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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: 2010s
Period: 19th Century
Eclectic 19th century carved walnut desk and chair
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century carved walnut desk and chair circa 1880. Superb quality desk with original chair made by anders svensson of malmo.  Svensson was a ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Aesthetic Movement Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Carved Mahogany Folding Desk Writing Table
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning antique heavily carved mahogany desk/writing table from the late 19th century. Note the detail and carvings throughout. All hand carved and features a sliding writing servic...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Kidney Shaped Desk in Walnut by Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
The kidney-shaped desk in solid walnut was designed and made for a client's bay window home study; it has three main drawers of different depths that run on fully extendable Blum run...
Category

2010s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Brazilian Wood and Copper Desk with Drawers, Mid Century Brazilian Modern
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Marajoara desk with drawer is a study upon Mid Century Modern utilitarian furniture, with Brazilian Native Arte Reference. The modern design style is one of the most influential movements in contemporary Brazilian design. Among the main names of modernist designers are Lina Bo Bardi, Vilanova Artigas, Oscar Niemeyer, and a few others; giving a legacy maintained by contemporary architects like Isay Weinfeld...
Category

2010s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Copper

Stash Desk lacquer & walnut , lacquer drawers, lacquer and wood desk, waterfall
Located in Ridgewood, NY
A Minimalist’s dream, the stash desk is a perfect combination of deep, rich walnut with a pop of color. Its slim and clean profile is ideal for small spaces...
Category

2010s American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Soriana Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Soriana armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Manufactured in Italy. The idea of comfort itself becomes a sofa. Soriana came into being in 1969, thanks to an intuitive vision...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Coast Table Square by Sun at Six, Nude Minimalist Dining Table or Desk in Wood
Located in San Jose, CA
Sun at Six is a contemporary furniture design studio that works with traditional Chinese joinery masters to handcraft our pieces using traditional joinery. Handcrafted using traditio...
Category

2010s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Coast Table by Sun at Six, Sienna, Minimalist Dining Table or Desk in Wood
Located in San Jose, CA
Sun at Six is a contemporary furniture design studio that works with traditional Chinese joinery masters to handcraft our pieces using traditional joinery. The coast table can be use...
Category

2010s Chinese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

French, Louis Philippe, Walnut Standing Desk or Lectern, ca. 1835-1840
Located in Atlanta, GA
This special desk is finished around so that it could float in a room, perhaps a lectern, a point of sale, or even an auction podium it has a raised upper shelf, a slanted and hinged...
Category

1830s French Louis Philippe Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Hand Carved Walnut Davenport Writing Desk made in England
Located in Sofia, BG
Davenport desk in walnut and burlwood veneer, inlaid in filleted frames, opening with two flaps, one of which is stepped, the first revealing an inkwell and letter compartment, The s...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Amuneal’s Collector's Knife Edge Console
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal’s wall hanging bleached oak console table uses our traditional Collector’s Shelving hardware to support this two-drawer unit with raised knife-edge surround. The scale of the...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Touch Me Iron Desk Big, Black
Located in Fermo, FM
Touch me is a monolithic desk. It comes to life from the joining of two sheets of metal, an upper one that gives it its shape, and a lower one that gi...
Category

2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Louis XVI Style French Bureau Plat, Circa 1860 - 1890
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Louis XVI style mahogany writing desk with satinwood and French walnut marquetry with bronze banding. The desk is double sided with the original tooled leather top, bronze escutcheo...
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Venezia Laguna Writing Desk
Located in Milan, IT
Showcasing natural grains through the polished and mirror-brushed finishes of the rectangular wooden shape, this writing desk boasts a handmade inlay work painted by hand in a delica...
Category

2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Ebonised English Oak Writing Desk. one of a kind by Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
Desk in ebonized English oak, Design No 5, 2018. One of a kind. Made of solid English oak that has been ebonized, the finish is a brushed textured grain surface and oil finish. A s...
Category

2010s Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Soriana Armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Soriana armchair by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Cassina. Manufactured in Italy. The idea of comfort itself becomes a sofa. Soriana came into being in 1969, thanks to an intuitive vision...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

European Antique Davenport Desk
Located in Malibu, CA
Superb early 19th century Davenport in burl walnut most likely from England. The right side of the cabinet reveals 4 drawers. Covered with its original leather which is in very good...
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bone, Leather, Burl

19th CENTURY LOUIS PHILIPPE DESK
Located in Firenze, FI
This desk is a refined piece of furniture made entirely of solid and feather walnut. The table top is embellished with a gold and leather finish that adds a touch of luxury. The surf...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Nutwood

A Fine Regency Satinwood and Calamander Work Table
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1815 The rectangular overhanging top with broad calamander banding, over one frieze drawer fitted with chased brass knobs, set between recessed retangular panels above an ebon...
Category

1810s Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Niguel Writing Desk by Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Niguel writing desk features solid turned legs, brass cap feet and lacquered interior drawers. The Lawson-Fenning Collection is designed and handmade in Los Angeles, California....
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century Reading Table, Bedtable, High-Adjustable, England, Victorian c 1870
Located in Greven, DE
Antique bed and reading table England Mahogany Victorian around 1870 Dimensions: height: 76-117 cm, width: 91 cm, depth: 45 cm Description: Four-sided recessed plinth standing on ...
Category

19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

A Fine Anglo-Indian Carved Padouk Writing Table, Ceylonese
Located in New York, NY
19th Century The solid rectangular top with carved gadrooned edge; over two frieze drawers with drop handles flanking an arched kneehole ,rope detail and further linear, raised on b...
Category

19th Century Sri Lankan Anglo-Indian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Padouk

Venezia Mestre Writing Desk
Located in Milan, IT
Part of the Venezia Mestre series inspired by the namesake city near Venice, Italy, this stunning writing desk is an icon of contemporary design. Showcasing natural grains through th...
Category

2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Mahogany Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A wonderful mid-19th century French Louis XVI style mahogany desk hand-crafted in France circa 1850. A beautiful, smooth top of flame mahogany is surrounded by a three quarter decorative brass gallery following down to two open center storage spaces and four roomy drawers in a removable riser. This top piece easily lifts off the base for transport and is affixed with circular, recessed brass escutcheon plates surrounded by Louis XVI style brass bellflower pulls. A second three quarter brass gallery surrounds the writing surface which measures 30” H and is adorned with new black leather with gold gilt tooling. Two sliders on each side of the writing surface are covered with the original leather and extend the desk out 17 ¾” on either side. The apron showcases the handsome veneer and gorgeous colors of the wood and contains four drawers of the same design that open easily. The right side has a singular large drawer that opens to contain a notched wooden privacy slide and a four compartment pull out wooden tray for excellent organization. The whole is raised on regal turned, tapering fluted legs with brass capitals and capped feet. Showcasing an attractive polished mahogany, this desk has fine features, many storage options, and is fully finished on all sides making it a supremely practical piece. Be sure to view all the images to see every detail of this unique antique desk.
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Early Victorian Porcelain and Ormolu-Mounted Kingwood Bureau-Plat
Located in London, GB
A FINE EARLY VICTORIAN PORCELAIN AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD BUREAU-PLAT ATTRIBUTED TO EDWARD HOLMES BALDOCK, CIRCA 1840. The top inset with its original maroon leather. The frieze ...
Category

19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Porcelain, Kingwood

Table Monta in Black Wood and Marble by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1970. Relaunched in 2023. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. An ode to fine artisanal craftsmanship in the form of a table. Table Monta is the...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass

Empire Style Desk, Wood and Bronze, Jansen
Located in Brussels, BE
Empire Style Desk, Wood and Bronze, Jansen
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Gilt Bronze Brown Desk Table, Napoleon III Boulle Louis XVI 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Louis XVI style Beautiful table desk, France 19th Century Napoleon III period. With 2 hidden sliding extensions. Full walnut veneer. Important ornamentation of gilded bronzes with ...
Category

1870s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Carlton House Writing Desk
Located in Greenwich, CT
A Carlton House writing desk in wonderful fiddlegrain mahogany with a D shaped platform surrounded a series of raised drawers and covered co...
Category

1880s English Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century English Mahogany Double Pedestal Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
English Victorian mahogany double pedestal desk newly refinished with a traditional French polish and fitted with a new gilt tooled leath...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Royal Empire Desk/Bureau Plat, Gilt Bronze, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Royal Empire Desk/Bureau Plat, Gilt Bronze Mahogany with gilded bronze fittings in the form of female figures, incense burners, acanthus decoration and garlands. Rectangular plate w...
Category

Mid-19th Century European Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Provincial Louis XV Style Cherry Bureau Plat or Writing Desk
Located in Birmingham, AL
A 19th century French Provincial Louis XV style bureau plat or writing desk handcrafted of solid cherry wood in Dinan, a beautiful medieval-walled town in the Brittany region, circa ...
Category

1880s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry

Rare Napoleon III Boulle Desk 1860 France André-Charles Boulle
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Rare Napoleon III Boulle desk of very high quality, 1860 France
Category

1860s French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Mr. Note Desk - Oak - 190cm
Located in Monte-Serzedo, 13
Following the principles of the “rational design,” Mr. And Mrs. Note Desks embody timeless elegance. Design to reflect the identity of the brand, where function creates attractive pu...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut, Plywood

19th Century Inlaid Wood French Louis XVI Style Napoleon III Era Writing Desk
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French writing desk from the second half of the 19th century. Napoleon III furniture in Louis XVI style elegantly inlaid in walnut, palisander, maple, mahogany, ebonized wood and fru...
Category

1860s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Canvas

Louis XV Style Bureau Plat in the Manner of Charles Cressent, circa 1890
By Charles Cressent
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted bureau plat in the manner of Charles Cressent. French, circa 1890. With one central frieze drawer and two shaped end drawers, on cabriole ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI French Black Gilt Bronze Desk Table Boulle 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant Louis XVI style desk table from the Napoleon III period, made in brass Boulle marquetry style on a solid black dark wood veneer background. Beautiful marquetry with foliage ...
Category

1870s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Touch Me Iron Desk Big, Peach Pink
Located in Fermo, FM
Touch me is a monolithic desk. It comes to life from the joining of two sheets of metal, an upper one that gives it its shape, and a lower one that gi...
Category

2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Oiled Oak Ojai Desk by Lawson-Fenning
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Ojai desk has four drawers and features solid American walnut or white oak trestle legs. The drawer handles are made of solid carved wood. The Lawson-Fenning Ccollection is des...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

French Black Desk Table Napoleon III Boulle Louis XVI Gilt Bronze 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Table desk with drawbars decorated with bronzes from the Napoleon III period and Boulle style. Beautiful desk with 2 opening side parts. Full walnut veneer. Important ornamentation o...
Category

1870s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Antique Walnut Leather Top Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
A superb antique walnut leather top pedestal desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1890-1910 period. It is of extremely fine quality, with a gorgeous cushion top ...
Category

1890s British Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Limited Edition Table Monta in Wood and Blue Granite by Charlotte Perriand
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Limited Edition Table designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1970. Relaunched in 2023. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. An ode to fine artisanal craftsmanship in the form of a table. Ta...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass

Victorian Mahogany Spinet Desk, 19th C
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Mahogany Spinet Desk, mid-19th Century. Dealer: S138XX
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Hand Carved Walnut Two-Sided Desk, 1860s
Located in Miami, FL
Found in the South of France, this 19th century hand carved French walnut table or desk can be placed in the middle of a room as it is beautifully carved on all sides. It features a ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Antique Ladies Writing Desk, English, Correspondence Table, Victorian, C.1850
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique ladies writing desk. An English, mahogany and leather correspondence table, dating to the early Victorian period, circa...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Regency Mahogany & Brass Partners Writing Table
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Exceptional Quality Regency Period Mahogany And Brass, Square, Partners Writing Table, Having Attractive Gilt Tooled Leather Top With Crossbanded Edge, Over Four Drawers And Four ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Freestanding Console - Desk, Reception Writing Table in Bright Yellow
Located in Milano, IT
Contemporary console with integrated writing desk and matching stool, from the Silös collection by Spinzi. It's been designed to offer a compact yet comfortable solution in small ro...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Fine Bench Made Carved Mahogany Serpentine Front Dovetail Drawers Vanity Desk
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Fine Bench Made Carved Mahogany Serpentine Front Dovetail Drawers Vanity Desk Dressing Table. The discoloration spot is under the finish, finish ...
Category

19th Century American Federal Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Wave Writing Desk
Located in Milan, IT
This sculptural desk is a sublime multi-functional piece that combines straight lines and intriguing curves in a design that will be the focal point of a modern study or an elegant o...
Category

2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Georgian Oak Side Table or Writing Table A Georgian Country Oak Lowboy
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Georgian Oak Side Table or Writing Table A Georgian Country Oak Lowboy, this is a charming piece with a decorative kneehole to the centre front The Low Boy stands on square slightl...
Category

Early 1800s Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Walnut CURVAS desk by Vintage On Point
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W70 D36.5 H29.75 KC27.75 Curvy slightly atomic desk built in house by Vintage On Point. This desk is made of solid walnut wood on the legs and a veneered ...
Category

2010s Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Contemporary Writing Desk In Solid Wood and Glass Worktop
Located in New York, NY
The "Writing" desk, a distinguished creation by Giovanna Azzarello for Riva 1920, elegantly combines functionality and style. Constructed from robust solid walnut, this desk offers a...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Glass

Minimalist Modern O Mr. President Oak Children Desk or Occasional Table by Bulo
By Bulo
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Fabulous O Mr. President oak children's desk or occasional table by Bulo. Bulo celebrates its 50th anniversary with inspiration. The Bulo designers team created this unique work tabl...
Category

2010s Belgian Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Victorian Satin Birch Writing Table
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
ST039 Attractive Victorian satin birch dressing table or writing table, having oversailing top with ebonised edge and three frieze drawers with ebonised turned knobs, all standing on...
Category

19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch

Spanish 19th century Writing Table - Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A charming later 19th century Writing Table - Desk from the Catalan region of Spain. Soundly constructed from natural and painted pine with a single drawer, "X" stretchers and sligh...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Table À Plateau Interchangeable, by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table designed by Charlotte Perriand in 1937. Relaunched in 2019. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. The first model of this historic design low table was crafted in 1937 for Charlot...
Category

2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass

Boulle Desk In Marquetry And Gilt Bronze, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Beautiful center desk, in Boulle marquetry and gilded bronze ornamentation: mascarons, chiseled spandrels and ingot molds, sabots to finish the curved legs. A drawer opening by a mec...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Large French Neoclassical Mahogany Roll-Top Desk
Located in Troy, NY
French mahogany Empire desk of stately proportions, with a roll top, revealing a double row of total six drawers under an open shelf, as well as a sliding writing surface with inset ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

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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