What is a writing desk?

A writing desk may refer to a desk with a top, often sloping, for writing on or to a portable case with compartments to hold writing materials and a surface for writing.

What is a writing desk with drawers called?

A writing desk with drawers is also called a secretary. It is a desk with drawers, one of which can be pushed out and the front of the desk lowered to create a flat writing surface. These writing desks have been made in a variety of styles over the years. Shop for a variety of writing tables with drawers on 1stDibs.

What is a small writing desk called?

A small writing table is also called a davenport table or davenport desk. They normally feature a sloped or inclined top attached with hinges to the back of the table. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage davenport desks.

What is an old-fashioned writing desk called?

What an old-fashioned writing desk is called varies by design. Pieces with drop-down fronts are secretary desks (these are typically made of two parts: a chest of drawers on the bottom and a hutch or cupboard with shelves on the top), while ones that rest on two pillars, cabinets or bookcases are pedestal desks. A desk with a small writing surface positioned in front of drawers and cubbies is a bureau à gradin. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of desks.

What's the difference between a desk and a writing table?

Desks typically include drawers or storage compartments, while writing tables (and secretary desks) offer a flatter surface with little to no built-in storage.

What was the term in French furniture for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface?

In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.

What's the difference between a mid-century modern desk and a writing table?

Desks typically include drawers or storage, while writing tables are a flatter, more minimal work surface; check the listing description for storage details.

Baroque Writing Desk

Library Tables And Desks

Mid Century Desk Legs

Walnut Desk Turned Legs

Spanish Table Iron Stretcher

Italian Walnut Baroque Table

Spanish 19th Century Oak Table

Antique Oak Library Table

Italian Inlay Desks

19th C. Spanish Walnut Single Plank Top Side Table Desk with Carved Lyre Legs

$2,800

19th C. Spanish Walnut Single Plank Top Side Table Desk with Carved Lyre Legs

Located in Dallas, TX

Crafted in Spain circa 1870, this antique side table or writing desk is constructed from solid walnut and features a warm, rich patina developed over time.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Baroque Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wrought Iron

Catalan Spanish Lady Desk or Console Table in Carved Walnut and Iron Stretcher

$3,980Sale Price|20% Off

Catalan Spanish Lady Desk or Console Table in Carved Walnut and Iron Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th century Catalan Spanish lady desk or console table in carved walnut & iron stretcher with five up drawers and two in the base table. Very heavy and resistant, ready for use. ...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Large Spanish Two Faces Baroque Style Oak Library Table or Center table

$6,475

Large Spanish Two Faces Baroque Style Oak Library Table or Center table

Located in Miami, FL

Handsome walnut library piece that can be used as a desk or Work table. Made of walnut having carved gadrooned and lyre legs and a stretcher made of iron. Carved on all sides . 19th...

Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Late 18th Century Spanish Walnut Table with Carved Drawer Fronts, Iron Stretcher

$15,000

Late 18th Century Spanish Walnut Table with Carved Drawer Fronts, Iron Stretcher

Located in Atlanta, GA

This Spanish Baroque style table dates to the late 18th century and is crafted in solid walnut, combining restrained architectural form with bold, vernacular detailing. The rectangul...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wrought Iron

19th Spanish Sturdy Side Table with Carved Turned Legs and Double Stretcher

$4,410

19th Spanish Sturdy Side Table with Carved Turned Legs and Double Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th Spanish side table with turned legs and double stretcher match in the button top. The top has a beautiful grain and patina

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

19th Spanish Sturdy Side Table with Carved Turned Legs and Double Stretcher

$2,940

19th Spanish Sturdy Side Table with Carved Turned Legs and Double Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th Spanish side table with turned legs and double stretcher, one in solid iron and one in the lower part leg to leg in wood. The top has a beautiful grain and patina

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Lombard Baroque writing desk second quarter 18th century

$6,687Sale Price|20% Off

Lombard Baroque writing desk second quarter 18th century

By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting

Located in Milano, IT

Writing desk resting on wavy legs with goat's feet, drawer in the under-shelf band, top and riser with carved cimasa depicting phytomorphic motifs and central star. At the bottom, t...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple, Nutwood

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Iron Stretcher

$2,975

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Iron Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th Spanish side table with cared Solomonic turned legs and iron stretcher. The top has a carved edges and a beautiful grain and patina.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Iron Stretcher

$2,975

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Iron Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th Spanish side table with cared Solomonic turned legs and iron stretcher. The top has a carved edges and a beautiful grain and patina.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Table Centre Dining Library Dismantable X Trestles Oak Fruitwood

$10,806

Table Centre Dining Library Dismantable X Trestles Oak Fruitwood

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

A South German oak, shaped X' ended table with detachable fruitwood top with decorative cleated band This table is easily dismantled and retains the original pegs The cleated edge ...

Category

Antique 17th Century German Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fruitwood, Oak

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Wood Stretcher

$5,490

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Wood Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th Spanish Side Table with cared turned legs and wood stretcher and also an iron stretcher The top has a carved edges and a beautiful grain and patina.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Iron Stretcher

$2,590

19th Spanish Side Table with Cared Turned Legs and Iron Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th Spanish side table with cared Solomonic turned legs and iron stretcher. The top has a carved edges and a beautiful grain and patina.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Important Filipine Table of the 17th Century

$6,315

Important Filipine Table of the 17th Century

Located in Madrid, ES

Important FilipineIndo-Portuguese table of the 17th century, in Brazilian rosewood, with two drawers. Signs of use. Dim.: 82 x 86 x 133 cm.

Category

Antique 17th Century Portuguese Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

19th Catalan Spanish Cabinet on Stand in Carved Walnut and Iron Stretcher

$5,580Sale Price|20% Off

19th Catalan Spanish Cabinet on Stand in Carved Walnut and Iron Stretcher

Located in Miami, FL

19th Catalan Spanish cabinet on stand in carved walnut with two doors in the cabinet.

Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

19th Century Baroque Style Walnut Writing Table with Cabriole Legs

$18,723Sale Price|20% Off

19th Century Baroque Style Walnut Writing Table with Cabriole Legs

Located in Lisbon, PT

The richly toned walnut, serpentine top, shaped apron, and expressive cabriole legs create a sophisticated composition that reflects the enduring influence of European Baroque furnit...

Category

Antique 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Desks

Materials

Wood

Antique Italian Baroque Style Barley Twist Walnut Writing Table

$5,590

Antique Italian Baroque Style Barley Twist Walnut Writing Table

Located in Pasadena, TX

This is a high quality writing table. Its crafted from solid walnut. The legs showcase the baroque style with the bulbous knees. The stretchers are crafted in the Barley Twist style....

Category

20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Desks

Materials

Walnut

Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Library Table / Writing Table

$9,500

Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Library Table / Writing Table

Located in Charleston, SC

Late 17th Century Baroque Desk / Writing or Library Table with two drawers supported an elegant lyre-shaped base with intricately carved legs connected by wrought iron stretchers. th...

Category

Antique Late 17th Century Italian Baroque Desks

Materials

Wrought Iron

Custom Leather Writing Desk Pad by PARIONE, Gilt Embossed, Italy, 1990

$1,250

Custom Leather Writing Desk Pad by PARIONE, Gilt Embossed, Italy, 1990

By Hermès

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Custom luxury tooled leather writing desk pad with silver gilt embossed made in Firenze Italy. Italian Luxury desk pad in leather tanned in a rich dark brown hue and accentuated with...

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Baroque Desk Sets

Materials

Leather

Antique Carved Walnut Writing Desk with Upper Cabinet, Milan, 1730

$80,378

Antique Carved Walnut Writing Desk with Upper Cabinet, Milan, 1730

Located in Milano, IT

Writing desk with upper cabinet Milan, first half of the 18th century Carved walnut partially veneered in olive wood and walnut burl; traces of ebonizing. It measures 66.53 in x ...

Category

Antique 1730s Italian Baroque Desks

Materials

Olive, Walnut

English 18th C. Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk

$6,000Sale Price / set|20% Off

English 18th C. Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk

Located in Vero Beach, FL

English 18th Century Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk This is a fine example of the English spinet in its most fully developed form. Rare ca. 1760 pentag...

Category

Antique 18th Century English Baroque Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Tulipwood

Early 19th century Dutch inlaid oak writing slope

$3,376

Early 19th century Dutch inlaid oak writing slope

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Early 19th century Dutch inlaid oak writing slope circa 1800. Good quality Dutch writing slope presented in original condition, comprising of 2 parts. Top section made in oak with ...

Category

Antique 19th Century Dutch Baroque Desks

Materials

Oak

18th Century Spanish Baroque Chestnut & Iron Writing Desk

$6,800

18th Century Spanish Baroque Chestnut & Iron Writing Desk

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

Spanish, circa 1780, work-table or writing desk which is a modestly scaled Fratino, a distinctive style of refectory table commonly found in monasteries. It features a rectangular to...

Category

Antique 18th Century Spanish Baroque Dining Room Tables

Materials

Iron

Vintage Bavarian Baroque Style Hand Painted Table Writing Desk

$3,200

Vintage Bavarian Baroque Style Hand Painted Table Writing Desk

Located in Vero Beach, FL

Vintage Bavarian Baroque Style Hand Painted Table Writing Desk Early 20th century Bavarian hand painted writing table in Baroque style.

Category

Early 20th Century German Baroque Tables

Materials

Pine

18th Century Baroque Secretary or Writing Desk in Walnut

$9,186

18th Century Baroque Secretary or Writing Desk in Walnut

Located in Dusseldorf, DE

Exceptional Baroque secretary or writing desk, probably from southern Germany, around 1760.

Category

Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Nutwood, Walnut, Pine

Table Centre Desk Writing Walnut Double Dolphin Handle Genoa Baroque

$11,481

Table Centre Desk Writing Walnut Double Dolphin Handle Genoa Baroque

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Unusally Large Italian Walnut Centre, Occassional or Writing Table, Genoa Unusual large size with classical elegance and form Conceived as a center table as the frieze decoration...

Category

Antique 1680s Italian Baroque Center Tables

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Solid Oak Baroque Fluted Legs Desk Writing Table or Console

$4,670

19th Century Solid Oak Baroque Fluted Legs Desk Writing Table or Console

Located in Miami, FL

Height from the floor to the bottom drawer: 23.42in An 19th century Spanish baroque desk, or writing table made of solid oak with fluted shaped legs joined by solid wood stretched.

Category

Antique 1890s Spanish Baroque Console Tables

Materials

Iron

18th Century Original Painted Writing Desk Secretary, Sweden

$1,800

18th Century Original Painted Writing Desk Secretary, Sweden

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

A late 18th Century Folk Art Baroque Scandinavian original painted writing desk secretary.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Table Rent Center Writing Desk Spanish Top 1 plank Chestnut Iron Handles L56"

$20,261

Table Rent Center Writing Desk Spanish Top 1 plank Chestnut Iron Handles L56"

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Rare Spanish Rent table beautifully made with panelled detailing inside the open back where the tennant or client would sit to pay their dues. Characteristic, richly coloured and p...

Category

Antique 1650s Spanish Baroque Center Tables

Materials

Chestnut

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Baroque Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal baroque writing desk for your home. A baroque writing desk — often made from wood, walnut and metal — can elevate any home. If you’re shopping for a baroque writing desk, we have 142 options in-stock, while there are 1 modern editions to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect baroque writing desk — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. Each baroque writing desk bearing Baroque, Louis XV or Louis XVI hallmarks is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one baroque writing desk that is appealing in its simplicity, but Baker Furniture Company and John Richard produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Baroque Writing Desk?

Prices for a baroque writing desk start at $645 and top out at $85,852 with the average selling for $4,993.

Finding the Right Desks-writing-tables for You

Vintage desks and writing tables span centuries of design. The writing table came first, a simple surface built for correspondence, while the drawered desk followed as record-keeping at home and in the office grew more demanding.

Styles to Know

Any desk at least 20 years old falls under this broader vintage category. If you want a tapered-leg, mid-century look specifically, browse mid-century modern desks; Louis XVI and Art Deco secretary desks bridge the writing-table and desk forms. A vintage table lamp adds task lighting to either.

How to Choose the Right Vintage Piece

Writing tables often carry little to no storage of their own, so a separate file cabinet or desk organizer may be worth planning for, alongside a close look at the surface dimensions against the space available. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed, and every purchase is covered by the 1stDibs Promise.

Questions About Baroque Writing Desk

What is a writing desk?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
A writing desk may refer to a desk with a top, often sloping, for writing on or to a portable case with compartments to hold writing materials and a surface for writing.
What is a writing desk with drawers called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
A writing desk with drawers is also called a secretary. It is a desk with drawers, one of which can be pushed out and the front of the desk lowered to create a flat writing surface. These writing desks have been made in a variety of styles over the years. Shop for a variety of writing tables with drawers on 1stDibs.
What is a small writing desk called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
A small writing table is also called a davenport table or davenport desk. They normally feature a sloped or inclined top attached with hinges to the back of the table. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage davenport desks.
What is an old-fashioned writing desk called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
What an old-fashioned writing desk is called varies by design. Pieces with drop-down fronts are secretary desks (these are typically made of two parts: a chest of drawers on the bottom and a hutch or cupboard with shelves on the top), while ones that rest on two pillars, cabinets or bookcases are pedestal desks. A desk with a small writing surface positioned in front of drawers and cubbies is a bureau à gradin. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of desks.
What's the difference between a desk and a writing table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2026
Desks typically include drawers or storage compartments, while writing tables (and secretary desks) offer a flatter surface with little to no built-in storage.
What was the term in French furniture for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.
What's the difference between a mid-century modern desk and a writing table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 16, 2026
Desks typically include drawers or storage, while writing tables are a flatter, more minimal work surface; check the listing description for storage details.