Antique and Vintage School Desks
Vintage 1930s American Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1940s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1950s French Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Vintage 1960s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Beech, Paint
Antique 19th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Early 20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Vintage 1970s German Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Vintage 1960s Danish Modern Desks
Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Maple
20th Century American End Tables
Steel
Vintage 1950s American Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Aluminum, Steel
Vintage 1950s French Industrial Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1920s American Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Vintage 1960s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Maple, Burl, Lacquer
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Formica, Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Vintage 1930s German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Campaign Desks
Brass, Metal
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Metal, Steel
Vintage 1960s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Desks
Metal, Chrome
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Antique and Vintage School Desks For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Antique and Vintage School Desks?
Finding the Right Desks And Writing Tables for You
Choosing the perfect writing desk or writing table is a profoundly personal journey, one that people have been embarking upon for centuries.
Queen Atossa of Persia, from her writing table circa 500 B.C., is said to have been the originator of the art of handwritten letters. Hers was reportedly the first in a long and colorful history of penned correspondence that grew in popularity alongside literacy. The demand for suitable writing desks, which would serve the composer of the letters as well as ensure the comfort of the recipient naturally followed, and the design of these necessary furnishings has evolved throughout history.
Once people began to seek freedom from the outwardly ornate styles of the walnut and rosewood writing desks and drafting tables introduced in the name of Queen Victoria and King Louis XV, radical shifts occurred, such as those that materialized during the Art Nouveau period, when designers longed to produce furniture inspired by the natural world’s beauty. A prime example is the work of the famous late-19th-century Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí — his rolltop desk featured deep side drawers and was adorned with carved motifs that paid tribute to nature. Gaudí regularly combined structural precision with decorative elements, creating beautiful pieces of furniture in wood and metal.
Soon afterward, preferences for sleek, geometric, stylized forms in furniture that saw an emphasis on natural wood grains and traditional craftsmanship took hold. Today, Art Deco desks are still favored by designers who seek to infuse interiors with an air of luxury. One of the most prominent figures of the Art Deco movement was French decorator and furniture designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. With his use of neoclassical motifs as well as expensive and exotic materials such as imported dark woods and inlays of precious metals for his writing desks, Ruhlmann came to symbolize good taste and modernity.
The rise in appreciation for Scandinavian modernism continues to influence the design of contemporary writing desks. It employs the “no fuss” or “less is more” approach to creating a tasteful, sophisticated space. Sweden’s master cabinetmaker Bruno Mathsson created gallery-worthy designs that are as functional as they are beautiful. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto never viewed himself as an artist, but, like Mathsson, his furniture designs reflected a fondness for organic materials and a humanistic approach. Danish designers such as Hans Wegner introduced elegant shapes and lines to mid-century desks and writing tables, often working in oak and solid teak.
From vintage desks to contemporary styles, 1stDibs offers a broad spectrum of choices for conducting all personal and business writing and reading activities.
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