Island Counter Work Station
Early 20th Century European Country Industrial and Work Tables
Wood, Teak
Mid-20th Century French Industrial Industrial and Work Tables
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Realist Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
Paper
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Carts and Bar Carts
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century British Industrial and Work Tables
Oak, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Hungarian Dining Room Tables
Pine
Antique 18th Century French Decorative Art
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Danish Country Sideboards
Pine
Antique 19th Century Rustic Industrial and Work Tables
Pine, Paint
Early 20th Century Industrial Industrial and Work Tables
Steel, Iron
Antique 19th Century English Dining Room Tables
Oak
Antique 19th Century Victorian Dry Bars
Pine
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Farm Tables
Cherry, Oak
20th Century English Country Cupboards
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Dry Bars
Wood
Late 20th Century Country Console Tables
Pine
Antique Late 19th Century American Country Cabinets
Pine
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Side Tables
Wood, Oak
Antique 19th Century American American Craftsman Industrial and Work Tables
Wood
Recent Sales
20th Century Unknown Industrial and Work Tables
Stone, Metal
Vintage 1930s American Industrial Cabinets
Brass, Iron, Nickel, Stainless Steel
Antique 19th Century French Industrial and Work Tables
Vintage 1910s British Late Victorian Industrial and Work Tables
Zinc
Early 20th Century English Victorian Cupboards
Oak, Pine
21st Century and Contemporary English Victorian Sideboards
Pine, Oak
Finding the Right industrial-work-tables for You
From drafting tables to preparation tables to kitchen islands and more, the collection of antique and vintage industrial tables and work tables on 1stDibs features a wide range of robust furnishings that fit seamlessly into modern interiors.
Work tables, just like most tables, have evolved considerably over the years.
More than 1,000 years before iconic American furniture brand Herman Miller would help shape the way we work — and later, how we live at home — monks who lived and worked in medieval-era monasteries stood at what you might call crude writing desks, translating religious texts and copying them by hand.
While those who practiced the art of handwritten letters definitely needed a suitable writing desk, the world wouldn’t see proper roll-top desks and the like until the 19th century. Owing to the work of architects such as Antoni Gaudí, these monastery “desks” were essentially work tables. (Chairs, much less actual desk chairs, weren’t a part of the workspace until the Renaissance.) It was a far cry from the cozy home office that affords many of us the opportunity to work remotely today.
Near the end of the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution brought with it the founding of mills and factories, and hand production methods gave way to machinery and mass production. Factory workers needed sturdy industrial tables to perform tasks that required precision and to support the manufacturing industry. Spare work tables — durable and easy to clean — were constructed of metal and wood and became essential on assembly lines and in packing facilities. Today, industrial-style furniture celebrates the past even as it suggests vigor, productivity and brawn.
Aside from how well antique and vintage industrial tables and work tables will fit in your industrial-style interior — think raw brick walls, exposed steel beams and oak floors — these furnishings have practical uses. They’re a must-have item for a number of creative endeavors: They’re an ideal food-prep surface in your kitchen or an efficient work surface for any kind of hands-on workshop or painting and drawing studio. With some creativity, you can turn a vintage wood industrial table or work table into a desk, dining room table or coffee table.
At 1stDibs, we love the industrial-style furniture trend, and here you can find a wide range of antique and vintage industrial tables and work tables as well as other furnishings that will look wonderful in your heavenly loft space.
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.