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Antique Writing Desk

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English Serpentine Bow Front Writing Desk or Side Table of Inlaid Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English serpentine bow front writing desk or side table of mahogany from the late 19th
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century Chippendale Burl Walnut Partner s Writing Desk
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in Hixson, TN
19th century Chippendale burl walnut partners writing desk This desk has functional drawers on
Category

Mid-19th Century English Chippendale Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut, Burl

18th Century Provencal Hand Carved Walnut Wood Antique Writing Desk Side Table
Located in West Hollywood, CA
18th Century Provencal Hand Carved Walnut Wood Antique Writing Desk Side Table. Beautiful Hand
Category

18th Century French Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Metal

1900s Wiener Occasional table or writing desk in Walnut Restored wax Polished
By Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Early 20th century Wiener occasional table, writing desk Art Nouveau, all solid walnut restored and
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

R. J. Horner Style Antique Victorian Tiger Oak Ladies Writing Desk, Circa 1890
By R.J. Horner Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Victorian ladies writing desk In the manner of R.J. Horner & Co. USA
Category

1890s American Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Copper

Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts Crafts Spindle Writing Desk or Library Table
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts spindle writing desk or library table By
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Copper

Ladies Writing Desk From the Early 20th Century in the Style of Louis XV
Located in Opole, PL
Ladies' Writing Desk From the Early 20th Century in the Style of Louis XV A ladies' writing desk
Category

Early 20th Century European Louis XIV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood, Rosewood

Empire writing desk in cherry wood, with lifting side flaps, England
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Antique Empire writing desk in light cherry wood, with lifting side flaps, It has ebonized inlays
Category

19th Century English Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Chestnut

Antique French Louis XV Style Marquetry Inlay Petite Demilune Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Louis XV Style Marquetry Inlay Petite Demilune Writing Desk. Item features marble
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Fine Carved Italian Walnut Mythical Dolphin Base Library Table Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine carved Italian walnut library table or writing desk is a magnificent example of
Category

1870s Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

Antique L. J. G. Stickley Mission Oak Arts Crafts Writing Desk, Refinished
By L. J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts writing desk or library table By L. & J.G
Category

Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Copper

Antique French Side Table Writing Desk Oak Beveled Top Carved Decorated Legs
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful French side table or console table or writing desk, characterized by the handcrafted
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Antique 19th Century Mahogany Writing Desk – Fine Quality Dressing or Side Table
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique 19th Century Mahogany Writing Desk – Elegant Dressing Table or Side Table with Octagonal
Category

19th Century Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Biedermeier Walnut Writing Desk Table, South Germany circa 1825
Located in Darmstadt, DE
beautifully as a refined writing desk but also works well as a versatile work table or a slim console table in
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Antique Charles II Revival Oak and Elm Writing Desk Dressing
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique fine quality Charles II revival C1920 oak and elm writing desk or dressing table. Solid
Category

1920s Charles II Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Elm, Oak

Napoleon III Writing Desk with Unusual Marble Top, circa 1870
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine Napoleon III period writing desk in mahogany, with gilt-bronze mounts and brass banding, the
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

French Rococo Louis XV Distress Paint Dressing Table Vanity Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Rococo Louis XV Style Distress Painted Dressing Table / Writing Desk. Item features
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

A French 19th Century Louis XV Style Kingwood Parquetry Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mounted Ladies Writing Desk with Figures of Ram-Heads. The lockplate by Thomas Elsley Ltd. - Stamped
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Rare Important French Art Deco Mahagony Ladies Vanity Writing Desk Circa 1920 s
Located in New York, NY
Writing Desk with 5 Drawers. Circa 1920's. The Rounded Rectangular Top with an Ormolu Banding, Bronze
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Mid 19th Century Swedish Black Painted Writing Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
Mid 19th-century Swedish writing desk in pine with elongated cabriole legs and delicate carved
Category

19th Century Gustavian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Pine

Fine 19th C Mahogany George 11 Writing Desk in the Manner of William Harllett
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century George 11 mahogany and leather top writing desk. Hand carved and details
Category

Mid-19th Century English George II Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Large double-sided Renaissance-style writing desk with secrets by Leglas-Maurice
By François Leglas-Maurice
Located in Paris, FR
Large double-sided Renaissance-style writing-desk with secrets, stamped and inscribed by François
Category

Late 19th Century French Revival Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Fruitwood, Pearwood

Antique Thomas Turner Manchester English Mahogany Writing Desk Library Table
By Thomas Turner
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique Thomas Turner English Victorian era writing desk. Made from solid mahogany with a tooled
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Antique French Louis XV Style Bronze Mount Marquetry Inlay 1 Drawer Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Louis XV Style Bronze Mounted Marquetry Inlay One Drawer Small Writing Desk. Item
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Antique Georgian 19th Century Mahogany Writing Desk Dressing Table
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique fine quality Georgian 19th century circa 1820 mahogany writing desk dressing table
Category

1820s Georgian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Italian Smaller-Sized Table or Writing Desk w/Shapely Hourglass Legs, 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian small sized table, or writing desk, from the 19th century. This antique table from Italy
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

19th-Century Italian Writing Desk in Bleached Poplar and Oak Tuscan Handcraft
Located in Firenze, IT
Elegant 19th-century Italian writing desk in bleached larch and oak, featuring sculptural scroll
Category

19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Iron

Oak Writing Desk, circa 1860
Located in Evergreen, CO
Made of solid oak and finished with a light stain, this beautiful writing desk has a narrow depth
Category

Late 19th Century Belgian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

19th Century Writing Desk with Frieze Drawer and Baluster Turned Legs
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An absolutely charming 19th century French writing desk, crafted from walnut and featuring
Category

19th Century French Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Transition-Style Writing Desk from the Napoleon III Period
Located in NICE, FR
This small writing desk from the 19th century is crafted in rosewood with inserted brass fillets
Category

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century French Provincial Writing Desk from Avignon Shabby Chic or Country
Located in IT
This authentic 19th-century French Provincial writing desk from Avignon features a beautifully time
Category

19th Century French French Provincial Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

French Napoleon III Ebonised Gilt Bronze Writing Desk Bonheur-du-Jour 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Stunning ebonized Napoleon III writing desk or bonheur du jour Circa 1880 Very on trend with
Category

1880s Napoleon III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

French Gilt Bronze and Marquetry Writing Desk After Cressent
By Charles Cressent
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing desk after Cressent. French, late 19th century Measures
Category

Late 19th Century French Régence Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Ormolu

L. J. G. Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts Crafts Server or Writing Desk
By L. J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts quarter sawn oak sideboard buffet server or writing
Category

Early 1900s American Arts and Crafts Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

18th Century Veneered and Inlaid Wood Italian Louis XV Writing Desk
Located in IT
The elegant antique north Italian (Genoa) Louis XV period writing desk, called also bureau plat, is
Category

Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

George III Red Japanned Writing Desk/Side Table with Chinoiserie Scenes
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in Hastings, GB
An outstanding bow fronted George III writing desk/side table, red jappaned with applied
Category

1780s English George III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Biedermeier Writing Desk or Sofa Table in Mahogany, Sweden, circa 1840
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A handsome Biedermeier sofa table or writing desk in Cuban mahogany with one drawer and two drop
Category

1840s Swedish Karl Johan Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Antique French Writing Desk Secretary Louis XV Carved Oak Renaissance c1890
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French Writing Desk Secretary Black Forest Carved Oak Renaissance c1890. Direct from
Category

1890s French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

Louis XVI Style Mahogany, Satinwood, Ebony and Ormolu Writing Desk by D. Ross
By Donald Ross
Located in London, GB
Louis XVI style mahogany, satinwood, ebony and ormolu writing desk by Donald Ross English, Late
Category

Late 19th Century English Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Ormolu

Ca. 1910, Limberts Dutch Arts Crafts Furniture Co. Writing Desk
By Limbert Dutch Arts and Crafts Furniture Company
Located in Bridgeport, CT
writing desk circa 1910. The desk features a rectangular top overhanging three drawers with large
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

Edwardian Kidney shaped writing desk
Located in Budleigh Salterton, GB
Very good quality early 20th century mahogany and inlaid writing desk English circa 1900 with
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Edwardian Kidney shaped writing desk
Edwardian Kidney shaped writing desk
$3,231 Sale Price
20% Off
19th C. Italian Writing Desk w/Decorative Inlay Sliding Top for Hidden Storage
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian smaller-sized writing desk with storage hidden beneath top from the 19th century. This
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Fruitwood

Louis XV-Style Kidney-Shaped Writing Desk with Ormolu Mounts, 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
French Kidney-Shaped Louis XV Style Writing Desk, Late 19th Century A beautifully crafted French
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Ormolu

William IV partners writing desk
Located in BEEKBERGEN, NL
Impressive antique mahogany William IV writing table that can be used from both sides. It is in
Category

1830s British William IV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI Ebonized Writing Desk
Located in Austin, TX
French Louis XVI style desk made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany. It has been
Category

1920s French Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Rosewood Flip Top Writing Desk
Located in Malibu, CA
Antique European rosewood writing table. Hidden beneath the flip top, a desk in excellent condition
Category

Mid-19th Century European Empire Revival Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Rosewood

Rosewood Flip Top Writing Desk
Rosewood Flip Top Writing Desk
$2,306 Sale Price
30% Off
Antique French Satinwood Parquetry Louis XVI Writing Desk, Tooled Leather Top
Located in Chicago, IL
writing desk features a beautifully book-matched satinwood finish, classic neoclassical lines, and tapered
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Satinwood

18th Century Rococo Writing Desk
Located in Ljungby, SE
This beautifully crafted Swedish Rococo writing desk is a distinguished piece of Stockholm
Category

18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Antique Genuine Swedish Rustic Original Blue Writing Desk Table with Drawers
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique genuine pine writing desk from Sweden with blue paint. The table is in untouched original
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Pine

Mahogany Chippendale Style Writing Desk
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
19th Century mahogany chippendale style writing table in good condition, having been polished by
Category

1910s Chippendale Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Fine Quality Antique Victorian Freestanding Maple Co. Inlaid Writing Desk
Located in Suffolk, GB
Fine quality Victorian freestanding Maple & Co. inlaid writing desk having original pierced brass
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Satinwood

Edwardian Mahogany Writing Desk w/ Inlaid Exotic Wood Detailing Bronze Pulls
Located in New York, NY
This Edwardian writing desk, crafted in mahogany with inlaid exotic wood detailing and bronze pulls
Category

1910s American Edwardian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Italian 18th Century Writing Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
An outstanding 18th century Louis XIV Auctioneer’s Desk from Lombardy, Italy. Beautifully
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Olive, Walnut

19th Regency Brass-Inlaid Portable Writing Desk on Later Stand, Secret Drawer
By Thomas Lund
Located in Morristown, NJ
Regency Brass-Inlaid Portable Writing Desk on Later Stand, with Secret Drawer, Possibly by Thomas
Category

1810s English Regency Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

French Empire Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Mahogany construction with rectangular leather writing surface with gilt brass medallion pulls
Category

Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Antique Walnut and Marquetry Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
This elegant writing desk was created in France in the late 18th century, during the reign of King
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Antique French Victorian Louis XV Style Oak 2 Drawer Writing Desk Console Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
. Antique French Victorian Louis XV Style Oak 2 Drawer Writing Desk Console Table. Item features an inset
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

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Antique Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the antique writing desk you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, mahogany and metal, every antique writing desk was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without an antique writing desk — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. An antique writing desk made by Victorian designers — as well as those associated with Louis XVI — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made antique writing desk over the years, but those crafted by Gillows of Lancaster London, François Linke and Maple Co. are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Antique Writing Desk?

Prices for an antique writing desk can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $50 and can go as high as $1,740,240, while the average can fetch as much as $4,501.

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 Antique 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 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
    What antique desks are called depends on their design. A desk with chair cutouts on both sides is a partner desk, while one with a pull-down writing surface is a secretary. On a Davenport desk, the desktop lifts to reveal a storage area. Find a variety of antique, vintage and contemporary desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    An antique Davenport desk is a small writing desk, usually with four drawers on one side. The desk would have elaborately decorated supports and a recessed space for adequate legroom. Shop a collection of Davenport desks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A Davenport desk is a type of small desk with a distinct inclined desktop. The desktop covers a large storage compartment meant for keeping paper and other writing materials. Popular in the 19th century, Davenport desks are still sought after today. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique Davenport desks from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 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 ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To tell if a roll-top desk is an antique, look closely at the materials. Real antiques feature hardwoods like cherry, mahogany and black walnut. If you detect the use of engineered woods, the desk is a reproduction. Also, early pieces show off irregular dovetail joints. Joints that appear perfectly uniform indicate that a roll-top desk is a more recent mass-produced piece. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted antique roll-top desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A variety of factors can determine the exact age of an antique roll top desk. Some things to look for is the type of wood and craftsmanship used to create the desk. Typically, older desks will be made from heavier wood. You can also check for a maker’s marks to determine the age. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your roll top desk. You’ll find a variety of expertly vetted roll top desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.