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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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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Style: Modern
Important Modernist Prototype Desk & Chair by U.A.M. Attributed to Le Corbusier
By Robert Mallet-Stevens, Union Des Artistes Modernes
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
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
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
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
2001 Rectangular Metal Desk in Gold and Bronze Leaf by Jean Jacques Argueyrolles
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful 2001 rectangular in handcrafted iron desk in gold and bronze leaf by the French artist "Jean Jacques Argueyrolles".
Category
Early 2000s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron, Gold Leaf
Italian Hollywood Regency Bimetal Bicolor Table or Desk, in Romeo Rega Style
By Romeo Rega
Located in Telgte, DE
Italian Hollywood Regency bimetal bicolor table desk metal gilded brass
Italy, stunning table. Impressive Geometric base made of chromed and brass-plated steel. Can be used as a din...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Metal
French Hammered Iron Desk/ Sofa Table Base, Giacometti & Jean-Michel Frank, 1930
Located in New York, NY
Sober, elegant French Mid-Century Modern neoclassical handwrought iron writing table bases or console bases in the manner of Alberto and Diego Giacometti for Jean-Michel Frank. The pair of bases...
Category
1930s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron, Wrought Iron
"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
1980s Tecno by Norman Foster Christal top Steel Structure Nomos Desk Table
Located in IT
Table produced in the 1980s by Tecno on design by Norman Foster. Chromed steel metal structure. Rectangular glass top recently added . Feet are adjustable. This table is suitable bot...
Category
1980s European Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Steel
High end palissander desk by Promemoria italy, 1990s
By Promemoria
Located in HEVERLEE, BE
High end italian desk by Promemoria italy with a incredibly beautiful palissander frame and top.
Inside the two drawers we find a leather finish, labelled with makers mark.
The nat...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Palisander
Architect's desk, wood and metal, circa 1970, France.
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Architect's desk in sliding beige lacquered wood with metal-plated casters,
hinged top, two belt drawers, circa 1970, France.
Height 76 cm, width 11! cm, open 2m27, depth 69 cm.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Modern Black Lacquered Writing Desk
Located in North York, ON
Introducing the perfect addition to your home office or study - the Modern black lacquered writing desk. With its clean and minimalist design, this desk exudes a sleek and contempora...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
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
Contemporary Curved Writing Desk with Matching Desk Chair
Located in North York, ON
This set exudes elegance and sophistication with its natural light wood finish that adds a touch of warmth to any space. The desk and chair both feature beautiful curved details that...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
W80 Pecs Black Desk designed by Marcel Breuer for Simon by Cassina
By Marcel Breuer, Cassina
Located in Traversetolo, IT
The Pecs desk, designed in 1964 by Marcel Breuer for Simon by Cassina, is crafted from black stained ash and is available in a single size. It features two drawers, with three drawer...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ash
Modernist desk by Etienne Fermigier, France, 1970s
Located in Lyon, FR
Beautiful modernist desk by Etienne Fermigier, produced by JFR, made in France in the 1970s.
Laminate top, aluminum structure.
Very good condition, few traces of time on the top.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
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
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
Isabella Costantini, Italy, Gemma Desk
Located in Ascoli Piceno, IT
Designed by IC and realized by expert Italian artisans, the Gemma desk features rounded corners, three drawers and a side closed compartment hiding a shelf. The piece is elegantly en...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
"Heavy Traffic" 21st Century Desk, Walnut and Maple by Ivan Paradisi
Located in Turin, IT
The dense idea of a city, with roads, smog, but also the intense presence of people all living together is What Ivan Paradisi wanted to achieve with this piece, the concept is based ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Curvy Vanity Table
Located in San Pietro di Morubio, Verona
Easily transferable from the bedroom to the living room, where it can be used as a writing desk, this vanity merges functionality with style in a sleek design that will fit a modern decor. The rectangular oak-veneered top is supported by two U-shaped brass legs with a slightly curved base. On one side, a flip-top mirror reveals a practical space to keep cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories out of sight and well organized.
Combining the traditional smoked oak pattern with contemporary curves in furniture, Kabinet Studios transforms this time-old technique into a refined modern-day collection.
Complementing the oak veneer so that each piece appears to be made from solid wood which gently curves. The Curvy collection includes a sideboard, display cabinet, vanity table...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Custom Sit/Stand "Essentials Desk" with Solid Wood Top and Metal Base, Small
Located in Vancouver, B.C.
Break up long periods of sitting at a desk and improve your productivity by switching to standing. The height adjustable Essentials Desk gives you the freedom to do both. The desks h...
Category
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Custom Sit/Stand "Essentials Desk" with Solid Wood Top and Metal Base, Medium
Located in Vancouver, B.C.
Break up long periods of sitting at a desk and improve your productivity by switching to standing. The height adjustable Essentials Desk gives you the freedom to do both. The desks h...
Category
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Custom Sit/Stand "Essentials Desk" with Solid Wood Top and Metal Base, Large
Located in Vancouver, B.C.
Break up long periods of sitting at a desk and improve your productivity by switching to standing. The height adjustable Essentials Desk gives you the freedom to do both. The desks h...
Category
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
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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