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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1940s
Michelle Pigneres 1970s Desk Chrome Smoked Mirrored Table Art Deco Style office
Located in London, GB
An extremely rare desk by designer Michele Pigneres made in the 1970s.
This desk is having all the characteristics from his designs such as the drawer pullers, the chrome framing and...
Category
1970s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Ernest 'Igl' Hofmann 'Jet' Corner Desk in Brown & Orange Fiberglass
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ernest 'Igl' Hofmann for Wilhelm Werndl, corner desk, model 'Jet', fiberglass, Germany, design 1970
This design truly fits within the ethos of the seventies – a bright and bold era...
Category
1970s German Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fiberglass
Hand-Crafted Early American Style Solid Pine Slant Front Writing Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
A beautifully hand-crafted early American Style Solid Pine Writing Desk in good vintage condition. Measures 28" in width, 28" in depth and stands 32.25" tall. Knee clearance is is ...
Category
Late 20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Mid Century Modern Model T333 desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno
By Tecno
Located in London, GB
Model T333 desk produced in 1975 from a design by Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Geri and manufctured by Tecno. The top is black lacquered walnut with an inset area of black leather. There are two minimal slim drawers, perfect for storage of pens etc and polished cast aluminium legs. with black trim. Manufacturer's label to side.
This large and impressive desk with its minimal, sophisticated design would work well in both a modern or contemporary home.
Literature: Giam Piero Bosoni, T
Tecno L'eleganza discreta della tecnico, was established in 1953 the twin brothers Osvaldo and Fulgenzio Borsani with the goal of developing their father’s furniture company, Arredamenti Borsani, using the industrial process for the manufacturing of modern furniture. The history of the company goes back to the early 1920s, when woodworker and upholsterer Gaetano Borsani founded Atelier Borsani Varedo (later called Arredamenti Borsani Varedo) in Varedo, Italy.
In spite of Arredamenti Borsani’s traditional approach, Osvaldo, designed the modernist Casa Minima furniture collection, while still attending architecture school at Accademia di Brera, and he won the silver medal at the V Triennale di Milano in 1933. Osvaldo’s ongoing involvement at the atelier continued to grow as he designed and built modernist furniture for the wealthy Milanese society.
In 1954, a year after Tecno’s founding, the company unveiled its first factory-produced collection of sofas, chairs and tables and received accolades at the X Triennale di Milano. That same year, Osvaldo created the adjustable D70 sofa bed, which became an instant commercial success, and in 1956 he launched the P40 lounge chair, an adjustable reclining chair...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Rare Smaller Version of the Oak Desk by Lou Hodges California Design Group
By Lou Hodges
Located in Pasadena, CA
Lou Hodges was an American designer whose way to work could be compared to American craftsman by its clean lines, sturdy construction, it's lack of nonfunctionality adornment and the...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Postmodern Design in Style of Milo Baughman Burl Wood Desk, 1970's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Postmodern design burl wood desk in the style of Milo Baughman, 1970's / 80's. Made in Italy. Architectural in design. Burl wood top and drawers on brushed metal and brass co...
Category
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Angelo Mangiarotti Rare desk with single cast iron foot - Italian Design 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Rare desk designed by Angelo Mangiarotti. This elegant and material piece recalls the designer's style by infusing into a new concept elements already used for other furniture create...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Vintage American Mahogany Escritoire Writing Desk
Located in Plainview, NY
A beautiful and timeless 1970's American escritoire desk. The writing desk is made of solid mahogany and is sturdy. The desk shows fine carving details and offers 5 regular drawers a...
Category
Late 20th Century American Classical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage Traditional Spanish Writing Desk in Oak Wood, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Vintage traditional Spanish American writing desk.
By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1940.
In original condition, with minor wear c...
Category
1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Danish Mid-Century Modern Writing Desk with Dovetail Drawers. Finished Back
Located in Seattle, WA
Danish Mid-Century Modern Writing Desk with Dovetail Drawers. Finished Back
Dimensions. 49 W ; 23 D ; 28 1/2 H
Knee Clearance. 17 W ; 25 1/2 H.
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Gerald McCabe Shedua Executive Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
American made desk, c.1970s, by Gerald McCabe is beautifully crafted from Shedua, also known as African Walnut. This piece features a desk and return with natural wood grain variance...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Maple + Aluminum Desk by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti, Italy, 1970s
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare Italian desk unit designed by Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti in the 1970s. This desk has one main section with an additional table top attachment, creating an L-shape. It was constructed with wood and has a maple wood veneer with an exquisite birdseye grain.
This piece features brushed aluminum connectors and has an additional rolling modular cabinet with three drawers, which can be placed below or beside the desk. The top drawer has a cream acrylic insert organizer with five compartments. Unmarked. Sourced in Italy, 1970s.
Dimensions: 61"W x 28.75"D x 28"H; extended piece 47"W x 17.75"D x 28"H
Giovanni Offredi (1927-2007) was a prominent Italian furniture and product designer recognized for his use of angular lines and exposed wood or metal frames. He began making furniture for the wealthy elite of Milan...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
MidCentury Black and Creme Glass Desk, 1970
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and refined desk in black lacquer and glass. Particular its design which provides for a slight curvature.
The writing desk is in lacquered wood in black shellac, the lacquer...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Ghianda & Regondi "Talete" desk for Rosenthal, 1980s
Located in Neuss, NW
Talete desk/dining table from the 1980s by Pierluigi Ghianda and Gabriele Regondi for Rosenthal. Solid frame in black stained ash with embedded wire glass plate and a drawer for writ...
Category
1980s German Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wire
Reply Architect Drafting Table Friso Kramer, Wim Rietveld Ahrend Cirkel, 1959
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Reply Dutch Design Architect drawing table designed by Wim Rietveld and Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Circel in 1959.
Design Classic, awarded with the "Signe d’Or".
The table top is fully adjustable by two rotary knobs, this table is in very good condition seen its age.
Dark Brown coated...
Category
1970s Dutch Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Chinoiserie Hollywood Regency Campaign Black Lacquered Writing Desk by Sligh
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Chinoiserie Hollywood Regency Campaign style writing desk
By Sligh Furniture
USA, Circa 1970s
Black lacquered walnut, with hand painted Asian nature scenes, faux ...
Category
1970s American Chinoiserie Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
White Orix Desk by Vittorio Parigi and Nani Prina for Molteni
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
1970s desk made of a single sheet of molded plastic creating the shape for various holders and storage spaces. There is also an integrated glass panel than can be lifted up and a ret...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Post Modern Campaign Style Table or Desk.
Located in Chicago, IL
1/2" Glass top with, with polished aluminum "X" base with stretcher. Could be used as a dining table or desk.
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Stunning Vintage Italian Scallop Edged Ebonised Desk or dressing table
Located in Portlaoise, IE
Vintage scallop edged Italian desk with an ebonised high gloss finish and black glass top set upon splayed sabre legs with single drawer storage to the front. This super stylish piec...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table or Desk by Florence Knoll in Carrara Marble
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An elegant executive table designed by Florence Knoll and produced by Knoll. It features a beautiful polished white & gray Carrara marble top and a chrome-plated star base. This was ...
Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Chrome
Marcel Breuer Style Desk 1950s Mid-Century Modern
By Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Lucca, IT
Marcel Breuer style desk 1950s Mid-Century Modern.
Category
1940s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
French Louis XV Style Distressed Painted Desk Writing Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your deliv...
Category
1990s Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
1970s Italian Drop Leaf Dining Table or Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Italian drop leaf dining table or desk, Italy, circa 1970s. Interesting drop leaf joinery on either side. This would be the perfect size for an NYC apartment...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Late 20th Century Vintage Coastal Wrapped Rattan Writing Desk
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Coastal writing desk. Chic wrapped rattan frame with inset woven rattan panels. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rattan
Patrice Maffei Desk for Kappa, 70s, Brushed Stainless Steel, Smoked Glass, 1970
Located in Paris, FR
Superb desk, design Patrice Maffei for Kappa, 1970s.
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Blue box, two lockable drawers, a gray smoked glass top.
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Following the stainless steel trend of the 1970s, inspired by Maria Pergay, this desk features a steel frame, drawers covered in stainless steel. The combination of steel and smoked glass is superb, and gives an architectural touch to this desk.
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A very decorative piece, with only a few traces of wear and very slightly oxidized in a few places.
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Slight stain on the top of the blue box and some micro rust pitting on the steel.
.
In godd vintage condition.
.
Dimensions :
Width: 120 cm
Depth: 60 cm
Height: 77 cm
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Marries Willy Rizzo Perriand Guariche Artemide Mortier Le Corbusier Prouvé Reggiani Paulin Ico Parisi Knoll Guermonprez Eames Gascoin Charles Ray Guzzini Magisttreti Interform Bertoia Hans Wagner Osvaldo Borsani Motte Minvieille Vintage Lighting Castelli Reggiani Magnani Paolozzi Herman Miller Minvielle Minimalist Brutalism 1950s 1960s 1970s Mid Century 1930s Architecture Prouvé Roche Bobois 1980s Adnet Ceramic sandstone and Mategot or Ron Arad design...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Winner Book Motif Leather Wrapped Maitland Smith Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome Maitland Smith leather wrapped writing desk having trompe l'oeil book decoration with two drawers. Top has embossed and gilded leather.
Opening for chair 23.5.
Category
1980s Philippine Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
Midcentury Danish Modern Drop Front Desk in Teak
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek modern desk from Denmark, circa 1960s. It features all teak wood construction with drop Front Design. Very good vintage condition.
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
1970’s French Elm Writing Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Postmodern French writing desk. Made of Elm.
Category
1970s French Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
Paolo Buffa Vintage Petite Writing Desk/ Console Table
By Paolo Buffa
Located in East Hampton, NY
This very sweet writing desk with black glass plateau and two tone walnut and wood frame. Two small drawers. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED AND WILL SHIP FROM OUR EAST HAMPTON, NY SHOWROOM.
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Rosenthal Writing Table 'Talete' by Regondi & Ghianda
By Rosenthal
Located in Dronten, NL
Rare Talete dining table designed by Gabriele Regondi & Pierluigi Ghianda for Rosenthal.
Steel wire reinforced black safety glass top on solid dark stained ash frame.
Exceptional and...
Category
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stained Glass, Ash
Luciano Frigerio Presidential Writing Desk in Walnut, Italy 1970s
Located in Almelo, NL
Luciano Frigerio Presidential Writing Desk in Walnut, Italy 1960s
This is a rare presidential mid-century desk designed by Luciano Frigerio for the "Norman" series, manufactured i...
Category
1970s Italian Brutalist Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Granite
1970s Executive Desk Billy Joe McCarroll-David Gillespie Surfaces Santa Barbara
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1970s Executive Desk by Billy Joe McCarroll and David Gillespie Forms Surfaces Inc Santa Barbara, California.
Very elegant desk brutalist pattern gray...
Category
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Vintage French School Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Mid-Century Modern French school desk, featuring a black laquered steel structure supporting both a wooden adjustable chair and a wooden adjustable ...
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Ron Seff Cantilevered Desk
By Ron Seff
Located in Miami, FL
Ron Seff Mid-Century Modern "Cantilevered" desk with ostrich style brown leather wrapped top and stainless steel polished drawer fronts and base.
Category
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Mid-Century Danish Modern Live Edge Paul Evans Style Executive Desk
Located in Wilmington, DE
Mid-Century Danish modern live edge Paul Evans style executive desk
Offered is a super cool Mid-Century Danish modern live edge Paul Evans style executive desk. This desk has 1 brus...
Category
1990s North American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Modernist Desk in Solid Wood 40s / 50s Bauhaus Style Vintage
Located in Lyon, FR
French desk from the 40s / 50s in modernist Bauhaus style. Structure of the desk in veneered and solid Rio rosewood with a triple tubular base in chromed steel quite rare. The desk i...
Category
1940s French Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Sculptural Postmodern Desk by Tidis Belgium, 1980
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Highly extraordinary postmodern desk designed and manufactured by unknown artist called Tidis, Belgium 1980s. This sculptural desk has high quality features and extraordinary woodwor...
Category
1980s Belgian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stone
Vintage Writing Desk Sessile Oak Veneer from the, 1940s
Located in Milano, IT
Desk with side drawers and under-top drawer in oak veneered wood with linoleum top.
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Rationalist Compact Plywood Desk with Drawer, Italy 1940s
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1940s desk featuring plywood legs and one drawer.
Shape and proportions resemble the work of Giuseppe Pagano.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Country French Baker Furniture Executive Writing Desk Circa 1980
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1980s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Desk in Oak and Oak Plywood by Marcel Gascoin, 1949
Located in PARIS, FR
Desk in oak and oak plywood by Marcel Gascoin, 1949
Marcel Gascoin is the main representative of a French design born after the Second World War, with the reconstruction of destroyed cities.
Born in Le Havre in 1907, the young Marcel followed in the footsteps of his father - workshop manager in a practical school, carpentry section - by attending the applied arts section of the École des Beaux-Arts du Havre, then the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
There he met Henri Sauvage who encouraged him to turn to modern furniture. He became a carpenter and cabinetmaker, and from then on he never ceased to adapt the container to the content, as he said himself. Recommended by Robert Mallet-Stevens in 1930, he participated in the exhibition of the Union of Modern Artists. Four years later, he participated in a competition for the design of a boat cabin, which allowed him to meet Jean Prouvé, with whom he would work. In 1938, he participated in the Salon des Arts Ménagers and created a line of storage furniture with a particular design that found an echo in Scandinavian countries.
In the aftermath of the war, his links with Raoul Dautry and Claudius Petit, ministers in charge of reconstruction, allowed him to play an important role in the production of furniture with a small footprint, by adapting the techniques proven in boat cabins. In 1947, he became commissioner of the International Exhibition of Urbanism and Housing. He coordinated the construction of model apartments (Sotteville-Lès-Rouen) and met the architect Marcel Lods.
It was also at this time that Marcel Gascoin and his collaborators saw their ideas prevail by adapting to the greatest number of people, for the mass production of apartments (model of apartment in Le Havre - Architect Auguste Perret...
Category
1940s European Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Plywood
Ladies Desk from Hikor, 1980s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
A Simple beech wood writing desk from the Hikor Písek company, 1980´s, Czechoslovakia
The design is very simple and elegant. It features a section with 4 drawers. The surface of thi...
Category
Late 20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Beech
Writing Desk by Henry Kjærnulf
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Striking writing desk in oak with drawers. By Henry Kjærnulf.
Refreshing design with bold Baroque coming together nicely with Mid-Century Modernism...
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
L-Shaped Desk by Guido Faleschini for Mariani, 1970
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A beautiful executive desk designed by Guido Faleschini, manufactured by Mariani in Italy around 1970.
This eye-catching desk has an L-shaped design and a very impressive appearance because of it’s large size and leather upholstery. One side is the main desk part, the other side holds an additional integrated desk...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Desk Art Deco, 1940, Materials: Wood and Bronze, Made in France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk style: Art Deco
Year: 1940
Material: Wood and bronze
It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk.
The quality of the furniture and the exotic wood used make it uni...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Mid-Century Modern Oak Campaign Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
With four large drawers, sculpted legs, and a black-stained writing surface, this vintage campaign desk is perfect for any home office or study. ...
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Stylish Tubular Steel Executive Desk
Located in Athens, Attiki
Stylish design!
Glass-top executive desk on elegant tubular steel structure with 2-sided sliding drawer.
Excellent condition.
Category
1990s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Vintage Faux Bamboo Brass & Wood Weiman Console Table or Desk with Drawers
By Weiman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage wood, faux bamboo & brass console table or desk with 2 drawers. Brass has been polished. Marked in drawer and underneath Weiman. Original wood finish has a few minor scratche...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Vintage Teak Secretaire, Produced in Denmark by Falster
Located in Porto, PT
Vintage teak secretaire, produced in Denmark by Falster. It has 3 big draws, 2 small draws, mirror. There is a flap that can be folded. Behind ...
Category
1970s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Baker Furniture Georgian Carved Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style writing desk
By Baker Furniture
USA, circa 1980s
Carved mahogany, with original brass hardware.
Measures: 45.5"W x 21.25"D x 29.6...
Category
1980s American Georgian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Vladimir Kagan Rosewood and Aluminum Desk/Dining Table
By Jens Risom
Located in New York, NY
Amazing 1970s Brazilian Rosewood with aluminum stretcher desk with glass top, it can also be use as a dining table with a larger piece of glass, in vint...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Architectural Table or Desk in Walnut and Glass, Italy 1970s
Located in Hellouw, NL
A beautiful Italian (console) table that can also serve as a desk due to its size. The two large hexagonal legs consist of walnut slats that are tightly attached to each other. From ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Rare 1980s Mid Century Art Deco Executive Table Desk by Pierre Paulin for Baker
Located in Lafayette, IN
Rare Art Deco executive desk designed in 1984 by Pierre Paulin for Baker Furniture. Desk features bird's-eye maple with walnut inlays, chocolate-brown, leather-top writing surface an...
Category
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Maple, Walnut
Elm Double Desk in the Manner of Charlotte Perriand, France, circa 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Unique, impressive desk in the manner of Charlotte Perriand. The beautifully aged, warm-toned elm lends itself beautifully to the organic yet defined shapes of the double desk top an...
Category
1940s French Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
Guillerme et Chambron, Oak Desk, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Guillerme et Chambron, oak desk, Edition Votre Maison circa 1970.
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Faux Leather
Oak Wood Desk or Dining Table Style of Charles Dudouyt, France, 1940s
Located in New York, NY
1940s French desk in the style of Charles Dudouyt.
Also would make a great dining table.
Two leaves housed under table for easy access and extension.
When fully extended table is ...
Category
1940s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Modern Style Patchwork Burl and Chrome Desk / Writing Table by Bernhardt
By Bernhardt
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a patchwork burl and chrome desk with modern styling by Bernhardt Furniture. The desk is in very good condition and is marked in the drawer.
My shipping is for the Contin...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Art Deco Desk in Oak, circa 1940/1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LARGE art deco desk in oak, circa 1940/1950.
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
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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