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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chair — crafted 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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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Modern
Radius Cutaway Reclaimed Walnut Desk
Located in brooklyn, NY
Radiused outer edges and scalloped inner edge create a contrasting profile that adorns this minimal desk. Made from hand oiled solid walnut, this desk blends simple lines with unique...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood
Elle Ecrit Office Desk by Riva 1920, Walnut Knot
By Jamie Durie
Located in New York, NY
The Elle Ecrit Desk is designed with sleek, rectangular contours and enhanced functionality, featuring a central drawer flanked by two sets of side drawers. Its top includes a slidin...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Organic Modern Armona Desk, Walnut Onyx, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Armona modern desk pays homage to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Onyx
Organic Modern Armona Desk, Walnut, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Armona modern desk pays homage to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Modern Mismatch Desk Oak Walnut Root Brass Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Modern Mismatch Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Mismatch seamlessly combines the beauty of organic materials with the elegance of cont...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
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 Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
Wicker + Bamboo Writing Desk with Brass Trim, Italy 20th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
A vintage Italian writing desk clad in woven cane with an elegant patinated brass trim. The front and back of this desk are framed in bamboo and it features three front drawers with ...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bamboo, Wicker
Open Block Writing Desk by Global Views
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W60 D31.5 H29.25 KC26
Contemporary desk in great gently used condition. Item is structurally sound and sturdy with no large areas of wear. Item features one minimal drawer that hide...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Cerused oak three drawer writing desk having pull out slides.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cerused oak three drawer writing desk having pull out slides that allow for a generous work area. This desk is hand made in our workshops and comes in a darker version. 83" wide whe...
Category
2010s Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Design Kidney Shape Carved Walnut Office Library Desk
Featuring a charming mahogany & walnut French design small office or library desk in the classic kidney shape. ...
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Desk
Located in New York, NY
Brushed steel frame enclosing two mahogany drawers, faced with aluminum and inset with a dark-green tinted glass work surface. The top drawer locks.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Molteni&C Touchdown Workstation Desk by Studio Klass
Located in Boston, MA
Touch Down Unit, an innovative workstation designed by Studio Klass and originally thought for advanced work environments and produced by UniFor has become part of the Molteni&C coll...
Category
2010s Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Keys Desk by Phase Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Keys Desk by Phase Design
Dimensions: D 55.9 x W 127 x H 73.7 cm.
Materials: Spandrel glass top and powder-coated metal.
Solid steel bar available in a flat black or white powder c...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Guy LeFevre for Maison Jansen Lacquered Wood w/ Leather Desk, France C 1970s
Located in Norwalk, CT
Designed by noted designer Guy LeFevre who worked extensively with Maison Jansen in the 1970s, this handsome desk incorporates many of his signature details. The base and hardware ar...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Industrial Modern Wrought Iron Tilt Top Drafting Desk / Table
By Jorge A. Marien
Located in Weymouth, MA
Extraordinary modern wrought iron and glass tilt top drafting desk/table. Glass top is framed by wrought iron and tilts when the steampunk style handles are loosened. Table can be us...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Central Asian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Lucite and Natural Walnut floating Desk
Located in Ballard, CA
A highly engineered modernist desk made from a walnut (or oak, mahogany, or rosewood veneer) case “floating” on a Lucite base, which is affixed by custom-designed hardware. Custom si...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Elinor McGuire Model 226c Writing Desk
Located in Highland, IN
This exquisite design by Elinor McGuire for McGuire of San Fransisco is an exercise in subtle beauty and refined detailing. With a body covered in cane, slightly splayed legs, and so...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Lucite and Dark Walnut floating Desk
Located in Ballard, CA
A highly engineered modernist desk made from a walnut (or oak, mahogany, or rosewood veneer) case “floating” on a Lucite base, which is affixed by custom-designed hardware. Custom si...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Contemporary Modern Gridiron Stainless Steel Metal Post-Modern Dining Table Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Contemporary Modern Gridiron Stainless Steel Metal Post-Modern Dining Table Desk. Item features a sleek stainless steel construction, clean modern lines, great style and form. *Does ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Organic Modern Armona Desk, Walnut Brass Onyx, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Armona...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Onyx, Brass
Modern Menir Console Table, Calacatta Marble, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Menir Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
The Menir modern console table draws inspiration from menhir sil...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
Amorph Astra Desk Graphite Walnut stain on Ash wood with Top leather
By Amorph Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amorph Astra desk solid ashwood with top leather, Dimension: 60" L x 24" D x 30" H.
About Amorph:
Amorph is a design and manufacturing company base...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Amuneal’s Collector's Knife Edge Console
By Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
Amuneal’s wall hanging bleached oak console table uses our traditional Collector’s Shelving hardware to support this two-drawer unit with raised knife-edge surround. The scale of the...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
1920's English Pine Desk
Located in Houston, TX
The 1920s English Pine Desk exudes timeless charm with its elegant craftsmanship and functional design. Constructed from rich, solid pine, it boasts a warm, inviting hue that adds ch...
Category
1920s English Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Pine
21st Century Antigua Writing Desk in Carbalho by Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Antigua desk, with its sculptural design and its luxurious charm, is the perfect centerpiece for prestigious working spaces. In this version, features a top and chest of drawers with...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Organic Modern Armona Desk, Oak Root Onyx, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona desk, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, the Armona modern desk pays homage to...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Onyx
Contemporary Writing Desk In Solid Wood and Glass Worktop
By Mondo
Located in New York, NY
The "Writing" desk, a distinguished creation by Giovanna Azzarello for Riva 1920, elegantly combines functionality and style. Constructed from robust solid walnut, this desk offers a...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Glass
Poet Table
Located in New York, NY
Perfectly shaped desk. Ideal for an office or as a console in a foyer. Bespoke configurations available upon request
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Tessellated Stone Console / Desk
Located in Denton, TX
Two tone Tessellated stone Console / Desk with two drawers and finished on all sides so it can be floated in a room.
Category
20th Century Philippine Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stone
Transitional Modern Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Stardust Transitional desk, for moments of reflection, this desk adds a note of glamour in our pearlescent Stardust finish. Platinum-striped beading ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Pierre Jeanneret Desk and Stool from the city of Chandigarh, India 1950 - 1959
Located in New York, NY
Pierre Jeanneret Desk and Stool from the city of Chandigarh, India 1950 - 1959 Teak Holland and Sherry boiled wool.
Desk: 27 H x 31.5 W x 23 D inches
Stoo...
Category
1950s Indian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak, Wool
Jobe Writing Desk
By Arteriors
Located in Hudson, NY
We love the Jobe writing table desk for its generous surface area and classic style. The top surface features a rift-sawn oak grain with solid three band framing along the edge. Ea...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
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
Oak, Plywood, Birch
Modern Dark 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
Green Onyx Desk with Brushed Aluminum or Brass Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Celebrating nature's inherent beauty, the Oni Desk embraces the irregular shape of a found Green Onyx slab. This desk's innovative design is informed by the unique constraints of the...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Onyx, Brass, Aluminum
Giorgetti Ion Executive Walnut Leather Desk Designed by Chi Wing Lo
Located in Boston, MA
Designed by Chi Wing Lo
This writing desk in walnut Canaletto wood and saddle leather harks back to the lightness and elegance of an Ionic column.
A versatile and practical product...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut, Leather, Wood
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
Green Marble Coffee Table with Brushed Aluminum or Brass Hardware by Slash
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Each Lino table is a one-of-a-kind piece that celebrates the beauty in imperfection. Crafted from Cipollino marble, quarried from the Apuan Alps in northern Italy, its distinctive de...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Onyx, Marble, Aluminum, Brass
Travertine Coffee Table with Brushed Aluminum or Brass Hardware
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Carefully crafted from a single slab of Egyptian Giallo Travertine, the design of the Gia Coffee Table is dictated by deliberate and intentional cuts—the openings in the legs are inf...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Travertine, Marble, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass
1960s Finn Juhl France & Son Technocrat Desk Model 963 in Teak Made in Denmark
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a 1960's Finn Juhl for France & Son Technocrat Desk Model 963 in Teak. Overall this item is in very good to excellent condition. The wood top is free from any major scratches, stains, or major imperfections. It has aged quite nicely and shows a gorgeous and very subtle patina. The drawers open easily and the metal finish on the legs are intact and clean. The bottom of the desk top from the ground is 26-1/2" but total clearance from the ground is 24-3/4" to the middle support beam. This piece came from a notable modern estate in Boston. It was purchased from Machine Age by the previous owner. The Eames aluminum chair...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Molteni&C D.847.1 Ash Wood Desk by Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti, Molteni & C
Located in Boston, MA
A Molteni&C exclusive has given new life to Gio Ponti's table which was originally designed 70 years ago. Thanks to dedicated craftsmanship, this signature piece has been reproduced ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Modern Metal Leather Top Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern Metal Leather top desk, featuring a digitally carved, traditional woven cane design. The carved metal desk boasts mesmerizing textural layers.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Walnut X-Leg Desk, 20th Century
Located in New York City, NY
Walnut X-Leg Desk, Italy, 20th C.
Elegant walnut desk with clean lines and a single drawer.
Additional Information:
Materials: Walnut
Origin: Italy
Period: 1950-1979
Styles / Movem...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Bold Geometric, contemporary, modern Library desk, writing
Located in Greenwood Village, CO
Elevate Your Space with a Bold Style Statement: The Modern Aesthetic Desk
Indulge in the opulence of this literary desk, originally conceived as a book...
Category
2010s Pakistani Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut, Paint
White Kidney Shaped Desk, Gesso, Antique Mirror Top
Located in Miami, FL
White kidney shaped desk with Gesso finish. The top is antiqued mirror glass. Ready for a new home.
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Gesso, Mirror, Wood
Leather and Teak Desk by Pierre Jeanneret, 1959
Located in New York City, NY
Leather and Teak Desk by Pierre Jeanneret, Chandigarh, India
Beautiful patinated desk by PIerre Jeanneret. The full-grained leather is beautifully dyed and ties seamlessly with the ...
Category
20th Century Indian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Smart Desk in Oak, Steel, and Laminate by Pierre Paulin, circa 1950
Located in New York City, NY
Oak, Steel, and Laminate Desk by Pierre Paulin, France
Smart desk with clean lines and beautiful patina.
Category
20th Century French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Century Furniture Modern Chrome and Zebra Wood Metal Base Desk Table 849-761
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Century Furniture Modern Chrome and Zebra Wood Metal Base Desk Table 849-761. Item features 3 drawers, original label, sculptural metal stretcher base, beautiful laminate wood grain,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Coastal Breeze Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
handcrafted wire-brushed cerused pine in a light and subdued Sea Salt finish, the desk displays three functional drawers with organic ribbed metal knobs in our Dark Sterling finish a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
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
Dark 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
1980s Style Black and White Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Interesting 1980s era writing desk. Black lacquer and white laminent tops by Carlton House Furniture.
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Laminate, Wood, Lacquer
Amorph Astra Desk in Metallic Gold Lacquer
By Amorph Inc.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amorph Astra desk solid Wood with metal finish, dimension: 60" L x 24" D x 30" H.
It is available in different finishes and custom sizes.
About Am...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
ClassiCon Jean Fold Out Table by Eileen Gray
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
Modern Dark Brushed Oak Writing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern oak writing table with our Charteris finish. This desk has gently splayed solid end supports and a matte tungsten silhouette and it has two suspended frieze drawers.
Dime...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Dawkins Desk
Located in New York, NY
CREATE YOUR HOME OFFICE IN STYLE
Discover Michael's D A W K I N S Desk today! Bespoke sizes available upon request
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Dish Solid Wood Contemporary Sculptural Carved Conference Desk Dining Table
By Grain
Located in Bainbridge Island, WA
Taking inspiration from hand-carved African stools, a solid wood tabletop with a sloping underbelly is created with a little help from technology. A CNC router is used to cut away th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash
Gio Ponti Attributed "Rosewood Desk"
By Gio Ponti
Located in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
GIO PONTI ATTRIBUTED 'ROSEWOOD DESK'
c. 1950's
ROSEWOOD, CRYSTAL GLASS
31.5 H x 73 W x 33 D inches.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Rosewood
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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