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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Late 19th Century
Period: 1940s
Antique Sheraton Revival Satinwood Desk
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique Sheraton Revival Satinwood desk. This dates from around the 1890-1910 period, and it was made in England. The quality is fantastic, this has beautiful brass handl...
Category

1890s British Sheraton Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Satinwood

Louis XVI style French bureau plat after Zweiner
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality, elegant late 19th century French Louis XV style Kingwood serpentine shaped bureau plat, having an inset suede covered writing surface, a single frieze drawer, wonderful gilded ormolu mounts with entwined leaf decoration, the central mount representing a military helmet and flag. Raised on elegant cabriole legs terminating in scrolling ormolu feet. Attributed to Joseph- Emmanuel Zweiner. Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener (b. 1849) was a preeminent cabinetmaker (ébéniste) of German descent, who became one of the most famous furniture...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Art Populaire Writing Table, France, 19th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Populaire; Folk Art; Monoxylite; Wabi Sabi; Writing Desk; Rustic; Travail Populaire; Antique; 19th Century; Writing Table; 19th-century folk art writing desk, a timeless piece ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Rustic Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Louis XVI Style Ladies Desk, after Francoise Linke, 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th century French Louis XVI style ladies writing desk, having an inset leather top, wonderful Fine gilded ormolu mounts, a single frieze drawer opening to revea...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Kingwood

A Stylish and Unique Bauhaus Meets Industrial Desk, Circa 1940's/50's
Located in Hastings, GB
This stylish and highly functional desk was probably a one off commission, its rarity suggests so. It has a built in Bakelite switch that turns on the elegant angle poise light by Ad...
Category

1940s French Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Silvio Cavatorta Writing Desk in Mahogany
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Silvio Cavatorta desk, mahogany, brass, Italy, design 1948-1949 Beautifully shaped desk in mahogany designed by Silvio Cavatorta in the late 1940s. The desk consists of a sleek top,...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Elm Desk, France, c. 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Distinctive desk showcasing a single drawer and elegantly rounded, tapered wooden legs.
Category

1940s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Elm

Blue Painted Pine Farm Table Writing Table With 2 Drawers, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
The cheerful blue painted finish has a distressed patina revealing years of use in this small farm table from Sweden. Notice the two usable drawers with brass pulls that add function...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Renaissance Revival Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Renaissance Revival Desk is a magnificent example of master cabinetmaking by French artisans from the 1850s to the end of the century. Utilizing hand-select old-...
Category

1870s French Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Antique French Louis XVI Gold Bronze Mounted Kingwood Writing Table, Circa 1885
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI Gold Bronze Mounted Kingwood Writing Table, Circa 1885.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Walnut writing table
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Beautiful antique walnut writing table with brown leather top. The table has 3 drawers on one side and the other sides are not drawers but look like they are. The table is richly dec...
Category

1870s French Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Art Nouveau Mahogany stepped desk
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant stepped desk in mahogany and mahogany veneer. Gilt bronze frame opening with a drawer inlaid with leaf and flower stems. The front features a drawer with an ormolu catch and ...
Category

1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

19 century kis barokk iroasztal
Located in Kerepes, HU
Annak ellenére hogy kis méretű es élig kevés hely foglal, több funkció is tud teljes mertekben használni: toalettasztal, kis író asztal egy előtérben meg egy kényelmes dolgozó laptop...
Category

Late 19th Century Hungarian Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Other

20th Century Palisander Mahogany Wood Marble French Napoleon III Bureau, 1870s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French bureau from the end of the 19th century. Finished for the center furniture from the Napoleon III era, finely veneered in palisander and mahogany. Slightly rounded and moved bu...
Category

1870s French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

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

Jean Prouvé, Cité Desk, likely 1940s, original condition
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Cité desk with drawer, designed by Jean Prouvé and made in his workshop, Ateliers Jean Prouvé in Nancy, France, probably 1940s Totally original with cream enamel painted metal frame...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Art Deco Desk, France
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Wood Dimensions: 63” W X 31.5” D X 29.5” H Quantity: 1 At STUDIO BALESTRA, we curate a unique collection of antique and handcrafted furniture. Our skilled artisans meticu...
Category

1940s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Brutalist Oak Desk, Denmark
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Materials: Oak Origin: Denmark Dimensions: 60.25"W X 39.25"D X 30.5"H Quantity: 1 Type: Table At STUDIO BALESTRA, we curate a unique collection of antique and handcrafted furnitur...
Category

1940s Danish Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Victorian Sycamore Partners Desk
Located in Altrincham, GB
A fabulous Victorian partners desk in beautiful mellow sycamore - double pedestal with front drawers and cupboard rear with tooled leather insert top c1860 - 66"ww x 36"d x 32"h (25...
Category

1870s English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Sycamore

Antique Italian Renaissance Revival Walnut Figural Library Table Writing Desk 52
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Neo-Renaissance Revival parlor / library table or writing desk, circa 1870s Made of walnut featuring Neoclassical styling with high relief figural carvings of cherubs / putti...
Category

1870s Renaissance Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Small Writing Desk Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig 1940 Italy
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Small wood and metal desk designed by Giuseppe Pagano Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig in 1940s Italy. Small desk made of curved laminated wood with 4 drawers. Signs of wear and use.
Category

1940s Italian Other Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Louis XIV Style Carved Walnut Library Table Writing Desk
Located in Forney, TX
A finely carved French Louis XIV style walnut writing table. circa 1870 Hand carved in France in the late 19th century, exceptionally executed in grand King Louis 14th taste, hand-c...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Faux Leather, Walnut

Louis XV Style Rocaille Side Table In Walnut
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
This table is molded. Its scalloped belt opens to a drawer. The drawer is dovetail mounted to ensure perfect solidity. The drawer can be opened daily and hold many objects. It slide...
Category

1870s French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Victorian late 19th century carved oak pedestal desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Victorian late 19th century carved oak pedestal desk circa 1890. Good quality pedestal oak desk, comprising of 3 sections.  Shaped top with original leather insert.  Single drawer a...
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Writing Desk with Marquetry Top in Walnut
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Writing table, walnut, The Netherlands, 1940s An elegant furniture piece that attests to masterful craftsmanship. Its marquetry top, adorned with a captivating array of various wood...
Category

1940s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Desk, Writing Table, Leather Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Late 19th Century French Louis XVI style mahogany desk features a gold tooled red leather top surrounded by a bronze trim border. The corners are detailed with bronze striated plaques. Two drawers of dovetail construction are fitted with bronze square drop handles. The table rests...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Burl Wood and Lucite Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W51 D19 H29.5 KW21.5 KC23.5 KD18 Vintage Fully Restored Desk with a Medium Walnut Finish. Item is structurally sound and fully functional. Desk features very unique hardware and bur...
Category

1940s Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Lucite, Burl

19th Century French Renaissance Writing Desk ~ End Table
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Renaissance Writing Desk ~ End Table is a work of the sculptor's art, that also serves as a convenient student desk, writing table or library table. Hand-carved ...
Category

1870s French Renaissance Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Antique French Desk Table Renaissance Revival Barley Twist Carved Tiger Oak 19C
Located in Tyler, TX
HANDSOME Antique French Tiger Oak Renaissance Revival Library Office Desk with Double Drawers, Barley Twist Legs and Stretcher ~~c. 1880s-1900 With so many people working from home,...
Category

1880s French Renaissance Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Rare 19th century carved mahogany Swedish pedestal desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare 19th century carved mahogany swedish pedestal desk circa 1880. Beautiful desk and rare to be made from mahogany for a swedish piece, believed to be from skottorp castle in the ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

White Painted Gustavian Style Table Writing Desk With One Drawer, circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
Swedish Gustavian style table with single fluted drawer and tapered legs. Restored, later professionally painted in layered shades of white now distressed to add to the character and...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

Arts & Crafts American Oak Library Table Desk With Barley Twist Legs
Located in Southampton, NJ
American antique Arts & Crafts solid quarter sawn Oak library table with original finish. Unusual in its distinct Mission & English influences. Boasts a single drawer with impressive...
Category

1890s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Rare Mid Century Italian Grissinato Desk In The Style Of Gio Ponti
Located in Westport, CT
Wonderful Modernist fruitwood desk shown with its original grey laminate top which we have covered in a new black glass top above an angular base consisting of two grissinato drawers...
Category

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

Materials

Fruitwood

Vintage Jaguar Green Lacquered Louis XVI Style Writing Desk
Located in East Hampton, NY
British Jaguar green lacquered Louis XVI style desk with original embossed leather top and two drawers. This desk sits on brass casters. Simply stunning and elegant.
Category

1940s French French Provincial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Fine Quality Three Piece Faux Bamboo English Leather Top Executive Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful cabinet-made faux bambook desk in the French or Campaign style. The desk features a fine off-white leather top with gold embossing. The desk comes apart in three ...
Category

1940s French Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk Featuring a charming mahogany & walnut French design small office or library desk in the classic kidney shape. ...
Category

1940s French Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture English Regency Mahogany Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional English Regency style writing desk or console table By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1940s Carved mahogany, with embossed leather top, and original brass hardware and ...
Category

1940s American Regency Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century mahogany inlaid writing desk
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality 19th Century mahogany inlaid writing desk, the super structure comprising of three mahogany lined drawers either side with the original turned brass knob handles and...
Category

1890s British Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Gustavian Style 9 Drawer Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Gustavian Style 9 Drawer Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Category

1940s Swedish Gustavian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Art Deco Desk by Charles Dudouyt, France, 1940s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Charles Dudouyt oak desk with double base, made in the 1940s in France. The sturdy oak construction, adorned with front panels and a raised round inlaid top with a captivating parque...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Antique French Louis XV Style Bureau
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique French bureau, dating from around the 1890-1910 period. It is of extremely fine quality, standing on slender yet sturdy cabriole legs and with gorgeous inlaid flo...
Category

1890s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Pine Standing Desk with Slant Top, Denmark, 1890s
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
Antique Danish slant top desk, circa 1890s. Made for a rural schoolmaster, this pine desk retains its original character with minor mars and stains, protected by a smooth finish. Fea...
Category

1890s Danish Country Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

19th Century Oak Lawyer's Secretary Step Back Flat Top Desk
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is a great looking antique desk with plenty of organizing space and storage but there is enough room to work on a laptop. The top is a separate piece and can be removed leaving ...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Vintage Louis XV style desk 1950s
Located in Catania, IT
Vintage desk in the Louis XV style with decorations and inlays lacquered wood and gilt bronzes, with 3 capacious drawers. In good condition, writing surface to be re-done.
Category

1940s Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara Desk, 1940s, Finland
Located in Helsinki, FI
Rare Ilmari Tapiovaara desk, Domus Academica student house, 1940s. Birch with painted table top. Good vintage condition, patina consistent with age and use. Beautiful minimalistic de...
Category

1940s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Paint

Antique mahogany campaign desk
Located in Salisbury, GB
Military campaign desk This large Military campaign desk was made in the last quarter of the 19th century. It is made of mahogany with brass inset corners and flush brass handles. Th...
Category

1890s English Campaign Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Spanish Baroque Chestnut writing table or desk with turned legs
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful antique late 19th-century Spanish Baroque desk or writing table is made of solid chestnut wood with bold-turned legs joined by wrought iron stretchers. The table featu...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Antique Edwardian Desk / Writing Table
Located in London, GB
A lovely antique Edwardian desk / writing table, made in England and dating from around the 1890-1910 period. It is of superb quality, with a beautiful and elegant design. The top h...
Category

1890s British Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Antique Chippendale Style Leather Top Desk
Located in London, GB
A fantastic antique Chippendale style leather top desk in the Chippendale style. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1890-1910 period. It is very well made, sitting o...
Category

1890s British Chippendale Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Tiger Oak Overmantle Oval Beveled Mirror Mission, America 1920, H700
Located in Vancouver, BC
Tiger Oak Overmantle Oval Beveled Mirror Mission, America 1920, H700 America 1920 Solid Tiger Oak Original finish Large oval beveled glass mirror With platform below Supports on the...
Category

1890s American Mission Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Antique Victorian Oak Leather Top Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
An impressive antique Victorian oak leather top writing table / desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1870-1890 period. It is of superb quality, solid oak through...
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th century carved Iitalian walnut and pine occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century carved italian walnut and pine occasional table circa 1890. An italian multi purpose pine and walnut occasional table. Here we have a table that could used as a small d...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Rustic Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut, Pine

French Louis XV Kingwood Bureau Plat Leather Top Desk With Mounted Bronze Ormolu
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Louis XV style writing desk or bureau plat desk France, Circa 1940s Gorgeous kingwood, with bronze trim and ornate ormolu mounts, and embossed green leather t...
Category

1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Leather Top Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An outstanding French Louis XV style writing desk or bureau plat desk with bronze trim and ornate ormolu mounts and embossed leather top. The desk is finished on all sides and could ...
Category

1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Antique European Hardwood Desk / 71" Long
Located in thousand oaks, CA
This large antique hand-crafted solid wood desk from Belgium is a stunning piece of furniture that will add a touch of old-world charm to any office or study. Carved and built from s...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Antique Large Victorian Shaped Ornamental Bevelled Mirror Scotland 1890, H607A
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Large Victorian Shaped Ornamental Bevelled Mirror, Scotland 1890, H607A Solid Oak Original finish Carved pediment on top Moulded cornice below Bevelled edge mirror to the ce...
Category

1890s Scottish Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Pine Writing Desk with Five Drawers, Denmark circa 1890
Located in Round Top, TX
This delightful antique desk is known as a "Hans Christian Andersen" desk. One similar to this can be viewed in the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark which was home t...
Category

Late 19th Century Danish Country Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

A fine 19th century French Louis XVI writing desk signed by Maison Krieger
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century French Louis XVI Kingwood and gilt bronze mounted writing desk
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

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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