Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE
Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
to
16
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
56
29
76
13
1,521
655
356
317
316
218
210
193
151
116
100
89
71
56
48
22
21
8
10
39
27
13
6
9
3
1
1
2
1
81
39
22
20
19
58
20
19
18
16
89
83
85
4
3
3
3
2
Style: Neoclassical
Antique French Gilt Bronze-Mounted Mahogany Side Table
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in London, GB
The beautiful neoclassical style designs of Jean-Henri Riesener (1735-1806), perhaps the most celebrated cabinetmaker of all time, are the inspiration for this wonderful antique side...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
$9,048 Sale Price
30% Off
Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry Roll-Top Desk Attributed to P. Bernard
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in London, GB
After the model by Jean-Henri Riesener (French, 1734-1806).
Of the Napoleon III period, in the Louis XVI style, with fruitwood and ebony inlaid in bois de citronnier, mahogany and amaranth, with a three-quarter galleried rectangular top above a roll-top, opening to reveal a leather-lined writing slide with four short drawers and five pigeon holes, the frieze centred by a push button drawer...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
$42,861 Sale Price
30% Off
Bureau or Desk, Rosewood, Wood, Metal, Jeanselme Fils Godin et Cie, 19th Century
By Jeanselme Pere
Fils
Located in Madrid, ES
Bureau or desk. Rosewood, wood, metal. Jeanselme Fils Godin et Cie, Paris, France, 19th century.
Stamped (signed).
Cover sample desk designed perhaps to go near a wall that has two...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Louis XVI Style French Marquetry Roll Top Bureau De Damme
Located in London, by appointment only
A fine 19th century roll top bureau de damme in the Louis XVI style, with fine veneers and panels of floral and musical inspired marquetry, the superst...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique English Gilt Bronze and Marquetry Desk by Donald Ross
Located in London, GB
Antique English gilt bronze and marquetry desk by Donald Ross
English, c. 1890
Measures: Height 75cm, width 108cm, depth 63cm
This elegant mahogany writing desk by Donald Ross f...
Category
1890s English Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
$30,479 Sale Price
30% Off
Neoclassical Style Mahogany Card, Dressing, and Writing Table
Located in London, GB
Neoclassical style mahogany card, dressing, and writing table
French, 19th century
Measures: Height 75cm, width 70cm, depth 45cm
This charming table is an ingenious piece of des...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$8,096 Sale Price
30% Off
French 19th Century Mahogany Travel Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
French 19th century mahogany travel writing desk
French, 19th century
Measures: Height 94cm, width 53cm, depth 18cm
This fine and delicate des...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
$5,238 Sale Price
30% Off
Fine Antique Walnut Leather Top Neoclassical Style Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A leather top Neoclassical style desk on four turned, tapered and fluted legs with case having central drawer, flanked by a drawer on the right and two on the left. The sides of the ...
Category
19th Century Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Neoclassical style chrome and brass desk. Italian work. Circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and chic neoclassical style desk is made of chrome and brass. The desk has fluted legs and brass crosses decorated the piece all around the top part. This is an Italia...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Chrome
$3,611 Sale Price
20% Off
Long Foldable Schoolhouse Table
Located in New York, NY
This long schoolhouse table was sourced in New England. It features a gentle slant for writing and is presented with a long glass shelf that was customized for extra storage. Made fr...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century Neoclassic Austrian Square Table Solid Walnut Restored Wax Polished
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid-1800 neoclassic Austrian square table in solid walnut restored and polished to wax
Measures cm: H 80, W 100, D 90
Suitable for furnishing any room in your home, kitchen, di...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Gustavian Neoclassical Mahogany Writing Chest / Bureau on High Stand, 1800s
Located in Lucenec, SK
Swedish Gustavian mahogany writing cabinet. The writing part is covered with a black patent leather, with visible traces of use. The inner drawers have bone handles. The upper part i...
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$6,271 Sale Price
40% Off
Russian Walnut Marquetry Kidney Desk
Located in Queens, NY
Russian style (18/19th Century) walnut kidney shaped desk with marquetry inlay and open design pedestal sides with a stretcher and drawer.
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Custom Made Metal Vanity or Desk by BH&A
Located in Sheffield, MA
Custom made and designed by us. this versatile modern and traditional styled piece can be used as end table, vanity, desk or dressing table. Table has distressed metal top insert and a drawer. Matching vanity stool available. Can work well in neoclassica, Hollywood Regency, neoclassical revival or modern setting. Size and finish to your specifications.
Check with us for quote for other top inserts.
Matching custom vanity stool...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Wood Console with Solid Top and Shaped Cylindrical Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Warren console shown is with solid wood top and shaped base - and can be utilized as a desk during these work at home times. All hand carved and finished in our shop in Brooklyn....
Category
2010s American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Neoclassical Console Table Exilis Hand Carved Handmade Portugal
By Greenapple, GF Modern
Located in Lisboa, PT
Console Exilis Neoclassical collection, handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern.
A French Neoclassical Style console table, Hand Carved in Linden Wood.
An exclusive and sumpt...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Onyx, Silver Leaf
Russian Neoclassic Mahogany Writing Table
By Ptorngren
Located in Queens, NY
Russian Neoclassic (circa 1800) brass mounted mahogany writing table with green leather inset top above 3 frieze drawers, locks stamped "Ptorngren" or "PTGF".
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Wood Console Table with Solid Top and Round Base with Posts
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Tilden console shows form and function at it's best. A solid wood top with solid wood side opposite to a cylindrical base with posts - all carefully crafted and finished in New Y...
Category
2010s American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Antique Parquetry, Ormolu and Leather Bureau Plat by Ross
By Donald Ross
Located in London, GB
Antique parquetry, ormolu and leather bureau plat by Ross
English, 19th Century
Height 76cm, width 120cm, depth 69cm
Made by the renowned English furniture maker Donald Ross, this desk is a demonstration of some of his finest work.
The desk is decorated with the iconic dotted parquetry trellis, and the centre is inset with a brown leather panel. Gold, debossed detailing adorns the border of the leather panel, its soft texture providing a smooth surface on which to write. An ormolu border frames the desk table top, the four edges mounted with motifs of male bearded masks among acanthus leaves.
Below are two lockable drawers, each one decorated in a similar manner to the desk table top. The pair of storage compartments are separated by a central ormolu mount cast in the form of flowing acanthus leaves and foliage garlands.
Four tapering legs support the desk, each one terminating in socket castors marked ‘JC’. Ross’ masterpiece is also labelled with a brass label ‘KG 8913’.
In the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is a bedside table by Donald Ross of a very similar design to the desk in Mayfair Gallery...
Category
19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
$26,669 Sale Price
30% Off
French Neoclassical Parma Console Table Hand Carved Handmade Portugal Greenapple
By Greenapple, GF Modern
Located in Lisboa, PT
Neoclassical Parma Console Table, Neoclassical collection, handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern.
A French Neoclassical style console ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Carrara Marble, Onyx, Quartz, Travertine
Russian Neoclassic Mahogany Lyre Writing Table
Located in Queens, NY
Russian Neoclassic (18/19th Century) brass mounted mahogany writing table with oval top above a frieze drawer on lyre trestle supports joined by a stretcher.
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Italian Parquetry Inlaid Writing Table Desk, 18th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
An exceptional parquetry inlaid writing table with Neoclassical designs, inlay with satinwood, black walnut, and fruitwood. Having a single center drawer, and supported on tapering l...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood, Satinwood, Walnut
Austrian Neoclassic Parquetry Pedestal Desk
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top over a long drawer flanked by small drawers over pedestals each with two drawers. Bracket feet. Finished all around in a design of inlay that gives a striped effect.
Category
Late 18th Century Austrian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Italian Neoclassical Writing Table, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Fine quality 19th century Italian writing table of elegant proportions with amazing neoclassical details. A near-square burled walnut top is the perfect work surface and has a beauti...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Small Neoclassical Desk, Northern Germany, 1810-20
Located in Leimen, DE
Refined Neoclassical Desk or Antique Side Table, Circa 1810
This elegant Neoclassical desk or side table dates back to circa 1810 and showcases the timeless beauty of early 19th-cent...
Category
1810s German Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Mixed Woods Marquetry Inlaid Writing Table, Northern Italian, Late 18th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fine Magilini style walnut and intricately inlaid fruitwood, walnut, black walnut, satinwood and rosewood center or writing table with one drawer on elegant tapering legs. Beautiful ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Neoclassical Marquetry Bureau De Dame in the Style of Giuseppe Maggiolini, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Italian Neoclassical style freestanding slant front desk, in the manner of Giuseppe Maggiolini, late 19th c. Exquisite marquetry veneer in rosewood, satinwood and other decorative woods. The rectangular top with inlaid marquetry foliate sits above a sloping fall front centered by a foliate cartouche and corner cartouches, the kneehole. Open to reveal a nicely fitted interior with an arrangement of open compartments flanked by two short drawers and an inlaid hinged writing surface. Below this there are two large graduated drawers. Side panels inlaid with conforming scrollwork all rising on four elegant squared tapering legs finished with the original brass castor cups.
The shape and the inlaid designs are similar to those on pieces of furniture produced by Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814), the foremost cabinet-maker in late 18th-century Milan. Maggiolini and his workshop specialized in marquetry scenes inspired by antiquity, based on drawings by late 18th-century artists and designers such as Andrea...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Table for Spanish Desk, Pine and Beech Tree Wood, Iron, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Bargueñera table with spiral leg. Pine and beech wood, iron. Century XVIII.
Rectangular board table made of pine wood and turned beech wood legs in the shape of spiral columns, whi...
Category
18th Century Spanish Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Other, Iron
Italian Venetian 18th Century Lady
s Desk, Circa 1770
Located in CH
Italian Venetian Lady’s Desk
Neoclassical, Circa 1770
An Italian Neoclassical Venetian lady’s desk, dating to around 1770, elegantly finished on all four sides for placement at the ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Neoclassical desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical 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, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States 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 Donald Ross, GF Modern, Greenapple, and John Vesey. 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 $674 and tops out at $138,000 while the average work can sell for $5,693.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Host Station
Indian Rosewood Desk
Italian Drafting Table
Jacob Kjaer Desk
Jacobean Library Table
Jacobean Style Desk
Jean Prouve Compass Desk
Koa Desk
Library Table Scotland
Locust Desk
Louis French Tables Fluted
Louis Xv Bombe Desk
Mid Century Lane Acclaim Desk
Milanese Desk
Military Folding Table
Milo Baughman Burl Desk
Milo Baughman Campaign Desk
Neoclassical Bureau Plat