Louis XVI Secretaires
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
Antique Rosewood Secretary Dresser Desk
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Rectangular Secrétaire in rosewood in frames of rosewood.
It opens with a drawer in the upper part and a flap discovering two drawers,
Feet with cut sides.
In the lower part ornamen...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Lovely Mixed Wood Inlay French Secretary
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Exceptional classic French secretary having stunning floral inlay on all sides with a variety of different color woods. The interior features 6 drawers, an open shelf, and addition...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Satinwood
Scandinavian 18th Century Mahogany Secretary Bureau Cabinet
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Impressive Louis XVI style bureau secretary with quality rich in age, charm, and character with its elegant design. This secretary has two secret drawers features parquerty design, g...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Late 18th Century Neoclassical Rolltop Bureau, Germany
Located in Greding, DE
An elegant Louis XVI, Zopfstil, roll-top secretary desk, crafted in the late 18th century. The piece features a three-drawer base and a three-door upper section with a projecting cen...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
c1900 French Antique Louis XVI Style Burl Wood Secretary/ Desk - Petite Size
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1900 French Antique Louis XVI style Petite Secretary/ Desk. Louis XVI style and made from Exotic Burl Wood. Upper cabinet book storage/ display. Dr...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Burl
Louis XVI Secretary Desk, South German 1770-80, walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Louis XVI Secretary Desk South Germany, 1770-80
Discover a stunning Louis XVI secretary desk from South Germany (circa 1770-1780), a true masterpiece of late Baroque and ...
Category
1770s German Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet.
The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Style Cylinder Secretary In Marquetry And Gilt Bronze
Located in BARSAC, FR
Very elegant Louis XVI style cylinder secretary in mahogany and light wood marquetry with floral basket decorations on the front of the cylinder and floral arrangements on the sides ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Commode Secretary with Bronze
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century French Louis XVI style commode secretary features fluted bronze columns at the corners with striated bronze plaques above and below. Additional bronze ban...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Walnut Fall Front Desk / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This Louis XVI walnut slant-front secretary desk is a fine example of 18th-century French craftsmanship and sophistication, ideal for collectors and interior enthusiasts seeking time...
Category
18th Century German Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Spruce, Walnut
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 ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Ormolu-Mounted Marqueterie Secretaire Abattant, Cabinet, 1775
Located in Rome, IT
Important French ormolu-mounted, kingwood, tulipwood and stained sycamore marqueterie and parquetry secretaire abattant with rectangular moulded white marble top, above a frieze draw...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louis XVI Secretary with Cylinder Top & Tambour Front Northern Europe circa 1800
Located in Miami, FL
A Louis XVI secretary desk in mahogany with satinwood inlays. Offers a cylinder top that opens to reveal a series of small drawers surrounding...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany, Satinwood
Louis XVI Fall Top Desk
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI fall top desk, made in the Strassburg region, (France) in the 18th century. Stunning walnut root veneer with carved sunflower details on the co...
Category
1780s French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Secretary Desk, France, 1780-1800
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Louis XVI Secretary Desk – France, c. 1780-1800
This stunning Louis XVI secretary desk, crafted in France between 1780 and 1800, is a masterpiece of 18th-century craftsman...
Category
1780s French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Rosewood
Antique French Louis XVI Secretary Desk Chest Mahogany, Carrara Marble & Bronze
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Antique French Louis XVI mahogany secretary chest of drawers topped with a white Carrara marble, fluted legs finished with golden bronze clogs and thorough dressed in bronze and bras...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Pair of Antique Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu Mounted Secretaires
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique Sèvres style porcelain and ormolu mounted secretaires
French,19th Century
Height 126cm, width 55cm, depth 33cm
This stunning pair of 19th century French secretai...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Louis XVI Country French Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Louis XVI Country French Secretary Desk is the epitome of efficiency with style! Artfully hand-crafted from dense, old-growth oak, it features a slant front design wher...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Ebonized & Inlay Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Louis XVI style drop front secretary from the 1800’s has impressive etched brass inlay on its facade. The top has its repaired original inset white marble top surrounded ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Louis XVI Inlaid Rosewood Secretaire Abattant Desk Dresser, 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A good quality antique French inlaid marquetry Rosewood secretaire abattant, circa 1880.
Made from the finest rosewood and of serpentine or bombe shape, with a Carrara marble top, th...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century George III Style Mahogany Bureau Secretary Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a sophisticated and stately Danish secretary bookcase. The partially pierced cornice and a secondary tiered; a shaped cornice over tw...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Louis XVI Ebonized Secretaire a Abattant c. 1790-1800
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very good example of a late 18th century Louis XVI Secretaire a Abattant. The secretaire is crafted of solid walnut and is a generous 39.5" wide. The fall front when down r...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful walnut secre´taire a` abattant was constructed in the style of Louis XVI during the 19th century. Topped with a great piece of black and white marble. A single, slim d...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Louis XVI Secretary Stamped Ohneberg (Paris)
Located in BARSAC, FR
Martin Ohneberg. Paris. Master on July 7, 1773.
Splendid secretary in rosewood marquetry in amaranth frames separated by Greek-style fillets in green-tinted wood.
Beautiful ornamen...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique French Secretary Desk, France 1770-80
Located in Belmont, MA
Antique French Secretary Desk from the Late 18th Century
Explore this French 18th century secretary desk, crafted in France circa 1770-80...
Category
1770s French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Satinwood
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretary, Walnut, Marquetry, Cylinder Desk
Located in Greven, DE
Louis XVI cylinder desk with marquetry
Germany (Westphalia)
Walnut etc.
Classicism around 1795
Dimensions: H x W x D: 118 x 116 x 62 cm
Description:
Beautiful writing fur...
Category
Late 18th Century German Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Oak, Walnut
Maison Gouffé Paris French Transitional Louis XV XVI Secrétaire Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and stunning fine quality French Transitional Tulipwood, Kingwood, ormolu, Brocatelle Violette secrétaire bookcase by renowned Parisian cabinetmaker Maison Gouffé. circa 1925
...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Secretary With Impressive Marquetry
Located in Greven, DE
18th Century Louis XVI Secretary With Marquetry
The Netherlands
Amaranth, satinwood and others
Louis XVI around 1790
Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 89 x 46 cm
Description:
Elaborate...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Maison Jansen French Louis XVI Style Ebonized Secretary Desk
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style (1940s) ebonized & bronze trim abbatant form desk with a drop front interior above 3 drawers and below a single drawer & a white marble top. (stamped: JANSEN)
Category
1940s French Vintage Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary represents the essence of efficiency with a flair for style! Hand-crafted from solid oak, i...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI three-drawer Secretaire, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A large three-piece secretary bureau with a lower section consisting of three drawers, an angled flap and a two-door top section with a gallery rail. The bureau is veneered in walnut...
Category
18th Century Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Cylinder Secretary, Writing Desk, Walnut, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Louis XVI cylinder secretary in walnut, writing desk
West Germany
Walnut and others
Louis XVI around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 112 x 96 x ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Important Louis XVI Cherrywood Secretary 18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Surprising and rare Louis XVI secretary in cherrywood from the 18th century
Uncommon secretary given its large size of 1m74 and its very beautiful interior
Very beautiful patina an...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
18th century Louis XVI Walnut Bureau, France
Located in Atlanta, GA
An 18th century French Louis XVI Bureau in Walnut with drop front, inner writing surface and cubby holes.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18h Century Louis XVI Walnut Cylinder Bureau / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful cylinder Bureau from the time of Louis XVI circa 1780-1790. The Secretaire is made of thick saw walnut veneer on a pine wood body, the interior is made also with walnut ven...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Two-part Black-painted Louis XVI Secrétaire
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant two-part Louis XVI secrétaire in black-painted pine.
The upper section features a molded cornice with fluted detailing, glass muntin doors, and a softly patinated gray inter...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Louis XVI French Ebonized Scriban Secretary, 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Scriban or secretary chest in the Louis XVI style from France. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany. It has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous Fr...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Fine French Ormolu-Mounted Marqueterie Secretaire Abattant
Located in Rome, IT
A fine French ormolu-mounted, kingwood , tulipwood and stained sycamore marqueterie and parquetry secretaire abattant with rectangular moulded white marble top , above a frieze drawe...
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
20th Century Dutch Writing Cabinet, 1960s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Dutch writing cabinet hand built by a master craftsman, circa 1960s featuring ornate inlay work and numerous drawers and compartments. Very impressive piece and great quality.
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Danish Louis XVI Bureau. In Cuban Mahogany
Located in Kastrup, DK
Louis XVI bureau made in Cuban mahogany.
Top cabinet as well as the base with fluted quarter columns.
Copenhagen Denmark, circa 1780.
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century, French Louis XVI Inlaid Wood Secretaire with Marble Top
Located in IT
18th century, French Louis XVI inlaid wood secretaire with marble top and gilt bronzes.
This elegant secretaire Louis XVI was made in F...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Secretaire Stamped Sotto
Located in Kittery Point, ME
With a canted white marble rectangular top with a three-quarter pierced gallery above a frieze drawer, the fall-front with gilt-tooled black leather writing surface enclosing a fitte...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant Louis XVI Cherrywood Secrétaire Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Louis XVI cherrywood secrétaire cabinet.
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Cherry
Louis XVI Mahogany Bureau / Secretaire, Copenhagen Approx. 1780
Located in Kastrup, DK
Louis XVI bureau / Secretaire in 3 parts.
Upper part with three doors. Middle part door with fluted over a la grecque away, flanked by pair of side doors with oval fillings. Exteriors of doors with fluted flat profiles.
With 2 fold-down writing boards: Top writing board with leather for standing working position.
Behind the writing board a small drawer front with additional small drawers. Middle part with sloping writing flap for a sitting working position.
Behind the writing board are numerous drawers in Thuja wood...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Louis XVI Rolltop Desk, France 1780, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI Rolltop or cylinder desk, France, 1780. This original Louis XVI cylinder desk has an elegant mahogany veneer with satinwood inlays. I...
Category
1780s French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Louis XVI Secretary Bookcase, South German 1780, Cherry
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI secretary bookcase, South German 1780.
Elegant and unique secretary bookcase with beautiful cherry veneer and Louis XVI style geometric ...
Category
1780s German Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Louis XVI Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Secrétaire en Cabinet by Jean-Francois Leleu
By Jean-François Leleu
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The later breccia marble top over two paneled doors opening to reveal shelves, above a drawer over a fall front with an interior fitted with drawers and compartments, and two further...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Louis XVI Fall Front Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted from mahogany and morado, and delicately line-strung for contrast, this secrétaire à abattant, disguised as a Semanier dresser, is a masterful expression of late 18th-century...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Elegant Louis XVI Cherrywood Secrétaire Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Louis XVI cherrywood secrétaire cabinet.
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Cherry
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Cylinder Desk with central lock and beautiful patina
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Late 18th Century Cylinder Desk with beautiful Patina,
1800, France
Cylinder desk with straight sides, closed in the upper part with a semi-circular flap, with two drawers. The whol...
Category
1790s French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Secretaire with Urn Decoration, around 1790
Located in Greding, DE
Louis Seize secretary featuring five drawers and a flat writing flap. Veneered with cherry wood, this secretary is adorned with fire-shaded inlays. The central motif of the laurel wr...
Category
1790s German Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
François Linke, Ormolu and Mahogany Secretaire After Riesener
Located in BARSAC, FR
Large Louis XVI style secretaire in mahogany marquetry in frames of light wood and ebony fillets, rich ornamentation of very finely chiseled gilt bronze such as flower garlands, inte...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XVI Mahogany Bureau, Copenhagen 1780-1790
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Louis XVI bureau in solid mahogany. In 3 parts.
Top with tooth cut profiled top list. Pair of doors with fillings, sides with profiled quartz columns.
Bottom part with slant-front desk behind which numerous small drawers with knobs in bone.
Sides with fluted columns.
All keyholes with brass...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 18th Century Large Louis XVI Marquetry Desk or Bureau à Cylindre
By Jean Kisling
Located in Berlin, DE
French 18th century large Louis XVI marquetry desk or bureau à Cylindre
An exceptional marquetry secrétaire in the form of a bureau with a cylinder front and on a stand with four ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French Louis XVI Style Inlaid Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style (19th Century) parquetry inlaid drop front secretary abattant with gilt bronze trim and ring hands with 4 drawers below a fitted interior with a leather writin...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Large Secretaire With Flap In Marquetry, Late 19th Century
By Jean-François Oeben
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Massive secretaire with flap in marquetry of cubes on the doors and sides and bronzes (partly gilded): the flap covered with leather inside opens on...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Secretary Desk, South German 1780, Walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
This original Louis XVI Secretary Desk dates back to 1780 and comes form the southern part of Germany. It is a real beauty! The lower part has...
Category
1780s German Antique Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis Xvi secretaires for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Louis XVI secretaires 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 secretaires created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XVI secretaires made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original secretaires, popular names associated with this style include Maison Jansen, Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley, Charles-Guillaume Diehl, and Comatec. 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 secretaires differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,011 and tops out at $86,260 while the average work can sell for $7,765.