Skip to main content

Desks and Writing Tables

8
1,185
to
130
598
521
1,185
1,185
1,185
373
92
88
38
37
34
32
29
15
11
11
10
9
8
2
2
1
490
1,806
3,983
1,759
2,236
718
88
32
93
197
163
644
396
138
31
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1,098
555
246
235
203
862
243
214
199
186
17
16
15
13
13
Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 1950s
Guillerme et Chambron Desk and Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
Designer handcrafted oak desk and chair. Chair adjusts to two positions. Desk knobs are wood with ceramic. All legs end on ceramic balls. Chair is 25 W x...
Category

1950s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ceramic, Wood

Desk in Wood, 1920, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk Book: Buenos Aires Art Deco y Racionalismo Author: Mimi Bohm Page: 68 Year: 1920 It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exo...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Paul McCobb Planner Group Black and White Lacquered Desk, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional minimalist Mid-Century Modern four drawer writing desk By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Black and white lacquered solid maple, wi...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

20th Century Wood French Napoleon III Style Writing Desk, 1950s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French writing desk from the mid-20th century. Furniture of beautiful lines and pleasant furnishings in Napoleon III style in rosewood and mahogany woods. Finished for the center des...
Category

1950s French Napoleon III Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Provincial Louis XIV Style Carved Walnut Writing Desk or Accent Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Dimensions: W 121cm / D 65cm / H 77.5cm / Drawer dimensions: W 50cm / D 47.2cm W 47.6" / D 25.5" / H 30.5" / Drawer dimensions: W 19.6" / D 18.5" A Louis XIV walnut writing table or...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Paul McCobb Planner Group Black and White Lacquered Double Pedestal Desk, 1950s
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern double pedestal executive writing desk By Paul McCobb for Winchendon Furniture, "Planner Group" USA, 1950s Solid black and white lacquered birch,...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Desk in Wood, 1920, Sign: Made in France 7382
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk Sign: Made in France 7382 Year: 1920 It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon ...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Desk in Wood, 1900, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinction. You want to live in the golden yea...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Italian Georgian Style Trestle Writing Desk 1960s
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Dimensions: H 78 cm / W 161 cm / D 76 cm H 30.7" / W 63.3" / D 29.9" Vintage Italian Georgian style trestle oak writing desk from the 1960s, beautifully hand-carved standing on four...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Georgian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Desk by Marcel Breuer, 1955
Located in Berlin, DE
Model 'Canaan' Wood, transparent white lacquered, visible wooden texture Dimensions: L.180 cm D.60 cm H.72.5 cm Design: Marcel Breuer, 1955 Manufacturer: Gavina, Italy cf. V. Vercell...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Fine French Empire Design Oak Twin Pedestal Desk
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this beautiful French Empire design gilt metal mounted oak twin pedestal desk, rectangular top with inset tooled writing surface above three frieze, thre...
Category

Early 20th Century British Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Large Boomerang shaped Walnut Desk with Green Leather patinated top Italy 1950’s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Large Boomerang shaped Walnut Desk with Green Leather patinated top, Italy 1950’s.
Category

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

Materials

Leather, Nutwood

Big Jeweler Style Art Deco in Wood, 1920, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk style: Art Deco Year: 1920 It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk. The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it unique. It is an icon of distinct...
Category

1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

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

Midcentury Desk in Rosewood, Made in Denmark 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Great looking desk in rosewood. Designed by and made in Denmark in the 1950s. Nice original condition.
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Antique quality C1900 mahogany marble writing side dressing table desk washstand
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique quality C1900 mahogany marble writing side dressing table desk washstand. Lovely age colour and patina. No loose joints or woodworm. Full ...
Category

Early 1900s Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

20th Century Oak Wood Renaissance Style French Writing Desk, 1920s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French writing desk from the early 20th century. Furniture of great character and quality richly carved in oak wood in Renaissance style. Desk finished for the center, of excellent p...
Category

1920s French Renaissance Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Danish Modern Teak Desk Model #130 by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbler
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Stunning Danish modern teak desk also known as Model #130 designed by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbler in Denmark, circa 1950s. This exquisite desk fea...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

1950s George Nelson Swag Leg Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Original Swag leg desk, designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Colorful cubbyholes and molded drawers allow for a tidy and streamlined workspace. O...
Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Rare Ico Parisi for Fratelli Rizzi Writing Desk in Chestnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ico Parisi for Fratelli Rizzi, Intimiano, writing desk, cat. no, '1950.56', chestnut, Italy, 1950 This highly refined writing table is designed by the acknowledged master of Italian...
Category

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

Materials

Chestnut

1920s Art Deco Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann Style Rosewood Desk with Chrome Feet
Located in High Wycombe, GB
1920s Art Deco Solid Rosewood Rectangular Desk With Original Fittings. The Central Drawer is housed between two sets of drawers with Chrome finished feet, and handles. This exquisite Streamline Moderne desk...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

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

Early 20th Century Vintage Boho French Distressed Writing Desk
Located in west palm beach, FL
A stunning vintage Boho writing desk. Made in France and the perfect amount of patina from the years of use. Rustic Cabriolet legs and a clean shape. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category

Early 20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Pine and Beech Turned Leg Writing Table
Located in Baltimore, MD
This versatile Pine and Beech writing table is as “at home” in a small kitchen as it is in the office or student bedroom. The top is extremely attractive. The front apron houses a full-depth drawer for pencils and other office materials...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Country Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Pine

Unique Italian Large Wall Unit with Writing Desk in Maple and Birch
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wardrobe with writing desk, birch, maple, fabric, glass, brass, coated steel, Italy, 1950s Hailing from a skilled artisan of Italy, this exceptional set embodies a unique combinatio...
Category

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

Materials

Brass, Steel

Willem Penaat for Metz and Co. Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1920s Amsterdam School desk in oak designed by Willem Penaat for Metz and Co. An exquisite synthesis of utility and design with a sleek modernis...
Category

1920s Dutch Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak

Constructivist Wood and Melamine Desk, Italy, c.1950
Located in Surbiton, GB
A 1950's Italian desk featuring a bank of 4 drawers, a wider drawer and an off white melamine desk top supported by two geometric H-frames. Dimensions (cm, approx): Height: 74.5 Wi...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique, Desk, Writing Tables, Taisho period (1912-1926 CE)
Located in Hitachiomiya-shi, 08
Taisho era Antique Desk/Writing Tables- Oak and Chestnut, Repainted Black This desk, an antique from Japan's Taisho period (1912-1926 CE), serves as both a desk and a table. is a ra...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chestnut, Oak

Red Desk with Drawer and Compartment, 1950s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Red lacquered writing desk on glue and plaster preparation, 1950s. Equipped with drawer and open compartment. Later retouched and repainted. It shows patina due to age and use, retou...
Category

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

Materials

Wood, Plywood, Lacquer, Paint

Santos Rosewood 3 Drawer Desk/Writing Table by Frits Henningsen
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This is a classic piece of early Scandinavian design, made from Santos Rosewood it's on the edge of the change between antique and mid-century and fits beautifully with both camps. T...
Category

Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Dutch Mid-Century Modern Solid Birch Vanity Desk by Everest Furniture, 1950s
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Unusual and rare modernist vanity desk produced in the Netherlands by Everest Furniture early 1950s. Solid birch frame and, veneered plywood and exotic wood (Wenge) details in the...
Category

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

Materials

Birch, Teak, Wenge, Plywood

Erik Wørts: Freestanding "Mayor's" desk with profiled edges made 1953
Located in London, GB
Freestanding desk of Brazilian rosewood with profiled edges. Front with six drawers with carved handles. Made 1953 by C. B. Hansen with plaquette. H. 75 cm. L. 190 cm. W. 105 cm. Pr...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Antique Georgian Style Writing Bureau
Located in London, GB
A smart and useful antique Georgian style writing bureau. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1950’s. The quality is fantastic, this is beautifully designed with a co...
Category

1950s British Georgian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Mid-Century '7800 Series' Desk by A.R Cordemeyer for Gispen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 1950's, early 1960's '7800 Series' (to be precise, the "7840") desk designed by A. R Cordemeyer for Gispen. The desk has one side cabinet with three drawers and a dark grey fram...
Category

1950s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Generous antique English partner writing desk, Withy Grove Store, Manchester
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered is this sturdy antique writing table with a beautiful lived-in appearance. This is a fantastic and completely original early 20th century writing desk supplied by Withy Grove Stores in Manchester. Withy Grove Stores originally supplied schools, government buildings and the military. This large English writing table...
Category

Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Walnut Desk by Gianfranco Frattini 1956
Located in Berlin, DE
Very elegant writing desk with four drawers and open compartments on both sides. Made of solid walnut wood, handles are made of blackened metal. Height of writing surface 70 cm Gianf...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Wonderful minimalistic italien prototype desk
Located in Munich, DE
Great italien prototype desk from an architects estate full of wonderful mid century design and prototypes. we are very happy to offer this iconic italien desk , that has an breathta...
Category

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

Materials

Metal, Brass

A MID-CENTURY-MODERN DESK Model CM 172 by PIERRE PAULIN, 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

Antique French Directoire Neoclassical Mahogany Leather Top Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Directoire Neoclassical Mahogany Leather Top Desk is a marvel of timeless architecture, tailored styling and quality materials. Crafted from exotic imported mahogany,...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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

Vintage Danish Freestanding Teak Desk with Floating Top, 1950s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Freestanding Teak Desk with Floating Top, 1950s. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern teak writing desk. Unusual shape where the floating desk top rest on six solid teak p...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Modernist lacquered wood executive desk
Located in New York, NY
Modernist lacquered wood five drawer executive desk and with cantilevered top.
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Gio Ponti Desk from " Banca Nazionale del Lavoro , Italy, 1950s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful walnut executive desk designed by Gio Ponti and produced by Schirolli for Banca Nazionale del Lavoro in the mid-1950s. Giovanni "Gio" Ponti was an Italian architect, indus...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Peter Hvidt & Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Danish Secretary Desk
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful secretary desk designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen for Søborg Møbler. It has the label in the back. This secretary desk is made in Denm...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

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

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

Danish Mid-Century Modern Teak & Oak Writing Desk
Located in VANCOUVER, CA
Teak & oak Danish desk, circa 1950's. Oak frame contrasts beautifully with the book matched teak veneer top. Finished on both sides, place this in the center of a room and it will lo...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Teak

Mid-Century Executive Walnut Desk by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful mid-century executive walnut desk designed by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar in the United States, circa 1950s. This desk is made with a timeless design that has been profess...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Fluted Beechwood Writing Desk in the Style of Gianfranco Frattini, Italy 1950s
Located in Chicago, IL
Fluted Beechwood Writing Desk in the Style of Gianfranco Frattini, Italy 1950s The double footed legs is reminiscent of Frattini’s lines. The “grissinato” technique (in front of the...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Giuseppe Pagano: Eight Drawer Desk in Fruitwood and Brass, Italy 1940
Located in New York, NY
Giuseppe Pagano (1896 - 1945) An imposing eight-drawer desk by rationalist architect and designer Giuseppe Pagano, in fruitwood with mahogany-stained trim and polished brass hand...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Antique Country French Walnut Desk ~ Writing Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Walnut Desk ~ Writing Table is a classic piece with understated elegance that is perfect for completing a home office, serve as a vanity table, or even behind ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Country Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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

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

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

Scrivania Anni 50-60, marrone in legno, ottone e vetro
Located in Milano, IT
Scrivania vintage di manifattura italiana in legno con vetro sovrapiano, due cassetti e piedini in ottone. Legno esotico.
Category

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

Materials

Brass

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

Bauhaus Restored Beech Writing Desk Made in 1930s by Robert Slezak, Czechia
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Completely restored writing desk with a frame in tubular chromed steel. Designed by Robert Slezak in the 1930s. Material: beech, chrome-plated steel. Wood is completely restored. New polish and professionally cleaned chrome. 8 drawers and locks are fully functional. Tubular steel with original chrome plating...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Student Pine Writing Table Slant Top Desk France, Early 20th C
Located in Labrit, Landes
French slant top desk writing table for student, circa 1950. Pine pupitre Good antique condition with nice patina. Authentic condition with engraved marks made by the students durin...
Category

Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

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.

Recently Viewed

View All