Maitland Smith Writing Desk
Vintage 1980s Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
20th Century Philippine Egyptian Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
20th Century Philippine Egyptian Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Leather
20th Century American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Vintage 1970s American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century American Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Cane, Mahogany, Satinwood
Vintage 1980s American Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Late 20th Century Art Deco Desks
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Desks
Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Desks
Shell
Late 20th Century American George III Console Tables
Marble
Late 20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Stone, Brass
Recent Sales
20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1980s Philippine Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1980s Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Brass
20th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
Late 20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s Unknown Chinese Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1980s Desks and Writing Tables
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1980s American Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1980s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Philippine Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Vintage 1970s Philippine Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1980s Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Brass
20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1980s Philippine Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Horn
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Grasscloth
20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Shagreen, Wood
20th Century American Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Burl
1990s American Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Vintage 1980s Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Faux Bamboo
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Steel
Vintage 1960s Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Iron
Late 20th Century Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Brass
Vintage 1980s Philippine Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
2010s Philippine Regency Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Late 20th Century Philippine Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century Philippine Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Steel, Gold Leaf
Vintage 1980s Asian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Brass, Steel
20th Century Campaign Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Rattan
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Brass
Early 2000s American Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany, Walnut
Vintage 1970s American Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1960s American Desks and Writing Tables
Vintage 1970s Desks and Writing Tables
Stone
Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables
Iron, Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Late 20th Century British Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
1990s Philippine Regency Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Rosewood
Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Brass
Early 2000s Philippine Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
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Vintage 1950s French Louis XVI Carts and Bar Carts
Marble, Zinc
20th Century Hong Kong Chinoiserie Desks
Leather, Wood
2010s American Modern Stools
Oak
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary French Post-Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Lebanese Moorish Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace ...
Walnut, Shell, Abalone
Vintage 1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tapestries
Silk
Vintage 1940s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
20th Century Chinoiserie Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Historical Memorabilia
Wood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Birch
20th Century Philippine Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Chippendale Dining Room Chairs
1990s Indian Anglo-Indian Desks and Writing Tables
Bone, Teak
Maitland Smith Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Maitland Smith Writing Desk?
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.













