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Portable Writing Desk

English Hard Wood Portable Writing Desk, circa 1850
By OTHR
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
English country portable writing desk with lifting writing surface, it has its original bronze
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Mexican Rustic Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood

English Hard Wood Portable Writing Desk, circa 1850
English Hard Wood Portable Writing Desk, circa 1850
$1,800
H 14.57 in W 22.84 in D 16.93 in
19th Regency Brass-Inlaid Portable Writing Desk on Later Stand, Secret Drawer
By Thomas Lund
Located in Morristown, NJ
Regency Brass-Inlaid Portable Writing Desk on Later Stand, with Secret Drawer, Possibly by Thomas
Category

Antique 1810s English Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Fine 19th C. English Tunbridge Portable Writing Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine larger Antique Travel Desk with fine wood and Mother-of-Pearl inlay. The dark mahogany
Category

Antique 19th Century Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Mother-of-Pearl

A English Neoclassic Burl Walnut, Brass, & Leather Portable Writing Desk, 19thc
Located in Atlanta, GA
The locking desk with two hinged tops, one opening to reveal pen and ink storage and the other
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Neoclassical Desks

Materials

Brass

Large Dutch Colonial Amboyna and Ebony Indonesian Writing Desk, 18th Century
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A large Indonesian amboyna and ebony portable writing desk with brass mounts Indonesia, 18th
Category

Antique 18th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Desk Sets

Materials

Ebony, Amboyna

Antique English Exceptional Lacquer Mother-of-Pearl Travel Desk, circa 1860-1870
Located in New Orleans, LA
This writing slope (or portable writing desk) is richly decorated with mother-of-pearl and pleasing
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English More Desk Accessories

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Colonial 18th Century Vizagapatam Pen-Engraved Writing Desk with Silver Mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Vizagapatam pen-engraved veneered sandalwood portable writing desk with silver mounts India
Category

Antique 18th Century Indian British Colonial Desk Sets

Materials

Sandalwood, Bone

Portable "Laptop" Desk with Storage Compartments and Inkwell
Located in Soquel, CA
Portable "Laptop" Desk with Storage Compartments and Inkwell Box with storage for paper, pens, ink
Category

Early 20th Century American American Classical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood

"Moleskine" Portable Atelier Desk Designed by Philippe Nigro for Driade
By Philippe Negro, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Moleskine" is a desk, designed by Philippe Nigro and manufactured by Driade, with a folding top in
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Rare English Regency Writing Desk With Decorative Brass Trim by Wells & Lambe
By John Lambe
Located in Reading, Berkshire
expanded their repertoire, specialising in copying machines, portable writing desks (writing boxes, as we
Category

Antique 19th Century British Regency Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Rare English Regency Writing Desk With Decorative Brass Trim by Wells & Lambe
Rare English Regency Writing Desk With Decorative Brass Trim by Wells & Lambe
$2,463 Sale Price
21% Off
H 4.93 in W 14.18 in D 9.85 in
"Moleskine" Portable Atelier Stool Designed by Philippe Nigro for Driade
By Philippe Negro, Driade
Located in Brooklyn, NY
. Indoor use only. Philippe Nigro designed a light looking desk: a top in birch plywood, oak veneered
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

French Napoleon III Period Brass Inlaid Rosewood and Walnut Lap Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
quality. This portable writing desk is centered by a beautifully painted landscape scene. The fall opens
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Rare English Regency Writing Slope With Decorative Brass Trim by Wells & Lambe
By John Lambe
Located in Reading, Berkshire
& Lambe soon expanded their repertoire, specialising in copying machines, portable writing desks (writing
Category

Antique 19th Century British Regency Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Travel Lap Desk Walnut 19th C. on Stand as Side Table Decorative Gift Antique LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
English lap traveling desk portable. Countryside writing bureau in good condition considering the usage of
Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

NAPOLEON III Paris 1860 Travel Foldable Writing Desk Box In Precious Woods & Aba
By Napoléon III
Located in Miami, FL
An antique Napoleon III traveler portable writing-desk box. This is a gorgeous portable writing
Category

Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Leather, Shell, Wood

Antique English Mahogany Campaign Style Lap Desk Writing Box
Located in Forney, TX
and businessmen, this portable writing desk was hand-crafted in England in the first half of the 19th
Category

Antique 19th Century English Campaign Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Antique 19th century warm brown oak Dutch Lectern or portable desk writing box
Located in Casteren, NL
integrity while maintaining its rich, historical character. Perfect as a writing slope, portable desk, or
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Empire Desks

Materials

Steel

Unique Antique 19th Century Spanish Renaissance Bargueño in Solid Chestnut Wood
Located in Casteren, NL
designed as a portable writing desk, the bargueño was a symbol of status and wealth in the Spanish
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Renaissance Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Unique Antique 19th Century Spanish Renaissance Bargueño in Solid Chestnut Wood
Unique Antique 19th Century Spanish Renaissance Bargueño in Solid Chestnut Wood
$11,503 Sale Price
20% Off
H 53.55 in W 44.89 in D 16.54 in
Rare Complete Early 19th Century Indian Sadeli Work and Writing Box
Located in Amsterdam, NL
fittings. H. 12.6 x W. 43.2 x D. 28.5 cm Note: Workboxes, portable writing desks, inkstands and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Indian More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture

Materials

Bone, Wood

Rare 17th Century Spanish Vargueño
Located in Chicago, IL
time. The writing desk showcases intricate inlaid marquetry circles adorning its front, while inside
Category

Antique 17th Century Spanish Baroque Cupboards

Materials

Wrought Iron

Rare 17th Century Spanish Vargueño
Rare 17th Century Spanish Vargueño
$18,500
H 57 in W 38.75 in D 17 in
French Original Black Painted Portable 18th Century Writing Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An original black painted portable desk from the end of the 18th century. With owner initials, the
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Antique 19th century English Mahogany veneered leather inlaid brown writing box
Located in Casteren, NL
dating back to the 18th century. These portable writing desks were essential for both personal and
Category

Antique 19th Century English Boxes

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century English Victorian Campaign Style Travel Desk Writing Box
Located in Forney, TX
A antique Victorian era English campaign style brass bound mahogany portable lap desk / writing
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

French Nécessaire de Voyage
Located in New Orleans, LA
portable leather writing desk with its original two crystal inkwells – the perfect place to store one’s
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Crystal, Silver

French Nécessaire de Voyage
French Nécessaire de Voyage
$78,500
H 6.5 in W 17 in D 11.75 in
Rare & Important 16th Century Italian Bronze Jacopo Lodovico del Duca Table Box
Located in Forney, TX
, they were frequently used by traveling merchants as a portable writing slope - lap desk while traveling
Category

Antique 16th Century Italian Japonisme Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Metal

Recent Sales

Lord Nelson`s Family Portable Sloping Laptop Desk
Located in Dorking, GB
and the use of travelling scribes was on the wane, this type of writing desk must have been much more
Category

Antique Early 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Regency Officers Campaign Writing Slope
Located in London, Greenwich
An impressive large Regency officers campaign writing slope portable desk. Hand made in England
Category

Antique 1810s British Regency Decorative Boxes

Materials

Rosewood

Regency Officers Campaign Writing Slope
Regency Officers Campaign Writing Slope
H 7.76 in W 20.01 in D 10.52 in
Italian Portable Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
No excuses for not writing any postcards with this beautiful original kit...
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Italian Portable Writing Desk
Italian Portable Writing Desk
H 6 in W 14 in D 9 in
Hermes Pippa Writing Desk
By Rena Dumas
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Portable writing desk in pear wood and natural-colored natural cowhide with hardware in steel
Category

1990s French Secretaires

Materials

Steel

Hermes Pippa Writing Desk
Hermes Pippa Writing Desk
H 31.5 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Coaching Desk, Asprey London, Edwardian, Folding, Portable, Travel, circa 1910
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
desk by Asprey London, an Edwardian folding, portable, travel writing table dating to circa 1910. A
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Japanese Black Lacquered Cypress Wood Writing Desk, Meiji Period
Located in Prahran, Victoria
A rare Japanese portable writing desk with an unusual design. Made from black lacquered cypress
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Scholar's Objects

Materials

Wood

17th-Century Spanish Walnut Vargueno, Chest/Desk on stand
Located in Reepham, GB
as a secure and stylish portable writing desk and storage unit during its time.
Category

Antique 17th Century Spanish Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

19th Century English Campaign Mahogany Writing Slope Lap Desk Box Brass
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from England~ ~Lovely antique English Campaign mahogany portable writing slope desk~ ~Wide
Category

Antique 19th Century British Campaign More Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

17th Century Spanish Bargueno and Taquillon in Walnut and Bone Marquetry
Located in Paris, FR
antique piece of furniture was used as a portable writing desk, storage for administrative documents and a
Category

Antique 16th Century French Baroque Cabinets

Materials

Wrought Iron

black lacquer wood chinoiserie travel Desk George III
Located in Valladolid, ES
desk portable. Countryside writing bureau in good condition considering the usage of the period .in
Category

Antique 1790s English Chinese Export Lacquer

Materials

Metal

19th Century Anglo-Indian Sadeli Inlaid Work Box Traveling Writing Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
A stunning camel bone, ebony and metal inlaid sadeli work box with portable writing desk, Bombay
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

19th Century English Campaign Mahogany Writing Slope Lap Desk Box Brass
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from England~ ~Lovely antique English Campaign mahogany portable writing slope desk
Category

Antique 19th Century British Campaign More Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique Coromandel and Satinwood Writing Slope by Austin of Dublin
Located in Northampton, GB
portable writing desks, dressing cases and decanter boxes. His son Thomas joined the business around the
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Rosewood portable writing desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rosewood portable writing desk with decorative burled yew inlay banding set in around the top
Category

Antique 19th Century English Boxes

Materials

Brass

Rosewood portable writing desk
Rosewood portable writing desk
H 7 in W 19.75 in D 10 in
Ceylonese Portable Writing Desk
Located in Brussels, BE
Made of ebony, padouk overlaid with porcupine quills, inlaid with ivory, engraved and coloured with lacquer. Brass lock, hooks and hinges. Original purple blue velvet. Three hidden...
Category

20th Century Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ceylonese Portable Writing Desk
Ceylonese Portable Writing Desk
H 5.71 in W 15.95 in D 9.06 in
English Desk Adjustable Writing Table 19th Century Portable Architects Mahogany
Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB
An impressive rare form late 19th century adjustable and portable mahogany writing desk. England
Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Biedermeier Portfolio / Portable Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Outstanding and rare form, this portable desk, of fruitwood with inlay, features a portfolio on one
Category

Antique 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fruitwood

Biedermeier Portfolio / Portable Desk
Biedermeier Portfolio / Portable Desk
H 45.75 in W 22.5 in D 21.25 in
20th Century Wood & Rattan Faux Bamboo Campaign Style Folding Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
20th Century Campaign style Faux bamboo wood, rattan, wicker and steel folding portable writing
Category

20th Century Campaign Desks

Materials

Steel

Safari inspired portable writing table with leather top.
Located in San Francisco, CA
very cool writing table with removable top piece full of drawers, openings etc. legs collapse for
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Portable School Boy Easel, desk Inscribed Family History
Located in San Francisco, CA
This is a fantastic portable easel desk. It is very light to move about. It has a blackboard that
Category

Antique 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Rope

Portable typewriter MIGNON
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pilot of today. There were origianally 20,000 made, our model is the portable version.
Category

Vintage 1940s German Desks and Writing Tables

Portable typewriter MIGNON
Portable typewriter MIGNON
H 8.5 in W 13 in D 13 in
An 18th Century English Portable Writing Box
Located in New York, NY
A late 18th century English mahogany and burr yew wood portable writing box with brass carrying
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier British George III Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Safari inspired portable writing table with leather top.
Located in San Francisco, CA
Very cool writing table with removable top piece full of drawers, openings etc. Legs collapse for
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Desks

Materials

Brass

Georgian Irish Writing Box
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Fashionable Cabinets, Portable Writing Desks, Dressing boxes, Work boxes, Gardevines, Medicine Chests
Category

Antique 19th Century British Boxes

Materials

Brass, Steel

Georgian Irish Writing Box
Georgian Irish Writing Box
H 7 in W 22 in D 11 in
English Adjustable Writing Desk 19th Century Portable Architechts Table Mahogany
Located in Newcastle upon Tyne, GB
An impressive rare form late 19th century adjustable and portable mahogany writing desk.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

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French Louis XVI Style 19th Century Giltwood Upholstered Canapé en Corbeille
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XVI style giltwood canapé en corbeille from the 19th century, with carved flowers and new upholstery. Created in France during the 19th century, this gilded canapé fea...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Canapes

Materials

Upholstery, Giltwood

Antique Roll Top Desk Mahogany Bureau, 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Classy French Empire roll top desk in mahogany Plenty of storage with all the cubby holes and drawers Writing surface revealed by opening up the roll top section Circa 1880 on thi...
Category

Antique 1880s Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Roll Top Desk Mahogany Bureau, 1880
Antique Roll Top Desk Mahogany Bureau, 1880
$1,992
H 50 in W 31 in D 17 in
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Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the high gloss finish of many pieces f...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Other

Antique French Secretary
Antique French Secretary
$8,499
H 59 in W 35 in D 17 in
Pablo Picasso, "Grand Tête" original linocut in colors, hand signed
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Located in Chatsworth, CA
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Category

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Fine 19th Century French Neo-Gothic Gilt Metal Cathedral Church Reliquary Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning pair of very fine quality French Neo-Gothic gilt metal church reliquaries. circa 1860s Most impressive objets d’art, born in France in the second half of the 19th century...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Gothic Revival Religious Items

Materials

Brass, Bronze

1940's Traditional style 9 Drawer Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1940's Traditional style 9 Drawer Mahogany Writing Desk. Finished all the way around and can be placed to show the whole.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1940's Traditional style 9 Drawer Mahogany Writing Desk
1940's Traditional style 9 Drawer Mahogany Writing Desk
$2,380 Sale Price
20% Off
H 30.25 in W 23 in D 45 in
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18th Century Spanish Armoire
$6,240
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Located in Charleston, SC
English zebra wood military campaign writing desk with brass bound molded edges, original recessed side handles, fitted leather interior with tooling and retains the original crystal...
Category

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Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany
Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany
$7,900
H 41.74 in W 45.28 in D 23.63 in
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Portable Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the portable writing desk you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, metal and brass, every portable writing desk was constructed with great care. Find 12 options for an antique or vintage portable writing desk now, or shop our selection of 1 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a portable writing desk — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A portable writing desk made by Georgian designers — as well as those associated with Louis XVI — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made portable writing desk over the years, but those crafted by Driade and Philippe Negro are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Portable Writing Desk?

The average selling price for a portable writing desk at 1stDibs is $1,850, while they’re typically $625 on the low end and $5,800 for the highest priced.
Questions About Portable Writing Desk
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019

    A writing desk may refer to a desk with a top, often sloping, for writing on or to a portable case with compartments to hold writing materials and a surface for writing.

  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    A small writing table is also called a davenport table or davenport desk. They normally feature a sloped or inclined top attached with hinges to the back of the table. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage davenport desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A writing desk with drawers is also called a secretary. It is a desk with drawers, one of which can be pushed out and the front of the desk lowered to create a flat writing surface. These writing desks have been made in a variety of styles over the years. Shop for a variety of writing tables with drawers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
    What an old-fashioned writing desk is called varies by design. Pieces with drop-down fronts are secretary desks (these are typically made of two parts: a chest of drawers on the bottom and a hutch or cupboard with shelves on the top), while ones that rest on two pillars, cabinets or bookcases are pedestal desks. A desk with a small writing surface positioned in front of drawers and cubbies is a bureau à gradin. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.