Typewriter Desk
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1930s German Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum, Steel
Early 20th Century Industrial More Desk Accessories
Metal, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Desk Sets
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal, Steel
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal, Steel
Vintage 1930s German Industrial More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Industrial Desk Sets
Iron
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Sets
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1920s American Art Nouveau More Desk Accessories
Metal
Antique 1660s Czech Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1910s Swiss Art Nouveau More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1910s German Art Deco More Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1920s German Industrial More Desk Accessories
Bakelite
Vintage 1940s German Industrial More Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1940s North American Industrial More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Steel
Early 20th Century Industrial More Desk Accessories
Steel, Nickel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Sets
Steel
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1920s American Art Nouveau More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal, Steel
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal, Steel
Vintage 1910s American Art Deco More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1940s German Art Nouveau More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century European Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1980s Swiss Art Nouveau More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Steel
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Antique 1660s Czech Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Chrome
Vintage 1960s German Industrial More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Plastic
Vintage 1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Chrome
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Typewriter Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Typewriter Desk?
Finding the Right Desk-accessories for You
Whether you’ve carved out a space for a nifty home office or you prefer the morning commute, why not dress up your desk with antique and vintage desk accessories? To best tiptoe the line between desk efficiency and desk enjoyment, we suggest adding a touch of the past to your modern-day space.
Desks are a funny thing. Their basic premise has remained the same for quite literally centuries: a flat surface, oftentimes a drawer, and potentially a shelf or two. However, the contents that lay upon the desk? Well, the evolution has been drastic to say the least.
Thank the Victorians for the initial popularity of the paperweight. The Industrial Revolution offered the novel concept of leisure-time to Europeans, giving them more time to take part in the then crucial activity of letter writing. Decorative glass paperweight designs were all the rage, and during the mid-19th-century some of the most popular makers included the French companies of Baccarat, St. Louis and Clichy.
As paper was exceedingly expensive in the early to mid-19th-century, every effort was made to utilize a full sheet of it. Paper knives, which gave way to the modern letter opener, were helpful for cutting paper down to an appropriate size.
Books — those bound volumes of paper, you may recall — used to be common occurrences on desks of yore and where there were books there needed to be bookends. As a luxury item, bookend designs have run the gamut from incorporating ultra-luxurious materials (think marble and Murano glass) to being whimsical desk accompaniments (animal figurines were highly popular choices).
Though the inkwell’s extinction was ushered in by the advent of the ballpoint pen (itself quasi-obsolete at this point), there is still significant charm to be had from placing one of these bauble-like objets in a central spot on one’s desk. You may be surprised to discover the mood-boosting powers an antique — and purposefully empty — inkwell can provide.
The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass-production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier.
Find antique and vintage desk accessories today on 1stDibs.
- How does a typewriter desk work?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023A typewriter desk works due to its unique design. Although pieces vary, most have a special storage area that sits at a comfortable level for typing. On many desks, a sliding door covers this compartment to keep the typewriter hidden from sight and free of dust. Shop a range of typewriter desks on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023The typewriter was invented in 1867. However, the inventors Christopher Latham Sholes, Carlos Glidden and Samuel W. Soule didn’t receive a patent until 1868. In 1873, their design went into production and hit the markets. These early typewriters were usually mounted on sewing machine stands. On 1stDibs, find a collection of typewriters.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023The height of a typing table varies. Typically, the tables are 28 to 30 inches tall to allow hands to remain in a neutral position while typing. Shop a selection of antique, vintage and contemporary tables on 1stDibs.
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