Kidney Shaped Desks
Vintage 1960s Danish Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Vintage 1960s American Desks and Writing Tables
Late 20th Century American Tables
Metal
Early 20th Century Desks
Brass
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Teak
Antique 1820s English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Danish Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Satinwood
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Satinwood
Antique 1870s British High Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Antique Mid-19th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1860s British French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany, Walnut
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Desks
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 1820s English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
20th Century American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Amboyna
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
20th Century Edwardian Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1970s Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1940s French Console Tables
Gold
Vintage 1940s American Desks and Writing Tables
Mid-20th Century Regency Desks
Brass
20th Century Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Carrara Marble, Wrought Iron
20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 1880s English High Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Wicker
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Wicker
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Brass
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Rosewood, Wood
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Kidney Shaped Desks For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Kidney Shaped Desks?
Finding the Right Desks And 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.
- What is a kidney desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023A kidney desk is a desk that has a curvy top that is similar in shape to a human kidney. Many kidney desks are very ornate, showing off details like vellum-lined tabletops and parquetry inlay. Shop a selection of kidney desks on 1stDibs.
- What is a skinny desk called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023A skinny desk is sometimes called a writing desk. The name comes from the fact that the smaller desktop provides enough space for writing but doesn’t offer much extra room for storage or a computer. Shop a range of writing desks on 1stDibs.
- Why is it called a kidney table?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023A kidney table is called that because of its curvy shape, which is similar to that of a human kidney or a kidney bean. During the 1950s, the curvy lines and elegant simplicity of the kidney table rendered it a covetable and trendy furnishing. On 1stDibs, find an assortment of kidney tables.
- What is the best L shaped desk?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021The best L-shaped desk depends on how well it will fit into your office. Factors such as office aesthetic, the space required, the material of the desk, the size, the computer type and other pieces of equipment should be prioritized. Ergonomics, storage and durability need to be considered, too. Find a collection of antique and vintage desks on 1stDibs today.
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