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Modern Desks and Writing Tables

MODERN STYLE

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaircrafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

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Style: Modern
Modern Waterfall Desk in Dark Walnut Finish with Painted Brass Accents
Located in North York, ON
Modern Waterfall desk in dark walnut finish with painted brass accents. Beautiful modern minimalist design with sculpted waterfall accent. Satin dark walnut finish with hand painted ...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Hand Chiseled Tinted Oak Desk by Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
This hand chiseled desk was designed by Egg Designs for a high end safari lodge in Southern Africa. The robust hand chiseled markings make this a stand ou...
Category

2010s South African Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Steel

Organic 2fold black walnut desk With Pencil Drawers
Located in Hobart, NY
2fold black walnut with leather lined drawer and bronze handles
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Modern Spalted Roundback Maple Reception Desk with Acrylic and Blackened Steel L
Located in Hobart, NY
Spalted maple round back with rose gold fill and 2' thick acrylic and blackened steel legs.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

FIJN Desk in Solid Black Walnut
Located in Calgary, CA
Our FIJN desk is handcrafted in solid wood. Both desks pictured were built in figured Oregon black walnut. Solid wood drawers are lined in leather and inserts can be customized to su...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Minimalist Modern Desk in Ash
Located in Lisbon, PT
A stylish desk for home or office. The clean look is achieved by using the drawers almost hided, and as a part of the desk’s structure, as well as cable storage under the tabletop. F...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash, Wood, Plywood

American Maple Butcher Block Parsons Table
Located in Chicago, IL
A supremely chic 20th century American maple butcher block parsons waterfall table constructed of two inch thick strips of laminated maple and ...
Category

20th Century American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple

Hayche WW Desk CS3, United Kingdom, Made to Order
Located in Liverpool, GB
The iconic WW collection celebrates the beauty of materials. An exquisite exercise in joinery and a future heirloom. This designed family is ever expanding and the playful juxtaposit...
Category

2010s British Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak, Plywood

Butterfly Desk
Located in Milan, IT
The Butterfly desk has a folded sheet metal base covered in leather and the top is made in leather with seams. Modesty in bronze lacquered sheet metal. ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Gervasoni Gray 50 Writing Desk in Air Force Blue Lacquered Oak by Paola Navone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
When a house becomes a space for thinking, creating and working, as well as for living, desks take on a whole new dimension: Gray 50 is a small elegant desk, designed in the name of ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Ideale Solid Wood Desk, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural Grey Finish, Contemporary
Located in Cadeglioppi de Oppeano, VR
Aesthetics and functionality combine in the Ideale solid wood desk. A piece of high-quality craftsmanship tailor-made for everyday use as well as to furnish with style. The desk feat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Jacques Powder Blue Dining Table in Bird's Eye Maple by Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
Designed with the aim to find the perfect balance between clean lines and warm texture. Consisting of 5 rounded, 50 mm thick slats with bird’s eye maple veneer, the dining or coffee ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Birdseye Maple, Maple

Gentile Solid Wood Desk, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural grey Finish, Contemporary
Located in Cadeglioppi de Oppeano, VR
Aesthetics and functionality combine in the Ideale solid wood desk. A piece of high quality craftsmanship tailor-made for everyday use as well as to furnish with style. The desk feat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Oslo Writing Desk in Ash by Studio Moe
Located in Portland, OR
Look to the clean lines and natural keep-it-simple design of the Oslo Writing Desk, to bring inspiration to your next idea or project. A single spacious dovetailed drawer provides ut...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash

Karl Springer "Ming Writing Desk" in Embossed Leather 1980s
Located in New York, NY
“Ming Desk” in color embossed textured leather with 2 drawers by Karl Springer, American 1980's. The craftsmanship and materials are superb and this is a wonderful example of Karl Springer’s work. This is a pared down version of the Chinese Style Series which preceded it. Reference: Karl Springer LTD red binder catalog published in the 1980’s, section “Coffee Tables and Bar Carts”, on page 9 there is a photo of the coffee table model of this desk with the page titled “KARL SPRINGER LTD CHINESE STYLE COFFEE TABLE...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Black wood table "The Office Game" Table Contemporary Limited Edition last unit
Located in Barcelona, ES
"The Office game" is the artistic approach to office furniture by the Spanish designers Las Ánimas. It consists of 3 unique pieces: a cabinet, a table and a buc (chest of drawers). ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Simply Modern Writing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
An elegant modern writing table with three singular leather wrapped drawers, our Cardamon finish on the veneered frame (and handles) with panel end supports and brushed brass finish ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Raily Dark Writing Desk
Located in Milan, IT
This sophisticated writing desk will transform simple office tasks into a luxurious occasion with its exclusive details. Prized leather covers the wooden top, featuring a practical s...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Pierre Jeanneret Pigeon Hole Desk, France/India 1957
Located in London, GB
Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) is recognised as a pivotal figure in modernism. His collaborations with his cousin Le Corbusier are especially significant, particularly their codificati...
Category

1950s Indian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Minimalist Modern Desk in Ash
Located in Lisbon, PT
A stylish desk for home or office. The clean look is achieved by using the drawers almost hided, and as a part of the desk’s structure, as well as cable storage under the tabletop. F...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash, Wood, Plywood

Gervasoni Writing Desk in Black Lacquer with Wooden Feet by Paola Navone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
When a house becomes a space for thinking, creating and working, as well as for living, desks take on a whole new dimension: LC 60 is an elegant desk of rather small dimensions, desi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Lacquer

Pebble Edge English Walnut Dining oval Table by Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
The Pebble Edge Oval Table on Chapel Legs: The pebble edge refers to the tabletop edge, which takes inspiration from the perfect skimming stone, a stone that has been smoothed and made tactile by natural forces. The photographs show it with the Carol Bentwood walnut chairs. The two pieces of English walnut used for the top are joined centrally along the live edge and held in place with butterfly ties on the underside. The tabletop stands...
Category

2010s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Kartell Earl of Wood Desk by Philippe Stark in Dark Wood and Black Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
EARL OF WOOD is a simple new desk with a curved wooden surface, offering the perfect solution to the Office and Habitat worlds on account of its myriad diffe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Minimalist Modern Desk in Ash
Located in Lisbon, PT
A stylish desk for home or office. The clean look is achieved by using the drawers almost hided, and as a part of the desk’s structure, as well as cable storage under the tabletop. F...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash, Wood, Plywood

Hayche WW Desk Oak & Black, United Kingdom, Made to order
Located in Liverpool, GB
The iconic WW collection celebrates the beauty of materials. An exquisite exercise in joinery and a future heirloom. This designed family is ever expanding and the playful juxtaposit...
Category

2010s British Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak, Plywood

Wall-Mounted Desk "Table B" Aluminum Anodized Silver Top, Stainless Steel
Located in Barcelona, ES
Table B has been one of BD Barcelona Design’s icons of this century. It’s a successful product on the market and has received awards so important as the Red Dot Best of the Best in 2011. This piece, rather than dating, has always looked to the future. Now it has turned into a series of tables for everyday use, outdoor and indoor, with a new 90cm width for domestic use and a 70cm desk. Legs for this collection include new designs in wood, cast aluminium and steel rod. Silver Delta Award 2009 winner. Top in bevel edged extruded aluminium. Stainless steel legs. Open ends cut at 45º. The work of Konstantin Grcic is characterised by careful research and pared-down results, a minimalist style informed by simplicity. Konstantin Grcic (1965) was trained as a cabinet maker at The John Makepeace School for Craftsmen in Wood before studying Design at the Royal College of Art in London. He set up his own office in Munich in 1991. Today, Konstantin Grcic Design GmbH is based in Berlin. The office operate in diverse fields ranging from industrial design projects, exhibition design and architectural collaborations. Amongst his renowned clients are Aeance, Authentics, Cassina, ClassiCon, Flötotto, Flos, Galerie Kreo, Kettal, Laufen, Magis, Muji, Nespresso, Plank, Smart and Vitra. He is the recipient of numerous awards such as the Compasso d`Oro for his MAYDAY lamp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Kartell Viscount of Wood Table by Philippe Stark in Walnut and Black Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Viscount of wood tables are the latest addition. These naturally composed tables complement the collection's choice of seats and create a sustainable livin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

21st Century "Synchronicity" Desk, Maple, Brown Walnut and Leather
Located in Turin, IT
The eye-catching desk "Synchronicity" stands out of all common tables. The extraordinary features of this magnificent handmade desk crafted of maple wood are the two unique, hollow C...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

"Gran Torino" 21st Century Desk, Brown Walnut and Maple by Ivan Paradisi
Located in Turin, IT
Designed as a modern elegant and at the same time functional desk, "Gran Torino" is named after the city of Turin, a place rich of culture and history with...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Maple, Walnut

Teak Desk by Ilmari Tapiovaara, manufactured by Cantú, 1960
Located in Berlin, DE
Wooden desk made by finish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara, made of solid teak wood with drawers and brass details. Labeled 'La Permanente di Cantú' Il...
Category

1660s Italian Antique Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Cream Study Desk with Natural Linoleum Table Top and Drawer, Customisable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This study desk is made with a pearl powder-coated steel frame and colour matched natural linoleum tabletop. The linoleum for our desks is selected for the ecological properties of t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Floor Sample Alma Desk Giorgetti Designed By Pamela Amine w/ Leather Finishes
Located in Boston, MA
Designed By Pamela Amine Alma, from the Latin Almus, meaning “soul”, “she who nourishes”, celebrates the main function of a desk, which is to open the mind and expand one's knowle...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather

Whitewashed Ash Linderman Wall-Mounted Desk with Leather Wrapped Drawer in Stock
Located in Accord, NY
New York Heartwoods' Linderman wall-mounted desk is influenced by Mid-Century Modern, Shaker and Asian design, and features a hand-shaped base, leather wrapped pen drawer (shown here...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Ash, Leather

Kartell Lunat Desk by Patricia Urquiola
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The LUNAT desk, designed by Patricia Urquiola, creates the ideal solution for a home smart working station as well as a desk in a hotel room. The powde...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Modern Stainless Steel and Glass Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern stainless steel and glass desk with drawer and tempered glass writing surface. Dimensions: 54" W x 24" D x 30" H.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

21st Century Elena Salmistraro Table Polyurethane Marble Resin Inlay Scapin
Located in Tezze sul Brenta, IT
Isotopo Table design By Elena Salmistraro, product by Scapin Collezioni Limited Edition A vibrant round top is combined with a sculptural base made of three rounded conical supports...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Philippe Starck Square Mahogany Dining Table M 'Serie Lang' for Driade Aleph
Located in Hanover, MA
A stealth bomber-like sleek square book-matched ribbon mahogany veneer top dining table over four sharply angled polished cast aluminum legs, each having the signature and manufacturer's mark: Aleph by Starck. Designed by Philippe Starck in 1987 for Aleph France: a division of Driade, from the limited series Lang...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Butterfly Table
Located in Milan, IT
The Butterfly living table is composed of folded sheet metal covered in black leather and a round top in fumè gray crystal glass. Its curvy and sinuous structure gives the product a ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Contemporary Starburst Exotic Wood Sabre Leg Table by Costantini, Uccello
Located in New York, NY
The Uccello writing table or Desk can also function as a game table, or, in larger sizes, as a dining table. Shown here in a naturally finished starburst Argentine Rosewood top with ...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French design & connected executive desk in solid wood, by Christophe Lecomte
Located in Landivy, FR
This minister's desk is part of the TRAPEZ collection designed by the Vendée designer Christophe Lecomte, who combines noble materials, aesthetics and uptodate office functionalities. This collection includes several desks and storage units to equip personal offices, private practices and companies. This large writing table is made of French high-valued solid and veneer ash wood sourced in sustainable managed and PEFC certified French forests. With TRAPEZ, work free and with only 1 single wire on the floor between your desk and the wall. With the integrated power strip (3 electrical plugs and 2 USB chargers), you will be able to plug your office electronical...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Ash

Table Desk Writing Home Office Grey Marble Top Mirror Steel Modern Collectible
Located in Ancona, Marche
The table 'Gallio' is an important desk with structure in mirror polished stainless steel and top in grey Versylis marble. The structure is inspired by a formation of crystals of Gal...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Stainless Steel

Modern Eglomise Glass Byzantine Gold Vanity and Forged Metal Legs by Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Mystic Byzantine Gold Green vanity by Ercole Home has a 9-drawer, with ivory wood finish on oak. Hand painted eglomise glass panels are inset on the surface. There are nine pulls in brushed brass finish. The hand hammered metal base...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Kartell Viscount of Wood Table by Philippe Stark in Walnut and Black Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Viscount of wood tables are the latest addition. These naturally composed tables complement the collection's choice of seats and create a sustainable livin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Modern Small Desk with Black Marquina Ceramic Top and Black Frame, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2) Dining table with aluminum legs, structure and drawer. The top is made of Black marqu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

ClassiCon Jean Fold Out Table by Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
Jean, named after Eileen Gray‘s intimate friend of many years, the architect Jean Badovici, stood in various modeis in their summer villa E 1027. "Every room has at its disposal one ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Small Desk with Green Lacquered Glass Top and White Frame, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2) Dining table with aluminum legs, structure and drawer. The top is made of 8 mm thick ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

ORIGIN 00008 Desk
Located in PARIS, FR
This desk is the first piece of our work, Polcha, we wanted to work the materials in trompe l'oeil and graphic forms to come, visually, destructure the original form, come to disrupt...
Category

1960s European Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Kartell Viscount of Wood Table by Philippe Stark in Ash and Chrome Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Viscount of wood tables are the latest addition. These naturally composed tables complement the collection's choice of seats and create a sustainable livin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Kartell Viscount of Wood Table by Philippe Stark in Ash and Black Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Viscount of wood tables are the latest addition. These naturally composed tables complement the collection's choice of seats and create a sustainable livin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Kartell Viscount of Wood Table by Philippe Stark in Walnut and Chrome Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Viscount of wood tables are the latest addition. These naturally composed tables complement the collection's choice of seats and create a sustainable livin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Contemporary Lucite and Inset Mirror Top Desk
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary lucite desk with 3 inset antiqued mirror squares on the top surface, a shallow glass compartment/shelf, and geometric scroll-shaped ...
Category

20th Century American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Lucite

Desk Table Home Office Pink Onyx Mirror Polished Steel Collectible Design Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
The 'Bangles Desk' is an important desk with structure in mirror polished stainless steel and top in rare pink onyx. Every single bangle is welded and highly polished by hand. The mi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Stainless Steel

Table Desk Writing Home Office Orange Onyx Mirror Steel Contemporary Collectible
Located in Ancona, Marche
The 'Bangles Desk' is an important desk with structure in mirror polished stainless steel and top in rare orange onyx. Dimensions are customizable. Every single bangle is welded and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Stainless Steel

Williams Writing Desk Maple Rose Copper
Located in Cincinnati, US
A thin, elegant and light desk that can be customized to any color desired. This handcrafted item perfectly blends industrial hairpin legs with a bevelled wooden top. The irregular b...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Large Green Study Desk with Natural Linoleum Top, Customizable Writing Table
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This large Study desk is made with a bright green powder-coated steel frame and a deep green linoleum top made from all-natural ingredients, such as flax, wood flour, and limestone. The furniture linoleum provides a natural satin matt surface with a warm fine texture, a look and feel that is very tactile. This modern minimal desk...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Apartment-Sized Patterned Osis Desk by Llot Llov
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Llot Llov's Osis desk was developed specifically for the home office — it has a small footprint yet offers the necessary space to work, and it has a privacy screen to help with both ...
Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

French Marcello Desk in Blue Lacquer, Glass, and Brass by Joris Poggioli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ultra-glam statement-making desk in glossy blue lacquer, with glass base, brass accents, and velvet and MDF drawers by French designer Joris Poggioli. I...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Truman Writing Desk
Located in Milan, IT
Stylish and functional, this writing desk will make a bold addition to a contemporary home study or office. Innovative in its manufacturing procedures, it features six drawers equipp...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Modern desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks and writing tables, popular names associated with this style include Marco Zanuso Jr., Finn Juhl, Greenapple, and Elena Salmistraro. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $205 and tops out at $76,270 while the average work can sell for $6,480.

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