Skip to main content

Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

American, Hungarian, 1902-1981

The architect and designer Marcel Breuer was one the 20th century’s most influential and innovative adherents of modernism. A member of the Bauhaus faculty, Breuer — like such colleagues as the architects Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and the artists and art theoreticians László Moholy-Nagy and Josef Albers — left Europe in the 1930s to champion the new design philosophy and its practice in the United States.

Born in Hungary, Breuer became a Bauhaus student in 1920 and quickly impressed Gropius, the German school’s founder, with his aptitude for furniture design. His early work was influenced by the minimalist Dutch design movement De Stijl — in particular the work of architect Gerrit Rietveld. In 1925, while he was head of the Bauhaus furniture workshop, Breuer realized his signature innovation: the use of lightweight tubular-steel frames for chairs, tables and sofas — a technique soon adopted by Mies and others. Breuer’s attention gradually shifted from design to architecture, and, at the urging of Gropius, he joined his mentor in 1937 on the faculty of Harvard and in an architectural practice.

In the 1940s, Breuer opened his own architectural office, and there his style evolved from geometric, glass-walled structures toward a kind of hybrid architecture — seen in numerous Breuer houses in New England — that pairs bases of local fieldstone with sleek, wood-framed modernist upper floors. In his later, larger commissions, Breuer worked chiefly with reinforced concrete and stone, as seen in his best-known design, the brutalist inverted ziggurat built in New York in 1966 as the home of the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Breuer’s most famous furniture pieces are those made of tubular steel, which include the Wassily chair — named after Wassily Kandinsky and recognizable for its leather-strap seating supports — and the caned Cesca chair. Breuer also made several notable designs in molded plywood, including a chaise and nesting table for the British firm Isokon and a student furniture suite commissioned in 1938 for a dormitory at Bryn Mawr College. Whether in metal or wood, Breuer’s design objects are elegant and adaptable examples of classic modernist design — useful and appropriate in any environment.

Find vintage Marcel Breuer seating, storage cabinets and lighting on 1stDibs.

5
4
1
to
6
4
10
6
6
4
2
5
5
4
1
1
1
2
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
6
5
5
1
1
10
5
5
235
62
40
39
37
Creator: Marcel Breuer
Customizable Marcel Breuer S 285/1 Tubular Steel Desk
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
RANGE S 285 It is as though Marcel Breuer had anticipated today’s home offices and mobile computers: The compact tubular steel desk S 285 that he designed is ...
Category

2010s German Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Customizable Marcel Breuer S 285 Tubular Steel Desk
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
RANGE S 285 1 large corpus, 1 small corpus with central lock It is as though Marcel Breuer had anticipated today’s home offices and mobile computers: The compa...
Category

2010s German Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

20th Century Marcel Breuer for Gavina Desk mod. Canaan
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in Turin, Turin
Marcel Breuer was a Hungarian-German modernist architect and furniture designer. He became one of the first and youngest students at the Bauhaus – a radical arts and crafts school th...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Faux Leather, Wood

Early Bauhaus "B21" Side Table Desk by Marcel Breuer Produced by Thonet, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and early Bauhaus "B21" desk / side table in black stained wood with chromed tubular steel base by Marcel Breuer produced by Thonet in Germany, 1930s. In good original cond...
Category

1930s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

W80 Pecs Black Desk designed by Marcel Breuer for Simon by Cassina
By Cassina, Marcel Breuer
Located in Traversetolo, IT
The Pecs desk, designed in 1964 by Marcel Breuer for Simon by Cassina, is crafted from black stained ash and is available in a single size. It features two drawers, with three drawer...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash

Desk by Marcel Breuer, 1955
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in Berlin, DE
Model 'Canaan' Wood, transparent white lacquered, visible wooden texture Dimensions: L.180 cm D.60 cm H.72.5 cm Design: Marcel Breuer, 1955 Manufacturer: Gavina, Italy cf. V. Vercell...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Canaan Desk by Marcel Breuer produced by Gavina spa in 1962
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Ozzano Dell'emilia, IT
Canaan desk by Marcel Breuer, produced by Gavina spa in 1962. Desk with drawers and filing cabinet. Rosewood structure. Dino Gavina was in Breuer’s country house in New Canaan. He...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Italian modern Wooden desk mod. Canaas by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1970s
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Wooden desk mod. Canaas by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1970s Desk mod. Canaas with rectangular wooden top. On one side there are 2 drawers and on the other 4. It has a ...
Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Customizable Marcel Breuer S 285 Tubular Steel Desk
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
RANGE S 285 1 large corpus, 1 small corpus with central lock It is as though Marcel Breuer had anticipated today’s home offices and mobile computers: The compa...
Category

2010s German Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Customizable Marcel Breuer S 285/5 Tubular Steel Desk
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
Range S 285 It is as though Marcel Breuer had anticipated today’s home offices and mobile computers: The compact tubular steel desk S 285 that he designed is ...
Category

2010s German Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Related Items
Small Bauhaus Tubular Steel Desk, Oak Veneer and Chromium Plated Metal c 1930
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Berlin, DE
Small Bauhaus tubular steel desk, so-called 'typewriter desk', with 4 drawers. The desk is made of chromed tubular steel and oak-veneered wood. Germany/ Czechoslovakia/ Austria, circ...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

P.E.L. Tubular Steel Writing Desk and Chair, United Kingdom 1930s
By PEL
Located in Hellouw, NL
Charming P.E.L. Tubular Steel Writing Desk and Chair from the United Kingdom, the 1930s. This set is probably designed by Serge Chermayeff (1900–1996)...
Category

1930s British Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome, Steel

20th Century Danish Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Modernist maple and patinated steel desk featuring two drawers behind a single hinged door with ball final feet and knob.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

20th Century Danish Desk
20th Century Danish Desk
H 28.25 in W 47.75 in D 25 in
Valmanara Table by Carlo Scarpa for Simon International - Gavina
By Gavina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Barcelona, ES
Valmanara table designed in 1971 by italian architect Carlo Scarpa for Simon International-Gavina. Oak wood with cerused varnish finish.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak

Marcel Breuer “Laccio” Chrome and Laminate Side Tables, 1960s
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in Miami, FL
Original white laminate with chrome tubular leg side table designed by Marcel Breuer for Gavina.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Bauhaus Chrome Table by Marcel Breuer for Mucke Melder, 1930s
By Mücke & Melder, Marcel Breuer
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930s, Czechoslovakia - Original condition - cleaned
Category

1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Bauhaus Tubular Steel and Wood Desk, Germany, 1930s
Located in Praha 2, Hlavní město Praha
Bauhaus tubular steel and wood desk, made in Germany, 1930s. Date of manufacture: 1930s Origin: Germany Material: Chrome-plated steel, Wood Dime...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Bauhaus console table Model B12 by Marcel Breuer for Thonet, 1930s
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in EVERDINGEN, NL
A rare and iconic 1930s B12 console or side table, made from tubular steel and wood, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928. This model is no longer in production. The distinctive feature...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Bauhaus Tubular Steel Desk by Bruno Weil for Thonet, Stained Wood, Germany, 1930
By Bruno Weil, Thonet
Located in Berlin, DE
Bauhaus tubular steel desk designed by Bruno Weil (Bèwè) and manufactured by Thonet, Germany, c. 1930
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Functionalist Desk Czech Bauhaus Tubular Steel, 1930s
Located in Wien, AT
This functionalist desk, with a construction of bent tubular steel was made in Czech Republic during the 1930s. The original chrome has been polishe...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Bauhaus Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

1930s Lacquered Bar Console Table in the Style of Marcel Breuer
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
Original 1930s black lacquered table with tubular metal legs in the style of Marcel Breuer. Has a variety of uses, console, bar, small desk or vanity.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Bauhaus Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Bauhaus Chrome Table by Marcel Breuer for Mucke Melder, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer, Mücke & Melder
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930s, Czechoslovakia - good condition - cleaned
Category

1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Previously Available Items
Modernist Desk Model ‘Canaan’ by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, Italy 1950s
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in Hellouw, NL
Intriguing modernist desk model ‘Canaan’ by Marcel Breuer for Gavina. This desk is a beautiful modernist design piece in which Breuer's Bauhaus influences can of course be seen. We a...
Category

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

Materials

Wood

Bauhaus White and Chrome Writing Desk by Thonet, Fully Restored, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Desk with a tubular chromed steel frame. Manufactured by Thonet, Czechia, in the 1930s. Designer: Marcel Breuer Very good original condition with original varnish. Tubular steel wi...
Category

1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

German Bauhaus Table by Thonet, Fully Restored, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Table with a tubular chromed steel frame. Manufactured by Thonet, Germany, in the 1930s. Designer: Marcel Breuer Very good original condition with original varnish. Tubular steel w...
Category

1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Bauhaus White and Chrome Writing Desk by Thonet, Fully Restored, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Desk with a tubular chromed steel frame. Manufactured by Thonet, Czechia, in the 1930s. Designer: Marcel Breuer Very good original condition with original varnish. Tubular steel wi...
Category

1930s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Marcel Breuer Art Deco Kid's Desk with Blue Laminate Top, 1929
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Marcel Breuer Art Deco kid's desk with blue laminate top and blue vinyl upholstery, 1929. Overall width( including lower shelves):35".
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

1963 Marcel Breuer Pecs Writing Desk for Simon Studio by Gavina
By Marcel Breuer
Located in IT
Pecs desk with drawers and filing cabinet. Designer Marcel Breuer for Simon Studio by Gavina. (American/Hungarian, 1902–1981). Model: Pecs writing desk, produced by Gavina from 1963....
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Oak Bauhaus Chrome Writing Desk by Thonet, Good Condition and Patina, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Desk with a frame in tubular chromed steel. Manufactured by Thonet, Germany, in the 1930s. Designer: Marcel Breuer Very good original condition with original varnish. Tubular steel...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Bauhaus Desk and Cesca Chair by Marcel Breuer for Gavina
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This rare drafting table or desk was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1926. This one is produced by Gavina in the 1960s. The trestles are made of chromed metal and the tabletop is made ...
Category

1960s Italian Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Tecta Marcel Breuer Classic M45 Desk
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
High-grade steel, 1 handle on side, glass top, 3 drawers and ext. for hanging files, with castors, 1 drawer with lock Tabletop: ash veneer, lacquered black, chromed column with adju...
Category

2010s German Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Oak Bauhaus Chrome Writing Desk by Thonet, Good Condition and Patina, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Desk with a frame in tubular chromed steel. Manufactured by Thonet, Germany, in the 1930s. Designer: Marcel Breuer Very good original condition with original varnish. Tubular steel...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome

Set of Two Tecta Marcel Breuer Classic M45 Desk
By Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
Measures: Width 220cm Depth 61cm Height 71cm High-grade steel, 1 handle on side, glass top, 3 drawers and ext. for hanging files, with castors, 1 drawer with lock Tabletop: ash v...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Mid-Century Modern Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Marcel Breuer B21 Typewriter Desk for Thonet, Germany 1928
By Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A beautiful, original typewriter table model B21, designed by Marcel Breuer and manufactured by Thonet in Germany, 1928. This very appealing piece is designed in the iconic Bauhau...
Category

Early 20th Century German Bauhaus Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Marcel Breuer desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Marcel Breuer desks and writing tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of steel and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Marcel Breuer desks and writing tables, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 3 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 4 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original desks and writing tables by Marcel Breuer were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 21st century and contemporary. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks and writing tables by Tobia Scarpa, MIM Roma, and Poggi. Prices for Marcel Breuer desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,627 and can go as high as $13,770, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $8,122.
Questions About Marcel Breuer Desks and Writing Tables
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer was an architect and furniture designer who made a major impact on modern design by introducing new materials and emphasizing the importance of form matching function. He was born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1902, and was a part of the Bauhaus school. You’ll find a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    The Dutch art movement De Stijl inspired Marcel Breuer's early work. Artists in the movement like Piet Mondrian created art that adhered to the principles of geometry. This idea resonated with Breuer and informed his designs. Shop a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To pronounce Marcel Breuer, say "mar-SELL BROO-ur." The artist's first and last name both originate from the Hungarian language. Breuer was born in Pécs, Hungary, on May 21, 1902. You can shop a variety of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer was born in Pécs, Hungary, on May 21, 1902. He attended the Bauhaus design school in Weimar, Germany, and eventually became a part of the faculty. After the Nazis shut the school down, Breuer moved to the U.S. He died in New York City on July 1, 1981. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Marcel Breuer furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer is known for his work as an architect and furniture designer during the 20th century. During his life, he created many famous chairs that remain popular today, including the Wassily lounge chair, the Cesca chair and the D40 cantilever chair. You’ll find a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Over the course of his life, Marcel Breuer designed many things. Furniture was one of his main focuses, and he created many influential pieces, including the Wassily lounge chair, the Cesca chair and the Laccio side table. Shop a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 7, 2024
    Marcel Breuer is famous for being one of 20th-century modernism’s most influential innovators. His most well-known furniture pieces were crafted of tubular steel, including the Wassily chair and the caned Cesca chair. Breuer also made several notable designs in molded plywood, including a chaise longue and nesting table for the British firm Isokon and a student furniture suite commissioned in 1938 for a dormitory at Bryn Mawr College. Breuer’s designs are elegant and adaptable examples of modernism, useful and appropriate in any environment. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, Marcel Breuer taught at the Bauhaus design school in Weimar, Germany. He arrived at the institution in 1920 as a student. By 1925, his duties expanded to include teaching classes of his own and running the school's furniture shop. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Today, Marcel Breuer chairs are made in the factory locations of the furniture manufacturer Knoll, Inc. It operates production facilities in Italy and Canada, as well as in Pennsylvania and Michigan in the U.S. Find a collection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    There are a number of ways that you can tell an original Marcel Breuer chair. One trick is to examine the frame. If you see end caps, you're likely looking at a replica. Authentic Breuer chairs featured polished, welded ends. Some chairs also feature stickers that identify the model name located under their seats. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Most Marcel Breuer chair legs are made out of bent tubular steel. The designer introduced this radical new material to modern furniture design with his Wassily Model B3 lounge chair. On 1stDibs, you can shop a collection of Marcel Breuer chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer chose a bicycle tube frame to create his Wassily lounge chair because he was impressed by the strength and weight properties of the steel. The chair was a landmark in furniture design and opened the doors to the use of tubular steel frames in many chairs, tables and sofas produced during the modern period. You’ll find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer was associated with the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Germany. After attending classes as a student, Breuer became the head of the school's furniture shop. While working there, he created the Wassily lounge chair, introducing the use of tubular steel frames to modern furniture design. Find a variety of Marcel Breuer chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer became an apprentice and student at the Bauhaus school in 1920. He made a big impression on the school's founder, Walter Gropius, and later became the head of the institution's furniture workshop. Find a selection of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer created the Cesca chair while splitting his time between Paris and Germany. He made the chair in 1928, shortly after he left the Bauhaus school, but you can clearly see the influence of the institution's design principles in the clean, simple lines of the piece. Find a range of Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To identify Marcel Breuer bar stools, start by examining the frame. Genuine models will usually feature smooth, welded ends. Most reproductions have end caps instead. You can also look for a sticker that bears the model name on the underside of the seat. On 1stDibs, find a range of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer bar stools.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To reupholster a Marcel Breuer Cesca chair, first pry out the staples, remove the original upholstery and disassemble the chair. Place the new fabric on a flat surface and position the seat upside down. Fold the fabric over the edge and secure it with a staple gun. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of expertly vetted Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    What was most innovative about Marcel Breuer's Model B3 chair was its frame. Also known as the Wassily lounge chair, the piece featured a lightweight, sturdy tubular steel frame inspired by the artist's Adler bicycle. His use of the metal started a radical shift in furniture design. You’ll find a variety of Marcel Breuer Model B3 chairs 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Marcel Breuer introduced the material of tubular steel to modern furniture design. He employed it in many of his chairs, tables and sofas, prizing the material because it minimized the weight of pieces without sacrificing their strength. Shop a range of Marcel Breuer furniture on 1stDibs.

Recently Viewed

View All