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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: Mid-20th Century
Period: 1940s
Vintage Swedish Teak Desk
Located in London, GB
A very stylish and extremely well made vintage Swedish teak desk. This was recently imported from Sweden, it dates from the 1960’s. The quality is outstanding, this has an interesti...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Vintage Italian Walnut and Satin Wood Desk
Located in London, GB
A superb vintage Italian walnut and satin wood desk, dating from the 1950-60’s. It is beautifully designed and is of superb quality, standing on wonderful tapered legs with brass fe...
Category

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

Materials

Satinwood

Jean Prouve Style La Residence Universitaire Jean Zay Student Desk
Located in West Hollywood, CA
In the style of Jean Prouve a patinated eggshell blue student desk with single drawer and in inset white laminate top from the dormitories of the La Residence Universitaire Jean Zay,...
Category

1950s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Beech

Executive Desk by Jules Wabbes for Mobilier Universel, Belgium, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Executive desk designed by Jules Wabbes and manufactured by Mobilier Universel in the 1960s. This exclusive desk bears the hallmark of Jules Wabbes, a celebrated Belgian furniture de...
Category

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

Materials

Steel

1930's Modernist Desk by Jindrich Halabala for UP Brno
Located in Brno, CZ
An original Modernist desk from the 1930s. This piece has a dignified design with stylish proportions and details together with a dazzling Walnut pattern and dark brown Oak. This wr...
Category

1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Walnut

Stand/Sit Desk or Worktable
Located in VUGHT, NL
Great industrial eye-catcher as a work station in a hip company or the man cave. But also as a presentation place for a special (museum) object would be a great function! The start...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Guillerme et Chambron, Rare Desk, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1950/1960
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Guillerme et Chambron, rare desk, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1950/1960.
Category

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

Materials

Oak, Faux Leather

Willy Van Der Meeren Desk for Tubax, circa 1950, Formica, Metal, Wood, 38 Avai
Located in Brussels, BE
Willy Van Der Meeren desk for Tubax, circa 1950, Formica, metal, wood- 38 available.  
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Jacques Adnet writing desk made in France 1950
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Beautiful avant garde desk designed by Jacques Adnet and manufactured in his own atelier in France in the 1950s. The frame is made from solid brass and it's all wrapped in soft black...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Executive Monumental Rosewood with Polished Steel Platner Insp. Desk with, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful midcentury desk with rosewood top. The wood is in excellent condition. The bases are made of steel and add a very modern look.  
Category

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

Materials

Steel

60s desk, Frattini style
Located in Felino, IT
60's desk, in the style of G.Frattini for Bernini. made by Italian craftsman, inspired by the mod 530 of the Bernini company. all veneered in rosewood. very detailed. 5 drawers of wh...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

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

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Desk
Located in Gardiner, NY
Authentic vintage mid century Danish / Scandinavian Modern teak desk. This piece is in excellent refinished condition with few signs of age-related wear (see photos). If you would ...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Arne Vodder Executive Teak Desk for Sibast Denmark
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A dark teakwood executive desk with three drawers to each side and inset finger pulls to the fronts, the back side has two small bookcase cubies . The perfect desk for home or office...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

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

Danish Modern Executive Freestanding Rosewood Desk, 1960s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Executive Freestanding Rosewood Desk, 1960s. Elegant and stylish double sided writing desk in very expressive book matched rosewood/palisander veneer manufactured in De...
Category

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

Materials

Rosewood

Clausen & Maerus Writing Desk for Eden Rotterdam, Dutch design, 1960s
By Eden Rotterdam, Clausen and Maerus
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

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

Rectangular Table or Desk in Solid Wengé
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining table or desk, solid wengé, Northern Europe, 1960s This rectangular shaped table is completely executed in solid wengé. The corpus is structured in a horizontal manner, whic...
Category

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

Materials

Wenge

Studio BBPR for Olivetti 'Spazio' Multifunctional Table
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio BBPR for Olivetti, 'Spazio' table, coated steel, plastic, vinyl, Italy, 1960s. In 1954, Olivetti, the Italian office equipment manufacturer, hir...
Category

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

Materials

Steel

Charlotte Perriand Style Desk, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Wooden Desk; working desk; writing table; office furniture; Charlotte Perriand; French design; Mid-Century Modern; 1960s; Desk in the style of French designer Charlotte Perriand, ...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Wooden Writing Desk with Metal Structure, Italy, 1960s
Located in Madrid, ES
Small writing desk of wood and metal, Formica table top. Front of the two drawers painted in black and white. Made in Italy in the 1960s. Please note...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

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

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

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

Mid-Century Modern Paul McCobb Pedestal Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This vintage modern pedestal desk features the iconic mid-century design of Paul McCobb. Single sided writing desk offers two drawers for storage and organization and a spacious formica-style top for work. Slender tapered legs and unique McCobb drawer pulls...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

1950's Amazing "Magic Box' Organiser Bureau Compact Plywood Ateliers Genestar
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
This 'Magic Box' organising desk has been produced by various manufactures in Europe in the 1950's and 1960's Commonly this desk is known as produced in Switzerland by Mummenthaler & Meier but this same model was also made in Norway and France We believe this is the French version that was made by Ateliers Genestar as that version has the retractable plywood curved lamp...
Category

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

Materials

Oak, Plywood

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

Vintage Writing Desk 1960s Mahogany Veneered Enameled Metal
Located in Milano, IT
Desk with double column side drawers in enamelled metal and mahogany veneered wood with Formica-covered top.
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Jacques Adnet, Mahogany Semicircular Desk, France, circa 1936
Located in New York, NY
A grand mid-1930s desk as marvelous for its utility as its striking beauty. Not only do the elegant U-shape and large, receding supports complement the desk's rich mahogany finish, t...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Mid century Desk by Gio Ponti
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
DESK BY GIO PONTI A midcentury desk produced in Italy by Italian master Gio Ponti, good solid construction with Sapele veneer.Its sleek and minimalistic design is enhanced by elegant...
Category

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

Materials

Mahogany

Walnut Hunt Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage walnut hunt table. Dimensions: 28"H x 18"D x 72" from end to end x 35" deep overall.
Category

Mid-20th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

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

Heywood Wakefield Trimline Desk by Kem Weber
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W59.5 D29.5 H29.5 Fully refinished Mid Century modern desk designed by Kem Weber for Heywood Wakefield. Desk features a chrome tubular frame, birch drawers , a laminate top and a me...
Category

1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Art Deco Buffet Credenza Cabinet Walnut Black Marble, France, circa 1930
Located in Labrit, Landes
Cabinet Art Deco, French, circa 1930. Credenza buffet walnut and marble with chrome brass chopsticks. Two doors and six drawers. The buffet has been made in three parts. The top o...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Art Deco Desk, France 1940s
Located in Greding, DE
Art Deco desk with slightly curved table top and two drawer elements with four drawers each. These are lockable and the handles are made of elegant bars. The desk can be positioned a...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Rosewood Writing Desk with Bookshelf, Danish Design
Located in The Hague, NL
Midcentury Danish rosewood desk A good quality Danish rosewood desk having four drawers to the front and open shelf to the back. Beautiful grain on the top and drawers on original ke...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Vintage Walnut Executive Desk by Florence Knoll
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing vintage executive desk designed by architect and furniture designer Florence Knoll in the United States, circa 1960s. This iconic design...
Category

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

Materials

Steel, Chrome

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

Vintage Drafting Table / Desk
Located in Oakville, CT
Drafting Table Overall Dimensions: 72" x 44 1/2" x 38" - 64 1/2" high Inner Drawer Dimensions: Larger - 36 1/2" x 25" x 2" Smaller - 25" x 10 1/2" x 3 3/4" Materials: Oak & Pine
Category

Mid-20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Pine

Teak Desk by Severin Hansen for Haslev
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
A beautiful example of this classic Scandinavian Modern design, a great example of form and function. This is the more desireable 4 drawer version, and is in great condition.
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Mid Century Modern Floating Walnut Desk
Located in Sayreville, NJ
Alma furniture floating walnut desk Super rare floating desk with finished back. Walnut with chrome knobs and feet caps. This has excellent wood grain with a refinished top. Dimen...
Category

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

Materials

Walnut

Scandinavian solid wood Danish desk danish
Located in Lyon, FR
Scandinavian solid wood desk from the 60s in the style of Arne vodder's work. Beautiful woodwork, sober and elegant design typical of Scandinavian furniture of the period. Very fine ...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

French Louis XV Walnut Side Table or Small Writing Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French Louis XV style side table made of solid walnut with hidden desk. Table top slides forward and back lifts up to reveal compartments for letters with two small drawers. Elegan...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

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

Faux Bamboo Campaign Style Burlwood Desk or Writing Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Ernest Hemingway style beautifully made desk or writing table with chinoiserie faux bamboo, burl wood inlay, finished back, and drawers (one opens for a keyboard) The desk features ...
Category

1950s American Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Faux Bamboo, Burl

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

Antique Queen Anne Style Burr Walnut Writing Bureau
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique Queen Anne style burr walnut writing bureau. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1930’s. It is of superb quality and is a very useful item. This i...
Category

1930s British Queen Anne Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Elegant Heywood Wakefield Ladies Writing Desk & Chair
Located in Buffalo, NY
Elegant Heywood Wakefield Ladies Writing Desk & Chair.. Classic mid century modern,Wonderful original finish.Solid birch wood.. Hand delivery avail to New York City or anywhere en ro...
Category

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

Materials

Fabric, Birch

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

Modular Desk Set with Black Glass Top by Mojmir Pozar, 1960s, Set of 3
Located in Żory, PL
This vintage furniture set was designed by Mojmir Pozar and produced in the 1960s in the Czech Republic. The set consists of three elements: - smaller cabinet: 40x42x60cm - larger ca...
Category

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

Materials

Glass, Wood

Kai Kristiansen Fm 60 Executive Desk In Teak
Located in Berkeley, CA
This Danish modern executive desk Model FM 60 in teak was designed by Kai Kristiansen for Feldballes Møbelfabrik in 1957. The large work surface is supported by four sculpted legs wh...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Desk
Located in Gardiner, NY
Authentic vintage mid century Danish / Scandinavian Modern teak desk. This piece is in excellent refinished condition with very few signs of age-related wear (see photos). If you w...
Category

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

Materials

Teak

Italian mid century modern light blue laminate solid wood desk with drawer 1960s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern, light blue laminate and solid wood desk, with drawer, 1960s. Desk with rectangular top in light blue Formica, with light solid wood structure, composed of...
Category

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

Materials

Laminate, Wood

French Louis XVI-Style Secretary Desk with Marble Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Vintage Condition Materials: Mahogany, Marble Top, Brass Handles & Gallery
Category

1930s French Louis XVI Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

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

Antique Military Campaign Style Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
A smart and extremely well made antique military campaign style pedestal desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1950’s. It is of superb quality, it is very heavy a...
Category

1950s British Campaign Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Early variant Osvaldo Borsani desk with two drawers for Tecno, Italy 1950s
Located in Milan, IT
Minimal Osvaldo Borsani 1950s desk for Tecno, Italy Carries all the original Tecno transfer labels
Category

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

Materials

Metal, Brass

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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