Desks and Writing Tables
Early 18th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Marble
17th Century German Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Fruitwood, Oak
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Maple, Nutwood
1920s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Early 1900s French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Glass, Wood
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1750s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Mid-18th Century Chinese George II Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Padouk
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Early 1900s English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
Early 20th Century American American Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Maple
Early 18th Century American Adirondack Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Scottish Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
17th Century Spanish Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1790s English Sheraton Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Bronze
Early 20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 1900s English Adam Style Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
18th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Late 18th Century British Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Early 20th Century Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Felt, Ebony, Burl, Rosewood, Palisander, Maple, Mahogany, Kingwood
Early 20th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Rustic Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Mid-18th Century Spanish Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
Early 20th Century Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
18th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Poplar, Walnut
Early 1900s English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Late 18th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1780s English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Rustic Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Pine
Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
18th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century North American Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1920s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Early 1900s Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Chestnut
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
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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