Desks and Writing Tables
1950s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Plastic, Oak
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Early 20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1870s British Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
1830s British William IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Onyx, Granite
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Burl
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Faux Leather, Macassar
20th Century French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Stainless Steel
Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan, Oak
1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Laminate
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1960s Brazilian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
2010s Brazilian Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Hardwood, Cedar
20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Velvet, Mahogany, Lacquer
Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Pewter
1930s British Queen Anne Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Desks and Writing Tables
Cut Steel
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Iron
1980s Kenyan Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
1940s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s French Brutalist Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Fir
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Mid-20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome, Steel
18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
Mid-20th Century Danish Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
1960s Italian Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Burl
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Mid-19th Century French Renaissance Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry, Beech
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Granite
1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Aluminum, Nickel
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Oak
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
1970s German Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Fiberglass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique and Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Choosing the perfect writing desk or writing table is a profoundly personal journey, one that people have been embarking upon for centuries.
Queen Atossa of Persia, from her writing table circa 500 B.C., is said to have been the originator of the art of handwritten letters. Hers was reportedly the first in a long and colorful history of penned correspondence that grew in popularity alongside literacy. The demand for suitable writing desks, which would serve the composer of the letters as well as ensure the comfort of the recipient naturally followed, and the design of these necessary furnishings has evolved throughout history.
Once people began to seek freedom from the outwardly ornate styles of the walnut and rosewood writing desks and drafting tables introduced in the name of Queen Victoria and King Louis XV, radical shifts occurred, such as those that materialized during the Art Nouveau period, when designers longed to produce furniture inspired by the natural world’s beauty. A prime example is the work of the famous late-19th-century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí — his rolltop desk featured deep side drawers and was adorned with carved motifs that paid tribute to nature. Gaudí regularly combined structural precision with decorative elements, creating beautiful pieces of furniture in wood and metal.
Soon afterward, preferences for sleek, geometric, stylized forms in furniture that saw an emphasis on natural wood grains and traditional craftsmanship took hold. Today, Art Deco desks are still favored by designers who seek to infuse interiors with an air of luxury. One of the most prominent figures of the Art Deco movement was French decorator and furniture designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. With his use of neoclassical motifs as well as expensive and exotic materials such as imported dark woods and inlays of precious metals for his writing desks, Ruhlmann came to symbolize good taste and modernity.
The rise in appreciation for Scandinavian modernism continues to influence the design of contemporary writing desks. It employs the “no fuss” or “less is more” approach to creating a tasteful, sophisticated space. Sweden’s master cabinetmaker Bruno Mathsson created gallery-worthy designs that are as functional as they are beautiful. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto never viewed himself as an artist, but, like Mathsson, his furniture designs reflected a fondness for organic materials and a humanistic approach. Danish designers such as Hans Wegner introduced elegant shapes and lines to mid-century desks and writing tables, often working in oak and solid teak.
From vintage desks to contemporary styles, 1stDibs offers a broad spectrum of choices for conducting all personal and business writing and reading activities.
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