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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Ebonized Leather top Bureau Plat
Located in Huntington, NY
Ebonized Leather top Bureau Plat/Desk, Louis XV period
3 working drawers on one side. Back side has 3 false drawers
Circa, 1760 with one Key
It's Old leather top in Useable but h...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Aesthetic Period Davenport, English, Walnut, Writing Desk, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Aesthetic Period Davenport. An English, walnut and bird's eye maple writing desk, dating to the Victorian era, circa 1880.
A delightful example, with exquisite cr...
Category
1880s British Aesthetic Movement Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
French Regency Louis XVI Kingwood Marquetry Ormolu-Mounted Leather Top Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Regency Louis XVI style executive writing desk with ram heads
France, 20th Century
Kingwood, with inlaid marquetry, bronze trim and ornate ormolu mounts, and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Matis Desk
Located in Paris, FR
Desk Matis with structure in solid mahogany wood
in black lacquered finish. With brushed nickel finish feet on
each leg and with 1 drawer covered with suede leather.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Nickel
Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Desk in Grey Coated Steel
By Olivetti, Studio BBPR
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' writing desk, coated steel, plastic, vinyl, Italy, design 1959/60, production 1960s
In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer,...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
19th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A fine early 19th century Louis XVI period bureau à cylindre, or roll top desk, made of solid walnut with marquetry veneers of walnut, mahogany and cherry. Pine as a secondary wood. ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Vintage Writing Desk by Bohumil Landsman, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A warm beech wood desk, designed by Bohumil Landsman and produced in the 1970s in former Czechoslovakia. This piece showcases the distinctive modernist style typical of Eastern Europ...
Category
1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech
20th Century Italian Rosewood MIM Writing Table - Vintage Desk by Ico Parisi
By MIM Roma, Ico Parisi
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian writing, office table with a large top, made of hand crafted polished Rosewood, designed by Ico Parisi and produced by MIM Roma, in good conditio...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Aluminum
Rare Antique American Renaissance Extension Library Table, Signed
By Seng
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce antique American Renaissance Revival style carved walnut extension table by Seng, Chicago, Illinois. circa 1920/1930
Born in the United States in the early 20th century, featuring a rare and unusual form and extension mechanism. Slightly lift the rectangular top and the slide the mechanical horizontal draw-leaf style extensions to expand the the width of the top, morphing the library table / sofa console into a kitchen table / dining table.
Having a bookmatched burl wood, oak and walnut banded, parquetry inlay top, molded apron with dovetailed frieze drawer, rising on turned urn baluster-form standards, over shaped stretcher joined trestle base with twist ornamentation, resting on bun feet, signed, stamp to frame under top.
Dimensions: (approx)
31" High, 54" Wide, 23.5" Deep
Extended: 37.5" Deep
Provenance / Acquisition:
John Phifer Marrs collection.
Important auction house J. Garrett Auctioneers, Dallas, Texas, May 2021 catalog, presented a special curated collection from John Phifer Marrs, premier Southern interior designer known for an elegant, fresh and inviting design method, often called The New Southern Style...
Category
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Walnut, Burl
Severin Hansen Model 36 Teak Desk for Haslev, Denmark, Circa 1950s
Located in Peabody, MA
A teak desk, Model 36, designed by Severin Hansen for Haslev Mobelsnedkeri, circa late 1950s. Hansen's furniture designs are distinctively recognizable for their sleek profiles with ...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Antique Quality Early 20th Century Mahogany Writing Table - Desk Side Dressing
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique Quality Early 20th Century Mahogany Writing Table - Desk Side Dressing.
This exceptional piece boasts solid construction with tight joints, radiating character and allure as...
Category
1910s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Italian Mid-Century Executive Desk with Dattilo by Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
To your attention this important and remarkable Italian executive Desk of the 1950s, very rare, manufactured by Esposizione Permanente Mobili Cantù (marked) and attributable to the i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Directoire Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage French directoire desk. Wonderful shape with inset green leather top. Great storage too. Add some French Architecture to your home.
Category
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Ico Parisi Rosewood Dining Table Mod. 754/2 for Figli Di Amedeo Cassina, 1959
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A rare dining table mod 574/2 designed by Ico Parisi in the 1959 and produced by Figli di Amedeo Cassina at the beginning of the 1960s. Made in...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Mid-Century Modern Lane Tuxedo Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Clarksboro, NJ
This listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Lane Tuxedo Walnut Writing Desk. Featuring a straight line design, rectangular top with rosewood inlay, three drawers for storage, original b...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
1960s Italian Art Deco Midcentury Walnut Marble Slant Front Desk Table Secretary
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern folding slant front desk writing table secretaire, in beautiful wood with three drawers. This beautiful piece is completed by the whi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Louis XV Rococo Style Walnut Writing Desk Table Circa 1960s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a very unique desk and perfect for your office. The desk measures 50 wide x 24 deep x 30 tall and is in good condition.
Category
1960s North American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Fine Quality Coromandel and Marquetry Inlaid Victorian Period Kidney Lady Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality Coromandel Victorian style kidney shaped writing table. The kidney shaped top having a fine quality velum green leather writing surface with gilt and blind tooled deta...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Executive Waterfall Metal Desk in Art Deco, Streamline Design, Germany, 2015
By GMD Berlin
Located in Berlin, DE
Executive waterfall metal desk in Art Deco, Streamline Design, Germany, 2015.
Category
2010s German Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
20th Century French Maison Jansen Bamboo Writing Desk and Chair, Louis Sognot
By Louis Sognot
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Attributed to Louis Sognot (1892-1970), designer for Maison Jansen, this mid twentieth century French desk or writing table, is constructed of bamboo and features a red leather top. The corners around the top and legs are all detailed in brass. Its two drawers open using brass drop ring drawer pulls. Its four legs gently taper outward and are joined by an H stretcher that provides stability. This set includes its original accompanying bamboo desk chair...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
The Chiquita Desk. Brazilian Solid Wood and Natural Straws.
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Chiquita writing desk features smooth and delicate lines, with 4 drawers featuring fronts made of natural wicker and brass handles that impart a nostalgic and romantic feel to th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Straw, Wood
"Hunting table" desk or dining table by Børge Mogensen, Søborg Denmark
By Soborg Furniture Factory, Børge Mogensen
Located in Hägersten, SE
"Hunitng table" designed by Børge Mogensen. Produced in Denmark by Søborg Furniture. Solid oak legs with teak feet. Brass runners and table top in teak. Works perfectly as either a d...
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Danish Mid Century Teak Secretary Desk
Located in VANCOUVER, CA
Teak Danish secretary desk, circa 1960's. Beautiful book matched veneer, dovetail-constructed drawers, integrated handles, and sleek legs. Elegant bow front, chest of drawers, slidin...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak, Glass
Geometric Writing Desk / Sideboard in Walnut and Brass, Italy, 1950s
Located in Uithoorn, NL
This geometrical writing desk has a sleek symmetry. This is formed by two large, rectangular storage compartments, together with four smaller compartments above. In between the compa...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Franz West-Style Iron Chain + Marble Desk / Console Table
By Franz West, Diego Giacometti
Located in Round Top, TX
Iron chain base console table with marble top; intermittent use as a desk would be possible with appropriately sized chair. Circa 1960s, in a style popularized by the designs of Fran...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Iron
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Desk or Dressing Table, Cherrywood
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier make-up and writing desk
Southern Germany
Cherry
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 81 x 104 x 50 cm
Description:
This extraordinary antique piece is a ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
Louis XV French Style kidney form writing desk, 19 th century bronze mounts
Located in Houston, TX
The quality of this desk is exceptional and the wood
And construction are extremely well done. It is a signed
Piece in the center drawer V. Raulin. It is late nineteenth
Century an...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Dark Walnut Executive Desk by Monteverdi Young
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Spectacular 1970’s Dark walnut with black lacquer outline executive desk by Monteverdi-Young.
Custom ordered by renowned interior designer Gary Jon
In beautiful vintage condition. ...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
1970s Italian Neo-Classical Style Patchwork Burl Writing Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1970s Neoclassical style Italian burl desk with ebonized x-base. The burl is beautiful, and it is finished on all sides. The cross stretcher is brass. The piece is unmarked...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Table, Alvar Aalto, Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, 1950s
Located in Helsinki, Uusimaa
Table, designed by Alvar Aalto, manufactured by Oy Huonekalu- ja Rakennustyötehdas Ab, 1950s. Birch frame, linoleum table top. Good vintage condition, patina and minor wear consisten...
Category
1950s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Birch
1960s National Mt Airy Mahogany Chippendale Writing Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
Vintage Mahogany Chippendale writing desk by National Mount Airy Furniture of North Carolina.
Measures 34 W x 23.25" D x 38.25' H. Writ...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th C. Chippendale Style Mahogany Slant Front Carved Ball & Claw Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th Century Mahogany Slant Front Carved Ball & Claw Chippendale Style Desk. Item features dovetail joined top and bottom, solid wood construction, beautiful wood grain and patina, 9...
Category
Early 19th Century Unknown Chippendale Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th century English Adam Style Hand Painted Satinwood Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
Satinwood desk with reticulated sides that are extraordinarily hand-painted with festooned drapery, ribbons and bows. Decorated on all sides this lovely piece can float in a room and...
Category
19th Century British Adam Style Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Satinwood
Small Bauhaus Tubular Steel Desk, Oak Veneer and Chromium Plated Metal c 1930
Located in Berlin, DE
Small Bauhaus tubular steel desk, so-called 'typewriter desk', with 4 drawers. The desk is made of chromed tubular steel and oak-veneered wood. Germany/ Czechoslovakia/ Austria, circ...
Category
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Antique Jewelers/Watchmakers Desk
By Rolex
Located in East Freetown, MA
Antique two tone watchmakers/jewelers desk with fifteen drawers, two shelves and canvas surfaced slide out work top. This desk also has a foot rest. The ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Gallotti and Radice Glass President Desk Italy suits Hollywood Recency interior
Located in Dronten, NL
President Desk made of safety glass with a stainless steel frame.
Originally designed by Gallotti & Radice in 1971, this piece is made circa 1988.
Marked with label.
Gallotti & Rad...
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Kazuhide Takahama Antella multi-functional Table for Cassina, new
Located in Berlin, DE
Price is dependent on the chosen material/ color. Available in matte or glossy.
Japanese architect Kazuhide Takahama designed Antella as a truly multi-functional piece of furniture...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Plywood, Lacquer
Minimalist Mid-Century Modern Writing Desk by Hans Olsen Dark Walnut and Teak
By Hans Olsen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A refined example of Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern design, this writing desk by Hans Olsen epitomizes minimalist elegance. Crafted from dark walnut and teak, the desk features a teak surface framed by a sleek walnut border, creating a harmonious contrast of wood tones. The piece is further elevated by solid teak cylindrical legs, each rounded for a soft, sculptural presence.
With its clean lines and understated elegance, this desk seamlessly integrates into a variety of interior styles, from contemporary minimalist to vintage-inspired modern. The piece is both practical and timeless, embodying the ethos of Mid-Century Modernism and Scandinavian design principles.
Perfect for those seeking a classic Mid-Century desk, this piece serves as both a workspace and a work of art, with refined materials and thoughtful proportions.
This Hans Olsen desk...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak, Walnut
Modernist Dressing Table attributed to Maison Desny, circa 1925
Located in CA, CA
This supremely rare early Modernist dressing table by Maison Desny, with its novel use of clear and opaline glass, and nickel-plated and paint...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Nickel
Bespoke Modernist Tubular Steel Table in Chromed Metal and Glossy Lacquered Wood
By GMD Berlin
Located in Berlin, DE
Bespoke modernist tubular writing table made of chrome plated tubular steel and lacquered wood.
Category
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Small Mahogany secretary .Georgian style .England
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice attractive small secretary . Georgian style .Mahogany .
Green Leather inlay . Good quality piece . nice interior.
Ideal working space ,Because its size . fits every room...
Category
1960s English Georgian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
English Shaped Top Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
Mahogany shaped top partners writing table with satinwood stringing and inlaid fan medallions. Black/green, antiqued and gold tooled leather top. Three drawers each side with antique...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Boxwood, Olive, Satinwood
Organic Modern Armona Desk, Walnut, Onyx, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
The Armona stone desk draws inspiration from the serene landscape of Armona Island, embodying a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Onyx, Quartz, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
Writing Desk by Silvio Cavatorta in Solid Walnut and Glass, Italy, 1950's
Located in Uithoorn, NL
A large symmetrical desk by Silvio Cavatorta in solid walnut with on both sides 3 drawers and in the middle a larger drawer with key and lock. For whom this lock is not safe enough...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Italian Mid-century Desk in Walnut with Floating Glass Top
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Desk in the manner of Melchiorre Bega, glass, walnut, Italy, 1950s
This elegant piece of furniture is made in Italy in the 1950s. The stylistic elements and overall design distinct...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Antique American Colonial Solid Maple Roll Top Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous American Colonial, Georgian, or Chippendale style roll-top desk
USA, Circa 1970s
Carved solid maple, with original brass hardware. Desk and drawer locks, and keys are in...
Category
1970s American American Colonial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
ClassiCon Orcus Desk in Lacquered White by Konstantin Grcic
Located in New York, NY
Orcus Desk in high gloss lacquer by Konstantin Grcic. Secretary desk in high gloss lacquered drop-flap writing surface, 4 drawers, secret compartment, stora...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Carbon Aircraft Desk
Located in Paris, FR
Desk Carbon Aircraft made from a Pratt & Whitney JT8D reactor
which was manufactured for McDonnell Douglas
MD-80, Boeing 727 ro 737, Dassault Mercure 100
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Victorian Burr Walnut Davenport Writing Table Desk - C. 1870
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Presenting an exquisite Victorian Burr and Figured Walnut Davenport Writing Table Desk dating back to approximately 1870. This charming piece exudes age and character, making it a ra...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Oval Dining Table or Desk by Florence Knoll in Carrara Marble
By Knoll, Florence 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
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor: An Exquisite Ormolu and Églomisé Bureau Plat
Located in New York, NY
A Timeless Masterpiece:
The Exquisite Bureau Plat of The Duke and Duchess of Windsor
In the world of fine art and antiques, certain pieces transcend time, becoming symbols of opul...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
17th Century Spanish Writing Table - Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
An outstanding and very handsome 17th century Spanish Writing Table - Desk from the Catalan region of Spain. Beautifully constructed from stunning walnut & chestnut with drawers, a ...
Category
17th Century European Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chestnut, Walnut
Aircraft Wing Desk in Riveted Polished Aluminium
Located in Paris, FR
Desk Aircraft Wing with riveted polished aluminium.
- With worktop adjustable in inclination from 0 ° to 30 °
(for work on laptop or paper files), with the foot type
"landing g...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum, Brass, Stainless Steel
1968 Executive Desk
Located in Hanover, MA
Executive desk formerly belonging to noted architect George M. Notter, (1933–2007) of the Boston firm Anderson Notter Finegold (now known as Finegold Alexander Architects).
Current institutional memory at the firm suggests it was a special order from Herman Miller for the then new New York offices of MGM, however Herman Miller's archivist was unable to confirm.
Styling, particularly the distinctive slim milled aluminum tracks through which the entire drawer carriage glides is clearly similar to Warren Platner's designs for Lehigh-Leopold which were then among the most costly of executive office furnishings.
The bent flat bar chromed steel base with its distinctive pigeon toe splay is somewhat similar to a table base in Stow Davis' Electa Series, designed by Alexis Yermakov circa 1971.
Walnut laminate top is very clean with no issues. One corner edge shows a small separation.
The only identifying markings are within the milled aluminum channel:
G.P.
F.I.
2
And the date Dec. 20, 1968.
See image 18.
Between the rectangular laminate top and the chrome base is a heavy blackened steel plate. Underneath the bent chrome pigeon toe feet are bars of a thick phenolic material which act as floor protector.
We can have keys made to fit the two locking drawers.
Tim Anderson...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Karl Springer Rare "Goatskin Free Form Desk" 1988
Located in New York, NY
Rare and exceptional "Goatskin Free Form Desk" in high gloss lacquered goatskin with drawer by Karl Springer, American 1988 (date stamped on bottom). Springer’s Free Form...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Goatskin, Wood, Lacquer
Kartell Earl of Wood Desk by Philippe Stark in Light Wood and Chrome Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Earl of wood is a simple new desk with a curved wooden surface, offering the perfect solution to the Office and Habitat worlds on account of its myriad diffe...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Small Folding Desk Cantieri Carugati Gianfranco Frattini 1959 in Italian Walnut
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Small folding desk Cantieri Carugati Gianfranco Frattini 1959 in Italian Walnut, open depth 83 cm, completely restored with natural paints as in the past.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Scandinavian Rosewood Desk by Nanna Ditzel Søren Willardsen, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Rosewood desk with three drawers by Nanna Ditzel. The desk has a particularly beautiful grain. The sale takes place with an EU certificate for this rosewood(CITES).
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
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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