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Rare Antique English Mahogany Brass Bound Travel Box, circa 1800
Located in New Orleans, LA
Rare antique english mahogany brass bound travel box, circa 1800.
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century Late English Regency Satinwood Davenport Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in Dublin, IE
feet with hidden casters.
Circa 1830
English.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Satinwood
English George III Chippendale-Style Mahogany Library Table Adjustable Book Stan
Located in Dallas, TX
a handsome "neat and plain" George III Chippendale-style Gentleman's library writing table with
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
18th C. English Architect
s Table w/Unique Legs, Expanding Top,
Candle Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
English architect's table, with expanding leather writing top and pair of candle stands, will make a
Category
Antique 18th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Single Drawer Mahogany Chippendale Table Ball Claw Feet English Mid 19th Century
Located in Louisville, KY
For the discerning eye, this table/desk is an amazing example of beautiful English Chippendale
Category
Antique 19th Century English George I Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Regency Mahogany Leather Reading Table with Flanking Candle Slides 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency mahogany satinwood and ebony inlaid one drawer reading table with a ratcheted
Category
Antique 1790s English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Regency Amboyna and Brass Inlay Library Table
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in London, GB
A library table in the manner of Gillows
Constructed in amboyna, with cut gold brass inlay work, and bronze feet; of rectangular panelled end support form, braced by pairs of car...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Regency Mahogany Leather Top Reading Table with Flanking Drawers, C 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency mahogany partner's reading table with a ratcheted leather top, flanking triangular
Category
Antique Early 1800s English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival Writing Slope Desk Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival writing slope desk box. A letter box is flanked by the original
Category
Antique 1870s English Gothic Revival Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
END OF THE 19th CENTURY ENGLISH TRAVELING WRITING DESK
Located in Firenze, FI
small portable desk, ready to accommodate the objects needed for writing. The English manufacturing of
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Desk Sets
Materials
Leather, Wood
Antique Gentlemen English Travel Writing Desk in Wood, Restored
Located in Milano, IT
Antique English man's portable desk early 800. RESTAURED. Precious travel writing box in walnut
Category
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
$2,373 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Antique Late 19th Century English Desks
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century English Brass Inkwell
Writing Desk Set, c.1880
Located in Worcester, GB
19th Century English Brass Inkwell & Writing Desk Set, c.1880
A charming Victorian-era brass
Category
Antique 19th Century British Inkwells
Materials
Brass
$416 Sale Price
48% Off
Art Deco English Compact Walnut Writing Desk, 1930s
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this lovely and totally original walnut desk dating from the 1930s
Category
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Desks
Materials
Walnut
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
Antique 1860s English Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian English Bramah Leather Fold-out Correspondence Writing Desk
By Joseph Bramah
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful
Luxurious Handcrafted Victorian Bramah Hardwood Fold-out Travelling Writing
Category
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Antique English Victorian Bramah Leather Fold-out Stationary Writing Desk
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful
Luxurious Handcrafted Victorian Bramah Fold-out Travelling Writing Companion
Category
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
$4,880 Sale Price
34% Off
English Mahogany Tambour Satinwood Inlaid Writing Desk, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany tambour desk with sliding leather writing surface, interior satinwood
Category
Antique 1780s English George III Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Rosewood Campaign Writing Slope Desk 14"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th Century English Georgian campaign writing slope, box or travel desk. Made of walnut
Category
Antique 19th Century Campaign Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
$535 Sale Price
30% Off
Antique Burl Walnut with Brass Accents English Traveling Writing Desk
Located in Pasadena, TX
more hidden storage.
Its a compact writing desk with the gadgetry of a Davenport.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English American Classical Desks
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Victorian Burr Walnut Davenport Writing Desk
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Selling is a very nice Quality Victorian burr walnut davenport/desk. The raised top lifts to reveal
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Desks
Materials
Walnut
Antique English Victorian Carved Walnut Writing Desk or Console Table
By Herter Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique English Victorian writing desk or console table
In the manner of Herter
Category
Antique 1880s English Victorian Desks
Materials
Walnut
Antique English Mahogany Writing Desk with Chippendale Fretwork, circa 1880
By Edwards
Roberts
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English mahogany writing desk with Chippendale fretwork and Galleried top, circa 1880. Made
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chippendale Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Carlton House Desk Vintage English Styling with Leather Writing Surface
By George Hepplewhite
Located in Toronto, CA
Here is our Vintage Carlton House Desk, English Styling with Leather Writing Surface. A lovely
Category
20th Century English Hepplewhite Desks
Materials
Hardwood
Antique English Regency Mahogany Ladies Tambour Writing Table Desk Cabinet
Located in Glasgow, GB
An attractive Regency mahogany and satinwood ladies’ tambour writing table cabinet dating to c.1815
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique English Inlaid Rosewood Child
s or Ladies Diminutive Writing Desk
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Rare antique English inlaid rosewood child's or ladies writing desk with lift-up sloped lid with
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Desks
Materials
Rosewood
$2,290 Sale Price
22% Off
Rare English Regency Writing Desk With Decorative Brass Trim by Wells
Lambe
By John Lambe
Located in Reading, Berkshire
writing desks (writing boxes, as we know them today) and dressing cases.
Antique lap desks had hinged
Category
Antique 19th Century British Regency Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Paint Decorated Adam Style Satinwood Writing Table Desk
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century English Paint Decorated Adam Style Satinwood Writing Table Desk
Dimensions : 50" Wide
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Adam Style Desks
Materials
Satinwood
Antique French English Rosewood Brass Inlaid Boulle Writing Slope Box Desk 19thC
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exquisite Example of an Early Rosewood Travelling Writing Slope of fairly large proportions of
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Inkwells
Materials
Brass
David Linley English Cherry Maple
Burr-ash Three Drawer Writing Desk
By David Linley
Located in Queens, NY
English Contemporary cherry, maple, and burr-ash writing desk having banded inlaid trim witth a
Category
20th Century British Modern Desks
Materials
Maple
19th C. English Victorian Brass-Inlaid Burlwood Writing Desk with Inkwells
By James Allen
Located in Morristown, NJ
A finely constructed 19th-century English portable writing slope, crafted in richly figured
Category
Antique 1860s English Victorian Desks
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Hand Carved Walnut Writing Desk and Cane Armchair
Located in Sofia, BG
19th Century hand carved set of walnut writing desk resting on lion's paws with three front drawers
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Desks
Materials
Walnut
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
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Desks
Materials
Mahogany
$3,231 Sale Price
20% Off
English 18th C. Spinet Case by Crang
Hancock London Converted Writing Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
English 18th Century Spinet Case by Crang & Hancock London Converted Writing Desk
This is a fine
Category
Antique 18th Century English Baroque Desks
Materials
Mahogany, Tulipwood
$6,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Very Large Mahogany Writing Slope / Campaign Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very rare large 19th century English Mahogany writing slope or lap desk in very good original
Category
Antique 1860s English Early Victorian Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Bachelor
s Writing Slope, English, Correspondence Box, Regency, C.1830
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique bachelor’s writing slope. An English, coromandel and satinwood correspondence
Category
Antique 1830s British Regency Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Rare Antique Regency Travelling Writing Box, English c 1810-1820
Located in Kastrup, DK
A rare Regency writing desk box made in solid ebony.
Original leather with natural age-related
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency More Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Antique English George III Captains Military Writing Box by Hewlins
Located in Northampton, GB
Brass Mounts
From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Captains Military
Category
Antique Late 18th Century British Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Antique Correspondence Box, English, Leather, Writing Case, Victorian, C.1890
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique correspondence box. An English, leather bound writing case, dating to he late
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Rare English Regency Writing Slope With Decorative Brass Trim by Wells
Lambe
By John Lambe
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful Handcrafted English Antique 19th Century Hardwood Veneer Writing Slope With A Tooled
Category
Antique 19th Century British Regency Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
$4,033 Sale Price / set
40% Off
Antique Writing Table, English, Regency, Mahogany, Davenport, circa 1820
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique writing table, an English, Regency, mahogany, open Davenport dating to the early
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks
Materials
Mahogany
1960
s English Regency Style Pecan Desk Console by Thomasville
By Thomasville, Tommi Parzinger
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This English Regency style pecan writing desk by Thomasville would be perfect in any room. Desk
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Brass
$2,726 Sale Price
22% Off
English Mahogany Writing Desk, Bureau
Located in Schellebelle, BE
English Mahogany Writing Desk Bureau with nice old patina
9 drawers
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
20th Century Edwardian Kidney Shaped Desk
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Very good quality early 20th century mahogany and inlaid writing desk.
English, circa 1900 with
Category
20th Century European Edwardian Desks
Materials
Mahogany
English Victorian Antique Leather Writing Box Letter Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
TOOLED LEATHER WRITING BOX
Probably English, early 20th century
15 13/16" D x 19 7/8" W x 1 1/2" H
Category
Early 20th Century British Victorian Decorative Boxes
Materials
Leather, Baize, Silk
Antique English Chinese Rosewood Console or Writing Desk Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a beautiful Antique English Chinese Rosewood Console or Writing Desk Table.
all hand carved
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Chinese Chippendale Console Tables
Materials
Rosewood
English Chippendale Style Painted Goddard Chest Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique circa 1930s Goddard chest / writing desk featuring a drop front door that opens to multiple
Category
Early 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
$770 Sale Price
30% Off
Antique Gentleman
s Bureau, English, Walnut, Writing Desk, Secretaire, Georgian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique gentleman's bureau. A fine English, walnut writing desk or secretaire, dating
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Ship
s Purser
s Desk, English, Writing Table, Beidermeier, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique ship's purser's desk. An English, burr walnut Davenport writing table in the
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Antique Writing Desk, English Side Table, Correspondence, Study, Victorian, 1890
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique writing desk. An English, mahogany side table, dating to the late Victorian
Category
Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century English Oak Root Writing Desk with Bronze Fittings
Located in Marbella, ES
19th century English oak root writing desk with bronze fittings.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique English Regency Mahogany Davenport Writing Desk Occasional Side Table
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Very Imposing example of an English well figured Rosewood late Regency Period Davenport Desk or
Category
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Baker Furniture English Regency Rosewood Console or Petite Writing Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous English Regency style console table, entry table, or petite ladies writing desk
By
Category
Vintage 1960s American Regency Console Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Victorian Campaign Style Travel Desk Writing Box
Located in Forney, TX
A antique Victorian era English campaign style brass bound mahogany portable lap desk / writing
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Decorative Boxes
Materials
Brass
English Writing Table or Desk of Mahogany from the Georgian Era
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English writing table or desk or side table of mahogany from the late Georgian Era
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Side Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
English Writing Table or Desk of Mahogany from the Edwardian Era
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome English writing table or desk (or side table) of mahogany from the Edwardian era
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Side Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique English Regency Rosewood Library Table Writing Desk Gillows Lancaster
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A Very Imposing example of an English well figured Rosewood Library or Writing Table firmly
Category
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Side Tables
Materials
Mahogany
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English Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the English writing desk you’re looking for. Each English writing desk for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and animal skin. There are 805 variations of the antique or vintage English writing desk you’re looking for, while we also have 19 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the English writing desk you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. An English writing desk made by Regency designers — as well as those associated with Georgian — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made English writing desk over the years, but those crafted by Maple
Co., Gillows of Lancaster
London and Heal's are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is an English Writing Desk?
An English writing desk can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $4,115, while the lowest priced sells for $304 and the highest can go for as much as $177,376.
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 English 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 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 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 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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