The Different Types of Antique Desks

The antique market has now reached a massive $1.7bn and with growth of over 3% every year, it doesn’t seem like we’re going to get bored with antiques any time soon. If you’ve got a home office, chances are, you’ve started to ask the question, “What are antique desks?” and what are some types that you should be on the lookout for. Find out some of the most popular types of antique desks with this antique desk guide, from the early writing and secretary desks to the ever-popular roll top options.

Antique Writing Desks

Popular for styles like the bureau à gradin and bureau Mazarin, antique writing desks have a long history. The first of its kind was designed for the French Cardinal in the second half of the 17th century. This desk has a significant writing space spread across two piers of multiple drawers below the desk extending to the floor.

Antique Secretary Desks

Another desk with roots tracing back to the seventeenth century is the antique secretary desk. These desks range in scale from the diminutive to grand statement pieces that could dominate a room.

Also known as an escritoire, the secretary desk’s main feature is a surface that’s pulled out to create a larger expanse for writing. This allowed the owners to conceal any work that was inside of them while the desk was kept in the living spaces of the home.

Antique Roll Top Desks

Roll top desks can be tricky to find in antique shops as they are one of the more popular types of antique desks. They feature a slated front that can roll up and into the back segment of the desk which kept the work surface hidden when not in use. Roll top desks became popular in the late 18th century with possibly one of the most famous examples being the desk of King Louis XV.

Antique School Desks

These were developed in the 1880s to accommodate a growing need for communal school education. The original designs featured a simplistic writing surface attached to a chair. These are one of the few writing desks that still hold some of their original forms in many modern designs we see today.

Types of Antique Desks for Work

An antique writing desk is one of the most suitable for modern-day computer use thanks to the substantial writing space spread across its surface. Depending on the desk, you will still likely need to make some alterations so it’s fit for purpose and it will be very difficult to turn one into anything resembling the trend of today’s standing desks. If that’s more in line with what you need for day-to-day use, your best option is to have your antique desk for casual use and to contact a standing desk manufacturer for your working desk.

More Antique Desk Tips

If you can imagine starting every day with a piece of history, antique desks are the way to go. They fit into your home naturally as a work of art, functional workspace, or just somewhere you can let the creative juices flow. Learn more about the types of antique desks and how you can incorporate one into your home by checking out our Lifestyle section.