Desks and Writing Tables
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mother-of-Pearl, Alpaca, Wood
Early 1900s Italian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Olive, Walnut
Early 20th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Nouveau Desks and Writing Tables
Satinwood
1920s European Art Nouveau Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Early 20th Century Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 1900s American Industrial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1920s German Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel, Nickel
Early 1900s North American Industrial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Early 20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Nutwood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century Dutch Gothic Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Iron, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Satinwood
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Desks and Writing Tables
Softwood
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century Chinese Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 1900s French Late Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Pine
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century American Mission Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Leather
Early 20th Century Javanese Dutch Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Early 20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Copper
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1920s American Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Soapstone, Brass, Steel
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry
Early 20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
1910s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Fabric, Glass, Wood
Early 1900s North American Industrial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1920s European Art Nouveau Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Vietnamese Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
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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