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Desks and Writing Tables

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Desks and Writing Tables For Sale
Period: 1950s
Period: Late 19th Century
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

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

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

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

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

Small 19th century writing table with 3 drawers
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Beautiful small antique mahogany writing table with 3 drawers. The top is inlaid with green gold-edged leather. Writing table has inlay work. This is done with ebony and satinwood. T...
Category

1870s British Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

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

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

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

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

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

Leather + Wood Writing Desk Attributed to Jacques Adnet, France 1950s
Located in Chicago, IL
A 1950s French writing desk attributed to Jacques Adnet. This desk features a black leather clad frame with stitch detailing and an inset wood tabletop. It has two drawers with circu...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian Leather Top Desk
Located in London, GB
A fantastic original antique Victorian leather top desk. This was made in England, it dates from around 1880-1900. The quality i...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Leather

William IV Mahogany Writing Table
Located in London, GB
A William IV mahogany writing table, with fine patinated to the top and sides, the frieze with geometric moulding to the centre, with...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

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

Antique Estate Desk, Scottish, Oak, Library Table, Gothic Revival, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique estate desk. A Scottish, oak library table with leather skiver in Gothic revival taste, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1880. W...
Category

Late 19th Century Scottish Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

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

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

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

Franco Albini TL2 Cavalletto table Poggi Italy 1950
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Iconic and early example of the TL2 'Cavalletto' table designed by Franco Albini and manufactured by Poggi in Italy around 1950. The table has an amazing dynamic and archtectural sha...
Category

1950s 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

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 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

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

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

1950s Industrial Single Bank Steel Tanker Desk by Orma Milano, Italy
Located in Zagreb, HR
A unique small 1950s industrial design single bank steel tanker desk with green top, produced by Orma Milano from Italy. Features four drawers of different sizes, and a fifth top dra...
Category

1950s Italian Industrial Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

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

Restored Art Deco Writing Desk, by J. Halabala, UP Závody, Walnut, Czech, 1950s
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Dimensions of the table: Height: 76 cm (29.9 in) Width: 150 cm (59.1 in) Depth: 71 cm (27.6 in) Leg space: Height: 73 cm (28.7 in) Width: 58 cm (22.8 in) Designed by Jindrich Halab...
Category

1950s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Beech, Walnut, Lacquer

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

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

Gio Ponti for Singer & Sons #2135 Extendable Dining Table, c 1950, Refinished
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This restored Model 2135 extendable dining table with four leaves by Gio Ponti for Singer & Sons features gorgeously veined Italian Walnut with sculpted legs to Gio Ponti's signature...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

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

Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin Mahogany Double Pedestal Executive Desk, Restored
Located in South Bend, IN
A very rare and exceptional Mid-Century Modern "Taliesin" writing desk By Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon USA, 1950s Gorgeous mahogany, with iconic carved geometric Talie...
Category

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

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Walnut and Oak Leather Top Desk
Located in London, GB
A very stylish and well made vintage walnut and oak leather top desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1950-60’s. It is beautifully designed and is of superb quali...
Category

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

Materials

Leather, Oak, Walnut

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

Guillerme et Chambron Desk and Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
Designer handcrafted oak desk and chair. Chair adjusts to two positions. Desk knobs are wood with ceramic. All legs end on ceramic balls. Chair is 25 W x...
Category

1950s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ceramic, Wood

19th Century Spanish Renaissance Style Walnut Writing Table with Iron Stretcher
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale late nineteenth century Spanish Renaissance style table features a 29-inch wide oak top joined to its elegantly curved legs by means of two splines that run the enti...
Category

Late 19th Century French Renaissance Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Alfred Waterhouse A Gothic Revival Oak Partners Desk With Two Drawers Each Side
By Alfred Waterhouse
Located in London, GB
Alfred Water House in the style of. A Gothic Revival oak Partners desk with a large open writing area and a pair of drawers to each side and a turned gallery to each end and below the drawers with a central opening for more leg room. The graduating turned legs united by conforming turned gallery to each end on original brass and ceramic castors. A well-designed architectural desk for two...
Category

Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival 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

Midcentury Elm Desk by Josef Frank, Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Beautiful desk by Josef Frank, made from elm with striking woodgrain. Clean lines and subtly rounded forms, a timeless piece.
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Elm

Writing desk, Italian manufacture. C1950s.
Located in Baranzate, IT
Beautiful Vintage desk with two drawers and front storage rack bordered by iron wire mesh. Italian manufacture. C1950s.
Category

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

Materials

Metal

1950s Desk Corner
Located in Milano, IT
Writing corner, with planked wall with up-and-down lamp, worktop with day compartments and drawers, mahogany veneer wood and skai upholstery.
Category

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

Materials

Mahogany

Mid-Century Modern Teak Desk or Writing Table by Louis van Teeffelen for WéBé
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Mid-Century Modern desk or writing table. Design by Louis Van Teeffelen for WéBé. Striking Dutch design from the 1950s. Minimalistic design in solid teak and ori...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

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

Finn Juhl Rare Desk for Bovirke in Teak
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Finn Juhl for Bovirke, desk, model ‘BO 69’, teak, metal, brass, Denmark, design ca. 1953, made late 1950s Finn Juhl conceived this rare version of the desk model ‘BO 69’ in the late...
Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

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

Industrial 1950s French Tandem School Desk by Matco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jean Prouve style Mid-Century school "Tandem" desk with oak wood desk top and slatted seats on a green enameled metal frame that have a lower oak storage shelf. This vintage two seat...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

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

1950s Knoll & Drake Formica and Walnut Desk
Located in London, GB
Designed and manufactured by Knoll & Drake, this 1950s desk is both practical and timeless. Constructed with metal legs, the desk has a white Formica table top...
Category

1950s American Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Formica, Walnut

Scrivania vintage anni '50
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Questa scrivania prodotta in Italia risale agli anni '50 del secolo scorso. E' stata realizzata con una struttura in ferro tubolare quadrato e legno impiallicciato teak. Il piano e i...
Category

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

Materials

Brass, Iron

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

Midcentury Modern Italian Teak Desk: Expertly Restored to Original Beauty
Located in Rome, IT
Restored vintage writing desk, originating from Italy in the 1950s, presents a striking example of midcentury design ethos. Crafted from rich teak wood and featuring a sleek frame of...
Category

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

Materials

Brass, Iron

20th Century Lacquered and Painted Wood French Louis XV Style Writing Desk, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Elegant French desk from the mid-20th century. Louis XVI style furniture finely sculpted, lacquered and painted, enriched with gilded and chiselled bronze. Desk finished for the cent...
Category

1950s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

bbpr ultrarare writing desk early
Located in Medesano, IT
Every aspect of this Italian design captures the meticulous craftsmanship and the innovation that the BBPR Studio is celebrated for. The design also incorporates a distinctive Japane...
Category

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

Materials

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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