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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 1930s
Art Deco Era Ebonised Desk with Stainless Frame
Located in Troy, MI
Found in England, this circa 1930s Art Deco desk has a streamlined machine age / industrial style. Desk top with three functional drawers and stainless steel leg and base. Unknown ma...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Monumental Inlaid French Bronze Mounted Louis XVI Cylinder Desk Circa 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Let me make this very clear, this desk is a BEAST to move. The desk has a grand piano-like presence to it and is absolutely magnificent in terms of the quality of teh bronze ormolu w...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco Table by J. Halabala
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
Art Deco table by J. Halabala from 1940s.
Art Deco table by the famous Czech designer J. Halabala, 1940. Jindrich Halabala, (a Czech designer ranked among the most outstanding cre...
Category
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Marquetry Bronze Ormolu Mounted Center or Desk Table
Located in Miami, FL
Wonderful French marquetry and bronze ormolu-mounted table that you can use like a desk, console, center table.
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French Bureau Plat 20th C. with Black Gilt Trim Writing Surface
Located in Houston, TX
This exquisite desk is very well made with beech wood and oak with
Kingwood marquetry decorative motifs. Gilt bronze mounts decorate
The edge and gilt masks embellish each corner....
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech
Scandinavian Art Déco Desk, Mahogany and Satinwood, Freestanding
Located in Göttingen, NI
A Scandinavian Art Déco desk, Mahogany and Satinwood, bronze ornaments, freestanding
Attributed to Sigvard Bernadotte, Stockholm 1930s.
Category
1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Architectural French Oak Center or Game Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Architectural French Oak Center or game table. Very sturdy. Great as a small desk or writing table as well.
Category
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Antique French Carved Oak Secretary Desk Bureau Drop Front Louis XV Style
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French carved oak secretary desk Bureau drop front Louis XV style.
Direct from France, a lovely antique French carved “drop front” secretary/desk with quintessential French ...
Category
1920s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Antique Victorian Inlaid Satin Walnut Twin Pedestal Desk Writing Table
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique quality Victorian mahogany twin pedestal desk writing table C1890.
This is a lovely piece, that is full of age, charm and character. Lovely line inlays.
Later quality t...
Category
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique writing desk with inlays and new leather top. Lebanon 1920s.
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Exceptional Lebanese desk,
beautifully decorated with Oriental Motifs,
bone inlay and new leather desk top,
good, great old patina.
Category
1910s Lebanese Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cedar
Art Deco Secrétaire
Located in New York, NY
A practical desk which leaves no aesthetic compromise with its lovely bookmatched mahogany veneer adorning both the inside and outside of the case. Internal drawers are adorned with ...
Category
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Sheraton Revival Cylinder Bureau, writing Desk with marquetry, circa 1890
Located in Miami, FL
A very good quality late 19th century satinwood Sheraton revival cylinder bureau with ebony string inlay, five walnut frieze drawers, the cylinder opening to reveal pigeon hole compa...
Category
Early 20th Century European Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Butcher Shop Counter Top c.1920-1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
About
A large wooden butcher shop counter top with a clear resin finish.
Creator unknown.
Date of manufacture c.1920-1950
Materials and techniques solid oak top, resin.
Condition ...
Category
Early 20th Century Rustic Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Resin, Oak
Large Antique Artist's Bench, English, Patina, 6 Seat, Kitchen, Desk, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a large antique artist's bench. An English, mahogany over pitch pine patinated kitchen table or desk, dating to the Edwardian period and later, circa 1910.
Lovingly patinate...
Category
Early 20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Gorgeous Inlaid Continental Louis XV Style Walnut Writing Desk circa 1920s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful desk that features the design of a Louis XV desk and has the traits of an Italian desk as well. The desk has beautiful inlay and even bronze hardware. The desk me...
Category
1920s European Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Bauhaus Desk, Oak, Steeltubes, by Mücke-Melder, Czechia circa 1935
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful, large modernist / Bauhaus Steeltube Desk by Mücke-Melder, Czech circa 1935.
Oak solid wood and veneer. Chrome-plated, polished tubular steel frame with original patina. Left and right each 4 deep drawers, by locking the top drawer all 4 drawers are lockable.
Very functional with many drawers and good legroom. The desk can also be used as a 'partners desk' and be worked on from two sides.
In the style of Marcel Breuer’s steel tube desks...
Category
1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Directoire Style Small Bureau Plat
Located in Sheffield, MA
Directoire Maison Jansen style desk. Label inside drawer inscribed "A. Alavoine and Co., NY and Paris." Leather inset writing surface, drawer ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Edwardian Quality Rosewood Inlaid Bow Fronted Writing Table
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Edwardian quality rosewood inlaid bow fronted writing table having the original brass gallery above a lift up lid opening to reveal a fitted interior, original leather writin...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Desk Style Art Deco in Wood and Polyurethanic Lacquer, French 1930
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Desk Style Art Deco in wood and polyurethanic lacquer, French 1930
Desk 1930s
Country: France
Materials: wood
Finish: polyurethanic lacquer
It is an elegant and sophisticated desk...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Rare Flame Mahogany Bronze Mounted Leather Top Francois Linke Desk Bureau Plat
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1910s French Directoire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
English Kidney Shaped Kneehole Writing Desk of Mahogany with Leather Top
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English kidney shaped kneehole writing desk from the Edwardian era, featuring a demi-lune top with original leather writing surface decorated with gold tooling in a Greek Key ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Chinese Red Lacquer Painting Table, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This elegant elmwood painting table was crafted over a century ago by artisans in northern China. The broad tabletop provided an ideal surface for unfurling a scroll to compose poetr...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
Desk Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty - Attributed Louis Majorelle - 1900
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Desk Attributed Louis Majorelle
Style: Art Nouveau or Modernism or Jugendstil
Year: 1900
Materials : Furniture glass paste, bronze and wood.
Painted flowers
We have specialized in t...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century Viennese Secession oak writing desk
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This luxurious-looking Art Nouveau writing desk was made in about 1910 in the former Austria-Hungary. It is made of oak wood. The table top is covered with green plush in the front. ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Hollywood Regency Maison Jansen Desk, Ebony, Bronze, Leather, France, 1930s
Located in Stamford, CT
A Hollywood Regency ebony and bronze mounted desk, writing table or vanity
A stunning example of this highly sought after designers work. Bronze sabots and capitals shine on the sleek tapering legs with flame bronze mounts on the reeded centers leading to a knee hole, 18.5 by 24 inch wide, center having finished sides. The three over two drawers all having bronze framing and keyholes, the center lock missing. Each side with bronze framing and the reversed fully finished so this finely constructed desk can sit center stage in any setting. The writing or computer table...
Category
1930s French Hollywood Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Amazing Desk Art Deco 1930 France Wood Zebrano
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Desk
Year 1930
French
Wood is Zebrano
Finish: polyurethanic lacquer
It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. It has a large work surface.
The quality of the furniture and the e...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Boulle Work Bureau Plat
Located in Cheshire, GB
A fine Régence style Bureau plat in the Manner of André-Charles Boulle, inlaid all over with intricate brass embellishments on a red tortoiseshell ground and having ornate gilt metal...
Category
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Chinese Red Lacquer Early 20th Century Two Drawer Desk with Brass Hardware
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Chinese red lacquer desk from the early 20th century, with two drawers and brass hardware. Created in China during the early years of the 20th century, this red lacquer desk featur...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
1930s Larkin Soap Secretary Desk
By Larkin & Co.
Located in Germantown, MD
Antique oak, slant front secretary made by Larkin. Measures 30.5" in width x 16" in depth x 46.5" in height. Good vintage condition with three functional drawers. Some wear and tear ...
Category
Early 20th Century American American Classical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Secession Side Table Attributed Otto Prutscher
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession side table Otto Prutscher. Professionally stained and repolished.
Category
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Desk Art Deco in Wood from France 1920 " Free Shipping in Florida "
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
"Free shipping in florida" It was exhibited at Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)"
Desk
Year 1920
French
Wood and chrome
Finish: polyurethanic lacquer
It is an...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Early 20th Spanish Mobila Country Farm Desk Table or Butcher Block
Located in Miami, FL
A charming early 20th century Spanish pine farm table with six legs and a wonderfully well-worn finish from a century of use. Table works well for ...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Black Bauhaus Table made in 1930s Germany, Fully Restored
By Bauhaus
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Made in Germany in the 1930s and restored by our team.
The wood used for the top is Oak.
Chromed Steel frame.
Category
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Very Fine Edwardian Satinwood Writing Desk or Dressing Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine Edwardian satinwood writing desk or dressing table, the moulded cross banded top raised over shaped frieze with reeded ebonised deta...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Vintage Writing Desk in Wood and Glass with Armchair
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous vintage wooden and glass desk of fine Italian manufacture from the rationalist period of the 1920s/30s.
The vintage writing desk is very rare and distinctive.
The top is made entirely of clear glass, elegant and fine, rectangular shape, with some brass elements to give more stability. The top fits perfectly into the wooden frame.
The base is the centerpiece, with its sinuous shapes worthy of such a rare piece. The base is made totally of light blue wood, beautiful and rare. The shapes are asymmetrical and resemble those of a Greek capital...
Category
1920s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Bentwood Desk by Jacob and Josef Kohn Austria c.1910
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and extremely rare desk made by the high end manufacturers Jacob and Josef Kohn. This was most likely designed by Josef Frank, it was made in Austria and dates from around 1900-1910 period.
The original Jacob and Josef Kohn label is seen below the top, and this has all the hallmarks of their quality pieces. It is beautifully made with a bentwood frame, solid beach desk...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Beech, Bentwood
Eugenio Quarti desk, Chair and Trah in Style Liberty or Art Nouveau, Jugestails
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Eugenio Quarti (Desk , chair and Trash )
Style: Liberty or Art Nouveau or Modernism or Jugendstil
Furniture realized mainly in inlays of nacre and metallic applications, parchament
bronze ferrules.
We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles since 1982.If you have any questions we are at your disposal
Pushing the button that reads 'View All From Seller'. And you can see more objects to the style for sale.
Eugenio Quarti was born in Villa d'Almè, a small village in the province of Bergamo, from an artisan family of woodworkers. In 1881, at the age of 14 years old he goes to Paris, where he will learn new techniques and broaden his horizons. In 1886, he returned to Italy and settled in Milan where he worked, for a short period, with Carlo Bugatti and then open his own workshop in via Donizetti 3.
His early works are strongly marked by Bugatti Moorish’s style, but already the exhibition of Turin of 1898 you can see the first signs of Art Nouveau and his personal style. He was always attentive to the quality and originality of his accomplishments, always attentive to every art form. Furniture realized mainly in walnut with inlays of nacre and metallic applications. Develop over time a harmonic elegance of the decor, with thread-like grounds, valuable wood species and inlays and high quality bezels with fine materials (nacre, silver, copper, bronze, pewter, etc.), this characteristic was called "the goldsmith of furniture makers."
In 1900 he participates at the Paris International exposition where he received the "Grand Prix" of the jury. Will participate in a number of other exposures as that of Turin in 1902 and Milan in 1906 where he will receive the "Grand Royal Award" and the "Diploma of gold medal".
Eugenio Quarti worked with the most prestigious architects of his time (Giuseppe Sommaruga, Luigi Broggi, Alfredo Campanini, etc.) well as with the great artists/craftsmen of his time as Alessandro Mazzucotelli. He also worked as a decorator, designing entire furniture for both public and private buildings. It was he who designed the furniture for Palazzo Castiglioni in Milan, Villa Carosio in Baveno, Grand Hotel and Casino in San Pellegrino Terme, Hungaria Palace Hotel in Venice Lido. One of his most significant works were the vessels of the "Bar Camparino", at the entrance site of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan. however not disdain also committed less important such as the furniture for Villa Mariani to Bordighera residence of the painter Pompeo Mariani...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Desk Art Deco in Wood from France 1930 " Free Shipping in Florida "
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
"Free shipping in florida" It was exhibited at Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)"
Desk
Year 1930
French
Wood and chrome
Finish: polyurethanic lacquer
It is an ...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Mahogany Leather Top Bureau Plat
Located in Forney, TX
An antique Louis XVI style writing desk with beautiful patina. Hand crafted in France in the early 20th century, featuring a rich mahogany finish adorned with gilt bronze ormolu moun...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Desk marquetry with Ormolu Bronze by F.Linke
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Magnificent desk in marquetry and ormolu bronze bear the mark of F.Linke
transitional style XV, XVI.
Category
Early 1900s Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Spanish Baroque Style Cabinet on Stand, Bargueno or Varqueno
Located in Miami, FL
This Bargueno is embellished with a carving of Don Quixote de la Mancha bordered with branches of leaves. The desk is supported by a pedestal joined by a bridge of turned columns. The front legs contain a carving of two wind god heads...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Signed Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk, Circa 1900
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts writing desk
By Gustav Stickley (original label present)
USA, Circa 1900
Solid quarter sawn oak, with original hamme...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Copper
Functionalist Birch Desk by Alvar Aalto for Artek, Finland, 1930s
By Artek, Alvar Aalto
Located in Stockholm, SE
Striking desk by Alvar Aalto, made from birch in a compact functionalist design. Drawers to the right and a filing cabinet to the left with a jalousie door.
Ink spots inside the t...
Category
1930s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Birch
Early American Raise Top School Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
An American raise top school desk with great aged wear. Make a wonderful stand for an entry hallway, kitchen or mud room stand to hold miscellaneous keys an...
Category
Early 20th Century North American American Classical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Unusual Transition Style Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Double Sided Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
Unusual Transition style marquetry and gilt bronze double sided writing desk
French, early 20th Century
Height 98cm, width 130cm, depth 94cm
This rare doubled-sided writing desk...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Very Fine Edwardian Pedestal Desk
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine Edwardian mahogany and satinwood line inlaid pedestal desk, the moulded top inset with gilt embossed red tooled leather writing skiver surface raised over frieze with two...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Louis XV Style Kingwood Parquetry Bonheur du jour
Located in Forney, TX
Sophisticated French elegance at its finest, we offer this rare Belle Époque period light and graceful bonheur du jour (writing table - petite / lady's desk) with beautifully aged patina.
Finely hand crafted in France in the early 20th century, finished in luxurious Louis XV taste, this exceptionally executed Parisian work features exotic Kingwood parquetry inlays, an exquisitely shaped cartonnier (an ornamental box...
Category
Early 20th Century Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Unusual Art Deco Writing Desk, Oak and Walnut Veneer, Czechia 'Bohemia', 1930s
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Restored Art Deco writing desk.
Unusual combination of oak and walnut veneer.
Chrome-plated steel handles.
Source: Czechia (Czechoslovakia)
Period: 1930-1939.
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Early 20th Carved Walnut Desk or Dining Table with Three Drawers
Located in Miami, FL
The 19th century Spanish Renaissance walnut desk is a splendid example of the breed, with classical architecture enhanced by hand-carved reliefs in an abstract expression of the Rena...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Set of Modernist Chair and Writing Table, Circa Early 20th Century
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of chair and writing table by unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa early 20th century.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beaut...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
20th Century French Art Deco Walnut Writing Table - Vintage Office Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage French Art Deco writing table with rounded sides, made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Walnut with a tubular steel footrest, in good condition. The freestanding d...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Chrome, Steel
Superb Turn of the Century Pedestal Desk
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
Sn5229 Outstanding turn of the century mahogany pedestals desk, having black tooled leather to the top and two side sliders also with the same leather all showing minor signs of usag...
Category
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Cheshire, GB
Mahogany writing table, the rectangular top with a raised three-quarter gallery. Above an arrangement of drawers with brass handles. All raised ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Early Gustav Stickley Ebonized Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts writing desk
By Gustav Stickley (original label present)
USA, Circa 1900
Solid quarter sawn oak in original ebonized...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Copper
Fine Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Side/Writing Table by François Linke
Located in New York, NY
Fine early 20th century gilt bronze mounted Louis XV style side/writing table by François Linke
François Linke – Index Number 49
The shaped rectangular fleur de pecher marble t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Art Deco Rosewood Desk and Bookcase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Art Deco Rosewood desk and bookcase ,in two-piece.
The tiered bookcase with six half-moon shelves to the left and bronze-mounted c...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Very Fine Edwardian Mahogany Ladies Desk or Vanity Cabinet
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine Edwardian mahogany ladies desk or vanity cabinet, the broken swan neck pediment inlaid with shell and scrolling foliate motif raised over a pair of astragal glazed cabinet...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Writing Desk in Walnut with Inlay by Meroni & Fossati
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Italian elegant early 20th century Directoire writing desk in walnut massive and veneered with inlay on the top by Meroni & Fossati. Wax polished
Useful height under central drawer 60 cm.
To better understand the Directoire style of this desk
Directoire style was a period in the decorative arts, fashion, and especially furniture design in France concurrent with the Directory (November 2, 1795–November 10, 1799), the later part of the French Revolution. The style uses Neoclassical architectural forms, minimal carving, planar expanses of highly grained veneers, and applied decorative painting. It is a style transitional between Louis XVI and Empire.
The Directoire style was primarily established by the architects and designers Charles Percier (1764–1838) and Pier François Léonard Fontaine (1762–1853). In its use of Neoclassical architectural form and decorative motifs the style anticipates the slightly later and more elaborate Empire style, which was introduced after Napoleon established the First French Empire.
The Directoire style reflected the Revolutionary belief in the values of republican Rome:
"The stoic virtues of Republican Rome were upheld as standards not merely for the arts but also for political behaviour and private morality. Conventionels saw themselves as antique...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
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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