Drexel Writing Desk
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Desks
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1970s American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Cane, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood, Lacquer
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Faux Leather, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Oak, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry, Mahogany
20th Century American Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century Italian Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
20th Century Italian Federal Desks and Writing Tables
Burl, Walnut
Late 20th Century Unknown Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
20th Century American Rococo Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry, Mahogany
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
20th Century American Federal Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Chestnut
Antique 19th Century American Federal Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Walnut
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Fruitwood
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Late 20th Century American Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Late 20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Cherry
Late 20th Century American Federal Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Elm
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Other Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Leather
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Wood, Oak, Rosewood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
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Early 2000s Japanese Anglo-Japanese Table Lamps
Metal
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1880s English Folk Art Nautical Objects
Wool
Late 20th Century Unknown Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
1990s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desks
Teak
Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco End Tables
Brass
2010s Contemporary Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil, Panel
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Velvet, Walnut
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Queen Anne Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Georgian Desks
Brass
2010s Italian Sofas
Upholstery
Drexel Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Drexel Writing Desk?
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.