Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
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Limbert Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Circa 1910
By Charles Limbert
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period library table or writing desk
By Charles P
Category
1910s American Mission Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 29.5 in W 44 in D 30 in
Antique L. & J. G. Stickley Mission Oak Library Writing Table Desk & Chair 1902
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American Mission oak library table or desk and matching chair, L & J.G. Stickley, circa
Category
Early 1900s American Mission Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Bronze
H 29 in W 36 in D 24 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period writing desk or library table
By Gustav
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Limbert Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Refinished
By Charles Limbert
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts library table or writing desk
By Charles P
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.13 in W 48 in D 32.25 in
Lifetime Furniture Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc., Lifetime
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Lifetime
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Limbert Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Charles Limbert
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts library table or writing desk
By Charles P
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 42 in D 26.13 in
Lifetime Furniture Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Lifetime
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 28.75 in W 48 in D 29.25 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 30.13 in W 48.13 in D 29.63 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav Stickley
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Lifetime Furniture Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
By Lifetime
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Lifetime Furniture
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 48.25 in D 30.38 in
Stickley Brothers Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Restored
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Stickley Brothers
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.75 in W 60 in D 36 in
Stickley Brothers Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Stickley Brothers
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Refinished
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Antique Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Charles Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Charles
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 48 in D 30.25 in
Limbert Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Newly Restored
By Charles Limbert, Limbert Dutch Arts and Crafts Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mission or Arts & Crafts library table or desk.
By Charles P. Limbert Co.
USA
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Stickley Brothers Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Restored
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 30.75 in W 42 in D 27.5 in
Antique Stickley Brothers Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Early Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period quarter sawn oak writing desk or library
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 28.75 in W 35.63 in D 22.88 in
Limbert Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table, 1910
By Charles Limbert
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts library table or writing desk
By Charles P
Category
1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 28 in W 48 in D 32 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Trestle Library Table or Writing Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts trestle library table or writing desk
By
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 29.38 in W 48 in D 29.63 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Spindle Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts quarter sawn oak spindle writing desk or
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 28.88 in W 48 in D 29.75 in
Stickley Brothers Style Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
By Charles Limbert, Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts quarter sawn oak library table or writing desk with
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 29.25 in W 48.25 in D 28.13 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Trestle Library Table or Writing Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts trestle library table or writing desk
By
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 29 in W 48 in D 30 in
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 30.13 in W 54 in D 32 in
Limbert Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Circa 1910
By Charles Limbert
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts library table or writing desk
By Charles P
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 48 in D 34.13 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Circa 1900
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 30.25 in W 48 in D 29.63 in
Limbert Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Circa 1900
By Charles Limbert
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts library table or writing desk
By Charles P
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29 in W 48 in D 30.5 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Trestle Library Table or Writing Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts trestle library table or writing desk
By
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 28.25 in W 48.25 in D 29.75 in
Stickley Brothers Style Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
In the manner of
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29 in W 53.5 in D 31.25 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Trestle Library Table or Writing Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts trestle library table or writing desk
By
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 29 in W 48 in D 30 in
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Newly Restored
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.5 in W 42 in D 26 in
Antique Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Newly Restored
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 42 in D 28 in
Antique Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Newly Restored
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29 in W 48 in D 30 in
Stickley Brothers Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Leather Top Desk or Library Table
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29 in W 48.5 in D 30 in
Antique Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table, Circa 1900
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 42 in D 28 in
Limbert Style Antique Mission Tiger Oak Arts & Crafts Trestle Library Table
By Charles Limbert
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Mission or Arts & Crafts tiger oak trestle library table or writing desk
In the
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 28.75 in W 48 in D 28.5 in
Stickley Brothers Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing or Library Table
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Stickley Brothers
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 30.25 in W 42 in D 28 in
Antique Stickley Brothers Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing or Library Table
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Stickley Brothers
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 42 in D 27.75 in
Antique L. & J. G. Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing or Library Table
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 36 in D 24 in
Imperial Furniture Grand Rapids Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
In the manner of
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Imperial Furniture Grand Rapids Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
In the manner of
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Circa 1900
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Lifetime Furniture Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk With Built-In Bookcases
By Lifetime
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table with built-in bookcases
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.75 in W 44 in D 28.5 in
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Newly Refinished
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 36.75 in W 38 in D 22.88 in
Stickley Brothers Style Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk With Bookcases
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table with built-in
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 40 in D 25.5 in
Stickley Brothers Style Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk With Built-In Bookcases
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts quarter sawn oak writing desk or library table with
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 30.25 in W 42 in D 26 in
L. & J. G. Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk, Newly Refinished
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 42 in D 26 in
Antique L. & J. G. Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Refinished
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.25 in W 42 in D 28.25 in
Antique L. & J.G. Stickley Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk, Newly Restored
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts quarter sawn oak writing desk, library table, or
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
Antique Arts & Crafts Mission Oak Library Table Desk Ritter Bros Philadelphia
By Ritter Brothers
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique American Mission Arts & Crafts quarter sawn oak library table/writing desk, by
Category
1910s American Mission Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 28.75 in W 48 in D 35.75 in
L. & J. G. Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Trestle Dining Table
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mission or Arts & Crafts solid quarter sawn oak trestle dining table, library table
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 28.75 in W 71.75 in D 44.5 in
Gustav Stickley Early Library Table with Leather Top
By Gustav Stickley
Located in Northport, MI
An exceptional example of early American Arts and Crafts design, this rare hexagonal library table
Category
Early 1900s American Mission Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Brass
Gustav Stickley Early 20th Century Mission Oak Director's / Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in Northport, MI
This rare and exceptional Gustav Stickley Mission oak Director’s Table embodies the height of early
Category
Early 20th Century American Mission Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk, Newly Refinished
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table with built-in
Category
1910s American Mission Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
Stickley Brothers Style Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk, Newly Refinished
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period writing desk or library table with built-in
Category
Early 1900s American Mission Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak
H 29.75 in W 40 in D 26 in
Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Writing Desk From Frank Lloyd Wright's DeRhodes House
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table with built-in bookcases
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Oak, Cork
H 30 in W 42 in D 26 in
Stickley Brothers Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk, Newly Refinished
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table with built-in
Category
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 30.38 in W 47.75 in D 30 in
L. & J. G. Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Refinished
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An gorgeous antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By L. & J.G. Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table
Materials
Copper
H 29.13 in W 42 in D 28 in
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Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the antique mission oak desk library table you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of oak, wood and metal, every antique mission oak desk library table was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer antique mission oak desk library table, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. An antique mission oak desk library table, designed in the Arts and Crafts style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. A well-made antique mission oak desk library table has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Gustav Stickley, Stickley Brothers and Charles Limbert are consistently popular.
How Much is a Antique Mission Oak Desk Library Table?
Prices for an antique mission oak desk library table start at $715 and top out at $8,500 with the average selling for $2,623.
A Close Look at Arts-and-crafts Furniture
Emerging in reaction to industrialization and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement celebrated handcrafted design as a part of daily life. The history of Arts and Crafts furniture has roots in 1860s England with an emphasis on natural motifs and simple flourishes like mosaics and carvings. This work is characterized by plain construction that showcases the hand of the artisan.
The earliest American Arts and Crafts furniture dates back to the start of the 20th century. Designers working in this style in the United States initially looked to ideas put forth by The Craftsman, a magazine published by Wisconsin native Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and founder of the Craftsman style. Stickley’s furniture was practical and largely free of ornament. His Craftsman style drew on French Art Nouveau as well as the work he encountered on his travels in England. There, the leading designers of the Arts and Crafts movement included William Morris, who revived historical techniques such as embroidery and printed fabrics in his furnishings, and Charles Voysey, whose minimal approach was in contrast to the ornamentation favored in the Victorian era.
American Arts and Crafts work would come to involve a range of influences unified by an elevation of traditional craftsmanship. The furniture was often built from sturdy woods like oak and mahogany while featuring details such as inlaid metal, tooled leather and ceramic tiles. The style in the United States was led by Stickley, whose clean-lined chairs and benches showcased the grain of the wood, and furniture maker Charles Rohlfs, who was informed by international influences like East Asian and French Art Nouveau design.
Hubs in America included several utopian communities such as Rose Valley in Pennsylvania and the Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony in New York, where craftspeople made furniture that prioritized function over any decoration. Their work would influence designers and architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built some of the most elegant and iconic structures in the United States and likewise embraced a thoughtful use of materials in his furniture.
Find antique Arts and Crafts chairs, tables, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.
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.