Various types of tables, often of centre table type served as writing furniture. But by the later part of the 17th century the bureau came into fashion, at first with a falling flap to write on and having a fitted inerior with drawers and pigeon holes and being stood on a stand. Soon the stand was replaced by a bank of drawers…the bureau we know today. For the larger houses the escritoire was a large piece of furniture with again a falling flap, but with a bank of drawers behind, and also being raised on a bank of drawers.
The very late 17th and early 18th century century saw the arrival of the knee hole desk…. origionally thought to be a bedroom piece for dressing… This piece of furniture having a flat top for writing on and two banks of drawers either side of an aperture for the sitter. As with much of the fashionable furniture of the period walnut and oak were the main woods used.