Desks and Writing Tables
Mid-20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Steel
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Leather
1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Faux Leather, Oak
20th Century American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Beech
1920s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1960s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1930s British George II Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 19th Century Mission Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 19th Century American Sheraton Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Mahogany
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Birch, Rosewood, Teak
20th Century American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1910s European Louis XIV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Leather
Late 20th Century British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Walnut
1990s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
17th Century Spanish Renaissance Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Glass, Wood
Mid-19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Paint
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Copper
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Leather, Oak
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Goatskin, Wood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Glass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1890s French Renaissance Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Fruitwood, Maple
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome, Enamel, Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Ash, Leather
2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Walnut, Plywood
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass
1890s British Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
2010s Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash, Hardwood, Bentwood
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Travertine, Marble
Mid-19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 1900s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s Swiss Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
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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