Desks and Writing Tables
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Early 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
2010s Swiss Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ceramic, Glass
2010s Japanese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
1890s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Kingwood
2010s Japanese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Plastic, Fiberglass
1990s Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
2010s Indian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Cork
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1940s French Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Elm
1930s French Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1930s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
19th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Swiss Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ceramic
19th Century Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
2010s South African Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Birdseye Maple, Maple
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Leather
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
1950s American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Plywood, Walnut
2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Plywood, Walnut
2010s Chinese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Fiberglass
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Plywood
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash, Mahogany, Maple, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Cut Steel, Metal, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
1980s American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Danish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1980s American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Late 20th Century American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Bronze
2010s Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Bronze
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Indian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
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.