Desks and Writing Tables

Vintage Dakota Jackson post modern Art Deco style executive partners desk featuring mahogany with leather insert and stainless steel frame. A V-Shape pattern veneer top with Black Leather inset. 2 pedestal cabinets below: each with 2 standard drawers and 1 file drawer, front and back. Polished Stainless Steel drawer pulls, post, floor plates, and arced trestle supporting desktop. DJ Chelsea Black Leather, Polished Polyresin finish. Dakota Jackson (born August 24, 1949) is an American furniture designer known for his eponymous furniture brand, Dakota Jackson, Inc.,[1] his early avant-garde works involving moving parts or hidden compartments,[2][3] and his collaborations with the Steinway & Sons piano company.[1] Jackson helped establish the art furniture movement in 1970s SoHo,[4][5] later becoming a celebrity designer in the 1980s.[6][7][8] His background in the world of stage magic helped him get his first commissions and is often cited as the source of his point-of-view.[6][9] Early life Dakota Jackson was born on August 24, 1949, and grew up in the Rego Park neighborhood of Queens, New York. Stage Magic Jackson's father, Jack Malon, was a professional magician.[10] Mr. Malon learned the trade from his own father, who studied stage magic in early 20th century Poland.[1] Jackson began studying magic at a young age and sometimes performed with his father.[11] Jackson's name, in fact, grew out of a road trip to Fargo, North Dakota.[11] Throughout his adolescence and into his early 20s, Jackson immersed himself in the world of magic.[2] In 1963, Jackson began to perform in talent shows at his junior high school, William Cowper JHS 73 (which is known today as The Frank Sansivieri Intermediate School),[12] and at children's birthday parties.[13] Jackson also began to build his own props, including large boxes for sawing a woman in half and small boxes from which doves would emerge in full flight.[11] Jackson acknowledges the importance of these early experiences with magic to his later career as a furniture designer: "The demands of performance taught me how to discipline myself to achieve aesthetic ends."[1][2][14] After Jackson graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1967, he continued performing as a magician, working in art galleries, night clubs, touring in the Catskills, and giving private performances at society events.[2][13][15] When he was 17, Jackson had studied with magician Jack London to learn the dangerous bullet catch trick.[16] "What appealed to me was the notion of doing things that appeared miraculous" Jackson once recalled.[6] "I was interested in spiritualism. I was interested in things like bullet catching, things that really challenged individual sensibilities, that were frightening, on the edge."[2] He didn't find the opportunity to perform the trick publicly until a decade later at Jackson's final professional performance as a magician.[1] It was documented in Andy Warhol's Interview (magazine), in a story titled "Dakota Jackson bites the bullet."[1][16] Jackson admits that he sometimes tires of references to his magician background, although he acknowledges it as an important part of his history.[2] The Downtown Arts Scene In the late 1960s, Jackson moved into a loft on 28th Street in Chelsea.[1][17] Jackson became part of the Downtown scene, a community of "artists, dancers, performers, and musicians" who moved to the neighborhood for the cheap rent and social life.[1][8][17][18] In October 1970, Jackson performed with the Japanese group Tokyo Kid Brothers at New York's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (also known as Café La MaMa) in a rock musical production called "Coney Island Play" ("Konī airando purē).[19] The show explored themes of cross-cultural communication and understanding[19] and was a follow up to the group's debut performance of "The Golden Bat" at La MaMa earlier that summer.[20][21][22] Jackson played the part of a "clever conjurer."[19] Over the next few years, Jackson became interested in minimalist dance and performed in the dance companies of Laura Dean and Trisha Brown.[2][15][23] Jackson credits his exposure to minimalism and minimalist dance in particular as having had a strong influence on his approach to design; in 1989, Jackson told the Los Angeles Times: For me the essential fineness of a design is in the idea, not the object itself ... In minimalism, the object is pared down to its basic meaning by stripping away all the excrescence ... —those elements that do not contribute to the pure idea.[24] Design career In the early 1970s, as he experimented with performance and dance, Jackson began branching out as a special effects consultant to other magicians, film producers, and musicians[2][23] such as Donna Summer.[6][9] The loft also gave Jackson an opportunity to apply his creativity and building skills: "These were times when lofts were not ... luxury condominiums. These were tough, tough raw spaces ... and we artists, bohemians, creative people, we created our environment. So I had to build".[17][25] Recognizing his skills as a builder, Jackson decided to shift away from performance and become a full-time maker.[1][15][17] He began making a variety of objects, including furnishings for other artists and magic boxes with hidden compartments for art collectors and galleries.[17][24] Jackson's social connections helped spread word about his work[15] and this led to his first commissions.[1] Early Commissions Desk for John Lennon by Dakota Jackson In 1974, Jackson's career as a designer began when Yoko Ono asked him to build a desk with hidden compartments for husband John Lennon.[26] "She wanted to make a piece of furniture that would be a mystical object; that would be like a Chinese puzzle," Jackson recalled in a 1986 interview published in the Chicago Tribune.[6] The result was a small cubed-shaped writing table with rounded corners reminiscent of Art Deco era style.[15] Touching secret pressure points opened the desk's compartments.[23] This commission helped build Jackson's reputation and allowed him to merge his experience as a magician and performer with his developing interest in furniture.[27] In 1978, a bed designed for fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg garnered Jackson even more notoriety.[8][10][28] [29] Called "The Eclipse", the bed was described in The New Yorker as "large, astounding, sumptuous, with sunbursts of cherry wood and quilted ivory satin at head and foot."[10] A lighting system positioned behind the headboard switched on automatically at sunset and spread out rays of light "like an aurora borealis,"[2][17] which grew brighter and brighter until turning off at 2 am.[23][30] Commissions like these continued to come in[8] and Jackson soon became known as a designer to the rich and famous.[30] Some of his other clients from this period included songwriter Peter Allen, Saturday Night Live creator and producer Lorne Michaels, Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, and soap opera actress Christine Jones.[8] The American Art Furniture Movement and the Industrial Style In the late 1970s, Jackson was among a small group of artists and artisans producing and exhibiting hand-made furniture in New York.[5][31] Jackson and his peers were part of the "American Art Furniture Movement," a group sometimes called the "Art et Industrie Movement,"[32] named after the leading art furniture gallery of the era,[32] Art et Industrie, founded by Rick Kaufmann in 1976.[33] In a 1984 Town & Country article titled "Art You Can Sit On," Kaufmann said he created the gallery to "serve as a locus to the public for artists and designers creating new decorative arts."[31] The works on display were "radical objects" that drew from a number of fine art traditions, including "Pop, Surrealism, Pointillism and Dada [which were] "thrown together with the severe lines of the Bauhaus and the Russian avant-garde, mixed with Mondrian's color and filtered through a video sensibility—all to create a new statement."[31] The article described Jackson as a "ten-year veteran of the genre" and pointed to the "clean forms and quiet colors" of his furniture.[4] Jackson showed a variety of industrial-looking lacquer, metal, and glass works at Art et Industrie, including his Standing Bar (also known as the Modern Bar),[33] a lacquered cabinet that Jackson designed in 1978 for his wife (then-girlfriend) RoseLee Goldberg.[13] Other works from this period include the T-Bird Desk, Self-Winding Cocktail Table, and the Saturn Stool...

Beautiful desk by Josef Frank, made from elm with striking woodgrain. Clean lines and subtly rounded forms, a timeless piece.

W60 D31.5 H29.25 KC26 Contemporary desk in great gently used condition. Item is structurally sound and sturdy with no large areas of wear. Item features one minimal drawer that hide...

Large Mid-Century Modern stainless steel table with a beautiful rosewood top. Good vintage condition with many superficial scratches on the top but no veneer damage. Could be refinis...

Elegant French writing desk from the first half of the 20th century in Napoleon III style. Finished for the centre piece of furniture with rich floral inlays in walnut, maple, mahoga...

An exceptional French Regency Louis XVI style bureau plat desk or writing desk By Theodore Alexander, "Ateliers de la Madeleine" Circa Late 20th Century Painted walnut case, with ...

A smart and extremely well made antique military campaign style pedestal desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1950’s. It is of superb quality, it is very heavy a...

Great English partner desk, desk 1870, mahogany Solid mahogany, partially veneered. Three-drawer frame profiled on both sides, slightly protruding table top. Writing surface decorat...

The structure of these bar tables by Charlotte Perriand is designed to occupy as little space as possible. They can be grouped together to furnish lounge bars and waiting rooms. Th...

A wonderful 1920s watchmaker’s or jeweler’s multi-drawer wood workbench that’s a good height and size to serve as a standing desk when not seated on a tall stool or chair. We can als...

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...

1970s Executive Desk by Billy Joe McCarroll and David Gillespie Forms Surfaces Inc Santa Barbara, California. Very elegant desk brutalist pattern gray...

Extraordinary modern wrought iron and glass tilt top drafting desk/table. Glass top is framed by wrought iron and tilts when the steampunk style handles are loosened. Table can be us...

Scandinavian mid century birch pedestal desk circa 1940. Excellent example of mid 20th century Swedish design and craftsmanship. 3 part pedestal desk taking inspiration from the em...

A stunning antique Sheraton Revival Satinwood desk. This dates from around the 1890-1910 period, and it was made in England. The quality is fantastic, this has beautiful brass handl...

Rosewood Danish secretary desk, circa 1960's. Sleek angular profile and elegant tapering legs. Stunning bookmatched veneer case with contrasting beech wood fitted interior. Minor ven...

An extraordinary C1940 Italian curved desk made from solid cherrywood with a cobalt blue glass top . there’s a total of 9 drawers with their original aluminium handles to the front a...

Victorian late 19th century carved oak pedestal desk circa 1890. Good quality pedestal oak desk, comprising of 3 sections.  Shaped top with original leather insert.  Single drawer a...

Petite in stature with three slides over two drawers. Probably originally had a superstructure because there are visible patches where something would have been attached. It might al...

Most unusual industrial adjustable architects desk/ drafting table, amazing design and lines. Height adjustable from 29"-38"...adjustable desk tilt-top, large hidden drawer measuring...

Mid-Century Modern Desk by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Stildomus 1970s

Cerused oak three drawer writing desk having pull out slides that allow for a generous work area. This desk is hand made in our workshops and comes in a darker version. 83" wide whe...

A stunning Edwardian richly patinated and beautifully figured mahogany desk in the manner of Edward and Roberts, London. This fabulous piece is of exceptional quality, stunningly ca...

Minimalist dark stained oak desk with dovetail construction connecting the top to the side panels in solid oak with a floating part for 2 drawers. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship ...

Vintage teak and birch office table. Featuring a combination of timeless elegance and practical functionality, this desk is perfect for those seeking a classic design with a modern...

This table is molded. Its scalloped belt opens to a drawer. The drawer is dovetail mounted to ensure perfect solidity. The drawer can be opened daily and hold many objects. It slide...

This rare early 19th century rosewood campaign desk displays exquisite beauty and remarkable design functionality characteristic of British military furniture. Adorned with gilt bron...

Classic freestanding desk model Nr. 75 from the 1960s by Omann Jun. High-quality corpus in teak veneer with a floating table top, six drawers, a hinged door and two bookcases on the ...

A superb vintage Italian walnut and satin wood desk, dating from the 1950-60’s. It is beautifully designed and is of superb quality, standing on wonderful tapered legs with brass fe...

A wonderful early 20th Century French Louis XVI style writing desk in ebonized black finish. Dating to around the 1940’s with original brass mounts and leather top. This is the epi...

Scrivania stile danese in teak e betulla. Questo pezzo unico si distingue per i suoi dettagli distintivi e il suo design versatile. Le maniglie dei tre cassetti sono realizzate in le...

A superb antique Victorian leather top partners desk / writing table. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1860-1880 period. It is of great quality and is an impressiv...

60's desk, in the style of G.Frattini for Bernini. made by Italian craftsman, inspired by the mod 530 of the Bernini company. all veneered in rosewood. very detailed. 5 drawers of wh...

Antique French secrétaire from the first half of the 19th century. Furniture of beautiful line and great elegance veneered in walnut, palisander, maple and exotic wood adorned with g...

19th century Chinese canton black lacquered desk cabinet, circa 1830. Stunning quality Chinese export desk, circa 1830. Main feature is the rare alabaster doors which have been hand painted both sides and allows the light to glow through when the doors are open. Top section comprises of a small door which would of housed a pocket watch, flanked either side by 2 open compartments. The central tabernacle which contains an original silk work in the door is flanked either side by 2 drawers. (2 small handles missing) the top section finishes with the main pullout / pull-out writing surface. The writing flap opens both ways to reveal storage underneath, pen trays either side. (red fabric is worn and detached in the middle but original) there is a long drawer accessible from 1 side which is as deep as the whole carcass. The middle section is a removable writing box, with handles. Flaps open to reveal a compartmented lift up tray, all decorated. Some intricate carved bottle holders...

Dimensions of the table: Height: 76 cm (29.9 in) Width: 150 cm (59.1 in) Depth: 71 cm (27.6 in) Leg space: Height: 73 cm (28.7 in) Width: 58 cm (22.8 in) Designed by Jindrich Halab...

Guido Faleschini writing desk for Mariani, 1970 Strong and stable, important office desk by Guido Faleschini. Glass shelf, aluminum profiles and alcantara upholstery. Aluminum 8-draw...

signed, dated, numbered edition 5/5

Early 19th C Swedish painted one drawer writing table. 1820. Clearance is 24.5". Ref: C. Reference: 8362 Dimensions 40 inches (102 cms) Wide 21 inches (53 cms) Deep 29.5 inches (...

Step back into the quaint charm of the 1900s with this authentic French wooden desk. With its warm, honeyed patina, this piece carries the rich glow of history within its solid, time...

The HOS Desk, standing for Home Office System, epitomizes adaptability and modern design. Featuring three mountable and dismountable wooden panels, each with three detachable solid w...

Exceptionally well preserved example of iconic work / dining table model PK55 designed by Danish architect Poul Kjaerholm in 1957, manufactured by Ejvindt Kold Christensen according ...

Everyone here on team FMV adores this desk. We don't know much (if anything) about the origin, maker or designer, but it's awesome nonetheless. Similar to the Henredon "Scene Two" ...

A Guillerme et Chambron petite desk. Oak and leather. France, c1960s. Single drawer to the underside. A delicate design, which will fit into a smaller space. Good vintage co...

A finely carved French Louis XIV style walnut writing table. circa 1870 Hand carved in France in the late 19th century, exceptionally executed in grand King Louis 14th taste, hand-c...

Authentic vintage mid century Danish / Scandinavian Modern teak desk. This piece is in excellent refinished condition with few signs of age-related wear (see photos). If you would ...

A very stylish and extremely well made vintage desk, made in Belgium and dating from the 1960-70’s. The quality is outstanding, this has a gorgeous design, standing on chromed steel...

Step into the grandeur of the Empire era with this Exceptional Empire Mahogany Centre Desk, crafted around 1850. Boasting impressive dimensions of H78 x 170 x 85 cm, this monumental ...

Rare 19th century carved mahogany swedish pedestal desk circa 1880. Beautiful desk and rare to be made from mahogany for a swedish piece, believed to be from skottorp castle in the ...

Vintage Pine Desk From France, Circa 1960. Solid stained pine construction with great patina and use.

Mid 20th century carved mahogany swedish desk circa 1947. We are pleased to offer this superb quality desk, which is stamped proving that it was part of the swedish royal family's i...

Danish mid 20th century burr walnut desk circa 1950. We are please to offer this desk which is of the highest quality. Stunning top with a single veneer covering the whole writing ...

Early 20th century satinwood sheraton revival desk circa 1910. Fine quality petit sheraton revival pedestal desk, comprising of 3 sections, top surface and 2 pedestals. Shaped top ...

A unique small 1950s industrial design single bank steel tanker desk with green top, produced by Orma Milano from Italy. Features four drawers of different sizes, and a fifth top dra...

Rare project by the Japanese architect and designer Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina. Metal base, top covered with billiard cloth. It can easily be used both as a desk and as a dining t...

A very stylish and extremely well made vintage Swedish teak desk. This was recently imported from Sweden, it dates from the 1960’s. The quality is outstanding, this has an interesti...

Dimensions of the table: Height: 76 cm (29.9 in) Width: 150 cm (59.1 in) Depth: 75 cm (29.5 in) Leg space: Height: 71 cm (28 in) Width: 57 cm (22.4 in) Luxurious desk design in Cau...

essential antique Italian small writing desk or side table. The table is made of solid walnut wood. Important turned legs. Equipped with one comfortable large drawer on the front. Du...