Milling Road Writing Desk
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Lacquer
Vintage 1970s Czech Space Age Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
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2010s American Flush Mount
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
2010s Mexican Brutalist Contemporary Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Wood
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Chandeliers and Pendants
Silk
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Chrome
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Leather
Antique 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Raffia
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Pine, Rush
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Wr...
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas
Wool, Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sectional Sofas
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s Italian Corner Chairs
Crystal, Metal
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1990s American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century American British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Faux Bamboo
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century North American Desks
Oak
1990s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Wood
20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1990s American British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1990s Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Maple
20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Lacquer
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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