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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Unique Italian Large Wall Unit with Writing Desk in Maple and Birch
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wardrobe with writing desk, birch, maple, fabric, glass, brass, coated steel, Italy, 1950s Hailing from a skilled artisan of Italy, this exceptional set embodies a unique combinatio...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Steel

Peter Løvig Nielsen for Hedensted Møbelfabrik 'Boomerang' Desk in Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Peter Løvig Nielsen for Hedensted Møbelfabrik, desk model 'Boomerang', teak, brass, Denmark, 1960s. Beautifully formed teak writing desk designed by Peter Løvig Nielsen and produced...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl Directors Writing Desk in Fiberglass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl, Directors writing desk, fiberglass, Germany, 1970s This design truly resembles the ethos of the seventies – a bright and bold era – featuring the com...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fiberglass

Rare Jules Wabbes Executive Corner Desk in Wengé
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jules Wabbes, writing desk with drawer compartments, wengé, metal, lacquered wood, Belgium, 1960s. This corner desk is designed by Jules Wabbes. The table is executed with a solid w...
Category

1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Metal

Guillerme & Chambron Writing Desk in Oak and Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron for Votre Maison, writing desk, oak, leather, France, 1960s. This desk is designed by the renowned French duo Guillerme et Chambron. This design holds an utter...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Oak

Achille Castiglioni & Paolo Ferrari Desk 'Quark' in Black Lacquered Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Achille Castiglioni & Paolo Ferrari for BBB Bonacina, desk 'Quark', black lacquered wood, Italy, 1982 Like other table designs of Achille Castiglioni & Paolo Ferrari shows the desk ...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Rare Ico Parisi for Fratelli Rizzi Writing Desk in Chestnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ico Parisi for Fratelli Rizzi, Intimiano, writing desk, cat. no, '1950.56', chestnut, Italy, 1950 This highly refined writing table is designed by the acknowledged master of Italian...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chestnut

Guillerme & Chambron Corner Desk in Stained Oak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme et Chambron, corner desk, stained oak, France, 1960s This executive desk shows the fine craftsmanship and aesthetic characteristics of designer duo Guillerme and Chambron....
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova Executive Desk
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova, desk, black lacquered wood, nickel-plated steel, Italy, 1960s This modern, streamlined writing desk is designed by Gianni Moscatelli in the sixtie...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Studio BBPR Versatile ‘Spazio’ Table
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' table, steel, felt, vinyl, plastic, Italy, design 1959/60, production 1960s In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer, hired B...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova Executive Desk in Black
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova, desk, black lacquered wood, nickel-plated steel, Italy, 1960s This modern, streamlined writing desk is designed by Gianni Moscatelli in the sixties....
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Desk with Drawers in Grey Coated Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' desk with drawers, steel, vinyl, plastic, Italy, design 1959/60, production 1960s In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer, h...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Danish Vintage Desk by Severin Hansen for Haslev
Located in London, GB
A stylish and iconic Danish vintage desk by Severin Hansen for Haslev. It was made in Denmark, and dates from the 1960’s. It is of outstanding quality and has a beautiful design. Th...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Rare Hos Wulff Free Standing Desk in Leather and Teak
By Hos Wulff
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hos Wulff, free standing writing desk, leather, teak, Denmark, 1940 This free standing writing desk is designed by Hos Wulff and dates back to 1940. With regard to its essential for...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Teak

Modern Silhueta Console Table Carrara Marble Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Silhueta console, Modern Collection, handcrafted in portugal - Europe by GF Modern. Inspired by the organic shapes and lean silhouettes, this console adds a modern touch to every ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Hans J. Wegner Rare Desk in Oak and Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for Johannes Hansen, desk JH571, teak, oak, metal, Denmark, design 1953 Out of all the desks that Wegner designed, the ‘JH571‘ is the most 'Wegnerian'. This is mostly...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Desks in Grey Coated Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' writing desks, coated steel, plastic, vinyl, Italy, design 1959/60, production 1960s In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Gianfranco Frattini for Cantieri Carugati Desk in Cherry
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianfranco Frattini for Cantieri Carugati, writing desk, cherry, metal, Italy, 1958 This piece of furniture is based on a solid construction featuring straight lines and right-angle...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Unique Italian Sculptural Free Standing Writing Desk in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Executive desk, walnut, brass, glass, Italy, 1950s Made in Italy, this writing desk is designed according to the midcentury design principles that were in vogue in the fifties. The ...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Modern Armona Dining Table, American Oak, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Dining Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Pietro Lingeri Desk in Briar Root Veneer
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Pietro Lingeri, desk, briar root veneer, glass, brass, metal, Italy, 1930s This rationalist desk is designed by the Italian architect Pietro Lingeri. The desk features several compa...
Category

1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

Modern Toscana Vanity Table Oak Beige Leather Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Toscana Vanity Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The organic modern Toscana vanity table is a captivating blend of natural beauty and c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Free-Standing Corner Desk in Solid Wengé
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Free-standing writing desk, solid wengé, Northern Europe, 1960s This rectangular shaped table is completely executed in solid wengé. The corpus is structured in a horizontal manner...
Category

1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wenge

Rectangular Table or Desk in Solid Wengé
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining table or desk, solid wengé, Northern Europe, 1960s This rectangular shaped table is completely executed in solid wengé. The corpus is structured in a horizontal manner, whic...
Category

1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wenge

19th Century English Regency Mahogany Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in Charleston, SC
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Leather Top Writing Desk. There is a small blemish in the leather as shown in the pictures.
Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Warren Platner for Knoll Executive Desk with Black Leather Top
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Warren Platner for Knoll, desk, leather, steel, oak, United States, 1973 This heavy, sturdy desk is designed by the American modernist Warren Platner. He is most known for his airy ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Organic Modern Oga Desk Raw American Oak Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Oga Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Oga seamlessly combines the beauty of organic materials with the elegance of contemporary design. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Modern Mismatch Desk Oak Walnut Root Brass Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Modern Mismatch Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Mismatch seamlessly combines the beauty of organic materials with the elegance of cont...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Jules Wabbes Early Versatile Free-Standing Corner Desk in Wengé
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jules Wabbes, two-part corner writing desk, teak, coated steel, wengé, chrome, Belgium, 1960s This exceptional free-standing corner desk was crafted by the renowned designer Jules W...
Category

1960s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Early Franco Albini for Knoll Model '80' Desk
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini for Knoll, model 80, glass, lacquered wood, lacquered steel, Italy, 1949 Franco Albini’s model 80 desk combines glass, steel and wood which resu...
Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Adjustable Table ‘Leonardo’ in Blond Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, adjustable desk ‘Leonardo’, beech, laminated wood, Italy, design 1969. Italian architect and designer Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) designed the ‘...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech

Sunset Dining Table, 9 ft, in Natural White Oak by August Abode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing our artisan-made Sunset Dining Table. A new piece with a timeworn feel--the solid wood top is paired with lathe-turned legs, which taper down to ball feet. The design mel...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Multifunctional Table
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' table, coated steel, plastic, vinyl, Italy, 1960s. In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer, hir...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Organic Modern Armona Desk, Walnut Brass Onyx, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Armona...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Ernest 'Igl' Hofmann 'Jet' Corner Desk in Brown & Orange Fiberglass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernest 'Igl' Hofmann for Wilhelm Werndl, corner desk, model 'Jet', fiberglass, Germany, design 1970 This design truly fits within the ethos of the seventies – a bright and bold era...
Category

1970s German Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fiberglass

French Writing Desk in Solid Pine
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing desk, pine, France, 1960s This writing desk of French origin has a splendid construction that epitomizes a simplistic, natural and timeless aesthetic. The design is charact...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Studio BBPR for Olivetti Spazio Desk
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio B.B.P.R. for Olivetti, 'Spazio' desk with drawers, metal, vinyl, plastic, Italy, circa 1960 This industrial 'Spazio' desk is designed by Studio B.B.P.R. A black vinyl tablet...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Antique Victorian Oak Leather Top Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
An impressive antique Victorian oak leather top writing table / desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1870-1890 period. It is of superb quality, solid oak through...
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Ernest H. Igl for Bayer AG 'Hadi' Desk
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernest Igl for Bayer AG, 'Hadi' desk, polyurethane, Germany, 1970s This design by Ernest Igl truly resembles the ethos of the seventies, featuring the commonly used material of that time: polyurethane. Ernest Igl strived for the creation of a desk that focused on functionality combined with an aesthetically pleasing design for daily use. This is discernible in the playful composition of curved lines and round shapes executed in the whole construction. On the left side, three drawers are situated hidden perfectly in the column of the design. At the right side there is a storage compartment placed. Taking every stylistic realization into account, this writing desk feels retro, without clashing with contemporary interiors. Ernest Hofmann...
Category

1970s German Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plastic

21st Cent. Elena Salmistraro Table Polyurethane Verde Alpi Marble Top Mat Base
Located in Tezze sul Brenta, IT
Isotopo table design by Elena Salmistraro, product by Scapin Collezioni Limited Edition A vibrant round top is combined with a sculptural base made of three rounded conical supports...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Corner Desk with Original Lamp
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' corner/writing desk, coated steel, plastic, vinyl, Italy, design 1959/60, production 1960s. In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer, hired BBPR to design their New York showroom on Fifth Avenue and to create their first series of office furniture, called Spazio (1959/60). This line included chairs, shelving, cabinet systems, and desks, just like the one shown here. This ingenious design embraces a dynamic system, affording the ability to adjust the cabinet's positioning. Beneath the desk lies a compartment housing three drawers, while the mobile cabinet itself features three drawers alongside an extra compartment, providing both utility and versatility. The original lamp is affixed to the top that can be moved sideways. The tops are furnished with a burgundy red vinyl which adds a fresh touch the overall industrial appearance. The design won the Compasso d'Oro Award in 1962. Studio B.B.P.R. was an Italian architectural partnership founded in Milan in 1932 by Gianluigi Banfi (1910-1945), Lodovico Barbiano di Belgiojoso (1909-2004), Enrico Peressutti (1908-1976) and Ernesto Nathan Rogers (1909-1969) who had studied at the Politecnico di Milano. B.B.P.R. was thus an acronym formed from the first letters of their family names. The architects found each other in their opposition to fascism in Italy in the 1930s and 1940s during Mussolini's autocratic regime. The architects therefore believed in developing a style that would have no references to contemporary politics. During the Second World War, they all joined the resistance. However, Rogers, a Jew, fled to Switzerland and both Belgiojoso and Banfi were deported to the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, where Banfi died in 1945. Despite the immense loss of Banfi, their architectural practice continued in the same name as before after...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Armona Dining Table, American Oak, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Dining Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak

Franco Albini for Knoll Desk Model '1928' in Glass and Metal
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini for Knoll, desk model '1928', glass, wood, chromed steel, Italy, design 1949 Franco Albini’s '1928' desk combines glass, steel...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel for Poul Kold Savvaerk Desk Model ‘135’ in Wenge
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel for Poul Kold Savvaerk, desk model ‘135’, wenge, Denmark, design 1958 Freestanding desk designed by Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel in 1958. The symmetric arrangement ...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wenge

Warren Platner for Knoll Writing Desk in Cherry and Black Leather
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Warren Platner for Knoll, writing desk, cherry, chrome-plated metal, black leather, United States, 1970s. This writing table with two drawers and an extendable panel...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Desks in Grey Coated Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' writing desks, coated steel, plastic, vinyl, Italy, design 1959/60, production 1960s In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufactur...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Italian Small Writing Desk in Mahogany
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Small writing desk, mahogany, brass, Italy, 1950s. Sculptural Italian desk with beautiful curved top. This writing table is both refined and elega...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Organic Modern Armona Desk, Oak Root Onyx Brass, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Armona...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Arne Vodder for Bovirke Writing Desk in Teak and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Arne Vodder for Bovirke, desk 'model BO85', teak, brass, Denmark, 1950s This teak writing desk was designed by Arne Vodder for Bovirke. The table has an organically shaped table...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Modern Castelo Console Table, Sahara Marble, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Castelo Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Steel

Hans Wegner for Andreas Tuck Desk with Drop-Leaves in Oak and Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck, desk, model 'AT305', solid oak, teak veneer, Denmark, 1955 Hans Wegner created a coherent table which is achieved by the implementation of purely ge...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Teak

Modern Menir Console Table, Calacatta Marble, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Menir Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Menir modern console table draws inspiration from menhir sil...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Modern Arco da Augusta Console Calacatta Marble Handmade Portugal Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Arco da Augusta Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Inspired by Lisbon's historical arch and as a homage to the Portuguese architecture...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Travertine, Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass, Steel

Giuseppe Rivadossi Writing Desk in Walnut With Rare Guglielmo Pecorini Chair
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi writing desk combined with Guglielmo Pecorini chair Giuseppe Rivadossi for Officina Rivadossi, writing desk, walnut, metal, Italy, 1970s ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

Unique Italian Free Standing Desk in Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing desk, teak, vinyl, brass, plywood, beech, Italy, circa. 1960 This highly refined desk that originates from Italy strongly resembles the work by the acknowledged master of It...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Jules Wabbes Corner Desk with Drawers in Mutenyé
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jules Wabbes, corner writing desk, mutenyé, nickel-plated metal, aluminum, Belgium, 1957 Beautifully designed desk by one of Belgium's most renown...
Category

1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Chrome, Nickel

Børge Mogensen for Frederica Stolefabrik Teak and Oak Hunting Table
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Børge Mogensen for Frederica Stolefabrik, hunting table, oak, teak, brass Denmark, circa 1960. This table with a teak top and oak frame is desi...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Cees Braakman for Pastoe Desk in Teak and Metal
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cees Braakman for Pastoe, desk, teak, brushed metal, The Netherlands, 1950s. Modest designed desk by Dutch designer Cees Braakman for Pastoe. The table top and drawer compartment are executed in teak. Curved plywood is used to furnish the inner part of the three different drawers, each with a metal handle. A modern exterior...
Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

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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