18th Century Writing Desk
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Louis XV Tuscany Walnut Veneered Writing Table
Located in Firenze, FI
in the band, curved legs typical of mid-18th century Tuscan manufacture.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Poplar, Walnut
18th Century George III Period Mahogany Davenport by Gillows of Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
Very Fine 18th-Century George III Period Mahogany Davenport by Gillows of Lancaster
A fine late
Category
Antique 18th Century British George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
American Cuban Mahogany Slant Top Desk
Located in Charleston, SC
American Cuban mahogany slant top desk with turned ball finial gallery, fitted interior drawers
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Desks and Writing Tables
18th C. Spanish Nicely-Carved Wood Trestle-Leg Table w/Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Spanish carved-wood occasional table with drawer from the 18th century. This antique table from
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Directoire Mahogany and Brass Inlaid Leather Top Desk
Located in Queens, NY
French Directoire (Late 18th Century) mahogany and bronze trim desk with a black leather top having
Category
Antique 18th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Period French Directior Leather Topped Writing Table.
Located in Hudson, NY
This beautiful period writing table was constructed in France circa 1790 to 1800 of rich imported
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Chippendale Partners
Desk
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine George II mahogany partner's desk in the manner of Thomas Chippendale. Possessing a
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
$25,000
18th C. English Architect
s Table w/Unique Legs, Expanding Top,
Candle Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English expandable architect's table with candle stands from the 18th century. This antique
Category
Antique 18th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
An Important George III Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This very fine mahogany writing table made in England in the French taste would have been for only
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany
Fine Antique American Chippendale Slant Front Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A beautifully crafted late 18th Century Slant Front Desk with dovetailed top and drawers, fine
Category
Antique Late 18th Century American Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Chippendale Mahogany Table Desk
Located in Queens, NY
18th-19th century English Chippendale style mahogany table desk with a serpentine shaped front and
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Antique English Georgian Walnut Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique slant front secretary desk with graduated drawers (one over two short, over two long
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
George III Mahogany and Red Leather Topped Writing Table
Located in London, GB
A George III Mahogany and Red Leather Topped Writing Table With adjustable ratcheting writing slope
Category
Antique 18th Century George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Charming Georgian Elm Childs Desk
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A super early 18th-century childs writing desk, the slope top lifts to reveal a fitted drawer; of
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
18th c. French Bureau de Dame
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant 18th-century French lady’s writing desk, or bureau de dame, crafted in warm walnut with
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
A Spanish Walnut Churesque Base 2 Drawer Table with Iron Stretcher, 18th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Spanish Walnut Churesque Base 2 Drawer Table with Iron Stretcher, 18th Century
Provenance
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
French Louis XVI Carved Walnut Writing-Side Table with Drawer
Located in Dallas, TX
A French carved walnut small writing table, perfect end table or bedside table, late 18th century.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Italian Baroque Walnut Writing Table with Hinged Top, c1700
Located in valatie, NY
An Italian Baroque walnut writing table with unique hinged top, the rectangular top with bread
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique Walnut 18th Century Queen Ann 3 Drawers Low Boy Good Condition
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Antique Walnut 18th century Queen Ann 3 drawers low boy good condition.
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century American Queen Anne Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Country House Library Partners Desk
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine 18th century Chippendale period country house library fitted partners desk. The paneled
Category
Antique 18th Century European Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Rare 18th Century Mahogany Bureau Cabinet on Stand
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A rare example of an 18th century mahogany bureau bookcase, the whole with finely carved mouldings
Category
Antique 1740s Irish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Wood
Hogan English Bench-Made Chippendale Style Mahogany Writing Table
Located in North Salem, NY
Fine Wood & Hogan English bench-made mahogany Chippendale style three drawer writing table with
Category
Antique 18th Century English Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$9,884 Sale Price
30% Off
Circa 1780 English George III Patinated Oak Antique Writing Table
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GEORGE III PROVINCIAL PATINATED OAK THREE-DRAWER WRITING TABLE
England, circa 1780 with scrolled
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
George III Mahogany Carlton House Desk
Located in London, GB
A fine quality late 18th century Sheraton period well-figured mahogany Carlton House Desk boxwood
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Early 18th Century Georgian George II Oak Lowboy Dressing Table 1750
Located in Portland, OR
A good and early antique Georgian oak lowboy/dressing table, circa 1750.
The George II lowboy having an overhanging top, with a carved kneehole with three drawers above, each having ...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
$1,916 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian Venetian Walnut Serpentine Desk
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian (18th Century) walnut serpentine shaped desk with 2 side doors and 2 narrow front
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut, Upholstery
English Mahogany Campaign Desk. Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
,original ink well, quill box, writing surface, and terminating on supported x framed legs. Late 18th
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Desks and Writing Tables
A George III Mahogany and Red Leather Topped Writing Table
Located in London, GB
With adjustable ratcheting writing slope, three front drawers and brass handles, on straight
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique French Louis XVI Marble Gold gilded Salon Ladies Writing Table 1800
Located in Doha, QA
This incredibly intricate and elegant Louis XVI French ladies writing desk table is originated from
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Gold
Austrian Neoclassic Parquetry Pedestal Desk
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top over a long drawer flanked by small drawers over pedestals each with two drawers. Bracket feet. Finished all around in a design of inlay that gives a striped effect.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Austrian Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
George III Mahogany Double-sided Leather Top Library Writing Table, circa 1795
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A fine circa 1795 English late George III period mahogany double-sided library or writing table of
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Tulipwood Leather Top Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive late 18th century French writing desk with a tooled black leather top, probably original
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Tulipwood
Louis XVI Walnut Fall Front Desk / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This Louis XVI walnut slant-front secretary desk is a fine example of 18th-century French
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Spruce, Walnut
$8,456 Sale Price
20% Off
George I Walnut Desk or Dressing Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine early Georgian walnut kneehole desk pr dressing table, the top with well figured quarter
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Doge Bureau with Red Chinoiserie
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
Furniture by using the very best 18th Century Craftsmanship Venetian Techniques, passed down through the
Category
2010s Italian Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique George III Quality Walnut Kneehole Desk
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique George III quality walnut kneehole desk having a quality figured walnut crossbanded top
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique George III Quality Mahogany Knee Hole Desk
Located in Suffolk, GB
shelf interior standing on original bracket feet.
A handsome 18th century example boasting an
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Other
Antique Italian Money-Changers Desk with Hidden Storage
Located in London, GB
An 17-18th century antique desk.
Likely Italian, but sourced in France.
Solid oak with a
Category
Antique Early 18th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Light taupe Provenza Table with drawers
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
Furniture by using the very best 18th Century Craftsmanship Venetian Techniques. Colors, decors and size can
Category
2010s Italian Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Ivory Stra Table with little flowers
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
on every side of the Furniture by using the very best 18th Century Craftsmanship Venetian Techniques
Category
2010s Italian Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Unusual Antique George lII Mahogany and Oak Desk
Located in Suffolk, GB
Unusual Antique George lII mahogany and oak desk having a quality mahogany writing fall opening to
Category
Antique 18th Century European George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Period George III Chippendale Mahogany Architect
s Table or Desk
Located in Essex, MA
Period Georgian architect's table or desk
--Metamorphic
--Cuban mahogany
--Writing surfaces and
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Majestic French Bureau Plat Desk antique According to Andre C. Boulle bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Root veneer on solid beech and oak. Extremely finely chiselled bronze. Slightly protruding, profiled tabletop and gold-imprinted leather insert, flanked by a grotesque mask on each c...
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
George III Mahogany Carlton House Desk, attributed to Gillow of Lancaster.C.1790
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in Huntington, NY
An exceptional Late 18th century Mahogany Carlton House desk attributed to Gillows of Lancaster
Category
Antique 18th Century George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Circa 1780-1800 George III Slant Front Bureau or Desk
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
period 18th and 19th century English and Country French furniture, fine art, silver, porcelain, lighting
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
$3,160 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century French Louis XV Period Walnut Chateau Bonheur Du Jour or Secretary
Located in Birmingham, AL
A rare 18th century French Louis XV period chateau bonheur du jour or secrétaire handcrafted of
Category
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
1750 Venezia Italy Baroque Carved and Inlaid Walnut Desk with Drawers
Located in Brescia, IT
masterpiece hails from the Mid-18th Century and was created by the Master Venetian cabinetmakers.
Referring
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
George III Mahogany Architect’s Desk attr. Gillows of Lancaster circa 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
the 18th and 19th centuries.
Their designs ranged from elegant pedestal desks to sophisticated
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Italian Luigi XVI Desk with drawer in walnut wood, second half 1700s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Luigi XVI Desk with drawer in walnut wood, second half 1700s
Desk with rectangular top with
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
George II Chippendale Style Desk Mahogany Leather Top Antique Console Side Table
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in London, GB
-mid 20th Century, this extremely attractive and versatile small desk would also make a super console
Category
Antique Late 18th Century British Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Antique Swedish Rococo Desk with Light Blue Paint, Drawer and Curved Rococo Legs
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish rococo desk from the late 1700s. The desk is a country house furniture in rococo
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
18th Century French Louis XVI Writing Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
Handsome late 18th Century French Louis XVI style writing desk with leather insert on top. Desk
Category
Antique 18th Century French Directoire Desks
Materials
Wood
$3,450 Sale Price
25% Off
18th Century Rococo Writing Desk
Located in Ljungby, SE
This beautifully crafted Swedish Rococo writing desk is a distinguished piece of Stockholm
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desks
Materials
Bronze
Standing English Architect
s Drawing Table of Mahogany from the George III Era
Located in Austin, TX
III period, featuring a double rising adjustable top over a pull-out writing slide with embossed
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique French Painted Wood Bonheur-du-jour or Occasional Table w/Single Drawer
Located in Atlanta, GA
is a nice patina throughout, which is old but coloring is not original. This late 18th century French
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Georgian Mahogany Architects Table
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A 18th century architects table with a single drawer which opens to reveal a several compartments
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Scottish Library Table with Barley Twist Legs
Located in Hudson, NY
Beautiful all-over patina and hand carvings on the apron.
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Scottish Desks and Writing Tables
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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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