Sevres Plaques Inset Bronze Mounted Parquetry Walnut French Secretary Desk
By François Linke
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Crafted from fine walnut, the desk features a slant-front writing surface adorned with a beautifully painted oval Sevres plaque depicting classical figures in a pastoral scene.
Bronze
Antique French Burr Walnut Sevres & Ormolu Mounted Writing Table Desk 19th
Located in London, GB
The frieze features a usefull drawer with oval ormolu frames housing Sèvres plaques hand painted with floral decoration on each side.
Ormolu
Danish Modern Teak and Oak Desk by Ib Kofod Larsen for Fredericia, 1956s.
By Ib Kofod-Larsen, Fredericia Stolefabrik
Located in Asaa, DK
Table frame in solid light Nordic oak with tapering oval legs. Floating table top in teak veneer with slanting edge in solid teak.
Oak, Teak
Antique Victorian Inlaid Mahogany Architects Desk Edwards & Roberts 19th Century
By Edwards & Roberts
Located in London, GB
The drawers above a recess with a pair of doors with artist trophy inlaid oval marquetry reserves enclosing deep shelves and flanked by doors with urns inlay enclosing folio compartm...
Leather, Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique English Chippendale Style Mahogany And Satinwood Inlaid Partner's Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The desk showcases a unique oval profile with an inlaid brown leather top embossed with a decorative design around the rim, heralding a light satinwood border with outset pilasters c...
Brass
Ladies writing, jewellery cabinet, French, circa 1890
By Jonathan Levien
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An early Victorian porcelain and ormolu mounted rosewood and tulipwood jewellery coffer on stand or coffre a bijoux attributed to Johann Martin Levien (1811-1871) Circa 1845, an iden...
Tulipwood, Rosewood
Kazuhide Takahama Antella multi-functional Table for Cassina, new
By Kazuhide Takahama, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Based on specific needs, it can be transformed from a wall console to a modern oval table, making Antella iconic and versatile.
Plywood, Lacquer
19th Century English Georgian Partners Desk with Leather Top
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian (19th Century) mahogany oval partners desk with fretwork carved doors and brown leather top.
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century English Sheraton Mahogany Kneehole Partners Desk
Located in Queens, NY
19th century English Sheraton style light mahogany kneehole partners desk with oval leather top and inlaid trim.
Mahogany
Impressive Louis XV Style Bureau Plat/Writing Desk, after Riesener & J.Oeben
Located in Berlin, DE
It stands on cabriole legs fitted with oval biscuit panels on the sides representing the Three Graces and inlaid with marquetry panels depicting bouquets of ribbons, foliage and flor...
Bronze
George III Mahogany Architect’s Desk attr. Gillows of Lancaster circa 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A few open-market examples of nearly identical desks include the example offered by Sotheby's, New York on April 11, 1999 with the identical oval pulls and alphebetized drawer stampe...
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Edwardian Inlaid Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
This is very well made and is a useful size, the oval top has an inset tooled green leather writing surface.
Leather, Wood
George III Satinwood and Marquetry Harlequin Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
With a serpentine divided top with oval inlaid panel with hunting scene with hounds and hares with floral medallions at the corners , hinged outer sections fitted with a well and cen...
Satinwood
Louis XVI Style Marquetry Bonheur du Jour with Hand-Crafted Inlay, 1920
Located in Montreal, QC
The upper section is enclosed by a pair of doors each with oval panels inlaid with musical trophies; the lower with two frieze drawers.
Bronze
Russian Neoclassic Mahogany Lyre Writing Table
Located in Queens, NY
Russian Neoclassic (18/19th Century) brass mounted mahogany writing table with oval top above a frieze drawer on lyre trestle supports joined by a stretcher.
Brass
Table Monta in Black Wood and Marble by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina
By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Originally designed by Charlotte Perriand for use in her own home, the table’s structure is formed by two oval legs and an oval top. Distinguished by its fluid contours, the top is c...
Glass
Limited Edition Table Monta in Wood and Blue Granite by Charlotte Perriand
By Charlotte Perriand, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Originally designed by Charlotte Perriand for use in her own home, the table’s structure is formed by two oval legs and an oval top. Distinguished by its fluid contours, the top is c...
Glass
French 19th Century Charles X Period Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Above is the same elegant gold-tooled oval-shaped leather top framed within a beautiful Rosewood border with brass fillets and exceptional detailed floral brass inlays.
Brass
$2,640Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Biedermeier Writing Table, Hungary, circa 1820-1830
Located in Belmont, MA
Unique oval 19th century Biedermeier writing table, Hungary circa 1820-1830, bird's-eye maple veneer, burl walnut and elmwood veneer with akanthus leave marquetry on the top.
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Victorian Satinwood Bureau Plat
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A striking Victorian satinwood bureau plat, of shaped rectangular form inset with the original oval burgundy leather, with a disguised frieze drawers, decorated with purple heart and...
Satinwood
Vintage Cini Boeri for Knoll Lunario Cantilevered Table/Desk
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Brooklyn, NY
By Cini Boeri for Knoll International. The oval glass top has, "S.T Lassfer," stenciled on the edge in between four purposely placed dimples on the top.
Stainless Steel
Porcelain and Ormolu Mounted Bonheur Du Jour by Donald Ross
By Donald Ross
Located in London, GB
With two parquetry drawers, the apron of the desk is beautifully decorated with a centrally placed oval porcelain cartouche, surrounded with an ormolu frame.
Ormolu
Antiqued Gold Finish Baroque Style Dining Table Base
Located in Sheffield, MA
It can be included or you can add a top in the size that's more appropriate to your needs -- stone, wood, glass, oval or rectangular shape top will work well with this base.
Iron
English Mahogany Bow Front Inlaid Ladies Dressing Table. Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany bow front ladies dressing table with hinged top, single drawer, original brasses, satin wood inlay, compartmentalized fitted interior with oval folding mirror, termi...
Brass
Petite French Louis XV Style Walnut Slant-Front Desk, Stamped, circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
The slant front is adorned with inlaid panels that slide to reveal an exquisite interior. A removable oval mirror is flanked with petite drawers and topped with a pen compartment.
Walnut
Stripped 19th Century French Oak Renaissance Style Table with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
All sides have a frieze festooned with acanthus margents surrounding an oval medallion. The aprons of the long sides are both embellished with round crenellation, while the front sid...
Marble, Metal, Brass
$2,841Sale Price|30% Off
Fine Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Cushion Drawer Brown Leather Partner Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
This desk has the original leather top and handles, it is one of the best looking desks I’ve had in stock for some time. The desk leather is oval which is very rare, it adds a sense ...
Leather, Walnut
Victorian Walnut Marquetry Writing Table Attributed to Edward Holmes Baldock
By Edward Holmes Baldock
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Victorian walnut marquetry writing table attributed to Edward Holmes Baldock, the shaped rectangular top with an oval panel inset with tooled green leather, the frieze with two sma...
Walnut
Unique Red Lacquer and Brass Maison Jansen Dining Table or Desk, 1970s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Paris, IDF
The elongated octagonal shape of the table offers a final punch of individuality, shirking the typical oval or rectangle shape. Fully restored to very good vintage condition, this ta...
Brass
Writing Table, Mahogany, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Rectangular board table decorated with a strip of vegetal motifs on the outer edge, waist enhanced with carved bands with oval and vegetable motifs of classicist influence and legs d...
Mahogany
Howard & Sons London Leather Topped Faux Bamboo Writing Table, circa 1875
By Howard & Sons Ltd
Located in Kinderhook, NY
English circa 1875 Aesthetic Movement writing table or desk by London cabinetmakers Howard & Sons having original green leather top; the oval form case with single drawer and origina...
Brass
$5,372Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Correspondence Desk, English, Library, Writing Table, Cotswold School
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
Strikingly figured desk of generous proportion and superb craftsmanship Displaying a desirable aged patina and in very good order Solid teak an arresting sight of fine grain intere...
Teak
Antique Walnut and Marquetry Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
The walnut writing desk is composed of an oval body which is covered with tooled leather and is encircled by a brass gallery, featuring pierced geometric patterns.
Brass
19th Century English Satinwood Carlton House Desk Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Dublin, IE
An exceptional 19th century satinwood Carlton House desk attributed to Gillows of Lancaster, the curved superstructure with pierced brass gallery, fitted with two banks of three draw...
Satinwood
French 18th Century Large Louis XVI Marquetry Desk or Bureau à Cylindre
By Jean Kisling
Located in Berlin, DE
The cylinder front displaying a herringbone marquetry with a central oval ribboned flower medaillon. The drawer section shows a remarkable and unique multi-colored zig zag marquetry,...
Bronze
Queen Anne Style Pedestal Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
It has a fabulous distressed and aged brown leather insert on the top in an oval/floret shape. It sits on 4 curved padded feet.
Walnut, Burl
$105,600Sale Price|20% Off
Large Francois Linke Roll Top Desk
By François Linke
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Linke stamp within an oval, one of the shell-like handles with traces of the FL mark from the bronze master model.
Wood
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.
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
Fans of the French film star may be surprised to learn that he had a flair for furniture with sleek lines and disco-era flash.
Like other pieces in the firm’s Candy Box collection, the cheerful limited-edition design showcases French craft.
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.
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.