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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
20th Century French Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant 20th-century French desk embodies the timeless sophistication of the Louis XVI style. Crafted from solid wood with a rich, warm finish, it features clean, linear lines a...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Swedish grace/Art Deco desk in the style of Axel Einar Hjorth
Located in Hägersten, SE
Swedish grace/Art Deco desk in the style of Axel Einar Hjorth. Neoclassical arched column shaped legs in elm root veneer with vault shaped pattern on the bottom. Exquisite book match...
Category
1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Birch, Elm
Shagreen Desk with Bronze-Patina Brass Accents by R&Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines.
The Victoria Desk inlaid in cream shagreen by R&Y Augousti is a sophisticated piece that is minimal, with intricate brass details creating an elegant and luxurious aesthetic. The three rounded drawers make it ergonomic to open a close. Add a mirror and this piece becomes a vanity. Pair it with matching Victoria chair...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Swedish Grace Desk by Otto Wretling in Pine with Hand Carved Decor
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish Grace desk by Otto Wretling made in northern Sweden around 1915. The desk has a frame in pine with a hand carved decor which makes the surface animated and unique. Tw...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Biedermeier Writing Desk in Walnut, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier writing desk in walnut, crafted around 1830. Featuring five drawers framed with fine thread inlays and adorned with escutcheons. The gracefully curved S-shaped legs are j...
Category
1830s Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Venezia Rialto Writing Desk
By Morici
Located in Milan, IT
Effortlessly enriching any modern interior - from a conference room, office, home study - this sculptural piece will create a timeless and elegant focal point. Entirely crafted of wo...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French 1970’s designer desk
By Roneo, Paris
Located in London, GB
A chrome and metal French designer 1979’s desk by Roneo, Paris.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Chrome
James de Wulf Concrete Leaning Coffee Table
Located in Paia, HI
A play on balance, this table is constructed entirely of two concrete pieces. The tabletop is singly supported by the leg, while the two merge with gravity to lock into place. Their balance is a sight to behold.
Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Color shown in natural tone
A perfect complement to the James de Wulf concrete...
Category
2010s American Brutalist Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Concrete, Cement
Shagreen Desk with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by R&Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines.
The Iconic Writing Desk...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
1910 Heinrich Wenck Hardwood Partners Desk With Drawers, Doors & Keys
By Erik Wørts
Located in London, GB
Circa. 1910 Heinrich Wenck Mahogany Partners Desk With Drawers, Doors & Keys. Solid table top. Heinrich Wenck was throughout most of his career employed as an architect at the Danish...
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood
USM Haller Custom Desk Unit 'A' by Fritz Haller and Paul Schaerer
Located in New York, NY
Quick ship desk unit (A) is designed with a work surface and one storage compartment with a drop down door. Available in 14 standard surface colors. Our ful...
Category
2010s Swiss Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Cream Study Desk with Natural Linoleum Table Top and Drawer, Customisable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This study desk is made with a pearl powder-coated steel frame and colour matched natural linoleum tabletop. The linoleum for our desks is selected for the ecological properties of t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Pair of Early 20th Spanish Mobila Country Farm Desk with Two Drawers
Located in Miami, FL
A charming early 20th century Spanish pine farm table with four legs and back side trestle and a wonderfully well-worn finish from a century of use.
Height from to the drawers : 23...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Exceptional Teak Cantilever Executive Desk by Georg Petersens, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Deland, FL
This striking cantilever executive desk by Georg Petersens epitomizes the refined simplicity of Danish Modern design from the 1960s. Crafted from solid teak, the desk showcases the w...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Soriana Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina
By Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Soriana armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina.
Manufactured in Italy.
The idea of comfort itself becomes a sofa. Soriana came into being in 1969, thanks to an intuitive vision...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Milo Baughman, Rare Desk, Walnut, Brass, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A rare walnut and brass desk designed by Milo Baughman and produced by Glenn of California, USA, 1950s.
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century Anglo-Indian Sadeli Inlaid Work Box Traveling Writing Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
A stunning camel bone, ebony and metal inlaid sadeli work box with portable writing desk, Bombay, circa 1850.
The sandalwood body of faceted rec...
Category
Mid-19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Venetian Painted Italian Louis XV Style Writing Table
Located in Forney, TX
A most charming vintage, circa 1960, Italian Venetian writing table (desk - vanity - console) with beautifully aged heavily worn distressed pati...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Gesso, Wood, Paint
Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique French Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bureau plat, circa 1870 in date.
The rectangular top has an inset gold-tooled green leather writing surface with a very...
Category
1870s French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Mid-Century Modern Romeo Rega Chrome, Brass and Glass Dining Table
By Romeo Rega
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Sculptural Art Deco style dining table attributed to Romeo Rega. Curved arch tubular base features brass and chrome striped design with .5 inch thick glass top. A stunning oversized desk...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Vintage Dining Table , Italy 1950s
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Vintage Dining Table, Italy, 1950s
Unusually shaped vintage dining table from the 1950s is pure Italian midcentury design style, designed to comfortably seat six people, the table f...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
French writing Table 2 drawers in Solid Cherry Wood - Louis XVI Directoire style
Located in Landivy, FR
This writing table is part of the Mélanie collection, a modern interpretation of the French Directoire style of the late 18th century.
This style is famous for its straight, classi...
Category
2010s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Oak, Cherry
Chinoiserie Multiple Compartments Asian Writing Table Desk Rounded Bach MINT
By Drexel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Chinoiserie Multiple Compartments Asian Writing Table Desk Rounded Bach MINT
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood, Lacquer
1960s Mid-Century Modern Burl Wood Writing Desk by Henredon
By Henredon
Located in Elkton, MD
Elegant Mid-Century Modern writing desk by Henredon, c. 1960s, featuring a richly figured burl wood veneer. A finely crafted piece, it showcases three drawers with brass hardware, of...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Burl
Dante Writing Desk by Daytona
By Daytona
Located in Milan, IT
Refined elegance and a classic design characterize the Dante Writing Desk. With a structure in plywood covered in a dark walnut veneer and a solid walnut base with a brushed gloss fi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
1954 Coen de Vries Desk in Birch with Ebony Base, Red Drawer and Formica Top
By Coen de Vries, Devo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great little writing desk in birch wood with ebony x-base, red drawer and Formica top. Coen de Vries is one of the Dutch pioneers of industrial des...
Category
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Formica, Birch, Ebony
Midcentury Desk in Mahogany Designed by Frits Heningsen, 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Freestanding desk in mahogany with three drawers, designed and made by cabinetmaker Frits Henningsen. Made in Denmark, great original condition.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Osvaldo Borsani wall-mounted wood and brass desk model E22 by Tecno Italy, 1950s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A wall-mounted desk in wood, metal, and brass, part of the E22 series, produced by Tecno, designed by Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s
A wall-mounted piece of furniture, free from floor suppo...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
French 19th Century Writing Table on Wheels Carved Walnut Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Writing table or desk made of walnut in the french late 19th century. This table was stripped by our cabinet maker and the wood is raw to enhance its patina.
Good antique condition.
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique Gillows Style Birdseye Maple Writing Table Desk 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a very attractive Antique Victorian Gillows Style Birdseye Maple writing table, circa 1880 in date.
The rectangular top features a moulded edge with the original inset black...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table
By Gustav Stickley (signed with red decal)
USA, Circa 1900
Quar...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Copper
Svend Aage Madsen Bow Front Desk in Teak for HP Hansen, Denmark Circa 1960's
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a beautifully curved front teak desk designed by Sven Aage Madsen. Incrediably elegant, this desk features beautiful tapered exoskeleton legs in Afromosia (African teak). Dra...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Antique French Walnut Desk with drawer and leather top
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful walnut desk table that can be used as a desk or work table. Made of robust walnut wood. All its legs and stretcher are Solomonic and it has a drawer with its iron handle, i...
Category
1890s French Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Louis XV Kingwood Bureau Plat Leather Top Desk With Mounted Bronze Ormolu
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Louis XV style writing desk or bureau plat desk
France, Circa 1940s
Gorgeous kingwood, with bronze trim and ornate ormolu mounts, and embossed green leather t...
Category
1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Tooled Leather Traditional Carved Campaign Style Office Writing Desk 62"
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th Century campaign style desk. Features a rectangular form with brown tooled leather top and two drawers in the frieze. Each drawer has brass lion knocker pulls. The desk is ...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Stylo Folding Desk by Enrico Tonucci
Located in Milan, IT
Designed with a modern interior in mind, this luxury desk is foldable and can be a precious and versatile addition to any room. The top in solid wood is co...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Classic Edwardian Style Mahogany & Leather Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome Edwardian style writing desk having rich mahogany base and front turned legs that terminate in casters. Top is covered in brown tooled leather. Two drawers on one side. ...
Category
1950s North American Edwardian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Miami, FL
An antique early 20th century ladies' secretary desk. Made from walnut with a maple writing surface. Features a drop front with neoclassical brass hardware over large central drawer ...
Category
Early 20th Century European Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique George III Style Mahogany Partners Writing Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique George II style mahogany partners writing table, 19th century. With an inset tooled leather top, mahogany border and molded front, back and side edges, 3 frieze drawers on ea...
Category
19th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Large blue Secretary Desk - design Eric Gizard, Paris - made in France
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is designed by the famous parisian Designer Eric Gizard and delivered fully mounted.
The overall dimensions of the b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Ash, Lacquer
Boomerang Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Milano, 1950s Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Architectural black boomerang executive desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Milano. Finished with leather desktop inclusion. Floating pedestal on right side and longer return on the le...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Stickley Brothers Style Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Desk or Library Table
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts quarter sawn oak library table or writing desk with built-in bookcases
In the manner of Stickley Brothers
USA, Circa 1900
Measures:...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century English Writing Reading Table
Located in Cranbrook, Kent
Mid 19th Century writing table in flame cut walnut with leather writing pad top
and a built in adjustable slope.
Circa 1860 this represents one of the finest examples of cabinet work...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Tan Leather Top Faux Bamboo 56" Wide Desk Drexel MINT!
By Drexel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Tan Leather Top Faux Bamboo 56" Wide Desk Drexel MINT!
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Vintage Anco Bilt Folding Solid Wood Industrial Drafting Table Writing Desk
By Anco Bilt
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Anco Bilt Folding Solid Wood Industrial Drafting Table Writing Desk. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 47" H (Slightly up) x 31" H (Flat) x 36" W x 24" D. Folded: 39" H x...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique Architect's Drafting Table Keuffel & Esser Company
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Architect's Drafting Table Keuffel & Esser Company
Unmarked attributed to German company Keuffel Esser New York
Adjustable. One drawer.
42.5 h x 47.25 w x 35.5 d height adjus...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Joel Escalona's NONO Elefante Table 60, Smooth Solid Wood, Sleek Style
—————————————————————
Elefante Collection: A Harmony of Design and Heritage by NONO
Crafting Elegance with a...
Category
2010s Mexican Brutalist Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood
Large Italian Marble Travertine Dining Table, Desk, Polished & Chip Carved Top
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Made in Italy in the 1970s, a large dining table or desk made entirely of travertine marble. The top is a large single slab of polished travertine, with a warm and pleasing natural g...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Travertine
Mid Century Modern G-Plan Desk Console Table, Black, Brass, Tola
By G-Plan
Located in Miami, FL
G-Plan Desk or Console Table, black wood base with brass stretcher and details, the top is African Tola Wood. Table has two drawers. The drawer pulls were replaced at some point.
Category
1960s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
100% Solid Teak Mid-Century Dining Table in Smooth Anthracite
Located in Buffalo, WY
Vintage mid-century design is the inspiration behind this table. The natural solid hardwood top is handcrafted with a chamfered edge to compliment the angles of the solid hardwood ba...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood, Teak
A MID-CENTURY-MODERN Modernist DESK by THONET, France 1950
Located in PARIS, FR
A rigorous and luxurious small desk, Modernist, Constructivist, Reconstruction, black lacquered square section metal structures, box with 3 drawers (and 1 drawer top) and 1 large lac...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Rockefeller Center* Circular Reception Desk / Bar, Attrib. Donald Deskey
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Rockefeller Center* Circular Reception Desk / Bar, Attrib. Donald Deskey
USA, Circa 1930s
Attributed to Donald Deskey for Rockefeller Center
A masterwork example of American Art...
Category
1930s American Machine Age Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Osvaldo Borsani Desk for Tecno Milano, Italy 1950
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
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 drawer ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Joan Busquets Workshop Masterpiece Modernist Nouveau Desk Cabinet, ca. 1898
Located in South Burlington, VT
From Spain's Catalan Modernist Furniture Maker Joan Busquets Studio & Workshop
A Unique work of Cabinetry Art.
JOAN BUSQUETS I (Barcelona, 1874-1949). Modernist Cabinet and Desk, ca. 1898.
Modernist desk and cabinet finely crafted from walnut wood with golden polychrome and pyrography. Keyholes, handles and decorative appliques in golden brass. Signed on the front in the lower left corner of the right door.
Dimensions: 66 inches high and 46 inches wide and 24 inches deep; 165cm x 116cm x 60 cm
This remarkable and unique Catalan modernist cabinet designed by famed furniture designer and maker, Joan Busquets was crafted at Studio Busquets. Barcelona, Spai ca 1898 from walnut wood with fine polychrome gold and decorated with pyrography- the first time in European history that saw this craftsmanship combination of fine studio furniture with fine pyrographic artistic technique. The keyholes, handles and decorative fixtures are made of gilded brass. This Catalan Modernist cabinet was constructed into two (2) sections. The lower cut-out base support section is raised on four stylized legs, with a perpendicularly placed table top- all creatively imagined in a totally sinuous form providing dynamism and originality to this unique design. The upper desk cabinet section has a triple opening, two with hinged doors, one from top to bottom that opens as a desk and the other from left to right revealing two drawers, as well as a top slide out drawer. The interior features several drawers of different sizes all beautifully embellished on their fronts in a golden color pyrography. The entire body of this cabinet desk furniture is richly decorated with typically art nouveau modernist stylized vegetal motifs executed with the artist Busquet's personal pyrography technique, and finally framed with sinuous moldings in relief.
This is a superb furniture cabinet within the Catalan modernism genre, given that it was produced by one of the best studio workshops of that time, as well as for the perfection and meticulousness with which each of its details have been executed by artrist designer Busquet.
Busquets' workshop was known to have crafted most of the furniture for Antoni Gaudí Casa Calvet, with this being a prime example.
About Studio Busquet
In 1898 Busquets y Jané introduced for the first time a new technique of polychrome pyrography. This replaced classical marquetry hand craft traditionally applied to furniure of the 19th century. This new design technique was first applied to this cabinet and dates circa 1898. The artist, designer, and decorator Joan Busquets personally hand applied pyrography to his furniture designs and was actively involved in this pyrographic technique widely known of that period as the "Busquets style".
About La Casa Busquets:
Furniture designer and decorator, Joan Busquets is currently considered one of the most representative artists of Spain's Catalan modernism. He began his training in his family workshop, and then studied at the Escuela de La Llotja in Barcelona, where his teachers were Guitart and Lostaló. In the 1895-96 academic year he obtained a scholarship that allowed him to travel around Spain, which he obtained thanks to a project for a Renaissance-style bookcase-cabinet. He exhibited furniture projects for the first time at the Barcelona Exhibition...
Category
19th Century Spanish Arts and Crafts Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
French Walnut Secretary Slant Front Desk Writing Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant desk, writing table, with slant drop front, with the beautiful carved decors in Classic figures all around the piece and saber legs. When opened we find the writing area...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Vintage Walnut and Chrome Executive Desk by John Keal
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This mid-century executive desk, designed by John Keal for Brown Saltman in the 1950s, is a timeless piece that combines functionality and style. Its large working surface and floati...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash, Burl
Italian Midcentury Bamboo and Rattan Desk or Vanity with two Drawers, 1970s
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful desk, or can also be used as a vanity - dressing table.
Made from bamboo wood and rattan, in Italy in the 1970s.
The desk is beautiful to look at from all sides and can als...
Category
1970s Italian French Provincial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan
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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