18th Century Writing Desk
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18th Century Chinese Black Lacquer Painting Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Painting table with its original black lacquer finish, constructed with standard mitered frame members with a tongue and grooved floating panel. The legs are straight and end in hors...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Chinese Qing Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
William IV Mahogany Double-Sided Partner
s Library Writing Table or Desk
Located in Downingtown, PA
The leather lined rectangular top above two frieze drawers on each side, raised on tapering reeded legs ending in brass casters.
Provenance:
Private collection;
Originally sol...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century French Louis XIII Carved Oak Barley Twist Table Desk with Drawer
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in the Perigord region of France, circa 1760, the antique writing table stands on four
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Swedish Bureau
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Elegant 18th Century Swedish bureau.
The exterior and interior of this lovely piece are painted
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique Rustic Elm
Pine Writing Desk – Small Kitchen Dining Table Dressing
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique Rustic 18th / 19th Century Elm & Pine Writing Desk – Versatile Kitchen, Dining, or Dressing
Category
Antique 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm, Pine
Antique Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat Desk Hopilliart Paris 18th Century
Located in London, GB
moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground
Category
Antique 1790s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
18th Century Rococo Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Elegant Provincial 18th century Swedish Rococo table/desk partly in its original color with two
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
18th Century Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small 18th century English painted oak bureau with a fitted interior including a well and a secret
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
18th Century Diminutive George III Drum Table
Located in Dallas, TX
A George III drum table with mahogany and leather inset rotating top, four drawers, pedestal base, on casters, gun barrel stem.
(Turned column pedestal with four splayed legs).
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
18th Century Spanish Traveling Table
Located in Round Top, TX
A wonderful 18th century traveling table - Desk from the Catalan region of Spain. Beautifully
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Italian Neoclassical Mahogany Single Drawer Stand, Saber Legs, 18th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
tapered saber legs, 18th century
Measures: 27.25" H x 26" W x 21" D.
Category
Antique 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Spanish 18th Century Rustic Table
Located in Round Top, TX
A very charming 18th century rustic table from the Catalan region of Spain. Soundly constructed
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech, Pine
Late 18th Century George III Mahogany Knee-Hole Desk with Drawers on Both Sides
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This attractive desk features a gilt-tooled black leather writing surface above a central frieze
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
18th Century Spanish Fratino Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th century Spanish Fratino table in solid walnut with a single plank top. Two carved drawers with
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Italian 18th Century Fluted Wood Single Drawer Occasional Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian carved wood occasional table with single drawer from the 18th century. This antique
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
17th Century Italian Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
A great antique Walnut table/ desk circa 1680 in great condition with a fantastic patina. See more
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Venetian Table, Console
Located in Round Top, TX
A stunning 18th century table - Console from Venice, Italy. Beautifully constructed from wonderful
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Italian Large Baroque Style Walnut Library Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Baroque style walnut library table with 2 sliding drawers, carved lyre shaped legs and stretcher.
For many more fine antiques, please visit our online gallery at: w...
For many more fine antiques, please visit our online gallery at: w...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Swedish Provincial Table 18th–19th century
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Provincial Table 18th–19th century
Mostly made by an axe, this table carries a raw
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing T...
Materials
Pine
18th Century Spanish Walnut Lyre Leg Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful walnut lyre leg table from the 1700's. One wide board top, nearly 2" thick. Lovely patina.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
An Italian Walnut Baroque Writing/Center Table, 17th Century
later
Located in Sheffield, MA
An Italian Walnut Baroque Writing/Center Table
17th Century
later
The rectangular molded
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
18th Century Tall Italian Secretaire on Stand from Sologne, France
Located in New Orleans, LA
Arched top with doors that open to shelving over a tidy little desk with drawer.
Two pieces that
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
18th Century French Louis XV Style Table with Original Marble
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Phenomenal eighteenth century French Louis XV style center hall or writing table retaining not only
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Italian Mahogany Server or Writing Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
; conforming skirt with center drawer below a brass pull writing tablet and flanked by two half drawers, each
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
18th Century Mahogany Bookstand
Located in Greenwich, CT
Wonderful and rare George II period solid mahogany library bookstand of excellent proportions having ratcheted adjustable top over two shallow drawers, standing on simple turned colu...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Italian Louis XV Period Veneered
Inlaid 2-Drawer Writing Table, Mid-18th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian provincial version of a Louis XV-period writing table. Having cabriole-shaped legs, and
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
George III Mahogany Square Writing Table
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The square double-hinged top opening to reveal a leather writing surface, above a frize drawer
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Bureau Plat Desk, Ebony Desk with Bronze Applications
Located in Roma, IT
bureau plat is a typical 'representation' desk very popular in 18th century, France.
Born under the
Category
Antique 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Rustic Farm Table
Located in Dallas, TX
a bad choice for a student desk!
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Desks and Writing Tables
English Country Style Barley Twist Writing Desk or End Table, circa 1700
s
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
English petite writing table with fine barley twist legs that has been French polished over a 45
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Country Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
18th Century Spanish Traveling Table
Located in Round Top, TX
A stunning 18th century table De Voyage - traveling table from the Catalan region of Spain
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chestnut, Walnut
18th century Spanish, walnut table
Located in Round Top, TX
18th century Spanish walnut table with iron stretcher
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique writing table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
A fine George III Sheraton period mahogany writing table on elegant turned 'Carlton House' legs.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
$21,646
Mid 18th Century Walnut Bureau
Located in Folkestone, GB
A good quality mid 18th century walnut veneered 3ft bureau of good colour and patina, the fall with
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Swiss Louis XV Inlaid Writing Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Bernoise (canton of Berne in Switzerland) Hand Carved Burlwood
Inlaid with Cabriolet legs & Bronze escushion.
Fitted with a Center drawer & locking device.
Inlaid with Cabriolet legs & Bronze escushion.
Fitted with a Center drawer & locking device.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swiss Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
18th Century Painted French Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Painted French Table With Cabriole Legs, Hoof feet and a Drawer on Each End
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Newton Writing Table
Located in London, GB
A GEORGE III SATINWOOD AND TULIPWOOD-BANDED WRITING-TABLE ATTRIBUTED TO JAMES NEWTON, Circa 1800.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British George III Desks and Writing Ta...
$9,286
Antique 18th Century Italian Walnut Table
Located in Houston, TX
Antique 18th century Italian walnut table with a single plank top and wooden stretchers. Beautiful
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
18th Century Spanish Colonial Baroque Walnut Two Drawer Table
Located in Milford, NH
hardware, pegged construction, bobbin turned legs, and strong base stretchers. Dates to the 18th century in
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wrought Iron
French 18th Century Oak Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fantastic little oak table, made in France, circa 1780. The oak is darkly toned, with a deep, rich chocolate color. The top is wonderfully patinated, with a little history imparted...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
18th Century Walnut and Inlay Bureau
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A stunning early 18th century rectangular desk, bureau or scriban in burr walnut, ebony inlay
Category
Antique 18th Century Belgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ebony, Oak, Walnut, Burl
18th Century Poudreuse and Ladies Desk - Table d
Accouchée, France, circa 1760
Located in Greven, DE
18th Century Coiffeuse and reading table - so-called Table d'Accouchée
France
Rosewood
around 1760
Category
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Kingwood, Rosewood
An 18th Century French Provincial LXV Period Cherrywood Beaureaplat
Located in Atlanta, GA
having a rectangular top with slightly rounded corners and a slightly beveled edge above a conforming case consisting of paneled sides and back with carved aprons, the two large draw...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Chippendale Period Writing Table
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine large size mahogany writing table with unusual open design legs and pieced rails. The
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Carved Wood Italian Writing/ Side Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th C. Carved Painted Writing Table. It has a beautiful old faded finish with a faux marble top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Georgian Mahogany Writing Table
Located in New York, NY
Georgian Mahogany Writing Table with felt top.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Desks and Writing Tables
George III Writing Table
Located in Hudson, NY
Satinwood and tulipwood veneered kidney shaped writing table. Beautifully patinaed green leather
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
$7,500
Solid Walnut Spanish Baroque Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
An 18th century Spanish baroque desk, or writing table made of solid Walnut Wood with turned legs
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Early 18th Century Burr Walnut Bureau
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Early 18th century beautifully figured burr walnut bureau of super proportions.
This very rare and
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French 18th Century Louis XVI Mahogany Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Bureau Plat
Located in Berlin, DE
French 18th Century Louis XVI Mahogany Gilt Bronze Neoclassical Bureau Plat
A late 18th century
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Baroque Desk Walnut Italy XVIII Century
Located in Milano, IT
Baroque open desk in walnut, Veneto, last quarter of the 18th century. Top with leather insert
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Maple, Walnut, Fir
18th Century Georgian Elm Lowboy Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
18th century elm lowboy with a quartered veneered moulded edge elm top with walnut crossbanding
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century European Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
Neo Classic Walnut Inlaid Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
An unusual Dutch Neo Classic walnut inlaid cross banded roll top desk with a fitted interior and
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Dutch Neoclassical Desks and Writing Ta...
Louis XVI Brass-Mounted Mahogany Architect
s Table, Late 18th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The top lays flat or can be raised as a slant top. There are pull-out inset leather slides on each side the central drawer with compartments for ink.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Outstanding 18th Century Period Louis XVI Table
Located in Round Top, TX
An outstanding 18th century period Louis XVI side table - writing table in painted wood with marble
Category
Antique 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Rare 18th Century English Table in Walnut with Pinched Top Corners
Located in Milford, NH
A rare example of an 18th century English rectangular one-drawer table in walnut, its top with a
Category
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
18th Century French Louis XVI Brass-Trimmed Table with Gold-Tooled Leather Top
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI (18th century) Provincial fruitwood table desk with a brass edge
surrounding a
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
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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.
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