Desks and Writing Tables
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
2010s Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Birch, Mahogany
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
2010s Mexican Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood, Walnut
1950s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Birch
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
2010s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Portuguese Desks and Writing Tables
Lacquer
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Maple, Oak, Burl
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Glass, Ash
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
2010s Italian Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Beech, Oak, Plywood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
20th Century Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Pine, Paint
1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Copper, Brass, Aluminum
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
19th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Late 19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Laminate, Walnut
Late 20th Century American Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
2010s Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Teak
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1790s English Hepplewhite Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Shagreen Stingray
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
20th Century American Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Iron, Wrought Iron
1940s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Iron
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Aluminum
1980s Mexican Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Cocobolo
Mid-20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1880s English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
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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