Desks and Writing Tables
1950s French Directoire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Mission Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Bamboo, Wood
1980s Norwegian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
18th Century British George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
1940s French Empire Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Goatskin, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Glass
17th Century European Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Chestnut, Walnut
1960s North American Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
1950s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Enamel, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
2010s Swiss Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
2010s Argentine Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Iron
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Carrara Marble, Iron
Mid-20th Century Dutch Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Copper
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1940s French Louis XV Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
2010s Swiss Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Chrome
Early 2000s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Late 19th Century American Louis XIII Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Birch
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Maple
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Onyx, Quartz, Marble, Brass, Stainless Steel
2010s Danish Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary British Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany, Boxwood, Olive, Satinwood
Mid-20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Beech, Birch
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Walnut
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Nickel
Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
1890s French Louis XV Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Concrete
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut, Burl
21st Century and Contemporary German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Organic Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique and Vintage Desks and Writing Tables
Choosing the perfect writing desk or writing table is a profoundly personal journey, one that people have been embarking upon for centuries.
Queen Atossa of Persia, from her writing table circa 500 B.C., is said to have been the originator of the art of handwritten letters. Hers was reportedly the first in a long and colorful history of penned correspondence that grew in popularity alongside literacy. The demand for suitable writing desks, which would serve the composer of the letters as well as ensure the comfort of the recipient naturally followed, and the design of these necessary furnishings has evolved throughout history.
Once people began to seek freedom from the outwardly ornate styles of the walnut and rosewood writing desks and drafting tables introduced in the name of Queen Victoria and King Louis XV, radical shifts occurred, such as those that materialized during the Art Nouveau period, when designers longed to produce furniture inspired by the natural world’s beauty. A prime example is the work of the famous late-19th-century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí — his rolltop desk featured deep side drawers and was adorned with carved motifs that paid tribute to nature. Gaudí regularly combined structural precision with decorative elements, creating beautiful pieces of furniture in wood and metal.
Soon afterward, preferences for sleek, geometric, stylized forms in furniture that saw an emphasis on natural wood grains and traditional craftsmanship took hold. Today, Art Deco desks are still favored by designers who seek to infuse interiors with an air of luxury. One of the most prominent figures of the Art Deco movement was French decorator and furniture designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. With his use of neoclassical motifs as well as expensive and exotic materials such as imported dark woods and inlays of precious metals for his writing desks, Ruhlmann came to symbolize good taste and modernity.
The rise in appreciation for Scandinavian modernism continues to influence the design of contemporary writing desks. It employs the “no fuss” or “less is more” approach to creating a tasteful, sophisticated space. Sweden’s master cabinetmaker Bruno Mathsson created gallery-worthy designs that are as functional as they are beautiful. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto never viewed himself as an artist, but, like Mathsson, his furniture designs reflected a fondness for organic materials and a humanistic approach. Danish designers such as Hans Wegner introduced elegant shapes and lines to mid-century desks and writing tables, often working in oak and solid teak.
From vintage desks to contemporary styles, 1stDibs offers a broad spectrum of choices for conducting all personal and business writing and reading activities.
Read More
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
18 Home Offices for Workaholic Design-Lovers
Proof that working from home is a perk.