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1940s Hamilton Oak Drafting Table
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Original drafting table manufactured by Hamilton in the US in the 1940s. This large work table
Category

Vintage 1940s American Industrial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Pine

Ebonized Bronze Mounted Desk by Baker
Located in Manhasset, NY
Fine ebonized and bronze mounted writing desk, circa 1940s, in the style of Louis XVI, the
Category

Vintage 1940s American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Vintage French Oak Table with Drawer Signed Mercier Chaleyssin, circa 1940s
Located in New York City, NY
Vintage French oak table with drawer signed Mercier & Chaleyssin, circa 1940s.
Category

Vintage 1940s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

1940s French Black Lacquered Bureau Plat
Located in Houston, TX
An early 20th Century Louis XV style black lacquered writing desk. This desk features brass/bronze
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

Old Industrial Drafting Table of the 1940s
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This great Industrial drafting table can be dated in the 1940s. It is a nice piece with a dark
Category

Vintage 1940s Belgian Industrial Desks and Writing Tables

Art Deco dressing table with chair, Germany, circa 1940s
Located in Chorzów, PL
Art Deco dressing table with chair. Elegant dressing table with a chair in the Art Deco style. The furniture has been professionally renovated and is in very good condition. The dres...
Category

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Dressing table with chair in Art Deco style, Poland, 1940s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A dressing table and a chair in the Art Deco style from the 1940s, Poland. Dimensions: Chair
Category

Vintage 1940s Polish Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

French Art Deco Cerused Oak Curved Desk Attributed to Jules Leleu
By Gio Ponti, André Arbus, Charles Dudouyt, Jules Leleu, Francisque Chaleyssin
Located in Houston, TX
1940s desk or writing table was made for floating in a room as it's gorgeous from every angle.
Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Elegant French Writing Desk, 1940s
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
keyhole trim, France 1940's. This desk is beautifully made and a fine example of French 40's design.
Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks

Materials

Metal

1940 s Slim Oak Work Bench / Writing Desk with Open Folding Writing Working Top
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Absolutely great quality and beautiful Scandinavian slim oak writing desk / working bench build in
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Beech, Oak

1940s White Painted Writing Desk/ Vanity by Widdicomb
By John Widdicomb
Located in Stamford, CT
1940s petite writing desk/vanity by Widdicomb. Newly repainted in an antique white finish with
Category

Vintage 1940s American Louis XV Desks

Materials

Brass

French or Italian Art Deco Rosewood Writing Desk, circa 1940s
Located in Culver City, CA
circa 1940 is clad in the most beautiful rosewood and has satin black ebonized legs. The desk was
Category

Vintage 1940s Art Deco Desks

Materials

Rosewood

Neo Classical Mirrored Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
1940's Mirrored Writing Desk
Category

Vintage 1940s American Desks

Materials

Mirror

1940s Danish Rosewood NV-40 Writing Desk by Finn Juhl for Niels Vodder
By Finn Juhl, Niels Vodder
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A beautifully proportioned NV-40 writing desk by Finn Juhl for Neils Vodder. In Rio rosewood
Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks

Materials

Brass

Italian 1940s Solid Oak Wood Writing Desk with Shutter Doors
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Vintage Italian writing desk circa 1940s in solid oak wood. Comfortable size for a practical use
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Desks

Materials

Oak

1940s Ponte Vecchio Solid Silver Writing Set
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A hand crafted solid silver writing set originally sold by the silversmith, Rebbio Corri at number
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Desk Sets

Materials

Silver

Antique Spinet Style Writing Desk w/ Hidden Deawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite 1940s antique spinet-style writing desk blends elegance with clever functionality
Category

Vintage 1940s American Victorian Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Mid Century Mahogany Chippendale Style Kneehole Library Office Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful mid century kneehole writing desk, circa 1940s. Rectangular form made from mahogany
Category

Vintage 1940s Chippendale Desks

Materials

Mahogany

1940 s Mirrored Vanity / Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
Mirrored vanity may also function as a writing desk. Has original glass pulls and equipped
Category

20th Century Vanities

Antique Art Deco American Walnut Vanity Dressing Table Kneehole Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
American Art Deco Vanity or Writing Desk, Circa 1940s. Made from walnut with a contoured front
Category

Vintage 1940s Art Deco Desks

Materials

Walnut

Vladimir Kagan for Ernst Schwadron Desk
By Vladimir Kagan, Rena Rosenthal, Ernst Schwadron
Located in Cambridge, US
USA, ca. 1940s. A rare writing desk by Austrian designer Ersnt Schwadron. Executed by Vladimir
Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Cowhide, Mahogany

Unusual French 1940s Cerused Oak Leather-Top Console/Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
An unusual cerused oak console with leather top. The console consists of three central drawers, two drawers feature brass faux-bamboo hardware.
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Console Tables

Materials

Leather, Oak

Dressing Table or a Small Writing Desk, Swedish 1940s-1950s by Carl-Axel Acking
By Carl-Axel Acking
Located in Skanninge, SE
can use this piece as a small writing desk. Perfect for a laptop. Nice original condition. Height
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vanities

Materials

Brass

Danish Cabinetmaker 1940s Mahogany Desk
Located in London, England
Danish cabinetmaker - 1940s writing desk This exceptional, minimalist desk was produced in
Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Oak

1940s French Writing Desk
By Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in London, England
Solid teak writing desk in the manner of deco designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Wonderful sculpted
Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Teak

Writing Desk, 1940s-1950s
Located in Milano, IT
Writing desk with double drawer and open compartment under the top; oak veneered solid wood.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

1940 s Hollywood Regency Campaign style Giltwood Writing Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
1940's Hollywood Regency Campaign style Writing Desk Made by Drexel. This desk is 2 toned. Lots of
Category

Vintage 1940s North American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Small Lady’s Writing Desk from the 1940s
Located in Brussels, BE
Small lady’s writing desk from the 1940s.
Category

Vintage 1940s Belgian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Paolo buffa cherrywood writing desk, Italy, 1940s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
An elegant cherrywood writing desk with fabric-covered drawers, design by Paolo Buffa, Italian
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Fabric, Cherry

Frits Henningsen Mahogany Writing Desk, circa 1940s
By Frits Henningsen
Located in New York, NY
A Danish mahogany writing table by Frits Henningsen, furniture designer and cabinet maker (1889
Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Frits Henningsen Mahogany Writing Desk, circa 1940s
By Frits Henningsen
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Danish mahogany writing table by Frits Henningsen, furniture designer and cabinet maker (1889
Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

1940 s Italian Art Deco Curved Desk
Located in North Miami, FL
Truly OUTSTANDING slightly curved Italian desk with sculptural legs and brass pulls (original desk
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Tommi Parzinger Desk Vanity, 1940 s
By Tommi Parzinger
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Quirky and elegant Tommi Parzinger desk for Charak Modern, 1949. From the original owner, with a
Category

Vintage 1940s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Waterfall Writing Desk Table
By Ico Luisa Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in wood with elegant carved frame
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Glass Writing Desk Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in wood with elegant carved frame
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Wood Writing Desk Table
By Ico Luisa Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in beautiful veneer burl wood
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Waterfall Writing Desk Table
By Ico Luisa Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in veneer burl wood with elegant
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Opaline Glass, Wood

Completely Restored Red Functionalism Chrome Writing Desk, Czechia, 1940s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Writing desk made in Czechoslovakia Material: Chrome, lacquered wood Completely restored. Period
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Frits Henningsen Solid Mahogany Writing Table, Denmark 1940 s
By Frits Henningsen
Located in Kastrup, DK
This exquisite solid Cuban mahogany writing desk, designed and crafted in the 1940s by renowned
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Glass Waterfall Writing Desk Table
By Ico Luisa Parisi, Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in wood with elegant carved frame
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Glass

1940 s Neoclassical Desk in the Style of André Arbus
By André Arbus
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Super fancy 1940's desk in mahogany with red leather top three drawers.
Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Opaline Glass Writing Desk Table
By Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in beautiful veneer burl wood and
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Opaline Glass

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Opaline Glass Writing Desk Table
By Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in veneer burl wood and precious
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Opaline Glass, Wood

Elegant Wood and Ebonized Wood Writing Desk with Brass Handles, Italy, 1940s
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in wood and ebonized wood. It features brass handles. The top has a wooden insert: during the restoration of this piece, it was necessary a wooden veneered insert on the top (a...
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

1940s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Slat Carved Wood Writing Desk Console Table
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, with beautiful front carved
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood

1940s Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Wood and Brass Writing Desk Table
By Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Ico Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, with black glass top and
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

1940s Art Deco Midcentury Italian Walnut Burl Wood Glass Top Writing Desk Table
By Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Ico Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in beautiful veneer burl wood
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Glass

Art Deco Desk with Tubular Steel Frame from the 1940’s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Elegant desk from the 1940’s. This desk features a tubular steel frame and black linoleum top
Category

Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

1940s, French Inlay Desk
Located in New York, NY
1940s, French inlay desk with pull-out tray and drawers. With original brass and ceramic handles
Category

20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Art Deco Writing Desk in Elm, Förenade Möbelfabrikerna, Swedish Grace, 1940s
By AB Förenade Möbelfabrikerna Linköping
Located in Odense, DK
This Art Deco Writing desk crafted by Förenade Möbelfabrikerna in the 1940s embodies timeless
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Elm

1940s, Art Deco Mid-Century Italian Walnut Burl Wood and Brass Writing Desk Table
By Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Vittorio Dassi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Ico Luisa Parisi
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern desk writing table, in beautiful veneer burl wood
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Frits Henningsen Mahogany Writing Table, circa 1940s
By Frits Henningsen
Located in New York, NY
A Danish mahogany writing table by Frits Henningsen, furniture designer and cabinet maker (1889
Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Frits Henningsen Mahogany Writing Table, circa 1940s
By Frits Henningsen
Located in New York, NY
A Danish mahogany writing table by Frits Henningsen, furniture designer and cabinet maker (1889
Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

1940s Louis XVI Style Writing Table by Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Doylestown, PA
A French 1940s Louis XVI style three-drawer bureau plat in black lacquer with brass hardware, two
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

1940s Mahogany Desk
Located in Pasadena, CA
1940s mahogany desk with carved feet and eight drawers. Each side of drawers opens with a key.
Category

Early 20th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Art Deco Desk, France 1940s
Located in Greding, DE
Art Deco desk with slightly curved table top and two drawer elements with four drawers each. These
Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Architectural Mid Century Desk, 1940s, Sweden
Located in Berlin, DE
Architectural mid century desk, 1940s, Sweden.
Category

Vintage 1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

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1940s Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the 1940s writing desk you’re looking for. Each 1940s writing desk for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and brass. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect 1940s writing desk — we have versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. A 1940s writing desk made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — is very popular. A well-made 1940s writing desk has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Maison Jansen, Frits Henningsen and George Nelson are consistently popular.

How Much is a 1940s Writing Desk?

A 1940s writing desk can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $4,995, while the lowest priced sells for $60 and the highest can go for as much as $113,245.

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 1940s Writing Desk
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019

    A writing desk may refer to a desk with a top, often sloping, for writing on or to a portable case with compartments to hold writing materials and a surface for writing.

  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    A small writing table is also called a davenport table or davenport desk. They normally feature a sloped or inclined top attached with hinges to the back of the table. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage davenport desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021
    A writing desk with drawers is also called a secretary. It is a desk with drawers, one of which can be pushed out and the front of the desk lowered to create a flat writing surface. These writing desks have been made in a variety of styles over the years. Shop for a variety of writing tables with drawers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021
    The most popular 1940s-style dress was the shirtwaist dress. It had a front opening like a men’s shirt, but with large buttons in the front of the dress, which was practical and easy to wear. The sleeves were short and necklines varied from shirt style to sweetheart and other necklines. Antique and vintage dresses from well-known designers are available on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A number of dresses were popular during the 1940s. Many women wore short-waist dresses with button necks, collars, fitted waists and full skirts. The classic A-lines with knee-length hems in red, white and blue colors were also a trend. Shop a collection of vintage dresses on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    In the 1940s, ladies wore clothes defined by clean and slim silhouettes. The jackets, blouses and sweaters often featured shoulderpads and had somewhat of a military feel. Most dresses were quite casual and pants and playsuits became part of a woman's everyday style.
  • 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023
    What an old-fashioned writing desk is called varies by design. Pieces with drop-down fronts are secretary desks (these are typically made of two parts: a chest of drawers on the bottom and a hutch or cupboard with shelves on the top), while ones that rest on two pillars, cabinets or bookcases are pedestal desks. A desk with a small writing surface positioned in front of drawers and cubbies is a bureau à gradin. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
    Claire McCardell was the designer often called the Mother of American Fashion in the 1940s. An American designer, she helped introduce women's sportswear to the United States and was particularly well-known for her bias-cut, loose-fitting Monastic dress. When World War II broke out in the 1940s, she designed pieces out of readily available materials like denim, calico and wool jersey, introducing new fabrics for women's clothing that would remain popular well after the close of the war. Many people point to McCardell as one of the first successful American fashion designers. Shop a collection of Claire McCardell apparel on 1stDibs.