Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

18th Century Louis XVI Period Desk or 'Bureau à Dos D'âne'

About the Item

This elegant writing desk, known quirkily as a “bureau à dos d’âne” (donkey’s back desk), is beautifully veneered in rosewood, including reverse diamonds and butterfly-wings, which are typical of the Louis XVI period. The desk is opened by a central lock in the sloping flap, while a frieze drawer provides useful storage underneath. The desk rests on sheath feet, which have had some historical repairs made to them.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 39.77 in (101 cm)Width: 32.68 in (83 cm)Depth: 20.48 in (52 cm)
  • Style:
    Louis XVI (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1775
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    LA CIOTAT, FR
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU6419234143212

More From This Seller

View All
18th Century Louis XV Walnut Table or Ladies Desk
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This antique French Louis XV side table, or ladies desk, is a real 18th century gem. Crafted from walnut, and opening with a single apron drawer, it would make a fabulous end table, ...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet. The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Narrow Writing Desk
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A narrow and elegant 18th century lady's desk, or writing table, in natural wood with embossed leather top, and a single frieze drawer. Raised on four slender cabriole legs, this pet...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

18th Century Narrow Writing Desk
$2,335 Sale Price
44% Off
18th Century Louis XVI Period Marquetry Commode
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very fine marble-topped commode, with elegant marquetry-fronted drawers and bronze ormolu mounts. This handsome little chest of drawers dates from the Louis XVI Period, late 18th c...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

18th Century French Louis XVI Period Giltwood Mirror
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
Transport yourself to the opulent charm of the 18th century with this exquisite giltwood mirror from the era of Louis XVI. Adorned with a resplendent giltwood frame, this mirror boas...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Wall Mirrors

Materials

Giltwood, Mirror

18th Century Louis XVI Period Giltwood Pareclose Mirror
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A truly exceptional late 18th century French Louis XVI parclose, or cushion, mirror, in an elaborate, richly carved giltwood frame. This rectangular mirror is embellished on all four...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Pier Mirrors and Console Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

You May Also Like

18th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine late 18th century Louis XVI period bureau à cylindre, or roll top desk, made of solid walnut with marquetry veneers of walnut, mahogany and cherry. In two parts, the cabinet a...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

French 18th Century Large Louis XVI Marquetry Desk or Bureau à Cylindre
By Jean Kisling
Located in Berlin, DE
French 18th century large Louis XVI marquetry desk or bureau à Cylindre An exceptional marquetry secrétaire in the form of a bureau with a cylinder front and on a stand with four ...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century Louis XVI period bureau à cylindre, or roll top desk, made of solid walnut with marquetry veneers of walnut, mahogany and cherry. Pine as a secondary wood. ...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Louis XVI Period 18th Century Walnut Desk with Carved Fluted Apron
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XVI period walnut desk from the 18th century, with single drawer, carved fluted motifs, tapered legs and dark patina. Created in France during the 18th century, this w...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

French 18th Century Louis XV Period Bureau Plat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent and very high quality French 18th century Louis XV period Tulipwood, Kingwood, and ormolu Bureau Plat desk. The desk is raised by elegant cabriole leg with exquisite pierced fitted ormolu sabots with fine foliate designs and hoof feet below a delicate ormolu chute leading upwards to impressive richly chased ormolu masks of handsome bearded men. The apron displays three drawers separated by impressive curved foliate gadroon designs each displaying superb quarter veneered Kingwood...
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

18th Century Italian Louis XVI Walnut Antique Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this elegant antique Italian desk dating back to the second half of the 18th century, Louis XVI period. An extremely refined desk. Made of fine light walnut wood and char...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Walnut

Recently Viewed

View All