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Louis XIV Desk Accessories

LOUIS XIV STYLE

As opposed to the styles that would follow from the other 18th-century French kings, Louis XV and Louis XVI, antique Louis XIV furniture is rigid and imposing. It expresses opulence — even its armchairs, with their upright backs, straight legs and lavish ornamentation, look like thrones. Authentic Louis XIV sofas, a then newly emerging iteration of seating, are fully upholstered and often feature decoratively carved frames of walnut, chestnut or oak.

When French King Louis XIV established his royal court at Versailles in 1682, he transformed what was once a hunting lodge into a palace that declared his wealth and power through its design. Until his death in 1715, he reigned with a spirit of excess and absolute political dominance. The “Sun King,” as he called himself, believed that France revolved around him as planets do the sun. Louis XIV adopted the sun as his emblem, decorating the grounds with symbols of the sun and Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. As he stated, “There is nothing that indicates more clearly the magnificence of great princes than their superb palaces and their precious furniture.” He was a child when he became king in 1643, only shaping his style after he became absolute monarch in 1661.

Reflecting trends in French Baroque art, Louis XIV furniture characteristics included exuberant decoration. There were gilded bronze details including shells, suns, grotesques, lions and classical references like acanthus leaves. The years of growth in the country’s manufacturing, such as the tapestries and cabinets made at Gobelins, led to design innovations. The commode replaced the chest as a storage device, with drawers and a surface that could double as a desk.

The materials were luxurious, such as the popular tortoiseshell veneer technique that leading cabinetmaker Pierre Golle used in his designs. André-Charles Boulle, who became royal cabinetmaker in 1672, was a masterful artist of marquetry, using inlays of ebony, exotic woods and mother-of-pearl.

Find a collection of antique Louis XIV bedroom furniture, chairs, tables and other pieces on 1stDibs.

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Style: Louis XIV
French Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze Foliate Form Inkwell 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
French Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze Foliate Form Inkwell 20thC Measures- 2.75''H x 7.5''W x 5.75''D
Category

20th Century Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Inkwell In Gilt Bronze And Marble 19th Century
Located in CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE, FR
Richly chiseled and gilded bronze inkwell. Basin with lion's mouth, arched feet with scrolls and acanthus leaves, resting on an oval marble base rimmed with bronze. 19th century peri...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Office Cabinet Signed Sormani. (Paris)
Located in CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE, FR
Ve P Sormani and sons. Office cabinet in black leather and silver metal ornamentation. It opens with two doors revealing a mail kit, a writing desk, lockers, the...
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1880s French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Napoleon III Boulle Inkstand
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular with two cut glass inkwells and pen tray over a drawer. The sides rounded. The inspiration for the decoration from designs by the master cabinet maker Andre Charles Boull...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Pr. French 19th C. Bronze Groups Fame & Mercury After Models by Antoine Coysevox
By Coyzevox
Located in New York, NY
A marvelous pair of bronze groups of fame and mercury after the models by Antoine Coysevox, French, first half 19th century. Each depicted on horsebac...
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1850s French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

17th Century Iron Lock & Key
Located in New York, NY
17th century lock & key. Probably form a large cabinet or a door.  
Category

17th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

French Gilt Bronze Sculpture Statue on Marble Base, circa 19th C.
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, small. French gilt bronze statue in the style of sculptor Hippolyte Francois Moreau, circa late-19th century, France. This gilt ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Late 19th Century 'Sormani' Ormolu Inkwell
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th century gilded ormolu desk inkwell, stamped; Sormani, Paris. Having wonderful stylized scrolling foliate and shell like decoration, with a hinged central lid...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Ormolu

Large Antique French Marble and Bronze Inkwell, circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a stunning, large, antique French marble and gilt bronze double inkwell. The inkwells’ lids are hinged to the wells and have motifs of swirling leaves with berries culminatin...
Category

1870s French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Bouillotte Side Table Lamp Mood Light Gilt Bronze Antique Dealer Los Angeles CA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Bouillotte Side Table Lamp Mood Light Gilt Bronze Antique Dealer Los Angeles CA . A very high end, large Louis XIV style bouillotte table lamp in fine gold color on bronze. With a beautiful detailed flambeau "Flame" Finial on top, and a detailed keys. The candle arms with a very refined and meticulous carving , done by hand. This table lamp has a center pipe that holds the shade and which allows the shade Louis XIV Style Bouillotte Table Lamp in Fine Gilt on Bronze Height to be adjusted up or down. This adjustable feature is taken from the original candle burning lamps of the 18th century . Antiques Dealer West Hollywood CA Melrose Ave La Cienega Blvd. This bouillotte will be the perfect table lamp to add ambiance "Ambience" to any room. it looks amazing on top of a console or enfilade or an office desk in an entryway or living room, bedroom etc. Bouillotte was a French card game that was very popular during the late 1700s. The originals were candle burning lamps that had a bowl shaped base where the game chips were stored. A central tube surrounded by candle holders (candelabra) held a metal shade. The bouillotte shade...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Tin

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19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
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Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile with Pikier, Mid 17th Century
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Previously Available Items
English Boulle and Brass Tortoushell Inkwell, Circa 1900
Located in Van Nuys, CA
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Pair of Casolettes, late 18th c
Located in Stockholm, SE
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Pair of Casolettes, late 18th c
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Midcentury Cut Crystal and Ormolu Dressing Set Having Butterfly Motif
Located in Chicago, IL
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Inkwell in Red Levanto Marble, 18th Century
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Bronze

Louis XVI Style Tulipwood Inkwell or Encrier with Sevres Style Plaques
Located in Nashville, TN
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17th c. Grande Presse Papiers or Paperweight Louis XIV
Located in Haarlem, NL
Large and heavy Presse Papiers in Red Belgian Marble. Nice patina. Some missing chips consistent with age.
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17th Century Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

Wonderful French Casket With Bronze Ormulo Mounts & Handpainted Sevres Plaque
Located in Roslyn, NY
This French Casket with Ormulo Mounts and a beautiful hand painted Sevres Plaque on top is in wonderful condition. The Sevres plaque has a blue frame, wi...
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1930s French Vintage Louis XIV Desk Accessories

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Bronze

French 17th Century Louis XIV Period Ormolu and Porphyry Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A truly superb and unique French 17th century Louis XIV period ormolu inkwell. This impressive inkwell is raised on a solid scrolled porphyry base. Four finely chased turtles support the ormolu designed upper portion with a molded edge and scaloped corners. Above are four mythical dragons centered...
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18th Century and Earlier French Antique Louis XIV Desk Accessories

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Porphyry, Ormolu

Louis Xiv desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Louis XIV desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desk accessories created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XIV desk accessories made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desk accessories, popular names associated with this style include Paul Somani, and Paul Sormani. 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 desk accessories differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $880 and tops out at $58,500 while the average work can sell for $1,999.

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