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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: 1950s
Period: 1920s
Midcentury Italian Design Dining Table in Teak Wood, Black Iron and Brass Feet
Located in Rome, IT
A dining table, manufactured in Italy during the 1950s
The structure is in black lacquered iron, with a light and ultra modern design, the feet are in brass and adjustable in hei...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron, Brass
Arthur Umanoff Desk and Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arthur Umanoff desk and chair. Extremely elegant and timeless design made with an iron frame, walnut slats and rush accents giving it it's classic Umanoff look. One middle drawer and...
Category
1950s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Red Lacquer Desk
Located in Greenwich, CT
Red lacquer desk with three drawers with pierce carvings motif.
Category
1920s Chinese Ming Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Lacquer
Giuseppi Scapinelli Sculptural 1950s Brazilian Spyder Table
Located in New York, NY
A rare and important 1950s sculptural walnut wood table
By Brazilian mid century master, Giuseppi Scapinelli. The glass top is fitted down into th...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Italian Mid-Century Stately Wooden Desk with Glass Top, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Milan, IT
Italian mid-century stately wooden desk with glass top
1950s
Sturdy multipurpose desk with eight symmetrical drawers, on either side. The glas...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Wood
Eugenio Escudero Dining Table or Desk, 1950s
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Beautiful work of art, part of the legacy that Eugenio Escudero leaves us. Combination of two different woods with their original color (not painted) mixed with those brass accents m...
Category
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
1950s Fabulous Floating Desk Mexican Mahogany
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Mexico 1950s Refined Floating Desk in Mahogany Wood
Quality build in Mahogany with Plywood on Tabletop. Solid Mahogany Drawer Pulls and Solid Legs.
Manner and era of Eugenio Escuder...
Category
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Plywood
Unique Czech Art Deco Secretary/Writing Desk, Rosewood 1920-1929
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Art Deco sideboard and secretary made out of rosewood
Material: Rosewood
Completely restored, Shellac polish.
Period: 1920-1929
Source: Czechia.
Category
1920s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Rosewood, Lacquer
Italian Mid-Century Modern Small Desk and Chair Attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Cute and stylish Italian midcentury modern desk, with a graceful chair, attributed to Paolo Buffa.
This teakwood desk it is a splendid example of the Italian class design of 1950.
B...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Paul Laszlo Bleached Oak "Basket Weave" Desk for Brown Saltman
By Paul Laszlo
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Paul Laszlo's (1900-1993) stunning bleached oak desk for brown saltman features basket weave drawer fronts and modern U-shaped legs.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Desk by Widdicomb
Located in Highland, IN
This desk by T.H. Robsjo-Gibbings for Widdicomb has a strong architectural quality and great minimalist design. The desktop cantilevers from the pedestal and is supported by a single...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Art Nouveau Double Sided Walnut and Rosewood Desk by Lajos Kozma, 1930
By Lajos Kozma
Located in Rome, IT
This rare large double sided desk was designed by Lajos (Ludwig) Kozma, who had an unprecedented influence on the European design through his drawings, buildings and furniture.
Th...
Category
1920s European Art Nouveau Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Desk, Elm Wood, Osvaldo Borsani, 1953
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Berlin, DE
Minimal and elegant desk with drawer. Solid wood construction, take top made of solid elm wood, legs with wooden screw thread. Exhibited at Trienale Milano 1954.
Osvaldo Borsan...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Elm
Geometric Writing Desk / Sideboard in Walnut and Brass, Italy, 1950s
Located in Amsterdam, 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 Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Standing Desk Serving Table Bar Cart by Ico Parisi
By Ico Parisi
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous serving table with shelf below (20 x 9.75) which can be now used as a standing desk. Great design with brass inlay and sleek styling on wheels. Very well crafted. In origina...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Hans Wegner Desk Model JH-563 by Cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare freestanding desk model JH-563 designed by Hans Wegner. Produced by cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Freestanding Midcentury Desk in Rosewood, Designed by Ejgil Petersen, 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Great looking freestanding desk in rosewood, designed and made by Ejgil Petersen, Denmark in 1950s. Very nice original condition.
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Midcentury Danish Design Desk in Teak by Svend Aage Madsen, 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Great looking desk in teak with cane details on the frame and the handles. Designed by Svend Aage Madsen. Made in Denmark in the 1950s. Nice original condition.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cane, Teak
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-TAT-05-A Architect Table / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
Located in Zürich, CH
This collapsible architect table is a fantastic piece, it’s a rare Chandigarh item with a great history behind it. It is raw in its simplicity, embodying an expressing the pure ideas...
Category
1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Roll Top Writing Desk by Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A stately and elegant rosewood and mahogany campaign desk having three drawers and two rosewood roll-top compartments flanking a central writing surface with a flip-down back splash,...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Børge Mogensen Desk Produced by Søborg Møbler in Denmark
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare desk designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced by Søborg Møbler in Denmark.
Dimensions (W x D x H): 133 ( 180 ) x 80 x 71 cm.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Desk, Made of Walnut by Osvaldo Borsani, 1954
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Berlin, DE
Chique and minimal, rare desk designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1956 and manufactured by Tecno Italy.
the plate and the drawers are made of walnut wood, its construction is made of bla...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Imposing 1940's French Modernist Desk in Mahogany in Style of Dupré Lafon, E498
Located in Lyon, FR
Imposing 1950's French modernist desk. Structure in solid mahogany and veneer, top in black glass. It is composed of a central drawer, two columns of ten drawers each, two additional...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Bauhaus Desk by Erich Diekmann, Rosewood Veneer, Restored, Germany, 1920s
By Bauhaus
Located in Regensburg, DE
Original, well restored Bauhaus Executive Desk, attributed to Erich Diekmann, Germany, 1923-1925 at at Staatliche Bauhochschule Weimar (Bauhaus).
Wonderful rosewood (Palisander) veneer with excellent 2K clear lacquer high-gloss finish.
Inside in bright maple and satin finish and high-gloss finished at the doors inside. Polished decorative stainless steel trims around the top (thin) and bottom (thick).
Nickel fittings and details, newly galvanized and polished. Old locks repaired.
At the back there are two book compartments...
Category
1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel, Nickel
Rare French Desk Georges Frydman Mahogany Black Metal Brass, 1950s
Located in Paris, IDF
This rare and beautiful French modernist desk was made by Georges Frydman for EFA editor in the late 1950s. It features a fully mahogany veneer on the asymmetrical top and two drawers with brass handles and lock, with black painted tubular metal structure. Beautifully vintage and typically French post Art Deco modernism...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Italian Table in the Style of Guglielmo Ulrich
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A wonderful example of Italian design. This table is composed of lacquered wood, black glass top, and brass accents. It would make a wonderful desk as seen in the last photo. In very...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage 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 ½”long, large
The form of this table is extremel...
Category
1950s British Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Freestanding Midcentury Desk in Rosewood, Designed by Ejgil Petersen, 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Great looking freestanding desk in rosewood, designed and made by Ejgil Petersen, Denmark in 1950s. Very nice original condition.
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Karl-Erik Ekselius Desk / Dining Table Produced by JOC in Vetlanda, Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare and large desk / dining table designed by Karl-Erik Ekselius. Produced by JOC in Vetlanda, Sweden.
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Børge Mogensen Dining Table / Desk Produced by Søborg Møbler in Denmark
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare dining table / desk designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced by Søborg Møbler in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Jorge Zalszupin Rosewood Vintage Office Desk
Located in New York, NY
Writing desk designed by Jorge Zalszupin and manufactured by his company, L'Atelier. This piece has four drawers on each side. All the top is covered with rosewood veneer. The struct...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Desk Produced in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare desk by unknown designer. Produced in Sweden.
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Teak
Mid-Century Modern French Black Lacquered Metal Table or Desk
Located in London, GB
Unusual French industrial style black lacquered metal dining table or desk.
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Finn Juhl Desk Model NV-40 by Niels Vodder in Denmark
By Finn Juhl
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare desk NV-40 designed by Finn Juhl. Produced by cabinetmaker Niels Vodder in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
1950s Demilune Vanity or Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A solid wood double pedestal desk or vanity with demilune curve to accommodate seating and vertically stacked dowel drawer pulls.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Louis XV Rococo Mahogany, Satinwood and Bureau Plat Executive Writing Desk
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage midcentury era Louis XV Rococo style executive writing desk made from mahogany, satinwood, and bureau Plat with hand-cast bronze accents. It features three lockable horizonta...
Category
1950s Spanish Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Brass and White Lacquered Campaign Style Writing Table/Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Classic Campaign style desk manufactured by Sligh of Holland/Grand Rapids, Michigan. Consist of five drawers with recessed brass pulls and brass legs. Brass bound corners and Campaign pulls...
Category
1950s American Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Rosewood Desk by Geraldo de Barros 1950s, Brazilian Midcentury Design
Located in New York, NY
Desk Geraldo de Barros.
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
1950s Muriel Coleman Pacifica Desk Mid-Century California Palm Spring Style
Located in Hyattsville, MD
USA c.1952. Pacifica desk designed by Murriel Coleman for California Contemporary Co. Basket
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Travertine Dining Table / Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Dallas, TX
An early bleached mahogany and travertine table / desk designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Travertine
American Designer, Organic Desk or Table, Stained Wood, Iron, America, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
An organic or freeform table or writing table or desk. By an unknown designer, 1950s, America.
Other designers of the period include George Nakashima, Isamu Noguchi, Charlotte Pe...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Poul Hundevad & Kai Winding Dining Table by Poul Hundevad & Co in Denmark
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare dining table / work table designed by Poul Hundevad & Kai Winding. Produced by Poul Hundevad & Co. in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Desk “AT 305” Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck, Denmark, 1955
Located in Stockholm, SE
Desk “AT 305” designed by Hans J. Wegner for Andreas Tuck,
Denmark. 1955.
Oak.
Stamped by cabinetmaker Andreas Tuck.
Dimensions:
H: 73 cm / 2' 5"
W: 75,5 cm / 2' 7"
L: 139 cm / 4...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
1950s Modernism Frank Kyle & Pepe Mendoza Luxurious Desk Dry Bar Mexico
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Custom Sculptural Desk Dry Bar in Rosewood and Parchment Bronze applications designed by FRANK KYLE.
Made Mexico circa 1950s.
Malachite hardware by PEPE MENDOZA foundry marks present...
Category
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Malachite, Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Desk CM141 by Pierre Paulin, Thonet Edition, 1954
By Pierre Paulin, Thonet
Located in Paris, FR
Oak desk model CM141 by Pierre Paulin for Thonet, 1954.
Category
1950s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Louis XV Style Bureau Plat or Writing Desk with Bronze Mounts
Located in Barntrup, DE
This fine Louis XV-style desk has a leather top framed by bronze borders. The writing desk is raised on cabriole legs headed by floral and leaf cast mounts that have finely finished ...
Category
1950s European Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Fine French 1950's Rectangular Mahogany Desk by Jacques Adnet (2 available)
Located in Long Island City, NY
Jacques Adnet: A fine French mid-century mahogany desk with a leather top and bronze details.
Provenance: Palais des Consuls of Rouen, France.
2 desks available as well as two curved...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Desk by Geraldo de Barros
Located in Milan, IT
Desk by Geraldo de Barros. Brazil, 1950s.
Manufactured by Unilabor. Wood, black painted metal, brass details. Measures: 109 x 52 x h 74 cm
42.9 x 20.4 x h 28.9 in.
Item in fair con...
Category
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Bertha Schaefer for Singer & Sons Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant modern desk, designed by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons, circa 1950s. Beautiful graining to the Italian walnut, especially to the top. Schaefer was one of the leading fe...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Ico Parisi Rectangular Midcentury Italian Writing Table Desk, 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Charming desk from the characteristic Italian style of Ico Parisi. The table has a very clean line and architecturally a beautiful design.
The wooden structure of the desk is comple...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Wonderful and Extremely Rare Frattini Secretary for Bernini
Located in Munich, DE
By pulling the drawer the tambour roll top opens automatic. Then you can double the size of the writing surface.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Harvey Probber Desk in Mahogany 1950s 'Signed'
Located in New York, NY
Desk in mahogany with alternating grain top and brass sabots by Harvey Probber, American, 1950s (label in drawer reads "designed by Harvey Probber"). This desk is beautifully made.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Rosewood Roll Top Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Dallas, TX
A rosewood tambour roll top desk with brass feet and leather trim. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Category
1950s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Svend Aage Madsen Desk Produced by K. Knudsen & Søn in Denmark
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Rare desk designed by Svend Aage Madsen. Produced by K. Knudsen & Søn in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Desk by Giorgio Preti
Located in Milan, IT
Desk by Giorgio Preti, Italy, 1950s.
Designed for then CEO of the Banco di San Geminiano e San Prospero.
Wood, brass. Examples provided with original sk...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Custom Painted Grosfeld House Style Table
Located in New York, NY
Custom painted Grosfeld House style table. Hollywood Regency style.
Category
1950s Hollywood Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Poul Volther Desk Produced by FDB Møbler in Denmark
By Poul Volther
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare desk designed by Poul Volther. Produced by FDB Møbler in Denmark.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Rare Johan Tapp for Gumps Desk
By Johan Tapp, Gumps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Johan Tapp designed this beautiful writing desk, constructed of Koa wood for San Francisco emporium Gumps
On the right, four individually sized drawers feature bookmatched fronts ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique and Vintage 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 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.
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Wooden Desk Italian
Wood Desk With Metal Legs
Cabriole Bureau
Writing Slope Desk
Writing Desk Sloping
18th Century Style Desk
Bureau Plat Bronze
Black Glass Top Desk
Xvi Bureau
Wood Partners Desk
Vintage Bank Desk
Writing Table Mahogany Regency
Writing Table Brass Mount
Carved Walnut Desk French
Blue Painted Desk
American Desk 19th Century
Mid Century Black Writing Desk With Drawers