Desks and Writing Tables
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Brass
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century English William IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Portuguese Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Plywood, Lacquer
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s American Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
19th Century Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century French Adirondack Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Early 19th Century American Sheraton Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
2010s Emirian Desks and Writing Tables
Limestone
Early 19th Century Unknown Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1880s French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Croatian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century American High Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Walnut, Plywood
2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Aluminum
1880s Arts and Crafts Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-19th Century Spanish Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wrought Iron
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1880s Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Early 19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
19th Century Swedish Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
19th Century Swedish Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Turkish Japonisme Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1890s British Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
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.
Read More
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
18 Home Offices for Workaholic Design-Lovers
Proof that working from home is a perk.