Desks and Writing Tables
1830s British William IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1930s German Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1860s British High Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Unknown Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Steel, Chrome
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1890s British Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1980s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bamboo
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
1970s German Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Ash
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
19th Century French Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
19th Century British Edwardian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Walnut, Plywood
1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1790s French Country Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Other
1920s Charles II Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Elm, Oak
Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Birch
1970s Italian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Italian Space Age Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
19th Century British Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1950s Italian Other Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century English Colonial Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Birch, Teak, Wenge, Plywood
19th Century Scottish Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
20th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Silk, Glass, Hardwood
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Laminate, Mahogany
1910s European Edwardian Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry, Mahogany
Early 19th Century British William IV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1950s French Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Late 19th Century European Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mirror, Mahogany
Late 18th Century Italian Regency Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
20th Century British Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood, Leather
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Late 19th Century English Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
1880s English Victorian Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Oak
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Beech
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desks and Writing Tables
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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