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Modern Desks and Writing Tables

MODERN STYLE

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaircrafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

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Style: Modern
Large Bespoke Study Desk with Linoleum Top and Drawer, Customizable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This large beetroot color study desk is made with a powder coated steel frame and a beautiful natural linoleum top made out of linseed oil. This modern minimal desk has two steel dra...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Bespoke Executive Metal Desk, Lacquered Steel, Walnut Veneer, Industrial Design
Located in Berlin, DE
Industrial design executive metal desk, customizable. The desk is made of lacquered steel, aluminum, walnut veneer.
Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Small Burgundy Study Desk with Natural Linoleum Table Top & Drawer, Customizable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This small study desk is made with a beetroot powder-coated steel frame and a burgundy coloured natural linoleum tabletop. The linoleum for our desks is selected for the ecological p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Teak Desk by Domino Møbler
Located in Savannah, GA
A Teak Desk by Domino Møbler, 1960s. 53 inches wide by 23 inches deep by 28 ¾ inches tall; knee clearance 25 ½ inches
Category

1960s Danish Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Modern Mismatch Dining Table, Solid Oak, Brass Handmade by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Modern Mismatch Dining Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Mismatch seamlessly combines the beauty of organic materials with the elegance...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Jacques Pine Green Console Table in Bird's Eye Maple by Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
Designed with the aim to find the perfect balance between clean lines and warm texture. Consisting of 5 rounded, 50 mm thick slats with bird’s eye maple veneer, the console table is ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Birdseye Maple, Maple

Maple Parallel Desk by Juntos Projects
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Parallel desk is built around two suspended horizontal slabs that create an expansive workspace. The structure is anchored by cross-shaped legs that pierce through the top and fr...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple

Finn Juhl Nyhavn Desk Wood Black Lino
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Desk designed by Finn Jhul Manufactured by one collection Finn Juhl, (Denmark) When Finn Juhl established his first studio at the exclusive address of 33 Nyhavn in central Copenhagen in 1945, he designed a very simple desk...
Category

2010s Danish Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Walnut Orange MiMi Table by Miduny, Made in Italy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Merging clean lines with warm materials, the faceted geometry of the MiMi table creates a slender, graceful profile punctuated with painted surfaces that ca...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Oak, Plywood

The Chiquita Desk. Brazilian Solid Wood and Natural Straws.
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Chiquita writing desk features smooth and delicate lines, with 4 drawers featuring fronts made of natural wicker and brass handles that impart a nostalgic and romantic feel to th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Straw, Wood

EPIC Metal Desk by Soraya Osorio
Located in Vero Beach, FL
EPIC metal desks semi-circle embodies power and confidence. The finishes consist of a Handcrafted textured aged brass front center leg and three drawer fronts and a black bronze steel top and outer legs. Customization available upon request. Featured in Elle Decor...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Steel

Georgetti Erasmo Luxury Italian Oval Desk by Massimo Scolari
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An extraordinary Italian design with particularly noteworthy Moden form and exquisite wood. Georgetti Erasmo oval desk designed by Massimo Scolari with fluid and linear lines. The de...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Handcrafted English Oak Desk Console
Located in London, GB
Our larger handcrafted modernist wall mounted oak desk/vanity or console table designed and handmade in England using traditional furniture making techniques. Completely handcrafted ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Leather

Extraordinary Pierre Jeanneret Library Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
We are very pleased to present this exceptional and rare Pierre Jeanneret illuminated reading table with provenance from DAV (Dayanand Anglo-Vedic) College Chandigarh which was built...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

French Marcello Desk in Blue Lacquer, Glass, and Brass by Joris Poggioli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ultra-glam statement-making desk in glossy blue lacquer, with glass base, brass accents, and velvet and MDF drawers by French designer Joris Poggioli. I...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antoine Proulx Executive Partners Desk
By Antoine Proulx
Located in Seattle, WA
Antoine Proulx Executive Partners Desk, handmade in USA for the interior design trade. The pedestals of this desk have drawers on both left, right, front and back. The Partners De...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Stylo Folding Desk by Enrico Tonucci
Located in Milan, IT
Designed with a modern interior in mind, this luxury desk is foldable and can be a precious and versatile addition to any room. The top in solid wood is co...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Amuneal’s Collector's Knife Edge Console with 1 Drawer
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal’s wall hanging oxidized oak console table uses our traditional Collector’s Shelving hardware to support this one-drawer unit with raised knife-edge surround. The scale of the...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Bespoke Modernist Tubular Steel Table in Chromed Metal and Glossy Lacquered Wood
Located in Berlin, DE
Bespoke modernist tubular writing table made of chrome plated tubular steel and lacquered wood.
Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Kidney Shaped Desk in Walnut by Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
The kidney-shaped desk in solid walnut was designed and made for a client's bay window home study; it has three main drawers of different depths that run on fully extendable Blum run...
Category

2010s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Dante Writing Desk by Daytona
Located in Milan, IT
Refined elegance and a classic design characterize the Dante Writing Desk. With a structure in plywood covered in a dark walnut veneer and a solid walnut base with a brushed gloss fi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Contemporary Trestle Table "Work" in Solid White Oak by Casey Lurie USA
Located in Chicago, IL
Introduced in 2016, WORK table is a contemporary take on the traditional working tables used by artists and designers for centuries. The table has height adjustable trestles...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak

Sculptural Green Wood Segment Desk by David Vu - Customizable
By David Vu
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Taking inspiration from the conceptual forms of Hiroshi Sugimoto, the Segment desk by Brooklyn designer David Vu starts with the exploration of simple geo...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple, Plywood

Handcrafted English Oak Desk
Located in London, GB
Our new prime English oak 2 drawer dovetailed desk. Designed and handmade in England using skilled traditional furniture making techniques. Completely handcrafted from the finest ful...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Mid-century modern writing desk
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Mid-century modern writing desk in original vintage condition with signs of use.
Category

1980s Hungarian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Organic Modern Pontes Desk, Green Marble Brass, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Pontes Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Pontes ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Brass

Contemporary Sitting Standing "Work" Desk in Solid White Oak by Casey Lurie, USA
Located in Chicago, IL
Work desk is the smaller sibling of our WORK table, a contemporary take on the traditional working tables used by artists and designers for centuries. The choice of materials combine...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak

Bagutta writing desk by Annig Sarian for Arflex - Italy - 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
Small desk with three drawers, wooden frame and chromed and curved tubular metal supports. The desk has a slight defect on one side, as shown in the photo. Manufactured by Arlex, It...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Modern Toscana Vanity Table Oak Beige Leather Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Toscana Vanity Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The organic modern Toscana vanity table is a captivating blend of natural beauty and c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Jacques Terracotta Red Console Table in Bird's Eye Maple by Fred&Juul
Located in Fiesole, Florence
Designed with the aim to find the perfect balance between clean lines and warm texture. Consisting of 5 rounded, 50 mm thick slats with bird’s eye maple veneer, the console table is ...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Birdseye Maple, Maple

'005' Palm Wood and Metal Desk in the Manner of Pierre Chareau
Located in Glendale, CA
'005' Palm Wood and Metal Desk in the Manner of Pierre Chareau Handcrafted in the Los Angeles and French workshops of noted French designer a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Venezia Rialto Writing Desk
Located in Milan, IT
Effortlessly enriching any modern interior - from a conference room, office, home study - this sculptural piece will create a timeless and elegant focal point. Entirely crafted of wo...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Fusion Desk by Daniele Lo Scalzo Moscheri
Located in Milan, IT
Designed for presidential offices, this desk's large scale conveys a sense of importance. The soft lines of its rope-colored leather desktop contrast the sharp edges of its dark canaletto-walnut legs, making it extremely modern, sophisticated and visually striking. Central drawer. Front modesty panel...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Customizable Desk/Vanity In Matte Walnut with Ottoman In Chocolate Velvet
Located in NEW YORK, NY
This minimalist desk and accompanying ottoman offer a functional and adaptable solution for various interior applications. The desk features a robust wood construction for its top su...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Magic Box Desk by Mummenthaler & Meier
Located in Basildon, London
Introducing the stunning Magic Box Desk by Mummenthaler & Meier, a must-have addition to any luxury office space. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, this desk features a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Glass, Painted wood & Chrome Plated Metal 1990s desk by Gallotti e Radice
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Minimal Desk with wheeled chest of drawers in white lacquered wood, thick cut glass and chrome plated metal. Minimal and elegant Desk with chest of drawers on wheels in white lacqu...
Category

1990s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Leather and Metal Desk
Located in Bonita Springs, FL
Our Belgian Leather Desk, a seamless blend of craftsmanship and modern minimalism, this desk features a vegetable-tanned leather top, meticulously inlaid on a sleek steel base. The s...
Category

2010s Belgian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Bespoke Walnut Desk with Cast Iron Legs Industrial Modern Work Custom Table
Located in Oakville, CT
Bespoke Industrial modern work / office bespoke desk / table with 1 3/4" wooden walnut top, "Brown & Sharpe" Cast iron legs and steel s...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Iron

Unique "Secret" desk in burnt wood and brass by Erwan Boulloud
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
Unique "Secret" desk in brunt wood and brass with hidden drawers. Unique and signed piece by Erwan Boulloud for Galerie Glustin. France, 2025
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Kartell Earl of Wood Desk by Philippe Stark in Light Wood and Chrome Frame
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Earl of wood is a simple new desk with a curved wooden surface, offering the perfect solution to the Office and Habitat worlds on account of its myriad diffe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Ebonized Oak and Antique Copper Small Dining Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A solid oak top with an ebonized finish and antique copper steel frame dining table with simple and modern lines. Pairs well with the Inherita...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

'Frejus' Wood And Steel Desk In The Style Of Eugene Printz
Located in Glendale, CA
'Frejus' Wood And Steel Desk In The Style Of Eugene Printz Crafted in Los Angeles in the workshop of noted French designer and antiques dealer Denis de le Mesiere, who meticulously ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Arco da Augusta Console Calacatta Marble Handmade Portugal Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Arco da Augusta Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Inspired by Lisbon's historical arch and as a homage to the Portuguese architecture...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Travertine, Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass, Steel

Utopia Desk, Cream Oak and Polished Brass, InsidherLand by Joana Santos Barbosa
Located in Maia, Porto
The utopia desk is designed in the likeness of the architectural scale that suggests a crossing through the structures of a utopian city, organized by the principles of symmetry and ideal forms. The imposing design combines cream oak and polished brass. As a futuristic project, two brass blades stylize the cream oak top, curving it with an Avant Garde detail. Surprisingly, a pencil drawer is hidden in one brass blade. At the base, the open shape of two blocks suggests a passage between two identical metal arches...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Karl Springer Rare "Goatskin Free Form Desk" 1988
Located in New York, NY
Rare and exceptional "Goatskin Free Form Desk" in high gloss lacquered goatskin with drawer by Karl Springer, American 1988 (date stamped on bottom). Springer’s Free Form...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Goatskin, Wood, Lacquer

"Xilte" Desk
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
The "Xitle" desk is part of ADN Studio´s Volcan Collection. This collection seeks to go back to basics. It is a subtle and refined interpretation of the archetypical modern furniture...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

"Xilte" Desk
"Xilte" Desk
$4,900 / item
Herringbone Waterfall Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Herringbone Waterfall Desk, create a serene space for work and moments of reflection with this parsons style desk, engaging the senses with its fluid f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

ClassiCon Jean Fold Out Table by Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
Jean, named after Eileen Gray‘s intimate friend of many years, the architect Jean Badovici, stood in various modeis in their summer villa E 1027. "Every room has at its disposal one ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Philipp Plein office brown desk in split leather with a crocodile skin effect
Located in Oirlo, LI
In a luxurious penthouse, nestled in the heart of a bustling city, stood a desk unlike any other. It was the creation of Philipp Plein, a designer whose name was synonymous with bo...
Category

1970s German Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Pair of Small Customizable Study Desks / Console Table with Drawer
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This pair of small study desks are made with a beetroot powder-coated steel frame and a burgundy coloured natural linoleum tabletop. The linoleum for our desks is selected for the ec...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Silhueta Console Table Carrara Marble Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Silhueta console, Modern Collection, handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by GF Modern. Inspired by the organic shapes and lean silhouettes, this console adds a modern touch to every li...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Marble, Brass

Pebble Edge English Walnut Dining oval Table by Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
The Pebble Edge Oval Table on Chapel Legs: The pebble edge refers to the tabletop edge, which takes inspiration from the perfect skimming stone, a stone that has been smoothed and made tactile by natural forces. The photographs show it with the Carol Bentwood walnut chairs. The two pieces of English walnut used for the top are joined centrally along the live edge and held in place with butterfly ties on the underside. The tabletop stands...
Category

2010s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Vivian Beauty Desk, in oak wood and brass, by Accardi Buccheri for Medulum
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Beauty desk with simple lines and sophisticated details. Vivian is ideal for intimate environments such as a boutique-hotel or a private residence. A brass box contains two jewel boxes. The white lacquered wooden shell houses...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Philippe Starck Square Mahogany Dining Table M 'Serie Lang' for Driade Aleph
Located in Hanover, MA
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...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Modern Light Oak Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
With its rounded subtle barrel-shaped top with alternating quarter straight cut oak veneers stands squarely on solid trapezoid-style legs. The facing two drawers have adequate enough...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Organic Modern Oga Desk Raw American Oak Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Oga Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Oga seamlessly combines the beauty of organic materials with the elegance of contemporary design. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Light Ash Modern Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
The desk makes a statement with its contemporary design and unique personality. Its metal pulls in an Ember finish and figured cathedral ash construction add elegance and set it apar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Jack Writing Desk by Daytona
Located in Milan, IT
A magnificent addition to your contemporary or more Classic style home, the Jack Writing Desk features an elegant brass base with a burnished brass finish, a plywood structure with t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Modern Home Office Writing Desk in High-Gloss Ironwood and Gold Lacquered Steel
Located in Vila Nova Famalicão, PT
The "Fifties Home Desk" is crafted from high-gloss ironwood and gold lacquered steel. We also offer a range of customization options to suit your style: - Choose from a selection ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Steel, Cut Steel

"Volpi" writing desk with drawer in natural Brazilian wood, office table
Located in Alto da Lapa, SP
Alfredo Volpi is a Brazilian painter who, throughout his career, experimented with geometric shapes, especially variations on flag shapes. The Volpi desk is inspired by the geometric...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Modern desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks and writing tables, popular names associated with this style include Marco Zanuso Jr., Finn Juhl, Greenapple, and Elena Salmistraro. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $205 and tops out at $76,270 while the average work can sell for $6,480.

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