Mahogany Desks and Writing Tables

Vintage Dakota Jackson post modern Art Deco style executive partners desk featuring mahogany with leather insert and stainless steel frame. A V-Shape pattern veneer top with Black Leather inset. 2 pedestal cabinets below: each with 2 standard drawers and 1 file drawer, front and back. Polished Stainless Steel drawer pulls, post, floor plates, and arced trestle supporting desktop. DJ Chelsea Black Leather, Polished Polyresin finish. Dakota Jackson (born August 24, 1949) is an American furniture designer known for his eponymous furniture brand, Dakota Jackson, Inc.,[1] his early avant-garde works involving moving parts or hidden compartments,[2][3] and his collaborations with the Steinway & Sons piano company.[1] Jackson helped establish the art furniture movement in 1970s SoHo,[4][5] later becoming a celebrity designer in the 1980s.[6][7][8] His background in the world of stage magic helped him get his first commissions and is often cited as the source of his point-of-view.[6][9] Early life Dakota Jackson was born on August 24, 1949, and grew up in the Rego Park neighborhood of Queens, New York. Stage Magic Jackson's father, Jack Malon, was a professional magician.[10] Mr. Malon learned the trade from his own father, who studied stage magic in early 20th century Poland.[1] Jackson began studying magic at a young age and sometimes performed with his father.[11] Jackson's name, in fact, grew out of a road trip to Fargo, North Dakota.[11] Throughout his adolescence and into his early 20s, Jackson immersed himself in the world of magic.[2] In 1963, Jackson began to perform in talent shows at his junior high school, William Cowper JHS 73 (which is known today as The Frank Sansivieri Intermediate School),[12] and at children's birthday parties.[13] Jackson also began to build his own props, including large boxes for sawing a woman in half and small boxes from which doves would emerge in full flight.[11] Jackson acknowledges the importance of these early experiences with magic to his later career as a furniture designer: "The demands of performance taught me how to discipline myself to achieve aesthetic ends."[1][2][14] After Jackson graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1967, he continued performing as a magician, working in art galleries, night clubs, touring in the Catskills, and giving private performances at society events.[2][13][15] When he was 17, Jackson had studied with magician Jack London to learn the dangerous bullet catch trick.[16] "What appealed to me was the notion of doing things that appeared miraculous" Jackson once recalled.[6] "I was interested in spiritualism. I was interested in things like bullet catching, things that really challenged individual sensibilities, that were frightening, on the edge."[2] He didn't find the opportunity to perform the trick publicly until a decade later at Jackson's final professional performance as a magician.[1] It was documented in Andy Warhol's Interview (magazine), in a story titled "Dakota Jackson bites the bullet."[1][16] Jackson admits that he sometimes tires of references to his magician background, although he acknowledges it as an important part of his history.[2] The Downtown Arts Scene In the late 1960s, Jackson moved into a loft on 28th Street in Chelsea.[1][17] Jackson became part of the Downtown scene, a community of "artists, dancers, performers, and musicians" who moved to the neighborhood for the cheap rent and social life.[1][8][17][18] In October 1970, Jackson performed with the Japanese group Tokyo Kid Brothers at New York's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (also known as Café La MaMa) in a rock musical production called "Coney Island Play" ("Konī airando purē).[19] The show explored themes of cross-cultural communication and understanding[19] and was a follow up to the group's debut performance of "The Golden Bat" at La MaMa earlier that summer.[20][21][22] Jackson played the part of a "clever conjurer."[19] Over the next few years, Jackson became interested in minimalist dance and performed in the dance companies of Laura Dean and Trisha Brown.[2][15][23] Jackson credits his exposure to minimalism and minimalist dance in particular as having had a strong influence on his approach to design; in 1989, Jackson told the Los Angeles Times: For me the essential fineness of a design is in the idea, not the object itself ... In minimalism, the object is pared down to its basic meaning by stripping away all the excrescence ... —those elements that do not contribute to the pure idea.[24] Design career In the early 1970s, as he experimented with performance and dance, Jackson began branching out as a special effects consultant to other magicians, film producers, and musicians[2][23] such as Donna Summer.[6][9] The loft also gave Jackson an opportunity to apply his creativity and building skills: "These were times when lofts were not ... luxury condominiums. These were tough, tough raw spaces ... and we artists, bohemians, creative people, we created our environment. So I had to build".[17][25] Recognizing his skills as a builder, Jackson decided to shift away from performance and become a full-time maker.[1][15][17] He began making a variety of objects, including furnishings for other artists and magic boxes with hidden compartments for art collectors and galleries.[17][24] Jackson's social connections helped spread word about his work[15] and this led to his first commissions.[1] Early Commissions Desk for John Lennon by Dakota Jackson In 1974, Jackson's career as a designer began when Yoko Ono asked him to build a desk with hidden compartments for husband John Lennon.[26] "She wanted to make a piece of furniture that would be a mystical object; that would be like a Chinese puzzle," Jackson recalled in a 1986 interview published in the Chicago Tribune.[6] The result was a small cubed-shaped writing table with rounded corners reminiscent of Art Deco era style.[15] Touching secret pressure points opened the desk's compartments.[23] This commission helped build Jackson's reputation and allowed him to merge his experience as a magician and performer with his developing interest in furniture.[27] In 1978, a bed designed for fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg garnered Jackson even more notoriety.[8][10][28] [29] Called "The Eclipse", the bed was described in The New Yorker as "large, astounding, sumptuous, with sunbursts of cherry wood and quilted ivory satin at head and foot."[10] A lighting system positioned behind the headboard switched on automatically at sunset and spread out rays of light "like an aurora borealis,"[2][17] which grew brighter and brighter until turning off at 2 am.[23][30] Commissions like these continued to come in[8] and Jackson soon became known as a designer to the rich and famous.[30] Some of his other clients from this period included songwriter Peter Allen, Saturday Night Live creator and producer Lorne Michaels, Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, and soap opera actress Christine Jones.[8] The American Art Furniture Movement and the Industrial Style In the late 1970s, Jackson was among a small group of artists and artisans producing and exhibiting hand-made furniture in New York.[5][31] Jackson and his peers were part of the "American Art Furniture Movement," a group sometimes called the "Art et Industrie Movement,"[32] named after the leading art furniture gallery of the era,[32] Art et Industrie, founded by Rick Kaufmann in 1976.[33] In a 1984 Town & Country article titled "Art You Can Sit On," Kaufmann said he created the gallery to "serve as a locus to the public for artists and designers creating new decorative arts."[31] The works on display were "radical objects" that drew from a number of fine art traditions, including "Pop, Surrealism, Pointillism and Dada [which were] "thrown together with the severe lines of the Bauhaus and the Russian avant-garde, mixed with Mondrian's color and filtered through a video sensibility—all to create a new statement."[31] The article described Jackson as a "ten-year veteran of the genre" and pointed to the "clean forms and quiet colors" of his furniture.[4] Jackson showed a variety of industrial-looking lacquer, metal, and glass works at Art et Industrie, including his Standing Bar (also known as the Modern Bar),[33] a lacquered cabinet that Jackson designed in 1978 for his wife (then-girlfriend) RoseLee Goldberg.[13] Other works from this period include the T-Bird Desk, Self-Winding Cocktail Table, and the Saturn Stool...

A stunning secretary desk with bookcase by top-quality furniture maker Craftique, in the style of early American John Hancock desks. Solid mahogany with their Old Wood finish, brass ...

An exquisite Vintage flame mahogany partners pedestal desk that dates from the late 20th Century. This desk has been accomplished in the Georgian manner and is beautifully crafted ...

Mahogany and burr leather top pedestal desk circa 1990. Good example of a 19th century designed desk. Which is in 3 sections, being the top and 2 pedestals. Top surface with green ...

Theodore Alexander "Chateau du Vallois" French Provincial Writing Desk. Features a serpentine form made from mahogany with tooled leather surfaces. Includes three dovetailed drawers ...

A Queen Anne style writing desk by Henkel Harris, of Winchester, Virginia, USA. Solid mahogany with a distressed finish, decorative brass hardware, an ogee edge to the top, brass rai...

A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style slant front standing desk or architect's desk By Baker Furniture USA, Late 20th Century Carved mahogany, with original brass hardware. Me...

This is an exquisite Victorian Revival crossbanded flame mahogany desk dating from the late 20th Century. This desk has been beautifully made from ...

Nancy Corzine Neoclassical Giltwood & Black Marble Top Executive Desk

The tan leather-lined rectangular top over a frieze fitted with three drawers with brass pulls; raised on spiral-fluted tapering legs.

A Chippendale style writing desk by Lane Furniture. Mahogany with brass hardware, a banded bookmatched top with an ogee edge, decoratively carved gallery, stretchers, and fluted stra...

Vintage Chippendale Style Double Sided Leather Top Executive Partners Desk. Item featured separates in 3 parts for ease of transport, large impressive size, double sided partners des...

Beautiful midcentury desk, originally used as a desk for a lady, or vanity in the bedroom. The table is elegant combination of lighter birch wood on the sides and mahogany wood on to...

This is a charming little vintage Lane Furniture Chinese Chippendale, Mahogany wood writing desk. This features a beautiful banded inlaid center piping and a stretcher base, with brass handles on either side. It has a center drawer and fretwork inside corner...

Scrivania e sedia girevole stile navale, anni '70 Scrivania in mogano stile navale, 9 cassetti, maniglie ottone dorato. Profili del ripiano in ottone dorato. Poltrona girevole in mo...

Extraordinary custom desk made of aged honey oak having two large drawers on each side with 3 smaller drawers in the top. The narrower drawers have decorative carvings with oak leaves and branches. The dark matte brass hardware complements the masculinity of the desk. Weathered cream leather is inset in the top surface. But the piece de resistance is the other side of the desk which has 3 amazing 19th century Black Forest relief...

Maitland Smith Writing Desk. Mahogany Drawers. Stone rectangular tiles assembled in a surface covering described as tessellated.

Experience the fusion of classic elegance and modern craftsmanship with our Louis XV-style mahogany Desk, a piece that radiates vintage charm and refined style. This desk has been ex...

A beautiful and timeless 1970's American escritoire desk. The writing desk is made of solid mahogany and is sturdy. The desk shows fine carving details and offers 5 regular drawers a...

A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style writing desk By Baker Furniture USA, circa 1980s Carved mahogany, with original brass hardware. Measures: 45.5"W x 21.25"D x 29.6...

For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your deliv...

Discover the timeless elegance of our 1970s Mid-Century Modern Desk, a vintage gem meticulously restored to its original glory by our dedicated team. Crafted from quality mahogany wo...

For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...

This is a Kittinger Williamsburg collection desk. The desk is in good used condition with minor signs of age and wear as shown.

For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...

A very rare, limited edition Lexington Furniture's Palmer Home Collection Mahogany and Tooled Leather Slant Top Drafting Desk, drafting table with brass ...

A gorgeous contemporary mahogany console sofa table or writing desk By Barbara Barry for Baker Furniture USA, circa 1990s Measures: 32" W x 20" D x 25" H. Newly refinishe...

1980s English root wood writing desk with door and drawers.

A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk By Maitland Smith Philippines, Circa 1980s Carved mahogany, with original brass hardware and embossed leather top. ...

Vintage ladies desk made by UP Zavody company in the former Czechoslovakia in the 1980´s. Features a simple design, mahogany veneer. Overall in ver...

Step into the 1970s with our exquisitely crafted Jacobean writing table, a beautiful representation of the era's rich artistry. Expertly constructed from premium mahogany wood, this table has been meticulously restored to its original splendor by our team of skilled craftsmen. At the heart of this piece is its stunning, newly dyed dark green leather top, elegantly engraved to create a focal point of luxury and sophistication. The leather's polished and waxed surface not only offers a captivating patina finish but also ensures durability and resilience against everyday use. The desk's ebonized finish provides a striking aesthetic contrast, enhanced further by gilt accent moldings. These embellishments reflect the traditional craftsmanship of the Jacobean era, adding a touch of historical charm to the modern-day. Functionality is key in this timeless piece. The desk stands on two intricately carved stretched pedestal legs, ensuring robust stability. Added to this are brass caster wheels in perfect working condition, combining ease of movement with classic style. This vintage Jacobean...

In Bois-Satiné veneer, all-round full-length mirror veneer with seed beads. Extremely fine, floral, bronze fittings in the form of chutes, handmade patinated bronze. Rosewood veneere...

Reproduction English chippendale style mahogany ball & claw carved executive writing desk. Item features nice large size, rope carved edge, solid wood construction, beautiful wood gr...

A Kittinger solid wood lawyer's desk. The desk is made of solid mahogany wood. The desk has a long thin drawer in the center flanked by four drawers to the sides. The desk has ornate...

Paul McCobb for Calvin mid century ebonized mahogany brass and white laminate desk Desk measures: 54.5 wide x 26 deep x 29 inches high, with a cha...

Arthur Espenet Carpenter, unique double-trunk table desk. This extraordinary table is unique to Espenet's work as it deviates from the traditional rectilinear form with its well-f...

A stealth bomber-like sleek square book-matched ribbon mahogany veneer top dining table over four sharply angled polished cast aluminum legs, each having the signature and manufacturer's mark: Aleph by Starck. Designed by Philippe Starck in 1987 for Aleph France: a division of Driade, from the limited series Lang...

Dining table in solid mahogany designed and made by Søborg Møbler. Great original condition.

A mid century modern table or desk made by Stow Davis. A chrome double pedestel base with an oval top.

Carved Honduran mahogany table with trestle base composed of two lyres embellished with acanthus leaves and joined by a stretcher, with inset Rosso Alicante marble...

This is a gorgeous Baker Desk in the French Directoire style. The desk is beautifully made of mahogany with bright brass trim and a beautiful leather top with gold tooled embossing a...

An adaptation of the Colonial period Thomas Jefferson Tall Adaptable Desk currently at Monticello, by National Mount Airy Furniture. Their version is similar, although shorter, to the original desk. Solid mahogany with brass hardware, faux keyhole escutcheon, brass locking pins to hold writing desk in place when slid under top, and supported by six straight block legs with column details. Features a banded tilt-up drawing or reading top that has a tray for holding papers or a book & is held up by a hinged wood ratchet stand...

A rare Drexel Heritage Bonheur du Jour Federal Style mahogany tooled leather slide top desk with 10 functional drawers. It is superb condition and is beautifully designed. The desk area has 5 top smaller drawers, 4 rear, very deep drawers, a large center drawer with original brass drawer knobs...

This stylish Chippendale inspired desk/center table dates to the 1980s and is fabricated in pickled mahogany, with brass hardware and a glass top.