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Unique Writing Desk with Black and White Stone Veneer and Brass Inlays
Located in Budapest, Budapest
Unique desk with an elegant veneer of white and black stone, adorned with intricate brass inlays
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stone, Brass

Unique Writing Desk with Black and White Stone Veneer and Brass Inlays
Unique Writing Desk with Black and White Stone Veneer and Brass Inlays
$2,841 Sale Price
20% Off
H 30.32 in W 68.9 in D 27.56 in
Antique Hand-Painted Floral Writing Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful and unique writing desk is rustic yet utilitarian, and would work well as either a
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Antique Hand-Painted Floral Writing Desk
Antique Hand-Painted Floral Writing Desk
$800
H 40 in W 33 in D 23 in
Unique wall unit with methacrylate top writing desk
By Italian school XX ct.
Located in Milano, IT
COD-CV026 Unique wall unit with methacrylate top writing desk with one drawer, newspaper holder and
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Unique wall unit with methacrylate top writing desk
Unique wall unit with methacrylate top writing desk
$10,065
H 54.34 in W 63 in D 47.25 in
Rare and Unique Modern Craftsman / Adirondack Twig Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
A rare, unique neo-primitive /modern craftsman desk attributed to Lee Fountain (1869-1941) and
Category

Mid-20th Century American Adirondack Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Twig, Cherry

19th Century Unique Restored Czech Biedermeier Ash Writing Desk, 1830s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This elegant Biedermeier style writing desk originates from Bohemia from the first half of the 19th
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Czech Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Ash, Lacquer

19th Century Unique Restored Austrian Biedermeier Maple Writing Desk, 1830s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Biedermeier writing desk Completely restored. Shellac polish. Material: Maple Source: Austria
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Maple, Lacquer

Direttorio Writing Desk
By Morelato
Located in Milan, IT
function and elegance making each room unique and timeless. This writing desk is made of cherry wood with a
Category

2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Leather

Direttorio Writing Desk
Direttorio Writing Desk
$4,820 / item
H 31.5 in W 46.46 in D 24.81 in
Mallard writing desk, English Walnut
By Stout Duck Ltd
Located in Skipton, GB
This truly unique English walnut writing desk has been exquisitely crafted with the utmost care and
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Boxwood, Cherry, Fruitwood, Walnut, Burl

Mallard writing desk, English Walnut
Mallard writing desk, English Walnut
$26,853 Sale Price
20% Off
H 295.28 in W 472.45 in D 236.23 in
Unique Mini Desk/Lady's Desk, England 1890
Located in Berlin, DE
Unique mini desk/lady's desk, England 1890 Curious ladies desk, England. Folding writing surface
Category

20th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Unique Mini Desk/Lady's Desk, England 1890
Unique Mini Desk/Lady's Desk, England 1890
$1,647
H 33.47 in W 21.26 in D 22.45 in
Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints
Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk
Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk
$2,895
H 29 in W 46 in D 23 in
Unique, Solid Oak Ernest Desk by Obstacles
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique, Solid Oak Ernest Desk by Obstacles Dimensions: W 80 x D 240 x H 74 cm Materials: Solid
Category

2010s Spanish Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Unique, Solid Oak Ernest Desk by Obstacles
Unique, Solid Oak Ernest Desk by Obstacles
$13,759 / item
H 29.14 in W 31.5 in D 94.49 in
Axel Wannberg unique dining table/desk, Sweden
By Axel Wannberg
Located in Stockholm, SE
A refined dining table or a sculptural desk, this striking piece by Swedish designer Axel Wannberg
Category

2010s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Elm

Axel Wannberg unique dining table/desk, Sweden
Axel Wannberg unique dining table/desk, Sweden
$11,841
H 73 in W 180 in D 100 in
Antique Victorian English Oak Writing Desk / Partner Desk with a Leather Top
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here is this large, unique, and antique Victorian English oak writing desk / library table
Category

Antique 19th Century Classical Roman Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood, Oak

East India Dutch Company Captains Writing Desk
By Southeast Asia
Located in London, GB
piece of the past with this unique writing desk that speaks volumes about the Dutch East India Company's
Category

Antique 1730s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Desks

Materials

Bone, Rosewood, Walnut

East India Dutch Company Captains Writing Desk
East India Dutch Company Captains Writing Desk
$22,849
H 27.75 in W 46 in D 27.75 in
Unique Desk in Mica at Cost Price
By VITTORIO SERIO
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Exceptional desk in french polished ebonite wood from Macassar, with feet covered with plates of
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Amethyst

Unique Desk in Mica at Cost Price
Unique Desk in Mica at Cost Price
$4,144 Sale Price
72% Off
H 31.11 in W 80.32 in D 25.6 in
Unique Italian Duo Desk in Walnut with Marquetry
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Double desk, walnut, Italy, 1950s This custom-made desk, designed for two people, combines
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Unique Italian Duo Desk in Walnut with Marquetry
Unique Italian Duo Desk in Walnut with Marquetry
$12,700
H 30.52 in W 71.86 in D 51.38 in
Unique Piece : Reception Desk by Kenmochi, Japan 1966
By Isamu Kenmochi
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
A unique piece, this large reception desk comes from the Kyoto International Conference Center
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Unique Piece :  Reception Desk by Kenmochi, Japan 1966
Unique Piece :  Reception Desk by Kenmochi, Japan 1966
$12,000
H 29.93 in W 63 in D 21.26 in
Unique Design Desk, French Designer Charly Bounan
By Charly Bounan
Located in Geneve, CH
Charly Bounan, is a Parisian designer renowned for its refined creative style and the important eclecticism of its influences. Dimensions: Height 80 cm, width 240 cm, dep...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Copper

Unique Design Desk, French Designer Charly Bounan
Unique Design Desk, French Designer Charly Bounan
$36,470 / item
H 31.5 in W 94.49 in D 31.5 in
Waterfall Style Vintage Desk with Unique Drawer Design
Located in Yonkers, NY
A vintage Chinese waterfall desk with five drawers, opium mat top and rustic character. Emanating a
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

PEMBROKE Writing Desk by AMBROZIA, Claro Walnut, Stainless Steel & Leather
By AMBROZIA
Located in Drummondville, Quebec
this unique modern organic writing desk table will remind you of the strength and beauty of the nature
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel, Cut Steel, Steel, Bronze, Brass

Arthur Espenet Carpenter, Unique Double-Trunk Table Desk
By Arthur Espenet Carpenter
Located in Chicago, IL
Arthur Espenet Carpenter, unique double-trunk table desk. This extraordinary table is unique to
Category

Vintage 1980s American American Craftsman Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ebony, Mahogany

Arthur Espenet Carpenter, Unique Double-Trunk Table Desk
Arthur Espenet Carpenter, Unique Double-Trunk Table Desk
$92,400
H 29.25 in W 86.25 in D 36.25 in
Unique Desk in Bronze by Jacques Jarrige, 2006
By Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
The Parade desk is a unique sculptural piece by Jacques Jarrige that merges function with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Unique Desk in Bronze by Jacques Jarrige, 2006
Unique Desk in Bronze by Jacques Jarrige, 2006
$30,000
H 29.5 in W 39.25 in D 26.5 in
Modern Lacquered Writing Desk with Brass Accents by John Stuart
By John Stuart
Located in Dallas, TX
and luxe. Two spacious drawers for storage. This unique vintage writing desk is perfect for home or
Category

Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Fornasetti Desk and Chair "FIORI NELLA NOTTE" - Unique Pieces
By Fornasetti
Located in Rome, RM
The Fornasetti "Fiori nella Notte" desk and chair are unique pieces made in exclusive for Betony
Category

Early 2000s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Fornasetti Desk and Chair "FIORI NELLA NOTTE" - Unique Pieces
Fornasetti Desk and Chair "FIORI NELLA NOTTE" - Unique Pieces
$28,418 Sale Price
20% Off
H 29.93 in W 29.14 in D 15.75 in
Antique Davenport 19th Century Writing Desk Biedermeier Gold Inlays around 1830
Located in Berlin, DE
Very rare antique Biedermeier Davenport desk around 1830-1835. Very rare and unique Antique
Category

Antique 19th Century German Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Unique French Modern Solid Rosewood Desk, Pierre Chapo, 1950s
Located in Queens, NY
Unique French Modern Solid Rosewood Desk, Pierre Chapo, 1950s.
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

"Galvinas" Handcrafted Desk with Unique Veneer and Bronze, Istanbul
By Bizimyer Furniture
Located in Istanbul, 34
"Galvinas" Hand Crafted Desk with Unique Veneer and Bronze, Istanbul. Designed by Hasan Samet
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Post modern Memphis style artistic writing desk and chair, Germany 1980s
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group, Gaetano Pesce
Located in ECHT, NL
Unique artistic writing desk and chair. The frame is made from steel and wrought iron in different
Category

Late 20th Century German Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Post modern Memphis style artistic writing desk and chair, Germany 1980s
Post modern Memphis style artistic writing desk and chair, Germany 1980s
$2,358 Sale Price / set
53% Off
H 29.53 in W 50.01 in D 29.93 in
Unique Louis XV Desk/Reception Table, After F. Linke, Paris
Located in Berlin, DE
Unique Louis XV desk/reception table, after F. Linke, Paris Solid beech wood and veneered
Category

20th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Rolf Thies Unique Free-Standing Desk in Cognac Leather and Marble
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Rolf Thies for Nordiska Kompaniet, free-standing custom-made writing or office desk, leather
Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

French Art Deco Oak and Steel Writing Table Desk, France, circa 1930
Located in New York, NY
A highly unique French Art Deco writing table /desk with stunning geometric form. The rectangular
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Desk Console, Unique Daté Kan Stone Sculptural Design by Okurayama
By Okurayama Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Desk console, unique Daté Kan stone sculptural design by Okurayama Materiel: Oak and Daté Kan
Category

2010s Japanese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stone

Desk Console, Unique Daté Kan Stone Sculptural Design by Okurayama
Desk Console, Unique Daté Kan Stone Sculptural Design by Okurayama
$17,584 / item
H 53.55 in W 51.19 in D 18.9 in
Old Fir Writing Desk or Console with Two Drawers, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. Writing
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fir

Old Fir Writing Desk or Console with Two Drawers, Made in Italy
Old Fir Writing Desk or Console with Two Drawers, Made in Italy
$2,855 / item
H 31.5 in W 51.19 in D 19.69 in
Unique 1940s Executive Walnut & Cowhide - Greek Key Nail Head Leather Top Desk
By James Mont, Andrew Szoeke
Located in St. Louis, MO
One of a kind circa 1940s, custom large scale executive desk, with leather top, studded brass tack
Category

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

Materials

Cowhide, Leather, Wood

Spanish Antique Small Wooden Desk w/Unique Carved "Trunk" Appearance from Front
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Spanish smaller-sized wood desk, with a trunk-like appearance from front, from the early 20th
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Unique French Roll-Up Secretary/Desk in the Transition Style from Around 1890
Located in Berlin, DE
Unique French roll-up secretary/desk in the transition style from around 1890 Mahogany and brass
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Dom Hans van der Laan Unique Desk with Copy of Original Drawings c. 1970
By Dom Hans van der Laan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Dom Hans van der Laan unique desk with copy of original drawings. From a private doctor’s practice
Category

Mid-20th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Copper

Unique Desk or Table Made by Jens Harald Quistgaard in 1953, Solid Teak and Oak
By Jens Quistgaard
Located in Odense, DK
A stunning Scandinavian solid unique teak & oak table or desk with continuous drawer and slightly
Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Vintage Boho Rattan Lift Top Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
wonderfully suited for smaller spaces, serving beautifully as a ladies' writing desk, a unique vanity, or an
Category

Early 20th Century Philippine Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Vintage Boho Rattan Lift Top Desk
Vintage Boho Rattan Lift Top Desk
$1,950
H 35.5 in W 26.5 in D 17 in
19th Century Unique Restored Czech Biedermeier Walnut Table, 1840s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Biedermeier table - Writing desk Completely restored. Shellac polish. Material: Walnut veneer
Category

Antique 19th Century Czech Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Walnut, Lacquer

Dining Table, Unique Daté Kan Stone Sculptural Design by Okurayama
By Okurayama Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Dining table, Unique Daté Kan Stone sculptural design by Okurayama Materiel: Daté Kan Stone and
Category

2010s Japanese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stone

Dining Table, Unique Daté Kan Stone Sculptural Design by Okurayama
Dining Table, Unique Daté Kan Stone Sculptural Design by Okurayama
$20,189 / item
H 29.14 in W 59.06 in D 35.44 in
18th C. English Architect's Table w/Unique Legs, Expanding Top, & Candle Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
table from England would have originally been used as an architects work desk, complete with a pair of
Category

Antique 18th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

PEMBROKE Desk by AMBROZIA, Solid Oxidized Walnut, Blackened Steel & Leather
By AMBROZIA
Located in Drummondville, Quebec
emotions. Contemplating this unique modern organic writing desk table will remind you of the strength and
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel, Cut Steel, Steel, Bronze

20th Century Unique Biedermeier Writing Desk, Flamed Birch
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century unique Biedermeier writing desk, flamed birch Exceptional Biedermeier desk. With a
Category

Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Desks

Materials

Birch

19th Century Chinese Carved Beech Wood Writing Desk
Located in Pomona, CA
This unique writing desk has a multitude of drawers in the front and both sides and back are nicely
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Beech

19th Century Chinese Carved Beech Wood Writing Desk
19th Century Chinese Carved Beech Wood Writing Desk
$1,100 Sale Price
66% Off
H 31.5 in W 45 in D 23 in
unique turquoise burnished solid brass WRITING DESK SET Vienna Austria 1950's
By Walter Bosse
Located in Landshut, BY
unique turquoise burnished solid brass WRITING DESK SET Vienna Austria 1950's processed to the
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Antique, Chinese Beech Wood Writing Desk, Vanity
Located in Pomona, CA
This unique writing desk has a multitude of drawers in the front and both sides and back are nicely
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Beech

Antique, Chinese Beech Wood Writing Desk, Vanity
Antique, Chinese Beech Wood Writing Desk, Vanity
$1,950 Sale Price
45% Off
H 35 in W 48 in D 26 in
Custom 1950s Wall Mounted Modernist Writing Desk
Located in San Diego, CA
Unique handmade custom wall-mounted writing desk made in the 1950s. Solid birch construction with
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Antique Biedermeier Style Desk
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
remarkable antique. The desk boasts a spacious writing surface with newly restored leather, framed by a
Category

20th Century German Biedermeier Desks

Materials

Birch

Antique Biedermeier Style Desk
Antique Biedermeier Style Desk
$3,433
H 30.32 in W 43.71 in D 25.6 in
Small Antique Italian Fruitwood Secretary Desk C. 1930's
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
simply looking for a unique writing desk with history and charm, this Italian secretary desk offers a
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder) Material: Mahogany. Completely restored, Shellac
Category

Antique 1820s Austrian Empire Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer

Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
$6,749 Sale Price
40% Off
H 59.85 in W 37.01 in D 16.93 in
Unique Czech Art Deco Secretary/Writing Desk, Rosewood 1920-1929
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Art Deco sideboard and secretary made out of rosewood Material: Rosewood Completely restored, Shellac polish. Period: 1920-1929 Source: Czechia.  
Category

Vintage 1920s Czech Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Rosewood

Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Material Mahogany, Wien 1820-1829
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder) Material: Mahogany. Completely restored, Shellac
Category

Antique 1820s Austrian Empire Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
This beautiful and unique 19th century Swedish Gustavian writing desk is perfect for any room or
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Pine, Paint

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
$2,396 Sale Price
20% Off
H 34 in W 33.25 in D 25 in
Italian Dining or Writing Table, 1950s
Located in Wolfurt, AT
also make it a compelling choice as a unique writing or work desk.Italian Dining Table, 1950s Feel
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables

Materials

Brass, Steel

Italian Dining or Writing Table, 1950s
Italian Dining or Writing Table, 1950s
$2,841
H 30.32 in W 53.15 in D 28.75 in
Pair Serge Roche Style Painted Plaster Nautilus Consoles or Dinning Table Bases
By Serge Roche
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
table, or a uniquely proportioned writing desk. Their carved texture and crisp white finish allow them
Category

20th Century Modern Tables

Materials

Plaster

Nils Jonsson Teak Vanity Dresser for Torring Møbelfabrik by HJN Mobler, c. 1960s
By HJN Møbler, Nils Jonsson, Torring Mobelfabrik
Located in Deland, FL
aesthetically pleasing. Cleverly designed to function as both a dresser, vanity and writing desk this unique
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Materials

Mirror, Wood, Teak

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Unique Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal unique writing desk for your home. Each unique writing desk for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and lacquer. If you’re shopping for a unique writing desk, we have 107 options in-stock, while there are 9 modern editions to choose from as well. Your living room may not be complete without a unique writing desk — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A unique writing desk made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — is very popular. Jonathan Field, Arthur Espenet Carpenter and Melchiorre Bega each produced at least one beautiful unique writing desk that is worth considering.

How Much is a Unique Writing Desk?

Prices for a unique writing desk start at $600 and top out at $88,000 with the average selling for $6,775.

Finding the Right Desks-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.

Questions About Unique 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 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 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 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.