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Sligh Vintage French Country Provincial Green Painted Brown Leather Writing Desk
By Sligh Furniture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Sligh vintage French Country Provincial green painted brown leather top writing desk. Item features
Category

Mid-20th Century North American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

Louis XIV Painted Writing Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
Period Louis XIV walnut French writing table with later painted decoration.
Category

Antique 1790s French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Pine Painted Writing Table
Located in Baltimore, MD
A small Arts and Crafts writing table with a polished pine top on a square-legged base in
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Directoire Style Painted Writing Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Directoire style painted writing table with suede top, brass escutcheons, bronze sabots and writing
Category

Mid-20th Century European Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Suede, Wood, Paint

Paint Decorated Satinwood English Adams Writing Desk with Leather Top, C1910
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic desk! Look at the amazing painted workmanship and the gorgeous wood quality
Category

Vintage 1910s English Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Satinwood

19th Century French Louis XVI Painted Writing Table Desk with Faux Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique ladie's writing desk was carved in northern France, circa 1860. Rectangular
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Paint

Writing Desk Gustavian, 18th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
A writing desk made during the 18th century in Sweden. Beautiful bluish black paint. Interior with
Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

18th Century Louis XV Writing Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
A sensational French Louis XV period desk in painted wood and leather top. Tremendous painted
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Louis XVI Leather-Top Writing Desk
Located in Austin, TX
A charming French antique desk in the Louis XVI style, with a green leather top, brass trim and
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Painted Serpentine Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 19th C painted serpentine desk with ball and claw feet. 1890. Clearance is 23
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech, Mahogany

Venetian Painted Two Drawer Writing Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This delicate writing table has a garden of roses, mums, daisies, and tulips painted on a golden
Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Antique 1900s Era Adams Paint Decorated Ladies Vanity or Small Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful small size Adams paint decorated vanity or desk. The piece is in its original
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Satinwood

Mid-Century Modern Mirrored Desk Writing Table With Gold Painted Lined Frame
Located in Manhasset, NY
An attractive Mid-Century Modern style desk, gold painted frame veneered with mirror plates, the
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Belle Epoch Painted Writing Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
Painted Center Writing table
Category

Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Painted Louis XV Writing Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Painted Louis XV style writing/salon table with a faux marble top, late 19th century. The paint is
Category

Antique 19th Century Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Antique Painted Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century white table with drawer. All original. Great patina FOR OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY PLEASE GO TO www.dosgallos.com
Category

Antique 19th Century Guatemalan Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cedar, Paint

Belle Epoch Painted Writing Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
Lovely Chinois Decorated Writing Table
Category

20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Franco Albini Writing Desk Knoll International, 1949
By Franco Albini, Knoll
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare and early writing desk model 1928 designed by Franco Albini and manufactured by Knoll
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Lous XV Painted Writing Table
Located in Doylestown, PA
and a large drawer, in old painted finish (partially stripped for effect on the top).
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

A Regency Painted Writing Table
Located in Kittery Point, ME
With a décor of flowers, the top lifting up to reveal a green painted work interior and brass
Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Asian Chinese Chinoiserie Carved Writing Desk Secretary
Located in West Hartford, CT
Unusual dark Chinese secretary desk, circa early 20th century, features intricately carved detail
Category

Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

English Regency Bow-front Desk / Writing Table
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Pretty early 19th century painted 2-drawer English bowfront desk, 1820. Height to the desk top
Category

Antique 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Painted Louis XV Desk
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis XV provincial painted leather top desk, circa 1970. This desk features a tooled leather top
Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Painted Campaign Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A vintage greyed limestone painted campaign desk, with a Chinese Chippendale blind fret decorated
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Chinese Chippendale Desks and W...

Materials

Wood

Early 18th Century French Monastery Writing Desk
Located in Charleston, SC
Early 18th century monastery writing desk in original patina and hardwares, locks are without keys
Category

Antique Early 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Moroccan Painted Wood Desk
Located in New York, NY
Moroccan painted wood desk. Painted desk with two drawers and painted medallions. Handmade and hand
Category

20th Century Moroccan Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique Ornate Carved Eastlake Leather Top Writing Desk
By Charles Locke Eastlake
Located in Chicago, IL
leather top writing desk has a beautiful hand painted gold design around the border of the black leather
Category

Antique 1880s English Eastlake Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood, Paint

Daniele Calabi Writing Desk Table, Italy, 1950
By Daniele Calabi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
One off writing desk table designed and made by Italian architect Daniele Calabi, Italy 1950. This
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Metal

English Painted Pine Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th C English painted pine 7 drawer desk. 1880. Kneehole: 47w x 59h cms. Dimensions 48
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Antique Painted Kneehole Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small antique 5 drawer painted kneehole desk. 1880. Kneehole dimensions are 23.5" H x 15" W
Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Vintage Pine and Hardwood "Partner s" Writing Desk
Located in Baltimore, MD
This handsome side-by-side partner’s writing desk has been in this dealer’s office for twenty years
Category

Late 20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Pine

French Painted Oak Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Large 19th C French painted oak 3 drawer desk. 1840 Height to under-rail is 24 3/4
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

French Painted Kneehole Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1950s painted French kneehole desk. Kneehole is 27.5" w x 25" h. Stamp shown in photo states the
Category

20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech

Italian Carved, Painted Writing Table with Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century Italian Renaissance style painted writing table wtih two drawers standing on two
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Renaissance Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut, Paint

English Painted Oak Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small English 19th C painted oak two drawer desk. 1860. Clearance is 23 1/4". Dimensions 51
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Small English Painted Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Small late 19th C English painted oak 2 drawer desk with leather insert. 1890. Reference: 7679
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Modern Painted Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern painted desk with a lacquered top section with three drawers, the center drawer fold out for
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Modern Painted Desk
Modern Painted Desk
$4,979 / item
Painted French 19c. Library Writing Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Library writing table, or desk, of oak, having a painted finish, its rectangular top with gadrooned
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Early 19th Century Louis XV Style Writing Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
A very lovely early 19th century, French Louis XV style Writing Desk. Soundly constructed from
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

19th c. Painted Italian Writing Table
Located in New Orleans, LA
Petit Painted Writing Table
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Italian Writing Desk Osvaldo Borsani Style, Italy, 1950
By Gio Ponti, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic shaped small writing desk in the manner of Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1950. This
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Midcentury Faux Bamboo Lacquered Writing Table or Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive mid-century modern lacquer painted writing table or desk featuring faux bamboo legs and
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Writing Desk
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
19th century Swedish vernacular Gustavian style writing desk, painted faux marble top with lots of
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Lady s Writing Desk "Bonheur du Jour" 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Lady's writing desk "Bonheur du Jour", very nice bill, 1 drawer in the middle, 1 drawer in the
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Edwardian Paint Decorated Satinwood Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
Edwardian satinwood desk, circa 1910, the case overall paint decorated with floral and neoclassical
Category

Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

English Rococo Painted Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant English Rococo black painted desk with antiqued dark leather inlaid writing surface and a
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Rococo Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

English Pine Grain-Painted Writing Slope on Stand
Located in Baltimore, MD
This well-used, hand-cut dovetailed pine writing slope has a groove for pens and pencils, a hole to
Category

Early 20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Vintage 1930s "Coronado" Rancho Monterey Style Writing Desk Set
By Coronado Furniture
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming, beautifully preserved, Coronado writing desk, matching chair and companion lamp, all
Category

Vintage 1930s American Rancho Monterey Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th Century Gustavian Side Table or Small Writing Desk
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very nice painted Gustavian side table or small writing desk. Painted to look like if the top has
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Vintage Painted Wood School Desk
Located in Houston, TX
We found this charming vintage school desk near Barcelona Spain. This piece has great painted
Category

20th Century Spanish Other Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Italian Painted Slant Front Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
An Italian painted pine slant front desk with serpentine sides and arbalete front. Beautifully
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine, Paint

English Painted Oak Kneehole Desk
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th C English painted oak 5 drawer kneehole desk. 1890. Kneehole - 18"w x 23.5"h Dimensions
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Venetian Painted Desk/ Dressing Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 20th Century Venetian painted desk or dressing table in two hues of green with cream floral
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Partners Painted Desk
Located in Culver City, CA
French partners painted desk with original worn surface, two storage drawers.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Partners Painted Desk
Located in Culver City, CA
French partners painted desk with original worn surface, two storage drawers
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

19th Century Painted Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th c. painted cedro desk with drawer. Two wide boards on top. FOR OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY PLEASE
Category

Antique 19th Century Guatemalan Desks and Writing Tables

Pale Blue Painted Desk
Located in New York, NY
Pale blue desk with five drawers and two pull-out shelves. Painted floral decoration on each side
Category

20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

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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
  • 1stDibs 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, 2021
    A 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, 2021
    A 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, 2023
    What 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, 2023
    In 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021
    Yes, 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.