Small Writing Tables
Antique Late 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Fruitwood
Antique Late 19th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Italian Tables
Walnut
Antique 17th Century Dutch Louis XIII Side Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Side Tables
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 1890s French Country Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Cherry
Early 20th Century French Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Antique Mid-19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Cherry
Vintage 1920s British Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Elm
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIV Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1830s English William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...
Oak
Antique 19th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Side Tables
Walnut
Early 20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Desks and Writing Tables
Plastic
Mid-20th Century Federal Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Laminate, Formica, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 1830s English William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Hardwood
Antique 1860s English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 1860s British Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Antique 1860s British Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Antique 1860s British High Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 1790s English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
Antique 19th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Teak
21st Century and Contemporary British Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 1860s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique Early 1800s English Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 1870s Austrian Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Early 1800s English Serving Tables
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1910s European Aesthetic Movement Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Vintage 1910s Austrian Jugendstil Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century Dutch Country Desks and Writing Tables
Beech, Pine
Antique 1790s English George III Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
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Small Writing Tables For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Small Writing Tables?
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.
- 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 ExpertOctober 12, 2021A small dining table is also called a dinette. A table and two to four seats are frequently included. Designed for small spaces, dinettes are most often used in kitchens and breakfast nooks. On 1stDibs, find a variety of vintage and antique dinettes.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021The small table next to a bed is called either a nightstand or bedside table. These tables serve as storage as well as a surface for important bedside items, such as your book, your phone or a small pitcher of water. Shop antique, vintage and modern bedside tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021The small table next to the bed is called a nightstand or bedside table. These tables usually have a bedside lamp which is useful for reading. Modern nightstands are small tables with one or two drawers. It’s a space to hold a lamp, your book, your phone, a flashlight and more. On 1stDibs, shop vintage and antique bedside tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021The best shape table for a small space is a square shaped table. Because they can have multiple functions and easily push into the corner of the room, they are said to better as they'll take up less space in a dining room or kitchen. Find a range of tables today on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023Whether a glass table is better for small spaces is largely a matter of personal opinion. However, many people find that a transparent glass table creates the illusion of a larger room and makes a compact area feel more spacious. Shop a variety of glass tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Whether a round dining table is better in a small space is largely a matter of personal preference. Working with a tighter space may mean that a round or oval dining room table, a design that references the festive meals of the medieval era, may be a better fit. Round dining room tables, particularly those that originated in the Art Deco period, still endure as a popular contemporary substitute for traditional rectangular dining tables. Both round and oval tables take up less space than rectangular and square tables of similar size because they lack corners. Find a variety of round tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021The best shape for a table in a small dining room can be a round table. A round table works well in small rooms and smaller square-shaped rooms. It creates a cozy setting, so it is the best shape for a small group of people. Visually, it seems to occupy less space than a rectangle because of the rounded corners, and this also means that it has less surface area. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage round dining tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023Whether a coffee table makes a small living room look smaller or larger depends on the design. Tables with glass or open, airy designs can create the illusion of a larger space. Round and oval tables can also increase the feeling of openness in a room. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of coffee tables.
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