Desks and Writing Tables
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century British Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Hardwood, Oak
20th Century Colombian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Bone
1940s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Elm
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
1930s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
1940s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Early 20th Century Portuguese Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Ormolu
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Ebony, Burl
Early 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Other
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Mexican Brutalist Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
Early 1900s Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Pine
19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Mid-20th Century Pakistani Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Stainless Steel
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1860s English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu, Brass
19th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu, Bronze
Early 1900s Belgian Art Nouveau Antique Desks and Writing Tables
20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Mid-19th Century European Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1930s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Masonite
20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
Late 20th Century American Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1880s American Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Late 20th Century Philippine Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan
20th Century Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Steel
2010s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Cherry, Oak
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Beech
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1930s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Ebony, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Elm
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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