U-Shaped Desks
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Granite, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Ash, Fruitwood
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Iron
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Iron
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Lucite
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century American Colonial Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Center Tables
Brass
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Metal
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21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Center Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Dining Room ...
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Metal
Antique 1890s British Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
Vintage 1980s Swedish Post-Modern Tables
Metal
2010s British Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Bouclé, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary European Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Rattan, Wood
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Tables
Fir, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
2010s Chinese Minimalist Beds and Bed Frames
Ash
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary Desks and Writing Tables
Nickel
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Chrome
Late 20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1960s Norwegian Desks and Writing Tables
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Antique 1890s Dutch Renaissance Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s American Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1970s Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Steel
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1930s American Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Beech
Antique 1810s Swedish Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Birch
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks
Birch, Maple
Vintage 1960s American Desks
Brass
Antique 19th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s British Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s French Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1940s French Desks
Metal
Vintage 1960s French Desks
Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Amboyna
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Dining Room Tables
Chrome, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Antique 19th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
U-Shaped Desks For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are U-Shaped 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.
- What is the best L shaped desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021The best L-shaped desk depends on how well it will fit into your office. Factors such as office aesthetic, the space required, the material of the desk, the size, the computer type and other pieces of equipment should be prioritized. Ergonomics, storage and durability need to be considered, too. Find a collection of antique and vintage desks on 1stDibs today.
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