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The Source Handcrafted Live Egde Ancient 140 Year Walnut L-Shaped Desktop
Located in København N, DK
do they feel when they join together to form a clear, turbulent river?
A desk made of walnut
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing...
Materials
Steel
Louis XV Style Ladies Writing Desk / Marquetry Details
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautifully-crafted Louis XV style ladies writing desk with marquetry design details and slant open
Category
Mid-20th Century European Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Louis XV style writing desk. Gilt bronze, stone. Possibly French school, 19th c
Located in Madrid, ES
Louis XV style writing desk. Gilt bronze, stone. Possibly French school, 19th century.
Gilt bronze
Category
Antique 19th Century European Neoclassical Revival Inkwells
Materials
Stone, Bronze, Other
19th C. Antique Writing Stand Desk office Inkwell Center Piece Faience Porcelain
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th C. Antique Writing Stand Desk office Inkwell Center Piece Faience Porcelain . This beautiful
Category
Antique Early 19th Century European Inkwells
Materials
Brass, Bronze
$3,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Bronze Writing Set, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
containers that make up the desk. The sandbox or salvador, the duster and the inkwell present clear lines and
Category
Antique 19th Century European Neoclassical Desk Sets
Materials
Bronze
Writing set with blotter, inkwell, opener, seal, pen and original case
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Writing set with blotter, inkwell, letter opener, seal and embossed silver pen with
Category
20th Century European Letter Openers
Materials
Silver
$500 Sale Price
50% Off
Wooden Writing Desk with Drawers and Folding Door
Located in Marbella, ES
Wooden Writing Desk with Drawers and Folding Door
Category
Antique 19th Century European Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Miniature Writing Desk Jewelry Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This vintage miniature wood box has six drawers and lots of character and patina. Some of the drawers are lined in faux marbleized paper. We see this wonderful piece being used to st...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century European Empire Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Metal, Brass
$382 Sale Price
49% Off
Burl Wood Writing Desk French Wooden Handmade Executive Modern Contemporary Desk
Located in København N, DK
Do you like contrasts? I think that life is made up of contrasts. Cold and heat, thirst and satiety, poverty and abundance, difficult circumstances and victory over them.
This table ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Arts and Crafts Dining Room Tables
Materials
Steel
Sheraton Revival Cylinder Bureau, writing Desk with marquetry, circa 1890
Located in Miami, FL
sliding inset leather writing tablet, above five drawers, each with their original brass drop handles
Category
Early 20th Century European Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$5,160 Sale Price
20% Off
Fully renovated ART DECO writing desk, 1930´s, Central Europe
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This fully renovated art deco writing desk is a stunning piece of furniture that will add character
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Czechoslovak modernist chrome and wood writing desk, 1950´s, Europe
Located in Prague 8, CZ
writing desk from 1930s Czechoslovakia is a striking piece of functionalist art, also know as the Bauhaus
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Bauhaus Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Fully renovated Czechoslovak huge writing desk, 1970´s, Central Europe
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This writing desk was made in the former Czechoslovakia in 1970s .
It features two sections with 6
Category
Late 20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Beech, Plywood
Fully renovated Czechoslovak huge writing desk, 1970´s, Central Europe
Located in Prague 8, CZ
This writing desk was made in the former Czechoslovakia in 1970s .
It features two sections with 6
Category
Late 20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Beech, Plywood
Stylish Mid Century Writing Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Stylish Mid Century Writing Desk
Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Folding Desk or Writing Table, circa 1900
Located in Houston, TX
Continental mahogany folding desk with curved frame opens to reveal a fitted leather writing
Category
Early 20th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Writing Desk with Drawer, Nut Veneered
Located in Zbiroh, CZ
Nut veneered desk with drawer and beautiful shape of the trestle board. After complete renovation
Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chestnut
Louis XIV Style Inlaid Writing Desk, 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Louis XIV style inlaid writing desk, 20th century.
This French Louis XIV style
Category
20th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Contemporary Writing Desk "Cary" by Studio Catoir, Maple Top and Brass Base
By Studio Catoir
Located in PARIS, FR
Elegant and decorative desk with incorporated hidden wiring system, to solve the problem of
Category
2010s European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Continental Walnut Writing Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A continental walnut writing table with side drawer fitted for writing.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
English Writing Table with Leather Insert Top
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Beautiful vintage 19th century writing desk adjustable top with leather insert.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
19th Century Regency Writing Table, circa 1820
Located in Richmond, London
A superb quality Regency side table in the manner of Gillows. Rare combination of the most beautiful figuring of the carefully selected veneers, superb craftsmanship, compact scale a...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century European Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather
Antique Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Antique five-drawer desk with a leather top and detailed turned legs.
Category
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
$4,800
American rolling desk
Located in STRAČOV, CZ
American rolling desk
A solid oak desk in the early 20th century with a practical blind that
Category
Early 20th Century European American Classical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Oak
$3,266
1950s Desk
Located in Brussels
Antwerp, BE
Burl elm and chromed metal.
Not signed.
Measures: H. 76 cm, W. 180 cm, D. 85 cm.
Category
Vintage 1950s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
$4,650
English Painted Desk
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
English painted desk with tapered legs, porcelain handles, later paint, circa 1930.
Category
Early 20th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
$2,590
ORIGIN 00008 Desk
By POLCHA
Located in PARIS, FR
This desk is the first piece of our work, Polcha, we wanted to work the materials in trompe l'oeil
Category
Vintage 1960s European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
$6,532
Art Deco Desk
Located in New York, NY
A rich beautiful quarter sawn mahogany desk or dining table with inset black feet.
Category
20th Century European Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
$8,900
Boulle Style Desk
Located in Estepona, ES
tortoiseshell. A very robust piece, with three drawers in perfect condition. The top of the desk is covered with
Category
Early 2000s European Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
$5,819
English Desk on Casters
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Charming English desk, later painted pale grey on original brass casters with turned legs.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
$3,275
Desk in Mahogany, 1950
Located in Toulouse, France
A 1950s splendid curved desk in mahogany. Three front drawers with golden brass handles, legs in
Category
Vintage 1950s European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
$7,719
Obsidian Desk - Handcrafted Black Lacquer Desk with Chrome Plinth
By Prieto Studio
Located in London, GB
, blending them with the most skilful hands in Europe into a statement of bewildering elegance and refined
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Danish rosewood desk circa 1940s
Located in London, GB
the darker shades on the table top where writing mat and other desk top items have prevented fading
Category
Vintage 1940s European Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Midnight Desk - Modern Handcrafted Black Lacquer Desk with Steel Legs
By Prieto Studio
Located in London, GB
every product to the client's specifications, blending them with the most skilful hands in Europe into a
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
English Painted Desk, circa 1900
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
English painted desk with one small drawer, old paint, natural pine top.
Category
Early 20th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 20th Century Carved Oak Writing Table With Stool ( REF AF-3426 )
Located in Ledbury, GB
An elegant 20th-century writing table crafted in oak, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and
Category
20th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Elm Wood Desk, circa 1970
Located in Roubaix, FR
Solid Elm wood Desk with very nice and futuristic Design. France circa 1970 Height of the working
Category
Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
Burr Walnut Kidney Shaped Antique Desk
Located in Antrim, GB
Magnificent burr walnut kidney shaped antique desk with Davenport type top incorporated.
Green
Category
Antique 1860s European Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique Burr Walnut Kidney Shaped Desk
Located in Antrim, GB
Fabulous antique burr walnut kidney shaped desk with davenport top incorporated
Two drawers over
Category
Antique 1870s European Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Midcentury Danish Organic Desk in Teak
Located in Handewitt, DE
Freestanding danish teak desk. Very nice slightly shape. Designed and manufactured by an unknown
Category
Vintage 1950s European Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Scandinavian Midcentury Rosewood Six-Drawer Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
Perfect proportions and a gorgeous deep rosewood grain pattern to this medium-size desk with hand
Category
Vintage 1960s European Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
End First Half 20th Century Oak Desk
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Curious desk '40s, in oak wood, which can be transformed into a sofa. Produced by the company Adap
Category
Vintage 1940s European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Maison Regain Desk Set in Solid Elm
By Maison Regain
Located in BREDA, NL
Iconic desk set by Roland Haeusler for Maison Regain from France, 1960's. Great simple design in
Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Elm
George III Antique Figured Mahogany Antique Desk
Located in Link 59 Business Park, Clitheroe
George III antique figured mahogany antique desk
This George III antique figured mahogany antique
Category
Antique 1780s European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Walnut Ormolu Mounted Kidney Shaped Antique Desk
Located in Antrim, GB
Magnificent inlaid burr walnut ormolu mounted kidney shaped antique desk with two drawers.
{Tooled
Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Knoll International Executive Desk S 872 Florence Knoll
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in Köln, NRW
Writing desk by Florence Knoll model 872
Steel frame chromed, top wood lacquered white with two
Category
Mid-20th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Parchment Faceted Art Deco Desk, circa 1970
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This 1970s desk achieves a modest stateliness, its mottled paper parchment & faceted brass corners
Category
Vintage 1970s European Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Rare Wood Small Architect Desk in Teak, 1960
Located in Berkeley, CA
Very elegant and attractive desk, multi positions with the 2 metal piece on the side. Every detail
Category
Vintage 1960s European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Pair of 20th Century Art Deco Desks
Located in Estepona, ES
Pair of Art Deco desk which can be used also as consoles.
Category
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
1950s-1960s Danish Design and Scandinavian Style Desk
Located in Tourcoing, FR
1950s-1960s Danish Design and Scandinavian Style Desk
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
1960s Pierre Guariche Design "Table Machine" Model Desk
By Pierre Guariche, Meurop
Located in Tourcoing, FR
Desk "machine table" model designed by Pierre Guariche for Meurop in the 1960s composed of a chrome
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
1950s-1960s Remington Rand France Industrial Style Desk
By Remington Rand
Located in Tourcoing, FR
1950s - 1960s Remington Rand France Industrial Style desk composed of an all in metal structure
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Iron and Wood Adjustable Architect
s Drafting Desk Table, 1950s
Located in Roubaix, FR
French architect's drafting table or writing desk, top leans from perfectly horizontale desk
Category
Vintage 1950s European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Midcentury Continental Mahogany Dressing Table or Small Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
hall table or desk. Recently refinished dark-stained mahogany with black powder-coated metal supports
Category
Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Knoll International Complete Office Warren Platner Desk and Sideboards
By Warren Platner
Located in Köln, NRW
Knoll International complete office by Warren Platner desk + sideboards
Desk: frame steel
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century European Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
18th Century George I Figured Walnut Antique Kneehole Desk
Located in Antrim, GB
A rare early 18th century George I figured walnut antique kneehole desk of good colour and small
Category
Antique 1720s European George I Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Portuguese Desk Design by Sena Da Silva in Teak
Located in Porto, PT
Portuguese desk design by Sena da Silva in teak, made by FOC
FOC - Fábrica Osório De Castro
Category
Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
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European Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal European writing desk for your home. A European writing desk — often made from wood, metal and mahogany — can elevate any home. Find 277 options for an antique or vintage European writing desk now, or shop our selection of 28 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer European writing desk, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A European writing desk is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern, Victorian and Louis XV styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one European writing desk that is appealing in its simplicity, but Jacques Adnet, Lukas Friedrich and Privatiselectionem produced versions that are worth a look.
How Much is a European Writing Desk?
The average selling price for a European writing desk at 1stDibs is $3,691, while they’re typically $540 on the low end and $184,235 for the highest priced.
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 European 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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