French Empire Writing Table
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Elm
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Antique 1870s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique 18th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1940s Argentine Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1910s Baltic Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1830s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century European Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 1810s Swedish Karl Johan Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique 1880s French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1810s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Mother-of-Pearl, Porcelain, Oak, Wood
Antique 1880s French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Ormolu
Early 20th Century British Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1920s French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
20th Century American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 1810s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1950s French Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany, Maple
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Metal
Early 20th Century Italian Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1910s French Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Steel
Antique 19th Century French Other Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Vintage 1940s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Mirror, Leather, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
20th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique 1880s French Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Ormolu
- 1
French Empire Writing Table For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Empire Writing Table?
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.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
Riotous Shapes and Colors Have Made Uchronia’s Designs the Toast of Paris
Julien Sebban’s energetic design collective is radically reshaping the look of 21st-century European furniture and interiors.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Inspired by the Cosmos, Sandra Nunnerley’s Nova Table Has a Futuristic Feel
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
In Guadalajara, These Luscious Side Tables Are Chiseled from Volcanic Rock
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.
How to Arrange Furniture + Layout Ideas
Here, we give design advice and show layout examples to help you create the perfect living room setup.
Why Hollywood A-Listers Can’t Get Enough of James De Wulf’s Concrete Furniture
Starting with a 900-pound Ping-Pong table, the Los Angeles designer has built a sturdy furniture-making career out of concrete.