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.
to
19
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
125
71
197
5
1,613
657
345
332
325
216
202
191
144
110
99
93
80
54
53
26
23
7
35
104
58
5
30
16
4
6
5
4
4
3
1
2
1
2
195
125
66
55
54
183
164
10
4
4
202
200
201
3
1
1
1
1
Style: Louis XVI
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany Lady’s Cylinder Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Mahogany, brass, ormolu, and Sarrancolin marble cylinder desk. The desk is raised by slender circular tapered fluted legs with beauti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
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
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
"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
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
$8,997 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
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
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Greek Key Display Console
Located in North York, ON
Stunning Louis XVI style display table. Decorated with a Greek key motif around the sides. Three drop doors across the front provide access to the display area. Original glass top, t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
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
Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted bureau plat, with a Breche d'Alep marble top.
The bureau plat having a rectangular breche d'Alep marble top above a frieze fitted with three ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
18th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Writing Table or Desk, Circa 1780
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Louis XVI carved walnut writing table with a tooled inset brown leather top, standing on elegant cabriole legs ending on cloven hoof feet. Having single center drawer with a decora...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
$2,890 Sale Price
31% Off
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
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XVI style gilt bronze and Jasperware mounted mahogany Bureau plat.
Stamped 'FOURNIER' to the reverse of the bronze mount to the drawer apron. .
This fine bureau plat or...
Category
1870s 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
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
Desk in Wood, 1900, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk.
The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinction.
You want to live in the golden yea...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
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
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
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 Tulipwood Leather Top Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive late 18th century French writing desk with a tooled black leather top, probably original, on a case with three drawers in f...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Tulipwood
Antique French Louis XVI Style Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Refined antique French Louis XVI style writing desk crafted in exotic tulipwood veneer with crossbanding and chevron designs, having a tooled leather top with a brass gallery, the ca...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
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.