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Mid Century Writing Desk / Vanity in Brazilian Rosewood
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Unknown Manufacturer: Unknown Era: 1960s Materials: Rosewood, Beech Measurements: 49.25" wide x 21.5" deep x 29.75" tall (top closed), 47" tall (top open)
Category

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

Materials

Beech, Rosewood

Mid Century Writing Desk / Vanity in Brazilian Rosewood
Mid Century Writing Desk / Vanity in Brazilian Rosewood
$4,620
H 29.75 in W 49.25 in D 21.5 in
Antique, Chinese Beech Wood Writing Desk, Vanity
Located in Pomona, CA
. You may use it as Office writing desk or a lady's vanity at your room. This stunning antique piece
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture

Materials

Beech

William Billy Haines Brass Klismos Leg Desk Table in Walnut and Cane circa 1950s
By William Billy Haines
Located in Troy, MI
leather Suitable for use as a writing desk, vanity, or entryway table 42 inch width 18 inch depth 29.5
Category

Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Table, Desk, Writing, Dressing, Vanity, Teak, Vintage
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A large vintage teak table desk, writing table, dressing table or side table. Measures: 6 feet 2
Category

Vintage 1950s British Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Table, Desk, Writing, Dressing, Vanity, Teak, Vintage
Table, Desk, Writing, Dressing, Vanity, Teak, Vintage
$6,251
H 30.32 in W 74.41 in D 35.04 in
Espresso Finish Art Deco Style Vanity/ Writing Desk
Located in North Miami, FL
This Parsons style, simple and stylish desk has an added feature of a flip top vanity area with
Category

Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mirror, Wood

1963 Danish Writing Desk and Mirrored Vanity, Wood, Oestergaard
By Harry Østergaard
Located in Arosio, IT
A Mid-Century Modern small desk that can also be used as mirrored vanity. It has one tilt mirror
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Modern Black Writing Table Desk or Vanity Console in high gloss
By Renats Kotlevs
Located in Riga, LV
Refined elegance and classic design characterize the Kanttari Writing Desk. The definition of rich
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Modern Black Writing Table Desk or Vanity Console in high gloss
Modern Black Writing Table Desk or Vanity Console in high gloss
$6,044 / item
H 29.53 in W 47.25 in D 17.72 in
Vendôme Vanity / Desk
By Hugues Chevalier
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Vendôme desk is perfect for refined interiors, whether as a vanity or a stylish workspace. Hugues
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Vendôme Vanity / Desk
Vendôme Vanity / Desk
$13,995 / item
H 32.49 in W 27.96 in D 51.19 in
Vintage Vanity / Writing Desk With Chair by Morris of California. Circa 1960s
By Morris of California
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Campaign Style Vanity / Writing Desk With Chair by Morris of California. Circa 1960s
Category

Vintage 1960s American Campaign Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Rococo Louis XV Distress Paint Dressing Table Vanity Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Rococo Louis XV Style Distress Painted Dressing Table / Writing Desk. Item features
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Maison Dominique Domin, Genevriére Art Deco Veneer Writing Desk or Vanity Table
By Andre Domin & Marcel Genevriere for Maison Dominique
Located in Firenze, IT
Exceptionally rare executive corner writing desk or vanity table branded Dominique, Paris. This
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Maison Dominique Domin, Genevriére Art Deco Veneer Writing Desk or Vanity Table
Maison Dominique Domin, Genevriére Art Deco Veneer Writing Desk or Vanity Table
$20,241 Sale Price
20% Off
H 39.77 in W 51.19 in D 36.23 in
Low Profile Kidney Shape Burl Wood Compact Desk Writing Table Vanity MINT Italy
By Henredon, Baker Furniture Company, Drexel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Banded Inlayed Top Carved Legs Low Profile Kidney Shape Burl Wood Compact Desk Writing Table Vanity
Category

20th Century Italian Federal Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Burl, Walnut

Rare Important French Art Deco Mahagony Ladies Vanity Writing Desk Circa 1920's
Located in New York, NY
Writing Desk with 5 Drawers. Circa 1920's. The Rounded Rectangular Top with an Ormolu Banding, Bronze
Category

Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Art Deco Desk / Vanity
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Dark brown mahogany wood desk with Art Deco hardware. Attributed to Ralph Lauren for office or
Category

20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Art Deco Desk / Vanity
Art Deco Desk / Vanity
$2,200
H 29.25 in W 62 in D 17 in
Mid-Century Coen de Vries Enameled Metal and Faux Walnut Writing Desk or Vanity
By Coen de Vries, Emmein Staal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century industrial desk or vanity designed by Coen de Vries for Emmein Staal. The desk has one
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Industrial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Vintage Coastal Ficks Reed Desk
By Ficks Reed
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
elegance. Its spacious surface and practical design make it ideal for use as a writing desk, vanity, or
Category

Late 20th Century American Desks

Materials

Laminate, Wood

Vintage Coastal Ficks Reed Desk
Vintage Coastal Ficks Reed Desk
$1,750
H 31.5 in W 42.25 in D 20.5 in
French Art Deco Desk/Vanity
Located in Austin, TX
Desk, vanity, from France made of figured walnut. This piece is finished in a lustrous French
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

French Art Deco Desk/Vanity
French Art Deco Desk/Vanity
$3,950
H 30 in W 31.5 in D 19 in
1930s Antique White Neoclassical Writing Table or Vanity
Located in Stamford, CT
1930s neoclassical writing table or vanity table. Newly painted in an antique white finish. New
Category

Vintage 1930s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1900s French Oak Desk
Located in High Point, NC
writing desk, vanity, or hallway console, this piece brings timeless character to any setting.
Category

20th Century French Desks

Materials

Oak

1900s French Oak Desk
1900s French Oak Desk
$3,995
H 39.4 in W 37.6 in D 19.7 in
Baker Rosewood Directoire Style Brass Mounted Vanity Writing Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
beautifully as either a writing desk, dressing vanity, or decorative console, featuring a compact footprint
Category

20th Century Unknown Directoire Vanities

Materials

Brass

Mid-century Modern Vanity Desk by Broyhill
By Broyhill
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elevate your daily routine with this stunning mid-century modern vanity desk with mirror by
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Mid-century Modern Vanity Desk  by Broyhill
Mid-century Modern Vanity Desk  by Broyhill
$1,600
H 34.5 in W 50 in D 21.5 in
EM Desk by DUVALD Contemporary Vanity Desk Handcrafted in Denmark. Mirror.
By Örn Duvald, DUVALD
Located in Gentofte, DK
EM Desk manifests a unique design language and functionality, combining in one desk both work and
Category

2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Other

Vanity Desk in Estremoz Marble & Polished Brass
By Ginger & Jagger
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The distinctive marble desk initiates a design tension between rough and smooth, straight lines and
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Vanity Desk in Estremoz Marble & Polished Brass
Vanity Desk in Estremoz Marble & Polished Brass
$24,780 / item
H 48.82 in W 94.49 in D 35.44 in
Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A solid wood double pedestal desk or vanity with demi-lune curve to accomodate seating and
Category

20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables

Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
$8,500
H 26 in W 50 in D 19 in
Bavero Breccia Imperiale Marble-Effect & Oak Writing Desk
By Morica Design
Located in Milan, IT
Brimming with exclusivity, this writing/vanity desk is an exercise in superb finishes also borrowed
Category

2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood, Oak

Bavero Breccia Imperiale Marble-Effect & Oak Writing Desk
Bavero Breccia Imperiale Marble-Effect & Oak Writing Desk
$2,047 / item
H 34.26 in W 49.61 in D 18.9 in
Swedish Mid-Century Teak and Beech Vanity/Desk
Located in VANCOUVER, CA
Teak & beech vanity/desk, circa 1950's. Unique shape with triangular storage cubbies and sleek
Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Teak

Swedish Mid-Century Teak and Beech Vanity/Desk
Swedish Mid-Century Teak and Beech Vanity/Desk
$2,130
H 27 in W 45 in D 18.5 in
1960s Rway Gold Painted Mirrored Top Vanity Desk
By RWAY
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, desk vanity you could hope to find
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mirror, Wood, Paint

Lady’s Desk or Vanity in Mahogany, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
By Up Závody
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautiful midcentury desk, originally used as a desk for a lady, or vanity in the bedroom. The
Category

Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Mahogany

Lady’s Desk or Vanity in Mahogany, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
Lady’s Desk or Vanity in Mahogany, Czechoslovakia, 1970s
$471 Sale Price
50% Off
H 28.35 in W 31.5 in D 17.72 in
Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A solid wood double pedestal desk or vanity with demilune curve to accommodate seating and
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
$8,500
H 256 in W 50 in D 19 in
Simmons Brushed Steel Sheraton Series Desk Vanity Set
By Simmons Company Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Early 20th century, Sheraton Series vanity or desk set by Simmons Company Furniture features an
Category

Early 20th Century American Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Art Deco 7 Drawer Writing Desk with Waterfall Top
Located in Freehold, NJ
or ready to be a writing desk or vanity in its current state.
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Art Deco 7 Drawer Writing Desk with Waterfall Top
Art Deco 7 Drawer Writing Desk with Waterfall Top
$1,250
H 28 in W 38.5 in D 16.5 in
Italian Midcentury Brass & Satin Glass Vanity, Writing Table/ Desk, Fontana Arte
By Fontana Arte, Max Ingrand
Located in New York, NY
An Elegant Italian Mid-Century Modern Brass and Engraved Glass Vanity / Writing Table or Desk in
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vanities

Materials

Brass

21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a make up desk made of American walnut veneer with an arc shaped mirror
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror
$8,000 / item
H 55.91 in W 53.15 in D 19.69 in
Early 19th Century Empire Greek Vanity or Ladies' Desk
Located in Berlin, DE
An early 19th century gilt bronze and walnut veneer ladies desk or dressing table or vanity, with a
Category

Antique 1810s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century Empire Greek Vanity or Ladies' Desk
Early 19th Century Empire Greek Vanity or Ladies' Desk
$4,900
H 50.4 in W 32.68 in D 16.93 in
Custom Made Metal Vanity or Desk by BH&A
Located in Sheffield, MA
end table, vanity, desk or dressing table. Table has distressed metal top insert and a drawer
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Ta...

Materials

Iron

Custom Made Metal Vanity or Desk by BH&A
Custom Made Metal Vanity or Desk by BH&A
$4,800
H 30 in W 36 in D 22 in
French Early Modern Console / Vanity /Desk /Writing Table, Robert Mallet-Stevens
By Robert Mallet-Stevens
Located in New York, NY
A Rare French Early Modernist Console / Vanity / Desk / Writing Table in Chromed Tubular Steel
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vanities

Materials

Marble, Stainless Steel, Chrome

French Louis XV Style Distressed Painted Desk Writing Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This French Louis XV style distressed painted desk writing table is a stunning example of antique
Category

1990s Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

French Louis XV Style Distressed Painted Desk Writing Table
French Louis XV Style Distressed Painted Desk Writing Table
$2,120 Sale Price
20% Off
H 36.25 in W 68 in D 28 in
21st Century American White Oak Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a make up desk made of American white oak veneer with an arc shaped mirror
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

21st Century American White Oak Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror
21st Century American White Oak Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror
$8,000 / item
H 55.91 in W 53.15 in D 19.69 in
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Indigo
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a make up desk made of American walnut veneer with an arc shaped mirror
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Indigo
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Indigo
$8,000 / item
H 55.91 in W 53.15 in D 19.69 in
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Green
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a make up desk made of American walnut veneer with an arc shaped mirror
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Green
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Green
$8,000 / item
H 55.91 in W 53.15 in D 19.69 in
Mid-Century Danish Modern Teak Desk Or Vanity With Floating Top
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century Danish modern teak writing desk. It has both drawers and open space. It
Category

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

Materials

Steel

Customizable Desk/Vanity In Matte Walnut with Ottoman In Chocolate Velvet
Located in NEW YORK, NY
, suitable for deployment as a console in a living area, a vanity in a bedroom, or a compact desk in a study
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Fine French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Directoire Marble Top Mirrored Vanity Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
craftsmanship. Perfect for use as a vanity, writing desk, or decorative statement piece, this Directoire
Category

Antique 1890s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

Fine French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Directoire Marble Top Mirrored Vanity Desk
Fine French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Directoire Marble Top Mirrored Vanity Desk
$1,596 Sale Price
20% Off
H 48.75 in W 31.5 in D 18 in
French Directoire Style Brass Trimmed Leather Top Vanity Desk, Circa 1890
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
details, terminating in brass caps. This vanity desk is a versatile piece that can serve as a writing
Category

Antique 1890s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Directoire Style Brass Trimmed Leather Top Vanity Desk, Circa 1890
French Directoire Style Brass Trimmed Leather Top Vanity Desk, Circa 1890
$1,960 Sale Price
20% Off
H 47 in W 27 in D 18.25 in
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Red & Gray
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a makeup desk made of American walnut veneer with an arc shaped mirror
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Fine Bench Made Carved Mahogany Serpentine Front Dovetail Drawers Vanity Desk
By Heritage-Henredon, Baker Furniture Company, Widdicomb Furniture Co., Drexel, Kittinger
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Fine Bench Made Carved Mahogany Serpentine Front Dovetail Drawers Vanity Desk Dressing Table. The
Category

Antique 19th Century American Federal Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Raphael Raffel Vanity or Writing Desk in Sycamore and Glass, France 1950s
By Raphaël Décorateur
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Raphael Raffel two tiered vanity or writing desk in blonde sycamore and bronze with a thick
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vanities

Materials

Glass, Sycamore

Italian 18th Century Renaissance Vanity, Desk with Two Chairs, Dressing Table
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Antique renaissance Vanity, desk with mirror and two chairs in carved ebonized walnut. Fabulous
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing...

Materials

Mirror, Walnut

Customizable Desk/Vanity In Matte Walnut with Ottoman In Navy Blue Velvet
Located in NEW YORK, NY
as a console in a living area, a vanity in a bedroom, or a compact desk in a study. Customization
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Mid Century George Nakashima Walnut Coffee Table/Vanity Desk, Origins Series
By George Nakashima
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Very rare coffee table/vanity desk by George Nakashima for Widdicomb, Origins Series, 1963
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

A.R. Cordemeyer for Gispen "3803" Desk or Vanity with Linoleum Top
By A.R. Cordemeijer, Gispen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century gray enameled desk or vanity designed by A.R. Cordemeyer for famed Dutch manufacturer
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Industrial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Vintage Oval Lacquered Vanity Dressing Table or Desk with a Leather Panel
Located in Miami, FL
vintage custom made gloss black lacquer oval vanity dressing table or writing table desk. The top has an
Category

Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Vintage Oval Lacquered Vanity Dressing Table or Desk with a Leather Panel
Vintage Oval Lacquered Vanity Dressing Table or Desk with a Leather Panel
$2,200 Sale Price / set
42% Off
H 29.75 in W 66 in D 36 in
21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror and Carrara Marble
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a make up desk made of American walnut veneer with an arc shaped mirror
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

21st Century American Walnut Veneer Vanity Desk with Mirror, Black and Red
By Merve Kahraman
Located in Istanbul, TR
"La Nouvelle Vanité" is a make up desk made of American walnut veneer with an arc shaped mirror
Category

2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Late Art Deco / Modern Neoclassical Desk / Console / Vanity in Walnut
Located in New York, NY
This desk / console with a simple, pure, modern design influenced French Art Deco in stunning
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Late Art Deco / Modern Neoclassical Desk / Console / Vanity in Walnut
French Late Art Deco / Modern Neoclassical Desk / Console / Vanity in Walnut
$11,500 Sale Price
22% Off
H 31.5 in W 46 in D 25.5 in
Adams Style Satin Wood Hand Painted 7 Drawers Desk Vanity Table Decorative MINT
By Berkey & Gay Furniture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Adams Style Satin Wood Hand Painted 7 Drawers Desk Vanity Table Decorative MINT
Category

20th Century American Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gentleman's Bureau Dressing Table Vanity Desk
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in Forney, TX
mirrored gentleman's bureau dressing table / writing desk (poudreuse coiffeuse de toilette d’homme) in the
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

Desk and Dressing Table, with Mirror Style of Ulrich, circa 1936, Vanity Table
By Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Guglielmo Ulrich manner desk and dressing table; Desk in walnut, elm and elm burl. Feet in golden
Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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Writing Desk Vanity For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal writing desk vanity for your home. Frequently made of wood, metal and brass, every writing desk vanity was constructed with great care. Find 208 options for an antique or vintage writing desk vanity now, or shop our selection of 24 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect writing desk vanity — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. A writing desk vanity, designed in the Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco or Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made writing desk vanity over the years, but those crafted by Paul Frankl, Arne Wahl Iversen and Merve Kahraman are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Writing Desk Vanity?

The average selling price for a writing desk vanity at 1stDibs is $4,450, while they’re typically $525 on the low end and $75,000 for the highest priced.

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 Writing Desk Vanity
  • 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 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 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 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.