Today, desks are simply part of the furnishings of an office. But they are also popular for home use for the increasingly important home office. But where does it actually come from, the original desk?

Even in ancient Egypt, there were tables that were used specifically for writing. However, they were not usually equipped with additional chairs or the like. Instead, one stood in front of it and the desk was more reminiscent of a wooden desk.

The monks and their standing desks

This remained the case until the Middle Ages. Here it was monks who devoted themselves to their manual work at standing desks. They translated and copied documents, because writing and reading were not yet part of the skills of a normal citizen. Clerics, however, were considered educated and therefore cultured, which is why they often used wooden desks to perform their writing tasks. Only gradually did these desks enter the households of the nobility and all those who could afford them and wanted them.

Artful works with rarity value

Having one’s own secretary in the house was considered a status symbol. Since there were no furniture stores yet, each high table had to be individually made by a carpenter. And of course he didn’t let himself be left out and richly decorated them with all kinds of art. Those who wanted to hide something could also count on the help of a trusted craftsman. He would then integrate secret compartments under the wooden surface. These were usually equipped with a key so that important papers, jewellery or money could get into them, the existence of which no one was allowed to know about.

From a standing desk to a flat table with chair

It was not until the end of the 17th century that the so-called “bureau plat” appeared, the first desk that clearly resembled our modern examples. It consisted of a long wooden tabletop and usually had several drawers underneath. Small items such as pens and paper could easily be stored in these drawers and the desk always looked neat and tidy. A chair was placed next to it, as the large, heavy wooden top was also much lower. Those who thought highly of themselves still attached great importance to ornaments and high-quality oiled wood. Of course, the chair (examples) had to be chosen to match. A table in the middle of the room looked good and was usually the only piece of furniture in a private office, possibly in addition to a few shelves for books and papers.

Modern desk takes hold

With the increase in public offices, desks had to become smaller and simpler. After all, there wasn’t that much space and superiors weren’t willing to spend horrendous amounts of money on the table where their employees would have to do paperwork in the future. That’s why more and more simple desks without a lot of bells and whistles became the norm. Especially in the last decades, a desk did not necessarily have to be made of wood, it could also be made of aluminium, plastic or glass, depending on one’s own taste. Prices have also developed accordingly and today desks are affordable for everyone and are no longer an exclusive commodity.

Bildurheber: AntonMatyukha