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Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

LOUIS XIII STYLE

Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.

When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.

From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.

The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.

Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.

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Style: Louis XIII
Period: 20th Century
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 Vintage Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Antique French Louis XIII Style Draw Leaf Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs
Antique French Louis XIII Style Draw Leaf Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs

Antique French Louis XIII Style Draw Leaf Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs

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

Mid-Century Italian Baroque Carved Walnut Secretary Chest of Drawers
Mid-Century Italian Baroque Carved Walnut Secretary Chest of Drawers

Mid-Century Italian Baroque Carved Walnut Secretary Chest of Drawers

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

French Sculptural Baroque Style Desk in Stained Pine, Early 20th Century
French Sculptural Baroque Style Desk in Stained Pine, Early 20th Century

French Sculptural Baroque Style Desk in Stained Pine, Early 20th Century

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

Louis XIII Style French Walnut Side Table
Louis XIII Style French Walnut Side Table

Louis XIII Style French Walnut Side Table

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17th Century French Walnut Chest of Drawers
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HERITAGE Walnut English Tudor Barley Twist Writing Desk
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Located in Charlotte, NC
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Located in Fulton, CA
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Custom Barley Twist Dining Table in Oak by Dos Gallos

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20th Century Spanish Baroque Style Oak Library Table or Desk
Located in Miami, FL
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Located in Portland, OR
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Early 20th Century Spanish Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

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Early 20th Century Spanish Marble Inset Carved Oak and Painted Dining Table

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Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Oak Writing Table Desk with Iron Stretcher
Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Oak Writing Table Desk with Iron Stretcher

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Early 20th Century French Writing Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Early 20th Century French writing table.
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Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

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Walnut

Early 20th Century French Writing Table
Early 20th Century French Writing Table

Early 20th Century French Writing Table

H 29 in W 39 in D 23.5 in
Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Writing Table Desk with Iron Stretcher
Located in Dallas, TX
Add an elegant focal point to your study or library with this antique fruitwood desk. Carved in Spain circa 1920, the trestle table stands on tw...
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Early 20th Century Spanish Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

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Wrought Iron

Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Writing Table Desk with Iron Stretcher
Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Writing Table Desk with Iron Stretcher

Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Writing Table Desk with Iron Stretcher

H 30.5 in W 55 in D 27 in
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Style Carved Chestnut and Oak Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in southern France circa 1920 and built of solid chestnut and oak wood, the antique desk stands on hand carved turned legs, connected at the...
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Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

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Chestnut, Oak

Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Style Carved Chestnut and Oak Table Desk
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Style Carved Chestnut and Oak Table Desk

Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Style Carved Chestnut and Oak Table Desk

H 30.25 in W 65.25 in D 29.25 in
Sublime Early 20th Century French Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Sublime early 20th century French desk.
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Sublime Early 20th Century French Desk
Sublime Early 20th Century French Desk

Sublime Early 20th Century French Desk

H 31.25 in W 78.75 in D 38.75 in
Early 20th Century Italian Carved Walnut Chest of Drawers, Writing Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, multi-function fruitwood chest was created in Italy, circa 1930. The complex walnut cabinet sits on four carved legs embellished over a decorative bottom stretcher; the...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

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Walnut

Early 20th Century Italian Carved Walnut Chest of Drawers, Writing Table Desk
Early 20th Century Italian Carved Walnut Chest of Drawers, Writing Table Desk

Early 20th Century Italian Carved Walnut Chest of Drawers, Writing Table Desk

H 34.75 in W 54 in D 19 in
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Impressive French Louis XIII style oak library writing table or desk featuring barley twist legs and stretchers. Constructed from oak with a cerused style painted finish that showcas...
Category

20th Century American Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Desk
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Desk

French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Desk

H 30 in W 72 in D 30 in
Barley Twist Two-Drawer Console Table or Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Bespoke two-drawer console table or sofa table featuring Louis XIII style barley twist legs. This elegant console could also serve as a writing table or desk for narrow spaces with a...
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20th Century American Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables

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Metal, Brass

Barley Twist Two-Drawer Console Table or Desk
Barley Twist Two-Drawer Console Table or Desk

Barley Twist Two-Drawer Console Table or Desk

H 30 in W 72 in D 22 in

Louis Xiii desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XIII desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XIII desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Spain pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $9,400 while the average work can sell for $3,550.

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