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Pine and Beechwood Writing Table
Located in Baltimore, MD
A beautiful writing table of great character. We removed the damaged zinc which has protected the
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech, Pine
Fine Quality 1890s English Adams Paint Decorated Carlton House Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
painted scenes depict griffins and maidens and various other scenes of the times. The desk is in very good
Category
Antique 1890s English Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Satinwood
RARE 19THC ORIGINAL GREY PAINTED NEW ENGLAND SLANT TOP DESK
Located in Los Angeles, CA
THIS WONDERFUL DIMENUTIVE LIFT TOP DESK IS IN GREAT CONDITION.THE TAPER LEGS AND BREAD BOARD ENDS
Category
Antique 19th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Swedish Rococo Style 1880s Light Painted Desk with Two Drawers and Cabriole Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style off white painted desk from circa 1880 with two drawers, cabriole legs and
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Outstanding Italian Venetian Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk Circa 1920
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Italian secretary desk. The desk is in good original condition and has incredible curves. The desk
Category
Vintage 1920s Italian Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Painted Pine Desk or Breakfast Table with One Center Drawer.
Located in Santa Monica, CA
French 19th Century Painted Pine Desk or Breakfast Table with One Center Drawer.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
Sheraton Style Satinwood Writing Table
By Edwards
Roberts
Located in Dallas, TX
A Sheraton style, satinwood Revival writing table with a variety of inlays, scalloped border inlays
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Satinwood
Reverse Paint Decorated Hollywood Regency Desk or Vanity Vintage Deco Style
Located in Manhasset, NY
A reverse paint decorated Hollywood Regency desk or vanity from the vintage deco era. This stunning
Category
Early 20th Century Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Late 19th Century Painted Kneehole Desk Stamped A Blain
Sons, Liverpool
By Arthur Blain
Located in London, GB
A fine late 19th century kneehole desk, constructed in pine and painted to simulate rosewood. Four
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Antique American Gray Distress Painted 1 Drawer Small Work Table Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American gray distress painted one drawer small work table desk. Item features solid wood
Category
Early 20th Century North American Primitive Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Vintage Midcentury Danish Modern Teak Bilateral Desk with hand painted Pattern
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
This classic bilateral desk was made in Denmark during the 1960s. It is made of high-quality teak
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Late 19th Century Napoleon Style Desk In Tooled Leather and Painted Wood
Located in Round Top, TX
French antique Napoleon style desk from Paris circa 1870's-1880's. This piece has a painted green
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Unique Painted Wood Desk with Animal Legs and Hooved Feet of Grey-Green Color
Located in Atlanta, GA
A painted wood desk with unique carved animal legs. This wooden desk features three drawers over
Category
20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Rococo Desk with Brass Hardware in Original Paint, 19th Century
Located in Wichita, KS
Beautiful freestanding Swedish Rococo writing desk with original brass hardware, hand-scraped to
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century, Louis XVI Style Painted and Gilt Marble-Top Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A wonderful inset green and cream marble top is the prefect writing surface for this desk. Painted
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Hollywood Regency Grosfeld House Parcel Paint and Gilt Decorated Vanity or Desk
By Grosfeld House
Located in Manhasset, NY
Grosfeld House parcel paint and gilt decorated vanity or desk with mirror. A fine one of a kind
Category
Mid-20th Century Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Vintage Desk w/Three-Drawers and Its Original Hand-Painted Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French painted-wood desk with three drawers. This vintage table from France features its original
Category
20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Grosfeld House Louis XV Style Writing Table
Located in New York, NY
A Grosfeld House Louis XV style writing table with four cabriole legs painted blue/green, gilt
Category
Vintage 1940s American Desks and Writing Tables
Bodart Desk
By Jacques Bodart
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a 1950s-1960s distressed painted wood bodart desk.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Paint, Wood
$1,800
French 19th Century Louis XVI Painted Marble-Top Desk or Center Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Stunning painted Louis XVI center table or desk with a single large drawer. The white marble top is
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Desk with Painted Glass Top, Joaquim Tenreiro for Bloch Editors, Mid-Century
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
delicate painted glass surface, the desk exudes an air of sophistication.
Embodying the essence of
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood, Glass
French Heavily Carved Writing Table C. 1940
s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French painted heavily carved writing table/desk.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint, Gesso
Post-Modern Italian Aluminum Desk or Console Table with Painted Top, 1982
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Berlin, DE
This Post-Modern Italian Aluminum Desk or Console Table was made in around 1982.
The Table Top has
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Post-Modern Italian Aluminum Desk or Console Table with Painted Top, 1982
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Berlin, DE
This Post-Modern Italian Aluminum Desk or Console Table was made in around 1982.
The Table Top has
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Bailey Banks and Biddle Vernis Martin Painted Desk on Gilded Background Louis XV
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic French-made Vernis Martin Paint decorated writing desk made for Bailey Banks
Category
Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
"Elephant" Desk
Located in North Miami, FL
A vintage elephant desk has been updated with a modern and upto date lacquer. This piece has a very
Category
Vintage 1970s American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
$2,900
Directoire Fruit Wood Leather Top Writing Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Directoire fruit wood writing table, with engraved and ebonized decorations and a tooled leather
Category
Antique Early 1800s European Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Fruitwood, Paint
Paint Decorated and Gilt Gold Louis XVI Style Vanity Desk by John Widdicomb
By John Widdicomb
Located in Manhasset, NY
Paint decorated and gilt gold vanity or desk by John Widdicomb. This light grayish paint decorated
Category
Antique 1840s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Peter Maxish One of a Kind Bold Painted Desk by Billy the Artist
By Billy The Artist
Located in Hopewell, NJ
One of a kind bold modern desk painted in the style of Peter Max by a Billy the Artist in NYC
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Wonderful Expandable Writing or Sidetable by Embru-Werke
By Embru
Located in New York, NY
table for bedside dining or writing.
Category
Vintage 1940s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Desk Top Table
Located in Culver City, CA
Primitive work table with distressed paint
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
$1,650
Swedish Writer
s Desk, 1900
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful Swedish writer's desk from circa 1900 with later grey paint, single center drawer with
Category
Antique Early 1900s Swedish Schoolhouse Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique Certified Chinese Qing Dynasty Elmwood Rattan Writing Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
"
Antique four drawer writing table desk in black lacquered Chinese elmwood with rattan top and brass
Category
Antique 1850s Chinese Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Pine Stand-Up Desk
Located in Baltimore, MD
An unusual stand-up desk featuring a distressed white painted base with replaced top from reclaimed
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
$1,395
English Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small 18th century English painted oak bureau with original brass handles. 1780.
Height to
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
$3,423
Italian Library Table Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Wonderful 19th century painted Italian library table/desk. This piece is the perfect size for a
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Red Lacquer Chinoiserie Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
A red lacquer desk with chinoiserie decoration.
Category
Vintage 1930s Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
English Console Table/ Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 19th century English 3-drawer black painted console table/ desk, 1890
Dimensions:
53
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Gary Gutterman Lucite Desk
By Gary Gutterman
Located in North Miami, FL
fabulous hollywood glam executive desk by Gary Gutterman.
The base has a modern yet elegant look
Category
20th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Lucite, Paint, Board
1940
s French Desk
Located in North Miami, FL
A simply chic french desk from the 1940's. Design of desk has design inspiration from the
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$2,600
Painted Country Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Charming table with turned legs and drawer. Original paint. The drawer and apron were "feather
Category
Antique 19th Century Russian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Birch
$1,675
French Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
A very lovely 19th century French Louis XVI style desk or writing table in painted wood with
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Louis XVI Style Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
A very lovely 19th century French Louis XVI style desk or writing table in painted wood with
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
French Desk/ Lamp Table
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Pretty 19th century French 1 drawer desk/ lamp table, 1820
Dimensions
36 inches (91 cms) wide
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
$1,848
Antique Painted Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th c. cedro wood finca - farm - table with original paint. One drawer.
FOR OUR COMPLETE
Category
Antique 19th Century Guatemalan Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cedar, Paint
$3,135
A Dutch Bombe Bureau Desk
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Stylish Dutch 19th Century painted bombe bureau desk with wonderful carved lions paw feet and
Category
Antique 1880s Dutch Country Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
English Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
18th century English painted pine bureau, 1780.
Dimensions:
36 inches (91 cms) wide
22 inches
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
$2,122
White Chinoiserie Carlton House Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
White chinoiserie carlton house desk with a glass top on the writing surface, 11 drawers, and 2
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Wood
Original Painted 18th Century Writing Desk Secretary, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A second part of the 18th Century Baroque Period Scandinavian original Painted Writing Desk
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Five Drawer Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small late 19th C French five drawer desk with black leather insert. 1890
Dimensions
45 inches
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood, Paint
$2,670
English Faux Bamboo Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small early 19th C English faux bamboo pine desk / side table. 1830.
Centre clearance is 14"w x
Category
Antique 19th Century English George IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Faux Bamboo, Pine
$2,361
Hand-Painted Hand-Carved Wooden Table with Original Paint
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Hand-painted hand-carved wooden table with original paint, under a marble top from the South of
Category
Vintage 1940s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
Tall English Regency Desk
Located in Culver City, CA
England
Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Paint
American Pine Schoolmaster’s Desk,
1800s
Located in Kenilworth, IL
American slant front schoolmaster’s desk in white pine. The desk has a slanted lift top to an
Category
Antique 19th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine, Paint
French Side Table or Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th century French painted 1 drawer desk or side table, 1860.
Dimensions:
39.5 inches (100
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
18th Century Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small 18th century English painted oak bureau with a fitted interior including a well and a secret
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
18th Century Swedish Rococo Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish Rococo desk from the late 1700s with old historic paint from the early 1800s. The table is
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
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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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