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English Georgian Style Oak Marquetry Drop Front Secretary Desk
English Georgian Style Oak Marquetry Drop Front Secretary Desk

English Georgian Style Oak Marquetry Drop Front Secretary Desk

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Distinctive English Georgian fall front or drop front secretaire desk crafted from oak. The

Category

20th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Satinwood

Unique Miniature Mid-Century Modern Drop Front Secretary Desk
Unique Miniature Mid-Century Modern Drop Front Secretary Desk

Unique Miniature Mid-Century Modern Drop Front Secretary Desk

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This mixed teak, mahogany, and oak drop front secretary features classic Danish design. Unique

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Secretaires

Antique Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk Bookcase Bookshelf Console 65"
Antique Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk Bookcase Bookshelf Console 65"

Antique Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk Bookcase Bookshelf Console 65"

Located in Dayton, OH

of oak featuring a serpentine design with drop front that opens to multiple cubbies and large work

Category

Early 20th Century American Colonial Secretaires

Materials

Oak

1950 Drop Front Secretary Desk in Teak by Børge Mogensen
1950 Drop Front Secretary Desk in Teak by Børge Mogensen

1950 Drop Front Secretary Desk in Teak by Børge Mogensen

By Børge Mogensen

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

1950 drop front Secretary desk in teak by Børge Mogensen. When the front door drops, four

Category

Vintage 1950s Scandinavian Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Antique Victorian Eastlake Cherry Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk 61"
Antique Victorian Eastlake Cherry Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk 61"

Antique Victorian Eastlake Cherry Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk 61"

Located in Dayton, OH

Antique Victorian drop front secretary or library writing desk. Made of cherry featuring Eastlake

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Eastlake Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

Baker Furniture Historic Charleston Georgian Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Baker Furniture Historic Charleston Georgian Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk

Baker Furniture Historic Charleston Georgian Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

A beautiful Georgian or Chippendale style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch

Category

Vintage 1980s American Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase With Drop Front Secretary Desk
Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase With Drop Front Secretary Desk

Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase With Drop Front Secretary Desk

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous Georgian or Sheraton style breakfront bookcase or china cabinet with drop front

Category

Early 20th Century American Georgian Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk
Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk

Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk

Located in Dayton, OH

. Features a drop front with neoclassical brass hardware over large central drawer with French pulls. Opens

Category

Early 20th Century Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Louis XV Period Drop-Front Fruitwood Secretaire Desk, circa 1760
Louis XV Period Drop-Front Fruitwood Secretaire Desk, circa 1760

Louis XV Period Drop-Front Fruitwood Secretaire Desk, circa 1760

Located in Doylestown, PA

A mid-late 18th century French Louis XV period drop-front secretaire in fruitwood with lower

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood

Antique Burr Walnut Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Drop Front Secretaire Drawers
Antique Burr Walnut Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Drop Front Secretaire Drawers

Antique Burr Walnut Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Drop Front Secretaire Drawers

By Biedermeier

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this super quality, antique Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire desk

Category

Antique 1880s Swedish Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Scandinavian Modern Teak Bookcase Cabinet by Domino Mobler
Scandinavian Modern Teak Bookcase Cabinet by Domino Mobler

Scandinavian Modern Teak Bookcase Cabinet by Domino Mobler

By Domino Møbler

Located in Trenton, NJ

generations. Matching drop-front desk also available- contact seller for details. Dimensions: 31.5w 16.75d

Category

Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Teak

George III Breakfront
George III Breakfront

George III Breakfront

Located in New Orleans, LA

is inset with round panels and a drop-front desk. The flanking doors open to reveal shelves and even

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

Post-Modern Secretaire in Cork by Peter Maly, Serie 5 for COR, circa 1975
Post-Modern Secretaire in Cork by Peter Maly, Serie 5 for COR, circa 1975

Post-Modern Secretaire in Cork by Peter Maly, Serie 5 for COR, circa 1975

By Peter Maly

Located in Berlin, DE

-front desk opens to reveal a functional writing surface and storage compartments, while the lower

Category

Vintage 1970s German Post-Modern Secretaires

Materials

Beech, Cork

Stickley American Colonial Cherry Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, 1960s
Stickley American Colonial Cherry Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, 1960s

Stickley American Colonial Cherry Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, 1960s

By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous mid-century early American style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase

Category

Vintage 1960s American American Colonial Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture Georgian Banded Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase
Baker Furniture Georgian Banded Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase

Baker Furniture Georgian Banded Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

A beautiful Georgian or Chippendale style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch

Category

Vintage 1980s American Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century Catalan Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Spain
18th Century Catalan Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Spain

18th Century Catalan Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Spain

Located in Miami, FL

Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1790, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Oak

English George III Style Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1870
English George III Style Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1870

English George III Style Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1870

Located in South Bend, IN

bookcase top with three adjustable shelves, a drop-front leather top desk with six small drawers and eleven

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Glass, Cherry, Mahogany

Paul Frankl Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser Chest With Drop Front Secretary Desk
Paul Frankl Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser Chest With Drop Front Secretary Desk

Paul Frankl Black Lacquered Highboy Dresser Chest With Drop Front Secretary Desk

By Johnson Furniture Company, John Stuart Inc., Paul Frankl

Located in South Bend, IN

drop front secretary desk By Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture and retailed by John Stuart USA, 1950s

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Drop Front Secretary Desk from G
Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Drop Front Secretary Desk from G

Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Drop Front Secretary Desk from G

Located in Round Top, TX

Rich dark wood and stately lines define this handsome Biedermeier drop front secretary from Germany

Category

Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Exceptional Mid Century Danish Drop-Front Secretary Desk & Wall Shelf by Ditzel
Exceptional Mid Century Danish Drop-Front Secretary Desk & Wall Shelf by Ditzel

Exceptional Mid Century Danish Drop-Front Secretary Desk & Wall Shelf by Ditzel

By Nanna Ditzel, Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel

Located in Detroit, MI

legs the secretary cabinet features a step-back hutch with a locking drop-front door with small

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Cherry

Brights of Nettlebed Burr Walnut Media Cabinet Television Stand Chest of Drawers
Brights of Nettlebed Burr Walnut Media Cabinet Television Stand Chest of Drawers

Brights of Nettlebed Burr Walnut Media Cabinet Television Stand Chest of Drawers

By Brights of Nettlebed

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

arrangement of drawers and drop front desk section. This sale is for the one mentioned above only, the other

Category

20th Century English Victorian Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Hepplewhite Inlaid Flame Mahogany Diminutive Tambour Secretary, circa 1900
Hepplewhite Inlaid Flame Mahogany Diminutive Tambour Secretary, circa 1900

Hepplewhite Inlaid Flame Mahogany Diminutive Tambour Secretary, circa 1900

Located in Big Flats, NY

pigeon holes and surmounting drop front writing desk over case having three long drawers and raised on

Category

Early 20th Century English Hepplewhite Desks

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Louis XVI Style Inlaid Mahogany Secretaire à Abattant
Antique French Louis XVI Style Inlaid Mahogany Secretaire à Abattant

Antique French Louis XVI Style Inlaid Mahogany Secretaire à Abattant

Located in South Bend, IN

A beautiful petite antique French Louis XVI style drop front secretary desk France, Circa Late

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Baker School Colonial Flame Mahogany Breakfront Secretary Cabinet, circa 1940
Baker School Colonial Flame Mahogany Breakfront Secretary Cabinet, circa 1940

Baker School Colonial Flame Mahogany Breakfront Secretary Cabinet, circa 1940

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Big Flats, NY

striated glass doors and flanking recessed side cabinets each with glass door, central drop front secretary

Category

20th Century American American Colonial Desks

Materials

Bronze

Antique Sheraton Revival Burea Bookcase Leather Top Hardwood Walnut & Satinwood
Antique Sheraton Revival Burea Bookcase Leather Top Hardwood Walnut & Satinwood

Antique Sheraton Revival Burea Bookcase Leather Top Hardwood Walnut & Satinwood

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Bureau bookcase with brown leather drop front desk. A very well made and bureau made in the Sheraton

Category

Antique 19th Century English Sheraton Cabinets

Materials

Leather, Glass, Satinwood, Walnut, Hardwood

Original Painted Swedish Clock Cabinet With Secretary, Circa 1840
Original Painted Swedish Clock Cabinet With Secretary, Circa 1840

Original Painted Swedish Clock Cabinet With Secretary, Circa 1840

Located in Round Top, TX

Remarkable original painted Swedish cabinet with clock and secretary with drop front desk. The

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Spanish Walnut Drop Front Secretary, circa 1850
Spanish Walnut Drop Front Secretary, circa 1850

Spanish Walnut Drop Front Secretary, circa 1850

Located in Evergreen, CO

Behind the drop front, the desk has three storage drawers with wood knobs. The interior of the top

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Antique Federal Style Walnut Hutch Cabinet with Original Hand Blown Glass
Antique Federal Style Walnut Hutch Cabinet with Original Hand Blown Glass

Antique Federal Style Walnut Hutch Cabinet with Original Hand Blown Glass

Located in Portsmouth, VA

, collectibles, or blue-and-white porcelain. The drop-front desk opens to reveal small storage cubbies that once

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Federal Cabinets

Materials

Blown Glass, Walnut

19th Century English Pine Drop Front Secretaire Dresser Chest
19th Century English Pine Drop Front Secretaire Dresser Chest

19th Century English Pine Drop Front Secretaire Dresser Chest

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Rustic 19th century English pine commode, chest, or dresser featuring a drop-front slant secretaire

Category

Antique 19th Century English Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Walnut Mid Century Modern Drop Down Desk Secretary
Walnut Mid Century Modern Drop Down Desk Secretary

Walnut Mid Century Modern Drop Down Desk Secretary

By Harvey Probber, James Mont

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Square and straigh lines Mid Century Danish modern drop down front secretary desk with large Art

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Aluminum

Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Louis XV Walnut Drop Front Secretary
Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Louis XV Walnut Drop Front Secretary

Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Louis XV Walnut Drop Front Secretary

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase

Category

Vintage 1960s American Louis XV Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Model 68 drop front Secretary by Arne Wahl Iversen, 1960s Danish Rosewood
Model 68 drop front Secretary by Arne Wahl Iversen, 1960s Danish Rosewood

Model 68 drop front Secretary by Arne Wahl Iversen, 1960s Danish Rosewood

By Arne Wahl Iversen

Located in Copenhagen, DK

Model 68 drop front secretary desk by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik, 1960s. This stunning

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood

MCM Teak Veneer German Shrunk Wall Unit Secretary Liquor Cabinet 2-Piece
MCM Teak Veneer German Shrunk Wall Unit Secretary Liquor Cabinet 2-Piece

MCM Teak Veneer German Shrunk Wall Unit Secretary Liquor Cabinet 2-Piece

Located in Topeka, KS

inherent of this type of furniture and part of its beauty. The interiors of the drop front desk or liquor

Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Grasscloth, Paint, Teak

Period Danish Chest/Desk
Period Danish Chest/Desk

Period Danish Chest/Desk

Located in Atlanta, GA

Three draws under a drop front retractable desk with draws, cabinets and secret compartments.

Category

Antique 19th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Danish Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk
Danish Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk

Danish Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk

Located in Fulton, CA

A Danish Modern drop-front or secretary desk with 3 drawers and writing surface. Beautiful rosewood

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Heywood Wakefield Secretary Desk
Heywood Wakefield Secretary Desk

Heywood Wakefield Secretary Desk

Located in Astoria, NY

Desk Features: Rectangular design Drop-front half desk Three long drawers Two moveable shelves Marked

Category

20th Century American Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Artes De Mexico Walnut and Oyster Burl Fall Front Bureau
Artes De Mexico Walnut and Oyster Burl Fall Front Bureau

Artes De Mexico Walnut and Oyster Burl Fall Front Bureau

Located in Chicago, IL

small door. Comes with single key for drop front plateau. Depth of desk with front open is 25.50".

Category

Vintage 1960s Mexican Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk

Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk

Located in Stamford, CT

A fine paint decorated secretary desk, Italian. The double bookcase top over a drop front with an

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Italian Painted Secretary Desk Bookcase
Antique Italian Painted Secretary Desk Bookcase

Antique Italian Painted Secretary Desk Bookcase

Located in West Hartford, CT

features a unique shape with bookcase top over a drop front with an interior desk. The lower section has

Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Louis XVI Secretaire Desk, circa 1790
Louis XVI Secretaire Desk, circa 1790

Louis XVI Secretaire Desk, circa 1790

Located in Doylestown, PA

A nice Louis XVI drop-front secretaire desk in blonde walnut, circa 1790, with its original grey

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Century Furniture Chippendale Mahogany Secretary Desk Lighted Bookcase Hutch
Century Furniture Chippendale Mahogany Secretary Desk Lighted Bookcase Hutch

Century Furniture Chippendale Mahogany Secretary Desk Lighted Bookcase Hutch

By Century Furniture

Located in South Bend, IN

An outstanding Georgian or Chippendale style bureau with drop front secretary desk and lighted

Category

Late 20th Century American Georgian Bookcases

Materials

Brass

R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary
R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary

R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary

By R.J. Horner & Co.

Located in South Bend, IN

front secretary desk In the manner of R.J. Horner & Co. USA, Circa 1890s Gorgeous mahogany, with

Category

Antique 1890s American American Empire Bookcases

Materials

Brass

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Drop Front Desks For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of drop front desks is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and hardwood, all drop front desks available were constructed with great care. Drop front desks have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Drop front desks bearing Mid-Century Modern or Louis XV hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Not every interior allows for large drop front desks, so small drop front desks measuring 14 inches across are available at 1stDibs. Raymond Loewy, Hvidt & Mølgaard and Arne Wahl Iversen each produced beautiful drop front desks that are worth considering.

How Much are Drop Front Desks?

Prices for drop front desks start at $750 and top out at $30,000 with the average selling for $2,997.

Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

Questions About Drop Front Desks
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    A drop-front desk is usually called a secretary. Other names for this type of desk include writing cabinet, fall-front desk and secrétaire à abattant. The name secretary can be traced back to the 18th century when estate secretaries used the drop-front desks as workstations for paying bills and reconciling accounts. On 1stDibs, find a range of secretary desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.

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