Desks and Writing Tables
19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1930s German Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Walnut, Burl
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Mid-19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Marble, Steel, Stainless Steel, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Onyx, Silver Leaf, Steel, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Belgian Black Marble, Marble, Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Carrara Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Cut Steel, Metal, Steel
1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
2010s North American Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood, Walnut
1890s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Kingwood
20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
1860s English High Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
1930s Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-19th Century English William IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary American Desks and Writing Tables
Cut Steel
1970s Philippine Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Upholstery, Bamboo
1970s Danish Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Early 1900s French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Pine
19th Century Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
20th Century Spanish Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Late 18th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
2010s Danish Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s Danish Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Late 19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Raffia
21st Century and Contemporary Colonial Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Cowhide, Glass, Ash
1890s British Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Portuguese Desks and Writing Tables
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
2010s Danish Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Oak
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.
Read More
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
18 Home Offices for Workaholic Design-Lovers
Proof that working from home is a perk.