Desks and Writing Tables
18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Other
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Beech, Mahogany
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1790s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
18th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Bronze
1950s Danish Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Italian Space Age Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s French Empire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Chestnut
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1720s French Louis XIV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Bronze
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Silver
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Aluminum
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Teak
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Faux Leather, Rosewood
18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
18th Century English Chippendale Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
18th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 18th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry
18th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1950s Italian Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Aluminum
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1780s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
1950s French Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1620s French Renaissance Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
18th Century English Chippendale Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 18th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Teak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Maple, Nutwood
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
18th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
17th Century German Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Fruitwood, Oak
Early 18th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Marble
1770s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
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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