Desks and Writing Tables
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Maple, Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1970s American Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome, Stainless Steel
2010s Vietnamese Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Burl
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica
1960s American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Olive, Walnut
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bakelite, Wood
2010s Portuguese Desks and Writing Tables
Lacquer
Early 2000s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
19th Century English Queen Anne Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Early 1900s French Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Late 20th Century American Classical Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Kingwood
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Brass
2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Plywood, Oak
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1970s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Wicker
1980s Central American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Crystal, Aluminum, Steel
Late 20th Century American Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century Dutch Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Aluminum
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
1970s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1970s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Softwood, Cherry, Glass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Resin, Maple, Walnut
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Lucite, Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century Campaign Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
1960s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Faux Leather, Wood
2010s Mexican Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1880s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Ormolu
1940s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century Italian Rustic Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Ormolu
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Quartz, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Birch, Oak, Plywood
1950s American Chinoiserie Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
Late 20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
2010s Turkish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Swiss Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
1950s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
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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