Desks and Writing Tables
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Brass
Mid-18th Century Unknown Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
1980s Norwegian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Maple
20th Century American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Bronze
1940s French Empire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1950s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
2010s German Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Turkish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Egyptian Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Enamel, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Shagreen Stingray
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Linen, Formica, Fruitwood
Early 1800s Scandinavian Empire Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany, Parchment Paper
1960s North American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century British Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1940s Swedish Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Birch, Maple
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 1900s American Mission Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Maple
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Beech, Walnut
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Nickel
1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
19th Century English Moorish Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Laminate, Walnut
1880s French Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century American Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 19th Century Unknown Chippendale Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
1960s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Quartz, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
18th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, 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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