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Antique Mahogany Davenport Writing Desk
Located in Benington, Herts
This attractive mahogany Edwardian Davenport / writing desk, circa 1900s has been constructed from
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

French Ebonized Louis XVI Bureau Plat or Writing Desk with Embossed Leather Top
Located in Austin, TX
An elegant and large scale double-sided French bureau plat writing desk or table of ebonized
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

19th C. French Louis XV Style Gold Giltwood Writing Desk w/ Marquetry Inlay Top
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th C. French Louis XV Style Gold Giltwood Writing Desk w/ Marquetry Inlay Top. Item features a
Category

19th Century Unknown Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

Important French Brass Inlaid Paint Decorated Rolltop Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This important French brass inlaid paint decorated rolltop ladies writing desk is a rare and
Category

1890s French Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Marble, Brass

18th-C. French Louis XV Style Carved Oak Tooled Leather Bronze Writing Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a special piece! It is a late 18th century carved oak and gilt bronze writing desk. It has
Category

Late 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Antique George III Banded Satinwood Lady s Writing Desk with Rosewood Inlay
Located in Morristown, NJ
18th c., England, a delightful George III cheveret lady's writing desk in two parts. The upper five
Category

1790s English George III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Ivory, Leather, Rosewood, Satinwood

Antique Correspondence Table, English, Lowboy, Writing Desk, Georgian, C.1780
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique correspondence table. An English, mahogany lowboy or writing desk, dating to the
Category

1780s British Georgian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century English Writing Desk, Partner Style, Leather Top, Wood Grain Veneer
Located in Madrid, ES
This mid-19th century English writing desk features handsomely inlaid rich-grained mahogany veneer
Category

Mid-19th Century British Regency Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Antique Aesthetic Period Davenport, English, Walnut, Writing Desk, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Aesthetic Period Davenport. An English, walnut and bird's eye maple writing desk
Category

1880s British Aesthetic Movement Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Walnut

1800 s Antique French Napoleon III Period, Burlwood, Leather, Writing Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Gorgeous Antique Desk, Writing, French Napoleon III Period, Burlwood, Leather Lining, 1800s, 19th
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Lombardy Louis XVI Writing Desk, Antique Wood, Italy, c. 1800s
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A distinctive writing desk in the Louis XVI tradition from Lombardy, Italy, crafted in the 19th
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Hardwood

Antique French Carved Oak Petite Writing Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Carved and Finely Detailed Oak Petite Writing Desk This exquisite 19th Century
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

Gorgeous Inlaid Continental Louis XV Style Walnut Writing Desk circa 1920s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite Continental Louis XV style walnut writing desk from the 1920s is a stunning example
Category

1920s European Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

Super Small Victorian Writing Desk
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very good Victorian writing desk or hall table with original leather, two drawers, turned legs
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Restored Cubistic Writing Desk, Oak, Walnut, Revived Polish, Czech, 1910s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
: Height: 60 cm (23.6 in) Width: 58 cm (22.4 in) This writing desk from the early 20th century is an
Category

1910s Czech Art Deco Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood, Walnut, Lacquer, Oak

Antique Bureau Plat, French, Walnut, Writing Desk, Louis XV Revival, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique bureau plat. A French, walnut and boxwood writing desk in Louis XV revival taste
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Boxwood, Walnut

19th Century Biedermeier Writing Desk in Cherry Veneer with Walnut and Rootwood
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This elegant 19th-century Biedermeier writing desk is veneered in fine cherrywood and accented with
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Cherry, Walnut

Antique Lady s Writing Desk, French, Marble, Roll Top Bureaux, Victorian, C.1850
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique lady's writing desk. A French, mahogany and marble roll top bureaux, dating to
Category

1850s French Early Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Marble

19th Century French Wooden Writing Desk
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very nice writing desk, fabricated in France in the 19th Century. It has a lift up lid. On the
Category

19th Century French Other Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

G M Ellwood for J S Henry. An Arts Crafts oak writing desk
By George Montague Ellwood
Located in London, GB
George Montague Ellwood (1875-1955) for J.S. Henry An oak writing desk with sloping pen compartment
Category

Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Copper

Outstanding Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Bonheur De Jour Writing Desk
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality antique Victorian burr walnut Bonheur de Jour writing desk having a beautifully
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

Antique Pine Sloping Clerks Writing Desk
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Antique pine sloping clerks writing desk A Lovely old piece, the desk is made in solid pine, it
Category

Mid-19th Century Rustic Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Pine

French Bonheur-Du-Jour Ladies Writing Desk, Hand-Painted, Artist Signed, c. 1880
Located in Doylestown, PA
A special antique paint decorated French Louis XV style Bonheur-Du-Jour, ladies' writing desk
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Ormolu

French Petite Inlaid Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A lovely, petite desk from 19th Century France made of luxurious mahogany and a leather writing
Category

19th Century French Directoire Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Antique Victorian English Oak Writing Desk / Partner Desk with a Leather Top
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered here is this large, unique, and antique Victorian English oak writing desk / library table
Category

19th Century Classical Roman Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Leather, Wood, Oak

Very Good Victorian Oak Writing Desk
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very good two drawer Victorian writing table with original leather surface, standing on turned
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

French 19th Century Leather Top Louis XV Style Writing Desk or Bureau Plat
Located in Hopewell, NJ
French writing desk beautifully finished in walnut, leather and inlaid burlwood veneer, is a
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Writing Desk Table Renaissance Revival Dolphin Style Carved Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
Beautiful versatile size antique French oak renaissance revival writing desk or table with drawer
Category

1890s French Renaissance Revival Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

Biedermeier Writing Desk/ Side Table, Austria
Located in Antwerp, BE
This small Lady desk was crafted in Austria. The top is wonderfully smooth and displays the
Category

1870s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Antique English Mahogany Writing Desk, Circa 1875-1895
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English mahogany writing desk on casters, exceptional quality and design, Circa 1875-1895.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Fall Front Bureau, Scottish, Writing Desk, Georgian Revival, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique fall front bureau. A Scottish, mahogany writing desk in Georgian revival taste
Category

Late 19th Century Scottish Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Period French Napoleon III Mahogany Bonheur Du Jour Antique Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Forney, TX
writing desk) circa 1860 Hand-crafted in France the third quarter of the 19th century, in Louis XV taste
Category

Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

English 19th Century Mahogany Writing Desk with Fluted Legs and Leather Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
This English writing desk from the 19th century is a well-proportioned and finely crafted example
Category

19th Century English Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Edwardian Satin Walnut Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Edwardian Satin Walnut Ladies Writing Desk A beautiful and useful piece of Edwardian furniture
Category

Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

William French Minneapolis Mahogany Writing Desk, Circa 1890s
Located in Germantown, MD
A late 19th Century William A French Minneapolis Mahogany Writing Desk in great antique condition
Category

Late 19th Century American Late Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

Early 20th Century Metamorphic Writing Desk by J.C Vickery of London
Located in Martlesham, GB
moulded edge hinged top lifting up and folding over to reveal the rising writing desk top, which consists
Category

1910s European Edwardian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

MID-19th CENTURY NAPOLEON III VENEERED WRITING DESK
Located in Firenze, FI
A beautiful and elegant centerpiece writing desk, featuring high-quality venereed walnut and brown
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Napoleon III Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Antique Petite French Carved Oak Secretary Writing Desk Table Louis XVI c1890
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century Petite French carved oak secretary writing desk Louis XVI style ~Direct from France
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Oak

East India Dutch Company Captains Writing Desk
By Southeast Asia
Located in London, GB
A captivating piece of history, the Dutch East Indian Captain's Writing Desk. This extraordinary
Category

1730s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bone, Rosewood, Walnut

A Very Rare Neat Size 19th Century Leather Top Writing Desk with Ormolu Mounts
Located in Dublin, IE
A very rare 19th Century well figured mahogany and kingwood leather top ladies writing desk of neat
Category

19th Century French Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Small Writing Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Sheridan, CO
Antique small writing desk on cabriole legs with original brass hardware. Desk features 7 drawers
Category

Late 19th Century English French Provincial Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

20th Century Unique Biedermeier Writing Desk, Flamed Birch
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century unique Biedermeier writing desk, flamed birch Exceptional Biedermeier desk. With a
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Birch

Very rare English travel writing desk/secretary chest around 1860
Located in Berlin, DE
Very rare English travel writing desk/secretary chest around 1860 Solid mahogany lidded box that
Category

1860s English Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Antique Deep Pine Sloping Clerks Writing Desk
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Antique deep pine sloping clerks writing desk A Lovely old piece, the desk is made in solid
Category

Mid-19th Century Country Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Pine

Elegant women s writing desk, France, circa 1900.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Elegant women's desk, France, circa 1900. Very good condition. Wood: walnut Dimensions: height
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Italian Inlaid Renaissance Revival Writing Desk, 1920s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Finely crafted walnut desk with intricate inlays referencing Renaissance motifs. Featuring small
Category

1920s Italian Modern Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Vienna Secession Style Thonet Writing Desk/ Table
By Thonet
Located in North Miami, FL
This all original Vienna Secession style table/ desk with linoleum embedded top and stunning brass
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

Imposing French 19th Century Mahogany Writing Desk
Located in Rome, IT
rectangular top inset with a tooled leather writing panel and fitted with three drawers to the undulating
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Wood

Early 19th century Regency davenport writing desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
leather writing surface. Top opens to reveal a richly colored interior with 2 drawers. Writing slope lifts
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Leather, Palisander

Antique Edwardian quality mahogany inlaid writing desk
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Edwardian quality mahogany inlaid writing desk, having the original brass gilded gallery
Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass

19th Century Salon Empire Writing Desk, 1890
Located in Berlin, DE
arched. Fine chiselled bronze applications, gilded. Removable worktop / writing table underneath the
Category

Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Bronze

Stunning French Empire Style Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer sell this stunning large French Empire style walnut desk having a gilt tooled
Category

Early 20th Century British Empire Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

English Writing Desk With Mother Of Pearl And Abalone
Located in Dallas, TX
An english wood Writing Desk inlaid with abalone and mother of pearl. The lock is signed by maker
Category

1860s English Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Leather, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Antique Victorian English Writing Desk Writing Table c1870s
Located in High Peak, GB
P0305 Fine quality, English solid mahogany Victorian side table / writing table / dressing table
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Mahogany

French Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Mounted Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
French porcelain and gilt bronze mounted writing desk French, 19th Century Height 116cm, width
Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Ormolu

Late 19th Century Table, Writing Desk Hand Carved Walnut by Testolini Salviati
By Testolini Salviati
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Late 19th century table, writing desk, in hand carved walnut, by Testolini & Salviati. The
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Walnut Italian Writing Desk with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th Century Walnut Italian Writing Desk with Marquetry Inlay is a stunning piece of furniture
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Writing Desk

Materials

Walnut

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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 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.
  • 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.