Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
LOUIS XIV STYLE
As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.
When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.
Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.
The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.
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Style: Louis XIV
Antique Louis XIV Style Walnut Writing Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Louis XIV style walnut writing table, circa 1910. With a 3 board top with thumb molded front, side and back edges, a large frieze drawer with brass drawer pull, 4 barley twis...
Category
1910s European Vintage Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Chestnut and Oak Desk from Le Grand Monarque À Chartres, circa 1720
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved, circa 1720, using chestnut and oak woods, this desk was recently part of Le Grand Monarque hotel in Chartres, France. The desk has been stripped at some point, allowing the beautiful wood grain and round dowel construction to become focal points.
The stunning desk has a shaped top with quarter round molding. A 23 ½” W seat opening is topped by a concave front drawer with a bronze drop handle affixed by a pair of rosette mounts. Similar handles can be seen on each of the four main drawers, which are surrounded by thick cavetto molding. These drawers also have a scalloped keyplate and mounts of two putti hunting dragons hidden amongst foliage. Interestingly, the sides are comprised of four rectangular panels, with the two nearest to the straight back side being functional drawers.
Known as a bureau caissiers (“cashier’s desk...
Category
1720s French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Bronze
17th Century French Louis XIV Walnut Writing Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Louis XIV writing table with fine form and having a Sotheby's New York auction house label. The table with a rectangular plank top over a long frieze drawer with carved knob pulls an...
Category
17th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Boulle Bureau Plat / Library Table, Late 18th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
Exceptional French Boulle bureau plat has the English feel of a library table with the four rams head mounted bronze fluted legs terminating in a br...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Late 19th Century Louis XIV Style Library Table by Francois Linke
Located in Chicago, IL
Francois Linke is among the most important furniture makers of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He is most noted for his commission of the Ras al-Tin Palace in Alexandria...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Louis XIV Walnut Writing Table Or Occasional Table From The17th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
superb walnut table from the 17th century Louis XIV period and style
Good quality table resting on a very elegant base with turned legs connected by spacers and ending with balls.
Th...
Category
17th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
17th Century Italian Oak Wood Antique Fratino Table or Desk with Lyre Legs
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Important antique solid oak wood table from the mid 17th century. Oak wood has acquired a beautiful antique patina presenting the signs of all the past centuries. This type of table ...
Category
Mid-17th Century Italian Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Ladies' Writing Desk From the Early 20th Century in the Style of Louis XV
Located in Opole, PL
Ladies' Writing Desk From the Early 20th Century in the Style of Louis XV
A ladies' writing desk inspired by the Louis XV style, dating back to before 1939. The furniture stands on ...
Category
Early 20th Century European Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
1950s French Louis XIV Style Desk / Bureau Plat With Gilt Bronze Ormolu
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a French Louis XIV style desk that is in very good condition. The desk is marked. The antique hardware is gilt bronze and not original. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Mahogany & Brass Inlay Secretary Boulle Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and rare French 19th century Louis XIV style mahogany and brass inlaid drop-front freestanding secretary desk in the manner of André-Charles Boulle. The slender mahogany body ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
A rare French Louis XIV large pewter and fruitwood inlaid marquetry desk
By Pierre Gole
Located in PARIS, FR
A rare French Louis XIV large pewter and fruitwood inlaid marquetry desk called “bureau Mazarin” attributed to Pierre Gole (1620 – 1684)
Dimensi...
Category
Late 17th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze, Pewter
French Provincial Louis XIV Period Os de Mouton Oak Side Table
Located in Troy, NY
Small 17th century side table or desk, charming country piece of nice proportion and warm color, three-board top above one drawer, wavy Os de Mouton legs joined by conforming stretch...
Category
Late 17th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
A French Louis XVI style three drawer mahogany bureau plat desk C 1930
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Louis XVI style French three drawer mahogany bureau plat desk having extensive bronze decoration, finished rear and gilt embossed leather top circa 1930.
Kneehole Dimensions: 26" X...
Category
1930s French Vintage Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Country French Writing Table ~ End Table
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Country French Writing Table ~ End Table was beautifully hand-crafted from solid indigenous walnut, and features amazing style rendered by capable rural artisans with wh...
Category
1790s French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Fine quality Louis XVI Bonhuer du juer, circa 1880.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th Century French LOUIS XVI style, Sevres style porcelain mounted Bonheur du jour. Having an inset white marble top, ormolu gallery + mounts. Three drawers abov...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
20th Century Bureau Plat Desk According to the Style of Andre Charles Boulle
Located in Berlin, DE
Piano black polished veneer on solid beech and oak. Extremely finely chiselled bronze. Slightly protruding, profiled tabletop and gold-embossed leather insert, flanked by a grotesque...
Category
20th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech
Impressive French Writing Desk in the Antique Style of Louis XIV Mahogany Bronze
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal palisander and tulip wood on softwood. Three-part straight frame base. Slightly protruding, broadly framed writing surface, inlaid with gold embossed leather surface, including...
Category
20th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Desk with pedestals in fruit wood and oak, known as Mazarin, Louis XIV period
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Desk with pedestals in fruit wood and oak, known as Mazarin, Louis XIV period
AROUND 1700
Damaged tray
Category
1690s French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Walnut
French 19th Century Louis XVI style bureau plat.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French parquetry inlaid Louis XVI style bureau plat. Having an inset leather tooled top, gilded ormolu mouldings and classical monopodia mounts ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Diminutive French Louis XIV Style Walnut Writing Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming 19th century French writing table or desk made in a diminutive scale or ladies bureau plat size. Crafted in the grand Louis XIV taste from walnu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century, Italian Louis XIV Style Ebonized Desk W/ Brass & Important Inlay
Located in Atlanta, GA
This remarkable 19th-century Italian desk, crafted in the opulent Louis XIV style, embodies the grandeur and precision of Italian craftsmanship of the period. The desk’s form is anch...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Liegoise Writing Table with 2 Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Liegoise writing table with 2 drawers is a splendid example of the time-honored traditions of quality craftsmanship for which the region is so well known for the past centuri...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
French 18th Century Writing Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This writing table is made of walnut with wonderful patine.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Circa 1870 French Walnut Wood Center Table with Rams' Heads and Fleur De Lys
Located in Dallas, TX
This unusual and interesting center table was produced in France, during the middle of the latter half of the 19th century. It was during this time that French furniture makers, desi...
Category
1870s French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
French 17th Century Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 17th century desk, Louis XIV period. It was originally a trunk which has been transformed during the 19th century into a desk.
Category
Mid-17th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Early 20th Century Italian Writing Table
Located in Rome, IT
An early 20th century Italian writing table, with rectangular top.
Measures: 164 x 79 x 50 cm.
Category
Mid-20th Century Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Antique Country French Double-Faced Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Double-Faced Desk was crafted by master artisans creating a superlative choice for any office! Finished on all four sides, it can be placed anywhere in the ro...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Italian Writing Table, Early 20th Century
Located in Rome, IT
An early 20th century Italian writing table, with rectangular top.
Measures: 164 x 79 x 50 cm.
Category
Mid-20th Century European Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
18th Century French Carved Walnut Desk on Legs with Slant Top and Inside Storage
Located in Dallas, TX
Place a large book, architect plans, or even a Bible on this antique lectern cabinet; crafted in France circa 1790, the fruitwood piece stands on four s...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Louis XIV Parquet Desk ~ Dining Table in Stripped Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Louis XIV Parquet Desk ~ Dining Table in Stripped Oak is a jewel of the cabinetmaker's art! The top features an unusual contour that resem...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
20th Century Louis XIV Style French Piano-Black Writing Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Imposing French writing table in style of Louis XIV.
Piano black polished veneer on solid pinewood. Three part, straight border. Narrow overlapping, wide framed writing plate, middl...
Category
20th Century Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Gorgeous 18th Century Tin Marquetry Writing Desk/ Cabinet
Located in Brussels, BE
18th century tin marquetry writing desk.
Category
Early 18th Century German Antique Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Tin
Louis Xiv desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Louis XIV 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, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XIV desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks and writing tables, popular names associated with this style include and Toms & Luscombe. 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 $975 and tops out at $577,210 while the average work can sell for $4,343.