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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Style: Empire
Style: Louis XIII
Napoleon III Gilt-Bronze Mounted Empire Style Mahogany Pedestal Desk, circa 1870
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Napoleon III gilt bronze mounted Empire style mahogany pedestal desk.
French, circa 1870.
This imposing Empire style pedestal desk is mounted with fine gilt bronze Egypt...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Danish mid 20th century burr walnut desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Danish mid 20th century burr walnut desk circa 1950.
We are please to offer this desk which is of the highest quality.
Stunning top with a single veneer covering the whole writing ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Empire Mahogany Desk With Hunter Green Leather Top, Circa 1930
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Empire mahogany desk with tooled hunter green leather top. The desk with bronze banding and trim, bronze finely fluted corner medallions, fluted and tapering legs with bronze caps an...
Category
Early 20th Century American Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVIII Style Stripped Writing Table
Located in Houston, US
This country table exemplifies the rustic style seen in Southern France and Spain. The style as seen in Louis XIII country interpretations, developed in France an Spain and mirror th...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Large Empire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat or Writing Desk
Located in Berlin, DE
A large Empire style mahogany bureau plat or writing desk with a dark green leather writing surface above a central long drawer, flanked to each side by a short drawer. The square ta...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 20th century French Empire style bureau plat, or executive desk, with five dovetailed drawers and pull-out side extensions. Bookmatched flame mahogany veneer over solid oak....
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Writing Desk with Embossed Leather Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant dual-sided 1880s French Empire style pedestal leg desk featuring the original rectangular gold embossed green leather top in good condition. Top sits on turned trestle legs w...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Empire Desk, France 1830
Located in Leimen, DE
This Empire desk dates back to around 1820-30 and was made in Northern Germany. The spacious desk has a total of five drawers and pull out shelf. The elegant design has the typical c...
Category
1830s French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire style mahogany bronze mounted writing desk, leather top circa 1940
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Empire style mahogany bronze mounted writing desk with leather top, circa 1940.
Category
1940s Argentine Empire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Fine French Empire Design Oak Twin Pedestal Desk
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this beautiful French Empire design gilt metal mounted oak twin pedestal desk, rectangular top with inset tooled writing surface above three frieze, thre...
Category
Early 20th Century British Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Writing Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Very nice scale, warmth color and nice carving on the belt, always useful anywhere at home.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century Spanish Baroque Carved Bleached Walnut and Iron Writing Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a focal point to your study or library with this elegant antique fruitwood desk. Carved in Spain circa 1870, the tall trestle table stands on four carved barley twist legs ending in round feet, and connected with a decorative forged iron stretcher. The desk features three carved drawers across the front decorated with floral motifs and dressed with decorative iron knobs. The thick rectangular top surface built with one single plank of walnut, is embellished with a carved molded trim around the edges. The large writing table...
Category
Mid-19th Century Spanish Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th Century Empire Style Gold Leaf Library Table / Desk
Located in Houston, TX
This 19th Century Empire Style Gold Leaf Library Table/Desk is a truly exquisite piece of furniture that exudes timeless elegance and sophistication. Crafted in the opulent Empire st...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th Century, French Wood Travel Desk
Located in IT
19th Century, French Wood Travel Desk
Measures: cm H 103 x W 52 x closed D 9. Open D 59 cm
This particular travel desk was made in France, in the earl...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Classic French 18th Century Empire Walnut Kneehole Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Found near Paris, France, we purchased this museum quality 18th century Empire style desk for its impeccable quality and style. Made predominantly from walnut and featuring Empiric s...
Category
18th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Large French Neoclassical Mahogany Roll-Top Desk
Located in Troy, NY
French mahogany Empire desk of stately proportions, with a roll top, revealing a double row of total six drawers under an open shelf, as well as a sliding writing surface with inset ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash, Burl
Antique Desk, Carved, Empire, Tooled Leather Top, Elegant, 19th C., 1800's!!
Located in Austin, TX
Elegant Antique Desk, Carved, Empire, Tooled Leather Top, 19th C., 1800's!!
19th Century Empire Caved Desk With Tooled Leather Top, Height: 28 in. by Width: 52 in. by Depth: 22 in.
Wear and imperfections commensurate with being moved, age and use.
t15
As per Worth Point, Empire style furniture tends to be massive in scale, imposing, and abundantly adorned, reflecting Napoleon's magnificence.
Empire furniture has simple geometric shapes with distinct angles. Decorations and motifs are symmetrically placed on both sides.
Like Neoclassic style furniture, ancient Roman and Greek elements strongly influence Empire pieces.
The Empire style furniture is characterized by war and the classical world—coat of arms, trophies, and spires became common motifs. Roman mythological themes frequently appeared in furniture designs such as eagles, winged lions, and deities. These were commonly seen as chair armrests and table legs.
Unique motifs that appeared during the Empire period were initials "N" and "J" encircled by laurel wreaths. Bees, swans, bows, and arrows, and the lyre came into fashion prominent.
The furniture uses imported dense woods, such as mahogany and ebony.
Empire style chairs are stiff and sculptural. Typical Empire style chairs include square, rectangular, or rolled-over chair backs.
The Empire tables are bulkier and more circular than neoclassical. Tables of this period range from massive dining tables to small guéridon tables...
Category
19th Century European Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
French 19th Century Writing Table Carved Oak Desk Lion Mask Louis XIII Style
Located in Labrit, Landes
Writing table or desk Henri II (also named Louis XIII style) 19th century with lion masque drawer handle
Table height: 27.56 in. (70 cm)
Hand carved oak
R...
Category
1880s French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
American Mahogany Partner's Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful Mahogany Partner's Desk with glass knobs. Top refinished and everything else cleaned and ready to go! Two wide drawers per each side with smaller drawers below. Beautiful c...
Category
1880s American Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Style Bronze and Mahogany Desk Leather
Located in Lyon, FR
Very decorative French desk in the empire style. Structure in solid mahogany and veneered, it is composed of an empire green leather under hand, three drawers with double handles and...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Louis XIII Period 1630s Carved Walnut Barley Twist Table with Black Painted Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XIII period walnut writing table from circa 1630 with two lateral drawers, barley twist base, black painted top and carved X-Form cross stretcher accented with central...
Category
17th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Louis XIII Style Draw Leaf Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique French Louis XIII style oak draw leaf extending dining table with barley twist legs. This table has been lovingly restored...
Category
1920s French Louis XIII Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century Barley Twist Mahogany Desk Console or Library Table by Imperial
Located in Southampton, NJ
A stunning 19th Century single drawer desk or library console table having turned mahogany legs and frame with outstanding grain throughout having hand carved aprons with gold detail...
Category
Late 19th Century American Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century, French Desk or Bureau Plat with Lions in the Antique Empire Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird's-eye maple wood on massive beech wood, partially carved and framed. The pedestal is arched on profile shaped washers.
Above the four large winged, polygonal standing heads. Three-bar frame, brass-framed, protruding rectangular worktop with historically three-section, gold-embossed leather plate...
Category
20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Nordiska Kompaniet, desk in beech from Hotel Knaust, Sweden 1931.
Located in Stockholm, SE
Desk in beech from Hotel Knaust by Nordiska Kompaniet / NK, Sweden 1931.
With brass details and signed with NK badge and tracking number (easy to see who ordered the furniture and w...
Category
1930s Swedish Empire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech
Early 19th Century French Empire Period Bureau a Cylindre Gentleman's Desk
Located in Forney, TX
A exceptionally rare Period French Empire (1804-1814) walnut bureau a cylindre.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in France, most likely Parisian work, dating to the early 19th century, the large antique cylinder desk...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A Louis XIII style French side table made of solid walnut with turned legs connected by an X-form stretcher with centre finial. Dovetailed drawer with iron ring pull. Pegged construc...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Table
Located in Madrid, ES
French walnut table in Louis XIII style, late 18th century, walnut with a single drawer from the 18th century. The legs are characteristically turned and the base is in the shape of ...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Oak Library Desk Console Sofa Table Barley Twist Louis XIII
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French oak office library desk sofa table barley twist Louis XIII
~Direct from France~
~Lovely antique French writing desk, versatile for so many uses; in addition to s...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
French 19th Century Lady's Work Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This petite work table from 19th century France is full of charming elements within a compact design. Details allude to this piece serving as a correspondence and sewing table. Unloc...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
French Bureau Plat or Desk with Gilt Griffin Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Empire Style Bureau Plat or Desk, France, circa 1950s. Elegant design in black lacquered wood with brass hardware and an inset black leather...
Category
1950s French Empire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Metal
Mid-Century Italian Baroque Carved Walnut Secretary Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, multi-function antique chest was created in Italy, circa 1960. Siting on bracket feet over a straight bottom plinth, the fruit wood cabinet features what appears to be three drawers with raised burled panels and dressed with iron handles and matching escutcheons across the front. The hinged top half surface raises up while the top drop-front hinged drawer folds down, and reveals a writing surface with inside theater and four small drawers over a niche gallery. The bottom section features two large functional drawers for extra storage. Both sides are also decorated with burled walnut raised panels. The narrow and versatile baroque writing table commode is in excellent condition with a rich walnut patina, and has beautiful gothic hardware...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Mahogany Desk, circa 1850
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The rectangular top inset with a beige tooled leather writing surface and slide outs on both ends. Above five drawers, the reverse side with dummy drawers raised on columnar legs wit...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Louis XVIII Style Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A Louis XVIII style French side table made of solid walnut with carved decoration. Dovetailed drawer with small brass ring pull. Turned legs connected by an X-form stretcher with cen...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Empire Style Burlwood Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Mid 20th century Empire style leather top desk constructed with hardwood and burl wood veneers featuring ormolu, three drawers and stretcher.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Spectacular 19th century French bureau plat writing table or desk featuring barley twist legs and stretcher. Crafted from oak in the grand Louis XIII style fronted by a large 27 inch...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
French Sculptural Baroque Style Desk in Stained Pine, Early 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A fabolous french baroque style freestanding desk in solid stained pined. Finely handcrafted in the first half of the 20th century. Decorative decadent carvings.
This fine desk w...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Mid-18th Century Spanish Louis XIII Carved Walnut Library Console Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Spain circa 1760, the antique writing table stands on thick carved turned legs ending with bun feet, and embellished with an elegant rectangular box stretcher at the base. The tall table features two hand carved drawers...
Category
Mid-18th Century Spanish Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Empire St. Mahogany and Ormolu Executive Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely handsome and impressive French 19th century Empire st. mahogany and ormolu executive desk. At the frieze is a central wider drawer flanked by smaller drawers at each sid...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Style Desk with Gilt Metal Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
A perfect example of the Bureau Plat.
French Empire style desk with wood marquetry and gilt metal mounts at all angles. This piece features three working drawers on the front with three faux drawers on the back. The superb gilt metal hardware is on the front as well as the back. The four arched legs grace gorgeous gilt metal decor...
Category
Early 20th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Antique French Carved Secretary Petite Desk Barley Twist Walnut Bookcase
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French Carved Secretary Petite Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII.
Direct from France, a beautifully appointed petite drop front walnut secretary...
Category
1890s French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French, Mid-19th Century Empire-Style Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-19th century
The petite mahogany knee-hole desk with a central drawer and two slender drawers on each side,
with gilt-bronze mounts and inset tooled green leather writing su...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Heavily Carved Oak Secretary Bookcase Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a man's office or study this this stunning Henri II two-piece antique desk cabinet. Crafted in southern France circa 1860 and built of oa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Scandinavian Veneered Biedermeier Writing Desk with Lyres
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A small mahogany and walnut veneered table or writing desk with brass holders in the lyres formed sides. The top is provided with inlaid green leather; the drawers have divided small...
Category
Early 1800s Scandinavian Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Louis XIII Carved Barley Twist Walnut Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Incorporate extra, functional surface space into your living room or den with this elegant antique table. Crafted in the Perigord region of Franc...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fine 19th century French carved oak library table, or writing table desk made in the grand Louis XIII taste. Features thick barley twist legs conjoined on the bottom with barley twis...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century Spanish Baroque Marble Top Carved Walnut and Iron Dining Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a dining or breakfast room with this elegant antique table. Carved in Spain circa 1870, the large trestle table stands on two intricate ca...
Category
Mid-19th Century Spanish Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Wrought Iron
20th Century Empire Style Writing Table or Bureau Plat
Located in Berlin, DE
Writing table or bureau plat in Empire style after Jacob Desmalter.
Solid, ebonized beech, partially carved and hand-painted. Cutted out pedestal on profiled disc feet. Over which ar...
Category
20th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Style Roll-Top Desk
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century French Empire style roll-top desk
French, early 20th century
Dimensions: Height 113cm, width 84cm, depth 62cm
This charming roll-top desk is crafted from ormo...
Category
Early 20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique French Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bureau plat, circa 1870 in date.
The rectangular top has an inset gold-tooled green leather writing surface with a very...
Category
1870s French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder)
Material: Mahogany.
Completely restored, Shellac polish.
Period: 1820-1829
Source: Austria, Wien.
Category
1820s Austrian Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer
Louis XIII Style French Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A Louis XIII style French side table made of solid hand-carved walnut. Elaborately detailed in a Neo Renaissance style with fine turned legs forming an arched colonnade over the cent...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk.
With a grey marble top over three drawers, the fall enclosing a sliding tan lea...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Empire Greek Vanity or Ladies' Desk
Located in Berlin, DE
An early 19th century gilt bronze and walnut veneer ladies desk or dressing table or vanity, with a rectangular grey fossil marble top above two mirror paneled doors and two drawers, flanked by Greek Revival female caryatids, above a folded leather lined writing surface and a frieze drawer, raised on square legs, joined by an incurved stretcher. The whole mounted with finely chased ormolu casts depicting winged figures, ribbons and foliage.
Beautiful early 19th century French Empire small desk...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Mahogany construction with rectangular leather writing surface with gilt brass medallion pulls. Back has gilt metal chariot and horse plaque. Top sits on ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
18th Century French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk with Green Leather Top
Located in Birmingham, AL
A fine 18th century carved French Louis XIII style bureau plat or desk handcrafted of solid oak by skilled Breton artisans, circa 1730s. The rectangular top with a gadrooned beveled ...
Category
18th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Architects Table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An elegant and attractive early 19th century Empire mahogany architects table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864). The double ratcheted hinged rectangular top lined with dark green oi...
Category
19th Century Belgian Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Antique and Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Choosing the perfect writing desk or writing table is a profoundly personal journey, one that people have been embarking upon for centuries.
Queen Atossa of Persia, from her writing table circa 500 B.C., is said to have been the originator of the art of handwritten letters. Hers was reportedly the first in a long and colorful history of penned correspondence that grew in popularity alongside literacy. The demand for suitable writing desks, which would serve the composer of the letters as well as ensure the comfort of the recipient naturally followed, and the design of these necessary furnishings has evolved throughout history.
Once people began to seek freedom from the outwardly ornate styles of the walnut and rosewood writing desks and drafting tables introduced in the name of Queen Victoria and King Louis XV, radical shifts occurred, such as those that materialized during the Art Nouveau period, when designers longed to produce furniture inspired by the natural world’s beauty. A prime example is the work of the famous late-19th-century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí — his rolltop desk featured deep side drawers and was adorned with carved motifs that paid tribute to nature. Gaudí regularly combined structural precision with decorative elements, creating beautiful pieces of furniture in wood and metal.
Soon afterward, preferences for sleek, geometric, stylized forms in furniture that saw an emphasis on natural wood grains and traditional craftsmanship took hold. Today, Art Deco desks are still favored by designers who seek to infuse interiors with an air of luxury. One of the most prominent figures of the Art Deco movement was French decorator and furniture designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. With his use of neoclassical motifs as well as expensive and exotic materials such as imported dark woods and inlays of precious metals for his writing desks, Ruhlmann came to symbolize good taste and modernity.
The rise in appreciation for Scandinavian modernism continues to influence the design of contemporary writing desks. It employs the “no fuss” or “less is more” approach to creating a tasteful, sophisticated space. Sweden’s master cabinetmaker Bruno Mathsson created gallery-worthy designs that are as functional as they are beautiful. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto never viewed himself as an artist, but, like Mathsson, his furniture designs reflected a fondness for organic materials and a humanistic approach. Danish designers such as Hans Wegner introduced elegant shapes and lines to mid-century desks and writing tables, often working in oak and solid teak.
From vintage desks to contemporary styles, 1stDibs offers a broad spectrum of choices for conducting all personal and business writing and reading activities.
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Blue Painted Desk
American Desk 19th Century
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