American Desks

Dating to at least the 15th century, desks remained specialized tools for the literate few until the end of the 17th century, when an explosion of printed material prompted an interest in literacy among the middle and upper classes.

Early in the development of American desks, a wide variety were created, from simple pine versions made by local cabinetmakers to finely-crafted examples in the Hepplewhite, Chippendale, and Sheratoby styles. Well-known period furniture-makers included Goddard-Townsend, John and Thomas Seymour, and Duncan Phyfe.

In the 20th century, American design began moving away from traditional designs built with oak, walnut, mahogany, and maple, into to a more contemporary direction that saw the rise of modern designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Jens Risom, and later Milo Baughman.

American desks are some of the more popular and widely-purchased pieces in the Western world. Auctions are ideal sources for a variety of them in every size, shape, and style.

Quick Facts

• In March 2015 a Dunlap country-style, slant-front curly maple desk went for more than three times its estimate at Garth’s
• A desk that once sat in U.S. President Thomas Jefferson’s plantation in Poplar Forest, Virginia, sold at auction in 2013 for $65,000
• In 2013 at Sotheby’s, a one-of-a-kind aluminum desk crafted by Neal Feay Studio sold for charity (to fight AIDS in Africa) for $1.7 million