When Was the Kneehole Desk Invented?

The kneehole desk was developed in England in the early 18th century. Its top was supported by two banks of cupboards, or drawers, separated by a space for the legs of the person seated at the desk.

When were writing desks invented?

Desks first appear in the late 17th century (the 1600's) as bureaus, i.e. a sloping front desk in which the writing surface can be opened and closed. They were an adaptation of the chest of drawers onto which the writing slope was fitted.

When was the secretary desk invented?

A brief history of the secretary desk

The secretary's provenance is likely to have been French, appearing in the first half of the 1800s in France as an offshoot of the plainer escritoire, or writing desk.