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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Rare Desk by Carlo de Carli
Located in New York, NY
A rare desk
Manufactured by Cassina
Date made: 1950
Material: walnut
Size: H 30.5” x L 63” x D 28.5”
Origin: Italy.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Arc Desk by Estudio Persona
Located in Geneve, CH
Arc desk by Estudio Persona
Dimensions: l 149.86 x d 76.2 x h 76.2 cm
Materials: Bleached Maple Veneer, Black Stained Maple
Desk with a bleached maple veneer exterior and black ...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Maple
Modern Oak and Iron Boomerang Form Desk, France, circa 1930s
Located in Norwalk, CT
A real statement piece, this French early modernism desk features a boomerang shaped top in solid oak. The distinctive iron base hold a storage space t...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Elm Double Desk in the Manner of Charlotte Perriand, France, circa 1940
Located in New York City, NY
Unique, impressive desk in the manner of Charlotte Perriand. The beautifully aged, warm-toned elm lends itself beautifully to the organic yet defined shapes of the double desk top an...
Category
1940s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
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
Vintage Ron Seff Substantial Gun Metal Bronze & Brass Table, circa 1980s
By Ron Seff
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Ron Seff substantial gun metal bronze & brass table circa 1980s
Offered for sale is a very heavy substantial table by Ron Seff in gunmetal and brass. The table is quite el...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Modern Leather Wrapped Dressing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern leather wrapped dressing table with an embossed leather-wrapped table top with three drawers on a modern gilded frame meta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
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
Pierre Jeanneret Student Desk and Library Chair
Located in New York, NY
Excellent example of a student desk and library chair from Chandigarh India circa late 1950s.
Exceptional patina on the wood including various name inscriptions from young studen...
Category
1950s Indian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Modern French Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French two drawer desk with our Rowan beech veneer finish, embossed leather wrapped frieze and drawers with brushed brass finish handles.
Dimensions: 54" W x 28" D x 30" H.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese 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
Pencil Reed Coffee Table in the Style of Gabriella Crespi, circa 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Boho chic pencil reed rattan square coffee table in the style of Gabriella Crespi, circa 1970s newly lacquered in white with a new glass top...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rattan, Reed, Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Eileen Writing Desk in Walnut with Palissandro Stone Inset by Chapter & Verse
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Our Eileen writing desk shown in walnut with palissandro stone inset (COM).
All of our pieces are made to order with custom sizes available upon request. Additional options includ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
Karl Springer Rare "Goatskin Free Form Desk" 1988
Located in New York, NY
Rare and exceptional "Goatskin Free Form Desk" in 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
Ledoux Shelving, a Custom, Architectiural, Modular Shelving System by Piscina
By Piscina
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The modular design of our Ledoux Shelving system allows for it to be uniquely imagined and effortlessly reconfigured. Introduced just this year, Piscina won Best new Designer and Bes...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash, Oak, Maple, Mahogany
Organic Modern Madrona Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Organic modern madrona desk, Inspirational design elements lead with a mesmerizing butcher block top honed from Madrona burl finished in smoke gray.
Organically textured stainless...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
"Symmetric" Console / Desk, Black Walnut, Patina Steel
Located in North Branch, NY
The "Symmetric" console / desk is a perfectly balanced design of interlocking steel plate joinery and a solid black walnut surface. Customizable to any variation of dimensions, mater...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Modern Milano Leather 3-Drawer Desk with Sleek Cerused Oak by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A very functional writing, computer desk with 2 covered leather drawers on the side and in the middle a drawers that open to accommodate your writing keyboard. It fits perfectly your...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Wall Mounted Sit/Stand Desk "Muro" in Oak and Stainless Steel by Casey Lurie
By Casey Lurie
Located in Chicago, IL
Wall anchored stainless steel rails support three wood shelves of varying depths. Each shelf serves a different function: shallow for small objects and pictures, medium for books and larger objects...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Vanity Desk in Estremoz Marble & Polished Brass
Located in New York, NY
The distinctive marble desk initiates a design tension between rough and smooth, straight lines and faceted shapes. It’s novel metal structure is the foundation from where mountains ...
Category
2010s Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Brass
4-Drawer Bodil Kjaer Desk for E. Pedersen & Son of Denmark in Brazilian Rosewood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
We present a very nice example of the 4-Drawer Bodil Kjaer Desk for E. Pedersen & Son, finished in Brazilian rosewood. The table has been freshly oiled. There are some signs of wear ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Danish Desk
Located in New York, NY
A very handsome Danish desk with wooden sabots.
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Palisander
Tilde '~' Coworking Desk by Vintage on Point
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Measures: W95 D36 H30.5 KC25.5
Tilde (~) Coworking desk handcrafted in house, made in a mix of solid wood and birch veneer. Unsealed so that you can choose your own stain and fini...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Birch
Monolith Slab Table by Phaedo
Located in Geneve, CH
Monolith slab table by Phaedo.
Dimensions: W 30" x L 60" x H 16" inches.
Materials: white-washed ash.
The Monolith slab takes the Monolith motif and creates a visually striking surface.
The wood of the table top has been carved away to allow the grain to roll over the rim and down into the cylinder.
Phaedo is a sculpture and design company founded by Morgan Spaulding.
At once playful and restrained, somber and lively, Spaulding’s art and furniture personify the ambiguous curvatures of ethereal in-betweens: dreamstates, memories in recession, thresholds in passing.
In balanced practice, Spaulding’s ornamental sculpture...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash
Cantilever Desk by Phaedo
Located in Geneve, CH
Cantilever desk by Phaedo
Dimensions: W 60" x D 24" x H 45" inches
Materials: Natural Black Walnut
The Cantilever Desk draws upon the form and function of the seating in this series of work.
Phaedo is a sculpture and design company founded by Morgan Spaulding.
At once playful and restrained, somber and lively, Spaulding’s art and furniture personify the ambiguous curvatures of ethereal in-betweens: dreamstates, memories in recession, thresholds in passing.
In balanced practice, Spaulding’s ornamental sculpture...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Modern Painted Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern painted desk with a lacquered top section with three drawers, the center drawer fold out for keyboard surface, on a silver gilt iron cube form base...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Custom Two Drawer Lacquered Writing Table
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Petite custom, made to order, two drawer lacquered writing table with Lucite and chrome handles. Designed and made by Venfield. This item is made to order in your dimensions and color.
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Barbara Barry for Baker Mahogany Writing Desk or Console, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
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...
Category
1990s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
"Moleskine" Portable Atelier Stool Designed by Philippe Nigro for Driade
By Driade, Philippe Negro
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stool adjustable in heigh. Black matt painted steel structure. Seat and components in massive oak. Indoor use only.
Philippe Nigro designed a light looking desk: a top in birch pl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Elevado Desk in Cerused Wenge Wood by Kelly Wearstler
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The elegantly scaled Elevado desk has a simple architectural silhouette and utilizes our signature ivory cerused and wire brushed Wenge finish. Below the ...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Ebonized Oak and Antique Copper Small Dining Table
By Stephen Kenn
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
Artedi Travertine and Brass Dining Table
By Artedi
Located in Denton, TX
Travertine cube with brass cross design that support beveled glass top.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Travertine, Brass
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
Custom Oak and Polished Chrome Single Drawer Writing Table
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Made to order single drawer writing table in oak with polished chrome stretcher and hardware.
Available in custom dimensions and finishes.
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Contemporary Sitting Standing "Work" Desk in Solid White Oak by Casey Lurie, USA
By Casey Lurie
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
Modern French Desk, Light
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French two drawer desk with our mangrove beech veneer finish, embossed leather wrapped frieze and drawers with brushed brass finish handles.
Dimensions: 54" W x 28" D x 30" H.
The...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
Simply Modern Writing Table, Dark
Located in Westwood, NJ
Simply modern writing table. An elegant modern writing table with two singular leather-wrapped drawers, our dark eclipse finish on the veneered frame (and handles) with panel end sup...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Modern Industrial Leather Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern industrial leather desk with a solid hammered metal base. It has three drawers accented with cast brass campaign drawer pulls.
Dimensions...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Modern Shagreen Leather Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern shagreen embossed leather-wrapped desk with a brass tone iron-framed base. Three drawers with marbleized paper-lined interiors and with brass ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Modernist Cini Boeri for Knoll International Dining Table Desk
By Cini Boeri, Knoll
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous round 59 inch diameter glass top table which sits cantilevered on a stainless steel base. Internally locked on and with 5 heavy duty weights to counter balance the table. St...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel, Iron
Modern Eglomise Glass Pink Dust Vanity with Forged Metal Legs by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The églomisé pink dust vanity by Ercole Home has a 5-drawer, with silver leaf wood finish. Hand painted églomisé glass panels are inset on the su...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Modern Writing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern writing table with a lacquered top on a silver gilt iron cube form base.
Dimensions: 60" W x 25" D x 30 " H.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Modern Glass and Oak Dining Table
Located in Denton, TX
White oak curved corners with thick plate glass sides and beveled glass top
Base measures at 30W x 16D x 27.75H.
Category
20th Century North American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Oak
Art Deco Style Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Art Deco style desk elegantly styled with golden amber burr veneer and three drawers with subtle stringing inlay. Raised on four tapering sabre leg...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Modern Brushed Oak Writing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern brushed oak writing table with our light gowan finish. This desk has gently splayed solid end supports and a matte tungsten silhouette and it has tw...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Oslo Writing Desk in Ash by Studio Moe
Located in Portland, OR
Look to the clean lines and natural keep-it-simple design of the Oslo Writing Desk, to bring inspiration to your next idea or project. A single spacious dovetailed drawer provides ut...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash
Giorgio Armani Casa Ebonized Writing Table Desk or Console
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Exceptional writing table desk or console table made by Armani Casa for Giorgio Armani. Features a dramatic ebonized wood finish with a subtle geometric pattern design on the finish....
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Handmade Desk in Custom Engraved Leather And Steel Finishes
Located in New York, NY
This desk perfectly fulfills all the functional requirements , taking the form of leather suitcase with folding top in leather and chrome steel legs perfectly adaptable for any space...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Radius Cutaway Reclaimed Walnut Desk
Located in brooklyn, NY
Radiused outer edges and a 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 subtle details. Three deep drawers with recessed pulls offer ample storage options, while offering soft close drawer slide movement. Finished with a water resistant non toxic finish from Germany. Hand made in our small studio in Red Hook Brooklyn...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Whitewashed Ash Linderman Wall-Mounted Desk with Leather Wrapped Drawer in Stock
Located in Accord, NY
New York Heartwoods' Linderman wall-mounted desk is influenced by Mid-Century Modern, Shaker and Asian design, and features a hand-shaped base, leather wrapped pen drawer (shown here...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Ash, Leather
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Allegory Desk in Beech Wood
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Allegory desk, a perfect handy stand for home office spaces and for the most intimate contract solutions, by the Italian-Danish duo GamFratesi, enriches the furniture proposal of Wiener GTV Design with elegance and simplicity. The wide disk in steam-bent solid beech contains a woven cane screen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
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
21st Century Akbar Writing Desk in Wood and Leather by Etro Home Interiors
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Institutional tones and rigorous lines for the first desk of ETRO Home Interiors. The protagonist of the office area, Akbar is enriched by the presence of archetypical elements such as the iconic fabric with a paisley design, representative of ETRO leather goods, which upholsters drawers...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Handmade Desk in Custom Engraved Leather and Steel Finishes
Located in New York, NY
This desk perfectly fulfills all the functional requirements, taking the form of leather suitcase with folding top in leather and chrome steel legs perfectly adaptable for any space ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
21st Century Wynwood Desk in Leather by Gianfranco Ferré Home
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
Elegant and functional, the Wynwood desk fascinates the viewer with its essential lines and refined charm. Made of solid beech wood dyed Smokey Grey, the desk is upholstered in soft ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
Kartell Earl of Wood Desk by Philippe Stark in Black Slatted Ash
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
'005' Desk in the Manner of Pierre Chareau
Located in Glendale, CA
'005' desk in the Manner of Pierre Chareau.
Handcrafted in the Los Angeles and French workshops of noted French designer and antiques dealer ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
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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