Desks and Writing Tables





Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood, Beech
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
2010s British Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum, Aluminum
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Fruitwood
1850s French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood, Cherry
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 2000s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
20th Century Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Early 18th Century Spanish Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Chestnut
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Desks and Writing Tables
Maple, Walnut
19th Century European Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
19th Century European Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century North American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary European Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
19th Century Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Teak
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Belgian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s British Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
Mid-19th Century English William IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
18th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
2010s Italian Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Plywood, Birch
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ebony
19th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary German Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry
1980s American American Craftsman Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Maple, Rosewood, Ebony
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Italian Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Birch, Walnut, Plywood
2010s Italian Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood, Birch
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany, Rosewood
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s North American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Danish Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
2010s Danish Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
2010s Danish Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash
Desks and Writing Tables
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 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 vintage 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.
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