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
Louis XVI walnut Desk
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely Louis XVI style desk in rosewood from the 19th century.
The desk is decorated with a superb marquetry on its drawers decorated with flowers.
Its two sides as well as its back ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Green Satinwood Marquetry Table with Leather Top
Located in London, GB
Constructed in satinwood, with extensive usage of green stained sycamore, harewood, bois Violette, and well cut floral marquetry, the freestanding table rises from bronze capped cylindrical tapered legs, with vertical inlays; the apron, with a running motif of inlaid circles, containing a single mahogany lined single drawer with further bronze highlight: the top is of oblong form with bowed ends, enclosing a tooled hide, with floral marquetry end panels, enclosed by a bronze angle...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Satinwood, Sycamore
French Louis XVI Black Leather Top Bureau Plat Desk by Simon Loscertales Bona
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Louis Style XVI black leather top bureau plat desk by Simon Loscertales Bona. Item features black tooled leather top, bronze ormolu, bron...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Kingwood, Mahogany
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Writing Table, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French Louis XVI style mahogany bureau plat. Having an inset leather top, gilded ormolu mouldings and scrolling foliate mounts to the frieze, two fri...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
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
French 18th Century Table With Fluted Apron And Legs
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French 18th Century table with fluted apron and legs
This 18th century table has a fluted apron and legs. One leg is slightly crooked but very charming.
...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
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
Magnificent 19th century French Louis XVI bureau plat retailed by Rinck Paris
By Rinck
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine late 19th century French mahogany and gilt bronze mounted bureau plat. Original leather top. Magnificent quality gilt bronze mounts. Retailed and stamped by Rinck 115 FRG St Antoine...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Monumental Inlaid French Bronze Mounted Louis XVI Cylinder Desk Circa 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Let me make this very clear, this desk is a BEAST to move. The desk has a grand piano-like presence to it and is absolutely magnificent in terms of the quality of teh bronze ormolu w...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
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
20th Two sides French Louis XV Style Carved Walnut Desk with Three Drawers
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 carved legs with two iron stretchers. The front has a...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany and Ormolu Mounted Desk by Grimard
By G. Grimard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XVI style mahogany and ormolu-mounted writing table by G. Grimard "Meubles d'Art" 5 rue de Charonne, Paris. After a model by Adam Weisweiler (Fr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
18th century Louis XVI Writing Desk, cherry veneer, South Germany
Located in Belmont, MA
Rare Louis XVI writing desk, South German 1780, exquisite cherry and plum wood veneer on front back, sides and top. The writing top is framed by...
Category
1780s German Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
Fine C19TH French Kingwood & Marquetry Bureau Plat /Writing Table
By Jean-François Oeben
Located in Dereham, GB
Fine C19TH French Burr Walnut & Marquetry Bureau Plat /Writing Table
Black Leather inset top, gold tooling decoration,
with Walnut cross banding. thumb mould edge.
Shaped Burr Waln...
Category
1870s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
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 Country Side Writing Table
Located in Madrid, ES
A nice French country writing table, Louis XVI period, in solid oak, with a long drawer and drawer handle in bronze, the legs finished in sabot.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Writing Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality, impressive 18th century style Kingwood Bureau plat, in the manner of Zweiner. Having an inset green leather writing surface with gilt tooling. gilded ormolu moul...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French Louis XVI Style Kingwood Demilune Desk
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI style (18/19th Century) kingwood demilune shaped desk with bronze dore trim and gallery with leather top.
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Double-Faced Writing Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Louis XVI walnutdouble-faced writing table will make the perfect addition to any well-appointed room! Ideal as an end table, a center table, or a library table as...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French Louis XVI Style Kingwood Parquetry & Ormolu Mounted Ladies Writing Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th-20th century louis XVI style kingwood parquetry and ormolu-mounted ladies writing table, the body surrounded by bronze moldings. The apron repeats the parquet...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
18th Century, French Wood Centre Desk
Located in IT
18th century, French wood centre desk
Measurements: cm W 95 x D 63,5 x H 71,5 (maximum leg H 57,5)
The elegant centre desk was built in northern France...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Satinwood
French Louis XVI Style Side Table or Writing Table, Entretoise Legs
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French Louis XVI style side table or writing table, Entretoise legs.
Lovely model decorated with musical instruments, scrolls, ribbons and feathers in the classical Louis XVI vernac...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
"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
20th Century imperial Bureau Plat / Desk in the Style of Louis XVI
Located in Berlin, DE
Exotic veneer on solid oak and wood. Extremely finely chased and rich bronze applications. Rectangular body. A hand painted picture badge on the front and side view. Gilded bronze de...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
19th Century Belgian Notary Desk Made of Oak
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Original notary desk or writing furniture from the 19th century in Belgium. Made of solid oak.
Standing on lion feet, 2 firmly connected base cabinets, ea...
Category
19th Century Belgian Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Wood
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany Side Table/Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A lovely French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany side table/desk. The kidney shaped Table à Écrire is raised by elegantly curved supports connected with a fine stretcher below the...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century, France Bureau Plat in the antique Louis Quinze Style Exotic Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Light and dark exotic veneer, on the four-sided passively curved zest base on high, elegantly curved squares. Slightly overlaid tabletop with profiled decorated bronze lining and gold-embossed leather insert. Decorative perforated rocaille appliqués and decorative moldings...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Fine marquetry bureau plat, after Edward Holmes Baldock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 19th Century English Victorian marquetry inlaid bureau plat in the French style. Having wonderful scenes of garlands of flowers and ribbons to the top and frieze. Thre...
Category
19th Century English Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Desk, Signed 'Escalier de Cristal, Paris'
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. tulipwood, kingwood and ormolu desk, signed 'Escalier de Cristal, Paris, circa 1880. The desk is raised by four square tapered legs w...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Walnut and Marquetry Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
This elegant writing desk was created in France in the late 18th century, during the reign of King Louis XVI (1774-1792). The desk is designed in a refined neoclassical style which w...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Fine Louis XVI Mahogany Leather-Top Table Attributed to Canabas
By Joseph Canabas
Located in Sheffield, MA
A Fine Louis XVI Mahogany
Leather Top Table
Attributed to Canabas
Joseph Canabas maitre 1766
Height 28 in. Width 27 in. Depth 17 in.
Tab84
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
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.