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Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

LOUIS XVI STYLE

Reflecting the final era of royal opulence before the upheaval of the French Revolution, antique Louis XVI furniture features more angular shapes than the Rococo curves of the Louis XV style, harkening back to the imposing grandeur of Louis XIV.

Dating between 1750 and 1800, an era that overlapped with the last king of France whose reign was cut short by the guillotine, Louis XVI furniture, known as the goût grec, is emblematic of the neoclassical revision that French furniture underwent during the second half of the 18th century.

Authentic Louis XVI furniture characteristics include clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. This was informed by a burgeoning interest in antiquity in the 18th century, owing to new archaeological excavations at sites including Pompeii and Herculaneum. It largely eclipsed the more East Asian–influenced ornamentation of Louis XV for something more geometric and symmetrical.

The Louis XVI style was defined by what was being created for the palatial rooms at Versailles and Fontainebleau, particularly for the queen, with cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener being a favorite of Marie-Antoinette’s for his luxurious pieces accented with gilded bronze and marquetry. Furniture maker Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené was also a major designer of the period, with his pieces for the royal residences adorned with giltwood and neoclassical touches like tapered columns for chair legs and laurel leaf carvings. Cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler occasionally incorporated into his furniture porcelain panels produced by Sèvres, a popular manufacturer of European ceramics that served the crown with serveware, vases and other decorative objects.

Find a collection of antique Louis XVI seating, tables, cabinets and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Louis XVI
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Petite Writing Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An ingenious leather-topped mahogany writing desk with hidden extensions on each side to add occasional surface area. The leaves on the sides are a matcha green leather framed by gol...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Fine French Bronze Mounted Leather Top French Directoire Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb, French Directoire style desk. The desk is adorned with bronze and brass ormolu and a gorgeous gold tooled leather embossed top. The desk features inlaid burnished t...
Category

1920s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Antique Petite French Carved Oak Secretary Writing Desk Table Louis XVI c1890
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century Petite French carved oak secretary writing desk Louis XVI style ~Direct from France~ ~Beautiful antique French carved oak secretary with fabulous detailing throughout~ ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Louis XVI French Antique Writing Desk
Located in Austin, TX
French Louis XVI style writing desk made of solid wood construction; primarily cherry wood. It has been finished with a lustrous French polish of museum quality. The top features a g...
Category

1920s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Fine Quality Coromandel and Marquetry Inlaid Victorian Period Kidney Lady Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality Coromandel Victorian style kidney shaped writing table. The kidney shaped top having a fine quality velum green leather writing surface with gilt and blind tooled deta...
Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Louis XVI Style Desk With Leather Top
Located in Austin, TX
Writing table desk in the Louis XVI style made of Mahogany. The desk has been ebonized and finished in a lustrous Museum quality French polish and boasts an embossed leather top. Fea...
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1920s Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

20th Century French Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant 20th-century French desk embodies the timeless sophistication of the Louis XVI style. Crafted from solid wood with a rich, warm finish, it features clean, linear lines a...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Small French Louis XVI Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
This desk brings timeless elegance and delicate refinement to your home. Crafted from Acacia wood in a soft Country mahogany finish, this piece showcases a smooth top, and turret cor...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Austin, TX
French Louis XVI style desk of mahogany, finished with a Museum quality French polish. The contours of the writing table are covered with gilt brass trims while Pearl trims adorn the...
Category

1930s Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Baker Furniture French Regency Louis XVI Cherry and Gilt Wood Petite Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Regency Louis XVI style petite writing desk, console table, or tea table By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Carved cherry wood, with gold gilt accents, and orig...
Category

1960s American Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Signed Escalier De Cristal of Paris Metamorphic French Louis XVI Desk Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an incredible signed L Escalier De Cristal of Paris metamorphic desk or ladies vanity. The desk is beautifully inlaid and features inlaid brass inside the fluted legs and a g...
Category

1890s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

High Adjustable Architect's Desk, Writing Desk, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Antique height-adjustable desk, architect's table, around 1800 France Mahogany circa 1800 Dimensions: H x W x D: 78 x 84 x 50 Height-adjustable to approx. 120 cm, can be folded up...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Period Walnut Writing Table with Leather Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale late eighteenth century French Louis XVI period walnut lady's writing desk features a gold tooled black leather top. A single drawer pulls out from the side using a ...
Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Walnut Fall Front Desk / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This Louis XVI walnut slant-front secretary desk is a fine example of 18th-century French craftsmanship and sophistication, ideal for collectors and interior enthusiasts seeking time...
Category

18th Century German Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Spruce, Walnut

Louis XVI Style French Bureau Plat, Circa 1860 - 1890
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Louis XVI style mahogany writing desk with satinwood and French walnut marquetry with bronze banding. The desk is double sided with the original...
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Italian Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Louis XVI Style Desk. This handsome Italian desk or writing table has 2 side drawers and 1 center drawer and bronze pulls. Our desk is finished on all sides so it's the perfe...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

French Mahogany Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted with figured flame mahogany, this writing desk features a luxurious leather inlaid surface. The meticulously designed structure includes five drawers surrounding a generous k...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Hand Carved Walnut Center Table
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Louis XVI style walnut writing table from the late 19th century features a hand carved element of a classic crossed torch and quiver with a crown of laurels. Its beveled top res...
Category

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

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Writing Table ~ Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Writing Table ~ Desk makes an attractive addition to any room, and can double as a center table as it is beautifully embellished from all angles!...
Category

1890s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Late 1900's Louis XVI Style, Ormolu, Bureau Plat, Cartonnier, Writing Desk!
Located in Austin, TX
Gorgeous Late 1900's Louis XVI Style, Ormolu, Bureau Plat, Cartonnier, Writing Desk! Late 1900's Louis XVI Style, Ormolu, Bureau Plat, Cartonnier, Writing Desk! Bureau Plat, Carton...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

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

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

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Walnut Louis XVI Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Beautiful 19th Century French Walnut Louis XVI Desk with immaculate new embossed leather writing surface. French Louis XVI bureau plat table desk...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique French Side Table Writing Desk Oak Beveled Top Carved Decorated Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful French side table or console table or writing desk, characterized by the handcrafted carved beveled edge table-top and raised on two stunning carved legs and central cross-...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Painted Wood Skai & Brass Side Table Writing Table One Drawer, circa 1910
Located in Labrit, Landes
French antique side or writing table, circa 1910. Louis 16 style One large drawer The top is recovered with skai. Good antique condition Shipping: 45 / 85 / 75 cm 12 kg
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Slant-Front Drafting Desk Writing Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptionally inlaid antique slant-front drafting desk. circa 1900 Hand-crafted in the early 20th century, likely French, one piece desk on frame form, having a sloped fr...
Category

Early 20th Century Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ebony, Kingwood, Mahogany, Maple, Palisander, Rosewood, Burl, Felt

Louis XVI Style 19th-20th Century Bronze Mounted Desk Manner Linke
Located in Manhasset, NY
Louis XVI style 19th-20th century bronze mounted desk manner Linke. This spectacular French desk can sit center room as it is finished on all sides with its stunning parquetry inlays...
Category

Early 20th Century Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Maison Jansen Inspired French Louis XVI Ebonized Desk Available in Any Dimension
Located in Chicago, IL
Maison Jansen inspired French Louis XVI style ebonized mahogany desk, with gold or brass accents, made here at Old Plank in our very own worksho...
Category

2010s American Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Antique French Louis XVI Neoclassical Double Faced Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Louis XVI Neoclassical Double Faced desk has captured the essence of the architecture and embellishment of ancient Greece and Rome! Han...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Regency Louis XVI Kingwood Marquetry Ormolu-Mounted Leather Top Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Regency Louis XVI style executive writing desk with ram heads France, 20th Century Kingwood, with inlaid marquetry, bronze trim and ornate ormolu mounts, and ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Antique Louis XVI Table Writing Desk In Walnut - Italy 19th
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant Louis XVI-style writing desk, crafted in solid walnut, dates to the early 19th century and originates from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. With its restrained lines and r...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

French Louis XVI Bureau a Cylindre, Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in Houston, TX
19th century desk with a Cylindre roll top opening to a leather top that pulls out for ease In use. Gilt bronze mounts with floral gilt center decoration with wreath. Square tapered...
Category

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

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI Ladies’ Desk, around 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Small ladies' desk with three drawers and large gilt bronze fittings on the front. The desk stands on high pointed legs with ball feet and is inlaid with fillet strips and framing pa...
Category

Early 1800s Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Louis XVI Style Desk, circa 1900
Located in Greding, DE
Louis XVI style desk, crafted around 1900. The tabletop features burgundy leather with a surrounding brass trim. Three shallow drawers with refined brass fittings offer practical sto...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Louis XVI Writing Desk, Cognac Leather, Bonze & Brass
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Antique Louis XVI style desk with cognac leather top and gold embossed frieze, fluted legs finished with golden bronze clogs. Three dovetail drawers with brass details. The locks wo...
Category

1910s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

French Napoleon III Period Ebonized Desk, 1870s
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An imposing Napoleon III center table (or 'Table de Milieu') in ebonized fruit wood, rectangular in shape, with rounded sides. Its ornate top, which is bordered all around with a gilt bronze frieze and two further inner bands, features at its centre an intricate marquetry inlaid design of a foliage cartouche framing a vase of flowers. The smoothly curving belt of the table encloses a frieze drawer on one long side, with a repeat, inlaid design that echoes that of the top. The table rests on four turned, tapered and fluted legs, ending in toupie feet, and these are connected by two half-moon spacers...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Louis XVI Mahogany Tric Trac Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular removable green leather top with reversible felt playing surface , exposing a backgammon playing surface. Opposing chip drawers and raised on square tapered fluted legs e...
Category

1790s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Tulipwood and Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat
Located in Essex, MA
A signed piece with rectangular top with inset green leather, possibly original , over a frieze with one central drawer flanked by drawers each with round original wreath rings...
Category

1780s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Petite Louis XVI Style Writing Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A beautiful leather-topped mahogany writing desk dating to the 19th century in the Louis XVI style, with a hidden extension on each side to add occasional surface area. Framed by tur...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Mahogany and Brass Mounted Bureau a Cylindre, Late 18th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The desk with a 1/4 cylinder top that opens to reveal a leather writing surface with pigeon holes and drawers. The gallery with white Carrara marble top.
Category

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

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Petite Louis XVI Style Writing Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite, leather-topped mahogany writing desk dating to the 19th century in the Louis XVI style, with hidden extensions on each side to add occasional surface area. Framed by turret...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century Louis XVI Style Leather Top Writing Table / Bureau Plat
Located in Madrid, ES
A 19th century Louis XVI style French writing table or desk, known as a "bureau plat”. It has a leather top writing surface, ormolu bronze details, and three locking drawers with fal...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French writing Table 2 drawers in Solid Cherry Wood - Louis XVI Directoire style
Located in Landivy, FR
This writing table is part of the Mélanie collection, a modern interpretation of the French Directoire style of the late 18th century. This style is famous for its straight, classi...
Category

2010s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Cherry, Oak

Early 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gentleman's Bureau Dressing Table Vanity Desk
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptional large French speckled plum pudding mahogany rosewood marble ormolu flip-top mirrored gentleman's bureau dressing table / writing desk (poudreuse coiffeuse de t...
Category

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

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Marble Top Library Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand French 19th century library table, writing table, or bureau plat featuring an Italian Carrara marble top inset. Crafted in the neoclassical Louis XVI taste, the frieze is decorated on each side with strands of delicate bell flowers centered by floral reserves. The corners have carved rosettes and are supported by fluted legs having acanthus tops. The legs are conjoined by gracefully curved stretchers centered with an acanthus finial...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Carrara Marble

French Marquetry inlaid Lady's desk, 1890.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th Century French free standing Ladies bureau de dame. Having wonderful floral marquetry inlaid decoration, drawers above, an inset leather top, drawers beneath...
Category

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

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Petite French Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an fine and beautiful petite French Louis XV Revival goncalo alves and ormolu mounted bureau plat, circa 1850 in date. This fantastic bureau plat features an ornate serpentin...
Category

1850s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Large French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large French 19th century Louis XVI style giltwood carved center hall table with marble top. The rectangular shaped top with r...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Antique C1870s French Louis XVI Style Inlaid King Wood Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

18th C. Louis XVI Marble Writing Table
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
18th C. Louis XVI Mahogany and Marble Writing Table With Brass Mounts, Ca. 1790 Wonderful small writing table, with flip top with marble work surface, and drawer with pull out leat...
Category

1790s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Oak Writing Table or Side Table
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early nineteenth century Louis XVI style oak side table features hand carvings on all four sides. Its beveled top rests above a fluted apron. The hand pegged apron is detailed with a rosette on each end. A carved gadrooned garland appointed with a ribbon at the top details the back and a man...
Category

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

Materials

Oak

Louis XVI Revival Kingwood Desk
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
20th Century French Louis XVI Revival desk. With finely cast guilt mount casts, kingwood cross banding and brass fillets to legs. Circa 1920.
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Kingwood

Antique French Louis XVI Style Kidney Trestle Gilt Brass Gallery Writing Table
Located in Forney, TX
Add luxurious elegance and sophistication with this exquisite French Louis XVI style kingwood marquetry table a ecrire (writing table). Dating to the late 19th / early 20th century,...
Category

Early 20th Century European Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

Louis XVI Style Writing Desk With Pietra Dura Stone Top
Located in North Palm Beach, FL
This kidney-shaped desk is a beautiful example of the Louis XVI style, popular in France during the late 18th century. It features a curved front and sides, with delicate carving det...
Category

1980s American Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

18th Century Louis XVI Period Desk or 'Bureau à Dos D'âne'
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
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 a...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Early 19th Century French Black Lacquered Bureau Plat
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An impressive early 19th Century French Louis XVI style, black lacquered bureau plat. With is original leather top and bronze mounts. Circa 1800.
Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI style Ormolu mounted Mahogany Desk attr. to Maison Jansen
Located in Greenwich, CT
Elegant Louis XVI style ormolu mounted mahogany desk or bureau plat, circa 1950's , attributed to Maison Jansen, rectangular, the gilt tooled leather inset top bordered by a gilded ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Italy Mid-18th Century Olive Root Wood Desk with Drawings in Regency Style
Located in Brescia, IT
This Italian desk, was manufactured circa 1750 in Tuscany Italy by master cabinet makers in a pregiate wood, the olive root; the fine proportion and the ele...
Category

Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Olive

French Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Marquetry Table, Beurdeley Attributed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XVI style ormolu-mounted Kingwood and Bois Citronnier Marquetry center table or writing table, attributed to Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley (Fr...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Iconic Mastercraft Brass Desk With Leather Top
Located in Houston, TX
Iconic Mastercraft Brass Desk With Leather Top. Stunning large mid century brass desk or writing table by Mastercraft. This handsome desk...
Category

1970s American Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Rolltop Desk, France 1780, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI Rolltop or cylinder desk, France, 1780. This original Louis XVI cylinder desk has an elegant mahogany veneer with satinwood inlays. I...
Category

1780s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

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

Find a broad range of unique Louis XVI desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, 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 XVI 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 Maison Jansen, John Vesey, Paul Sormani, and A.M.E Fournier. 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 $956 and tops out at $230,146 while the average work can sell for $8,500.

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