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48 Writing Desk

Milo Baughman Desk for Directional Furniture
Milo Baughman Desk for Directional Furniture

Milo Baughman Desk for Directional Furniture

By Milo Baughman

Located in Toledo, OH

Milo Baughman desk for Directional Furniture. 48" writing desk with movable drawer base on rollers

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Sunset Dining Table, 8 ft, in Dark Walnut by August Abode
Sunset Dining Table, 8 ft, in Dark Walnut by August Abode

Sunset Dining Table, 8 ft, in Dark Walnut by August Abode

$16,200 / item

H 30 in W 96 in D 44.5 in

Sunset Dining Table, 8 ft, in Dark Walnut by August Abode

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Desk (48" x 24" x 30"). All of our pieces are bench made in Los Angeles by local artisans. Current

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Dining Room Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Sunset Dining Table, 9 ft, in Natural White Oak by August Abode
Sunset Dining Table, 9 ft, in Natural White Oak by August Abode

Sunset Dining Table, 9 ft, in Natural White Oak by August Abode

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Sunset Writing Desk (48" x 24" x 30"). All of our pieces are bench-made in Los Angeles by local artisans

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Dining Room Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Recent Sales

Elinor McGuire Caned Three Drawer Desk Desk with Chair
Elinor McGuire Caned Three Drawer Desk Desk with Chair

Elinor McGuire Caned Three Drawer Desk Desk with Chair

By McGuire

Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Fabulous McGuire caned writing desk. Measures: 48" W x 24" D x 29.5" H. Three drawers across the

Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Desk- Walnut & Chrome 48" L x 26" D, American Ca. 1970's
Desk- Walnut & Chrome 48" L x 26" D, American Ca. 1970's

Desk- Walnut & Chrome 48" L x 26" D, American Ca. 1970's

Located in New York, NY

Walnut & chrome desk with three drawers. American ca. 1970's

Category

Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

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Carlton Coffee Table 36" DIA,  in Vintage Burl Wood Finish by August Abode
Carlton Coffee Table 36" DIA,  in Vintage Burl Wood Finish by August Abode

Carlton Coffee Table 36" DIA, in Vintage Burl Wood Finish by August Abode

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Figural woods and casual, clean lines combine in our Carlton Table, shown here in our Vintage Burl Wood finish. Dimensions: 16" H x 36" DIA About this piece: Natural variations ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood, Ash, Olive, Burl

Anambé Brazilian Unique Rare Wood Dining Table round
Anambé Brazilian Unique Rare Wood Dining Table round

Anambé Brazilian Unique Rare Wood Dining Table round

By Alessandra Delgado

Located in Alto da Lapa, SP

Anambé dining table is part of a very important project to develop poor Amazonian communities in the art of manufacturing design furniture using correctly the FSC certified wood prod...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Minimalist Dining Room Tables

Materials

Wood

Sasco Semi-Flush Mount Brass Light Fixture, Custom Finishes
Sasco Semi-Flush Mount Brass Light Fixture, Custom Finishes

Sasco Semi-Flush Mount Brass Light Fixture, Custom Finishes

Located in Pound Ridge, NY

The Sasco is a versatile custom-made solid brass and glass globe light fixture, which can be mounted on the ceiling or wall. Shown here in our factory brass, an uneven unfinished br...

Category

2010s American Flush Mount

Materials

Brass

Leather Meander Flexible Wall Sconce
Leather Meander Flexible Wall Sconce

Leather Meander Flexible Wall Sconce

$975 / item

H 16 in W 5 in D 12 in

Leather Meander Flexible Wall Sconce

Located in Pound Ridge, NY

Leather wrapped flexible arm wall light you can pose and adjust as you wish. This is our updated Meander Reader light with larger cone shade and new upward angled arm. Lamping: Sing...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Metal, Brass, Nickel

Custom Made Round Sheepskin Ottoman with Oak Ball Feet
Custom Made Round Sheepskin Ottoman with Oak Ball Feet

Custom Made Round Sheepskin Ottoman with Oak Ball Feet

Located in London, England

Custom-made ottomans developed & produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. This example is upholstered in 'Moonlight' cream sheepskin and features ...

Category

2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Sheepskin, Oak

Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool

Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool

By Bertu Furniture

Located in Oak Harbor, OH

Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The stool is chunky and modern...

Category

2010s American Modern Stools

Materials

Wood, Oak

Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchairs
Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchairs

Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchairs

$14,747 / set

H 33.47 in W 33.08 in D 35.44 in

Pair of Custom Made Sheepskin Karu Armchairs

Located in London, England

A pair of reproduction armchairs in the 1940s Danish modern style. The Karu chair is a contemporary update of a classic design first produced in Finland by the HAIMI OY company in t...

Category

2010s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Club Chairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut

Pair of 70s Style Italian Bamboo and Brass Table Lamps
Pair of 70s Style Italian Bamboo and Brass Table Lamps

Pair of 70s Style Italian Bamboo and Brass Table Lamps

Located in New York, NY

Monumental size Bamboo lamps. Crafted in Italy and made to order, these lamps are modern and chic. Production lead time 2-4 weeks. Base diameter 8 inches, hat diameter 20 inches, he...

Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

Pair of Park Night Stands in Poplar Burl by Yaniv Chen for Lemon
Pair of Park Night Stands in Poplar Burl by Yaniv Chen for Lemon

Pair of Park Night Stands in Poplar Burl by Yaniv Chen for Lemon

$6,944 / set

H 24.01 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in

Pair of Park Night Stands in Poplar Burl by Yaniv Chen for Lemon

By Lemon

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Structure: Made from Poplar Burl veneer with solid oak edging, the Park Nightstand is finished with matching veneer on both the exterior and interior. The inside includes an adjustab...

Category

2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals

Materials

Wood, Poplar, Burl

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö

By Örsjö Industri AB

Located in Glendale, CA

'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps

Materials

Textile

Large Swedish Modern Mirror in Solid Pine, Glas Mäster Markaryd, Sweden, 1960s
Large Swedish Modern Mirror in Solid Pine, Glas Mäster Markaryd, Sweden, 1960s

Large Swedish Modern Mirror in Solid Pine, Glas Mäster Markaryd, Sweden, 1960s

By AB Markaryd

Located in The Hague, NL

This striking, large mirror was produced by Glas Mäster in Markaryd, Sweden, in the late 1960s. This generously sized rectangular mirror can be placed as floor mirror and can also be...

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Pine

Mustard Mohair Velvet Round Ottoman with Oak Feet, Modern UK Design
Mustard Mohair Velvet Round Ottoman with Oak Feet, Modern UK Design

Mustard Mohair Velvet Round Ottoman with Oak Feet, Modern UK Design

Located in London, England

Dagmar Design - Round Ottoman Custom-made ottoman developed & produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. These examples are upholstered in a mustar...

Category

2010s British Scandinavian Modern Ottomans and Poufs

Materials

Oak, Mohair, Velvet

Karma Large Sofa in Byblos White Upholstery by Sergio Bicego
Karma Large Sofa in Byblos White Upholstery by Sergio Bicego

Karma Large Sofa in Byblos White Upholstery by Sergio Bicego

$7,011Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 33.08 in W 106.3 in D 43.31 in

Karma Large Sofa in Byblos White Upholstery by Sergio Bicego

By Saba Italia, Sergio Bicego

Located in Brooklyn, NY

The Karma collection is the ultimate expression of the versatility of Saba Italia products: a sofa that fits seamlessly into both modern settings and more classical homes. Karma has ...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Sofas

Materials

Upholstery

Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Petrol  by Yiannis Ghikas
Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Petrol  by Yiannis Ghikas

Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Petrol by Yiannis Ghikas

$2,000Sale Price / item|20% Off

H 17.72 in Dm 14.97 in

Soda Blown Murano Glass High Coffee Table in Petrol by Yiannis Ghikas

By Miniforms, Yiannis Ghikas

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Soda was born upside-down, with a puff of air. It weighs 20 kilos, and it is blown, drawn out and shaped by three master glassmakers. The result is a single volume of glass with thre...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Blown Glass

Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon
Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon

Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon

By Lemon

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Neatly proportioned with exceptional detailing, the constant nightstand is your perfect bedside partner. In our furniture making, the IDEA is to create special pieces that you can bu...

Category

2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals

Materials

Hardwood

August Abode Finish Samples
August Abode Finish Samples

August Abode Finish Samples

$25 / item

H 2.5 in W 3.5 in D 0.25 in

August Abode Finish Samples

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Finish samples are sold per sample, not as a set. When ordering, please specify which finish you'd like. Please keep in mind the natural variation inherent to wood. Stained pieces ...

Category

2010s Dining Room Tables

Materials

Maple, Pine, Wood, Burl, Walnut, Teak, Oak, Hardwood

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48 Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal 48 writing desk for your home. A 48 writing desk — often made from wood, metal and mahogany — can elevate any home. Find 680 options for an antique or vintage 48 writing desk now, or shop our selection of 18 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. There are many kinds of the 48 writing desk you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Each 48 writing desk bearing mid-century modern, Victorian or Georgian hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made 48 writing desk over the years, but those crafted by Paul McCobb, Planner Group and Pierre Jeanneret are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a 48 Writing Desk?

A 48 writing desk can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $2,995, while the lowest priced sells for $378 and the highest can go for as much as $132,000.

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.