The decadence of the Baroque style, in which ornate furnishings were layered against paneled walls, painted ceilings, stately chandeliers and, above all, gilding, expressed the power of the church and monarchy through design that celebrated excess. And its influence was omnipresent — antique Baroque furniture was created in the first design style that truly had a global impact.
Theatrical and lavish, Baroque was prevalent across Europe from the 17th to mid-18th century and spread around the world through colonialism, including in Asia, Africa and the Americas. While Baroque originated in Italy and achieved some of its most fantastic forms in the late-period Roman Baroque, it was adapted to meet the tastes and materials in each region. French Baroque furniture informed Louis XIV style and added drama to Versailles. In Spain, the Baroque movement influenced the elaborate Churrigueresque style in which architecture was dripping with ornamental details. In South German Baroque, furniture was made with bold geometric patterns.
Compared to Renaissance furniture, which was more subdued in its proportions, Baroque furniture was extravagant in all aspects, from its shape to its materials.
Allegorical and mythical figures were often sculpted in the wood, along with motifs like scrolling floral forms and acanthus leaves that gave the impression of tangles of dense foliage. Novel techniques and materials such as marquetry, gesso and lacquer — which were used with exotic woods and were employed by cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, Gerrit Jensen and James Moore — reflected the growth of international trade. Baroque furniture characteristics include a range of decorative elements — a single furnishing could feature everything from carved gilded wood to gilt bronze, lending chairs, mirrors, console tables and other pieces a sense of motion.
Find a collection of authentic antique Baroque tables, lighting, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Early 19th Century Danish Black Painted Oak Baroque Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 19th century tall Danish Baroque secretary, crafted in oak. A newer professionally applied black painted finish is distressed throughout, revealing areas of the natural wood an...
Brass
18th Century Original Painted Writing Desk Secretary, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A late 18th Century Folk Art Baroque Scandinavian original painted writing desk secretary. This unique antique storage piece from Sweden features mounted original iron handles as wel...
Bronze
Danish Modern, Unique Handcrafted Oak Secretary Cabinet, Mid 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant rare Danish oak secretary cabinet in Baroque style, crafted in the 1930s by a skilled Danish Cabinetmaker. The piece features a drop-front writing surface that opens to re...
Oak
18th Century Swedish Baroque Slant Front Secretaire
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century Swedish secretaire, from Baroque period, circa 1750 in original gorgeous blue/green patinated color with slant front desk with interior features numerous small drawers ...
Bronze
$8,018Sale Price|35% Off
Baroque Bureau / Secretary in Walnut
Located in Kastrup, DK
Beautiful baroque secretary desk with finely mirror-cut oak veneer and walnut root veneer. The desk is in two parts: the lower section has three drawers with a straight break-front a...
Brass
19th Century Danish Black Painted Oak Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
19th-century baroque oak secretary with a newer professionally applied black painted exterior finish, lightly distressed to reveal natural wood beneath. The interior is painted a con...
Brass
Baroque Secretary with Black Exterior and Blue Interior, Circa 1760
Located in Atlanta, GA
An impressive period Baroque secretary dating to circa 1760. This substantial piece has been historically repainted, featuring a black exterior contrasted by a distinctive blue-paint...
Wood
19th Century Antique Russian Bureau Secretaire in Baroque Pinewood
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Russian two part bureau made of hand crafted painted pinewood designed and produced by an unknown carpenter from St. Petersburg, in good condition. The vintage secretaire...
Metal, Bronze
Early 19th Century Danish Blue Painted Pine Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 19th-century Danish pine secretary with newer professionally applied layered blue painted exterior and contrasting steel-gray painted interior. Light distressing reveals natura...
Pine
Baroque Bureau / secretary In Walnut from Northern Germany
Located in Kastrup, DK
An elegant and architecturally refined 18th-century Baroque secretary desk crafted in oak and beautifully veneered with mirror-cut walnut in a classic and distinctive Baroque design....
Brass
$9,560Sale Price|20% Off
Swedish 1770s Baroque Period Light Gray Painted Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Baroque tall secretary from circa 1770, with slant front desk, light Gustavian gray painted finish, two doors and four drawers. Experience the timeless elegance of this Swedish tall secretary from circa 1770, a piece that seamlessly marries the grandeur of Baroque design with the serene simplicity of the Gustavian painted finish. Indeed, this secretary, with its light gray painted finish, two doors, and four drawers, is a testament to the refined craftsmanship and understated beauty of Nordic furniture. The secretary's tall, imposing structure is softened by the light Gustavian gray finish, creating a sense of calm sophistication. The two doors, featuring simply carved panels, open to reveal an interior bathed in antique powder...
Glass, Wood
Bureau / Secretary In Burl Walnut
Located in Kastrup, DK
Early 18th century burl walnut veneered bureau cabinet. The upper section with swan neck top over double doors, the lower section with a sloping-front opening to reveal a cupboard an...
Brass
18th Century Three Part German Baroque Secretary Desk in Walnut & Fruitwood
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful form three part German Baroque secretary desk in walnut & fruitwood, its upper case with a molded cornice surmounting a case with a locking center door with pull out uppe...
Brass, Iron
Black Painted Baroque Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau, circa 1780-1810
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with a curved bonnet. Note the heavily carved panel doors and the large curvaceous lower three serpentine drawers. T...
Brass
$51,746Sale Price|20% Off
18th Century Italian Walnut Parquetry Important Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux
Located in Rome, IT
An Italian walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage, The upper section with a shaped carved cresting, a shaped doors opening to reveal three shelves,...
Wood
Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk
Located in Portland, OR
A rare & unusual antique Bohemian inlaid marquetry Elm tabernacle cabinet and desk, Austria, circa 1820. The cabinet in two sections, the top with an arched pediment, the sides of th...
Elm, Fruitwood, Ebony
Antique Italian Baroque Style Burl Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Miami, FL
Italian Baroque style walnut veneer secretary cabinet, early 20th century. The top part of the cabinet over slant-front desk with writing compa...
Mirror, Walnut
18th Century Spanish Colonial Vargueno Set on a 19th Century Mission Chest
Located in Hudson, NY
This interesting two-part piece of furniture is an example of the Spanish dominion over the Americas during the global colonization associated with Empire and trade supremacy. The to...
Walnut
Spanish Cabinet "Bargueño" or Vargueno, Painted and Gilt Walnut and Wrought Iron
Located in Miami, FL
Spanish Cabinet "Bargueño" or Vargueno, Painted and Gilt Walnut and Wrought Iron A chest on chest, the decorated cabinet rests atop a four drawer chest decorated with diamonds that ...
Walnut
18th Century Austrian Baroque Secretaire/ Bureau Cabinet, Nutwood, AT ca. 1770
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable 18th Century baroque secrétaire/ bureau cabinet elaborately handcrafted in the period around 1770 in Austria. As former part of the inventory of an old Upperaustrian castl...
Brass
17th Century Spanish Vargueno with Decoupage Exterior on Baroque Style Base
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional Spanish vargueno or collector cabinet with a sophisticated assemblage of decorated drawers and cabinets on the interior with columnar accents. The exterior with except...
Wrought Iron
18th Century Swiss Made Secretaire
Located in Greven, DE
Antique secretary or chest of drawers Switzerland Yew, oak second half of 18th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 105 x 116 x 61 cm Description: Antique sloping flap chest of drawers ...
Oak, Yew
$5,512Sale Price|20% Off
Late 19th Century Spanish Walnut Bureau Bookcase ‘Secretaire’
Located in Miami, FL
A late 19th century Spanish Walnut Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of doors, slant front enclosed writing...
Walnut
Hand-Painted Baroque Secretary, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque secretary with three drawers and slant-front writing flap decorated with recessed panels. Fitted with iron side handles and brass mounts. Below the upper section are two pull...
Brass, Iron
Austrian Baroque Secretary Cabinet in Walnut with Marquetry, ca. 1700–1730
Located in Kastrup, DK
A highly impressive and architecturally refined Austrian Baroque secretary cabinet from the first half of the 18th century. Crafted to an exceptional standard, veneered with thick, h...
Brass, Iron
Early 20th century Dutch Marquetry Trumeau Library Cabinet with Drop-Front Desk
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 20th century Dutch marquetry trumeau library cabinet with drop-front desk, finely crafted in burl walnut and richly decorated with detailed floral marquetry inlay throughout. T...
Walnut, Burl
18th Century German Baroque Inlaid Marquetry Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
18th-century German secretary or "bureau" crafted from walnut, featuring extensive marquetry. The inlaid decoration continues across the façade, with ...
Brass
$4,500Sale Price|43% Off
Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Dutch secretary desk, Netherlands, around 1800. This elegantly curved secretary desk has three spacious drawers in the lower part. The writing flap ...
Mahogany
$12,800
Secretary Baroque Sweden
Located in New York, NY
A secretary made during the baroque period 1650 - 1750 in Sweden. Made from oak. All original. Three drawers and upper interior with drawers and compartements.
Oak
Baroque Secretary with Upper Cabinet in Walnut, 18th/19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque fall-front secretary veneered in walnut, featuring a commode base with three drawers and a slightly convex front. The upper cabinet has two doors and a shaped cornice, fitted...
Bronze
Baroque Slant-Front Secretary in Walnut, Mid-18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque secretary with three drawers and a serpentine front, featuring a fall-front writing surface and an upper tabernacle with a tall door and ten small drawers. The piece is crow...
Brass
$17,600Sale Price|20% Off
18th Century Baroque Cabinet with Secretaire, Germany, 1760
Located in Belmont, MA
18th century Baroque cabinet with secretaire, Germany, 1760, walnut veneer. Beautiful piece in excellent condition, professionally rest...
Walnut
Early 18th Century Dutch Baroque Burl Walnut Drop-Front Secretary Desk
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A substantial early 18th C. Dutch two-part secretary in burl walnut with a beautifully mellowed patina. The upper section has a double-domed broken pediment with a central urn finial...
Mirror, Wood, Walnut
Italian Baroque Ebonized and Eglomise Bureau Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
Slightly arched top that may have held a bust at some point, over a middle section with drawers with reverse painted panels with scenes of ancient towns and ruins with a central mirr...
Pine
Late 19th Century Spanish Walnut Bureau Bookcase ‘Secretaire’
Located in Miami, FL
A late 19th century Spanish Walnut Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of doors, slant front enclosed writing...
Walnut
$78,252Sale Price|30% Off
Extraordinary Italian Parquetry Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux Rome
Located in Rome, IT
Outstanding Italian 18th century walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage, The upper section with a shaped carved cresting centered by a cartouche-sh...
Wood, Walnut
Baroque Slant-Front Secretary Desk, Mid-18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque slant-front secretary desk crafted from oak and cherry, featuring a three-drawer lower chest with a serpentine front and shaped apron feet. Above is a fall-front writing sect...
Brass
18th Century Baroque Secretary or Writing Desk in Walnut
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Exceptional Baroque secretary or writing desk, probably from southern Germany, around 1760. The softwood corpus à deux corps, ornamentally veneered in walnut, burl and other preciou...
Nutwood, Walnut, Pine
$42,043Sale Price|35% Off
18th Century Italian Walnut Parquetry Important Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux
Located in Rome, IT
An Italian walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage, The upper section with a shaped carved cresting, a shaped doors opening to reveal three shelves, ...
Walnut
Tall Walnut Cabinet with a Bureau Desk Compartment
Located in Dubai, AE
Tall walnut desk cabinet in Baroque style with gilded brass ornamentation. The upper glazed part reveals seven drawers, a leaf, and fifteen lockers, the flap revealing six drawers, s...
Brass
Early 18th Century Rosewood Fall Front Bureau
Located in High Point, NC
Stunning and rare late 18th century rosewood fall front bureau desk from Italy. We have never had the pleasure to offer a finer piece of European history! The desk is made from...
Rosewood
Italian Olive Burl Wood Bombe Secretary Vanity with Display Top & Matching Chair
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous Italian bombe drop front secretary cabinet in olive wood with the matching chair. Bookcase top with Two drawers with brass hardware and exquisite cabriole legs. Expert craft...
Brass
Baroque Secretaire in Ash Wood, North German c. 1720
Located in Greding, DE
A large Baroque top secretaire with a three-door lower section with a recessed footwell on spherical feet. A two-door top with a profiled and centrally raised cornice rises above the...
Ash
Exceptional 18th-Century Italian Slant-Front Bureau / Secretary
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Exceptional 18th-Century Italian Slant-Front Bureau / Secretary This remarkable Italian bureau dates to the 18th century and exemplifies the refined craftsmanship and quiet sophisti...
Wood
Baroque Cabinet with Secretaire, Germany, 1750-1760
Located in Belmont, MA
Outstanding baroque cabinet with fall top secretaire, South Germany, 1750-1760. Beautiful walnut veneer with exquisite figural and landscape marque...
Elm, Walnut
Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps in Walnut, Mid-18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Impressive Baroque secretary in three sections ("à trois corps"), raised on compressed bun feet and veneered in fine walnut. The lower commode section comprises three drawers, with t...
Walnut
Top-mounted secretary desk with slanted flap Baroque ca. 1760 walnut and burl
Located in Münster, DE
Top-mounted secretary desk with slanted flap Baroque, circa 1760, walnut and burl veneer, lower section with 2 hinged doors and a slanted flap, 2-door top section with arched pedime...
Wood, Nutwood, Burl
Baroque Secretaire à Trois Corps, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large Baroque secretaire on bun feet with a three-drawer commode base with a serpentine front, a writing surface at a height of 80 cm and a broken pediment top part. The doors and dr...
Wood
Northern Italian Baroque Secretary, lined in red velvet, Venice Circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite Baroque Venetian Secretary of Northern Italy made of burl walnut and having intricate inlays of fruitwood, olive wood, satinwood and burr wood. Constructed early in the 20t...
Brass
Dark Gray Baroque Secretary, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque secretary cabinet featuring a two-door glazed display hutch above and a lower section with a slant-front writing desk and three drawers. The dark gray paint finish is newly a...
Glass, Wood, Softwood
German Baroque Secretary Desk, 1750
Located in Leimen, DE
German Baroque Secretary Desk, Circa 1750 A rare mid-18th century German Baroque secretary desk of straight architectural form, crafted circa 1750. The façade is distinguished by an ...
Walnut
Baroque Secretary Desk, Switzerland 1750, Walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
Baroque secretary desk, Switzerland, 1750. This gorgeous baroque secretary desk stands out for its very pretty walnut veneer. The writing flap opens...
Walnut
Baroque Cabinet with Secretaire, Germany 1750
Located in Belmont, MA
Add timeless elegance to your home or office with this original Baroque cabinet featuring a built-in secretary desk, crafted in Germany circa 1750. This exquisite piece originates fr...
Walnut
Italian Early 18th Century Baroque Walnut Secretary-Bookcase
Located in Troy, NY
Italian Early 18th Century Baroque Walnut Secretary-Bookcase with beautiful, thick walnut radica veneer, wonderful color, ebonized moldings, most likely retaining the original mirror plates. The two upper doors open to reveal a fitted interior, the lower part has a fitted desk compartment...
Walnut, Mirror
Late 18th Century French Cherry Wood Secretaire
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A late 18th century French provincial secretary made of cherry wood. Solidly cherrywood body standing on 6 feet with moulded sides, slight...
Cherry
18th Century Baroque Secretaire/ Writing Cabinet, Germany ca. 1770
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable, museums quality late 18th century secrétaire or writing cabinet elaborately made in the baroque period in West Germany around 1770. Different kinds of fine nutwood/ walnu...
Brass
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib. 19th Century Restored
By Ferdinando Pogliani
Located in Madrid, ES
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib. Amazing Italian Secretaire 19th Century. Perfect condition. RESTORED Wood, precious stones Measures: 170cm x 104cm...
Precious Stone, Wood
$25,402Sale Price|20% Off
18th Century Baroque Walnut Tabernacle Secretaire with Marquetry, circa 1750
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Exceptional Baroque tabernacle secretaire from the 18th century, circa 1750. The piece is divided into three sections: the upper part with a central door concealing six small drawers...
Brass
Napoleon III Secretary Desk from 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Napoleon III Secretary Desk Made of oak, from the 19th century, a secretary desk with eight drawers and one large drawer, bronze appliqués representing female figures and vegetal mo...
Wood
$13,838Sale Price|30% Off
Walnut and walnut burl Baroque Secretary à deux corps Saxony around 1760
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary à deux corps Baroque, Saxony c. 1740, walnut and walnut burl veneer, sloping lid, 2-door top with sprung gable and beautiful interior division, 3-tier, double-arched chest...
Wood, Nutwood