18th Century Writing Desk
to
95
1,102
608
1,729
5
4
244
138
137
78
52
46
10
5
2
1
1
1
1
1,681
41
7
9
1
2
1
1
1
1,411
458
342
317
209
1,535
492
451
345
252
1,737
1,734
1,734
6
3
3
2
2
Sort By
Early 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A finely figured walnut kneehole desk with quarter veneered top, herring bone bandings and original
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
18th Century Mahogany Writing Table with Red Leather Top
Located in London, GB
A late 18th century George III period well figured mahogany writing table, having a moulded edged
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Spanish 18th Century Three-Drawer Desk / Console
Located in Round Top, TX
A stunning 18th century three-drawer desk / console from the Catalan region in Spain. Beautifully
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
18th Century Louis XVI Period Italian Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
A very handsome 18th century period Louis XVI two-drawer desk from Northern Italy. Wonderfully and
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Writing Desk or Side Table
Located in Culver City, CA
with turned legs
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks and Writing Tables
Fine Early 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A good example of an early 18th century walnut kneehole desk quarter veneered top, lovely mellow
Category
Antique Early 18th Century European Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Late 18th Century Figured Mahogany Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
A fine quality late 18th century flame-figured mahogany pedestal desk of small proportions, having
Category
Antique 18th Century English Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century French Country Louis XV Desk
Located in Doylestown, PA
A charming 18th century Louis XV style bureau plat in cherrywood, with 2 large drawers on cabriole
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
French Louis XV Period Oak 2-Drawer Writing Table, mid 18th century
Located in Atlanta, GA
the rectangular top with molded edge atop a conforming case housing two drawers and having a shaped apron, raised on cabriole legs
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
18th C. Antique French Fruitwood Writing Table with Drawer
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Eighteenth century French fruitwood writing table with full-width single hand-dovetailed drawer
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Romantic Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
Authentic 18th C. French Walnut Writing Table w/Drawer
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
This absolutely amazing petite writing table has a two piece figured walnut top, and a hand-cut
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Louis XVI Pine Painted Desk
Located in Charlottesville, VA
This is a beautiful painted desk. A nice worn patina with carved details.
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
A Louis XVI Kingwood
Tulipwood Inlaid Writing Desk
Located in Sheffield, MA
The rectangular top over two drawers with bronze mounts and two pullouts, all on tapering legs ending in sabots
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks and Writing Tables
18th Century Louis XV Leather Top French Desk with Carved Detailing
Located in Houston, TX
Gorgeous 18th century Louis XV leather top French desk with carved detailing and cabriole legs made
Category
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut
17th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Vaqueno On Stand Writing Desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
STUNNING AND RARE SPANISH WRITING DESK WITH FITTED INTERIOR
COMPARATIVELY PLAIN EXTERIOR IS
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
18th Century Spanish Walnut Table or Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A period 18th c. Spanish table in walnut, Featuring a solid one-piece figured walnut top, attached
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Antique Gustavian Style Writing Desk with Dry Scraped Finish
Located in South Salem, NY
Late 18th Century Gustavian Writing Desk with a single drawer with original pull. Historic paint
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
18thC Writing Desk/Side Table, Spain
Located in New York, NY
1700c Spanish walnut writing desk with two drawers.
Beautiful natural patina.
Hand carved motif
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Italian Walnut and Ebonized Carved Writing Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Boldly carved and ebonized top and apron with four drawers raised on four shaped and carved legs with hoof and split toe feet.
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique Early 18th Century Walnut Kneehole Desk
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A delightful George I period burr walnut kneehole
desk of diminutive proportion having superbly
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Italian 18th Century Walnut Desk with Carved Reeded Apron, Drawers and Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian walnut desk from the 18th century with three drawers, pull-out, two doors and curving
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
18th Century Louis XVI Mahogany Lady
s Writing Table / Dressing Table
Located in Kastrup, DK
Small and elegant Louis XVI ladies writing table / dressing table in mahogany.
Single drawer below
Category
Antique 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Late 18th c. French Writing Table
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 18th c. French writing table. Rich walnut and satinwood with ebony inlays. Cross banded top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Neoclassical Desk Veneto, Italy, Late 18th Century
Located in Milano, IT
Supported by four tapered truncated cone legs, connected with the under the top band through a turned element, carved with leaf motifs and a narrow but long collar. The under the top...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech
Large French Country Style Walnut Desk or Table, 18th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
to Mid 18th Century.
Category
Antique 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Louis XVI Period 18th Century Walnut Desk with Carved Fluted Apron
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XVI period walnut desk from the 18th century, with single drawer, carved fluted
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Italian Inlaid Walnut and Fruitwood Desk
Located in Houston, TX
18th century neoclassical Italian desk, inlaid with walnut and fruitwood marquetry veneer, with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut
Small Late 18th Century Figured Mahogany Pedestal Desk
Located in London, GB
A fine quality late 18th century flame-figured mahogany pedestal desk of small proportions, having
Category
Antique 18th Century English Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
18th C. Gustavian Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
. Desk can be dismantled into 5 parts for easier travel by horse carriage in the 18th Century.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
$3,300
George III Rosewood and Mahogany Writing Table – Late 18th C
Located in valatie, NY
English, George III Rosewood and Mahogany Kidney Shaped Writing Table – Late 18th Century, the
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Desks and Writing Tables
Late 19th Century French Bronze-Mounted Writing Desk w/single Drawer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very Fine late 19th Century French writing desk with single drawer. Bronze-mounted.
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
18th Century George III Period Mahogany Architect
s Desk
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A stunning late 18th century, George III period solid mahogany architect's desk. Finished in the
Category
Antique Late 18th Century British George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Bonheur-du-jour (Desk), Late 18th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French painted wood small-sized writing desk from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This
Category
Antique 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Small writing desk 2 sides, 1790, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small double-sided writing desk, 1790, Denmark
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Danish Desks and Writing Tables
Fine 18th Century Mahogany Free Standing Library Desk
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine quality late 18th century mahogany free standing library desk, the flame mahogany cupboards
Category
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Ancient Genoese Writing Table in Walnut, from the 18th Century, Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
legs, hand-built in the 18th century by a craftsman in Italy.
Ideal for studios, offices or private
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century George III Period Mahogany Partners Desk
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A stunning late 18th century George III period mahogany partners desk. Nine oak lined drawers to
Category
Antique 18th Century British George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather
French 18th Century Louis XIII Style Side Table or Writing Table
Located in Round Top, TX
A very handsome French Louis XIII style side table or writing table. Beautifully constructed from
Category
Antique 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique Rustic Italian 18th Century Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique rustic Italian 18th century desk features a weathered top and a pair of finely carved
Category
Antique 1770s Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Antique Georgian Mahogany Desk or Writing Table
Located in London, GB
Antique period Georgian mahogany desk, dressing table or side table in lovely original condition
Category
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
An Italian Baroque Pinewood Two Drawer Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
having a rectangular top above two drawers with iron ring pulls, the half-lyre form trestle supports connected by a later angled footrest
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
c.1780 French Louis XIII Writing Desk
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
French Louis XIII walnut writing table with barley twist legs and a curved cross stretcher with a
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Mid 18th Century French Provincial Slant Top Desk
Located in Berlin, DE
The slant top opening to reveal a fitted interior with two drawers and six compartments, with one frieze drawer, the mounts elaborately cast with rocaille and leaves, on cabriole leg...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century George III Architect
s Desk / Adjustable Drawing Table
Located in Dallas, TX
an 18th century, English architect's drawing table / desk of mahogany, the hinged top adjusts to
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Spanish Early 18th Century Walnut Wood Desk with Spindled Legs and Box Stretcher
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Spanish early 18th century desk or table. This handsome Spanish desk of walnut features great
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Rustic Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
A Louis XV Provincial Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Berlin, DE
A rectangular top above a frieze drawer raised on hipped cabriole legs ending in hoof feet. In excellent original condition with original lock and escutcheon, having retained a natur...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Régence Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century French Table
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible 18th century French Provincial oak work table from Normandy with a 2.5 inch thick top
Category
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Antique Italian Wood
Iron Stretchered Table (or Great Desk!) Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique Italian wood and iron stretchered desk table from the late 18th-early 19th century. This
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Fine Louis XV Writing Desk Stamped J Schmitz
By Joseph Schmitz
Located in Benington, Herts
A fine Louis XV mid-18th century French kingwood writing desk stamped J Schmitz. Of serpentine form
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
French Louis XV Style Writing Desk Bureau Plat
Located in Astoria, NY
French Louis XV style cherry wood writing desk or bureau plat with shaped rectangular top banded in
Category
Antique 18th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
João V King of Portugal, Walnut and Cherrywood Side Table / Desk, 18th Century
Located in London, GB
Exquisite lines, beautiful form early 18th century walnut and cherrywood Portuguese side table
Category
Antique 18th Century Portuguese Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
Late 18th Century Gustavian Desk in Pine with Drawer
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish Gustavian desk or side table with drawer. The table has been scraped to the first layer of
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
French Directoire Period Writing Desk of Walnut and Mahogany with Leather Top
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French Directoire period writing table or desk of walnut and mahogany from the late 18th
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
18th Century Spanish Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
which do not the stability or functionality and beauty of the piece. Size is ideal for a desk. Use and
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Rare Italian Mid-18th Century Lacca Povera Desk or Bureau
Located in Berlin, DE
A rare mid-18th century Lacca Povera desk or bureau, profusely decorated with decoupage vignettes
Category
Antique 1740s French Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Louis XV Period Oak Three-Drawer Writing Table, 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular galleried top open on one side, the conforming case housing three drawers with brass pulls and raised on tapering cabriole legs.
Category
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Late 18th Century "Bureau Plat" - French Provencal Two Drawer Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
Late 18th century "Bureau Plat" - French Provencal Louis XV desk. This lovely desk has two drawers
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
- 1
- ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "18th Century Writing Desk", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
18th Century Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the 18th century writing desk you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A 18th century writing desk — often made from wood, walnut and mahogany — can elevate any home. Find 788 options for an antique or vintage 18th century writing desk now, or shop our selection of 1 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer 18th century writing desk, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Each 18th century writing desk bearing Georgian, Louis XVI or Louis XV hallmarks is very popular. Gillows of Lancaster
London, Caspar Frederik Harsdorff and Thomas Chippendale each produced at least one beautiful 18th century writing desk that is worth considering.
How Much is a 18th Century Writing Desk?
The average selling price for a 18th century writing desk at 1stDibs is $6,796, while they’re typically $797 on the low end and $212,272 for the highest priced.
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.
Questions About 18th Century Writing Desk
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, wedding rings have a long history, stretching back to ancient Egypt. The first diamond engagement ring was created in 1477 by Archduke Maximillian of Austria. Browse a wide array of vintage and contemporary wedding rings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022In the 18th century, art changed in style from Baroque to Rococo and Neoclassicism. Art became more ornamented and idealized during the Rococo period and then shifted toward a style that emulated the artwork of ancient Greece and Rome near the end of the century. You’ll find a variety of fine art on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024To identify 18th-century furniture, you can research your piece in the context of the prevailing styles of the period or consult a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer. To identify your item on your own, look over it for maker's marks, such as carvings, stamps, brands and labels. Researching the marking can help you determine the maker of your piece, and from there, you can search further to learn more about your particular item. Without a maker's mark, the best approach is to consider the characteristics of the dominant furniture styles during the 18th century. In England, these included William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton. Some French furniture styles of the 1700s include Louis XV, Louis XVI and Régence. Find a diverse assortment of 18th-century furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022One way to check if your brass candlesticks are from the 18th century is to look for the two seams running lengthwise on either side. This is from when the candlestick was molded in two halves and then soldered together. You’ll find a variety of candlesticks of all shapes and sizes from some of the top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025The individuals considered the Big Three of 18th-century cartoons are William Hogarth, James Gillray and George Cruikshank. Although the 18th century saw a widespread increase in illustrations in newspapers, these three illustrators were particularly well-known for their work. Hogarth's work was extremely diverse, ranging from serious, realistic paintings and portraits to satirical and moralistic illustrations filled with symbolism. A British caricaturist, Gillray is remembered today for his artworks representing political and social satires, like his political cartoons against George III of England. Despite being a prolific caricaturist, Cruikshank is now most famous for illustrating the works of Charles Dickens. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of illustrations.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022At the end of the 17th century, Europe went into a frenzy over porcelain. Asian porcelain was highly sought after, and spurred the foundation of the Meissen factory in France, where hard porcelain went on to be made. You’ll find a large collection of porcelain pieces from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
Read More
20 Inviting Dining Rooms Perfectly Arranged for Entertaining
Top interior designers show — and tell — us how to create delectable spaces for hosting dinner parties.
This Alain Delon–Designed Table Is Almost as Handsome as He Was
Fans of the French film star may be surprised to learn that he had a flair for furniture with sleek lines and disco-era flash.
Uchronia’s Plant Stand Gives Pots a Pretty Perch with All the Trimmings
Like other pieces in the firm’s Candy Box collection, the cheerful limited-edition design showcases French craft.
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
Is Lionel Jadot the Willy Wonka of Upcycled Belgian Design?
From his massive collaborative workshop in a former paper factory, the designer concocts funky furniture from disused materials, as well as luxe hotel interiors like the new Mix Brussels.
Inspired by the Cosmos, Sandra Nunnerley’s Nova Table Has a Futuristic Feel
The designer’s innovative use of an unexpected material gives this console a lift.
This 19th-Century Gilded Desk Displays a Fanciful Kingdom in Marquetry
The stately piece brings both gravitas and whimsy to any work space.
In Guadalajara, These Luscious Side Tables Are Chiseled from Volcanic Rock
Use them as tables or stools, indoors or out.
More Ways To Browse
Marble Top Bureau
Bombay Desk
Walnut Escritoire
Antique Double Secretary
Cherry Roll Top Desk
Double Bonnet Secretary
Mazarin Writing Desk
Slant Front Desk On Ball And Claw Feet
Antique Desk Drawer Lock
Art Deco Brass Woman
Art Deco Chest Small
Art Deco Compact Mirror
Art Deco Cordial Sets
Art Deco Menorah
Art Deco Outdoor Chairs
Art Nouveau Erotic
Art Nouveau Sugar Bowl
Art Nouveau Wood Carving