$2,165Sale Price|20% Off
H 47.64 in W 49.02 in D 29.34 in
French Walnut Louis Philippe Desk Leather Top Writing Table, 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
French 19th century Louis Philippe pine desk, the top is recovered of coated fabric. Ten drawers of
Chrome
$6,137
H 28.94 in W 25.79 in D 19.69 in
19th Century Louis Philippe Ebonised Marquetry Inlaid Bronze Extending Table
By Louis Philippe
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original 19th century Louis Philippe Ebonised
Satinwood, Walnut
19th century italian solid walnut Louis Philippe desk
Located in Nicolosi, IT
19th Century Italian Solid Walnut Louis Philippe Desk This desk is crafted from solid walnut, a
Walnut
$10,592
H 29.93 in W 41.34 in D 25.6 in
Superb small desk in Louis XVI style, after a model by Philippe Claude Montigny
By Philippe Claude Montigny
Located in Wien, AT
Philippe Claude Montigny (after a model by) – Superb small desk in Louis XVI style, 2nd half of the
Satin, Ebony, Oak
19th Century Louis Phllippe Style Oak Writing Table or Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome 19th century writing table or desk made in the French Louis Philippe taste. Crafted from
Oak
$7,980
H 29.5 in W 71 in D 39.5 in
19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Executive Leather Top Mahogany Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Executive Desk in Mahogany with Leather Top embodies the
Brass
French Satinwood Writing Table / Desk
Located in Huntington, NY
French Satinwood Writing Table / Desk Magnificent French handmade desk of outstanding quality and
Silver, Brass
$2,500
H 29.75 in W 51 in D 25.5 in
19th Century Louis Philippe Mahogany Bureau Plat Desk, Hand-Crafted
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Louis Philippe style bureau plat, or desk, made of solid and veneer of
Brass
$2,777Sale Price|20% Off
H 48.04 in W 33.86 in D 20.48 in
19th-Century Louis Philippe Walnut Wood & Veneer Secretary Desk After Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Louis Philippe Walnut Wood & Veneer Secretary Desk After Renovation Delicately shaped
Wood, Walnut
$6,826
H 30.71 in W 48.43 in D 22.45 in
Desk 19th Century Italy Walnut Drawers Louis Philippe Green Leather Top Restored
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Center Desk of 19th Century, Italy , in Walnut with 5 Drawers, style Louis Philippe with Green
Walnut
$2,800
H 26.75 in W 39.25 in D 19.75 in
19th Century French Louis Philippe Walnut Single Plank Top Side Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
France circa 1840 during the Louis Philippe period. Made from solid walnut, the piece features a
Walnut
Wooden travel writing desk early 20th century with red velvet top
Located in Miami, FL
Travel writing desk in Mahogany wood with fruit wood filets . 3 Drawers The writing spot inside
Wood
French 19th Century Louis Philippe St. Crouch Mahogany Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An impressive French mid-19th century Louis Philippe period flamed Mahogany and ormolu secretary
Ormolu
$5,400
H 35.25 in W 32.25 in D 24.5 in
French Louis Philippe Period Walnut Slant Front 2 Drawer Desk, ca 1835
Located in Atlanta, GA
Constructed entirely of walnut with ebonized details , the rear of the top is level while the front and majority of the hinged top slopes slightly downward, the tops with a raised g...
Walnut
$4,200
H 30.5 in W 52.5 in D 35 in
French Walnut Louis Philippe Period 1-Drawer Table, ca. 1840 and later
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular top with rounded corners atop a conforming case housing on drawer, the case raised on (later) turned legs
Walnut
Davenport Desk, Germany, 1870
Located in Belmont, MA
Introducing a delightful German Davenport desk dating back to 1870. This small and narrow desk
Walnut
Small 19th Century Desk With Straight Legs
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely little chestnut desk or table from the 19th century very beautiful top with a beautiful
Chestnut
Louis XVI Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Amaranth Bureau Plat
By Philippe Claude Montigny
Located in Kittery Point, ME
In the style of Montigny (Philippe-Claude Montigny, maitre in 1770), the rectangular tooled leather
Bronze
$9,500
H 28.5 in W 24 in D 17 in
French Paper Mache Black Lacquered & Foliage Painted Writing Table, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
French black lacquered and foliage painted writing table with hinged interior compartment, original
Lacquer, Paint, Paper
Inlaid secretaire, Northern Europe, early 20th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Inlaid secretaire desk, Northern Europe, early 20th century. Very good condition. Wood: walnut
Walnut
Majestic 1800s Period Console Desk
Located in Manzano, IT
We offer for sale an exceptional and fine period piece of furniture, a consular desk dating from the first half of the 19th century. A true masterpiece of cabinet making, combining ...
Nutwood
$7,296
H 31.11 in W 36.62 in D 22.05 in
Mid 19th Century High-Adjustable Architect's Table, Mahogany, France, circa 1850
Located in Greven, DE
x 56 cm, height adjustment: 79 - 120 cm Description: Rare writing and drawing table from the middle
Mahogany
19th Century Walnut Library Table
Located in High Point, NC
use as a desk for an additional cost.
Walnut
$4,850
H 32 in W 49.5 in D 25 in
Antique Danish "Hans Christian Andersen" Desk or Writing Table in Figured Walnut
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very handsome "Hans Christian Andersen" writing desk in beautiful figured walnut with one drawer
Walnut
$1,400
H 28.25 in W 37 in D 24 in
19th Century French Louis Philippe Wild Cherry Side Table or Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France circa 1850, this elegant antique Louis Philippe table is built in solid wild
Cherry
$4,800
H 88 in W 71.5 in D 19 in
French Louis Philippe Style Large Fruitwood Bookcase with Writing Desk
Located in Wichita, KS
Louis Philippe fruitwood cabinet featuring a sleek glass top. Adorned with window-pane style
Brass
Unavailable
H 29.5 in W 39.5 in D 24 in
French Louis-Philippe Mahogany and Bronze Mounted Leather Top Desk, Bronze Trim
Located in Toronto, ONTARIO
A French Louis-Philippe period desk or writing table in mahogany veneers, thick bronze bordered top
Bronze
Antique Louis Philippe Writing Desk
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Antique solid oak Louis Philippe writing desk or can also be used as a side table. Has some great
Oak
Louis Philippe Writing Desk Nut Wood, France, circa 1860
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary Louis Philippe writing desk out of France from the period, circa 1860. This
Brass
19th Century Louis Philippe Writing Desk in Walnut
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Elegant antique writing desk made from walnut wood and with a faux leather. Very practical
Faux Leather, Walnut
French Louis Philippe Tooled Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Wonderful 19th century French Louis Philippe writing desk with a tooled leather top. Well figure
Mahogany
19th Century Louis Philippe Walnut Burl Writing Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
19th century Louis Philippe writing desk in walnut - antique writing desk - antique desk - antique
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis Philippe Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Diminutive 19th century walnut writing table or desk made in the Louis Philippe period. The table
Walnut
Louis Philippe Period French Bureau Plat Writing Desk
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A handsome French bureau plat (writing desk), c.1840, Louis Philippe period, with figured walnut
Oak, Walnut
Louis Philippe Pine Writing Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis Philippe pine two drawer writing table, mid 19th century. With an overhanging top with molded
Pine
Louis Philippe Era Burled Walnut Leathertop Writing Table or Desk
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Louis Philippe period burled walnut writing table with gold tooled green leather top, barley twist
Walnut, Leather
19th Century French Louis Philippe Low Writing Table or Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic 19th century French Louis Philippe writing table or desk featuring a painted or waxed canvas
Canvas, Fruitwood, Oak
Sold
H 54.5 in W 58 in D 30 in
Antique French Carved Rosewood Louis Philippe Rococo Desk Bureau Writing Table
Located in Portland, OR
A spectacular antique French carved rosewood Louis Philippe rococo desk bureau, circa 1850. The
Rosewood
Sold
H 31 in W 60 in D 36 in
Dessin Fournir Louis Philippe Style Burl Wood Library Table or Writing Desk
By Dessin Fournir
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Louis Philippe style burl wood library table or writing desk by Dessin Fournir. The
Burl
Sold
H 30.75 in W 60 in D 36 in
Dessin Fournir Louis Philippe Style Burl Wood Library Table or Writing Desk
By Dessin Fournir
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Louis Philippe style burled olivewood library table or writing desk by Dessin
Burl
19th c. Louis Philippe Writing Game Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine Louis Philippe table with a reversible top, one side leather one side felt, made of solid
Louis Philippe Birch Leather Top Writing Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis Philippe birch writing table / desk with a tooled leather top, mid 19th century. With an
Leather, Birch
French Louis Philippe Black Lacquered Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Louis Philippe style black lacquered and polished desk with campaign-style X frame
Wood
French Louis Philippe Walnut Cylinder Desk, 1850s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice French Louis Philippe walnut cylinder writing desk with curtain, opening to reveal an
Walnut
French Louis Philippe Walnut Cylinder Desk, 1850s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice French Louis Philippe walnut cylinder writing desk with curtain, opening to reveal an
Walnut
French Louis Philippe Walnut Cylinder Desk, 1850s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice French Louis Philippe walnut cylinder writing desk with curtain, opening to reveal an
Walnut
French 19th Century Walnut Louis Philippe Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An extraordinary walnut French Louis Philippe period desk in great antique condition. Several
19th Century Louis Philippe Period French Cylinder Desk
Located in Austin, TX
This 19th century Louis Philippe period cylinder writing desk is a true masterpiece of French
Bronze
19th Century Louis Philippe Side Table or Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
19th century Louis Philippe side table or desk with gilded detail on its leather top.
Leather, Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Walnut Marble Top Writing Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Louis Philippe walnut marble top writing table represents the epitome of the
Marble
French 19th Century Burl Walnut Louis Philippe Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome desk, made of walnut, from 19th century France, done in the Louis Philippe style. The
Leather, Walnut, Burl
19th century French Louis Philippe Walnut Cylinder Desk, 1850s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice French Louis Philippe walnut cylinder writing desk with curtain, opening to reveal an
Walnut
French Late 19th Century Louis Philippe Style Secretary Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An interesting walnut desk or secretary, in the style of Louis Philippe, from 19th century, France
Louis Philippe Style Walnut Partners Desk and Chair Set
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French Louis-Philippe style partners desk and office chair. This large desk is made of solid
Leather, Walnut
Sold
H 51 in W 40.5 in D 27.25 in
French, Louis Philippe, Walnut Standing Desk or Lectern, ca. 1835-1840
Located in Atlanta, GA
This special desk is finished around so that it could float in a room, perhaps a lectern, a point
Walnut
Sold
H 30.5 in W 50 in D 33 in
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Burl Walnut Desk, Green Leather
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This nineteenth century French Louis Philippe period walnut desk features a gold tooled green
Brass
Sold
H 29 in W 49.5 in D 23 in
Rare Louis Philippe Period Burl Walnut Desk with Leather Top and Two Extensions
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Louis Philippe period desk is made of eye catching bookmatched burl walnut and stands on
Bronze
A Handsome French Louis Philippe Mahogany 5-Drawer Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
A handsome French Louis Philippe mahogany 5-drawer writing desk with leather top and brass mounts
French Louis-Phillipe Period Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French Louis-Phillipe Period desk. It has 2 extensions on each side. Each extension is 23.5inches
Mahogany
French Late Louis Philippe Period Oak Lectern Étagère
Located in Atlanta, GA
The upper slanted section with a raised bookrest has a hinge opening to a reveal a storage well, with three shaped shelves connecting turned front legs and block rear legs, early thi...
Oak
Sold
H 29.5 in W 36 in D 19.5 in
19th Century Louis Philippe Desk with One Long Drawer and Original Hardware
Located in Santa Monica, CA
French 19th century Louis Philippe walnut desk with rosewood inlay, one drawer and original
Rosewood, Walnut
19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in Forney, TX
, such as this rather petite antique writing desk. Louis Philippe furniture was functional, elegant
Leather, Mahogany, Oak
Inlaid bureau desk, France, circa 1880.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique bureau with extension, circa 1880, France. Dimensions: height 118 cm / width 93 cm / depth 46 cm
Walnut
Mahogany Antique Desk from circa 1890, after Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique desks, a secretary from the end of the 19th century. Furniture in very good condition
Mahogany
Sold
H 54.73 in W 41.34 in D 27.96 in
Antique desk with extension, late 19th century, Northern Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A desk with an extension from around 1890. The furniture is in very good condition. Dimensions
Walnut
Sold
H 31.89 in W 59.06 in D 38.98 in
Antique Oak Double-Sided Desk, Western Europe, Late 19th Century
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique double-sided desk made of oak. The piece of furniture dates from around 1890. Material
Oak
Sold
H 30.71 in W 54.34 in D 33.47 in
Sicilian Mahogany Feather Desk, Made in the Second Half of the 19th Century
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Sicilian mahogany feather desk, made in the second half of the 19th century, of a truly exceptional
Mahogany
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant and essential antique Italian writing desk. Louis Philippe period with classic shapely legs
Walnut
Antique French Louis Philippe Style Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
A charming late 19th-century French writing desk, side table, or a small kitchen table made in the
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Cherry Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant and essential antique Italian writing desk. Louis Philippe period with Classic shapely legs
Cherry
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant and essential antique Italian writing desk. Louis Philippe period with Classic shapely legs
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant and essential antique Italian writing desk. Louis Philippe period with Classic shapely legs
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant antique Italian writing desk. Rare and precious solid walnut wood. Comfortable size for a
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant antique Italian writing desk. Rare and precious solid walnut wood. Comfortable size for a
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant antique Italian writing desk. Rare and precious solid walnut wood. Comfortable size for a
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant and essential antique Italian writing desk. Rare and precious solid walnut wood
Walnut
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant antique Italian writing desk. Rare and precious solid walnut wood. Comfortable size for a
Walnut
French 19th Century Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Stunning French Louis Philippe walnut Secretaire a' Abattant in walnut. Beautiful details grace
Walnut
Sold
H 44.89 in W 51.19 in D 25.2 in
French Louis Philippe Walnut Cylinder Writing Desk Centre Bureau, 1850
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Beautiful cylinder front desk, opening to reveal an arrangement of small drawer and compartment
Walnut
Sold
H 40.95 in W 48.04 in D 26.78 in
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Cherry Wood Antique Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant antique Italian writing desk. Rare and precious solid cherry wood. Comfortable size for a
Walnut
19th Century French Walnut Table
Located in High Point, NC
19th Century walnut table from France with a beautifully grained top with a beveled edge, following down to a simple apron containing a single drawer in the front. The table is finis...
Walnut
Sold
H 31.25 in W 87.5 in D 35 in
Italian Cypresswood Library or Dining Table, 2nd Quarter, 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
The rectangular top with molded edge atop an apron above turned legs, the upper sections of the legs with a peculiar characteristic, a seemingly octagonal turning with only five stra...
Cypress
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Walnut Wood Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant and essential antique Italian writing desk. Rare and precious solid walnut wood
Walnut
Panoplie Iron Tripod Floor Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iron tripod floor lamp with slender legs and tapered feet. New wiring and new linen shade. Sold individually and newly made by Panoplie. Please inquire for current lead time. Measure...
Iron
Pair of Modern Walnut Side Tables
By Theodore Alexander
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Pacific walnut side table, the square top with rounded corners and a reeded edge above a similar under tier, on bobbin turned legs. Dimensions: 26" W x 26" D x 28.5" H.
Wood
19th Century mahogany inlaid writing desk
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality 19th Century mahogany inlaid writing desk, the super structure comprising of three mahogany lined drawers either side with the original turned brass knob handles and...
Mahogany
$1,660
H 26.78 in W 34.65 in D 22.84 in
Antique Louis XV Walnut Side Table or Ladies Desk, France, Circa 1730
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This antique French Louis XV side table, or ladies desk, is a real 18th century gem. Crafted from walnut, and opening with a single apron drawer, it would make a fabulous end table, ...
Walnut
Very Good Victorian Oak Writing Desk
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very good two drawer Victorian writing table with original leather surface, standing on turned legs with brass cup castors, freestanding, in overall great condition and colour. 29...
Oak
Panoplie Petite Iron Tripod Lamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Petite iron tripod lamp with slender legs and tapered feet. New wiring and new oyster linen shade. Multiple available, sold individually. Takes one E12 base bulb, up to 25 W or highe...
Iron
European Black Rustic Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Exquisitely designed to blend elegance with functionality. Crafted from high-quality mahogany wood and finished in our luxurious Batavia Black, this desk is a perfect addition to any...
Wood
Bespoke Handmade Belgian Linen Sofa
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Introducing the home collection. An iconic, unobtrusive design. A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium....
Linen
$2,280
H 28.75 in W 49.22 in D 32.88 in
Danish Baroque-Inspired Oak Desk / Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs, 1900s
By Philip Arctander, Pierre Chapo
Located in Odense, DK
This charming table blends rustic craftsmanship with decorative elegance. Made from solid oak, it features beautifully turned barley twist legs – a detail that became popular during ...
Oak
Vintage Spanish Baroque Carved Mahogany Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: New Upholstery Recommended, Wood In Very Good Condition Designer: The Zangerle & Peterson Co. Manufacturer: The Zangerle & Peterson Co. Materials: Mahogany, Original Ne...
Iron
$3,495
H 38 in W 47.5 in D 22.25 in
Early 19th Century French Restauration Period Book Matched Walnut Buffet
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early nineteenth century French Restauration period buffet or sideboard originally belonged to a judge in a manor house on the Rue de Carcassonne in the city of Tours. This piec...
Iron
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk. Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80.5"...
Mahogany
19th Century Spanish Baroque Style Oak Library Table or Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Handsome oak library piece that can be used as a desk or Work table. Made of oak having carved gadrooned edges. A stretcher made of iron. Carved on all sides and five drawers ox bow ...
Oak
$1,596Sale Price|34% Off
H 30 in W 50 in D 24 in
French Louis XV Rococo Style Walnut Writing Desk Table Circa 1960s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This elegant French Louis XV Rococo style writing desk showcases the timeless craftsmanship and ornate detailing that define 18th-century French design, recreated beautifully in the ...
Walnut
French Inspired Upholstered Linen Bergère Chairs
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
French inspired upholstered linen bergère chairs These French inspired chair are based on an original Napoleon III style pair of chairs. Napoleon III was the nephew of the Napoleon t...
Linen
Elegant French Style Writing Desk
Located in Riverdale, NY
Elegant French style writing desk with Louis XV lines in blond wood with silver leaf-painted table edge and feet. 3 drawers. Fitted glass top included (no image). Measures: 20" deep...
Wood
Known as the “Citizen King,” Louis Philippe reigned from 1830 to the Revolution of 1848 with the support of the upper bourgeoisie. Whereas the monarchs of 18th-century France, including Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, dictated aesthetics through the decadence of the aristocratic court, Louis Philippe had a more down-to-earth presence. He could be seen walking the streets like an ordinary person, carrying his own umbrella and shaking hands with subjects. Antique Louis Philippe–style furniture reflects a sense of simplicity and the sovereign’s passion for the country’s history, such as his establishment of a Museum of the History of France at Versailles, which had been mostly disused since the French Revolution.
Middle Ages, Gothic and Renaissance design informed a nationalist style that celebrated this heritage, with the hodgepodge of influences becoming prevalent in the homes of the bourgeoisie. Cabinetmakers Guillaume and Jean-Michel Grohé created reproductions of historic pieces for the king as well as royal houses abroad. Louis Philippe commissioned sculptor François Rude to create patriotic monuments that paid tribute to military heroes, while designs for furniture published by Claude-Aimé Chenavard, an ornamentalist who conceived widely loved objects for the Sèvres manufactory, further helped spread a revival of Renaissance style.
The rounded profiles of authentic Louis Philippe tables and chairs were preferred in the apartments rather than palaces being furnished by the affluent middle and upper classes. Ornamentation was minimal on the finely crafted pieces, such as large rectangular mirrors adorned with gold and silver leaf finishes and subdued carvings. The popular Louis Philippe commodes were solidly made with clean lines that showed off the grain of the wood and were often topped with marble surfaces.
Find a collection of antique Louis Philippe seating, dining tables, bedroom furniture and other items on 1stDibs.
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.