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Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

MID-CENTURY MODERN STYLE

Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living.

ORIGINS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

CHARACTERISTICS OF MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGN

MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

ICONIC MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE DESIGNS

VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

The mid-century modern era saw leagues of postwar American architects and designers animated by new ideas and new technology. The lean, functionalist International-style architecture of Le Corbusier and Bauhaus eminences Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius had been promoted in the United States during the 1930s by Philip Johnson and others. New building techniques, such as “post-and-beam” construction, allowed the International-style schemes to be realized on a small scale in open-plan houses with long walls of glass.

Materials developed for wartime use became available for domestic goods and were incorporated into mid-century modern furniture designs. Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen, who had experimented extensively with molded plywood, eagerly embraced fiberglass for pieces such as the La Chaise and the Womb chair, respectively. 

Architect, writer and designer George Nelson created with his team shades for the Bubble lamp using a new translucent polymer skin and, as design director at Herman Miller, recruited the Eameses, Alexander Girard and others for projects at the legendary Michigan furniture manufacturer

Harry Bertoia and Isamu Noguchi devised chairs and tables built of wire mesh and wire struts. Materials were repurposed too: The Danish-born designer Jens Risom created a line of chairs using surplus parachute straps for webbed seats and backrests.

The Risom lounge chair was among the first pieces of furniture commissioned and produced by legendary manufacturer Knoll, a chief influencer in the rise of modern design in the United States, thanks to the work of Florence Knoll, the pioneering architect and designer who made the firm a leader in its field. The seating that Knoll created for office spaces — as well as pieces designed by Florence initially for commercial clients — soon became desirable for the home.

As the demand for casual, uncluttered furnishings grew, more mid-century furniture designers caught the spirit.

Classically oriented creators such as Edward Wormley, house designer for Dunbar Inc., offered such pieces as the sinuous Listen to Me chaise; the British expatriate T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings switched gears, creating items such as the tiered, biomorphic Mesa table. There were Young Turks such as Paul McCobb, who designed holistic groups of sleek, blond wood furniture, and Milo Baughman, who espoused a West Coast aesthetic in minimalist teak dining tables and lushly upholstered chairs and sofas with angular steel frames.

As the collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs, dressers, coffee tables and other furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and elsewhere on 1stDibs demonstrates, this period saw one of the most delightful and dramatic flowerings of creativity in design history.

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Style: Mid-Century Modern
Customizable Items Only
Clarke Desk Maple Black
Located in Cincinnati, US
The Clarke Collection comes in ten different table top sizes, two wood species, and two metal finishes. The exposed stainless steel bolts blur the line between Scandinavian and Indus...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Black Desk with Drawer, Wood and Metal Legs, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Style
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Marajoara desk with drawers is a study on Mid-Century Modern utilitarian furniture, minimalist in its details, with Brazilian Native Arte Reference. By Atelier BAM Design. The moder...
Category

2010s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Mid Century Burl Top Writing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Slender lines form a light and airy design in this modern table. A graceful combination of burl wood in a warm brown polished finish atop an organic faux bois base in a satin bronze ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

Mid Century Writing Table - Silent Black
Located in Westwood, NJ
Slender lines form a light and airy design in this modern table. A graceful combination of burl wood in a silent black polished finish atop an organic faux bois base in a silvered br...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

Mid Century Marble Top Writing Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Slender lines form a light and airy design in this modern table. A graceful combination of white bianco marble atop an organic faux bois base in a satin bronze finish. Dimensions: 7...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

The London "I" - An Executive Desk
Located in Durban, ZA
The London "I" was our first significant international commission. Destined for a historic apartment in the UK, it now stands overlooking The Thames and The London Eye. A view most a...
Category

2010s South African Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Mid-Century Modern Style Desk, Mahogany Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid-Century Modern style desk with a three-quarter wooden gallery, a single frieze drawer, and raised on square tapered legs. Finished in our dark mahogany stain. Dimensions: 48" ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Müller Desk TB229 in Metal 'Reseda green'
Located in Tilburg, NL
Müller Desk TB229 in Metal 'Reseda green'. Germany, current production. Beautiful classic looking Müller Desk TB229 showing great craftmanship and quality. The CLASSIC LINE models ...
Category

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

Materials

Metal

Brazilian Wood and Copper Desk with Drawers, Mid Century Brazilian Modern
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Marajoara desk with drawer is a study upon Mid Century Modern utilitarian furniture, with Brazilian Native Arte Reference. The modern design style is one of the most influential movements in contemporary Brazilian design. Among the main names of modernist designers are Lina Bo Bardi, Vilanova Artigas, Oscar Niemeyer, and a few others; giving a legacy maintained by contemporary architects like Isay Weinfeld...
Category

2010s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Copper

Jean Prouvé Compas Direction Desk in Natural Oak and Black Metal for Vitra
Located in Glendale, CA
Jean Prouvé Compas Direction desk in natural oak and black metal for Vitra. Originally designed in 1953, Prouvé's iconic desk is based the design on t...
Category

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

Materials

Steel, Metal

Sculptural Solid Stone Desk / Console with Wave Feet Reminiscent of Sottsass
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Two wave-shaped stone feet are the feature of this multipurpose console/desk. This sculptural piece has a perfect eye for proportion abed form and colour. The piece fits well in co...
Category

2010s Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stone, Limestone, Travertine, Marble

Wooden Desk Made of Cherry Wood with Leather Top, President by Morelato
Located in Salizzole, IT
President desk, is a biedermeier style professional desk made of cherrywood with drawers, doors, leather coated top Double sided: 2 drawers and one door per each side. Available in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Cherry

Large Black Desk Files Drawers, Wood Metal, Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Style
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Marajoara desk with drawers and files (optional) is a study on Mid-Century Modern utilitarian furniture, with Brazilian Native Arte Reference. I...
Category

2010s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Ebonized Ash Odin Desk from the Signature Series by Pompous Fox
Located in Barrie, ON
The Odin desk has been designed to be as minimal as possible without reducing the functionality generally required by a desk. Many modern desks come without storage - we saw this as a huge drawback (who doesn't need desk storage?!) A simple top with high angle bevel create a lightness to the desk while the cabinet appears to be be floating. The standard configuration for the cabinet is a lower filing drawer with two general purpose drawers above. The configuration of the cabinet may be changed (left or right side of the desk) and you may also customize the drawers. Examples include fully custom gaming desk...
Category

2010s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Ash

Modern White Oak Odin Desk from the Signature Series by Pompous Fox
Located in Barrie, ON
The odin desk has been designed to be as minimal as possible without reducing the functionality generally required by a desk. Many modern desks come without storage - we saw this as a huge drawback (who doesn't need desk storage?!) A simple top with high angle bevel create a lightness to the desk while the cabinet appears to be be floating. The standard configuration for the cabinet is a lower filing drawer with two general purpose drawers above. The configuration of the cabinet may be changed (left or right side of the desk) and you may also customize the drawers. Examples include fully custom gaming desk...
Category

2010s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak

Sculptural Solid Stone Desk / Console with Wave Feet Reminiscent of Sottsass
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Two wave-shaped stone feet are the feature of this multipurpose console/desk. This sculptural piece has a perfect eye for proportion abed form and colour. The piece fits well in co...
Category

2010s Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stone, Limestone, Travertine, Marble

Tilde '~' Coworking Desk by Vintage on Point- Floor Model Sold Out
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Measures : W95 D36 H30.5 KC25.5 Tilde (~) Coworking desk handcrafted in house, made in a mix of solid wood and birch veneer. Unsealed so that you can choose your own stain and fin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Modern White Ash Odin Desk from the Signature Series by Pompous Fox
Located in Barrie, ON
The Odin desk has been designed to be as minimal as possible without reducing the functionality generally required by a desk. Many modern desks come without storage - we saw this as a huge drawback (who doesn't need desk storage) A simple top with high angle bevel create a lightness to the desk while the cabinet appears to be be floating. The standard configuration for the cabinet is a lower filing drawer with two general purpose drawers above. The configuration of the cabinet may be changed (left or right side of the desk) and you may also customize the drawers. Examples include fully custom gaming desk...
Category

2010s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Ash

Salto and Thomas Sigsgaard, KT 8324 Council Table by One Collection
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
The design duo Salto and Sigsgaard had their winning bid from the Trusteeship Council Chamber in mind when they designed an exclusive series of conference tables. The tables are designed to suit the council chair...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Modern Walnut Odin Desk from the Signature Series by Pompous Fox
Located in Barrie, ON
The Odin desk has been designed to be as minimal as possible without reducing the functionality generally required by a desk. Many modern desks come without storage - we saw this as a huge drawback (who doesn't need desk storage?!) A simple top with high angle bevel create a lightness to the desk while the cabinet appears to be be floating. The standard configuration for the cabinet is a lower filing drawer with two general purpose drawers above. The configuration of the cabinet may be changed (left or right side of the desk) and you may also customize the drawers. Examples include fully custom gaming desk with the computer integrated into the cabinet or maybe you want to add some storage for your favourite whiskey. Each piece in the Signature Series...
Category

2010s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Bodil Kjær Office Desk Table, Wood and Steel by Karakter
Located in Berlin, DE
The iconic desk, designed in 1959, was the first of its kind with its pure and simplistic design, almost floating mid-air. Bodil Kjærs’ design has been called ‘The most beautiful desk in the world’ – or, the ‘James Bond desk...
Category

2010s Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum

Scandinavian Design Solid Oak And Leather Modular Desk Into A Chest Of Drawers
Located in Tourcoing, FR
Scandinavian Design Solid Oak And Leather Modular Desk 175cm collapsing into a chest of drawers 110cm long by pushing each side ( or just one! ) to each o...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Oak

Mid-Century Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid-century desk or dressing table with our Rowan primavera veneered with inset breakfront top with brass finish fittings and sitting on brass finish spla...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Luxury Mid-Century Modern Style Desk made from Sustainable River Rescued Wood
Located in Papanui, Christchurch
The subtle expression of natural beauty and craftsmanship, the Umber desk was created by taking a trapezoid form and establishing juxtapositions with the base and top elements. The Umber desk features handcrafted handles, dovetail detail on the three drawers and ends of the desk. Look closely at the top of the desk, and you will also find a discrete box with a lid that hides two power points and one data point, keeping the overall design sleek and refined. Made from matai, a New Zealand native...
Category

2010s New Zealand Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Midcentury Style Wooden Writing Desk with Drawers, by Morelato
Located in Salizzole, IT
Eugenio is a midcentury style writing desk made of cherrywood or ash wood with two drawers, characterized by a octagonal top. Available in different wood c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash, Cherry

Mid Century Desk - Light
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid Century Desk or dressing table with our Mangrove primavera veneer with inset breakfront top with brushed nickel finish fittings and sitting on brass finish splayed and tapered le...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Anna Desk in Black Limed Oak, Handcrafted in Portugal by Duistt
Located in Leça da Palmeira, PT
Anna desk is an imposing and elegant writing desk. With a high gloss lacquered body that contrasts with the brushed oak top and feet with lime finish. The delicate brass details add ...
Category

2010s Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Handmade Bespoke Danish Style Desk Chiffonier Teak
Located in LONDON, GB
Bespoke desk chiffonier with a Mid-Century Modern danish feel custom designed by Swedish Interior Design and hand made by our master cabinet maker in the UK. It features a flip down desk...
Category

2010s British Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood, Plywood

Directoire Style Wooden Desk with Leather Top
Located in Salizzole, IT
Writing desk made of cherry wood with precious leather top. 4 drawers, 1 door and file drawers. Several secret spaces and drawers inside Available in different wood colors and le...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Cherry

Geometric Matched Minimal Console Oak Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The artifact console table welcomes you home and defines your itinerary when leaving. It holds that beautiful scarf next to the rare book that guests flip through when they visit. Handcrafted straight geometry identifies an honest structure with divine proportions. The lattice carriage exercises lap-joints with rigor and its oil finish excites a caress across its molten grain. This sale does not include the chair. Own a figure ground...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash, Oak, Walnut

Wooden Desk Made of Cherry Wood with Leather Top and Drawers, by Morelato
Located in Salizzole, IT
Roma desk, is a '900 style professional writing desk made of cherrywood with drawers, hidden storages, leather coated flapping top Available in different wood colors and leathers. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Cherry

Custom Midcentury Style Curved Walnut Desk by Adesso Imports
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom midcentury style curved kidney shaped American walnut desk with three drawers. Made in Los Angeles by Adesso Imports. Can be done in different w...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Dada Est. Contemporary Solid Oak Dining Table
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Table by Dada est. manufactured in Barcelona, 2021. Material: Oak Dimensions: 72.5 cm D x 140 cm W x 72.5 cm H Production delay: 8-9 weeks There is the possibility of maki...
Category

2010s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Williams Hairpin Writing Desk Maple Green
Located in Cincinnati, US
A thin, elegant and light desk that can be customized to any color desired. This handcrafted item perfectly blends industrial hairpin legs with a beveled wooden top. The irregular be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Contoured Reveal Bastogne Walnut Dining Table
Located in Frankfurt, KY
This clean lined, contoured-edge Bastogne walnut slab features a stunning array of detail and craftsmanship. Beginning with a hand-selected single slab...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Aluminum, Bronze

Williams Hairpin Writing Desk Maple Black
Located in Cincinnati, US
A thin, elegant and light desk that can be customized to any color desired. This handcrafted item perfectly blends industrial hairpin legs with a beveled wooden top. The irregular be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Williams Hairpin Writing Desk Maple Prairie Green
Located in Cincinnati, US
A thin, elegant and light desk that can be customized to any color desired. This handcrafted item perfectly blends industrial hairpin legs with a beveled wooden top. The irregular be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Williams Hairpin Writing Desk Walnut Yellow
Located in Cincinnati, US
A thin, elegant and light desk that can be customized to any color desired. This handcrafted item perfectly blends industrial hairpin legs with a beveled wooden top. The irregular be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Williams Hairpin Writing Desk Walnut Navy
Located in Cincinnati, US
A thin, elegant and light desk that can be customized to any color desired. This handcrafted item perfectly blends industrial hairpin legs with a beveled wooden top. The irregular be...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Williams Hairpin Writing Desk Walnut Brassy Gold
Located in Cincinnati, US
A thin, elegant and light desk that can be customized to any color desired. This handcrafted item perfectly blends industrial hairpin legs with a bevelled wooden top. The irregular b...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Copper State River Table
Located in Frankfurt, KY
A bird's eye view of a desert river, reimagined as functional art. Spalted maple from the Atlantic coast in a unique combination; hand-cut inlaid pacifica blue glass and custom solid copper bowtie keys both divide the glass and join together the two pieces of maple. Completed with bespoke steel frame to complete this one-of-a-kind river table...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Copper, Steel

Geometric Minimal Console Hardwood Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The artifact console table welcomes you home and defines your itinerary when leaving. It holds that beautiful scarf next to the rare book that guests flip through when they visit. Handcrafted straight geometry identifies an honest structure with divine proportions. The lattice carriage exercises lap-joints with rigor and its oil finish excites a caress across its molten grain. This sale does not include the chair. Own a figure ground...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak, Walnut, Ash

Custom Mid-Century Modern Kitchen or Dining Table, Desk, Console in Any Size
Located in Chicago, IL
This small kitchen table definitely has a Charlotte Perriand vibe to it from the 1960s. The original Perriand tables were made for the famous by the Les Trios Arcs ski resort. This s...
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Simple Modern Desk, Reclaimed Oak and Walnut
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Sorry, we are no longer offering reclaimed oak. If you like this design, please contact us for pricing on other wood species! This simple modern desk in reclaimed oak and walnut for...
Category

2010s North American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Reclaimed Wood

Sebastian Desk by VOLK
Located in Brooklyn, NY
As shown: Solid ash Whitewashed finish Dimensions: 40” W x 20” D x 33” H Custom sizing is available Offered in a variety of hardwoods and finishes.
Category

2010s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ash

Desk from NYC Reclaimed Water Tower Wood, Drawers with Hand Turned Ebony Pulls
Located in Biddeford, ME
This desk utilizes wood salvaged from NYC City water towers. This wood is extremely resilient and is now given a second life. Solid redwood is used for the top and drawer faces. Soli...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ebony, Walnut

Custom French Modern Neoclassical Carved & Cerused Oak Desk, Jean-Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
An Elegant French Miid-Century Modern Neoclassical Desk in the style of Jean Michel Frank for Maison Jansen circa 1930. The writing table is a work combining exceptional design, time...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Custom French Mid-Century Style Cerused Oak Desk, Jean-Michel Frank
Located in New York, NY
Sober, elegant and practical French mid-century desk or writing table in the modern neoclassical spirit. The piece is in oak and has been double cerused with light and dark pigments.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Oak

Custom Genuine Watersnake Python Writing Desk with Stainless Steel X Band Base
Located in New York, NY
Customizable options: Finish textile size hardware.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Mid-century Modern desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Mid-Century Modern desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Mid-Century Modern desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks and writing tables, popular names associated with this style include Cassina, Lawson-Fenning, Charlotte Perriand, and Paul McCobb. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $299 and tops out at $184,000 while the average work can sell for $4,773.

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