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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 1950s
Arne Jacobsen Black Egg Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Arne Jacobsen egg table. Newly refinished ebonized black finish. Perfect to use in a small dining area or as a writing desk. Great classic Dani...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Antique French Renaissance Walnut Desk ~ Bureau Plat
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Renaissance walnut desk ~ Bureau plat was found along the southern coast of France, and emulates the styles of Italian...
Category

Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Lovely Vintage Chinese Chinoiserie Writing Table with Original Stool Leather Top
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning small Chinese Chinoiserie hand painted and lacquered writing table with black leather writing surface and matching stool. This is ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

French Desk Art Deco, 1920, Materials: Wood
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Art Deco Desk Year 1920 French Finish: polyurethanic lacquer It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. It has a large work surface. The quality of the furniture make it unique. ...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Pierre Paulin & Thonet Desk with Drawer, Metal Teak & Formica, France Circa 1955
Located in La Teste De Buch, FR
Desk with a single drawer designed by Pierre Paulin and manufacture by Thonet. France circa 1955 Black lacquered metal feet, teak veneer drawer on the right side and a teak venee...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Restored Black Bauhaus Beech Writing Desk, Mücke-melder, Czechia, 1930s
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Completely restored writing desk with a frame in tubular chromed steel. Maker: Mücke - Melder Period: 1930-1939 Source: Czechia Material: beech, chrome-plated steel. Complet...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

1950s Stitched Leather Desk and Stool by Jacques Adnet
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1950s Stitched leather desk with his stool. All set designed by Jacques Adnet.
Category

1950s European Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Mahogany Writing Desk Dressing Table
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique fine quality C1910 mahogany writing desk or dressing table. Stamped W.FOWKES. Solid heavy, no loose joints and no woodworm. Full of age, character and charm. The drawers s...
Category

1910s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Borge Mogensen Drop-Leaf Dining Table in Teak for Soborg Mobelfabrik, Denmark
Located in WIJCKEL, NL
Danish Modernism free-standing office desk or dining table by Borge Morgensen, made of fined teak top and beech frame, fitted with drop-leaves on ...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Teak

Mahogany Writing Desk of Chippendale Design
Located in Cheshire, GB
Mahogany writing desk, of Chippendale design, the inset tooled leather writing surface, within an egg and dart border. Above central frieze drawer flanked by two further drawers to e...
Category

Early 20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Quality Mahogany Desk Writing Side Occasional Table C1900
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique quality mahogany desk writing side occasional table C1900. Neat compact dimensions. Possibly European continental origins. No loose joi...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Rare Gio Ponti Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A Gio Ponti desk manufactured in Italy by Giordano Chiesa. An early example with 2 tone drawer fronts. Purchased at the Singer Showroom in NYC. Purchased from the original family ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Charlotte Perriand Mid-Century Modern Black and Grey Cansado Table, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table designed by Charlotte Perriand, circa 1950. Wood with formica, metal frame legs. Provenance: Cansado, Mauritania (Africa). In good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999) she was born in Paris in 1903 and attended the E´cole de l'Union centrale des Arts de´coratifs from 1920-1925. Charlotte Perriand designed furniture made of anodized aluminium and chromium-plated steel, showing it at the 1927 "Salon d'Automne" in Paris. After meeting Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand worked with him and Pierre Jeanneret until 1937. The revolutionary tubular steel furnishings and system furniture designed by the three were presented as "E´quipement de l'habitation" (home equipment) at the 1929 "Salon d'Automne," where they were widely acclaimed. In 1930 the Union Des Artistes Modernes (UAM) was founded in Paris, a group that viewed itself as a countermovement challenging such establishment organizations as the "Salon d'Automne" and also advocated Art Deco and Modernism. From 1931 Charlotte Perriand showed her own work solo there. In 1937 Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret collaborated on designing a mountain chalet of sheet aluminium, which they showed at the "Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne" and later they came up with plans for prefab houses...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Swedish Gustavian Style 1900s Sideboard or Desk with Single Drawer and Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style bow front painted wood sideboard or desk from the early 20th century, with single drawer, two doors and tapered legs. Creat...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Elegant Modern Desk, Designed by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Sons, circa 1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
This is a rare and 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 on...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

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...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Antique Stickley Brothers Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Newly Restored
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts writing desk By Stickley Brothers USA, Circa 1900 Solid quarter sawn oak, with copper hardware. Measures: 36" W x...
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Copper

Restored Bauhaus Oak Writing Desk Designed by Jindrich Halabala, 1930s, Czechia
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Restored Bauhaus oak writing desk designed by Jindrich Halabala. Period: 1930-1939. Source: Czechia. Maker: UP Zavody. Material: oak, chrome-plated steel. Colour: black. Th...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Hans J. Wegner Drop Leaf Desk or Table Model "AT-305" for Andreas Tuck, 1955
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Danish Modernist drop-leaf table/desk by Danish designer Hans J. Wegner can be used both as a work desk and as a dining table. The design is from 1955 and this particular tab...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Teak

Art Deco Pagoda Walnut Brass Writing Desk Side Table Hugo Gorge, C.1925, Vienna
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco pagoda like a writing desks, side tables or home office desks attributed to Hugo Gorge circa 1925 Vienna. Hugo Gorge ( 1883 - 1934 ) was a pop...
Category

1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple, Walnut, Spruce, Plywood

Modernist Dressing Table attributed to Maison Desny, circa 1925
Located in London, GB
This supremely rare early Modernist dressing table by Maison Desny, with its novel use of clear and opaline glass, and nickel-plated and paint...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Nickel

Fine Quality French Louis XVI Bronze Mounted Leather Top Executive Desk
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

1950s French Louis XVI Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Gio Ponti Teak and Brass Desk Designed for the BNL Offices, ISA Bergamo, 1950s
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This Gio Ponti Desk, designed for BNL offices and manufactured by Isa Bergamo during the 1950s, is a beautiful piece of furniture that showcases the designer's signature style. Made of solid teak wood, the desk features a sleek and elegant design with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. The piece also features brass feet and details, which add a touch of elegance and sophistication to the overall design. The desk top - with a dimension of 161x80.5cm (WxD) - has ample surface space for writing and working and the three drawers provide ample storage for documents and office supplies...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Charlotte Perriand Cansado Gray Formica Table, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table designed by Charlotte Perriand, circa 1950. Wood, metal frame legs. Provenance: Cansado, Mauritania (Africa). In good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999) she was born in Paris in 1903 and attended the E´cole de l'Union centrale des Arts de´coratifs from 1920-1925. Charlotte Perriand designed furniture made of anodized aluminium and chromium-plated steel, showing it at the 1927 "Salon d'Automne" in Paris. After meeting Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand worked with him and Pierre Jeanneret until 1937. The revolutionary tubular steel furnishings and system furniture designed by the three were presented as "E´quipement de l'habitation" (home equipment) at the 1929 "Salon d'Automne," where they were widely acclaimed. In 1930 the Union Des Artistes Modernes (UAM) was founded in Paris, a group that viewed itself as a countermovement challenging such establishment organizations as the "Salon d'Automne" and also advocated Art Deco and Modernism. From 1931 Charlotte Perriand showed her own work solo there. In 1937 Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret collaborated on designing a mountain chalet of sheet aluminium, which they showed at the "Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne" and later they came up with plans for prefab houses...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Alfred Hendrickx Custom Made Desk Belform Belgium, 1958
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare monumental conference desk made for a lawyer’s firm in the 1950s. Designed by Alfred Hendrickx and manufactured by Belform, Belgium 1958/1959. The la...
Category

1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Important Esherick Table from The Hedgerow Collection
Located in Chicago, IL
Important Esherick Table from The Hedgerow Collection. Crafted by Esherick in 1924. The table is thought to have been used by Esherick at the family's home Sunekrest prior to 1938. That year Esherick enhanced the table's form by reshaping its legs, thus simplifying the design. The table found it's way to Hedgerow Theatre in 1940 in the Theatre's Green Room for many years. Provenance: Made by the artist for the artist's home, Sunekrest, Paoli, Pennsylvania, 1924 Re-designed by the artist, 1938 Sold to Hedgerow Theatre, Rose Valley...
Category

1920s American American Craftsman Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Antique English Burled Walnut Leather Top Desk, circa 1900
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English burled walnut leather top desk, circa 1880.
Category

Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Large and Impressive Early 20th Century Mahogany Desk
Located in Martlesham, GB
A large and impressive early 20th century mahogany desk, the moulded edge top having a green leather writing surface divided into three shaped sections, the front of the desk having ...
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

French Bureau Plat or Desk with Gilt Griffin Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Empire Style Bureau Plat or Desk, France, circa 1950s. Elegant design in black lacquered wood with brass hardware and an inset black leather...
Category

1950s French Empire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Metal

Pair Early 20th C English Ebonised Side Desks with Marble Tops
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1900 pair of English writing desks with single locking center drawer and newly ebonised finish. Dovetail construction. Each desk has a new black marble top with white streaks. ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Pierre Jeanneret PJ-TA-12-A Secretary Desk / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
Located in Zürich, CH
This desk is raw in its simplicity, embodying an expressing the pure ideas of Pierre Jeanneret. It is a very strong piece which I love very much, its limited to the elements it needs...
Category

1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Vintage Industrial Jean Prouvé Style One Seat School Desk
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Wonderful Vintage Industrial school desk. In the style of Jean Prouvé Striking French design from the 1950s /60s. Green lacquered met...
Category

1950s French Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Pine and Oak Table, 1920's
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Table from the 1920s with one drawer. The table is made of pine with a top of oak. The top has a star inlay.
Category

1920s French Rustic Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Pine

Desk with Burled Wood & Single Drawer
Located in San Francisco, CA
C. early 20th century. Desk with burled wood & single drawer, ball & claw feet and cabriole legs.
Category

Early 20th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Fine and Unusual Edwardian Inlaid Leather Top Desk
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine and unusual Edwardian mahogany ladies leather top desk, with gorgeously rich patination and grain. Line inlaid, cross banded and with exquisite marquetry detail, depicting scrolling foliate and flowerhead motif detail throughout. The moulded upper section surmounted with curved 3/4 gallery rail with turned finial detail and centred sloping drawer with decorative pierced brass grille detail, opening to reveal a fitted interior. The moulded desk top below with curved canted corners is fitted with a gorgeous green gilt embossed tooled leather writing skiver surface, raised over frieze with single centred long drawer with decorative brass pulls. The sides and rear of the desk are fabulously detailed with a curved, wrap around section of a beautifully carved pierced panel...
Category

Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Reception Desk Larch Glass Vinyl Italy Early '900
Located in Milano, IT
Reception desk, larch wood, decorated glass on the front and on one side, vinyl material on the top and in the lower part.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood

Stylish Sophisticates Walnut Desk and Chair Lubberts & Mulder for Tomlinson
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Stunning 1950s walnut desk by John Lubberts & Lambert Mulder for Tomlinson, from the Sophisticates collection. We love the stylish curved front with a built-in bookcase along with the five side drawers and a center drawer. Beautiful figured light walnut. . The original chair is included and adds to the total...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Carlo di Carli: Desk in Fruitwood, Brass, and Glass, Italy 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Carlo de Carli (1910 - 1999)   An important sculptural desk with six drawers by seminal Milanese architect and theorist Carlo de Carli, in fruitwood with polished brass handles and s...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Ico Parisi Attributed Sculptural Desk With Glass Top 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Architectural desk in walnut with sculptural legs with brass sabots and floating thick glass top attributed to Ico Parisi, Italian 1950's. This desk is beautifully outfitted with dra...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Bureau Bookcase, Slant Front Desk, Bookcase Top, Scotland 1910, H244
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Bureau bookcase, Slant front desk, bookcase top, Scotland 1910, H244 Scotland 1910 Solid oak Original finish The top with glass doors and stitched interior The fall front op...
Category

1910s Scottish Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

1950s Art Deco Pedestal Desk in Walnut & Ebonized Finish with Brass Accents
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the elegance of the past with our 1950s Art Deco Pedestal Desk, a perfect blend of historical charm and modern restoration. ...
Category

1950s American Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

ANTIQUE FLAMED HARDWOOD DESK FROM PRINCESS DIANA'S FAMiLY HOME SPENCER HOUSE
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal house antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime antique Edwardian circa 1910-1920 Flamed Mahogany twin pedestal desk with green leather writing surface from Princess Diana Spencer’s London family home Spencer House...
Category

1910s English Edwardian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Antique Ebonized Pine Pedestal Desk
Located in Batley, GB
An attractive ebonised pine pedestal desk with green baize top. Handy pull out tray drawers and nicely worn throughout. In good solid order. Early 20th cen...
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Chinese Late Qing Dynasty Elm Desk with Two Drawers and Ornate Brass Hardware
Located in Yonkers, NY
A late Qing Dynasty period Chinese elm wood desk from the early 20th century, with two drawers, brass hardware and carved spandrels. Created in China during the late Qing Dynasty per...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Art Nouveau Beech Writing Table, Desk or Side Table, circa 1900
Located in Labrit, Landes
French writing table, little desk or side table, circa 1900. Made in the art Nouveau period : the carving of the drawer and its handle is typical of the lines of this artistic movem...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Czech Art Deco Oak Writing Desk Made in the 1930s, Restored
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Czech Art Deco oak writing desk made in the 1930s, restored Revived polish. Leg space: height: 62.5 cm (24.6 in) width: 71.5 cm (28.1 in)
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Lacquer

Regency Mahogany Work / Sewing Table
Located in New York, NY
Regency mahogany work / sewing Table.
Category

Early 20th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

A Fabulous Edwardian Desk attributed to Edward and Roberts
Located in Dublin, IE
A fabulous Edwardian mahogany desk attributed to Edward and Roberts, richly patinated, line inlaid and with exquisite marquetry detail throughout depicting Neoclassical motifs compri...
Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Franco Albini for Poggi Model 840 Stadera Desk
Located in Milano, IT
Rare and important desk model Stadera designed by Franco Albini for the Poggi manufacture, in 1959. Model 840. Made of noble wood for its shelf, the desk is the perfect modernist ele...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Art Deco Writing Table and Chair by Sue et Mare
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
DESK AND CHAIR BY SUE ET MARE A French Art Deco ladies writing desk and chair of exceptional quality by Louis Sue and Andre Mare produced...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Walnut Double Pedestal Desk, Writing Table, Leather Top, Scotland 1930
Located in Vancouver, BC
Vintage Walnut Double Pedestal desk, writing table, leather top, Scotland 1930, H736 Scotland 1930 Solid walnut Original finish 3 leather se...
Category

Early 20th Century Scottish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Antique Country French Double-Faced Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Double-Faced Desk was crafted by master artisans creating a superlative choice for any office! Finished on all four sides, it can be placed anywhere in the ro...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Italian Desk, 1950s
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian desk, 1950s. Dimensions: H=80 cm; W=185 cm; D= 90 cm.
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Charlotte Perriand, Mid-Century Modern, Wood Metal Cansado Table, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table designed by Charlotte Perriand, circa 1950. Wood, metal frame legs. Provenance: Cansado, Mauritania (Africa). In good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999) she was born in Paris in 1903 and attended the E´cole de l'Union centrale des Arts de´coratifs from 1920-1925. Charlotte Perriand designed furniture made of anodized aluminium and chromium-plated steel, showing it at the 1927 "Salon d'Automne" in Paris. After meeting Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand worked with him and Pierre Jeanneret until 1937. The revolutionary tubular steel furnishings and system furniture designed by the three were presented as "E´quipement de l'habitation" (home equipment) at the 1929 "Salon d'Automne," where they were widely acclaimed. In 1930 the Union Des Artistes Modernes (UAM) was founded in Paris, a group that viewed itself as a countermovement challenging such establishment organizations as the "Salon d'Automne" and also advocated Art Deco and Modernism. From 1931 Charlotte Perriand showed her own work solo there. In 1937 Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret collaborated on designing a mountain chalet of sheet aluminum, which they showed at the "Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne" and later they came up with plans for prefab houses...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Cabinet with Flowers Inlaid Inside, Mounted on an X-Shaped Base in Gilt Metal
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Cabinet with flowers inlaid inside, mounted on an X-shaped base in gilt metal.
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Restored Bauhaus Oak Writing Desk, Jindrich Halabala, UP Zavody, 1930s, Czechia
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Restored Bauhaus oak writing desk designed by Jindrich Halabala. Period: 1930-1939 Source: Czechia Maker: UP Zavody. Material: Oak, chrome-plated steel Color: Brown The chr...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco Walnut Writing Desk Designed by Jindrich Halabala, Czechia, 1920s
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Art Deco walnut writing desk designed by Czech Architect Jindrich, 1920-1929. Maker: UP Zavody. Completely professionally restored. The...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Walnut, Lacquer

Paul McCobb Planner Group Black and White Lacquered Writing Desk and Chair
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional minimalist Mid-Century Modern writing desk with matching chair By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Black and white lacquered solid m...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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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