Desks and Writing Tables
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Futurist Desks and Writing Tables
Plastic
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Macassar, Burl
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Rattan, Oak
1790s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1910s Arts and Crafts Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
2010s French Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Beech
2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Turkish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1910s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood, Oak
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1960s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Glass, Smoked Glass, Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1950s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Birch, Oak
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Other
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bentwood
1790s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
2010s Italian Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
19th Century English Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Ormolu
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Late 20th Century Danish Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Granite, Copper
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
20th Century Italian Rustic Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1960s American Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century British Other Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1930s Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary British Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut, Burl
2010s Italian Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Plywood, Oak, Birch
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
1950s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Copper
Late 19th Century Swedish Gothic Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Dutch Desks and Writing Tables
Resin
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Swiss Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Mid-20th Century European Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Paint
20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
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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