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18th Century Writing Desk

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Danish 18th Century Writing Desk By Royal Architect C. F. Harsdorff
By Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
18th Century writing desk with five drawers. The desk is designed by the Danish royal neoclassical
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Danish Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Danish 18th Century Writing Desk By Royal Architect C. F. Harsdorff
Danish 18th Century Writing Desk By Royal Architect C. F. Harsdorff
$2,026 Sale Price
70% Off
H 31 in W 62 in D 31 in
Italian 18th Century Writing Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
An outstanding 18th century Louis XIV Auctioneer’s Desk from Lombardy, Italy. Beautifully
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Olive, Walnut

Italian 18th Century Writing Desk
Italian 18th Century Writing Desk
$15,900
H 30.75 in W 55.25 in D 29.13 in
French Original Black Painted Portable 18th Century Writing Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An original black painted portable desk from the end of the 18th century. With owner initials, the
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

18th century Italian Paint Decorated Writing Desk with Drawer Circa 1760s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
collectors, interior designers, or history enthusiasts, this Italian 18th-century writing desk is not just a
Category

Antique 1760s Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut, Pine

18th century Italian Paint Decorated Writing Desk with Drawer Circa 1760s
18th century Italian Paint Decorated Writing Desk with Drawer Circa 1760s
$3,996 Sale Price
42% Off
H 30.75 in W 37 in D 24.25 in
Late 18th Century Empire Roll Top Writing Desk, Nutwood, AT ca. 1790/1800
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Absolute extraordinary and rare late 18th century roll top writing desk from the period around 1790
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Austrian Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Late 18th Century Italian Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Late 18th Century Italian Walnut Writing Desk with Fitted Interior & Square Tapering Legs
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Louis XVI writing desk in walnut. 18th century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined Louis XVI period writing desk from the 18th century, crafted in warm walnut with
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI writing desk in walnut. 18th century
Louis XVI writing desk in walnut. 18th century
$5,950
H 40.125 in W 45.75 in D 21.25 in
Gorgeous 18th Century Tin Marquetry Writing Desk/ Cabinet
Located in Brussels, BE
18th century tin marquetry writing desk.
Category

Antique Early 18th Century German Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Tin

Gorgeous 18th Century Tin Marquetry Writing Desk/ Cabinet
Gorgeous 18th Century Tin Marquetry Writing Desk/ Cabinet
$19,099
H 50.01 in W 40.95 in D 29.53 in
Italian Parquetry Inlaid Writing Table Desk, 18th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
An exceptional parquetry inlaid writing table with Neoclassical designs, inlay with satinwood
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fruitwood, Satinwood, Walnut

Italian Parquetry Inlaid Writing Table Desk, 18th Century
Italian Parquetry Inlaid Writing Table Desk, 18th Century
$9,600 Sale Price
25% Off
H 31 in W 37.75 in D 28.5 in
18th Century Neoclassical Italian Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Carmine, TX
Stunning writing desk hand-made in Italy in the mid 1700s using walnut. This really is the mother
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Neoclassical Italian Walnut Writing Desk
18th Century Neoclassical Italian Walnut Writing Desk
$5,500
H 32.68 in W 51.18 in D 25.2 in
18th Century, French Louis XV Wood Flap Writing Desk
Located in IT
18th Century, Franch Louis XV Wood Flap Writing Desk Measures: cm H 94 x W 83,5 x D 46; D with the
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

18th Century, French Louis XV Wood Flap Writing Desk
18th Century, French Louis XV Wood Flap Writing Desk
$31,037
H 37.01 in W 33.08 in D 18.12 in
French 18th Century Louis XV Bureau Plat, Writing Desk
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
. The iconic Coco chancel lived with a Rococo writing desk just like this one and indeed this Bureau
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Rococo Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French 18th Century Louis XV Bureau Plat, Writing Desk
French 18th Century Louis XV Bureau Plat, Writing Desk
$106,242
H 30.12 in W 64.38 in D 31.5 in
Fine 18th Century French Games Table with removable Leathertop Writing Desk
Located in Richmond, VA
Fine 18th century French walnut games table and leathertop writing desk. The table features a
Category

Antique 18th Century French Rococo Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Baize, Walnut

Antique Georgian 18th Century Satin Walnut Bureau Desk Writing Table Elegant
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique Georgian 18th Century Satin Walnut Bureau Desk Writing Table – a rare and exquisite piece
Category

Antique 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Antique Georgian 18th Century Satin Walnut Bureau Desk Writing Table Elegant
Antique Georgian 18th Century Satin Walnut Bureau Desk Writing Table Elegant
$2,881 Sale Price
30% Off
H 43.31 in W 42.52 in D 18.9 in
Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk, Late 18th Century, Late 1700s
Located in New York, NY
A Swedish late Gustavian writing desk, late 18th century in excellent antique condition. Key
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Scandinavian Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

18th century Spanish elm writing table
Located in Malton, GB
This is the best quality and most original 18th century Spanish table I have had the pleasure to
Category

Antique 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Elm

18th century Spanish elm writing table
18th century Spanish elm writing table
$4,419
H 29.53 in W 49.61 in D 25.6 in
High-Quality Antique Oak Writing Table - Early 18th Century Desk Side Dressing
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Introducing an antique quality early 18th Century oak writing table, versatile as a desk or
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

High-Quality Antique Oak Writing Table - Early 18th Century Desk Side Dressing
High-Quality Antique Oak Writing Table - Early 18th Century Desk Side Dressing
$1,919 Sale Price
30% Off
H 27.56 in W 31.11 in D 22.05 in
Classic French 18th Century Empire Walnut Kneehole Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Found near Paris, France, we purchased this museum quality 18th century Empire style desk for its
Category

Antique 18th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 18th-century Italian desk exemplifies the ornate craftsmanship and elegance of period
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Italian Desk
18th Century Italian Desk
$6,950
H 30 in W 44.75 in D 21.125 in
18th Century George II Walnut Writing Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
George II walnut writing table, Mid-18th Century, the molded top having a tooled green leather
Category

Antique 18th Century British George II Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut, Leather

18th Century George II Walnut Writing Table
18th Century George II Walnut Writing Table
$2,990 Sale Price
35% Off
H 30.5 in W 46 in D 25.75 in
18th Century, Gentleman's Writing Desk and Games Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful, circa 1780, hand carved, petite writing desk inset with game chess and backgammon game
Category

Antique 1780s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Bronze

English Lady's Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English lady's writing desk table, table desk, or telephone table. Has quatrefoil backsplash. In
Category

Antique 18th Century British George III Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

English Lady's Writing Desk
English Lady's Writing Desk
$3,000
H 39 in W 33.5 in D 23 in
18th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Writing Table or Desk, Circa 1780
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Louis XVI carved walnut writing table with a tooled inset brown leather top, standing on elegant
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

18th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Writing Table or Desk, Circa 1780
18th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Writing Table or Desk, Circa 1780
$2,850 Sale Price
32% Off
H 29 in W 34 in D 25 in
18th Century Neoclassical Desk, Austria
Located in New York, NY
An elegant Neoclassical desk featuring one drawer and a sliding tabletop. The piece is beautifully
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Austrian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Neoclassical Desk, Austria
18th Century Neoclassical Desk, Austria
$19,600
H 29.53 in W 35.04 in D 24.41 in
18th Century French Baroque Pinewood Writing Table - Antique Leather Office Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An late 18th Century, antique French Baroque writing table made of hand crafted painted Pinewood
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Pine

18th Century French Cherrywood 'Bureau de Pente' Slant Top Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
graceful and functional bureau de pente from the late 18th century, this cherrywood slant top writing desk
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French 18th Century Writing Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This writing table is made of walnut with wonderful patine.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

French 18th Century Writing Table
French 18th Century Writing Table
$2,380
H 30 in W 38.25 in D 24.5 in
18th Century Walnut Writing Table
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Queen Anne era Walnut writing table, with bordered edge and book matched burl walnut veneer with
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Walnut Writing Table
18th Century Walnut Writing Table
$900
H 27.75 in W 16 in D 32.5 in
18th Century Louis XV Provincial Writing / Occasional Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis XV provincial walnut writing / occasional table, 18th century. With an overhanging 3 board
Category

Antique 18th Century European Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Veneered and Inlaid Wood Italian Louis XV Writing Desk
Located in IT
The elegant antique north Italian (Genoa) Louis XV period writing desk, called also bureau plat, is
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Provencal Hand Carved Walnut Wood Antique Writing Desk Side Table
Located in West Hollywood, CA
18th Century Provencal Hand Carved Walnut Wood Antique Writing Desk Side Table. Beautiful Hand
Category

Antique 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Spanish, late Baroque, 18th Century Desk or Writing Table or console table
Located in Troy, NY
Rustic, Spanish late Baroque Writing Table, made of Chestnut, with a wonderful deep warm patina and
Category

Antique 18th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wrought Iron

Late 18th Century Small Lady's Mahogany Writing Desk with Ink Pot & Well
Located in Shrewsbury, GB
A superb George III lady's mahogany writing desk with hidden ink pots and a drawer, circa 1790. The
Category

Antique Late 18th Century George III Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Late 18th Century Small Lady's Mahogany Writing Desk with Ink Pot & Well
Late 18th Century Small Lady's Mahogany Writing Desk with Ink Pot & Well
$12,400 Sale Price
20% Off
H 29 in W 28.5 in D 17.5 in
18th century Louis XVI Writing Desk, cherry veneer, South Germany
Located in Belmont, MA
Rare Louis XVI writing desk, South German 1780, exquisite cherry and plum wood veneer on front back
Category

Antique 1780s German Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry

18th Century French Walnut Writing Table
Located in High Point, NC
18th century walnut writing table with a banded and beveled edge around the top, following down to
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Walnut Writing Table
18th Century French Walnut Writing Table
$3,695
H 30.75 in W 46.13 in D 28.63 in
18th Century Spanish Baroque Trestle Style Writing Table Desk with Two Drawers
Located in Madrid, ES
A beautifully conserved Spanish writing table with mixtilinear “pata de lira” (lyre-shaped legs
Category

Antique 18th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

18th Century Spanish Baroque Trestle Style Writing Table Desk with Two Drawers
18th Century Spanish Baroque Trestle Style Writing Table Desk with Two Drawers
$5,849 Sale Price
30% Off
H 33.47 in W 57.09 in D 31.5 in
Fine Quality Antique Mahogany Writing Table - Late 18th Century Dressing
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Georgian Cuban Mahogany Writing Table - Late 18th Century Desk Side Dressing. This exceptional
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Fine Quality Antique Mahogany Writing Table - Late 18th Century Dressing
Fine Quality Antique Mahogany Writing Table - Late 18th Century Dressing
$1,919 Sale Price
30% Off
H 27.96 in W 30.71 in D 14.57 in
18th Century George II Writing Bureau
Located in Dublin 8, IE
18th Century George II mahogany ladies writing bureau topped by brass pierced gallery. The sloped
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Irish George II Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century George II Writing Bureau
18th Century George II Writing Bureau
$9,549
H 34 in W 31 in D 20 in
18th Century Country Side Writing Table
Located in Madrid, ES
A nice French country writing table, Louis XVI period, in solid oak, with a long drawer and drawer
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Country Side Writing Table
18th Century Country Side Writing Table
$1,909
H 27.17 in W 36.62 in D 29.93 in
Carved Floral Back 18th Century Country French Carved Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This 18th century Country French carved walnut writing desk is a remarkable example of provincial
Category

Antique 1780s French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Carved Floral Back 18th Century Country French Carved Walnut Writing Desk
Carved Floral Back 18th Century Country French Carved Walnut Writing Desk
$3,196 Sale Price
36% Off
H 30 in W 73.5 in D 31 in
18th c. Walnut Writing Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
Walnut Writing Table
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

18th c. Walnut Writing Table
18th c. Walnut Writing Table
$9,500
H 29.5 in W 44 in D 28 in
French Provincial Fruitwood and Tooled Leather Writing Table, 18th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
French Provincial Fruitwood and Tooled Leather Writing Table, 18th Century
Category

Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Fruitwood

A Blue Rococo 18th Century Writing Table With Drawer, Finland
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful 18th Rococo writing table in absolutely original condition. The table features a single
Category

Antique 18th Century Finnish Rococo Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

French 18th Century Poplar & Oak Writing Table Louis XV Period
Located in Labrit, Landes
Writing table or desk made of poplar in the french 18th century, Louis XV period. Height between
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Poplar

Late 18th Century English Walnut Writing Table
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A late 18th C. English three-drawer writing or side table in walnut. The rectangular top sits above
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Late 18th Century English Walnut Writing Table
Late 18th Century English Walnut Writing Table
$1,650
H 28.88 in W 32.28 in D 20.12 in
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gustavian table from northern Sweden in untouched original condition. The table is from the years circa 1780-1790 with traces of thin paint on the frame and a white painted tabletop....
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Table
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Table
$3,879
H 29.73 in W 40.95 in D 28.35 in
Desk Swedish 18th Century Green Original Paint Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Desk Swedish 18th Century Green Original Paint Sweden. A writing desk Swedish made during the 18th
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bentwood

18th Century Russian Empire Desk
Located in Allerum, SE
Unusually large 19th century Russian Empire freestanding brass striped mahogany writing table
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Russian Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

18th Century Russian Empire Desk
18th Century Russian Empire Desk
$23,000
H 31.89 in W 69.3 in D 32.68 in
Continental 18th Century Bombay Slant Front Desk for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An 18th century Bombay form slant front desk that opens to reveal an inlaid central door with
Category

Antique 18th Century European Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

18th Century Oak Country Side Writing Table
Located in Madrid, ES
A nice French country writing table, Louis XVI period, in solid oak, with a long drawer and drawer
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Oak Country Side Writing Table
18th Century Oak Country Side Writing Table
$1,909
H 27.17 in W 36.62 in D 29.93 in
Fine 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desk
Located in Bozeman, MT
Fine 18th century Swedish Rococo desk / console table with one drawer and in Its original colour
Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Fine 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desk
Fine 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desk
$12,000
H 29.53 in W 41.74 in D 27.17 in
Exceptional 18th Century Gustavian Architects Desk
Located in Bozeman, MT
Exceptional and rare 18th century Gustavian centre architects desk in it's original colour with
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Exceptional 18th Century Gustavian Architects Desk
Exceptional 18th Century Gustavian Architects Desk
$18,000
H 30.71 in W 42.72 in D 30.71 in
18th Century Lacquered Tuscan Desk Table with Hand Painted Decoration
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant lacquered wooden desk table from Tuscany, dating to the Louis XVI period, late 18th
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

18th Century, French Walnut Leather Top Writing Table W/ Bronze Hardware
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 18th century hand carved French provincial desk. The desk is carved in walnut and is extremely
Category

Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

18th Century, French Walnut Leather Top Writing Table W/ Bronze Hardware
18th Century, French Walnut Leather Top Writing Table W/ Bronze Hardware
$3,040 Sale Price
53% Off
H 29.5 in W 66.5 in D 31.5 in
18th Century Louis XV Wood French Writing Table
Located in IT
, in the 18th century, Louis XV period. It has a refined veneer in wood and a sliding shade, very rare
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

18th Century Louis XV Wood French Writing Table
18th Century Louis XV Wood French Writing Table
$14,921
H 35.44 in W 24.41 in D 15.75 in
Fine 18th Century Double Bonnet Georgian Tombstone Mirror Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This 18th-century Georgian tombstone mirror secretary desk is a striking example of refined
Category

Antique 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

18th Century Mahogany Desk
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A George III period mahogany kneehole desk of good size, with the original brasses and lovely one
Category

Antique 1780s English George III Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

18th Century Mahogany Desk
18th Century Mahogany Desk
$5,945
H 29.93 in W 48.04 in D 25.99 in
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18th Century Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the 18th century writing desk you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A 18th century writing desk — often made from wood, walnut and mahogany — can elevate any home. Find 788 options for an antique or vintage 18th century writing desk now, or shop our selection of 1 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer 18th century writing desk, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Each 18th century writing desk bearing Georgian, Louis XVI or Louis XV hallmarks is very popular. Gillows of Lancaster & London, Caspar Frederik Harsdorff and Thomas Chippendale each produced at least one beautiful 18th century writing desk that is worth considering.

How Much is a 18th Century Writing Desk?

The average selling price for a 18th century writing desk at 1stDibs is $6,796, while they’re typically $797 on the low end and $212,272 for the highest priced.

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.

Questions About 18th Century Writing Desk
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, wedding rings have a long history, stretching back to ancient Egypt. The first diamond engagement ring was created in 1477 by Archduke Maximillian of Austria. Browse a wide array of vintage and contemporary wedding rings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    In the 18th century, art changed in style from Baroque to Rococo and Neoclassicism. Art became more ornamented and idealized during the Rococo period and then shifted toward a style that emulated the artwork of ancient Greece and Rome near the end of the century. You’ll find a variety of fine art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
    To identify 18th-century furniture, you can research your piece in the context of the prevailing styles of the period or consult a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. To identify your item on your own, look over it for maker's marks, such as carvings, stamps, brands and labels. Researching the marking can help you determine the maker of your piece, and from there, you can search further to learn more about your particular item. Without a maker's mark, the best approach is to consider the characteristics of the dominant furniture styles during the 18th century. In England, these included William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. Some French furniture styles of the 1700s include Louis XV, Louis XVI and Régence. Find a diverse assortment of 18th-century furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    One way to check if your brass candlesticks are from the 18th century is to look for the two seams running lengthwise on either side. This is from when the candlestick was molded in two halves and then soldered together. You’ll find a variety of candlesticks of all shapes and sizes from some of the top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025
    The individuals considered the Big Three of 18th-century cartoons are William Hogarth, James Gillray and George Cruikshank. Although the 18th century saw a widespread increase in illustrations in newspapers, these three illustrators were particularly well-known for their work. Hogarth's work was extremely diverse, ranging from serious, realistic paintings and portraits to satirical and moralistic illustrations filled with symbolism. A British caricaturist, Gillray is remembered today for his artworks representing political and social satires, like his political cartoons against George III of England. Despite being a prolific caricaturist, Cruikshank is now most famous for illustrating the works of Charles Dickens. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of illustrations.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    At the end of the 17th century, Europe went into a frenzy over porcelain. Asian porcelain was highly sought after, and spurred the foundation of the Meissen factory in France, where hard porcelain went on to be made. You’ll find a large collection of porcelain pieces from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.