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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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

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Style: Modern
Modern Eglomise Glass Pink Dust Vanity with Forged Metal Legs 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

Contemporary High Lacquered Black Organic Ash Wood 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

Italian modern Wooden desk mod. Canaan by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Wooden desk mod. Canaan by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1970s Desk mod. Canaan with rectangular wooden top. On one side there are 2 drawers and on the other 4. It has a ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Walnut Writing Desk with Drawers, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Writing desk made completely of solid walnut. The drawers are assembled with dovetail joints (includes 2 top drawers and 3 drawers under the desk). This writing desk is characterized by an “X” joint...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Modern White Blossom Glass Mosaic Desk with Modern Metal Base by Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Pavia Blossom desk/vanity by Ercole Home has a 2-drawer, with a painted white wood finish on oak. Handcut glass mosaics in white and silver decorate the drawer fronts in blossom...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Miniforms NAMI Desk in Wood by E-GGS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Nami desk by Miniforms, the result of a collaboration with the talented design team at E-ggs, embodies this idea perfectly. From a barely sketched sketch on a sheet of paper, an ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

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

General Study Desk Writing Table by Matteo Cibic
Located in Kolkata, IN
General Study Desk Writing Table by Matteo Cibic is a formidable study table, which has an extendable writing top, and small details, which is reminiscent o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Resin

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

Jobe Writing Desk
Jobe Writing Desk
$3,795 Sale Price
50% Off
Modern Eglomise Glass Byzantine Gold Vanity with Forged Metal by Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Mystic Byzantine gold vanity by Ercole Home has a 5-drawer, with ivory wood finish on oak. Hand painted eglomise glass panels are inset on the surface. There are five aluminum pulls in brushed brass finish. The hand hammered metal base...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Custom Modern Walnut Executive Desk by Carrocel
Located in North York, ON
Coupling both classic and modern elements into one stylish design, this writing desk from the Carrocel Custom collection presents a picture of walnut elegance. A rectangular floating...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Minimalist and Versatile Desk Featuring Wood Drawers
Located in NEW YORK, NY
This desk embodies a striking minimalism, proving that simplicity can indeed be bold. Its cool and contemporary aesthetic offers a versatile foundation, ready to be tailored to your ...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Lucite and 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

Writing Desk in Solid English Walnut, Design No 5. By Jonathan Field
Located in London, GB
English walnut desk, design no.5, 2019. This Desk was shown by the Connaught Brown Gallery of London at the TEFAF art fair in Maastricht and the Masterpiece Fair in London in 2019. ...
Category

Early 2000s English Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Kaare Klint Mahogany Desk with Pull-Out Writing Surfaces, Designed 1949
Located in Kastrup, DK
Writing desk by Kaare Klint, crafted in mahogany with a profiled edge on the tabletop and an apron with three drawers: a wide central drawer flanked by two smaller drawers, each equi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Contemporary Home Desk in Metallic Base
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Home desk comes in two sizes and the top has one drawer and one extra open box. There is a second open box in lacquer and the base is metallic with powder coating in variety of color...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Oak and Brass Office Desk Shelving and Loft Storage Suite by Amuneal
Located in New York, NY
This Oak and Brass Office Desk Shelving and Loft Storage Work Suite by Amuneal is a modular office system from Amuneal’s Loft shelving system. Posts in bl...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Steel

Contemporary Bright Orange Velvet Base 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

Modern Milano Leather 3-Drawer Desk with Sleek Cerused Oak 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

Gio Ponti Attributed "Rosewood Desk"
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

Malaparte Desk by Stephane Parmentier x Giobagnara
Located in New York, NY
For nearly twenty years, the Giobagnara brand has combined traditional know-how and leading-edge technology to produce elegance of the highest standard. With luxurious creations avai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather

DC-3 ‘Dakota’ Wingtip Desk
Located in London, GB
The Douglas DC-3 was designed in the mid-1930s as a passenger and freight aircraft, but built during the war years 1941-1945 in large numbers, as the DC-3 (C47) Transport Plane known...
Category

1940s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

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

Modern Menir Console Table, Calacatta Marble Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Menir Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Menir marble console table draws inspiration from the standing stones of ancient Alentejo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Quartz, Travertine, Carrara Marble

Pivoting Drafting Table, Blackened Steel and Smoked Glass, by Force/Collide
Located in Seattle, WA
Designed and made-to-order in our Seattle studio with artists, architects, drafters, designers and creatives in mind, the Pivoting Drafting Table is modern, minimal and sleek. It features a satin black oxide steel framework with a tempered gray glass inlay (materials and finishes are customizable). The flush, uninterrupted work surface pivots between 0 and 40 degrees to eliminate ergonomic interference for a more versatile way of working. Both clamping levers are easily accessed with an ergonomic feel for quick-change operation, featuring subtle bronze hardware accents. The silhouette of the legs imitates the work surface when expressed in its pivot position for minimal, geometric line-work that lends to a contemporary, minimal feel. The body has an open style for the option of storing a matching Rolling Utility Cart...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Steel, Cut Steel, Iron

Gervasoni Gray 50 Writing Desk in Air Force Blue Lacquered Oak by Paola Navone
Located in Brooklyn, NY
When a house becomes a space for thinking, creating and working, as well as for living, desks take on a whole new dimension: Gray 50 is a small elegant desk, designed in the name of ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

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

Italian Executive Frau Desk " Artu' President Desk" by Michele De Lucchi, 2006
Located in Traversetolo, IT
A studied and flexible system for furnishing management offices, meeting and board rooms. Artù uses high quality leather and wood, handcrafted with typical Poltrona Frau quality and...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

21st Century Elena Salmistraro Table Polyurethane White Carrara Marble Mat
Located in Tezze sul Brenta, IT
Isotopo table design by Elena Salmistraro, product by Scapin Collezioni Limited Edition A vibrant round top is combined with a sculptural base made of three rounded conical suppo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

AD7, Solid Walnut and Bronze Desk with Pencil Drawer
Located in Newburgh, NY
Spare, refined, and meticulously handcrafted of solid hardwoods and bronze, the AD7 desk is distinguished by superb detailing, the finest materials and timeless design. The compositi...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Arco da Augusta Console Calacatta Marble Handmade Portugal Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Arco da Augusta Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. Inspired by Lisbon's historical arch and as a homage to the Portuguese architecture...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Le Bureau de Paolo Wooden Desk with several drawers
Located in Roma, IT
Le bureau de Paolo is a desk constituted of wide variety of boxes and drawers. These boxes have a structural function: They compose the feet of the desk to w...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Old Fir Wood and Iron Desk / Console, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. (2.2) Desk / Console with essential design made of Old Fir and particular leg in Iron. A com...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Bricks, Desk K1
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kueng Caputo is a Zurich, Switzerland based design practice comprised of Lovis Caputo and Sarah Kueng. Their material adventures are often rooted in the complexities of crafts techni...
Category

2010s Swiss Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ceramic

Twain, Red Leather Desk, Designed by Gordon Guillaumier, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. (1.8) The twain desk has a lacquered brushed steel frame, which gi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Luxury Walnut Work Desk – Minimalist Executive Office Desk Modern Craftsmanship
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
A statement piece for refined workspaces – handcrafted in solid walnut, this minimalist executive desk blends functionality and sculptural presence. Elevate your workspace with this...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Walnut, Plywood

Simply Modern Writing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
An elegant modern writing table with three singular leather wrapped drawers, our Cardamon finish on the veneered frame (and handles) with panel en...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Modern Flip-Top Mirrored Vanity Desk
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

Bruce Burdick for Herman Miller Desk
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Distinctive and functional, this furniture system with a unique character was available in preconfigured options or could be customized using flexible modular components to create L,...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

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

"Gran Torino Big Version" Walnut and Maple 21st Century Desk, by Ivan Paradisi
Located in Turin, IT
Designed as a modern elegant and at the same time functional desk, Gran Torino piece is named after the city of Turin, a place rich of culture and history with numerous art galleries...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Maple, Walnut

Pietra Serena' Inca' Desk or Dining Room by Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper 1978
Located in Almelo, NL
Pietra Serena' Inca' Desk or Dining Room by Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper, Italy, 1978 The "Inca" range represents an advancement of the previously established "Eros" system, main...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stone

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

AT16 White Oak Writing Desk, Occasional Table, with Blackened Steel and Castors
Located in Newburgh, NY
Whether used as an occasional table, a writing desk or cart, the AT16’s clean lines and crafted materials offer a graceful solution for the home or office. Shown in solid white oa...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze, Steel

Organic Modern Accent Home Office Writing Desk Black Oak Wood and Copper Effect
Located in Vila Nova Famalicão, PT
Inspired by the Sacred Ceiba trees in Havana, Joao Faria created the stunning Roots Home Office Desk for contemporary home offices. It is handcrafted using carefully selected wood ve...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Steel, Cut Steel, Copper

Luxury OAK Work Desk – Minimalist Executive Office Desk Modern Craftsmanship
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
A statement piece for refined workspaces – handcrafted in solid OAK, this minimalist executive desk blends functionality and sculptural presence. Elevate your workspace with this lu...
Category

2010s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Plywood, Oak

Walnut and Antique Nickel Small Dining Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A newer addition to Stephen Kenn's The Inheritance Collection-dining. A solid walnut and steel dining table with simple, minimal and modern lines. Pairs well with the Inheritance Din...
Category

2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

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

Wall-Mounted Writing Desk or Catch All
Located in New York, NY
Highly functional and stylish piece. Perfect solution to the modern clutter dilemma, the desk features three color coded letter dividers to the right with a single storage slot to th...
Category

20th Century American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Laminate, Walnut

Black Design Desk by French Designer Charly Bounan
Located in Geneve, CH
Black Design desk by French Designer Charly Bounan Dimensions: Height: 80 cm. Width: 240 cm. Depth: 80 cm. Charly Bounan, is a Parisian designer renowned for its refined crea...
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Resin

Contemporary Side Table in Mexican Ebony Wood – Unique Piece, Ready to Ship
Located in PARQUE INDUSTRIAL OTHON P BLANCO, Quintana Roo
The tabletop planks feature small cracks and fissures, thoughtfully intervened with inlaid symbols that evoke ancient scripts and universal archetypes. These marks are not decorative...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Katalox

Oak-desk
Located in Carnota, A Coruña, Galicia
Presenting a handcrafted desk by Frank Buschmann made from premium oak, enhanced with an exquisite oil wax finish for enduring beauty. Each element is meticulously crafted, with leg...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Oak

Oak-desk
Oak-desk
$3,104 / item
Gentile Solid Wood Desk, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural Finish, Contemporary
Located in Cadeglioppi de Oppeano, VR
Aesthetics and functionality combine in the Ideale solid wood desk. A piece of high quality craftsmanship tailor-made for everyday use as well as to fu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Modern Art Deco Desk in Solid Wood and Leather by Costantini, Alvear
Located in New York, NY
Alvear Modern Art Deco Desk in Solid Wood and Leather by Costantini This elegant desk crafted from solid Argentine Rosewood and leather combines subtle Art Deco influences with mode...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Mirrored Flip-Top Vanity Desk
Located in New York, NY
Mirrored flip-top vanity desk with three drawers. Customization is available in different sizes, finish and hardware.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mirror, Wood

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

Table Desk Burdick Group System designed by Bruce Burdick for ICF
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Oversize extendable desks, known as the Burdick Group System table, designed by Bruce Burdick for ICF in the 1980s. These elegant tables feature a structure made of steel and alumin...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

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

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

Modern Minimalist Home Office Writing Desk in Walnut Wood and Brushed Brass
Located in Vila Nova Famalicão, PT
Simple but sophisticated is the best way to describe the VOID Collection. Furniture with a void, reinforced by the existence of an exoskeleton, captures our attention in this space. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass

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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