50s Style Writing Desk
Vintage 1940s French Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Vintage 1950s British Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Palisander
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ceramic, Oak
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan, Mahogany
Vintage 1950s American Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Wicker, Rattan
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan
Vintage 1950s Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan, Formica
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s Desks
Rattan
Vintage 1950s American Bedroom Sets
Rattan, Formica
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Ceramic, Oak
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Ceramic, Oak
2010s Italian Modern Shelves
Ceramic, Oak
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Vintage 1930s Czech Bauhaus Desks
Metal, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Center Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Onyx, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers ...
Copper, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Console Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Steel, Brass, Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps
Resin
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Organic Modern Chandeliers and Pen...
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Hollywood Regency Desks
Brass
Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
2010s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Organic Modern Side Tables
Travertine
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Jars
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Antique Late 19th Century English Queen Anne Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Walnut
Vintage 1950s British Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1950s English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Elm
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash, Beech, Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Fabric, Rattan, Maple
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Early 20th Century English Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Yew
Vintage 1950s British Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
20th Century French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Faux Leather, Teak
20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1930s British Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Vintage 1950s British Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Vintage 1930s English William and Mary Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut, Leather
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique Early 1900s American Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Rattan, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1930s American Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Ash, Beech, Oak
Mid-20th Century French Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Antique 1880s French Art Nouveau Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Bronze
Vintage 1930s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel
20th Century Italian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Oak
Vintage 1950s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze, Metal
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Abstract Abstract Paintings
Oil
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu, Steel
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Vintage 1950s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Danish Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1950s French Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1950s Spanish Desks
Bronze
Vintage 1940s American Desks
Antique 1790s American Federal Secretaires
Rosewood, Mahogany
50s Style Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 50s Style Writing Desk?
Finding the Right desks-writing-tables for You
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.
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