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Mid-Century Modern Desks

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Period: 1940s
Hunting Aviation Metal Desk Ernest Race
Located in New York, NY
Ernest Race designed Metal Desk for P.W. Cow / Hunting Aviation, United Kingdom 1946. A wonderful piece of British Design History Desk by Ernest Race. The aluminum metal has a patt...
Category

1940s British Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Gilbert Rhode for Herman Miller EOG No. 17 Receptionist Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For your consideration is this rare Gilbert Rohde EOG No. 17 Receptionist Desk manufactured by Herman Miller in the 1940s. The desk is in original, unrestored condition. It's compose...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Steel

Desk in Wood, 1940, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk Year: 1940 It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinction. You want t...
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood

1940s Traditional style Writing Desk w/ Hermes Orange Leather Top
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1940's Traditional style Writing Desk with Hermes Leather Top. Beautifully carved with 4 spacious drawers.
Category

1940s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood

Rare Desk with Chair by Brown Saltman
Located in Torrance, CA
Brown Saltman, desk with chair, wood, United States, circa 1940s A cubist desk with chair. This set holds a similar idiom with clear forms and lines. Both the chair and the desk ...
Category

1940s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood

Italian Designer, Desk, Teak, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A teak and brass desk or secretaire designed and produced by an Italian Designer, Italy, 1940s.
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Brass

Paul Laszlo, Freeform Desk, Oak, Brown Saltman, USA, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A freeform oak desk designed by Paul Laszlo and produced by Brown Saltman, USA, 1940s.
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique American Oak Cabinet, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique cabinet unit. Made in American oak and metal. Manufactured by unknown designer, circa 1940. In good condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a...
Category

1940s Spanish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood

Saarinen 1940's Johnson Birch Desk
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Eliel Saarinen for Johnson desk circa 1948. This rare example executed in birch has three drawers, sculptural s shaped legs and formed aluminum pulls. It has been masterfully restore...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Art Deco "Fletcher Aviation" Executive Desk by Frank Fletcher
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful vintage Art Deco “Fletcher Aviation” designed by Frank Fletcher for Fletcher Aviation in the United States, circa 1940s. Due to its design and...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Metal

Vintage 1949 Mid-Century Modern Custom L-Shaped Office Desk by George Nelson
Located in Lafayette, IN
This remarkable piece is a one-off desk/wardrobe/bar/bookcase/storage cabinet custom-designed by George Nelson in 1949 to match his Basic Cabinet Series (BCS) for Herman Miller. The desk was made specifically for a client in the Promontory Apartment Building in Chicago designed by Nelson's associate, and world-renowned architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The entire apartment was outfitted in pieces from George Nelson's Basic Cabinet Series for Herman Miller that sat, untouched for nearly 70 years in their original setting! In addition to two aluminium sconces, this piece also features hidden, fluorescent lighting mounted in the upper canopy as a clever solution to Mies van der Rohe's lack of ceiling fixtures. This is a gorgeous, grandiose, and extremely rare piece of design history that will instantly outfit an entire office in striking style! Features: Desk: - Book-matched walnut veneer - Built-in Bar - Built in coat closet/wardrobe - Dual aluminum sconces - Hidden, indirect fluorescent lighting - Silver-plated Herman Miller hardware - Dual "floating" book shelves - Tapered, cantilevered peninsula desk...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Mid Century Bentwood Desk by Paul Goldman for Plymold 1946
Located in Oakland, CA
Streamlined midcentury desk of Bentwood construction by designer Paul Goldman for Plymold. This unique and beautiful treatment of wood furniture was developed by Goldman, a master bo...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Bentwood

1940's Italian Secretaire with Reverse Painted Glass
Located in Hanover, MA
Golden birch veneered drop front secretary desk with three drawers and reverse painted glass panel of stylized Egyptian women and a chariot...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Glass, Birch

Mid Century Modern Vintage Green Teal Cherry Brass Dining Table Italy 1940s
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage dining table or writing desk or bureau plat very similar to Ico Parisi from solid cherrywood topped with green turquoise teal glass plate...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Glass, Cherry

Osvaldo Borsani Desk
Located in New York, NY
7-drawer desk by Osvaldo Borsani for ABV. Rosewood, maple, brass. Curved desk finished on both sides. A variant of an earlier model that originally covered in parchment and designed ...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Brass

Rare Paul Frankl Cork and Mahogany Kneehole Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
C. 1940s, American, the mahogany eight- drawer desk encased in cork veneer on four sides, with book storage-well on the reverse. Bakelite and brass pulls....
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Cork

Ramsay French Mid-Century Dark Green Lacquered Secretary
Located in New York, NY
French Mid-Century (1940s) dark green lacquered drop front secretary with bronze dore rope design and trim (signed RAMSAY )
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Bronze

Mid-Century Modern Deco Drop Down Desk with 2 Bookcases
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Deco Mid-Century Modern flip down desk with 3 lower drawers and 2 matching bookcases. The shelves are all adjustable or removable. The center top flips ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Oak

George Nelson for Herman Miller Office Desk, Rare Black Leather Writing Surface
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Rare black leather top desk in original condition, acquired from NYC architect's estate. This color combination is part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York City. Designed by George Nelson and Associates and manufactured by Herman Miller Furniture Company. It is dated 1946. Its medium is walnut veneer on pine, tubular steel, leather, perforated sheet aluminum. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department. Few designers contributed as many objects and ideas relating to the modern office as did George Nelson. His designs for office furniture resonate as deeply today as they did in the mid-twentieth century; his modular, interchangeable desk and storage solutions forever changed the conventional work stations, and his Action Office of the 1960s, designed in collaboration with Herman Miller cohort Robert Propst, was the genesis of the office cubicle. Although created for the home office rather than a corporate setting, the Model 4658...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Related Items
Teak Secretary Desk, Danish Design, 1960s, Renovated
Located in Chorzów, PL
Teak writing desk, Danish design, Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: Teak Dimensions: Height 95 cm, width 89 cm, depth 42 cm.
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

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Teak

George Nelson For Herman Miller Desk And Credenza
Located in Pasadena, TX
A mid century modern desk and credenza designed by George Nelson and made by Herman Miller. The walnut credenza with multiple drawers and compartments for storage. The desk with wa...
Category

1960s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

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Laminate, Walnut

1940s Vintage Mahogany Art Deco Executive Desk Called the Fletcher Aviation Desk
Located in Monrovia, CA
Mahogany Art Deco executive desk known as the fletcher aviation desk. This beautiful Mahogany Art Deco Iconic executive desk. Known As the Fletcher aviation desk is a great American made desk 1940s. It was designed by frank Fletcher...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Steel

Space Age Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl Directors Igl-Jet Fiberglass Desk, 1970s
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Space Age Ernest Igl for Wilhelm Werndl directors Igl-Jet fiberglass desk, 1970s This design really evokes the ethos of the seventies - a bright and bold era - with the commonly u...
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1970s Czech Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

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Fiberglass

1960 Retro Pilastro Tomado shelving Grey Metal Desk Unit with Drawer and Shelf
Located in Markington, GB
1960 retro Pilastro Tomado shelving grey metal desk unit with drawer and shelf designed by Tjerk Reijenga for Tomado, Holland. The wall unit is in very...
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Metal

Bronze Desk with Black or Brown Leather Wrapped Top
By Alberto and Diego Giacometti
Located in Ballard, CA
A hand-sculpted and forged bronze desk with brown or black leather wrapped top and drawer, fastened by bronze nails. Custom sizes, finishes and glass top available. Interior of drawe...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

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Bronze

Art Deco Palladio Fall Front Desk by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller c. 1940’s
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and sophisticated drop front desk designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller as part of the much sought after Palladio series, circa 1940’s. The desk features a burl veneer ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood, Burl

Desk French Style Writing Desk, Black Lacquer with Grey Leather Writing Surface
Located in Toronto, CA
We present a beautifully finished desk made in Italy by Selva in cherry wood, with a leather writing surface. This item has been recently re-stained by our expert team in a black lac...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Leather, Cherry

Mid century Danish Modern Magic Box Desk in Teak by Mummenthaler & Meier
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid century teak closable locking teak writing desk called the "Magic Box", designed by Swiss Mummenthaler and Meier. The piece closes completely and can be key-locked to protect all...
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Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Desks

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Brass

Federal Cherry Slant Lid Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice size late 18th century American Cherry Chippendale slant front desk with white Pine secondary wood. Four molded graduated dra...
Category

Late 18th Century Antique Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Cherry

Federal Cherry Slant Lid Desk
Federal Cherry Slant Lid Desk
H 42 in W 36 in D 19 in
George Nelson Action Office Architect's Roll-Top Desk for Herman Miller
Located in Dallas, TX
Striking black and walnut roll-top architect's desk with three drawers and hidden file storage. Produced in 1964 by the Herman Miller company for the Action Office Series...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Aluminum

French Mahogany Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A flame mahogany writing desk, with leather inlaid side slides and five drawers surrounding the kneehole, on turned and brass leaf mounted tapering legs. The original Napoleon III. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood

French Mahogany Desk
French Mahogany Desk
H 30 in W 60 in D 30 in
Previously Available Items
Mid-Century Modern Deco Drop Down Desk with 2 Bookcases
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Deco Mid-Century Modern flip down desk with 3 lower drawers and 2 matching bookcases. The shelves are all adjustable or removable. The center top flips ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Oak

Mid-Century Modern Kneehole Leather-Top Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Lafayette, IN
Rare, early kneehole writing desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Desk features Mahogany and oak construction, solid brass hardware, inlaid leather top and unique, rounded 'waterfall' ...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Brass

Vintage Executive Walnut Desk by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Exceptional vintage executive walnut desk designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller in the United States, circa 1940s. This desk represents in a significant way the expression of t...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Steel

French Cerused Oak Desk with Bronze Hardware, 1940's
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Simple Elegance & quality, special features of the bronze rod, proportions and with the outer shelves.
Category

1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Bronze

Mid-Century Modern Streamlined Kneehole Desk by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky
Located in Lafayette, IN
Wonderful streamlined desk by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky for Heywood Wakefield. The count was famous for his wonderfully stylized Industrial designs and worked with major automakers of the day like Auburn, Cord, Packard, Tucker and the White Truck Co. This desk features solid maple construction, versatile size and gorgeous streamlined lines! Some more info on Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky: Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was born in Russia in 1901, the son of an Advisor to Tsar Nicholas II. Following the Russian revolution he escaped to the continent and began a career as an automobile designer emigrating to America in 1929. In America he designed many famous automobiles and his drawings of futuristic cars appeared in Esquire Magazine from 1934 on. In furniture he advocated streamline design as in the Bloomingdale’s Department Store furniture shown at the 1939-40 World’s Fair in New York. Outside automobiles and furniture, de Sakhnoffsky also created designs in the areas of aircraft design (Sabca), boat design (feather-Craft), Bike design (Murray), watch design (Gruen), and radio design (Emerson). This desk represents the perfect culmination of all of these influences and is one of the best examples of his 'streamline' furniture design aesthetic. Add to all of that the 1939 World's Fair connection and you have an extremely rare collector's piece that spans an almost infinite number of genres! Automotive designs by Sakhnoffsky: 1929 Cord l-29 Special Coupe 1934 Packard Twelve Model 1106 Sport Coupe & Runabout Speedster 1947 White Labatt Streamliner Delivery Truck 1938-41 American Austin Bantam Commander Gatti's 1937 International Harvester...
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1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Maple

Mid-Century Desk in the Style of Luther Conover
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Birch and nickel plated steel desk with floating pencil box c.1940's. This desks distinctive design allows its drawers to open from both sides of the desk. The attached floating penc...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Restored Large Stacked Rattan Secretary Desk w/ Solid Mahogany Top
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Restored very large stacked rattan desk, with Filipino mahogany Drawer fronts, side panels, and top. The desk features a center drawer and 4 side drawers. Beautiful stacked rattan le...
Category

1940s Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Rattan

Alvar Aalto Artek-Pascoe 1940s Desk and Chair
Located in Kalamazoo, MI
Very rare early modern desk and chair designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto for their Artek-Pascoe line that launched in the USA in the 1940s. Classic bentwood and birch plywood combined ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Birch

George Nelson for Herman Miller Office Desk, Rare Black Leather Writing Surface
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Rare black leather top desk in original condition, acquired from NYC architect's estate. This color combination is part of the permanent collection at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York City. Designed by George Nelson and Associates and manufactured by Herman Miller Furniture Company. It is dated 1946. Its medium is walnut veneer on pine, tubular steel, leather, perforated sheet aluminum. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department. Few designers contributed as many objects and ideas relating to the modern office as did George Nelson. His designs for office furniture resonate as deeply today as they did in the mid-twentieth century; his modular, interchangeable desk and storage solutions forever changed the conventional work stations, and his Action Office of the 1960s, designed in collaboration with Herman Miller cohort Robert Propst, was the genesis of the office cubicle. Although created for the home office rather than a corporate setting, the Model 4658...
Category

1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Carl Malmsten Desk, Sweden, 1940s.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant desk in cherry wood, designed by Carl Malmsten and made in Sweden in the 1940s. This piece has been professionally refinished in a new satin black finish. Includes original b...
Category

1940s Swedish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Cherry

Carl Malmsten Desk, Sweden, 1940s.
Carl Malmsten Desk, Sweden, 1940s.
H 30 in W 47.25 in D 23.5 in
Unique Large 40's Pierre Pouradier Duteil Desk in Blackened Wood Modernist, 1940
Located in Lyon, FR
Large modernist two-seater desk from the 1940s by Grenoble architect Pierre Pouradier Duteil. Structure in solid oak wood stained in black and two burr-wood desk legs in lemon tree. ...
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1940s French Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood, Oak

Mid-Century Modern Desk with 7 Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful compact desk from the 1940s-1950s with 7 drawers and beautiful arquitectural lines. The piece has beautiful joinery on the drawers and legs, the contrast in colors of the ...
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1940s American Vintage Mid-Century Modern Desks

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Brass

Mid-Century Modern Desk with 7 Drawers
Mid-Century Modern Desk with 7 Drawers
H 30.5 in W 48 in D 17.5 in

Mid-century Modern desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern desks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks, popular names associated with this style include Paul McCobb, George Nelson, Herman Miller, and Arne Vodder. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $249 and tops out at $72,000 while the average work can sell for $4,595.

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