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Louis XVI Desks

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 Louis XVI Style Mahogany Secretary Desk w/ Brass Accents
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Mahogany, Brass Accents, Original Green Felt Dimensions: 47.50”H x 32.50”W x 19.25”D Table Height 28.25 This elegant French Louis ...
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1920s American Vintage Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique French Louis XVI Style Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
A refined late 19th century French Louis XVI style walnut writing table, sourced in Provence. The rectangular top with demi-lune ends is finished with a carved leaf-and-dart border, ...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Louis XVI Style Leather Top Desk or Bureau Plat
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout antique Louis XVI style desk crafted in walnut and mahogany featuring a banded leather top on a case with two drawers decorated with gilt brass ormolu and inlaid floral desi...
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20th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Antique French Louis XVI Style Drop-Down Desk Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition, Missing 2 Pulls On Bottom Drawer Materials: Mahogany, Missing 2 Pulls On Bottom Drawer
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1920s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Mahogany

François Linke French Louis XVI Ormolu Kingwood Bureau Plat Desk, c.1889
Located in King s Lynn, GB
A rare early François Linke bureau plat (c.1889, a masterwork of the Belle Époque by France’s most celebrated ébéniste. Originally from the Estelle D...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

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...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Carrara Marble

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...
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21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Wood

French Mahogany Desk
French Mahogany Desk
$11,247 / item
Large Louis XVI Style French Mahogany Cylindrical Bureau, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Louis XVI Style Cylindrical Bureau with slides, leather writing surface, fitted interior and marble top.
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble

Antique Louis XVI Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 18th century French desk handcrafted in mahogany and featuring a tooled leather top, chevron style inlays all around, five drawers in front and faux drawers on the reverse, ...
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18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Bureau Plat, 19th Cenury
Located in Spencertown, NY
The rectangular desk with Greek key tooled black leather top, with 3 drawers below and tapering legs and gilt bronze sabots and casters.
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

French Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant / Secretary desk, circa 1800
Located in Lucenec, SK
The secrétaire à abbatant or fall front desk is nearly identical to the desk 5th President James Monroe brought back from France in 1797. These desks are ...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Style Cylinder Desk
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis XVI style mahogany cylinder desk with bronze mounts and a marble top, circa 1920. This desk has a nice quality bronze mounts, a Fine quality marble top, tambour cylinder and a ...
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1920s European Vintage Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Vintage Solid Mahogany Writing Desk with Leather Top and Brass Hardware
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This French-made writing desk is executed in solid mahogany wood and designed in the Louis XVI–style Neoclassical tradition, offering a refined balance of classical structure and cle...
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1940s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

19th Century Vernis Martin French Secretaire Cabinet Attributed To Paul Sormani
Located in Dublin, IE
A superb late 19th century French flamed mahogany and Vernis Martin secretaire cabinet in the manner of Paul Sormani Paris. The rectangular top with three quarter balustrade gallery,...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

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...
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19th Century Belgian Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Oak, Wood

French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI, Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Centre Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French 19th-20th century Louis XVI. Mahogany and gilt-bronze mounted centre - Writing table with tooled leather top, Paris, circa 1900. Measures: Height 29 1/2 inches (74.9 cm) ...
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Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

French Louis XVI Style Marquetry Writing Desk/ Bonheur du Jour
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Louis XVI Style Marquetry Writing Desk / Bonheur du Jour—Circa 1900s This exquisite French Louis XVI-style bonheur du jour is a marquetry-inlaid writing desk, crafted in Fran...
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Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

French Provincial Louis XV Painted Desk Attributed to John Widdicomb, Circa 1960
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk Attributed to John Widdicomb USA, Circa 1960s Solid cherry wood, with original cream and pink painted finish, and origina...
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1960s American Vintage Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Louis XV Ormolu Marquetry Bonheur Du Jour Desk Roger Vandercruse 1780
Located in Portland, OR
Antique French Louis XV transitional ormolu-mounted tulipwood & marquetry Bonheur Du Jour, Roger Vandercruse (dit Lacroix) , circa 1770. The desk is finely inlaid on all sides, ther...
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1770s French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th century Louis XV/XVI st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and marble desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most elegant French 19th century Louis XV/XVI st. Mahogany, Ormolu, and Fleur de Pêcher marble desk. This impressive rectangular desk is raised on four cabriole Mahoga...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Louis XVI Style Cylinder Bureau, By François Linke
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Rare Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Mahogany Cylinder Bureau. By François Linke, Paris. Index Number 100. France, Circa 1890. The top with three quarter pierced gallery. The cylinder front centred by a gilt-bronze foliate framed oval decorated with floral marquetry and a harp and books representing lyric poetry. Flanked by twin-light gilt-bronze candelabra. The roll-top enclosing an arrangement of four small drawers and five small compartments above a gilt-tooled green leather writing surface. The frieze fronted by a central drawer with spring-loaded secret release and faced with a relief-cast plaque of cloudborne putti representing the arts. The flanking drawers with gilt-bronze acanthus cast handles and fruiting cornucopia...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

18th Century Louis XVI Period Fall Front Desk
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...
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18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

French Tortoise Wood Louis XVI Style Maison Jansen Partners Desk or Bureau Plat
Located in Manhasset, NY
Tortoise wood Louis XVI style Maison Jansen partners desk or bureau plat. The finest of quality and gilt metal bronze mounts are seen on this stunning monumental partners desk...
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Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Wood

Mid 18th Century French Louis XVI Period Tulipwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 18th century Louis XVI period tulipwood and ormolu bureau plat desk. The three drawer desk is raised by four fine square tapered legs with beautifu...
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18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

Louis XVI Style Brass Mounted Marble Top Cylinder Desk
Located in Milford, NH
A splendid Louis XVI style brass mahogany cylinder desk with brass mounted marble top gallery over three fitted drawers surmounting a cylinder case with compartmentalized interior, i...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble, Brass

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...
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2010s French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Wood, Cherry, Oak

Rolltop Desk after Jean-Henri Riesener Attributed to Maison Beurdeley
Located in Paris, FR
Remarkable Louis XVI style rolltop writing desk with marquetry latticework pattern. The front of the desk features six drawers. The rolling cover is embellished with a beautiful marquetry medallion surrounded by ormolu garlands. It opens to reveal six small drawers and an extendible writing surface covered with brown leather and framed with gold-colored motifs. The central drawer under the cover has a secret opening underneath, that can be opened by pressing a button. The top of the desk is bordered with an openwork frame. The sculpted, gilt bronze ornamentation features a bas-relief frieze of cupids playing and an allegory of Sculpture. The desk is set on four tapered legs. Attributed to Beurdeley, one of the most important dynasties of furniture makers in the 19th century (1818-1895), particularly famous for the quality of their gilded bronze frames and the choice of precious materials for the ornamentation of their furniture and objets d'art. This piece was created in the 19th century after a rolltop desk delivered on December 21, 1784 by Jean Henri Reisener...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

19thc French Louis XVI Style Bureau Plat Desk with Ormolu in Diminutive Size
Located in Savannah, GA
Handsome diminutive size French Louis XVI lady's writing table constructed of mahogany and featuring a black leather top with gold Greek key border, foliate bronze ormolu mounts and ...
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1880s French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Louis XVI Mahogany Ormolu Marble Top Ladies Desk C1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Louis XVI Mahogany & Ormolu Marble Top Ladies Desk with Faux Book Front C1920. Measures ...
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20th Century Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

French Louis XVI Style Roll Top Desk in Mahogany and Gilt Bronze
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An imposing Louis XVI style roll top desk in beautifully figured mahogany and having finely chased and gilded bronze mounts; the green marble top with a bronze gallery above three lo...
Category

1880s French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique French Parquetry and Bronze Cartonnier Writing Desk with Clock
Located in London, GB
Cartonnier in the Louis XVI Manner after the Original by Simon Oeben Constructed in kingwood and having extensive parquetry inlay, with well cast and extensive fire gilt bronze enhancements. The writing section of oblong form with re-entrant corners, housing three frieze drawers and with a tooled brown leather top; the shouldered tapering legs dressed with imbricated bronze mounts: lions masks at the ends: the frame having a guard bronze rail...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Style Leather Top Ormolu Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Chicago, US
Bureau Plat desk in the style of Louis XVI. Original inset brown leather writing surface with bronze trim and gold embossing detail at center and corners of the top. Three drawers wi...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

French Louis XVI Style Diminutive Ebonized Writing Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic French diminutive ladies writing table or desk featuring a black lacquer ebonized finish. Made in the neoclassical Louis XVI taste with a simple clean design and minimal dec...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Bureau Plat with Ormolu Bronze Mounts
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This elegant Louis XVI-style bureau plat, crafted from rich mahogany wood and adorned with exquisite ormolu bronze mounts, epitomizes classic French sophistication. The desk features...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany and Ormolu Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A superb and unique French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany and ormolu desk. The desk is raised on tapered fluted legs with ormolu chandelles and topie feet with ormolu sabots. At the impressive apron is a single drawer which has a secret mechanism...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Cylinder Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A palatial scale mahogany cylinder desk in the Louis XVI style; the superstructure with rectangular galleried bleu turquin marble top over four frieze drawers, the paneled cylinder f...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Cylinder Secretary Desk in Lucite Late 1980s Style Louis XVI
By Comatec
Located in Brussels, BE
Amazing very rare limited edition cylinder secretary desk in Lucite late 1980s This is the best secretary kept in town: A fine art, exquisite...
Category

1980s Vintage Louis XVI Desks

19th Century French Writing Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French Louis XVI style bureau plat, having an inset leather top, gilded ormolu mounts, a single frieze drawer, raised...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century French Writing Table
19th Century French Writing Table
$6,339 Sale Price
20% Off
Vicenza Direttorio desk - very early nineteenth century
Located in Vicenza, IT
Elegant Veneto desk from the Vicenza area, datable to the very early nineteenth century, at the height of the Directory period. The cabinet is distinguished by its linearity of form,...
Category

Early 19th Century European Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Wood

French Louis XVI Mahogany and Marble Roll Top Desk
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style mahogany roll top desk with rectangular gallery marble top resting above 3 keyed drawers. The roll top reveals a gilt embossed leather desk top, under 3 brass ...
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20th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble

Antique French Louis XVI Style Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 19th century French partners desk with a tooled red leather top over a case crafted in mahogany with four drawers on either side decora...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Louis XVI Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This magnificent French Louis XVI Desk is made of marquetry of rosewood and leather top. It has 2 extensions on each side of the desk and each extension is 10”W.
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Rosewood

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...
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Early 1900s French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

A Fine French 1940s Louis XVI Style Cherrywood Desk
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine French Neoclassical cherry writing table in the style of Louis XVI with one drawer, bronze pull and sabots, and a leather top.
Category

1940s French Vintage Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

Fine Italian 18th Century Ormolu-Mounted Parquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Rome, IT
Very fine Italian 18' century ormolu-mounted Parquetry Secretaire a Abattant with a dark Grey marble top. Measures: cm. 170 x 105 x 46.
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18th Century Italian Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Wood

19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XVI secretary is a truly astonishing work of the cabinetmaker's art! Hand-crafted from solid old-growth in...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Oak

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...
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Early 20th Century Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Secrétaire à abattant d époque French Louis XVI Style Secretary c. Late 19th C.
Located in Westfield, MA
This Secrétaire à Abattant, crafted in the French Louis XVI style in the late 19th century, remains a striking example of neoclassical elegance and masterful craftsmanship. The rich ...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Inlaid Ladies Desk with Vitrine
Located in Sofia, BG
This is a beautiful French antique mahogany inlaid ladies writing desk, circa 1870 in date. The fall front opens to reveal an interior of writing surface, and bank of two drawers. Th...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Mahogany

French Louis XVI Style Parquetry Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A high-quality French Louis XVI style desk with geometric parquetry in mahogany with gilt-bronze mounts, including swags at the corners. The desk has three drawers with working locks...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

French Neoclassical Louis XVI Style Maple Writing Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
A French Louis XVI style bureau plat, crafted from solid maple and sourced in Provence, France. The rectangular top is framed with a molded and beveled edge and refinished to a rich ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Late 19th Century French Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th century French bureau De-Dame, having wonderful marquetry floral inlay to the fall and top, opening to reveal a shelf, drawer...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI Style Mahogany Writing Desk Book Detail / Pull-Out Writing Surface
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Writing Desk Book Detail / Pull-Out Writing Surface Beautiful piece purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questi...
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18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble

18th Century Dutch Satinwood Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An 18th century Dutch satinwood abbatant or drop front desk, with gilded beading and inlaid brass stringing. The case also has various exotic woods inlaid into the satinwood. There i...
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Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Satinwood

Antique desk with lion s paws, France, mid-19th century. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique desk from around 1850, France. This piece of furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: height 78 cm / width 143 cm / depth 70 cm, chai...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Oak

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany And Ormolu Mounted Partners Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. mahogany and ormolu mounted partners desk signed by Victor Raulin. The desk is raised by circular tapered fluted legs...
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19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

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...
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1780s German Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Cherry

Louis XVI Style Middle Flat Desk
Located in Beaune, FR
Middle flat desk in mahogany and gilded bronze in Louis XVI style composed of 3 drawers on one side and 3 false drawers on the other. On both sides, there is a zipper to enlarge the ...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Bronze

French Original Black Painted Portable 18th Century Writing Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An original black painted portable desk from the end of the 18th century. With owner initials, the desk has a French hand-written address on the inside. ...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Wood

Louis XVI Style Mahogany Leather Top Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
Mahogany and mahogany veneer rectangular flat desk opening to three drawers in front. Tapered legs chamfered on the corners. Finely chased and gilded bronze ornaments with rows of pe...
Category

19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Louis Xvi desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XVI desks 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 created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XVI desks 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, popular names associated with this style include John Vesey, Antoine Krieger, Comatec, and Conrad Mauter. 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 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 $192,403 while the average work can sell for $9,500.