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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Mid-20th Century
Period: 1960s
An Italian Desk attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, circa 1940
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
An Italian desk dating back to the 1940s and attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. The entire structure, crafted from walnut-stained beech, elegantly rests on a curved base. It boasts five...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

1930s "Record" desk by Axel Einar Hjorth, NK, Sweden, 1930s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Luxurious “Record” desk by Axel Einar Hjorth, with birch root top and sides and framed with contrasting zebrano. Asymmetric design with drawers on the right and elegantly curved left...
Category

1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Zebra Wood

Flip-Top Desk by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Lovig Nielsen in Oakwood
Located in Halle, DE
Flip-Top Desk by Jens Quistgaard for Peter Løvig Nielsen, Denmark. A top example of the mid century danish design movement. The top piece/shelf is hinged and the table can be converted in a larger working...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Vintage Teak and Steel Desk by Robin Day for Hille
Located in London, GB
A stylish and extremely well made vintage teak and steel desk by Robin Day for Hille. This was part of the ‘Status’ range, designed in 1959 and made in England. This model dates from...
Category

1960s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

1950s Mid Century Modern Drexel Declaration Kipp Stewart Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Look at this beautiful wood grained Mid century modern writing desk designed by Kipp Stewart for Drexel. Beautiful walnut grain with 2 drawers. Simple lines, sculpted legs, curved ed...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Kai Kristiansen Sled Leg Rosewood Desk c1960s
Located in London, GB
Kai Kristiansen Model 30 Desk This iconic desk from Danish master Kai Kristiansen features elegant sled legs with 2 drawer units hung on either side. The units have drawers to the f...
Category

1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

French Empire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 20th century French Empire style bureau plat, or executive desk, with five dovetailed drawers and pull-out side extensions. Bookmatched flame mahogany veneer over solid oak....
Category

Mid-20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Boomerang Desk by Maurice Calka
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Iconic fiberglass Boomerang desk designed by Maurice Calka for EDITION LELEU DESHAYS Published in Xavier De Jarcy's book "Maurice Calka Le Sculpteur Du Design" page 222.
Category

1960s French Futurist Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fiberglass

Kidney Desk Model 54 by Feldballes Møbelfabrik 1950s
Located in Handewitt, DE
Freestanding teak kidney desk, model no.54 by Feldballes Møbelfabrik Denmark. Produced in 1950s in teak. With 4 drawers, a tambour door on side and a rotating storage...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Two Modernist art deco writing tables circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Two Modernist art deco writing tables circa 1930
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Franco Albini ash dining table Model TL2 Cavalletto, Poggi, (Very First Edition)
Located in Argelato, BO
Franco Albini ash dining table Model TL2 'Cavalletto' for Poggi, Italy (Very First Edition), Italy 1950s This table is the very first edition (the one in ash) of Franco Albini's fam...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Franco Albini desk with mobile chest of drawers mod. T22, Italian Design 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
This desk set with movable drawer unit is a classic rationalist design with attention to clean forms and lines by Franco Albini. The desk is functional with a shape that is both ergo...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

French Elm Burl Brass & Coated Fabric Desk Kidney Shape Louis XV Style c. 1960
Located in Labrit, Landes
Desk in the kidney style. This shape of tops on the furnitures is typical of the 18th century. It is found in the Louis XV style with curved legs and in the Louis XVI style with stra...
Category

1960s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Elm

Silvio Berrone for Bialetti Headquarters Free Standing Writing Desk
By Silvio Berrone
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Silvio Berrone for Bialetti headquarters, writing desk, faux leather, brass, stained beech, Vitrex glass, Italy, 1955-56 This writing desk is designed by Silvio Berrone for the Bial...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French neoclassical style writing desk with leather top
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Carved wood. Leather top. 31" h x 51 1/4" w x 28" d. Condition Scratches. Paint loss. Stains to leather. Minor dents in edges.
Category

1930s French Neoclassical Revival Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Mid-century American Desk in Zebra Wood By Warren Platner
Located in Houston, TX
Desk is made out of zebra wood. Table top is reupholstered with brown cowhide. There is wide drawer for files on the left side and smaller drawer on the right. Desk is elevated by wi...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Art Deco French Grand Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Art Deco table is made out of high quality walnut wood. It composed out of 2 parts/sides with lots of room/drawers for storage. Both sides are connected on the bottom with each other...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Very rare Børge Mogensen Desk 1940s for FDB Møbler
Located in Handewitt, DE
Very rare Børge Mogensen desk / library table in teak and beech. Designed in 1940s and produced by FDB Møbler Denmark. Desk plate and end of legs i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Teak Writing Desk or Console Table
Located in Nantucket, MA
A stunning Mid-Century Modern teak writing desk or could also be used as a console table or as a sofa table. Teak bars across the front as an architectural accent. A right hand sid...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova Executive Desk in Black
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova, desk, black lacquered wood, nickel-plated steel, Italy, 1960s This modern, streamlined writing desk is designed by Gianni Moscatelli in the sixties....
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Guillerme & Chambron Corner Desk in Oak and Granite
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Guillerme & Chambron, desk, oak, granite, France, 1960s Corner desk by French designer duo Guillerme and Chambron. This beautiful desk holds the characteristic decorations and lines...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Granite

L-shaped Desk by Jorge Lund & Ole Larsen for Bo-Ex, Denmark 1960
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A luxurious, L-shaped desk designed by executive desk designed by Jorgen Lund & Ole Larsen, manufactured by Bo-ex in Denmark around 1960. This eye-catching piece is made of high qu...
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

1950s Knoll & Drake Formica and Walnut Desk
Located in London, GB
Designed and manufactured by Knoll & Drake, this 1950s desk is both practical and timeless. Constructed with metal legs, the desk has a white Formica table top...
Category

1950s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Formica, Walnut

Mid Century Modern Writing Desk with 4 Drawers
Located in Freehold, NJ
This mid century modern writing desk by Drexel features hardwood construction, original limed oak finish, four dovetailed drawers with brass accented hardware and unique stretcher base.

Matching pair of...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Skandinavian Palisander Desk by Arne Wahl Iversen 1950s
Located in St-Brais, JU
A rare desk designed by Arne Wahl Iversen. Made in Denmark during the 1950s. It features an organic shape with a wide table top with raised edges. In the front side two generous dra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

1930's Modernist Desk by Jindrich Halabala for UP Brno
Located in Brno, CZ
An original Modernist desk from the 1930s. This piece has a dignified design with stylish proportions and details together with a dazzling Walnut pattern and dark brown Oak. This wr...
Category

1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Walnut

Desk "1928" by Franco Albini for Knoll International, Italy, 1950s
Located in Greding, DE
Desk "1928" designed by Franco Albini for Knoll International, Italy, 1950s. This glass and metal desk features a veneered white drawer element an...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

English Campaign Style Desk with Two Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
We are delighted to offer for sale this high quality desk crafted in the Campaign taste is such a striking element for the tasteful study. This handsome campaign desk follows the design tradition of the master cabinetmakers of the 18th and 19th century who were commissioned by Officers in the British Army to create heirloom quality pieces that were not only exquisitely hand-crafted but also practical to set up when on the campaign trail. It features a rectangular top provides a convenient writing surface with French dovetail...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Campaign Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Vintage French Louis XV Style Walnut Leather Top Bronze Ormolu Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Louis XV Style Walnut Leather Top Bronze Ormolu Writing Desk. Item features a working lock and key, 3 faux drawers to rear, bronze ormolu, tooled leather top, beautifu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Bauhaus Tubular Steel Desk by Bruno Weil for Thonet, Stained Wood, Germany, 1930
Located in Berlin, DE
Bauhaus tubular steel desk designed by Bruno Weil (Bèwè) and manufactured by Thonet, Germany, c. 1930
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Early Vladimir Kagan Custom Order Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
A early Vladimir Kagan custom order desk made by Grosfeld House. Incredibly well crafted. A fine important example of the designer's work. Note: Cane Modesty Panel shown in some p...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cane, Wood

Mid Century Modern Walnut Desk by Paul McCobb, c1960s
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Step back in time with this show-stopping vintage mid century walnut desk, artfully designed by the renowned Paul McCobb. This pi...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

American Designer, Desk, Rosewood, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A rosewood desk designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Scrittoio a Tapparella in Palissandro in Stile G. Frattini - Italia - Anni '60
Located in Milano, IT
Uno scrittoio apparentemente semplice, rivela invece una dovizia nella cura dei dettagli. costruito in Palissandro, alcune parti massello, altre impiallacciate, ricorda i modelli dis...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Walnut 1960s Table by Silvio Coppola for Bernini
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Table in solid walnut and veneer produced in the 60s by Bernini based on a design by Silvio Coppola. The table remains in general rather good condition: having not undergone any rest...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

1960s Mid Century Walnut Desk Designed by Hooker
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-century walnut desk designed and manufactured by Hooker in the United States circa 1960s. This stunning desk features a walnut frame. The desk also comes with two pull-out drawer...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Ate van Apeldoorn Large Writing Desk and cabinet block . 1960s Holland
Located in Den Haag, NL
Minimalist Solid Pine Writing desk designed by Ate Van Apeldoorn and produced by Houtwerk Hattum in Holland in the 1960’s. Features a pinewood cabinet block with drawers that can be...
Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard Nielsen Desk Model '310' in Solid Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, desk model 310, solid teak, Denmark, 1950s. Stunning desk designed by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen. It truly holds the quintessential...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Gio Ponti Writing desk Vetrocoke furnitures, tempered glass wood, 1939
Located in Milan, IT
This elegant small desk is made of toughened glass panes joined by brass and metal junctions and with a wood chest of drawers, just as the two bases are made of wood. The design of...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s
Located in Lasne, BE
Desk with wood and metal leg. Stamped Tecno. Wear due to time and age of the desk.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Florence Knoll, Model 2480 Oval Table Desk, 1960s
Located in Eindhoven, Noord Brabant
This particular Florence Knoll oval table desk is designed by Florence Knoll for Knoll in 1961. This rare edition with a silver lacquere...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Executive Monumental Rosewood with Polished Steel Platner Insp. Desk with, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful midcentury desk with rosewood top. The wood is in excellent condition. The bases are made of steel and add a very modern look.  
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Black Lacquer Occasional Table
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Vintage modern occasional table and desk, in black lacquered wood, featuring a glass top shelf, lower wooden shelf, and brass fixtures. This piece showcases both straight and tapered...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

English Leather Top Campaign Style Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome English Campaign style writing desk crafted in mahogany with a tooled green leather top, brass hardware, two drawers in the case, and elegant tapered legs.
Category

Mid-20th Century English Campaign Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Johan Rohde Unique Desk in Mahogany and Brass
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Johan Rohde desk in mahogany with brass fittings. Right side have three drawers and left has three shelfs when doors open. Provenance: This desk was made for H. P. Rohde in 1945, wh...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Gianfranco Frattini, wood desk for Bernini, Italian design 1960 circa
Located in Milan, IT
Elegant desk mod. 530 created by Gianfranco Frattini with structure, supports and top in wood. The compartments on the top are concealed by a wood shutter that allows you to hide you...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Knoll Walnut Mid Century Modern Double Pedestal Desk with White Laminate Top
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A Knoll walnut double pedestal desk. This is a gorgeous office desk, perfect for a mid century home or office. It features a classic, simple design, and a choice set of materials. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Wim Den Boon Dining Table in Mahogany and Black Lacquered Steel
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Wim den Boon, dining table, mahogany, lacquered steel, The Netherlands, designed in 1955 and manufactured in 1958. Exclusive dining table designed by Wim den Boon for a Dutch famil...
Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Jules Wabbes Corner Desk with Drawers in Mutenyé
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Jules Wabbes, corner writing desk, mutenyé, nickel-plated metal, aluminum, Belgium, 1957 Beautifully designed desk by one of Belgium's most renowned designers Jules Wabbes. This pie...
Category

1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Aluminum, Nickel

Mid-century triangular desk with drawers
Located in Budapest, HU
Mid-century triangular desk with drawers in an excellent condition.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Jacob Kjær Mid Century Rio Rosewood Writing Desk
Located in Kastrup, DK
Freestanding Rio rosewood writing desk with beautiful grain designed by Jacob Kjær, Denmark 1950-1960. Front with 2x2 drawers with brass pulls. Top with raised edge. The desk shows r...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Mid-century modern Severin Hansen Teak Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
Desk designed by Severin Hansen in Teak wood for Haslev Møbelsnedkeri. Denmark, 1958 Simple and refined lines, featuring four frontal drawers with the desinger’s signature diagonal wood ensamble, the drawers are both a functional and a decorative element, the back of the desk can be displayed as it is finished in a refined teak wood back. Danish designer Severin Hansen's iconic Model 36 desk...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Large Vintage Swedish Oak Desk
Located in London, GB
A smart and very stylish large vintage Swedish oak desk. This was recently imported from Sweden, it dates from the 1950’s. It is of superb quality an...
Category

1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Midcentury Desk in Rosewood Designed by Frits Heningsen, 1950s
Located in Lejre, DK
Freestanding desk in rosewood with three drawers, designed and made by cabinetmaker Frits Henningsen. Made in Denmark, great original condition.
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Danish Modern Walnut Writing Desk
Located in VANCOUVER, CA
Walnut mid-century desk, circa 1960's. Clean modern lines with stunning grain patterns on the top! Finished on both sides, can be placed in the center of a room and look fantastic fr...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

60s Desk
Located in Milano, IT
Desk with side drawers and one central under-top drawer. Exotic wood veneer, brass, original back-treated glass top. Good conditions.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Giovanni Battista Bassi Asymmetrical writing desk Italy 1950
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful a-symmetrical writing desk-table designed by Giovanni Battista Bassi and made in Italy in 1950. This one of a kind piece was created for a project in Florence. It's made fr...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Jacques Hitier for MBO, Desk in oak and black metal, year 1951
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Jacques Hitier for MBO. Blond oak desk opening with a drawer on the front. Black laminate top. Tripod base in black lacquered metal. French work realized in 1951. Reference: LS546...
Category

Mid-20th Century French 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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