Skip to main content

Desks and Writing Tables

24
2,222
to
228
1,187
962
2,222
2,222
2,222
1,175
274
180
37
32
31
20
19
12
9
9
6
4
3
2
1
491
1,799
3,965
1,765
591
717
87
31
92
162
592
637
394
138
31
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1,985
973
549
379
341
1,584
480
465
394
359
27
26
25
23
21
Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Mid-20th Century
Period: 1930s
Art Deco dressing table with chair, Germany, circa 1940s
Located in Chorzów, PL
Art Deco dressing table with chair. Elegant dressing table with a chair in the Art Deco style. The furniture has been professionally renovated and is in very good condition. The dres...
Category

1930s German Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Poul Nørreklit for Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik selectform desk model 'GP 160'
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
A vintage mid-century desk designed by Poul Nørreklit for Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik. Original label is present The desk is part of the selectform range model 'GP 160'. The desk ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Hans Von Klier For Skipper Executive Desk And Credenza, Italy, 1970s
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Impressive executive desk and matching credenza designed by Hans von Klier in the 1970s. A striking combination of differently textured materials in three colors makes this desk an i...
Category

1960s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco desk - France 1930
Located in Girona, ES
Art Deco drawer unit desk, four drawers, wood with oak veneer, resting on an aluminium-covered base. Aluminium handles. Satiny varnish finishing. France circa 1930
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Desk Model TL22, by Franco Albini and Franca Helg. Poggi, 1958
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Desk model TL22, designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg and manufactured by Poggi in 1958. Table completely restored. Wood: walnut. Letteratura: Gramigna G., Repertorio del desig...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Marcel Gascoin, TC Office, France 1950
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Marcel Gascoin (1907-1986), “TC” table in light oak, ARHEC edition, France 1950. Father of Rationalism and major player in French Reconstruction, Marcel Gascoin designs quality furni...
Category

1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Danish Domino Møbler Oak Double Pedestal Writing Desk Mid Century 1960s
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Danish oak pedestal writing desk by Domino Møbler, this would make a stylish addition to any work area. A striking piece of classically designed Scandinavian furniture. ...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

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

Boomerang Shaped Desk, Shop Counter, 1950s by Alfred Hendrickx
Located in Antwerp, BE
Custom made handcrafted shop counter or desk in a boomerang line with vertical slats at the front which emphasizes the curve of the arch even more, on the inside one side with 3 slid...
Category

1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Wicker Desk & Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
Vintage wicker reed/rattan table or writing desk with a wicker chair. Bothe pieces are early 19th century and freshly painted light grey. Excellent vintage condition.
Category

1930s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Reed, Wicker

Danish Cabinetmaker 1940s Mahogany Desk
Located in London, GB
Danish cabinetmaker - 1940s writing desk This exceptional, minimalist desk was produced in Denmark in the 1940s by an anonymous cabinetmaker and ...
Category

1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Oak

Danish Modern Floating Top Teak Desk by Kai Kristiansen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Stunning Danish modern teak desk designed by the famous cabinet maker Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfrabrik in Denmark, circa 1960s. The FM60 desk is a highly sought-after Scan...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Gio Ponti “Stile” Desk Wood Brass, 1950, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Gio Ponti “Stile” desk wood brass, 1950, Italy.
Category

1950s Italian Other Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Dutch Mid-Century Modern Solid Birch Vanity Desk by Everest Furniture, 1950s
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Unusual and rare modernist vanity desk produced in the Netherlands by Everest Furniture early 1950s. Solid birch frame and, veneered plywood and exotic wood (Wenge) details in the...
Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Teak, Wenge, Plywood

Mid-Century Modern Tolomeo Table by Ico Parisi and Ennio Fazioli - Italy, 1958
Located in Girona, ES
Table or desk "Tolomeo" with stained beech feet and mahogany veneer top, French polish. System under top to possible addition of drawers. Design: Ennio Fazioli...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Mahogany

Vittorio Dassi Desk Minimal Geometric Mahogany and Laminate Midcentury
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Vittorio Dassi desk minimal geometric mahogany and laminate midcentury. The parts in colored laminate have some defects, see photos.
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Laminate, Mahogany

Red Lacquered Wood Desk from the 50s, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Red lacquered wood desk from the 50s, Italian. Desk 1950s Country: Italian Materials: Red lacquered wood Finish: polyurethanic lacquer It is an ...
Category

1950s Italian Space Age Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Rare Five-Piece Drexel Counterpoint Modular Desk Dresser Mid-Century Modern
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Extremely rare five-piece set of John Van Koert's Drexel Counterpoint modular desk and chair plus two separate drawer units and a fabulous cedar li...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry, Mahogany

Desk CM141 by Pierre Paulin, Thonet Edition, 1954
Located in Paris, FR
Mahogany desk model CM141 by Pierre Paulin for Thonet, 1954.
Category

1950s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century "The Boss" Mahogany Executive Desk with Brass Pulls
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Mid-Century "The Boss" mahogany executive desk with brass pulls with a woven wicker back. The large 76" wide desk with six drawers. We at the shop have ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Very Rare and Original Writing Table PK53 by Poul Kjaerholm for Rud Rasmussen
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
This stunning example is in museum condition, all completely original, not perfect, but very nicely used, the Oregon Pie top has a wonderful patine, with no real digs or scratches. T...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Executive Terni Desk Ico Parisi for MIM, Italy
Located in Schellebelle, BE
Terni desk in aluminium and Indian rosewood, Ico Parisi for MIM great Italian design very nice color and powerful patina marked MIM.
Category

1950s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Large Varnished Wood Executive Desk, in the style of Florence Knoll
Located in Miami, FL
Large Varnished wood executive desk, in the style of Florence Knoll.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Pair of Vintage Ebonized Beech Writing Desks in the Style of Gio Ponti, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s - 1960s. They feature an ebonized beech frame and four Formica veneered drawers each. These desks both have the same timber but with two slightly different shade...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Formica, Beech

Secretaire by Torbjørn Afdal for Nesjestranda, Norway, 1960s
Located in Hägersten, SE
Rare secretaire designed by Torbjørn Afdal. Produced by Nesjestranda møbelfabrikk during the 1960s. Made from palisander with solid wood in the legs and the drawers. The drawers made...
Category

1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Palisander

Chrome and Red Bauhaus Desk, Made in 1930s Germany, Fully Restored
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Writing desk made in Germany Material: Chrome Completely restored.
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Spectacular Wood Desk, circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Exceptional and spectacular French Art Deco wood desk. Two drawers in facade, circa 1930.
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

1930s Fabulous Industrial Adjustable Wood Table Hand Crank Metal Base
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Old Adjustable Table 1930s Fabulous Sculptural Industrial Wheeled Wood Table Adjustable Tilt with Hand Crank Metal Base Adjustable height useful as Lectern, Drafting, Music Stand, S...
Category

1930s Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Art Deco Chest of Drawers
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
 Art deco chest of drawers after renovation , simple and nice art deco chest of drawers :)
Category

1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Incredible Mid Century Italian Curved Top Desk By Bernini
Located in Portlaoise, IE
Incredibly beautiful and stylish midcentury Italian desk with curved front featuring they most incredible grain pattern. Manufactured by the renowned Italian Bernini company this exq...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Rare Freestanding Desk by Frode Holm for Illums Bollighus, 1950s
Located in Antwerpen, VAN
A very rare freestanding desk designed by Frode Holm around 1950. Ultra minimalist design with exceptional details and two elegant drawers executed in teak. Produced by Illums Boligh...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

French 1960's Lattice Bamboo & Rattan Desk w/ Drawers
Located in East Hampton, NY
The wonderful and intricate bamboo & rattan woven lattice work is exceptionally preserved in its natural original color, this bamboo desk features a newly replaced deep blue abet lam...
Category

1960s French French Provincial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bamboo, Laminate

Jacques Quinet Oak and Leather Waterfall Desk, France 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional oak desk by Jacques Quinet, the original model made for the office of the mayor of Marseilles. Great use of restrained opposing curves in the legs and the waterfall style...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Oak

Gio Ponti vanity desk console table with a adjustable Fontana arte mirror, 1950
Located in Rome, IT
rare Gio Ponti toilette, vanity table dressing table one drawer with an adjustable brass mirror by Fontana Arte produced by Giordano Chiesa for Das...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Rosewood Desk by Torbjorn Afdal for Bruksbo
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare hand-crafted rosewood desk designed by Torbjorn Afdal for Bruksbo. The drawers made with very fine detailed zipper joinery. With original key and working lock mechanism. Origina...
Category

1950s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Mid Century Walnut Desk by Vista of California in the style of George Nelson
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A dark walnut desk with three full sized side drawers and a smaller drawer in front of the chair area all with sculptural brushed aluminum pulls . The satin black frame gives the pie...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Italian Mid-Century Teakwood Writing Desk by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This exquisite writing desk, so well designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1950s, stands as a testament to the collaboration between Dassi and the renowned Gio Ponti. The teakwood struct...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Pierre Jeanneret Desk and Office Chair from Chandigarh
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
One of the most desirables and hard to find desk model from Pierre Jeannette, presented with a floating back office chair (Ca 1960) also by the known designer. Desk features three ...
Category

1950s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Georges Frydman, Free Form Office, France 1956
Located in Catonvielle, FR
Georges Frydman, free-form desk published by E.F.A., France 1956. Placed on a gray lacquered tubular base, the trapezoidal top is veneered with matt black formica, enhanced by a wide...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

Heywood Wakefield Wicker and Oak Table With Original Label
Located in Hudson, NY
Heywood Wakefield library table. With quarter sawn, oak top and woven wicker pedestal legs, apron, and stretcher. This wicker table drew on the Aesthetic Movement and Japanese influe...
Category

1940s American Aesthetic Movement Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wicker, Oak

Art Deco Desk With Leather Top, 1930s
Located in New York, NY
Large Art Deco Desk with a dark brown leather top and a small compartment with a hinged lid that is perfectly flush with the tabletop. The tabletop features elegantly rounded corners...
Category

1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Scrittoio anni '60 in teak e formica
Located in SAN PIETRO MOSEZZO, NO
Scrittoio anni '60 dalle misure contenute ma molto funzionale. La struttura è in tubolare di ferro verniciato nero con piedi in ottone con parti in legno di teak. I tre cassetti po...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Oval Desk Consolle Table in the style of Giotto Stoppino, Tubular Steel & Wood
Located in Roma, IT
A unique piece of furniture with an elegant and fine design, believe me when I tell you that at the moment there is no other similar one on sale online. Dating between the 60s and 70...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

1965 Danish Arne Jacobsen Saint Catherines Desk in Oak by Fritz Hansen
Located in Knebel, DK
Danish Arne Jacobsen Saint Catherines Desk in Oak by Fritz Hansen The desks are marked with a Fritz Hansen label from July 1965 and have...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

George Nelson Home Office Desk Model 4658 for Herman Miller
Located in Dallas, TX
George Nelson & Associates Home Office desk, model 4658 Manufactured by Herman Miller USA, 1946 This example is constructed of combed oak, chrome-plated...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Heywood-Wakefield Writing Desk
Located in Trenton, NJ
Invite mid-century charm into your workspace with this Heywood Wakefield Desk, a highly sought and highly functional icon of vintage modern furniture. This desk, with its sleek curve...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Danish Modern Floating Rosewood Desk by Dyrlund 1970s
Located in Hawthorne, CA
Danish mid-century rosewood desk by Dyrlund circa 1970s. Beautiful rosewood grain covering entire pieces, with solid sled legs and recessed pulls. Backside features built-in open she...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood, Wood

Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova Executive Desk
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gianni Moscatelli for Formanova, desk, black lacquered wood, nickel-plated steel, Italy, 1960s This modern, streamlined writing desk is designed by Gianni Moscatelli in the sixtie...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Clausen & Maerus Writing Desk for Eden Rotterdam, Dutch design, 1960s
By Clausen and Maerus, Eden Rotterdam
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Writing desk designed by Clausen & Maerus for Eden in the Netherlands around 1960. Well-crafted desk in solid oak and oak veneer with 3 large storage units on top which can be closed...
Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Mummenthaler & Meier Magic Box Writing Desk In Teak, Switzerland 1950
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Experience the elegance and ingenuity of Swiss design with this stunning foldable writing desk crafted by Mummenthaler & Meier in 1950. Named the “Magic Box,” this exquisite piece tr...
Category

1950s Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Paul Evans Attributed Cityscape Chrome & Brass Patchwork Desk
Located in Fulton, CA
Unusual brass and chrome patchwork desk with floating glass top attributed to Paul Evans. Consists of 3 pieces, 2 side towers and glass top. Desk work surface measures 28.25"H. Origi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Desk Art Deco in Wood from France 1930 " Free Shipping in Florida "
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
"Free shipping in florida" It was exhibited at Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)" Desk Year 1930 French Wood and chrome Finish: polyurethanic lacquer It is an ...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Guillerme et Chambron Oak and Leather Mid-Century French Desk
Located in London, GB
A Guillerme et Chambron petite desk. Oak and leather. France, c1960s. Single drawer to the underside. A delicate design, which will fit into a smaller space. Good vintage co...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Oak

Alvar Aalto Mahogany Desk for Artek with Drawers and Pull Out Work Surfaces
Located in Chicago, IL
The model #500 mahogany desk designed by Alvar Aalto, made in Sweden for Artek, Finland. Six drawers with two pull-out work surface boards. A nice example...
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Art Deco Briar Root Dining Table, France, 1930s
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Art Deco wood dining table, France, 1930s. A fine 1930s Art Deco dining table with beautiful walnut root cover. veneer. The item has been ...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Industrial Iron Writing Desk from the 1950s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This industrial workbench was made in the former Czechoslovakia in the 1950´s This desk was originally used as a work table for craftsmen, can also be used as a desk. It´s made of...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Large Jacaranda Desk by Jorge Zalszupin by L'Atelier San Paulo, 1960
Located in Dronten, NL
Beautiful large desk designed by Jorge Zalszupin, manufactured by L’Atelier San Paulo, circa 1960. Made of high quality jacaranda wood. The desk has four drawers with very well craf...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Jacaranda

Midcentury Teak Ladies' Desk "RY 32" by Hans J. Wegner, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Elegant teak desk by Hans J. Wegner, model named “RY 32”. Shallow design with one drawer with nicely sculpted knob handles.
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

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.

Recently Viewed

View All