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Writing Desk by Hans J. Wegner
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Chicago, IL
An elegant writing desk in expressive white oak having a single locking drawer with recessed knob
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Oak
Regency Writing Desk by Baker
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in San Diego, CA
Elegant writing desk by Baker. Boasts three top drawers with brass hardware, stylist legs and brass
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Regency Desks
Materials
Brass
Ebonized Beechwood Writing Table, an Elegant Desk
Located in Southampton, NY
Ebonized Beechwood Writing Table an Elegant Desk, Made in France in 1840
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech
Elegant 1960s Burled Elm and Brass Writing Desk
By Tomlinson
Located in Hudson, NY
a very handsome vintage 1960s writing desk by Tomlinson, with a rectangular case in burled elm, and
Category
Vintage 1960s American Desks and Writing Tables
Paolo Buffa mahogany writing desk with brass handles, Italy circa 1960
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Macclesfield, Cheshire
An elegant writing desk by Paolo Buffa, of rectangular form.
Veneered in mahogany in parquetry
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant Walnut Writing Table
Located in San Francisco, CA
table, side table, writing table, desk, night stand.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Elegant Walnut Writing Table
Located in Southampton, NY
Elegant Walnut Writing Table, England Circa 1870
Category
Antique 19th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut, Leather
Elegant Edwardian Rosewood Writing Table
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
Sn4797 elegant Edwardian desk in rosewood, having satinwood crossbanded top with 4 small drawers
Category
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Italian Elegant Little Writing Table
Located in London, GB
1940s Italian curved little writing table in walnut with two drawers and nice ornamental brass
Category
20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Elegant French desk
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Great 3 drawer desk.Iron and Brass legs. Ostrich embossed parchment covering the case of the desk
Category
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron, Brass, Bronze
$6,500
Elegant Jansen Desk
By Maison Jansen
Located in Paris, FR
Fine desk with 2 retractibles tablets , black lacquer wood with brass.
Neo-classic style
Category
Vintage 1960s Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Vintage Chrome Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
elegant diversion from the typical writing desk form.
Category
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Elegant Late William IV Writing Table
Located in Wiltshire, GB
An elegant late William IV mahogany leather topped writing table
Dimensions:
Height 28.5" (73
Category
Antique 19th Century English William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant French Antique Cherry Writing Table
Located in Port Chester, NY
A sensational nineteenth century French writing table with a cherry top and oak base and borders
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry, Oak
Elegant Art Deco Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Very elegant French Art Deco inlaid walnut desk. Finished on both sides like a partner's desk
Category
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
$7,250
Elegant Art Deco Desk
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Macassar ebony Art Deco desk. Two drawers with original hardware. Marquetry inlay top.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Macassar
$8,800
Elegant Neoclassical Writing Table by Maison Jansen
By Maison Jansen
Located in Brussels, BE
Ebonized, fully restored with many brass accents,bronze sabots.
Louis XVI inspiration.
One single drawer on the right side with his key.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Elegant Lacquered faux bamboo desk
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant antique faux bamboo desk, lacquered to spec in a rich red lucious lacquer.
Superbly
Category
Vintage 1930s English Desks and Writing Tables
Elegant Mid Century Danish Desk
Located in London, GB
Stylish desk with a classic aesthetic provided by the arched sections, slim legs and linear inset
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
1920
s Elegant Walnut Desk
Located in Pasadena, CA
Finely carved desk with three drawers, beautifully finished on all sides with crests
Category
Early 20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Art Deco Reception or Writing Desk
Located in Oakland, CA
beautiful elegant Art Deco writing or reception desk. Stunning, simple and elegant. Mahogany
Category
Vintage 1940s South American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Enamel
Ladies Writing Desk Louis XVI Style
Located in New Haven, CT
This elegant lady's writing desk has bookmatched marquetry inlays throughout. Ormolu mountings
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Kingwood
Elegant Regency Flamed Mahogany Two-Drawer Writing Table
Located in Bradford on Avon, GB
The rectangular leather top has a mahogany and reeded moulded edge with lively mahogany side panels and drawer fronts. Two faux drawers to the reverse are flanked by mahogany veneere...
Category
Antique 1810s English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant Belgian Oak Student Desk, 1950s
Located in Sylacauga, AL
Belgian oak student desk with elegant lines and lovely patina, 1950s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Gio Ponti Attributed Elegant Small Desk
By Gio Ponti
Located in Morbio Inferiore, CH
Small but impeccably made desk. Very elegant and functional with its suspended drawer.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique Oak Louis XV Style Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
An elegant antique oak writing desk with cabriole shaped legs with carved decoration. The desk has
Category
Antique 19th Century European Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Writing Desk by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful elegant compact writing desk equipped with the anti-dust drawers by famous Dutch designer
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Elegant French 1970
s executive desk
Located in Summerland, CA
A large desk with beautiful proportions, with leather underhand
Category
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Elegant desk 1938 by Francisque Chaleyssin
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Provence
stamped Chaleyssin-Mercier.numeroted and dated may 1938.
Marquetry on the drawer.
Category
Vintage 1930s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
A Large and Elegant Desk by Dominique
Located in New York, NY
An elegant and outstanding desk by Dominique in mahogany, with elegantly tapered legs, three
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Elegant Chinoiserie Bureau Plat / Desk and Chair
Located in Miami, FL
Elegant #chinoiserie writting table / Bureau Plat /desk and matching chair, with hand painted
Category
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Elegant Desk By French Designer Xavier Marbeau.
By Xavier Marbeau
Located in Maastricht, NL
Elegant desk by French designer Xavier Marbeau.
The desk is constructed from thick glass plates
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Formica
Elegant Desk by Helmut Magg for WK, 1952
By Helmut Magg, Vereinigte Werkstätten München
Located in Munster, NRW
writing surface made of flat laminate is of contrasting color. The desk's bent legs underline its modest
Category
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Formica, Wood
Elegant Rosewood
Brass Table/Desk by Paul McCobb
Located in Hudson, NY
a very nicely designed square table with a single drawer, perfect as a card table or writing desk
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Elegant desk by Louis Van Teeffelen for Webe
By Louis Van Teeffelen
Located in Maastricht, NL
Teak desk on elegant, thin legs with three drawers, by Dutch cabinet maker Louis Van Teeffelen for
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Petit Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Santander, ES
Elegant small writing desk in the Louis XV style with serpentine outline and profuse kingwood and
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Kingwood
Inlaid Mahogany Sheraton Style Partners Writing Desk Library Table Leather Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
, furthering the elegant look of this writing desk.
Both sides of the desk are identical and feature three
Category
2010s American Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant 1940s Desk with Matching Chair, Black Lacquered Wood, Silvered Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Elegant 1940s desk with matching chair, black lacquered wood, silvered bronze handles.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Elegant Italian Mid-Century Modern Teak Desk with Floating Top and Drawers
Located in Berlin, Germany
Elegant Italian Mid-Century Modern Teak Desk with floating top and drawers
Beautiful and elegant
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Rosewood Desk, Ole Wanscher by A. J. Iversen, 1950 and Chair
By A. J. Iversen, Ole Wanscher
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Very elegant writing desk by Ole Wanscher, 1950. This rosewood veneer writing desk is very nice
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Rosewood
Jacques Adnet writing table
Located in Newburgh, NY
Elegant leather wrapped writing desk by Jacques Adnet, single drawer made of bent iron wrapped in
Category
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$12,500
Small Antique Cherry Writing Table
Located in Port Chester, NY
An elegant smaller writing table or desk with tapered legs and a good apron height for knees at 25
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cherry
1970 Elegant Florence Knoll Office
By Florence Knoll
Located in Couzon au Mont d
Or, FR
A very elegant Florence Knoll office made of walnut and chrome steel.
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
French Elm Antique Smaller Size Writing Table
Located in Port Chester, NY
An elegant elm writing table or desk with tapered legs and two drawers, one with a small keyhole
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
Hans Wegner AT Desk
By Hans J. Wegner, Andreas Tuck
Located in Epperstone, Nottinghamshire
Super elegant and Classic writing desk designed by Hans Wegner for cabinet maker Andreas Tuck
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
$6,555
Elegant 19th Century French Cast Iron Conservatory Table
By Colne et Cie
Located in Woodbury, CT
This elegant conservatory table with its original white marble top is signed by its Toulousian
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
19th Century Edwardian Mahogany Partners Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant 1880s partners writing desk. Solid mahogany wood, with its original mahogany finish. Desk
Category
Antique 1880s European Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Copper
White Lacquer Jansen Style Desk / Vanity
Located in Stamford, CT
This elegant yet simple writing desk has a delicate bronze inlaid detail, a gloss white finish, and
Category
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Desk with Marble Top
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elegant hand carved writing desk with marble top. Carved garland wreath decorations with twisted
Category
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
1950´s Italian Mid-Century Small Desk
Located in Nurnberg, DE
Elegant Italian small writing desk in solid and veneered wood, with 4 drawers.
Carefully restored
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Gucci Style Italian Chrome and Brass Desk
By Romeo Rega
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A superb Italian brass, chrome and book matched burl walnut writing desk of elegant and
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Desk, Wooden Structure and Top in Glass, 1950, Italy
Located in Florence, IT
Elegant desk/writing table whit wooden structure and top in glass, circa 1950, Italy.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Wood
Floating-Top Rosewood Desk by Kai Kristiansen, Denmark 1960s
By Feldballes Møbelfabrik, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Berlin, DE
Elegant Rosewood writing desk by Kai Kristiansen for the Copenhagen manufacturer Feldballes
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Art Deco Demilune Desk by Gilbert Rohde in Walnut, 1942
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Sylacauga, AL
An elegant demilune writing desk in walnut by Gilbert Rohde with chrome legs. Designed in 1942 for
Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Elegant Midcentury Italian Writing Desk
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brussels, BE
Elegant italian writing desk circa 1950, monogramed under the drawers : R. B. Brevettato.
Case and
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Brass, Metal
Elegant French 1940s Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
Cerused oak with carved and stylized acanthus leaf mounts with single drawer.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks
Materials
Oak
Barbara Barry Collection for Baker
Located in New Jersey City, NJ
An elegant kidney shaped writing desk in Barbara Barry's signature java
the perfect writing desk
Category
Vintage 1940s American Desks and Writing Tables
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Elegant Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the elegant writing desk you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and brass, every elegant writing desk was constructed with great care. If you’re shopping for an elegant writing desk, we have 133 options in-stock, while there are 2 modern editions to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer elegant writing desk, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. An elegant writing desk made by Mid-Century Modern designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made elegant writing desk over the years, but those crafted by Paul Frankl, Baker Furniture Company and Haslev Mobelsnedkeri are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Elegant Writing Desk?
Prices for an elegant writing desk can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $645 and can go as high as $27,100, while the average can fetch as much as $4,800.
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 Elegant Writing Desk
- What is a writing desk?1 Answer1stDibs 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 19, 2021A 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 12, 2021A 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 ExpertJune 15, 2023What 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, 2023In 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.
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