretcher. Marks to verso: A.U. 17, A.U. 20 Provenance: Skinner, Boston, Massachusetts; European Furniture and Decorative Arts catalog, October 5, 2013, lot 784. Property from the Estates of Ramon Osuna (1937-2019) and Robert Lennon (1933-2021), Washington, D.C. Longtime Washington-area art dealers, Mr. Osuna was born in Havana and came to the Washington area soon after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959. He initially made his name as a dealer in contemporary art but gradually expanded into the Old Masters. With his longtime friend and partner Lennon, he owned galleries in Washington for many years and, at his death, also had Osuna Art...
Pewter
Sold
H 81.5 in W 43.69 in D 22.82 in
18th C. Swedish Rococo Period Two-Part Painted Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish secretary with library from the Rococo period, circa 1760. The upper section has two shaped shelves and a multitude of small drawers. The slant front opens to reveal six wa...
Wood, Paint
Mid-Century Hand Painted Venetian Bombay Form Secretary
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1960s hand painted Venetian bombay form secretary. It is a wonderful shade of green with Italian pastoral scenes throughout. It is in very good condition.
Brass
19th Century Venetian Rococo Style Painted Desk
Located in Middleburg, VA
19th Century Venetian Rococo style desk Measures: 73" H, 26" W, 16" D.
Wood, Paint
Rococo Black Lacquered Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Rococo black lacquered desk with gilt-tooled red leather top, carved and gilded decorations with three shaped frieze drawers and cabriole...
Leather, Wood
English Rococo Painted Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant English Rococo black painted desk with antiqued dark leather inlaid writing surface and a profusion of hand painted gilt floral detail on apron ...
Wood