Skip to main content

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.

1
230
6
to
21
146
82
236
232
233
1,831
766
379
352
318
216
198
158
107
106
87
84
54
51
35
22
9
42
115
73
6
35
23
5
6
5
4
6
4
3
1
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
224
141
70
65
64
219
191
14
5
4
5
2
2
1
1
Style: Louis XVI
Diminutive Leather Top Desk with Pull-Out Sides and Bronze Mounts Stamped Jansen
Located in Stamford, CT
An early Louis XVI style leather top desk with pull-out sides and bronze mounts with a single centre drawer stamped Jansen. Pull outs measure 15.5 x 9 inches each.
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Louis XVI Style Antique Ebonized Desk
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
French Louis XVI Style Antique Ebonized Desk France, 1900 Mahogany, ebonized Antique French Louis XVI style ebonized desk made of mahogany with five dovetailed drawers, each with wo...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Writing Desk with Cube Parquetry Decoration
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A dainty and very stylish veneered 18th century writing desk, with a slim and elegant frieze drawer and gorgeous cube parquetry decoration to the top surface. The legs are very sligh...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry, Walnut

Antique French Louis XVI Style Desk in Caribbean Mahogany Brass Trim Restored
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Mahogany Louis XVI Style Desk that has just emerged from a multi-month thorough restoration. Yes, we got carried away by the unique crazy build quality that we kept di...
Category

1850s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique French Leather Top Bureau Plat Desk
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique French leather top bureau plat desk, made in France and dating from around the 1930’s. This is of outstanding quality, with beautifully cast ormolu mounts through...
Category

1930s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Vintage / Antique 20th C. French Louis XVI Style Parquetry Writing Table
Located in Austin, TX
Handsome Table, Writing, French Louis XVI Style Parquetry, Vintage / Antique, 20th C., 19th Century!! This vintage French Louis XVI style writing table is a stunning piece of antiqu...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Desk, Leather Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early twentieth century French Louis XVI style mahogany desk features bronze accents on all sides. Its five drawers of dovetail construction are detailed with bronze trim and ke...
Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Directoire Style Brass Mounted Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 31 1/2in W: 47 1/4in D: 27 1/2in This vintage Louis XVI style leather top writing desk is a an example of quality furniture from the mid 20th century! This piece is...
Category

20th Century Unknown Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Style Writing Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Writing desk from France in the Louis XVI style. This piece has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum-quality. There are three dovetailed drawers all wit...
Category

1930s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique French Louis XVI Marble Gold gilded Salon Ladies Writing Table 1800
Located in Doha, QA
This incredibly intricate and elegant Louis XVI French ladies writing desk table is originated from France ca late 18th-beginning of the 19t...
Category

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

Materials

Marble, Gold

Louis Xvi Style Writing Table Desk Bureau Plat
Located in Southampton, NJ
A fine French writing table desk of Satinwood, in the Louis Xvi style featuring gold embossed leather top, striking Etimoe wood banding on three dovetailed drawers with brass hardwar...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

A French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany and Ormolu Bureau Plat desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany and Ormolu Bureau Plat desk, stamped by Francois Linke. This stunning single drawer desk is raised by four tapered round Maho...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Italian Louis XVI Desk And Dressing Table With Fine Marquetry, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Louis XVI Desk and Dressing Table Italy Walnut, plum, cherry tree Louis XVI circa 1800 Dimensions: H x W x D: 81 x 79 x 46 cm Description: Small and rare dressing, writing and wor...
Category

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

Materials

Cherry, Fruitwood, Walnut

French Antique Louis XVI Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Writing desk from France in the Louis XVI style. This piece has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum-quality. There are five dovetailed drawers all with...
Category

1920s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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

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

French Louis XVI style writing table, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Mahogany bureau plat in the style of Louis XVI. Having an inset leather top, a frieze drawer, gilded ormolu mounts and raised on elegant ...
Category

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

Materials

Ormolu

Italian Louis XVI Style Mahogany & Brass Mounted Desk, 2nd half 19th century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular top with an inset suede writing surface, with pull out slides at both sides also covered in suede, one central drawer, two side drawers on left, one drawer with ...
Category

1860s Italian Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Dallas, TX
A 19th century French Louis XVI style small writing table with tooled brown leather top and bronze fittings. This charming and versatile table can be used as an end table, bedside ...
Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Antique Writing Walnut Desk
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Antique Piedmontese walnut writing desk, simple and useful. It didn't have handles and I don't know whether to put simple wooden ones or look for different ones. I would prefer buye...
Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Plum Pudding Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Late 19th century Louis XVI style plum pudding mahogany writing desk, having rectangular top with an inset writing surface, gilt enbosset trim, over three drawers with gilt metal ban...
Category

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

Materials

Bronze

Eye Catching Black Laquer & Reddish Faux Tortoise Brass Inlaid Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Glamorous and unusual writing desk having an eye pleasing mix of black laquer with reddish faux tortoise decoration and beautiful brass inlay. Apron 26”
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Antique Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Writing desk from France in the Louis XVI style. This piece has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish. There are three dovetailed drawers all with brass original h...
Category

1890s 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 Louis XVI Style Writing Table or Desk with Leather Top by Maison Leger
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French writing table or desk of ormolu mounted walnut and mahogany, in the Louis XVI style, featuring an inset embossed leather top framed with an inlaid pattern of mahogany, with brass trim around the edge, with three drawers with brass hardware and escutcheons, finished inlaid back, and resting on tapering legs with decorative ormolu accents. The lockplate to the central drawer signed 'Mson Léger / 28, Place des Vosges, Paris' Dimensions are H 29.25 in x W 55 in x D 27.57 in Maison Léger (also known as Emile Léger...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique French Louis XVI Style Knee Hole Desk
Located in London, GB
An absolutely stunning antique French knee hole desk. This was made in France, it dates from around the 1930’s. It is a lovely petite size, and...
Category

1930s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Louis XVI Style Writing Table or Desk with Leather Top from France
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome French writing table or desk in the Louis XVI style, featuring a leather top inset into a moulded top over a frieze of three drawers, with paneled sides and brass accents,...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

Maison Forest Signed French Louis XVI Style Writing Table - Late 19th Century
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and very fine quality 19th century French bureau plat by renowned Parisian ébéniste Maison Forest. Maison Forest is one of the most famous french cabinetmakers of the 19th a...
Category

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

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century Louis XVI Style Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A lovely 19th century French leather-topped writing desk in warm-coloured walnut and veneer. Hand-crafted in the Louis XVI style, this charming desk has two lockable drawers complete...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

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

French Louis XVI Style 19th Century Walnut Desk with Cross-Banding and Marquetry
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Louis XVI style walnut desk from the 19th century with five drawers, cross-banded inlay, floral marquetry and tapered legs. This exquisite 19th-century Italian Louis XVI s...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

20th French Louis XV Style Walnut Desk or Library table with Drawer
Located in Miami, FL
This elegant fruitwood desk was created in France, circa 1920. Made of blond walnut timber, the large writing table sits on four legs The front has a wide opening with plenty of kne...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Louis XVI Cylinder Desk - Late 18th Century (AF5-002)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Age: 1750 - 1800 Furniture Style: Louis XVI (1770 - 1789) Overall Dimensions: 43"h x 48"w x 27"d Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Cylinder Desk. The domed front opening to the f...
Category

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

Materials

Fruitwood

Italian Louis XVI Style Desk with Painted Charcoal Top and Light Brown Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Louis XVI style painted desk from the 20th century with five drawers and tapered legs. This exquisite Italian Louis XVI style painted desk from the 20th century captures t...
Category

20th Century Italian Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Serpentine Desk Burr Walnut Ormolu Center Table Satinwood Cabriole Legs 19th C
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Desk Burr Walnut Ormolu Center Table Satinwood Serpentine Cabriole Legs 19th C A mid 19th century burr walnut rectangular double serpentine center table, the satinwood banded top an...
Category

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

Materials

Ormolu

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

19th Century French Louis XVI Kidney-Shaped Mahogany Leather Top Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Kidney-Shaped Mahogany Leather Top Desk is a stunning example of the refinement of Parisienne craftsmanship during the end of the 1800s. Using a combination of exotic imported mahogany, satinwood for inlaid French bordering, and olive wood for contrasting panels and enhancements, even stained walnut to simulate rosewood bordering! Enhancing the design even further are brass bale pulls with brass rosette guards, and brass tips on the eight legs with solid brass casters. Even the original green leather top still shows a gold embossed bordering around the edge, all combining to speak of the extraordinary attention to detail and craftsmanship that went in to this single piece of keepsake...
Category

1890s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Ebonized Center or Writing Table, Napoleon III Period
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

Fine Bronze Mounted Lion Head Mahogany French Louis XVI Style Desk Manner Linke
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular desk and features superb quality bronze and lion head pulls and ormolu. The desk has two sides and one side is faux and doesn't have drawers. Look for the keyho...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

1930’s French Ebonised Desk with Leather Top
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI style minister's desk in ebonized blackened wood with drawers and leather top from circa 1930’s. Good quality and elegant proportions in the Louis XVI style. Brass & gilde...
Category

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

Materials

Leather, Wood

Theodore Alexander French Regency Louis XVI Painted Walnut Writing Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Regency Louis XVI style bureau plat desk or writing desk By Theodore Alexander, "Ateliers de la Madeleine" Circa Late ...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI style ebonised writing desk
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Quality early 20th Century French Louis XVI style writing desk. Dating to around the 1930’s with original brass mounts and leather inserts and two pull out slides with original leath...
Category

1930s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique French Louis XVI Style Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Refined 19th century Louis XVI style desk featuring the original tooled leather top on a case with three drawers in the front and the reverse of the desk with false drawers, geometri...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Kidney Shaped Leather Top Desk
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique French kidney shaped leather top desk, dating from around the 1930’s period. It is of fabulous quality, with a solid birch construction and contrasting veneers of...
Category

1930s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

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

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

French Maison Jansen Attributed Louis XVI Style Ebonized Desk
Located in Houston, TX
French Maison Jansen Attributed Louis XVI Style Ebonized Desk. We offer a gorgeous antique French Louis XVI style ebonized desk or bureau plat with a red leather top embossed with g...
Category

1920s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Walnut Louis XVI Writing Desk
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Beautiful Patina. Condition commensurate with age. Gorgeous piece, see photos.
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

French Mid-20th Century Writing Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This beautiful table is made of lemon wood and inlay. It is very much quality.
Category

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

Materials

Fruitwood

18th Century French Boulle Louis XVI Style Mazarin
Located in Houston, TX
The 18th Century French Boulle Louis XVI Style Mazarin exudes timeless elegance and exquisite craftsmanship. Adorned with intricate detailing characterist...
Category

18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

Louis XVI writing desk with pull-out surface, featuring an inlaid compass rose
Located in Cesena, FC
Elegant Louis XVI writing desk with pull-out writing surface, inlaid on the top with a compass rose. Elegant writing desk with pull-out writing surface, inlaid on the top with a com...
Category

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

Materials

Leather, Maple

"Roller" desk Louis XVI from the late 1700s with floral inlays
Located in Cesena, FC
Emilian "roller" writing desk of great quality, the manufacture is along the lines of Rolo, late 1700s Louis XVI. Entirely veneered in walnut, with beautiful floral inlays, Bois de ...
Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Early 19th Century Louis XVI Style Large Mahogany Desk with Green Leather Top
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this Louis XVI style mahogany desk dates from the 1830s. Generously sized at over five feet wide, this desk is finished on both sides and can float in a room. Front ...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Antique Louis XVI Style Mahogany and Ormolu Bonheur du Jour by Winckelsen
Located in London, GB
Antique Louis XVI style mahogany and ormolu bonheur du jour by Winckelsen French, 1864 Height 105cm, width 73cm, depth 42cm Charles-Guillaume Winckelsen (French, 1812-1871) is the c...
Category

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

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Painted Writing Table
Located in Houston, US
Decoratively painted Victorian age parlor table in Louis XVI style. Quality construction and painted in cream with a Neoclassic motif painted on center top. Table can be used as a de...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Louis XVI Escritoire Writing Desk
Located in North York, ON
Introducing the epitome of elegance and sophistication - the Antique French Louis XVI Escritoire Writing Desk. This exquisite piece, made in France circa 1940’s, exudes timeless char...
Category

1940s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

18th Century Louis XVI desk with sheath legs.
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Beautifully scaled mahogany and mahogany veneer bureau plat from the Louis XVI period Double-sided decoration, with lateral pulls., resting on elegant tapered legs, with brass beading and feet (original) Decoration of fine brass fillets and a brass molding surrounding the drawers . Large box drawer...
Category

1790s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany, Ormolu and marble desk/table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most decorative French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Gris St. Anne marble center table/desk, attributed to François Linke. This wonderful single dra...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

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.

Recently Viewed

View All