Formica Top Desk
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Formica, Walnut
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Birch, Ebony
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood, Paint
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Mahogany, Maple
Vintage 1940s Italian Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Laminate, Walnut
Recent Sales
Vintage 1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1950s Dutch Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Bauhaus Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Formica, Walnut, Plywood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood
Vintage 1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Hardwood
Vintage 1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Birch
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Formica, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Formica
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Formica
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Sheet Metal, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1940s Desks
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1960s American Secretaires
Walnut
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Sheet Metal
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Laminate, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum, Chrome
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1970s American Space Age Desks
Plastic, Formica, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood, Teak
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Formica
Vintage 1970s American Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1960s French Desks
Mahogany, Formica, Glass
20th Century American Desks
Chrome
Vintage 1940s French Tables
Formica
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
Vintage 1930s German Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
2010s American Bauhaus Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Laminate, Ash
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Beds and Bed Frames
Bentwood
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Fabric, Wood
Vintage 1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
Vintage 1980s Italian Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
Formica Top Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Formica Top 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.
- What is a Formica table top?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021Formica table tops are tabletops that are made of a composite material invented for industrial products in the early 1900s. Formica, today, is one of the brands that produces HPL, a high-pressure laminate that is heat-resistant and durable and ideal for use in tabletop construction. Find a collection of antique and vintage tables on 1stDibs.
- What is a roll top desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A roll top desk is a piece of furniture that has a wooden cover that can be pulled down when the desk is not in use. Shop a collection of roll top furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- What is a roll top desk called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Sometimes, roll-top desks are called tambours, sliding roll desks or roll-up desks. However, roll-top is the most commonly used name. The style of desk became popular during the 19th century. You can find a range of roll-top desks on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023The leather top on a desk is usually just called a leather top. However, some people refer to it as a leather insert or leather writing surface. The thin pieces of leather that go into making leather-top desks are known as skivers. Shop a variety of desks from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A roll top desk kept small essentials and paperwork organized. The roll top design was ideal for business people to secure their desks at the end of the day without filing away their work. Browse a variety of roll top desks on 1stDibs.
- Can I paint a leather desk top?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021Yes, you can paint a leather desk top. You can transform an old leather desk top and add visual appeal with easy-to-use leather paint. If you don’t feel confident in trying this by yourself, get in touch with a furniture restorer or related professional for help. Find a variety of leather desk tops on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Roll-top desks are originally from the late 18th century in the Georgian era of England. By the middle of the Victorian era, they were found in most offices and produced on a large scale. Shop a range of antique roll-top desks on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To tell if a roll-top desk is an antique, look closely at the materials. Real antiques feature hardwoods like cherry, mahogany and black walnut. If you detect the use of engineered woods, the desk is a reproduction. Also, early pieces show off irregular dovetail joints. Joints that appear perfectly uniform indicate that a roll-top desk is a more recent mass-produced piece. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted antique roll-top desks.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A variety of factors can determine the exact age of an antique roll top desk. Some things to look for is the type of wood and craftsmanship used to create the desk. Typically, older desks will be made from heavier wood. You can also check for a maker’s marks to determine the age. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your roll top desk. You’ll find a variety of expertly vetted roll top desks on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021A roll top desk can be worth anywhere between $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the condition, materials used and time of manufacturing. Roll top desks are expensive, as they are very popular on the antique furniture market and are considered timeless collectibles. Shop a range of antique and vintage roll top desks on 1stDibs.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
May’s Most Popular Interiors on Instagram
Our feed is filled with the world's most beautiful spaces. See the rooms our followers have deemed the best of the best this month.
New Orleans’ Lee Ledbetter Makes Design Magic by Mixing Past and Present
The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
Desert Modern Designer Arthur Elrod Finally Gets His Day in the Sun
The Palm Springs interior decorator developed a mid-century style that defined the vacation homes of celebrities and other notables, including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.
From the Hamptons to Palm Springs, FormArch’s Homes Embody Both Comfort and Cool
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.