Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
American, 1923-2013
Richard Artschwager was an eclectic artist whose unique style resisted categorization. His work has been described variously as minimalism and Pop art. At the core of his approach was the transformation of the mundane into the conceptual, and sometimes even the otherworldly.
Artschwager was born in Washington, DC, in 1923 and moved with his family to New Mexico in 1935. His parents were passionate about art and design and he started painting at a young age. He later studied mathematics and science at Cornell University. His studies were interrupted by World War II, but he completed his bachelor’s degree in 1948.
Artschwager spent a period taking odd jobs to support his growing family. Still, he found time to study art, including under French painter Amédée Ozenfant at his New York City studio. He exhibited his first series of paintings and watercolors at the Art Directions Gallery in New York in 1959.
The 1960s were a prolific time for Artschwager. He experimented with his style and participated in many exhibitions. The 1962 piece Handle, a wall-hung polished wood frame, is considered a breakthrough work. He had his first solo exhibition at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York in 1965.
In the 1970s, Artschwager moved into site-specific installations and produced paintings and drawings in a more architectural style. His success and acclaim grew over the next three decades.
He died in 2013 at the age of 89. His abstract prints and sculptures remain highly regarded. Many Neo-Geo artists in New York and Young British Artists in the United Kingdom have cited Artschwager as a major influence.
A few months after his death, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles held a career retrospective that displayed over 150 of Artschwager’s works.
On 1stDibs, find Richard Artschwager’s prints, mixed media, sculptures and more.
to
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
8
107
62
51
38
Creator: Richard Artschwager
Richard Artschwager Walnut Single Pedestal Desk, New York, 1950s
By Richard Artschwager
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Walnut desk by renowned painter and sculptor, Richard Artschwager, who in 1953 designed a small collection of furniture in New York City. These pieces are scarce, as production and s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Richard Artschwager 3 drawer walnut Pedestal Desk New York 1950s
By Richard Artschwager
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful Walnut custom narrow desk by renowned painter and sculptor, Richard Artschwager, who in 1953 designed a small collection of furniture in New York City. These pieces are sca...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
$3,135 Sale Price
40% Off
Related Items
1950s Elegant Italian Small Desk in Ash and Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing desk, ash, walnut, brass, formica, Italy, 1950s
Very elegant desk made in Italy in the 1950s. The framework is executed in walnut. The upper part of this piece is made from ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash, Walnut
Burr Walnut Kidney Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
Elevate your workspace with this exquisite burr walnut kidney-shaped pedestal desk featuring a luxurious hand-tooled leather writing surface. Organize your essentials effortlessly wi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Regency Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Milo Baughman, Rare Desk, Walnut, Brass, USA, 1950s
By Glenn of California, Milo Baughman
Located in High Point, NC
A rare walnut and brass desk designed by Milo Baughman and produced by Glenn of California, USA, 1950s.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
American Designer, Desk, Rosewood, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A rosewood desk designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Italian Desk, 1950s
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian desk, 1950s.
Dimensions: H= 80 cm; W= 153 cm; D= 66 cm.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Geometric Writing Desk / Sideboard in Walnut and Brass, Italy, 1950s
Located in Uithoorn, NL
This geometrical writing desk has a sleek symmetry. This is formed by two large, rectangular storage compartments, together with four smaller compartments above. In between the compa...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$11,900
H 29.93 in W 97.64 in D 19.69 in
Dassi Desk walnut Mid-Century Modern Brass Minimal Scultural 1950s Italian
By Dassi
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Dassi small desk rosewood Mid-Century Modern brass minimal scultural 1950s Italian.
Colored glass top with gold decorations on the edge.
Perfectly rest...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$2,913 Sale Price
30% Off
H 27.96 in W 40.95 in D 19.3 in
Jules Leleu- A French 1950s 3 Drawer Walnut Writing Table with Brass Details
By Jules Leleu
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jules Leleu - A fine French Mid-Century three drawer walnut desk with brass details.
A similar desk is shown page 137 of the book "Jules et Andre Leleu" by Vivianne Jutheau - Edited...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$15,000
H 29.93 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
Mid Century Modern Three Drawer Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Freehold, NJ
This mid century modern writing desk features hardwood construction, walnut veneer with original finish, three dovetailed drawers with black painted hardware, and tall tapered legs.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
$1,155 Sale Price
30% Off
H 29 in W 50.25 in D 24.5 in
George Nakashima Single Pedestal Desk
By George Nakashima
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
George Nakashima Single Pedestal Desk
Walnut splayed leg Desk
3 Drawer Pedestal
Signed on the underside of desk, George Nakashima 1968
Original Clients name marked in Drawers with Cr...
Category
1960s American Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Early Victorian Burl Walnut 2 Pedestal Desk
Located in Huntington, NY
Early Victorian Burl Walnut 2 Pedestal Desk
With Cigar box mahogany drawers & brass hardware
With 3 keys. Also comes with later glass top
Category
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Burr Walnut Leather Top Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
A fantastic antique burr walnut leather top pedestal desk. This is in the Georgian style, it dates from around the 1930’s.
The quality is superb, this has a beautiful inset leather ...
Category
1930s British Georgian Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Previously Available Items
Richard Artshwager Walnut Double Pedestal Desk, Signed, New York, 1950s
By Richard Artschwager
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Clean Lined Mid Century desk, designed by Richard Artschwager, American, circa 1960s.nHand signed under drawer. It is finished on both sides, so it could be floated in a room. Desk m...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Walnut Desk by Richard Artschwager
By Richard Artschwager
Located in Albany, NY
Walnut desk by renowned painter and sculptor, Richard Artschwager, who in 1953 designed a small collection of furniture in New York City. These pieces are scarce, as production and scope of design were exceedingly limited.
Richard Artschwager (American, 1923–2013) was an extremely versatile painter and sculptor, associated over the course of his career with Pop, Optical, Minimalist, and Conceptual Art. Born in Washington, D.C., Artschwager grew up in New Mexico, and studied chemistry and mathematics at Cornell University. Wounded while fighting in World War II, Artschwager worked as an administrator in Frankfort, and met his wife Elfriede Wejmelka on mission to Vienna. They returned to New York together, where she encouraged him to pursue his interest in his art. In 1949, he joined the studio of French cubist painter Amédée Ozenfant, but left the next year for a bank job due to financial reasons; his production throughout the 1950s was similarly interrupted, but, while employed, he was able to create a series of furniture.
In the 1960s, Artschwager turned to sculpture, drawing attention to art’s illusionistic properties by painting over found wooden objects...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century American Modern Walnut Desk by Richard Artschwager
By Richard Artschwager
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Walnut desk by renowned painter and sculptor, Richard Artschwager, who in 1953 designed a small collection of furniture in New York City. These pieces are scarce, as production and s...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Richard Artschwager, Signed Rare Studio Desk, Dark Walnut, 1957
By Richard Artschwager
Located in High Point, NC
Before moving on to become one of the most influential pop artists of the 20th century Richard Artschwager made a small production of studio furniture. The present desk is an example...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Richard Artschwager Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Richard Artschwager desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Richard Artschwager desks and writing tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Richard Artschwager desks and writing tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks and writing tables by Richard Artschwager were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks and writing tables by Charles and Ray Eames, Knoll, and Henredon. Prices for Richard Artschwager desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $38,500 and can go as high as $38,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $38,500.