Collection
PRL Desks
PRL desks combine post-war modernism with solid cabinetmaking – from light desks on slender legs to substantial executive desks. The collection features originals from Polish furniture factories, made between the 1950s and the 1970s. Desks from other countries are in our vintage desks category.
A desk for the home and the office
In the PRL, desks were made in two very different forms. Large veneered desks with banks of drawers on both sides went to government offices, schools, doctors’ surgeries and directors’ offices – they were meant to look representative and to last forever. For the home, factories made small, light desks: on tapered legs, with a single drawer or a modest upper unit, because in a standard M2 or M3 flat the desk usually stood in the living room and could not take up much space.
Secretaires were popular too, with a drop-down flap that opened into a writing surface. All of these types share the same 1960s principle: simple form, good proportions and wood as the main material.
Materials and construction
Desktops and carcasses were veneered, most often in oak, walnut or teak, while legs and frames were made of solid wood. The collection includes, among others, a 1960s teak desk. Many desks have screw-on legs, which makes them easier to transport and set up.
What to look out for
Check that the drawers run smoothly and that the veneer on the top is not cracked – the condition is described on each product page. A standard desk is about 75 cm high; the top dimensions and depth are listed in the Dimensions tab. A desk from the 1960s pairs well with a chair from the same period – see our PRL Chairs collection.
