Palecek Vintage Tortoiseshell Rattan and Woven Cane 3 Drawer Writing Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant vintage writing desk/vanity by Palecek finished with a richly mottled tortoiseshell finished rattan frame.
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood
French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ebony, Tortoiseshell, Brass, and Leather Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Above is the outstanding and most decorative top richly decorated with beautiful masterfully executed inlaid brass fillets in geometric patterns with lovely flowers and corner horses...
Brass, Ormolu
Exceptional Napoleon III Louis XV Style Boulle Writing Desk
Located in Macclesfield, GB
An outstanding exhibition quality freestanding Napoleon III Louis XV style serpentine shaped boulle engraved brass and red tortoiseshell writing table or centre table with blue and g...
Brass
Unavailable
H 48.82 in W 21.26 in D 42.52 in
Sicilian Writing Desk in Ebony Embellished with Tortoiseshell Inserts and Silver
Located in Barletta, IT
Writing desk in ebony embellished with tortoiseshell inserts and silver finishes.
Silver
Unavailable
H 31.5 in W 48.04 in D 24.41 in
French Louis Napoleon III Style Boulle Desk with Tortoiseshell and Brass Inlay
Located in Lentate sul Seveso (Mb), IT
Napoleon III desk with bronze applications and gold leaf gilding. Inlay in engraved brass and natural tortoise. The gendarme hat top shows ornamental motifs in floral taste. Two draw...
Tortoise Shell
Sold
H 5.12 in W 15.36 in D 11.03 in
Napoleon III Boulle Marquetry Brass Tortoiseshell Travel Writing Desk, France
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Extremely elegant big size elegant travel writing desk in Boulle style decorated with brass and tortoise shell Marquette monogrammed FCP. There are two opening parts. The inside pa...
Brass
Painted Faux Tortoiseshell Shaped Kneehole Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Refined and exceptional shaped knee hole desk with a brown tooled leather top. Inspired faux tortoise or turtle case, including seven drawers with brass hardware, a finished back and...
Painted Faux Tortoiseshell Shaped Kneehole Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Refined and exceptional shaped knee hole desk with a brown tooled leather top. Inspired faux tortoise or turtle case, including seven drawers with brass hardware, a finished back and...
Mahogany
Faux Tortoiseshell Partners Desk by Maitland-Smith
By Maitland Smith
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description be sure to click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this listing. Offering one of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a 1980s...
Stone, Brass
Tortoiseshell and Polished Brass Maitland-Smith Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in North Miami, FL
This most unusual laid tortoise shell tiles are in the dark brown to black palette. The variants of the tortoise shell tiles are beautiful. The inlaid brass appointments and hardwa...
Brass
19Th. English Colonial Tortoiseshell Bamboo & Lacquer Drop-Front Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this 19Th. English Colonial Tortoiseshell Bamboo & Lacquer Drop-Front Desk . Lovely Tortoiseshell color to the Bamboo through out with large accents of Japanned Lacquer pl...
Bamboo
Antique Boulle Red Tortoiseshell Bonheur Du Jour circa 1870
Located in London, GB
This is a gorgeous antique French Red Tortoiseshell and cut brass inlaid ebonised Boulle, Bureau de Dame or Bonheur du Jour, circa 1870 in date.
Sold
H 43.71 in W 34.65 in D 17.33 in
Napoleon III Cabinet in Tortoiseshell and Brass Boulle Marquetry, 19th Century
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Gorgeous Napoleon III cabinet in Boulle marquetry with brass and tortoiseshell. The marquetry has beautiful interlaced decorations, scrolls and foliage. Very rich and delicate ornam...
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 77.56 in W 59.06 in D 23.63 in
17th Century Italian Vargeno Mahogany Writing Desk with Bronze and Tortoiseshell
Located in Marbella, ES
17th century Italian vargeno mahogany writing desk with bronze, tortoiseshell decorations and lemongrass wood inlays.
Bronze
Sotheby's Auction Catalogue: Fine European Furniture
Located in valatie, NY
Pieces include a 17th century Spanish Baroque ivory and tortoiseshell-veneered writing box, a 19th century bronze model of the colonne Vendôme, A Dutch Rococo mahogany and fruitwood ...
Paper
Sold
H 30.5 in W 50.5 in D 26.75 in
Maitland-Smith, Partners Desk, Faux Tortoiseshell Inlay, US, circa 1980s
By Maitland Smith
Located in New York, NY
A Maitland-Smith veneered Neoclassical-inspired writing table. Possesses three drawers with brass pulls. Bearing original plaque.
Wood
Anglo-Indian Tortoiseshell Writing Box
Located in Northampton, United Kingdom
Rare Anglo-Indian tortoiseshell and ivory writing slope with ornate silver carry handles and latch locking mechanism.
Ivory, Tortoise Shell
Vintage desks and writing tables span centuries of design. The writing table came first, a simple surface built for correspondence, while the drawered desk followed as record-keeping at home and in the office grew more demanding.
Styles to Know
Any desk at least 20 years old falls under this broader vintage category. If you want a tapered-leg, mid-century look specifically, browse mid-century modern desks; Louis XVI and Art Deco secretary desks bridge the writing-table and desk forms. A vintage table lamp adds task lighting to either.
How to Choose the Right Vintage Piece
Writing tables often carry little to no storage of their own, so a separate file cabinet or desk organizer may be worth planning for, alongside a close look at the surface dimensions against the space available. Each piece comes from a vetted 1stDibs seller, with era, designer and condition detailed, and every purchase is covered by the 1stDibs Promise.
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.