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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Compass Table by Jean Prouvé
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Compass Table by Jean Prouvé, c. 1950's, France L 47.25" x W 30.75" x H 27.75" FDV11559 *Wear consistent with age and use.
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Early Victorian Mahogany Writing Table With Cope & Collinson Casters
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form with rectangular top with inset brown leather over two drawers flanked by rounded paneled ends, raised on lotus carved turned tapered legs and casters.
Category

Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Svend Åge Madsen 1960s Danish Freestanding Desk
Located in Handewitt, DE
Danish, freestanding desk by Svend Aage Madsen for HP Hansen 1960s. With 4 drawers each site. Front with book compartment and shelfes behind a door. B...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Bureau Plat Style Italian 3 Drawer Desk, Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
French Bureau Plat style Italian 3 Drawer Desk, Bronze Mounts Offered for sale is a fine-quality Italian three-drawer desk reminiscent of the French bureau plat. This graceful des...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

1970s Chinoiserie-Style Walnut Desk with Engraved Leather Top & Brass Accents
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Immerse yourself in the world of French elegance with our vintage 1970s chinoiserie-style desk, a symbol of refined craftsmanship and artistic expression. Expertly handcrafted from p...
Category

1970s American Chinoiserie Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian Leather Top Desk
Located in London, GB
A fantastic original antique Victorian leather top desk. This was made in England, it dates from around 1880-1900. The quality i...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Leather

Barocchetto da Viaggio walnut writing desk, northern Italy 18th century
Located in Milano, IT
Walnut travel desk with scarab concealing twelve drawers, the six smaller side ones. Small desk pulls on front, large drawer below. Removable movable legs with external locking screw...
Category

Early 1700s Italian Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

1800's Antique Fine French Napoleon III Marquetry, Drawers, Bonheur Du Jour Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Gorgeous 1800's Antique Fine French Napoleon III Marquetry, With Drawers, Bonheur Du Jour Desk!! Bonheur Du Jour, Desk, Fine French Napoleon III, Marquetry, 19th C. 1800s!! French...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

20th Century Melchiorre Bega Desk with wooden structure, drawers Brass details
Located in Turin, Turin
Born in Bologna but grown up in Milan, Melchiorre Bega is a fine professional who spans five decades and three seasons of Italian architecture, from rationalism to international styl...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Vintage Bamboo Desk with Red Lacquer Top by Baker
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful Chinoiserie style bamboo desk with red lacquer top for Milling Road by Baker Furniture Company. One large middle drawer which...
Category

20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bamboo, Lacquer

Mastercraft Mid Century Bronze Writing Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive vintage writing desk crafted in bronze with a hip acid washed finish, in a stylized classic form having a black tooled leather top over a case w...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

60s Mid Century Danish Teak Rosewood Arne Vodder Exec. Desk w/ Bookshelf drawers
Located in Madison, WI
Very nice original 1960's Arne Vodder Executive teak rosewood desk with a built in bookshelf on the back, three drawers and a filing cabinet. Finished on both sides, so if can be ...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

A Fine Quality Louis XVI style Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Bureau Plat by Alexandre
Located in New York, NY
Contains gilt ornaments and a frieze of putti in heaven on either side. Topped with blind-tooled leather, an inset writing surface. Contains one large drawer that runs the width of ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Rococo Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Boomerang Desk by Goran Stand
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful scandinavian modern boomerang desk in teak designed by Goran Strand and manufactured by Lelangs Möbelfabrik in Sweden in the 1960's. This special desk, recently i...
Category

1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Mahogany and Leather English Campaign Desk Resting on Stretcher Base
Located in Montreal, QC
English Campaign Desk resting on stretcher and inset with black leather top and decorated with brass handles
Category

1950s English Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Dyrlund Santos Rosewood Executive Desk with Metal Legs
Located in Oakland, CA
1970's Santos rosewood executive desk by Dyrlund, Denmark. Large working surface of rosewood with three large drawers. Raised on metal legs. Desk is in a good in good condition with ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Italian modern Lacquered wood and chromed metal desk by D.I.D., 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Lacquered wood and chromed metal desk by D.I.D., 1970s Desk table with rectangular top in black lacquered wood. There is a writing desk with chromed metal detail on t...
Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Black, glass & golden base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The desk is composed of a central extra clear glass panel with a stora...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Louis XVI style Bureau plat, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Louis XVI style bureau plat. Having an inset leather top, gilded ormolu mouldings and mounts. Trellis parquetry to the frieze, with flora...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Mid century formica writing desk or side table, 1960´s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
Mid century writing desk or side table, it features a formica surface and chromed legs and one drawer. It was made in Czechoslovakia in the 1960´s. the table top is lined with a bla...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Large Rosewood Executive Desk on Metal Base Denmark 1960's
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful large Danish modern executive desk with metal base made probably around the late 1960's in Denmark. Unmarked and we are not sure of the Designer nor Maker. Great large work...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Antique Carved Wood Writing Desk
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Spectacular Antique Carved Wood Writing Desk. In good condition. This table has so many carved details. Really easy to transport it from a place to a...
Category

Early 19th Century Unknown Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1964 Monte Carlo Rally Replica Mini Front End In The Form Of A Desk
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An Unusual 1964 Monte Carlo Rally Replica Mini Front End, in the form of a desk (modern), with glass shelf and a speedometer converted to a clock, the head lamps electrified, on a me...
Category

20th Century Monacan Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Danish Teak Vintage Desk / Writing Table
Located in London, GB
A stylish and very well made Danish teak vintage desk / writing table. This was made in Denmark, it dates from the 1960’s. The quality is superb, this is beautifully constructed and...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

French 19th Century Writing Table
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Very nice scale, warmth color and nice carving on the belt, always useful anywhere at home.
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Wenge, glass & chrome base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The desk is composed of a central extra clear glass panel with a stora...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Bamboo and polished nickel desk
Located in New York, NY
Bamboo and polished nickel two drawer desk with smoked glass top.
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Nickel

Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Desk with Drawers in Grey Coated Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' desk with drawers, steel, vinyl, plastic, Italy, design 1959/60, production 1960s In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer, h...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

19th Century Louis XV Style Leather Top French Desk
Located in Houston, TX
The 19th Century Louis XV Style Leather Top French Desk is a remarkable and ornate antique piece that exudes opulence and historical grandeur. Painted in a sophisticated black finish...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood, Paint

Set desk and chair Derk Jan De Vries 1980 circa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The SAMARA collection desk, designed by Derk Jan De Vries (Obergum, 1917 – Veendam, 1991) for MAISA (Belgium) in 1977, offers a fascinating blend of timeless design and functional el...
Category

1980s Belgian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Søborg Møbler ‘model 130’ teak & beech writing desk – Børge Mogensen
Located in Heerhugowaard, NL
Free standing writing desk with model no. 130 designed by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbler of Denmark in the 1950s. This desk is made from a teak veneered top, with solid teak edges...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Teak

Pierre Jeanneret Desk and Stool from the city of Chandigarh, India 1950 - 1959
Located in New York, NY
Pierre Jeanneret Desk and Stool from the city of Chandigarh, India 1950 - 1959 Teak Holland and Sherry boiled wool. Desk: 27 H x 31.5 W x 23 D inches Stoo...
Category

1950s Indian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak, Wool

Antique Writing Desk, English, Oak, Leather, Correspondence Table, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique writing desk. An English, oak and leather correspondence table, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. Of useful proporti...
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Oak

Mid Century wooden writing desk by Karel Vyčítal for Dřevotvar Jablonné
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Designed by Czech architect Karel Vyčítal. Manufactured by Dřevotvar Jablonné nad Orlicí, former Czechoslovakia in 1960s. Beautiful desk made of solid oak and veneer. Suitable for an...
Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Late Victorian Freestanding Satinwood Carlton House Desk
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Victorian freestanding satinwood Carlton House desk, the curved rectangular top with the typical arrangement of six small drawers and a central cupboard around three sides, en...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Satinwood

Gianfranco Frattini desk for Cantieri Carugati in cherry wood, Italy 1958
Located in Argelato, BO
Gianfranco Frattini, rare desk with wooden structure and supports and nickel-plated metal handles. It is a sophisticated desk, the work of the Milanese architect and designer Gianfra...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Early 20th-Century Neoclassical Writing Desk Inlaid with Brass
Located in Opole, PL
Early 20th-Century Neoclassical Writing Desk Inlaid with Brass We present you a Neoclassical writing desk from the early 20th century. It is...
Category

Early 20th Century European Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Writing Desk with Embossed Leather Top in the Style of Louis XVI
Located in Chicago, IL
An elegant French Louis XVI style writing desk featuring an inset, embossed chestnut brown leather top with a hand applied gold leaf trim. This desk has two extendable leaves, which ...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Gold Leaf

Executive Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Milano, Italy, 1950s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful large executive desk designed by Osvaldo Borsani, manufactured by Tecno Milano in Italy, circa 1950. This eye-catching desk has a unique design with the integrated drawe...
Category

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

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Antique Arts & Crafts English Liberty & Co. School Oak Post Card Desk c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English Arts & Crafts post card desk in the manner of Liberty & Co. offers oak construction with upper having shaped backsplash, pigeon holes and drawers over double drawe...
Category

Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Table, 20th Century, Fuctionalist Style
Located in Lučenec, SK
This table is of a sought-after style. It is suitable for an office or private study.
Category

1920s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Office Nutshell by Deborah Bowmann, Belgium, 2022
By Deborah Bowmann
Located in Antwerp, BE
This piece was created by artist duo Deborah Bowmann. The table was exhibited when they did the scenography of our Art Brussels booth in 2022. Later that year, the table also became ...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Antique Northern Swedish Blue Country Table or Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish country table or desk with a drawer. The table is an authentic country house furniture from northern Sweden made by hand in solid pine. The table has the original blu...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Edwardian Satinwood Adjustable Ladies Writing Desk with Wedgewood Plaque Cherubs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a unique piece of furniture with a multiplicity of uses. It could be a desk or a ladies vanity. The desk is made entirely of satinwood, one of the rarest and most expensive w...
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Porcelain, Satinwood

Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard Nielsen Desk, Denmark 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard Nielsen Desk, Model 310 for Søborg Møbler Denmark 1950s
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Executive desk in Macassar ebony by Pander & zn, Netherlands 1930s
Located in ECHT, NL
High quality custom made executive desk. Made from solid Macassar ebony and Macassar ebony veneer. The front has two glass sliding doors with a thick glass shelf. It has one door on ...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Ebony, Macassar

Regency Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top with inset tooled red leather top and cross banded edge over three drawers front and back. Raised on circular tapered legs. Casters. Sold Bonhams , London, February 1...
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Vintage French Oak Dining Table in Style of Pierre Jeanneret, France, 1950s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
A beautiful square vintage dinging table in the manner of Pierre Jeanneret. In oak, original from France in the 1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Important Desk in wood and glass by Melchiorre Bega (Attr.), Italy, 1950s
Located in Argelato, BO
Melchiorre Bega (1898-1976), attributed to Desk Cherry, glass, rubber and brass Model created around 1950 H 78 × W 151 × D 65 cm
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Orange glossy top & white base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Scrivania in massello di noce color chiaro degli anni 70, MIM Roma Italia
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Elegante piccola scrivania degli anni 70 in massello di noce color chiaro e prodotta dall'iconica azienda italiana MIM Roma. Struttura e cassettini in massello, restaurata ed in ot...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Wooden library table. Portugal, 1940s.
Located in Lisboa, PT
Dark wooden library table supported by five feet connected to each other and opening by four drawers designed by Olaio. Portugal, 1940s.
Category

1940s European Space Age Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Orange glossy top & bronze base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Desk in Teak by Nanna Ditzel, 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Rare freestanding desk in teak and beech, designed Nanna Ditzel and produced by Poul Kolds Savværk. Great original condition.
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Teak

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Grey glossy top & golden base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Late Regency Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A Fine Late Regency Mahogany Dressing or Writing Table in the Manner of Gillows of Lancaster. This fine table with its shaped superstructure and concave front was originally conceiv...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr white, glass top & chrome base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The desk is composed of a central extra clear glass panel with a stora...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Spanish Baroque Period Dark Walnut and Iron Center or Writing Table, ca. 1675
Located in Atlanta, GA
In its day a portable table these sometimes referred to as “guard room tables” have hinges atop the trestle supports and fold up when the iron stretch...
Category

1670s Spanish Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wrought Iron

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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