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19th Century French Painted Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Louis XV style desk with center drawer standing on four cabriole legs
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood, Paint
English Victorian Painted Desk
Located in Calgary, Alberta
This is a fabulous English Victorian pine desk with its original soft green paint and turned legs
Category
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Desk Painted Wood, Italy, 1970s
Located in Milano, IT
Desk with drawers under the top; lacquered wood, chromed tubular structure.
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique Painted Writing Table with Marble Top
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Writing table, of distressed painted wood, having a molded rectangular marble top, serpentine apron
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century Catalan Writing Desk or Console Table
Located in Houston, TX
Early 19th century Catalan writing desk or console table. Hand-carved in pine circa 1790-1829 in
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Spanish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Coen de Vries Writing Desk for Devo the Hague
By Coen de Vries, Devo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great Little Writing Desk in Birch wood with Ebonized X-Base, Baby Blue Colored Drawer and Formica
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Birch, Formica
Vintage Inlay and Hand Painted Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Inlay and Hand Painted Desk with a fold front desk and superstructure with cabinets doors
Category
20th Century English Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
Chinese Chippendale Painted Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Finished in a striking grey limestone, this desk measures 64 inches wide, 30 inches deep, and 30
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinese Chippendale Desks and W...
Materials
Leather, Wood
$7,230 / item
Belle Epoch Painted Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Belle Epoch Swedish desk with chinois elements.
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
$5,300
19th Century English Paint Decorated Writing Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely small scale writing table is most exciting because it is painted in the full round and
Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
19th Century French Lxv Style Painted Writing Table
Located in Charleston, SC
A charming 19th century Louis XV style table/center/desk has slender cabriole legs, shaped top and
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Paint
Writing Desk by Willy Van Der Meeren, Belgium, 1950s
By Willy Van Der Meeren, Tubax
Located in London, GB
Large size writing desk by Willy Van Der Meeren, Belgium, 1950s.
This model is a stylish
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Figural Painted French Desk or Vanity
By Maison Baguès
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice figural painted French desk writing table or vanity. Very decorative piece.
Category
20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood
A.R.P. Writing Desk Edition Minvielle France, 1955
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare and collectible desk designed by A.R.P. (Atelier de Recherches Plastiques) and manufactured by
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Fine Victorian Satinwood and Painted Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
Lancaster. Beautifully painted neoclassic decoration over the satinwood case. Back finished.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Satinwood
Italian Painted Desk with Single Drawer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian painted desk w/ single drawer. Distressed finish. Bottom stretcher.
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Painted Writing Table
Located in Houston, US
painted in cream with a Neoclassic motif painted on center top. Table can be used as a desk or a vanity
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Original Painted Italian Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Good 19th century Italian original painted desk on fluted legs and decorative mouldings, 1870
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Late 19th Century Swedish Painted Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 19th century Swedish painted pine desk with fluted drawers. 1880.
Kneehole measurements: 23
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Painted Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Austin, TX
French antique Louis XVI style painted desk made of oak with handsomely hand-carved floral details
Category
Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Louis Philippe Low Writing Table or Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic 19th century French Louis Philippe writing table or desk featuring a painted or waxed canvas
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Canvas, Fruitwood, Oak
Venetian Hand-Painted Desk, circa 1920s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian Venetian hand-painted desk with drawers for storage. Knee-hole for extra comfort. Beautiful
Category
Vintage 1920s Italian Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Painted Leather Top Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
French painted leather top desk, a twist on a classic 18th-century French design. Finished in
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
$4,545 / item
Black Three Drawer Desk Writing Table, Sweden circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
Three drawer pine desk with tapered legs topped by diamond accent.
Restored, handsome black painted
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine, Paint
Chinoiserie Hollywood Regency Campaign Black Lacquered Writing Desk by Sligh
By Sligh Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Chinoiserie Hollywood Regency Campaign style writing desk
By Sligh Furniture
USA
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Black Writing Table Desk With Three Drawers, Sweden circa 1900
Located in Round Top, TX
Three drawer pine desk with elongated cabriolet legs.
Restored, later custom black painted finish
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine, Paint
Paint Decorted Carlton House Desk
Located in Manhasset, NY
A Wonderful paint decorated Edwardian Carlton house desk. Finest quality paint decorated satinwood
Category
Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Decorative Hand-Painted Louis XVI Style Writing Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Decorative hand-painted French Louis XVI style bureau-plat/writing table. This practical table has
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Mid 19th Century Swedish Gray Pine Partner
s Desk Writing Table
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique Swedish Gustavian gray painted pine "partner's desk" with two drawers on each side of the
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine, Paint
19th Century French Painted Desk
Located in Calgary, Alberta
Antique painted French pine slight slope desk with its original key.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Antique Painted School Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Painted school desk with 4 cubbies and inkwells (4 covers). Green and gray textured finish.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Plaster
Painted Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Louis XVI style desk from France made of fruit wood that has been hand painted in a lovely light
Category
Vintage 1930s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Vintage Lambert Hitchcock Black Harvest Stenciled Secretary Writing Desk Console
By Lambert Hitchcock
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 20th Century Lambert Hitchcock Black Forest stenciled ladies' secretary writing desk or console
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Maple, Paint
Vintage French Provincial Corner Side Table Library Writing Desk 47"
By Kindel Furniture
Located in Dayton, OH
Intriguing French Provincial Corner desk or side table, circa 1970s. Features a central dovetailed
Category
Vintage 1970s French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Painted
Silver Gilt Carved Italian Writing Table C. 1900
s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Painted & silver gilt carved writing table with center drawer.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Vermeil, Silver
Antique French Regency Louis XV Bureau De Pente Ladies Writing Desk
By Vernis Martin
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique French Regency Louis XV style bureau de pente roll top ladies writing desk
In
Category
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century Painted French Desk
Located in New York, NY
opening to reveal wonderful storage. The worn blue and gray paint gives this piece great character and
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
French Louis XV Style Writing Desk w/ Drawers C. 1940
s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1940's French writing desk, rich in history and detail, a testament to the craftsmanship of the era
Category
Vintage 1940s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
John Van Koert Writing Desk for Drexel, Tambour Roll Top
By John Van Koert, Drexel
Located in Buffalo, NY
: Walnut, Paint.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
19th Century Kneehole Desk in Original Paint
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Beautiful painted kneehole desk with five drawers with traces of original hand painted decoration
Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
Painted Pine Ecclesiastical Desk, France circa 1900
Located in Culver City, CA
Painted pine desk in original finish, recovered from a church in Nantes.
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Charming Writing Desk by Rorimer -Brooks for Berkey
Gay / Hotel Statler
By Berkey
Gay Furniture
Located in Buffalo, NY
Charming writing desk by Romimer -Brooks for Berkey & Gay / Designed for Hotel Statler ,Retains
Category
Vintage 1940s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century Rustic Painted Swedish Pedestal Desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Here we offer a rustic three piece pedestal desk, circa 1870.
Presented in its as found
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Rustic Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Hans Christian Andersen desk in Painted Pine
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A lovely Hans Christian Andersen Desk in pine with grey/white Gustavian style painted finish and on
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Painted French Style Partners Desk, 20th Century
By Rose Tarlow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand painted French Louis XVI style Partner's writing table with two drawers on either side of the
Category
Vintage 1980s American Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Decorated Writing Desk Bureau Plat, 19th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Such a fine and interesting writing desk, this is one of those very rare finds that remains in
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century European Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
18th Century French Baroque Pinewood Writing Table - Antique Leather Office Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An late 18th Century, antique French Baroque writing table made of hand crafted painted Pinewood
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Pine
19th C Original Paint Decorated Lap Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine painted and hand made early lap desk in post master format on high turned legs. The paint
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Adirondack Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique Writing Desk Raised Doors, Bronze, Brass
Sèvres Ceramics,
800 France
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Antique writing desk with raised doors, enriched with bronze and brass ornaments and ovens with
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Ebony-Painted Walnut Writing Table (Louis XVI Style, repro.)
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis XVI Style reproduction; Shaped rectangular top with a leather writing surface set in a molded
Category
Antique 19th Century Unknown Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Black Painted Writing Table Console With Two Drawers, Denmark circa 1910
Located in Round Top, TX
table, side table, console or writing desk.
Any scratches, cracks, dings, or age related separation are
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Baroque Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Cream
Blue Ladies Writing Desk Chair Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Style Cream & Blue Distress Painted Ladies Writing Desk and
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
19thc. Carved and Painted Center Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully Carved and Painted Center Desk
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Napoleon III Carved and Painted Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully carved Single Drawer Painted Center Desk
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Ralph Lauren Style Black Lacquer and Lucite Executive Writing Table Desk
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic custom made desk made to closely replicate a Ralph Lauren but with some slight
Category
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Silver Leaf
Fabulous 18th Century Painted Venetian Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully Painted Original Design 18th c. Venetian Desk
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Chinoiserie Faux Tortoise Bamboo Japanned Desk or Writing Table, 1800s, England
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A fine chinoiserie faux tortoiseshell handmade wood and bamboo desk with drawers and leather top. A
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Leather, Bamboo, Paint
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Painted Writing Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic painted writing desk available at 1stDibs. A painted writing desk — often made from wood, metal and paint — can elevate any home. If you’re shopping for a painted writing desk, we have 622 options in-stock, while there are 23 modern editions to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer painted writing desk, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A painted writing desk is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern, Louis XVI and Louis XV styles are sought with frequency. A well-made painted writing desk has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Ale Preda, Miduny and John Widdicomb are consistently popular.
How Much is a Painted Writing Desk?
A painted writing desk can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $3,262, while the lowest priced sells for $325 and the highest can go for as much as $78,500.
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 Painted 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.
- Can I paint a leather desk top?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021Yes, you can paint a leather desk top. You can transform an old leather desk top and add visual appeal with easy-to-use leather paint. If you don’t feel confident in trying this by yourself, get in touch with a furniture restorer or related professional for help. Find a variety of leather desk tops on 1stDibs.
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