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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: 1940s
Alvar Aalto Mahogany Desk for Artek with Drawers and Pull Out Work Surfaces
Located in Chicago, IL
The model #500 mahogany desk designed by Alvar Aalto, made in Sweden for Artek, Finland. Six drawers with two pull-out work surface boards. A nice example...
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Writing Desk with Marquetry Top in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing table, walnut, The Netherlands, 1940s An elegant furniture piece that attests to masterful craftsmanship. Its marquetry top, adorned with a captivating array of various wood...
Category

1940s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Rare Mid Century Italian Grissinato Desk In The Style Of Gio Ponti
Located in Westport, CT
Wonderful Modernist fruitwood desk shown with its original grey laminate top which we have covered in a new black glass top above an angular base consisting of two grissinato drawers...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fruitwood

Art Deco Desk, France 1940s
Located in Greding, DE
Art Deco desk with slightly curved table top and two drawer elements with four drawers each. These are lockable and the handles are made of elegant bars. The desk can be positioned a...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Elm Desk, France, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Distinctive desk showcasing a single drawer and elegantly rounded, tapered wooden legs.
Category

1940s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Elm

Small Writing Desk Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig 1940 Italy
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Small wood and metal desk designed by Giuseppe Pagano Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig in 1940s Italy. Small desk made of curved laminated wood with 4 drawers. Signs of wear and use.
Category

1940s Italian Other Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Marcel Gascoin, TC Office, France 1950
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Marcel Gascoin (1907-1986), “TC” table in light oak, ARHEC edition, France 1950. Father of Rationalism and major player in French Reconstruction, Marcel Gascoin designs quality furni...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Vintage Jaguar Green Lacquered Louis XVI Style Writing Desk
Located in East Hampton, NY
British Jaguar green lacquered Louis XVI style desk with original embossed leather top and two drawers. This desk sits on brass casters. Simply stunning and elegant.
Category

1940s French French Provincial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Burl Wood and Lucite Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W51 D19 H29.5 KW21.5 KC23.5 KD18 Vintage Fully Restored Desk with a Medium Walnut Finish. Item is structurally sound and fully functional. Desk features very unique hardware and bur...
Category

1940s Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Lucite, Burl

Fine Quality Three Piece Faux Bamboo English Leather Top Executive Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful cabinet-made faux bambook desk in the French or Campaign style. The desk features a fine off-white leather top with gold embossing. The desk comes apart in three ...
Category

1940s French Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk Featuring a charming mahogany & walnut French design small office or library desk in the classic kidney shape. ...
Category

1940s French Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Art Deco Desk by Charles Dudouyt, France, 1940s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Charles Dudouyt oak desk with double base, made in the 1940s in France. The sturdy oak construction, adorned with front panels and a raised round inlaid top with a captivating parque...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Danish Cabinetmaker 1940s Mahogany Desk
Located in London, GB
Danish cabinetmaker - 1940s writing desk This exceptional, minimalist desk was produced in Denmark in the 1940s by an anonymous cabinetmaker and ...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Oak

Baker Furniture English Regency Mahogany Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional English Regency style writing desk or console table By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1940s Carved mahogany, with embossed leather top, and original brass hardware and ...
Category

1940s American Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An outstanding French Louis XV style writing desk or bureau plat desk with bronze trim and ornate ormolu mounts and embossed leather top. The desk is finished on all sides and could ...
Category

1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Gustavian Style 9 Drawer Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Gustavian Style 9 Drawer Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Category

1940s Swedish Gustavian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Vintage Louis XV style desk 1950s
Located in Catania, IT
Vintage desk in the Louis XV style with decorations and inlays lacquered wood and gilt bronzes, with 3 capacious drawers. In good condition, writing surface to be re-done.
Category

1940s Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Rare Gio Ponti Writing Desk in Walnut and Grissinato Mahogany
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti, writing desk, walnut, mahogany, glass, Italy, 1940s This writing table, a rare find designed by Gio Ponti, originates from the 1940s. The design is truly magnificent, fea...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Mahogany, Walnut

Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara Desk, 1940s, Finland
Located in Helsinki, FI
Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara desk, Domus Academica student house, 1940s. Birch with painted table top. Good vintage condition, patina consistent with age and use. Beautiful minimalistic de...
Category

1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Paint

French Louis XV Kingwood Bureau Plat Leather Top Desk With Mounted Bronze Ormolu
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Louis XV style writing desk or bureau plat desk France, Circa 1940s Gorgeous kingwood, with bronze trim and ornate ormolu mounts, and embossed green leather t...
Category

1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

A French Black Lacquer Writing Table
Located in New York, NY
The rectangular top inset with antiqued mirror glass over two frieze drawers; raised on square tapering legs terminating in brass sabots.
Category

1940s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Italian 1940s Solid Oak Wood Writing Desk with Shutter Doors
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Vintage Italian writing desk circa 1940s in solid oak wood. Comfortable size for a practical use. Characterized by two doors on the sides with shutter opening, internally four drawer...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Frits Henningsen Mahogany Desk, c1940s
Located in London, GB
Frits Henningsen - Writing Desk, c1940s Rarely seen design from the master cabinetmaker of the early Danish Modern period: Frits Henningsen. Henningsen produced all of his designs a...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

France Desk Art Deco, 1950, France, Material: Wood Attributed to Jean Souvrain
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk Style: Art Deco Year 1940 Wood and bronze Finish: polyurethanic lacquer. It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

A Black Art Deco Desk for the Boss Voltaire by De Coene Frères Belgium 1940s
Located in Ulm, DE
Desk from the Belgian Furniture Manufactory DeCoene Frères. Double Face desk for the boss on one side and the secretary on the other Well known Art Déco Furniture, Belgium 1940s F...
Category

1940s Belgian Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Scrittoio Anni 40 in noce e radica
Located in Milano, IT
Scrittoio con cassetti laterali in legno impiallacciato noce e con il piano in legno impiallacciato radica. Buone condizioni.
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Louis XVI Escritoire Writing Desk
Located in North York, ON
Introducing the epitome of elegance and sophistication - the Antique French Louis XVI Escritoire Writing Desk. This exquisite piece, made in France circa 1940’s, exudes timeless char...
Category

1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Classic Mid-Century Three Drawer Oak Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Classic Mid-Century Three Drawer Oak Desk Beautiful grain top and brass feet 48 x 20 3.75 x 29
Category

1940s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Vintage French Jansen Manner Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage French Jansen Manner black lacquered Louis XVI style writing desk. Circa 1940. A timeless and classic touch for a fine interior.
Category

1940s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Art Deco French Desk in Macassar with Leather Top Insert
Located in Houston, TX
Art Deco French desk in Macassar wood Desk is made out of Macassar wood and newly re-upholstered with a strip of brown leather in the middle of the desk’s top. Each of the legs have ...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Paolo Buffa grissinato wood desk with four drawers, Italy 1940s
By Galdino Maspero, Paolo Buffa
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid and essential Paolo Buffa Desk in grissinato wood with four drawers and saber legs. Iconic Paolo Buffa design manufactured by Galdino Maspero, Italy 1940s
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

DC-3 ‘Dakota’ Wingtip Desk
Located in London, GB
The Douglas DC-3 was designed in the mid-1930s as a passenger and freight aircraft, but built during the war years 1941-1945 in large numbers, as the DC-3 (C47) Transport Plane known...
Category

1940s American Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Art Deco German Curved Desk in Walnut
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant German Art Deco Desk is made out of walnut wood. Has slightly curved top with leather insert in the middle. There is thin keyed drawer. Desk is supported by 2 wide rectangula...
Category

1940s German Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

40s-50s Desk
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant desk with pair of under-top drawers, beech wood, and mahogany veneer, top with recessed clear glass. Good conditions.
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Beech, Mahogany

Art Deco French Grand Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Art Deco table is made out of high quality walnut wood. It composed out of 2 parts/sides with lots of room/drawers for storage. Both sides are connected on the bottom with each other...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Johan Rohde Unique Desk in Mahogany and Brass
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Johan Rohde desk in mahogany with brass fittings. Right side have three drawers and left has three shelfs when doors open. Provenance: This desk was made for H. P. Rohde in 1945, wh...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

1940s Italian Writing Desk in Ash and Brass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing desk, ash, brass, Italy, 1940s Made in Italy, this writing desk is a testament to the design ethos prevalent in the 1940s and 1950s. The office table bears witness to the de...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Desk, 1950, Materials: Wood and Bronze, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk style: Art Deco Year: 1940 Material: Wood and bronze It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique....
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Desk in Wood, 1940, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinction. You want to live in the golden yea...
Category

1940s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Desk Style Art Deco in Wood and chrome, 1940, Made in Germany
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Only the wood is restored, not the chrome metal It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of...
Category

1940s German Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Desk in Wood, 1940, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk Year: 1940 It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinction. You want t...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Desk Style Art Deco in Wood, 1940, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk style: Art Deco Year: 1940 It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinct...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Desk Style Art Deco in Wood and chrome, 1940, Made in Germany
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Only the wood is restored, not the chrome metal It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of...
Category

1940s German Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Italian 1940's Walnut Folding Writing Desk or Console Table, Italy, circa 1940
Located in New York, NY
An Italian 1940's folding or flip-top walnut writing desk or console with two faux drawers, the top opens up to a larger surface with a warm beautifully faded pink laminate; highly p...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

Wooden library table. Portugal, 1940s.
Located in Lisboa, PT
Dark wooden library table supported by five feet connected to each other and opening by four drawers designed by Olaio. Portugal, 1940s.
Category

1940s European Space Age Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Pine Wood Desk by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet, 1940s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare Scandinavian mid century wooden desk model "Värmdö" in pine by Axel Einar Hjorth for Nordiska Kompaniet Stockholm, 1940s. In go...
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Danish cabinetmaker desk with unfolding double top circa late 1940s
Located in London, GB
Special one-off cabinetmakers piece with unfolding double top extending table for meetings with up to 5 seats. This has always been my favourite piece ever. H. 72. B. 170. D. 80/...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

1940s Norman Bel Geddes Metal Desk for Simmons
Located in Wilton, CT
Offering a rare 1940's industrial design desk designed by Norman Bel Geddes for Simmons Furniture Company. This pre-war metal desk was built before use of m...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Italian Blue Desk, Drawers, 1940s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Italian Blue Desk, Drawers, 1940s
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1940's Traditional style 9 Drawer Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1940's Traditional style 9 Drawer Mahogany Writing Desk. Finished all the way around and can be placed to show the whole.
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1940's Hollywood Regency Campaign style Giltwood Writing Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1940's Hollywood Regency Campaign style Writing Desk Made by Drexel. This desk is 2 toned. Lots of room for lots of storage. Off white and gold toned.
Category

1940s North American Hollywood Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Swedish Grace Elmroot Table, Circa 1940s
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish Grace, elm, elm root and ebonized table or desk by Erik Chambert, with a rectangular top raised on rectangular supports with leaf-tip carving and carved scrolled feet.
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Elm

Rare Hos Wulff Free Standing Desk in Leather and Teak
By Hos Wulff
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hos Wulff, free standing writing desk, leather, teak, Denmark, 1940 This free standing writing desk is designed by Hos Wulff and dates back to 1940. With regard to its essential for...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Teak

English Regency Style Burl- Wood Library Console Table
Located in Southampton, NJ
Fully restored Mahogany & Burl-wood library table with a single generously sized drawer, classic design elements in the column corners with drop finials supported on vase turned & sp...
Category

1940s American Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Frits Henningsen Cabinetmaker Copenhagen, Fine Large Desk 1940s
Located in Handewitt, DE
Fine large desk by the famous danish cabinetmaker and designer Frits Henningsen 1940s. With 3 ddrawers to front. Brass handles. Finest collected mah. wood. Original untouched condit...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Ico Parisi Partners Desk, Italy, 1940s
Located in New York, NY
1940's Italian Ico Parisi designed partners desk. Signature steel tip toe on all legs of the desk. WIth single extended designed steel toe. Three full sized drawers and a single cent...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

A Mid Century French oak desk in the manner of Charles Dudouyt, circa 1940.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French oak desk in the manner of Charles Dudouyt. The desk features 5 front drawers and a metal stretcher at the base. Circa 1940.
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Leather Top Cherry Desk
Located in New York, NY
A French cherry writing table finished on four sides with three drawers. The square and tapered legs supported by an apron with molded edge trim. The top with cross band veneered sid...
Category

1940s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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.

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