Skip to main content

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.

1
649
99
26
to
53
438
255
774
298
351
1,723
774
373
344
316
218
209
197
155
105
102
81
71
50
49
34
23
10
1
98
675
2
33
43
1
5
4
9
9
21
10
5
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
524
411
120
114
109
521
210
164
127
99
39
24
17
16
16
Style: Modern
Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr White Matt top & bronze base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr White Matt top & chrome base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Natural oak veneer & golden base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Natural oak veneer & chrome base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr White Matt top & golden base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Natural oak veneer & white base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Adentro Cosimo Desk design Marco Zanuso jr Natural oak veneer & bronze base.
Located in PARIS, FR
The Cosimo desk was designed by the architect Marco Zanuso Jr. in 2017 for luxury French furniture brand, Adentro Paris. The central panel of the desktop folds back to reveal a hidde...
Category

2010s French 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

Molteni&C D.847.1 Ash Wood Desk by Gio Ponti
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

Savignyplatz Desk by Sebastian Herkner in Mist - Matte Lacquered Oak
Located in Toronto, ON
The Savignyplatz in Berlin is an idyllic park and square named after jurist Friedrich Carl von Savigny. Savigny was hailed throughout Germany as the founder of modern jurisprudence a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Modern Armona Dining Table, American Oak, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Armona Dining Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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

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

Jobe Writing Desk
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 Natur Frame Office Table M by Milla & Milli
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut Natur Frame Office Table M by Milla & Milli Signed by Maša Vukmanović, Jelena Lukač Kirš, Jakov Šrajer Dimensions: W 140 x D 60 x H 75 cm Materials: Walnut Natur, Black Metal...
Category

2010s Croatian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Oak Natur Frame Office Table M by Milla & Milli
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak Natur Frame Office Table M by Milla & Milli Signed by Maša Vukmanović, Jelena Lukač Kirš, Jakov Šrajer Dimensions: W 140 x D 60 x H 75 cm Materials: Oak Natur, Black Metal. F...
Category

2010s Croatian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Ash Noir Frame Office Table M by Milla & Milli
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Noir Frame Office Table M by Milla & Milli Signed by Maša Vukmanović, Jelena Lukač Kirš, Jakov Šrajer Dimensions: W 140 x D 60 x H 75 cm Materials: Ash Noir, Black Metal. Fra...
Category

2010s Croatian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash

Ash Noir Frame Office Table L by Milla & Milli
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash Noir Frame Office Table L by Milla & Milli Signed by Maša Vukmanović, Jelena Lukač Kirš, Jakov Šrajer Dimensions: W 160 x D 80 x H 75 cm Materials: Ash Noir, Black Metal. Fra...
Category

2010s Croatian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash

Walnut Natur Frame Office Table L by Milla & Milli
Located in Geneve, CH
Walnut Natur Frame Office Table M by Milla & Milli Signed by Maša Vukmanović, Jelena Lukač Kirš, Jakov Šrajer Dimensions: W 160 x D 80 x H 75 cm Materials: Walnut Natur, Black Metal...
Category

2010s Croatian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Lavinia Desk by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Lavinia desk by Pietro Franceschini Materials: Mohair velvet Dimensions: W 210 x L 71 x H 78 cm. Designed during a creative momentum in the relaxed Italian Riviera Ligure, our new Urania collection brings playfulness and longing for those innocent days of our childhood. The soft lines and upholstered curves continue our research on Neotenic Design...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Velvet

Chunky Desk
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Conceptualized in 2023 by Leonardo Floresvillar, and crafted by hand with galvanized aluminum, coated with matte powder coating. The Chunky Desk was designed with two surface heigh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Ángulo Desk
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Conceptualized in 2023 by Leonardo Floresvillar, and crafted by hand with galvanized aluminum, coated with matte powder coating. The Ángulo Desk was designed with two surface heigh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

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

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

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

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

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

White Chunky Desk
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Conceptualized in 2023 by Leonardo Floresvillar, and crafted by hand with galvanized aluminum, coated with matte powder coating. The Chunky Desk was designed with two surface heigh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

White Ángulo Desk
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Conceptualized in 2023 by Leonardo Floresvillar, and crafted by hand with galvanized aluminum, coated with matte powder coating. The Ángulo Desk was designed with two surface heigh...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Desk by Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The 1960s functionalist style desk represents a fascinating piece of furniture that embodies the elegant marriage of functionality and aesthetics. This design object, with its tubula...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

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

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

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

Modern Flamingo Side Table Calacatta Marble Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Flamingo Side Table, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Flamingo side table honours the exquisite beauty of nature's design. The luxurious ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Onyx, Marble, Brass, Steel, Stainless Steel

The Bi Writing Desk. Handcrafted from solid jequitibá and imbuia wood.
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Bi writing desk brings modernity and lightness combined with a classic touch. It's crafted from solid jequitibá and imbuia woods and features a movable storage compartment that c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

The Square desk with 3 Drawers. Brazilian Solid wood and Straw.
Located in São Paulo, SP
The Square Desk was inspired by the design of Brazilian modern furniture from the 1950s and 1960s, featuring straight lines and Indian straw weaving. It's delicate and highly comfort...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Straw, Wood

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 ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Handcrafted English Oak Desk
Located in London, GB
A new freestanding modern English oak desk design. Designed and handmade in England using skilled traditional furniture making techniques. Completely handcrafted from the finest full...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

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

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

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

Black Dolmen Desk
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Conceptualized in 2023 by Leonardo Floresvillar, and crafted by hand with galvanized aluminum, coated with matte electrostatic paint. The Dolmen Desk was designed with two surface ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Long Study Desk / Large Console Table in Beige Linoleum and Steel
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This large Study desk / Console Table is made with a butternut beige powder-coated steel frame and a pearl linoleum top made from all-natural ingredients, such as flax, wood flour, a...
Category

2010s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Mr. Note Desk - Oak - 190cm
Located in Monte-Serzedo, 13
Following the principles of the “rational design,” Mr. And Mrs. Note Desks embody timeless elegance. Design to reflect the identity of the brand, where function creates attractive pu...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut, Plywood

Minimalist Modern Desk in Walnut
Located in Lisbon, PT
A stylish desk for home or office. The clean look is achieved by using the drawers almost hided, and as a part of the desk’s structure, as well as cable storage under...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Plywood, Walnut

Oracle Desk by kar
Located in Geneve, CH
Oracle Desk by kar Dimensions: W 168 x D 56 x H 75 cm Materials: Ash Wood, High Gloss. Oracle bone script dates back to the Shang Dynasty of China, a text engravedon tortoise shells and animal bones for divination. Taking China's oldestscript as its creative source, kar presents a new collection of furniture,"Oracle", which consists of a chair, a desk, a bench, a shelf, and a screen.The symbolic form of the ancient script...
Category

2010s Chinese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Bureau Bubble Ivoire Desk by Charly Bounan
Located in Geneve, CH
Bureau Bubble Ivoire Desk by Charly Bounan One of a Kind Dimensions: D 72 x W 240 x H 75 cm. Materials: Lacquer and marquetry wood. Charly Bounan, is a Parisian designer renowned f...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Obsidian Desk - Modern Black Lacquered Desk with Chromed Plinth
Located in London, GB
The steep accents of the Obsidian collection confers its unique design with a sublime and powerful presence, gifting it with a head-turning look and a sharp personality of its own. This piece is built in lacquered wood with a chromed plinth...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

White Dolmen Desk
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Conceptualized in 2023 by Leonardo Floresvillar, and crafted by hand with galvanized aluminum, coated with matte electrostatic paint. The Dolmen Desk was designed with two surface ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

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

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

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

Colorful Ash Desk by Thomas Dariel
Located in Geneve, CH
Colorful ash desk by Thomas Dariel, Maison Dada Measures: W 140 * D 75 * H 103 cm Desktop in painted ash veneer • fronts in matte paint finish Structure in MDF • Metal legs with pain...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Unique Design Desk, French Designer Charly Bounan
Located in Geneve, CH
Charly Bounan, is a Parisian designer renowned for its refined creative style and the important eclecticism of its influences. Dimensions: Height 80 cm, width 240 cm, dep...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Copper

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

Alva Alato Table Red Lacquer Table Top, 1930
Located in Hamburg, DE
Very early desk, writing table by Alva Aalto, circa 1930, red lacquer tabletop, birch, bentwood, table size 182 cm x 90 cm x 72 cm.
Category

1930s Finnish Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birch, Bentwood

Study Desk / Large Console Table in Charcoal Linoleum and Steel
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This large Study desk / Console Table is made with a charcoal black powder-coated steel frame and a charcoal linoleum top made from all-natural ingredients, such as flax, wood flour, and limestone. The furniture linoleum provides a natural matt surface with a warm fine texture - a look that is very tactile and looks great with the sleek powder-coated steel frame. This modern minimal desk...
Category

2010s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

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

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.

Recently Viewed

View All