Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat “à Têtes De Guerriers Antiques”

About the Item

Modeled after the original period Louis XV bureau plat by Charles Cressent (circa 1740), this amazing French desk would be the focal point for any home office or executive business suite. In the 1800s, when ours was crafted, premier Parisian cabinetmakers revived interest in the Cressent desk; there is even a version that French Presidents have used. The top of the shapely desk is mostly covered with black leather that is adorned with a subtle foliate embossing along the edges. Two-toned mahogany veneer encircles the leather and continues on all sides of the desk, forming a beautiful marquetry of asymmetrical shapes. A thick molding of bronze dore completes the edges of the top, interrupted in each corner by a leafy cartouche. Each of the four leaves align above a thick cabriole leg with beveled edges, with the beveling continuing on the sinuous aprons beneath the top. Curvaceous bronze dore moldings, embellished with pierced C-scrolls and leafy tendrils, surround the marquetry panels, mirroring the form of the lighter-hued wood. On the short sides of the desk, a large ovate cartouche can be seen, consisting of curled leaves and C-scrolls emanating from a scalloped shell. In the center of the cartouche is a mascaron emerging from an undulating leaf cup. The longer sides of the desk have identical bronze motifs, but one side contains three functioning and lockable drawers, with the center compartment slightly recessed from the outer two. Perhaps the most impressive bronze mounts are the têtes de guerriers antiques, or ancient warrior heads, that grace the top of each leg. These leg guardians are one of Cressent’s most famous creations, as he also used them on his cabinet de médailles, which is currently displayed in the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon. Charles Cressent (born 1685) was the grandson of a furniture-maker/sculptor (also named Charles), while his father, Francois, was the sculpteur du roi of Louis XIV. The younger Charles worked for Philippe d’Orleans, the future Regent of France for Louis XV, and Philippe’s son, Louis, the Duke of Chartres. Cressent was considered a master-level furniture-maker, sculptor, and fondeur-ciseleur, having trained under André-Charles Boulle. His pieces are in museums and private collections worldwide.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 29.875 in (75.89 cm)Width: 74.5 in (189.23 cm)Depth: 40.125 in (101.92 cm)
  • Style:
    Louis XV (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Bronze,Leather,Metal,Wood,Embossed,Gilt,Hand-Carved,Veneer
  • Place of Origin:
    France
  • Period:
    19th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1800s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Very good antique condition. Commensurate wear to the leather writing surface. Minor nicks and fleabites to wood. Light buildup to bronze. Two keys, which are not original, operate the three functioning drawer locks.
  • Seller Location:
    Dallas, TX
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 325-221stDibs: LU906344018612

More From This Seller

View All
18th Century French Cherrywood 'Bureau de Pente' Slant Top Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Larger than the typical Louis XV writing desk, this cherrywood bureau de pente was hand-carved in France during the late 1700’s, just after the period ended. This type of desk went by several names, including bureau dos d’âne and secrétaire à dessus brisé, and they almost always featured a fold-down writing surface. Four long, slender cabriole legs, which are typical of Louis XV writing desks, provide a sturdy base for the beautiful desk. The curvaceousness of the legs continues throughout the desk, from the subtly contoured sides to the highly sinuous apron on all sides. Set within the apron are two drawers with round bronze pulls that flank a faux center drawer with a foliate and shell handle. The fold-down writing surface, which has a functioning lock with a foliate escutcheon, opens to reveal eight small arbalete drawers arranged in four columns. Above the topmost drawers of each column is an open storage compartment. There are two more larger storage compartments in the center above a false-bottom hidden compartment. The fold down writing surface is held by a set of polished steel arms. A graceful and functional bureau de pente from the late 18th century, this cherrywood slant top writing desk...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

18th Century French Cherrywood 'Bureau de Pente' Slant Top Writing Desk

18th Century French Cherrywood 'Bureau de Pente' Slant Top Writing Desk

$6,400
Stripped 19th Century French Oak Renaissance Style Table with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
As is the case with most French Renaissance style furniture, this beautiful stripped oak table with marble top features elaborate sculptural ornamen...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Side Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal, Brass

Stripped 19th Century French Oak Renaissance Style Table with Marble Top

Stripped 19th Century French Oak Renaissance Style Table with Marble Top

$3,400
Antique French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Wall Clock, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France in the 1800s, this high quality gilt bronze wall clock has elements in the style of Louis XVI. The white clock face with blue numbers re...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Antique French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Wall Clock, 19th Century

Antique French Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Wall Clock, 19th Century

$5,200
19th Century French Silvered Bronze 2-Piece Surtout de Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Step into the world of exquisite 19th-century France with a 2-piece silvered bronze surtout de table. These magnificent pieces come adorned with highly shaped mirrors and are surroun...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Centerpieces

Materials

Metal, Bronze

19th Century French Silvered Bronze 2-Piece Surtout de Table

19th Century French Silvered Bronze 2-Piece Surtout de Table

$1,800 / set
Pair of Antique French Renaissance Style Bronze Candlesticks, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of small 19th century bronze candlesticks (“bougeoirs” in French) was crafted in the Renaissance style. The circular molded base...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Renaissance Candlesticks

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Antique French Renaissance Style Bronze Candlesticks, 19th Century

Pair of Antique French Renaissance Style Bronze Candlesticks, 19th Century

$880 / set
Pair of 19th Century French Giltwood Louis XVI Style Médaillon Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… A pair of Louis XVI-style armchairs, hand-carved in France in the 1800s, each chair has a giltwood frame with several areas upholstered with a teal and...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Giltwood

Pair of 19th Century French Giltwood Louis XVI Style Médaillon Armchairs

Pair of 19th Century French Giltwood Louis XVI Style Médaillon Armchairs

$3,200 / set

You May Also Like

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century glossy ebonized Louis XV style bureau plat with lovely bronze ormolu and black leather top with gilded embossing.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

$7,200
19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century French bureau plat featuring a high-gloss black" lacquer like" painted finish, bronze ormolu, black leather top and two drawers.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

$5,800
19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A fine quality 19th Century French, Louis XV Style bureau plat. With ormolu mounts and moulded serpentine top.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

19th Century French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

$7,056
French, Early 19th Century, Louis XV Style Bureau Plat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most elegant French early 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood, Rosewood, exotic wood, and ormolu bureau plat desk. The desk is raised by cabriole legs with fine pie...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French, Early 19th Century, Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

French, Early 19th Century, Louis XV Style Bureau Plat

$26,800
Large Louis XV Style 19th Century Bureau Plat
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French kingwood parquetry inlaid Louis XV style freestanding bureau plate. Having an inset leather top, five oak lined drawers to one side, dummy dra...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Large Louis XV Style 19th Century Bureau Plat

Large Louis XV Style 19th Century Bureau Plat

$38,741
19th Century Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Bureau plat in the style of the Louis XV Napoleon III Paris, circa 1850-1880. In Bois-Satiné veneer, all-round full-length mirror veneer with seed beads. With very finely chiselled,...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Beech

19th Century Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table

19th Century Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table

$26,623

Recently Viewed

View All