$6,250
H 33.75 in W 28.75 in D 64 in
Vintage MCM Peter Lovig Nielsen for Hedensted Mobelfabrik Flip Top Writing Desk
By Lovig Dansk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This iconic "flip-top" partner's desk, designed by Peter Løvig Nielsen for Hedensted Møbelfabrik
Brass
$880Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.5 in W 48 in D 19 in
John Stuart Mid Century Modern Hairpin Leg Maple Writing Desk Table Drawers MCM
By John Stuart
Located in Dayton, OH
John Stuart Hairpin Desk, circa 1960s. Features a minimalist open form with plank top set between
Maple
MCM Drexel Profile Walnut Desk by John Van Koert
By John Van Koert, Drexel
Located in Trenton, NJ
Drexel Profile Walnut Desk by John Van Koert with Integrated Organizer This walnut writing desk is
Wood
Mid 20th Century Vintage Heywood Wakefield Writing Desk
By Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Upgrade your workspace with the Vintage MCM Heywood Wakefield Writing Desk. This iconic mid-century
Wood
$3,720Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.5 in W 54 in D 30.5 in
Göran Strand for Lelångs Möbelfabrik Model A10 MCM Swedish Desk
By Göran Strand
Located in Plainview, NY
. This quality Goran Strand MCM desk a true embodiment of Swedish design excellence that invites you to
Teak
$4,578
H 32.88 in W 37.41 in D 16.93 in
Arne Wahl Iversen Bureau Desk Danish Mid Century Teak 1960s MCM Scandinavian
By Arne Wahl Iversen
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous, rare and super-stylish Mid Century bureau secretaire desk by a top Danish designer in
Teak
$2,195Sale Price / item|39% Off
H 29.5 in W 65 in D 23.25 in
MCM Teak Expandable Desk and Chair by Gunnar Nielsen Tibergaard, Denmark c.1960
By Gunnar Nielsen Tibergaard
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A mid-century teak writing desk with expandable sliding top for more working space. One
Brass
Vintage MCM Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Writing Desk
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a distinguished vintage writing desk, a testament to the iconic design of T.H. Robsjohn
Brass
Unavailable
H 40.87 in W 31.97 in D 17.41 in
Ercol Bureau Writing Desk Model 518 Elm Beech Vintage Mcm
Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB
A rare opportunity to acquire an Ercol model 518 bureau. The solid elm carcass boasting a well figured grain with sloping fall front enclosed pigeon holes and shelving above a long ...
Elm
Vintage MCM Custom Built Plywood Writing Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Incredible vintage MCM writing desk. A chic little writing spot that was hand made. Constructed in
Plywood
Sold
H 30.75 in W 54.25 in D 30 in
Vintage Consensus Collection by Drexel MCM Writing Desk Ash & Brass Plated Metal
By Drexel
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage ash veneer MCM writing desk on a brass plated metal frame with solid brass pulls
Metal, Brass
Vintage MCM Alma Walnut Boomerang Executive Desk
By Alma Desk Company
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking Vintage MCM executive desk. Made by the iconic Alma group. Beautiful walnut frame in a
Walnut
Sold
H 29 in W 46 in D 23 in
Vintage Sligh Chinese Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Kneehole Writing Desk MCM
By Sligh Furniture
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Sligh Furniture black lacquered knee hole writing desk featuring Chinoiserie styling with
Leather, Hardwood, Lacquer
Sold
H 29.5 in W 44 in D 23 in
Vintage MCM American of Martinsville "Accord" Walnut Drop Leaf Writing Desk
By American of Martinsville
Located in Chicago, IL
Modern American of Martinsville Accord petite drop leaf writing desk in walnut. Warm walnut woodgrain
Walnut
MCM Rosewood Executive Desk by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
The “FM60” Rosewood executive desk, by Danish designer Kai Kristiansen for FM Møbler, having a
Wood
Danish mcm teak Peter Lovig floating Desk
By Peter Løvig Nielsen
Located in Sayreville, NJ
Peter Lovig Nielsen Floating Teak Desk with open back bookshelf. Gorgeous danish piece in
Teak
Danish / Mid Modern MCM Bernhard Pedersen & Son Secretary Desk
By G. None
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Wow!! What a beautiful and unique mid-century teak veneer tambour desk, by Bernhard Pedersen & Son
Teak
Sold
H 29.25 in W 42 in D 24 in
Vintage Mcm White Lacquer Jamestown Trapezoid Desk With Upholstered Chair
Located in Medina, OH
your home office! This desk has a unique trapezoid shape! See measurements below. Table top
Metal
Sold
H 39.5 in W 50.5 in D 27 in
MCM Superb Japanned or Chinoiserie Lacquer Carlton House Desk & Matching Chair
By Waring & Gillow
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Carlton House desks, both mid century and of the period are a rare commodity. They are difficult
Lacquer
Sold
H 71.5 in W 39.5 in D 16.75 in
Johannes Sorth for Nexø Møbelfabrik MCM Danish Teak Bookshelf Secretary Desk
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Mid-Century Danish Modern Tall Teak Bookcase and Secretary Desk by Designer Johannes Sorth. This
Teak
Sold
H 41.5 in W 32.5 in D 57.5 in
Holmes County Solid Cherry Amish Secretary Office Desk Library Table Leather MCM
Located in Dayton, OH
An incredible desk by Holmes County Chair Company. Made from solid cherry with a minimalist
Cherry
Sold
H 32 in W 60 in L 32 in
Mid-Century Modern Lucite Acrylic Blade Desk & Z-Chair MCM Sofa Table Sideboard
By Luigi Bardini
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid-Century Modern Lucite acrylic blade desk and Z-chair Mid-Century Modern sofa table sideboard
Chrome
Sold
H 27.5 in W 60 in D 18 in
Teak and Walnut Trim Mcm Floating Top Desk from G Plan by Ib Kofod–Larsen
By G Plan Furniture
Located in Houston, TX
This is an incredible teak and walnut trim mcm floating top desk from G Plan designed by Ib Kofod
Teak
1960s Aluminum and Teak Executive Office Desk
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
spectacular and creates a comfortable writing surface. This MCM desk screams Mad Men but has incredible
Aluminum
1960s MCM Rattan Wood Leather Top Desk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
leather top desk. The ultra rare desk exudes an air of luxury and refinement. Outstanding design is
Leather, Rattan, Wood
MCM Danish Teak Desk by Nordisk Andels Eksport 1970s
By Nordisk Andels-Eksport
Located in Carmel, NY
A remarkable desk that exudes elegance and sophistication. This exceptional Danish Modern desk
Teak
Arne Vodder Drop Leaf Desk Denmark Teak Sliding Drawers 1960's MCM
By Arne Vodder
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic Arne Vodder for H.Sigh and son desk with drop-leaf and sliding rails-allowing the drawers
Teak
Sold
H 29.53 in W 44.89 in D 20.48 in
Mid Century Teak Black Writing Desk With Drawer Vintage Retro MCM
Located in Cambridge, GB
New Stock ✅ Mid Century Vintage Teak Writing Desk With Drawer Retro MCM This mid century writing
Brass
Sold
H 28.75 in W 46.86 in D 19.3 in
Danish Desk Christian Peter Hvidt For Søborg Møbelfabrik Mid Century Vintage MCM
By Peter Hvidt
Located in Cambridge, GB
New Stock ✅ Danish Desk Christian Peter Hvidt for Søborg Møbelfabrik Mid Century Vintage Retro MCM
Mahogany
Sold
H 28.15 in W 57.09 in D 29.53 in
Mid Century Danish Oak Desk By Arne Vodder For Sibast Vintage Retro MCM
By Sibast, Arne Vodder
Located in Cambridge, GB
New Stock ✅ Mid Century Danish Oak Desk by Arne Vodder for Sibast Vintage Retro MCM A beautiful
Oak
$2,535 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 21.66 in
Mustard Mohair Velvet Round Ottoman with Oak Feet, Modern UK Design
Located in London, England
Dagmar Design - Round Ottoman Custom-made ottoman developed & produced at our workshops in London using the highest quality materials. These examples are upholstered in a mustar...
Oak, Mohair, Velvet
Early Chihuahua Oil Painting W/ Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky & fun oil painting of a chihuahua on canvas in a old wood frame.The condition is very good.It is unsigned by the artist.
Wood, Paint
$296Sale Price / item|30% Off
W 36.23 in L 48.04 in
Minimalist Hand-knotted Tulu Rug. 100% Natural Wool. Moroccan Berber Carpet
Located in Spring Valley, NY
Transform your space with the understated luxury of our Moroccan-style hand-knotted Tulu rug, inspired by the heritage-rich designs of the Beni Ourain tribes. This rug is a celebrati...
Wool
Mid-Century Modern Raymond Loewy for Mengel Floating Top Desk
By (after) Raymond Loewy
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This a large, modern floating top desk designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel. It is in very good condition. The work surface is excellent ! It has been re-finished. Knee clearance is ...
Maple
$495 / set
H 27.5 in W 51 in D 19.25 in
Mid Century Writing Desk and Chair by Carl Sasse for Casala Germany c. 1950's
By Carl Sasse, Casala
Located in New York, NY
Stylish architectural writing table, desk and chair, designed by Carl Sasse, for Casala made in Germany, circa 1950's. Constructed of solid wood, this example is structurally sound ...
Wood
$5,166Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 24.01 in Dm 13.78 in
Pair of Constant Night Stands in Poplar Burl wood by Master for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Envisioned by designer Yaniv Chen, the Constant nightstand exudes an air of refined luxury, celebrating the inherent splendor of Poplar burl wood. Meticulously crafted with impeccabl...
Burl, Poplar
Capiz Shell Table Lamp, Model Cornelia
By Dusty Deco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cornelia Table Lamp is a lamp that is made from capiz shells which gives the material an irregular structure. This makes each lamp unique, something that adds to its character and pe...
Brass
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
H 81.5 in W 68.5 in D 19 in
Lane Staccato Mid Century Modern 9 Drawer Oak Brutalist Mirrored Dresser Lowboy
By Lane Acclaim
Located in Dayton, OH
1970s Vintage Lane Furniture Staccato collection Brutalist style Oak 9 drawer dresser vanity with mirror or Lowboy, 568-07. The cabinet base showcases Lanes iconic cubed brutalist f...
Mirror, Oak
LC2 Le Corbusier Longue Chair Italy 1980s
By Le Corbusier
Located in Čelinac, BA
Le Corbusier LC2 Longue Chair Italy 1980s
Chrome
Lane Mid-Century Modern Walnut Desk
By Andre Bus, Lane Acclaim
Located in Doylestown, PA
Vintage classic midcentury Lane walnut desk. This piece features atomic tapered legs, veneered wood grain laminate top and large dovetail drawers with ample storage. A lovely desk p...
Laminate, Walnut
1950s Wim Rietveld Friso Kramer Reply Drafting Table Ahrend de Cirkel
By Friso Kramer, Ahrend de Cirkel, Wim Rietveld
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Wim Rietveld 'Reply' drafting table with rare side tray. The hinging mechanism was a collaborative design with Wim Rietveld and Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel in 1958. Adjust...
Metal
$940Sale Price|20% Off
H 65 in W 14 in D 27 in
Antique Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk Bookcase Bookshelf Console 65"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Early American style secretary desk / bookcase / writing bureau / larkin / chalet . Made of oak featuring a serpentine design with drop front that opens to multiple cubbies ...
Oak
$2,249 / set
H 29.53 in W 94.89 in D 16.54 in
Mid-Century Modular Desk and Storage Unit by Mojmír Požár, UP Závody, 1960s
By M. Požár
Located in Praha, CZ
Mid-Century Modern multifunctional modular furniture set designed by Mojmír Požár and manufactured by UP Závody in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. This versatile composition includes a ...
Glass, Wood
Luigi Massoni ‘Dilly Dally’ Vanity Set in Cognac Leatherette
By Poltrona Frau, Luigi Massoni
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau, ‘Dilly Dally’ vanity set, leatherette, mirrored glass, plastic, brass, lacquered wood, metal, Italy, 1968 Outstanding Italian dressing table designe...
Metal, Brass
A Stunning Mid Century Design Walnut and Chrome Desk
Located in Dublin, IE
A stunning Mid Century design richly patinated walnut and chrome desk of exceptional quality, finely carved and with a fabulous curvilear clean design. The well figured moulded and ...
Chrome
$2,450
H 30 in W 78.75 in D 39.375 in
Mid-Century Executive Desk by Friso Kramer & Coen de Vries, 1950s
By Friso Kramer, EEKA, Coen de Vries
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking example of Dutch mid-century modern design, this executive desk was designed by Friso Kramer and Coen de Vries for EEKA (Eindhovense Eisen- en Kantoorartikelenfabriek) in ...
Steel
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.
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.
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The Louisiana-born and -bred architect talks to 1stdibs about the art of making timeless places that matter.
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.
The houses from this New York studio cloak modernist tendencies within what are often more traditional trappings.