Skip to main content

Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

French, 1848-1895

The 19th-century German cabinetmaker Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener rose to prominence for his beautiful reproductions of Louis XV furniture in the Rococo style. The influence of the Art Nouveau movement can be seen in Zwiener's work as well, and his ornate cabinets, gilded writing desks and exquisitely detailed chests of drawers are just some of the many examples of his mastery of furniture design.

Zwiener was born in Herdon, Germany, around 1848. By 1880, he had moved to Paris and established a workshop on the Rue de la Roquette. Zwiener was quick to earn esteem among the European nobility as a producer of fine furniture. In 1884, he created a replica of the famous Bureau du Roi roll-top desk for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He also partnered with famed French sculptor Léon Messagé, whose gorgeous designs are credited with helping Zwiener win the gold medal at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle.

In 1895, Zwiener returned to Berlin after securing a commission from Wilhelm II. His workshop was taken over by cabinetmaker François Linke. Linke's style was similar to Zwiener's. Linke also continued to work with Messagé, preserving the workshop's tradition of exceptional craftsmanship.

In Germany, Wilhelm II was eager to showcase the talents of German furniture makers to the world. He tasked Zwiener with producing an extensive suite of furniture for his royal palaces. The furniture was exhibited at the German Pavilion during the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Later, many of the pieces followed Wilhelm II to his manor house, Huis Doorn, in the Netherlands, where he lived in exile.

Over his career, Zwiener also produced furniture for elite international clients like New York art collector Charles Tyson Yerkes and French author Baroness Hélène van Zuylen of the Rothschild banking family.

On 1stDibs, find antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener case pieces, tables, wall decorations and more.

2
to
1
1
2
2
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
11
60
39
38
37
Creator: Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener
Fine 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Center Table by Joseph Zwiener
By Jean-Henri Riesener, Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener
Located in New York, NY
An Exceptionally Fine Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Mahogany Center Table By Joseph Zwiener Joseph Zwiener The rectangular marble top above a frieze dra...
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Fine 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Center Table by Joseph Zwiener
Fine 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Center Table by Joseph Zwiener

Fine 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Center Table by Joseph Zwiener

Regence Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Bureau Plat by Zwiener, circa 1890
By Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Regence style gilt bronze-mounted bureau plat by Zwiener. French, circa 1890. Stamped to the reverse of the bronze mounts 'JZ'. This fine bureau plat has a shaped leathe...
Category

Late 19th Century French Régence Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Regence Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Bureau Plat by Zwiener, circa 1890
Regence Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Bureau Plat by Zwiener, circa 1890

Regence Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Bureau Plat by Zwiener, circa 1890

Related Items
Louis XV Style French Kingwood Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Bureau Plat 'Desk'
By Jean-Pierre Latz
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late 19th century French Bureau Plat in kingwood and amaranth parquetry with three drawers to one side with gilt bronze decoration all round; notable are the drawer handles modelled with Chinese heads; the two ends decorated with Apollo heads...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Kingwood

Louis XV Style French Kingwood Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Bureau Plat 'Desk'
Louis XV Style French Kingwood Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Bureau Plat 'Desk'

Louis XV Style French Kingwood Parquetry and Gilt Bronze Bureau Plat 'Desk'

H 31 in W 52 in D 31 in
French Bureau Plat Style Italian 3 Drawer Desk, Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
French Bureau Plat style Italian 3 Drawer Desk, Bronze Mounts Offered for sale is a fine-quality Italian three-drawer desk reminiscent of the French bureau plat. This graceful des...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Bureau Plat Style Italian 3 Drawer Desk, Bronze Mounts
French Bureau Plat Style Italian 3 Drawer Desk, Bronze Mounts

French Bureau Plat Style Italian 3 Drawer Desk, Bronze Mounts

H 30 in W 55.25 in D 29.5 in
Large French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large French 19th century Louis XVI style giltwood carved center hall table with marble top. The rectangular shaped top with r...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Large French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table
Large French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table

Large French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table

H 32.25 in W 76 in D 43 in
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Hand Carved Walnut Center Table
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Louis XVI style walnut writing table from the late 19th century features a hand carved element of a classic crossed torch and quiver with a crown of laurels. Its beveled top res...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Hand Carved Walnut Center Table
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Hand Carved Walnut Center Table

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Hand Carved Walnut Center Table

H 28.5 in W 41.5 in D 23.5 in
Rosewood 19th Century Writing Table
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An exceptional quality mid-19th century, William IV Period, rosewood writing table having blind tooled leather inset to crossbanded top, over two drawers with original turned wooden knobs opposed by two false drawers, to extremely elegant shallow frieze, raised on reverse tapered, faceted, end supports with elegant carved scrolling feet and original recessed brass castors. Dating to the William IV period, which of course has a most distinctive style of its own sitting, despite not lasting very long between the late regency and victorian periods of english furniture making, this writing table has a lot of stand out features. Firstly it is a great size. A little bigger than many, indeed big enough to use as a day to day desk for working at, whilst not being overpoweringly large like many earlier georgian writing tables which one may find. It is also of exceptional quality. Clearly constructed in a top workshop it is constructed using high end, decorative rosewood veneers on the outside and a lot of mahogany as secondary timbers on the inside which is a great sign of quality. The entire table oozes class and sophistication in fact from top to bottom. The original turned wooden knobs are a nice feature, as is the high support...
Category

Mid-19th Century English William IV Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Rosewood 19th Century Writing Table
Rosewood 19th Century Writing Table

Rosewood 19th Century Writing Table

H 29.25 in W 60 in D 28 in
French Marquetry Bronze Ormolu Mounted Center or Desk Table
Located in Miami, FL
Wonderful French marquetry and bronze ormolu-mounted table that you can use like a desk, console, center table.
Category

Early 20th Century French French Provincial Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Marquetry Bronze Ormolu Mounted Center or Desk Table
French Marquetry Bronze Ormolu Mounted Center or Desk Table

French Marquetry Bronze Ormolu Mounted Center or Desk Table

H 28.75 in W 34.26 in D 18.31 in
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine French 19th century Louis XV Style gilt-bronze mounted fruitwood floral marquetry center table or desk with drawer, by Ébéniste Louis Gradé, Gr...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Center Table
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Center Table

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Center Table

H 29.25 in W 53 in D 34.25 in
Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style giltwood carved center gall table with marble top. The rectangular shaped frame intricately carved frame with an "X" stretcher centered...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table
Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table

Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table

H 32 in W 59 in D 35.25 in
Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style giltwood carved center gall table with marble top. The rectangular shaped frame intricately carved frame with an "X" stretcher centered...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table
Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table

Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Center Hall Table

H 31 in W 59.75 in D 36 in
Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Figural Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style giltwood carved figural center or hall table fitted with a Brêche violette marble top. The rectangular frame with four scrolled cabriol...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Figural Center Table
Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Figural Center Table

Fine French 19th Century Louis XV Style Giltwood Carved Figural Center Table

H 33.5 in W 61.25 in D 35.5 in
19th Spanish Carved Walnut Renaissance Center or Coffee Table
Located in Miami, FL
In grand, gothic style, this Spanish library / writing table has a deeply carved edge and this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as the carving never really stops. It goes o...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Gothic Revival Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

19th Spanish Carved Walnut Renaissance Center or Coffee Table
19th Spanish Carved Walnut Renaissance Center or Coffee Table

19th Spanish Carved Walnut Renaissance Center or Coffee Table

H 22.25 in W 59.26 in D 33.08 in
Fine Italian 19th Century Floral Marquetry Gilt Bronze-Mounted Center Table Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine Italian 19th century mahogany, satinwood and tulipwood floral marquetry and gilt-bronze mounted center table or writing desk. The serpentine inlaid shaped top centered with a marquetry floral arrangement medallion, surrounded by sections of diamond-shaped acanthus parquetry designs flanked by further medallions of flower bouquets, all within a gilt-bronze rim, above a similarly decorated frieze fronted by four drawers, on scroll legs raised on lion paw feet on rolling casters, joined by an 'X'-shaped marquetry stretcher...
Category

19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Fine Italian 19th Century Floral Marquetry Gilt Bronze-Mounted Center Table Desk
Fine Italian 19th Century Floral Marquetry Gilt Bronze-Mounted Center Table Desk

Fine Italian 19th Century Floral Marquetry Gilt Bronze-Mounted Center Table Desk

H 31 in W 53.75 in D 36 in

Joseph-emmanuel Zwiener desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener desks and writing tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener desks and writing tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $80,522 and can go as high as $145,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $112,761.

Recently Viewed

View All