Square Desks
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Straw, Wood
2010s Turkish Japonisme Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
2010s Polish Post-Modern Side Tables
Stone, Brass
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Desks and Writing Tables
Glass, Jacaranda
Antique 1830s Austrian Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Poplar, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Straw, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Dining Room Tables
Gold, Aluminum
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Straw, Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Dining Room Tables
Aluminum, Gold
Late 20th Century French Modern Dining Room Tables
Aluminum
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Ash
2010s French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash, Lacquer, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Bog Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Antique 18th Century Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Adam Style Desks
Satinwood
Antique 1790s English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Cabinets
Brass
Antique 1790s English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Early 1800s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Early 20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Satinwood
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Tulipwood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Leather
Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Early 1800s French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinese Chippendale Desks and W...
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Antique 19th Century Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Desks and Writing Tables
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Desks and Writing Tables
Plastic
Antique 1830s English William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Desks and Writing Ta...
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Desks and Writing Ta...
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Desks and Writing Ta...
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Steel
Vintage 1940s Dutch Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Moorish Desks and Writing Tables
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Country Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Paint
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Square Desks For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Square Desks?
Finding the Right Desks and 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.
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