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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Argentine Exotic Wood Sabre-Leg Writing Desk from Costantini, Uccello
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
The Uccello Writing Desk is handcrafted one by one in Costantini's workshop in Buenos Aires. The surface of the table can be specified in any species of wood, or color, or really any...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Solid Wood Writer's Desk in Walnut with Steel Joinery and Removable Legs
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
This writer's desk is an exercise in restraint. This sleek desk’s tapered legs are made from solid Walnut and are detachable thanks to the custom blackene...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Geo Dining Table in Contemporary Blackened Steel and Marble
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Inspired by the idea of geological plates slipping past one another, this ethereal table features cutaway arches and parabolic curves without end. Kin & Company continues to build on their language of sculptural geometry, this time with a volumetric and chunky blackened steel base. The custom patterned marble...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Steel
Trace Table in Contemporary White Powder-Coated Steel and Ebonized Maple
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Through a single, contiguous line, the legs of the trace define the edge, rotating and pivoting each time there is a change in plane. The line is only interrupted by a slight idiosyn...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Classic Modern Mirrored Desk
Located in New York, NY
Custom classic modern mirrored desk with silver trim legs. Customization is available in different sizes, finishes and hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Silver, Silver Leaf
Console Table in Contemporary Blackened Steel and White Washed Ash
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The clean lines and simple form of the a-console convey a sense of lightness and precision. A small reveal at the corners expresses the connection to the top and the structure hidden...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Bow Tie Table in Contemporary Blackened Steel and White Washed Maple
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Viewed from one end, the top and base of the bow tie appear to come together in a simple connection of the two materials along the same plane. As the viewer turns the corner, an unex...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Shape Shifting Desk
By Ken Petersen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This desk is made from three walnut panels connected by two wooden hinges allowing the desk to alter shape, it can even lay flat for transport. Here it i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Writing Desk or Console by Byron Robitaille
By Byron Robitaille
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An interesting maple and walnut custom desk/console table with drawer by Byron Robitaille.
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
Paradigm Desk
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
The paradigm desk seamlessly integrates three elemental materials, concrete, steel and wood. The combination of cast concrete with hand-turned walnut leg...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Concrete, Steel
Rectangular Iron Cube Table with Embedded Wood Top, Dinner Table, Desk Table
Located in Miami, FL
Rectangular iron cube table with embedded wood top, dinner table, desk table
Frame material: Extruded and hand-welded iron rods
Frame finish: Black
Iron rods dimensions: 3.93 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Rectangular Iron Cube Table with Embedded Wood Top, Dinner or Desk Table
Located in Miami, FL
Rectangular iron cube table with embedded wood top. Dinner table. Desk table
Frame material: Extruded and hand-welded iron rods
Frame finish: Black
Iron rods dimensions: 3.93i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
A-Table in Contemporary Blackened Steel and White Washed Maple
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The clean lines and simple form of the A-Table convey a sense of lightness and precision. A small reveal at the corners expresses the connection to the top and the structure hidden w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Desk Table by Maurice Marty
Located in New York, NY
Desk table
2017
Bronze, grey oak, brown lacquered wood (drawer)
Edition of 8 + 4 A.P
Signed and numbered
Measures:
H 30.8 x L 74.75 x W 31.5 in.
( H 78.5 x L 190 x W 80 cm)
Mau...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Sculptural Resin And Wood Desk
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Large desk (dining table) cover with resin and curved wood top. Steel base with chrome plated finish.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Modern Flip-Top Mirrored Vanity Desk
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Custom modern flip-top mirrored vanity desk with glass shelves. Customization is available in different sizes, finishes and hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Italian-Made Two-Desk Set in 18th Century Pinus Cembra & Steel Sourced in Italy
Located in NEW YORK, NY
This two-desk series is made from Italian, 18th century pinus cembra, harvested from the Varaita Valley, and Italian sourced steel. All surfaces have been treated with linseed oil.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Cobra Desk, Designed by Laurie Beckerman in 2008
Located in New York, NY
Each cobra, poised as if to lunge, has a mouth that is an open pencil holder, where you can conveniently store all your writing implements. Designed...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Important Modernist Prototype Desk & Chair by U.A.M. Attributed to Le Corbusier
By Union Des Artistes Modernes, Robert Mallet-Stevens
Located in New York, NY
Rare handmade French modernist desk and chair prototypes in hand-formed and hand-hammered (non-commerially produced) tubular steel. The chair and desk are elegant architectural state...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
"Post and Truss" Dining Table by Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Danville, CA
Masterfully engineered and crafted "Post and Truss" Series dining table constructed of 4.5" diameter Lucite dowels with brass mounts. This would also ma...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Thomas O’Brien For Century Modern Mahogany & Kingwood Writing Desk / Table
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful desk designed by Thomas O’Brien for Century. It is a compilation of kingwood veneers over mahogany, which gives it a rosewood effect. It has two drawers and is ma...
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Kingwood, Mahogany
Christian Liaigre Style Modern Desk
Located in New York, NY
Christian Liaigre (French, 1943-2020) style modern contemporary desk, with an oak wood veneer surface supported by a stainless steel frame.
Dimensions: 29.75" H x 59" W x 27.5" D.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
1970s Peter Protzman Zebrawood executive desk for Herman Miller
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Peter Protzman’s zebra wood executive desk for Herman Miller. These were manufactured in 1970 and 1971. This desk was only produced for a short period of time because of issues with ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century French Four Drawers Rattan Desk, C 1950
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very decorative mid-century French rattan desk, four drawers, C 1950.
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rattan
Maree Table / Desk, IT
Located in New York, NY
The desk features two solid brass bases and a resin cast top, designed to achieve a liquid-look surface; it is finished with brush strokes of more textured resin, applied with a flui...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Cassina Rodolfo Dordoni Chrome Mylar and White Milk Glass Dining Table or Desk
Located in North Miami, FL
This Italian modern and contemporary round dining table or desk or entry table designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for Cassina is from about 2012. ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Contemporary Claro Walnut Live Edge Table with Cast Bronze Edge
Located in Sebastopol, CA
Handcrafted by Taylor Donsker in Northern California, the cast edge desk features a cast bronze live edge seamlessly attached to a single slab of highly figured Claro walnut. The woo...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze, 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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