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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Style: Georgian
Style: French Provincial
George II Mahogany Harlequin Table
Located in Dallas, TX
A George II mahogany pier/tea/games bureau-table. The mahogany top is supported on a hinged back leg when opened. The top when opened conceals the game table and a harlequin pop-up c...
Category
Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Robert Gillows II 1790 Writing Library Hardwood Chest of Drawers Leather Slope
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare circa 1790 Georgian writing Library chest of drawers with desk secretaire by Gillows of Lancaster and L...
Category
1790s English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
1790 Gillows Cuban Hardwood Library Secretaire Desk Writing Table I Bramah Lock
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare circa 1790 George III Library writing desk secrataire by Gillows of Lancaster and London
A rare find, looking through Gillows of ...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood
English Georgian Burl Walnut Kneehole Desk
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian style (18/19th Century) burl walnut kneehole desk with 9 drawers.
Category
19th Century Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut, Burl
George IV Pollard Oak Writing Desk
By George Smith
Located in London, GB
A very fine George IV pollard oak writing table, with original Moroccan red leather and exceptional patination to the oak. In the manner of George...
Category
19th Century English George IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Leather, Wood
George III Figured Mahogany Ladies Writing Table
By John Cobb
Located in London, GB
A George III figures mahogany ladies writing table, attributable to John Cobb with rising screen and concealed drawer on shaped slender cabriole l...
Category
Early 19th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Silk, Fabric, Wood, Mahogany
English Mahogany Tambour Satinwood Inlaid Writing Desk, Circa 1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
English mahogany tambour desk with sliding leather writing surface, interior satinwood compartmentalized drawers with the original bone knobs, five lower drawers with the original br...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Georgian Style Mahogany Architects Desk
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian style (19th Century) mahogany architects desk.
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
English 19th Century Georgian Style Mahogany Oval Partners Desk with Leather Top
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian (19th century) mahogany oval partners desk with fretwork carved doors and brown leather top.
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
20th English Georgian Oak Two Drawers Lowboy or Desk with Lyre Legs
Located in Miami, FL
20th English Georgian oak two drawers lowboy or desk with lyre legs.
Category
Early 20th Century European Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
English Georgian Mahogany Kneehole Desk
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian style (19th Century) mahogany kneehole desk with bronze ram heads & trim and leather top with carved edge.
Category
19th Century British Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
George II Burl Walnut Lowboy
Located in San Francisco, CA
Walnut and burl walnut lowboy with crossbanding around the top, satinwood inlay on the front, and having original brass pulls. Standing on cabriole legs ending on Spanish feet...
Category
18th Century English George II Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Mahogany Bow Front Inlaid Ladies Dressing Table. Circa 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
English mahogany bow front ladies dressing table with hinged top, single drawer, original brasses, satin wood inlay, compartmentalized fitted int...
Category
1790s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century Amboyna Library Table in the Manner of Morel & Seddon
By Edwards & Roberts, Morel & Seddon
Located in London, GB
A library table in the manner of Morel & Seddon later retailed by Edwards and Roberts
Of kidney form, the sled bases, standing on oblate bun feet having spandrel blocked end suppo...
Category
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Amboyna
English/Irish Georgian Style Mahogany Table Desk
Located in New York, NY
English/Irish Georgian style (19th Century) mahogany table desk with carved lion heads on legs with claw feet and red leather top.
Category
19th Century British Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
English Yew Wood Writing Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
This is a custom English Yew wood partners writing table with two recessed panel drawers each side. The three piece, gold tooled leather is a dark tau...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Yew
English Georgian Style Walnut End Table or Desk
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian style '19th century' walnut end table (desk) with drop sides (10" wide) and having a front and side drawer with adjustable leather inset lift top on brass castors.
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Georgian Mahogany Architects Table
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A 18th century architects table with a single drawer which opens to reveal a several compartments. The front of the table is decorated wi...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century George II Writing Bureau
Located in Dublin 8, IE
18th Century George II mahogany ladies writing bureau topped by brass pierced gallery. The sloped fall front enclosing six drawers above a shape...
Category
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant Little Mid-18th Century George II 'Lady Desk'
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant little 'Lady Desk', George II, in walnut with original brass fittings.
Top with leather.
England, circa 1750.
Beautiful patina.
Category
Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Fruitwood Work Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
With its scalloped apron and cabriole legs, this table is has a more dynamic appearance than an ordinary work table, but its single side drawer and pull-out breadboard slide say othe...
Category
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
Desk English Leather Brown Mahogany 18th Century England
Located in New York, NY
Desk English Leather Brown Mahogany 18th Century England. Desk made for architecture work. England 18th Century. Made in mahogany with brass hardw...
Category
18th Century and Earlier English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Georgian Mahogany Architects Table Desk
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian mahogany architects table desk with a double hinged adjustable top with a fitted interior and a green felt writing surface.
Category
Early 1800s British Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Felt, Mahogany
English Inlaid Mahogany Dressing Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
This antique mahogany dressing table has acquired a rich patina over the years as the mahogany has warmed to a rich honey brown. The to...
Category
19th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Ebony, Satinwood
Fine Period Sheraton Mahogany Reading Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Fine George III mahogany Sheraton reading table with adjustable stem and
drawer, circa 1795.
Category
1790s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
English Satinwood and Patera Inlaid Knee Hole Desk. Circa 1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
English satinwood and ebony string patera inlaid seven-drawer knee hole desk with original brasses, prospect door, and terminating on original bracket feet. Late 18th century.
Category
1780s English George II Antique Desks and Writing Tables
English Mahogany Dressing Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
English, George III mahogany dressing table on club legs with lappet carved knee and terminating in pad feet. The interior of this t...
Category
19th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
An Important George III Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This very fine mahogany writing table made in England in the French taste would have been for only the most current and fashionable people of the time. The table has a serpentine top...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany
Antique Leather Top Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
A smart and very well made antique leather top pedestal desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1920’s.
The quality is fant...
Category
1920s British Georgian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
18th Century George III Period Mahogany Architect's Desk
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A stunning late 18th century, George III period solid mahogany architect's desk. Finished in the round, the top slants up for reading, or cantilevers up for either reading or writing...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Georgian Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
A fantastic antique Georgian writing table / desk of the highest order. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1820’s period...
Category
1820s British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
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
Antique Georgian Leather Top Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
A smart and very impressive antique Georgian leather top pedestal desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1800-1820 period.
...
Category
Early 1800s British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
George IV Mahogany Firescreen Secretary
Located in New York, NY
George IV Mahogany firescreen secretary, ca. 1835, of tall rectangular form, the drop front writing surface opening to reveal a fitted interior with letter rack and drawers, support...
Category
Mid-19th Century George IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Wooden Desk
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden writing desk from 19th century France. The top of this desk opens up to reveal three storage compartments and a writing surface, below which sit two drawers. A sunny aura em...
Category
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
George III Side Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
George III mahogany single drawer side table with finely figured top and standing on slender square tapered legs with "H' stretcher. Oak lined drawer with original brass.
Category
18th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
George III Carlton House Desk Mahogany United Kingdom XIX Century
Located in Milano, IT
English desk supported by truncated pyramidal legs with brass feet, has three drawers in the band; the top in the center has a Moroccan insert that can be lifted like a lectern and i...
Category
19th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
English Mahogany Inlaid Red Leather Top Rent Table with Original Casters, C 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
English mahogany four drawer red leather top rent table with circular swivel top, diamond bone escutcheons, checkered inlays, and terminating on a tripod base with original brass cas...
Category
1790s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany, Satinwood
English Mahogany Leather Top Writing Desk, Circa 1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
English mahogany two-drawer leather top writing desk with carved molded edge, original brasses and terminating on chamfered tapered legs, Late 18th century. Desk is finished on all ...
Category
1790s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
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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