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 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.

Colonial Writing Desks

Vietnam Desk

Colonial Secretary

Spanish Colonial Iron Table

Antique Spanish Desk

British Campaign Desk

Early American Writing Table

French Colonial Vietnam

British Colonial Mahogany Furniture

Stunning Dutch Colonial Writing or hall table early 19 Century

$3,085

Stunning Dutch Colonial Writing or hall table early 19 Century

Located in Den Haag, NL

Superb Dutch Colonial Writing desk or hall table . Manufactured in the Dutch Indies early 19

Category

Antique Early 1900s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Cushman Colonial Creations Writing Desk

$975

Cushman Colonial Creations Writing Desk

By H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company

Located in New York, NY

Rare diminutive writing desk by the H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company circa 1930's. The desk

Category

Mid-20th Century American Rustic Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Spanish Colonial Revival Writing Table Desk Library Table

$3,200

Spanish Colonial Revival Writing Table Desk Library Table

By Henredon, Baker Furniture Company

Located in Southampton, NJ

Outstanding Spanish Colonial style solid pine desk with three dovetailed drawers & forged iron

Category

2010s American Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Stickley American Colonial Cherry Wood Writing Desk, 1960

$1,755

Stickley American Colonial Cherry Wood Writing Desk, 1960

By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous American Colonial style writing desk or entry table By L. & J.G. Stickley USA

Category

Vintage 1960s American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Stickley Brothers American Colonial Maple Writing Desk, Newly Refinished

$2,545

Antique Stickley Brothers American Colonial Maple Writing Desk, Newly Refinished

By Stickley Brothers

Located in South Bend, IN

An exceptional antique American Colonial style maple writing desk By Stickley Brothers USA

Category

Early 20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple

Spanish Colonial Carved Walnut 1 Drawer Writing Library Table Desk Console MINT!

$4,750

Spanish Colonial Carved Walnut 1 Drawer Writing Library Table Desk Console MINT!

By Henredon, Baker Furniture Company, Drexel

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Spanish Colonial Carved Walnut 1 Drawer Writing Library Table Desk Console MINT!

Category

20th Century Italian Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Antique Spanish Colonial Style Carved Writing Table with Drawer

$3,800

Antique Spanish Colonial Style Carved Writing Table with Drawer

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A richly detailed Spanish Colonial style writing table, showcasing masterful hand-carved

Category

Antique 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

Anglo Indian Colonial Teak Desk, 1890s

$3,024

Anglo Indian Colonial Teak Desk, 1890s

Located in Montelabbate, PU

Large and sturdy desk from the late 1800s. Generously thick teak material. Below the full carved

Category

Antique 1890s British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Spanish Colonial Writing Table/Console, circa 18th-19th Century

$13,500

Spanish Colonial Writing Table/Console, circa 18th-19th Century

Located in Pasadena, CA

-drawer writing desk. The mesquite (perhaps sabino) wood structure is solid, with no apparent restorations

Category

Antique 19th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Kittinger Colonial Williamsburg Collection Mahogany Writing Table

$1,320Sale Price|20% Off

Kittinger Colonial Williamsburg Collection Mahogany Writing Table

By Kittinger Furniture Company

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This Kittinger Colonial Williamsburg Collection Mahogany Writing Table is a fine example of

Category

Vintage 1970s American Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique English British Colonial Leather Top Desk

$7,150

Antique English British Colonial Leather Top Desk

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Handsome 19th century English desk handcrafted in mahogany, in three piece construction, with brass

Category

Antique 19th Century English British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

1800s New England Pine Writing Desk

$1,850

1800s New England Pine Writing Desk

Located in Germantown, MD

Small writing desk from the 1800s in New England. Original patina. Good steady condition

Category

Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Antique British Colonial Campaign Chest with Pullout Desk

$11,900

Antique British Colonial Campaign Chest with Pullout Desk

Located in Palm Beach, FL

a pullout desk with nooks, drawers and a leather writing surface.

Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

British Colonial Style Vintage Bamboo and Grasscloth Desk Set

$5,995 / set

British Colonial Style Vintage Bamboo and Grasscloth Desk Set

By Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's

Located in Southampton, NJ

Midcentury British Colonial style 4-drawer writing desk or work table of bamboo wood frame

Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bamboo, Cane, Rattan, Glass, Wood

Antique English Leather Top Desk or Writing Table

$5,950

Antique English Leather Top Desk or Writing Table

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Handsome 19th century English desk handcrafted in mahogany with the original tooled leather top on

Category

Antique 19th Century English British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Pagoda Desk

$5,950

British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Pagoda Desk

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Impressive mid century desk crafted with a faux burnt bamboo frame having grasscloth panels on the

Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo

White Woven Wicker Writing Desk and Matching Side Chair

$3,982 / set

White Woven Wicker Writing Desk and Matching Side Chair

Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

This curated two-piece suite consists of a sophisticated woven wicker writing desk and a matching

Category

Late 20th Century Colonial Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wicker, Rattan, Wood

Dutch Colonial Teak Desk with Drawer and Turned Legs, Early 20th Century

$2,900

Dutch Colonial Teak Desk with Drawer and Turned Legs, Early 20th Century

Located in Yonkers, NY

An antique Dutch Colonial teak desk from the early 20th century, with single drawer and turned legs

Category

Early 20th Century Javanese Dutch Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Colonial Mahogany Handmade Writing Table Cum Console On Porcelain Castors

$3,960Sale Price|20% Off

Colonial Mahogany Handmade Writing Table Cum Console On Porcelain Castors

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

Simplicity of form and elegance shines through this beautiful Victorian writing desk; hand-crafted

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th Century Writing Table on Wheels Carved Walnut Desk

$3,245

French 19th Century Writing Table on Wheels Carved Walnut Desk

Located in Miami, FL

Writing table or desk made of walnut in the french late 19th century. This table was stripped by

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Spanish Colonial Desk or Console Table with Two Drawers Signed by Valentí

$5,496Sale Price|20% Off

Spanish Colonial Desk or Console Table with Two Drawers Signed by Valentí

By Valenti

Located in Miami, FL

Spanish colonial desk or console table with two drawers signed by Valentí This piece has a two

Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Hand-Crafted Early American Style Solid Pine Slant Front Writing Desk

$2,900

Hand-Crafted Early American Style Solid Pine Slant Front Writing Desk

Located in Germantown, MD

A beautifully hand-crafted early American Style Solid Pine Writing Desk in good vintage condition

Category

Late 20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Vintage Anglo Indian Campaign Style Hardwood Curule Writing Desk w/ Brass Inlay

$2,500

Vintage Anglo Indian Campaign Style Hardwood Curule Writing Desk w/ Brass Inlay

Located in Philadelphia, PA

. Vintage Anglo Indian Campaign Style Hardwood Curule Writing Desk w/ Brass Inlay, Three Dovetailed Drawers

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Rustic Colonial Cherry Walnut Tall Schoolmasters Desk Stand Table

$895

Antique Rustic Colonial Cherry Walnut Tall Schoolmasters Desk Stand Table

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique Rustic Colonial Cherry Walnut Tall Schoolmasters Desk Stand Table. Item featured has a lift

Category

Antique 19th Century Primitive Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry

Dos Gallos Custom Writing Desk with Spiral Legs, Drawers and Iron Supports

$15,700 / item

Dos Gallos Custom Writing Desk with Spiral Legs, Drawers and Iron Supports

By Dos Gallos Studio

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Our Custom Salamanca two-drawer oak writing desk with iron supports. Hand-carved details throughout

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Desks and Writin...

Materials

Iron

Custom Hand-Carved Walnut Writing Desk with Pencil Drawer by Dos Gallos Studio

$10,900 / item

Custom Hand-Carved Walnut Writing Desk with Pencil Drawer by Dos Gallos Studio

By Dos Gallos Studio

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Small scale, petite writing desk with barley twist legs, carved edge and apron detail as well as

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Desks and Writin...

Materials

Walnut

A 1980s colonial style carved wood and rattan desk by Roche Bobois

$4,104

A 1980s colonial style carved wood and rattan desk by Roche Bobois

By Roche Bobois

Located in London, GB

A 1980s colonial style carved wood and rattan desk by Roche Bobois, attributed to French rattan and

Category

Vintage 1980s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Brazilian desk

$9,074

Brazilian desk

Located in Paris, FR

Brazilian work, Solid mahogany desk with a rectangular top, partially gouged, and resting on four

Category

Late 20th Century Brazilian Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1930s Colonial Revival Style Turned and Veneered Occasional Bookshelf Table

$1,183Sale Price|20% Off

1930s Colonial Revival Style Turned and Veneered Occasional Bookshelf Table

Located in Lomita, CA

example. The style is colonial revival, popular during the 1930s to 1940s. The rectangular shaped table

Category

Early 20th Century American Colonial Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Spanish Colonial Narrow Console Table with Two Drawers with Iron Hardware

$2,137Sale Price|25% Off

Spanish Colonial Narrow Console Table with Two Drawers with Iron Hardware

By Valenti

Located in Miami, FL

Spanish colonial narrow console table with two carved drawers This piece has a two-pedestal legs

Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

19th Century Walnut Writing Table with Carved Family Crest, Spain

$4,650

19th Century Walnut Writing Table with Carved Family Crest, Spain

Located in Round Top, TX

Walnut writing table from Spain with decorative turned harp shaped legs and iron scrollwork

Category

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

Materials

Iron

Mahogany console desk, English, 19th century

$1,693

Mahogany console desk, English, 19th century

Located in Nice, FR

This desk is solid mahogany, it dates from the 19th century, English origin. It is in good

Category

Antique 1880s English British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bentwood

Black Lacquer English Antique Campaign Style Desk

$8,500

Black Lacquer English Antique Campaign Style Desk

Located in Chicago, IL

Black Lacquer English Antique Campaign Style Desk. Believe this to be from the 19th Century. Please

Category

Antique 19th Century English British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Antique Kroehler Manufacturing Disney Mickey & Minnie School Desk

$995

Antique Kroehler Manufacturing Disney Mickey & Minnie School Desk

By Kroehler Mfg. Co.

Located in Clarksboro, NJ

Delightfully nostalgic and wonderfully rare, this antique paint-decorated Disney school desk

Category

Vintage 1930s American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

Vintage Oak Desk with Seven Drawers, 1940s

$3,360

Vintage Oak Desk with Seven Drawers, 1940s

Located in Miami, FL

Stunning vintage oak desk, designed in France, circa 1940s. Crafted with meticulous attention to

Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

1970s Spanish Wood Brutalist Style Console Table Desk

$3,495

1970s Spanish Wood Brutalist Style Console Table Desk

Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

This exuberant console table or desk originates from Spain and shows the highly decorative

Category

Vintage 1970s Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Half Round Horse Shoe Shape Drop Leaf Ends Serving Writing Library Gallery Table

$7,500

Half Round Horse Shoe Shape Drop Leaf Ends Serving Writing Library Gallery Table

By Gustav Stickley

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Half Round Horse Shoe Shape Drop Leaf Ends Serving Writing Library Gallery Table. Hand Forged Iron

Category

20th Century American Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

Early American Solid Maple and Birch Drop Front Secretary Desk

$2,595

Early American Solid Maple and Birch Drop Front Secretary Desk

Located in South Bend, IN

A beautiful American Colonial or Chippendale style bureau with drop front secretary desk USA

Category

Vintage 1970s American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Spanish Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk

$3,500

Antique Spanish Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique Spanish Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk This beautiful

Category

Antique Early 1900s Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Early American Solid Maple and Birch Drop Front Secretary With Bookcase Hutch

$2,495

Early American Solid Maple and Birch Drop Front Secretary With Bookcase Hutch

Located in South Bend, IN

A beautiful American Colonial or Chippendale style bureau with drop front secretary desk and

Category

Vintage 1970s American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Early American Style Oak Single Drawer Sofa Table, Circa 1920s

$1,295

Early American Style Oak Single Drawer Sofa Table, Circa 1920s

Located in Germantown, MD

An Early American Style Oak Single Drawer Sofa Table or child desk. Knee clearance is 22". Measures

Category

Early 20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Oak

Custom Primitive Saint Anthony Table by Dos Gallos Studio

$15,015 / item

Custom Primitive Saint Anthony Table by Dos Gallos Studio

By Dos Gallos Studio

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Custom walnut dining table or desk with X-stretchers. Narrow profile. 1inch thick top. Can be made

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Desks and Writin...

Materials

Walnut

Antique Wooden Glass and Brass Top Wash Stand

$399Sale Price|50% Off

Antique Wooden Glass and Brass Top Wash Stand

By Al Black

Located in East Freetown, MA

Antique authentic wooden wash stand. Top has three sided ledge and glass insert with brass corners. Original wood has a fine patina.

Category

Early 20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood

Larkin Solid Antique Oak Quatersawn Table, circa 1900s

$1,675

Larkin Solid Antique Oak Quatersawn Table, circa 1900s

By Larkin & Co.

Located in Germantown, MD

as a writing table, bar table or as a center table. Good vintage condition Measures 36"W x x 23.5"Dx

Category

Early 20th Century American Colonial Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Mid-20th Century Refinished Coastal British Colonial Rattan Writing Desk

$4,295

Mid-20th Century Refinished Coastal British Colonial Rattan Writing Desk

Located in North Fort Myers, FL

A beautiful Mid-20th Century rattan writing desk showcasing a true balance of coastal charm and

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Organic Modern Desks

Materials

Rattan, Plywood

Vintage British Colonial Faux Bamboo & Grasscloth Desk

$2,000

Vintage British Colonial Faux Bamboo & Grasscloth Desk

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A stylish 20th century British Colonial style writing desk featuring a faux bamboo wood frame with

Category

20th Century Unknown British Colonial Desks

Materials

Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo

East India Dutch Company Captains Writing Desk

$23,581

East India Dutch Company Captains Writing Desk

By Southeast Asia

Located in London, GB

A captivating piece of history, the Dutch East Indian Captain's Writing Desk. This extraordinary

Category

Antique 1730s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Desks

Materials

Bone, Rosewood, Walnut

Antique Georgian Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Writing Desk Bureau

$2,625Sale Price|30% Off

Antique Georgian Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Writing Desk Bureau

Located in Dayton, OH

Exquisite antique early 19th century secretary writing storage desk. Made of flame mahogany

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Colonial Secretaires

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Mahogany

Colonial Era Desk, Teak, Indonesia, circa 1920

Unavailable|~~$5,600~~

Colonial Era Desk, Teak, Indonesia, circa 1920

Located in Jersey City, NJ

Colonial era desk, teak, Indonesia, circa 1920.

Category

Vintage 1920s Indonesian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Spanish Writing Table

Unavailable|~~$10,000~~

Spanish Writing Table

Located in San Francisco, CA

Spanish writing table with rectangular top on pierced double scroll-end-supports, joined by double

Category

Antique 18th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

English Colonial Regency Style Teak Wood Partners Desk, circa 1840

Unavailable|~~$12,500~~

English Colonial Regency Style Teak Wood Partners Desk, circa 1840

Located in Louisville, KY

Paneled top with a gadrooned edge over a frieze with three drawers on each side; raised on turned and tapering reeded legs ending with brass casters.

Category

Antique 19th Century Indian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Desk with Matching Stool in a Modernistic Dutch Colonial Style, 1930s

Unavailable|~~$10,284~~

Desk with Matching Stool in a Modernistic Dutch Colonial Style, 1930s

Located in Amsterdam, NL

The rectangular and asymmetrical shape of the desk is inspired by the New Hague School (1925-1940

Category

Vintage 1930s Indonesian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

18th Century Walnut Wood Spanish Clonial Writing Table, 1730s

Unavailable|~~$9,679~~

18th Century Walnut Wood Spanish Clonial Writing Table, 1730s

Located in Wyboston Lakes, GB

This table is from Spain It was used to written It was made in 1700 it is walnut It is restored.

Category

Antique 1720s Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Mid-18th Century Cuban Mahogany Dutch Marquetry Inlaid Writing Table

Unavailable|~~$8,277~~

Mid-18th Century Cuban Mahogany Dutch Marquetry Inlaid Writing Table

Located in Uppingham, Rutland

inlaid writing table or side table, circa 1750 and in beautiful condition. The quality or craftsmanship

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Sycamore, Holly

18th Century Spanish Walnut Desk

Unavailable|~~$17,500~~

18th Century Spanish Walnut Desk

Located in Stamford, CT

Carved Spanish walnut desk with three drawers, barley twist legs, and a center scrolled metal cross

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Magnificent Custom Handcrafted Nedun Wood Desk

Unavailable|~~$5,120~~

Early 20th Century Magnificent Custom Handcrafted Nedun Wood Desk

Located in Houston, TX

This is a superbly handcrafted Nedun wood executive desk from Galle district in Sri Lanka. Nedun

Category

20th Century Indian Dutch Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Secretary Desk, Spanish Style Mahogany Wood with Stenciled Drawer Fronts

Unavailable|~~$950~~

Secretary Desk, Spanish Style Mahogany Wood with Stenciled Drawer Fronts

Located in Seattle, WA

" length, 23" depth, 44" height. Writing surface 46" length by 14" depth, 32" height to desk top. Knee

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

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Colonial Writing Desks For Sale on 1stDibs

Find a variety of colonial writing desks available on 1stDibs. The range of distinct colonial writing desks — often made from wood, metal and hardwood — can elevate any home. Find 187 antique and vintage colonial writing desks at 1stDibs now, or shop our selection of 5 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished furniture. Colonial writing desks have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Colonial writing desks bearing Art Deco or Victorian hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made colonial writing desks over the years, but those made by Dos Gallos Studio, Kittinger Furniture Company and Baker Furniture Company are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Colonial Writing Desks?

Prices for colonial writing desks start at $595 and top out at $23,216 with the average selling for $3,703.

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 Colonial Writing Desks

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 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.

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