Indonesian Mahogany Desk
Late 20th Century American Classical Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century Irish Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany, Satinwood
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Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary American Armchairs
Rattan
Mid-20th Century North American Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1880s English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
20th Century Italian Desks
Leather, Cherry
Antique 19th Century English Campaign Desks
Metal, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Tortoise Shell
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Oak
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Vintage 1920s American Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Decorative Boxes
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Antique Early 18th Century English Regency Decorative Boxes
Brass, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1950s English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Antique 19th Century British Campaign Desk Sets
Brass
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20th Century Indonesian Desks
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Mother-of-Pearl, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Hong Kong Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Irish Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Finding the Right desks-writing-tables for You
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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