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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
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
"Moleskine" Portable Atelier Stool Designed by Philippe Nigro for Driade
By Philippe Negro, Driade
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
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
Famed Brass & Wood Desk with Marble Drawers
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
The Famed Desk was designed with the aim of allowing you to work with more elegance and more simplicity.
Measures: Length: 47.2'' / Depth: 27.5'' / Height:...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Metal, Brass
Modern by Giuseppe Carpanelli Desyo Writing Desk Walnut Wood with Leather
By Carpanelli
Located in Desio, IT
Writing desk in Canaletto walnut. Pen-holder and predisposition for electrical outlets. Upholstery of drawers and basement available in leather, Nabu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Modern Castelo Console Table, Sahara Marble, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Castelo Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Onyx, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel
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
Folding Table by Giovanni Offredi for MC Selvini Italy
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Table by designer Giovanni Offredi and produced by MC Selvini, 1970s. Works excellent as a freestanding table, desk or against a wall and it can be ...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Laminate
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
Handcrafted Modernist Desk Table English Oak
Located in London, GB
A sleek handmade English modernist desk or writing table. Constructed with a traditional 3 wide solid board surface on beautifully visible acute angled leg and frame. Handcrafted by ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
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
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
Large Dining Table with Stone Mosaic Surface by Karl Springer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A glamorous dining table designed and retailed by Karl Springer, circa 1980s. The iconic shape features a beveled horse track-shape top with ro...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stone
21st Century Italian Modern Design Crystal Desk or Dining Table with Easels
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a very eclectic table cause it's unusual form with its top on a pair of easels made in clear crystal, it's an important table or desk but at the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Crystal
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
"Ruby Tuesday" 21st Century Desk, Walnut and Metal by Ivan Paradisi
Located in Turin, IT
Particularity doesn't mean complexity or overloading with details. A particularity is about being different. And this is what Ivan Paradisi furniture design studio is famous for.
Ivan Paradisi Atelier in Turin is glad to present simple though functional and particular desk in walnut.
In "Ruby Tuesday" the desiger paid tribute to the nature having implemented the elegancy and functionality in simple natural curves which render the sense of harmony and wholeness. The contemporary handmade desk with two drawers finished in metal will show to advantage in any environment due to its basic design...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
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
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
Desk or Writing Table Crystal Glass Origami Design Collectible Made in Italy
Located in Ancona, Marche
The desk 'Origami' is made of extra-clear crystal glass. Each sheet of extra-clear crystal glass is cut and ground with extreme precision, then the sheets are assembled by hand, havi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Crystal
Burgundy Study Desk with Natural Linoleum Table Top and Drawer, Customizable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This study desk is made with a beetroot powder-coated steel frame and a burgundy coloured natural linoleum tabletop. The linoleum for our desks is selected for the ecological propert...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
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
Pierre Jeanneret Pigeon Hole Desk, France/India 1957
Located in London, GB
Pierre Jeanneret (1896-1967) is recognised as a pivotal figure in modernism. His collaborations with his cousin Le Corbusier are especially significant, particularly their codificati...
Category
1950s Indian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Modern Home Office Writing Executive Desk in Walnut Wood and Brushed Brass
Located in Vila Nova Famalicão, PT
The Executive Desk ExCentric 2.0 listed here is made in walnut wood and brushed brass. However, we can produce this in customized options:
Structure: Stainless steel (polished or br...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass, Steel, Cut Steel, Stainless Steel
Modern Handpainted Hardwood Console Desk SideTable Dilmos Colourful Geometric
Located in Milan, IT
Console, support surface and desk, interchangeable according to desire. Handpainted hardwood structure embellished with hand-drawn graphic details designed by the author, then protec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Acrylic, Hardwood, Paint
Little Shanghai Desk in Olive Wood and Black Sycamore Silver Painted Leg
Located in SENLIS, OISE
Little Shanghai desk in olive wood and black sycamore silver painted leg. There are two drawers on each side.
The and sides are in olive and black...
Category
2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Large Turquoise Study Desk with Linoleum Top and Two Drawers, Customizable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
This large turquoise study desk is made with a powder coated steel frame and a beautiful natural linoleum top made out of linseed oil. This modern minimal desk...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Waxed Iron and Exotic Wood Dining Table from Costantini, Fierro, in Stock
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
This one of a kind table is inspired by the massive sculptures of cold rolled steel by Richard Serra. The raw iron top was allowed to oxidize for several years before we applied a wa...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Iron
Modern Castelo Console Table, Onyx Stone, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Castelo Console, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
Designed by Rute Martins for the Contemporary Collection, th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Onyx, Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel
Modern White Lacquered Executive Desk
Located in North York, ON
Modern white Lacquered executive desk. Timeless Art Deco inspired design lacquered in a designer finish with oil rubbed bronze hardware and execut...
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
Isabella Costantini, Italy, Duilio Desk with Polished Brass
Located in Ascoli Piceno, IT
Designed by IC and beautifully crafted by Italian artisans, the Duilio desk features a ribbed drawer and stylish legs. The brass, or powder coated metal, details and stunning design will bring elegance and sophistication to any space of your home.
Accessories and details: 1 velvet, or faux leather, lined drawer...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Minimalist Modern Desk in Oak
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
Oak, Wood, Plywood
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
"Gran Torino" 21st Century Desk, Brown Walnut and Maple by Ivan Paradisi
Located in Turin, IT
Designed as a modern elegant and at the same time functional desk, "Gran Torino" is named after the city of Turin, a place rich of culture and history with...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Maple, Walnut
Fred Desk Top in Saddle Extra Leather Cammello
Located in New York, NY
This desk is a meeting of light, almost ethereal geometries. Roberto Lazzeroni creates a piece of furniture in which the visual pleasure of a continuous saddle-leather surface is underlined by delicate hand-produced incisions and cold markings that create refined graphic decorations. A special procedure makes it possible to curve the front of the saddle-leather without any need for internal supports. The ideal companion of the desk is the Ginger chair...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Ash
21st Century by Arch.K.Hacke Marble Table/Consolle in P.Serena & B.Pennsylvania
Located in massa, IT
Marble table/console "Hacke Tavolo" designed by K. Hacke
Size: cm. 200 x90 x 73 H.
Materials: Bianco Pennsylvania + Pietra Serena.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
Gentile Solid Wood Desk, Walnut in Hand-Made Natural Finish, Contemporary
By Dale Italia
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
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
Four Drawer Butternut Study Desk with Linoleum Top, Cream Desk - Customizable
By &New
Located in Leicester, GB
The four-drawer Study desk is made with a butternut powder-coated steel frame and a pearl-coloured natural linoleum tabletop. The linoleum for our desks is selected for the ecologica...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Original Shagreen Gilt Metal Writing Table Desk with Single-Drawer
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning RRP £13,000 original shagreen black lacquered with gold gilt metal detailing writing table desk
This is a very substantial desk. Shagreen for those of you who aren’t familiar is shark or ray skin. There are reproductions skins available however these are totally original, the way to tell apart from the feel is on the reproductions each skin is exactly the same, on the real hide...
Category
20th Century English Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Shagreen
Nancy Corzine Wakefield Executive Desk
Located in Countryside, IL
Nancy Corzine Wakefield executive desk in excellent condition
Piece comes fully restored free of dents and scratches.
Category
2010s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
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
Minimalist Modern Desk in Oak 160x80 cm
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
Oak, Wood, Plywood
Venezia Rialto Writing Desk
By Morici
Located in Milan, IT
Effortlessly enriching any modern interior - from a conference room, office, home study - this sculptural piece will create a timeless and elegant focal point. Entirely crafted of wo...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Custom Modern Walnut Starburst Dining Table with Black Curved Pedestals
By Carrocel
Located in North York, ON
Custom modern walnut starburst dining table with black curved pedestals. Magnificent sunburst walnut top in a medium walnut satin finish. Comple...
Category
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Italian Mahogany & Lacquer Dining Table
Located in Denton, TX
Italian mahogany & lacquer dining table. This table top stands on a black lacquer and wood accented pedestal. One leaf extends this table out to fit up...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Lacquer
Desk, Made of Walnut by Osvaldo Borsani, 1954
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Berlin, DE
Chique and minimal, rare desk designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1956 and manufactured by Tecno Italy.
the plate and the drawers are made of walnut wood, its construction is made of bla...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
American Maple Butcher Block Parsons Table
Located in Chicago, IL
A supremely chic 20th century American maple butcher block parsons waterfall table constructed of two inch thick strips of laminated maple and ...
Category
20th Century American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Maple
Modern by Giuseppe Carpanelli Cartesio Writing Desk in Ebony
By Carpanelli
Located in Desio, IT
Writing desk made with a mix of raw materials: wood, leather, stainless steel and glass. Drawers in curved plywood, with a Makassar ebony finishing, equipped with drawers with full-e...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ebony
FIJN Desk in Solid Black Walnut
Located in Calgary, CA
Our FIJN desk is handcrafted in solid wood. Both desks pictured were built in figured Oregon black walnut. Solid wood drawers are lined in leather and inserts can be customized to su...
Category
2010s Canadian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
'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
Large Modern Desk in Glass, Birch and Steel, Rectangular
By Duffy London
Located in London, GB
Abyss Desk expands Duffy’s explorations on the concept of depth with a mesmerising depiction of the Earth’s seabed, played out in vivid turquoise colours and grounded on stainless steel drawers...
Layers of glass and wood combine to create a three-dimensional viewing canvas; the yellow-tinted wood reacts with the blue glass to produce an array of luxurious colours, offering a glimpse into the thrilling ocean depths from the comfort of your dining room!
Abyss Desk is raised to office level at 75cm high on two stylish matte black plinths.
The original Abyss Table...
Category
2010s English 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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