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Drop Front Desks

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Late 18th Century Venetian Desk
Late 18th Century Venetian Desk

Late 18th Century Venetian Desk

Located in Larkspur, CA

Late 18th century Hand carved polychrome and giltwood drop front Venetian desk, the top with wave

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks

Deco Drop Front Desk
Deco Drop Front Desk

Deco Drop Front Desk

Located in Hudson, NY

Maple drop front desk with side cabinets. Drop front has leather insert.

Category

Vintage 1940s American Desks

Materials

Maple, Leather

Swedish Drop Front Desk
Swedish Drop Front Desk

Swedish Drop Front Desk

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

Sensational architectural Swedish drop front desk, re done in black and white milk paint.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks

Diminutive  Drop Front desk
Diminutive  Drop Front desk

Diminutive Drop Front desk

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

Small drop front desk/dresser in the deco style with original hardware. Recently ebonized.

Category

Vintage 1930s French Desks

Petite Drop Front Desk
Petite Drop Front Desk

Petite Drop Front Desk

Located in Hinsdale, IL

Oak drop front desk in diminuative size with divided interior. Drawer serves as rest for the desk

Category

Early 20th Century English Desks

Painted Swedish Drop-Front Desk
Painted Swedish Drop-Front Desk

Painted Swedish Drop-Front Desk

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

Swedish drop-front desk in new pale dusky blue and off white milk paint finish.

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Desks

Swedish Gustavian drop front desk
Swedish Gustavian drop front desk

Swedish Gustavian drop front desk

Located in Hudson, NY

Swedish Gustavian drop front desk circa 1810. Mahogany and brass branding. Original hardware

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks

Materials

Granite, Brass

Gilbert Rohde drop-front desk
Gilbert Rohde drop-front desk

Gilbert Rohde drop-front desk

Located in New York, NY

Machine Age drop-front desk with drawers designed for Herman Miller. Introduced at the 1934

Category

Vintage 1930s American Desks

Drop Front Desk Arts & Crafts Style
Drop Front Desk Arts & Crafts Style

Drop Front Desk Arts & Crafts Style

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Drop front desk Arts & Crafts style, early to mid-20thc.

Category

20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks

Materials

Metal

18th Century Italian Drop Front Desk
18th Century Italian Drop Front Desk

18th Century Italian Drop Front Desk

Located in Scottsdale, AZ

Stunning antique walnut drop front desk, Italian, 18th century. Measures: 48" W x 35.5" H

Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Desks

Materials

Walnut

Danish Drop Front Desk
Danish Drop Front Desk

Danish Drop Front Desk

By Hans J. Wegner

Located in Turners Falls, MA

Danish drop front desk with three drawers. Beautifully crafted. Chair not included and sold

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique Nineteenth Century Drop Front Desk
Antique Nineteenth Century Drop Front Desk

Antique Nineteenth Century Drop Front Desk

Located in Hudson, NY

a very handsome late 19th century drop front desk chest, together with an upper cabinet, added

Category

Antique 19th Century American Desks

Macassar Drop Front Desk By Jacques Adnet
Macassar Drop Front Desk By Jacques Adnet

Macassar Drop Front Desk By Jacques Adnet

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Awesome drop front desk by Adnet.

Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks

Hollywood Regency Style Drop Front Desk
Hollywood Regency Style Drop Front Desk

Hollywood Regency Style Drop Front Desk

Located in Stamford, CT

Faux painted drop front desk with three drawers circa late 20th century . The piece is decorated

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Desks

Materials

Wood

Antique Art Deco Drop Front Desk
Antique Art Deco Drop Front Desk

Antique Art Deco Drop Front Desk

Located in Hudson, NY

A stylish and handsome and very functional 1930s drop front desk cabinet in beautiful maple. Having

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Desks

A drop-front desk Raymond Loewy
A drop-front desk Raymond Loewy

A drop-front desk Raymond Loewy

Located in Antwerp, BE

A drop-front desk over drawers designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel. Circa 1950. Features

Category

Vintage 1950s Desks

Materials

Wood

18th C Drop Front Desk
18th C Drop Front Desk

18th C Drop Front Desk

Located in Santa Rosa, CA

great looking drop front desk with four drawers

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Neoclassical Fruitwood Drop Front Desk
18th Century French Neoclassical Fruitwood Drop Front Desk

18th Century French Neoclassical Fruitwood Drop Front Desk

Located in San Francisco, CA

18th Century Fruitwood Drop Front Desk with original black marble top

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Biedermeier Desks

Birdseye Maple Drop Front Desk, C. 1860
Birdseye Maple Drop Front Desk, C. 1860

Birdseye Maple Drop Front Desk, C. 1860

Located in Sheffield, MA

A birdseye maple one drawer drop front desk. The drop down reveals an interior with three cubbies

Category

Antique 1860s American American Classical Desks

Materials

Birdseye Maple

English Georgian Drop Front Desk
English Georgian Drop Front Desk

English Georgian Drop Front Desk

Located in Houston, TX

Handsome English drop front desk in oak. Beautiful patina. New top in old leather. Handsome

Category

Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Wonderful Swedish Drop Front Desk
Wonderful Swedish Drop Front Desk

Wonderful Swedish Drop Front Desk

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

Wonderful Swedish drop front desk with architectural decorstion. Columns are each narrow drawers

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Secretaires

Bamboo Drop-Front Desk, England, c. 1875
Bamboo Drop-Front Desk, England, c. 1875

Bamboo Drop-Front Desk, England, c. 1875

Located in New York, NY

Bamboo Drop-Front Desk in Original Black Lacquer Decor of Traditional Bird and Floral Motif with

Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks

Materials

Bamboo, Leather

ON SALE Desk 18th century rosewood drop front desk.
ON SALE Desk 18th century rosewood drop front desk.

ON SALE Desk 18th century rosewood drop front desk.

Located in San Francisco, CA

18th century rosewood drop front desk. The interior drawers are from the 19th Century Measures: 33

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Desks

Materials

Rosewood

Thin Edge Drop Front Desk by George Nelson
Thin Edge Drop Front Desk by George Nelson

Thin Edge Drop Front Desk by George Nelson

Located in Tarrytown, NY

Thin edge teak drop front desk designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Illuminated with

Category

Vintage 1950s American Desks

Materials

Wood

19th c.English Bamboo Desk with Lacquer Drop-Front Desk
19th c.English Bamboo Desk with Lacquer Drop-Front Desk

19th c.English Bamboo Desk with Lacquer Drop-Front Desk

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Very unusual English Bamboo desk with lacquer drop-front desk and leather paper.

Category

Antique 19th Century British Desks

Late 18th century drop front desk in polished oak
Late 18th century drop front desk in polished oak

Late 18th century drop front desk in polished oak

Located in Toronto, ON

Antique Georgian brown oak drop front desk with superb interior drawer fittings. Original hardware

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Desks

Lacquered Faux Parchment Drop Front Desk by Samuel Marx
Lacquered Faux Parchment Drop Front Desk by Samuel Marx

Lacquered Faux Parchment Drop Front Desk by Samuel Marx

By Samuel Marx

Located in Hoboken, NJ

Lacquered faux parchment drop front desk with 3 shelves and pull out drawer by Samuel Marx

Category

Vintage 1940s American Desks

19th Century Swedish Drop-Front Desk or Secretary
19th Century Swedish Drop-Front Desk or Secretary

19th Century Swedish Drop-Front Desk or Secretary

Located in Houston, TX

19th century Swedish drop-front desk or secretary. A charming piece, repainted. Established in

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks

Materials

Wood

A First Period Empire Bombay Shaped Drop Front Desk
A First Period Empire Bombay Shaped Drop Front Desk

A First Period Empire Bombay Shaped Drop Front Desk

Located in New York, NY

A first period bombay shaped Dutch Empire drop front desk with five lower drawers, a fitted

Category

Antique 19th Century Dutch Desks

Materials

Oak

Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Drop front Desk
Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Drop front Desk

Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Drop front Desk

Located in Houston, TX

Antique gilt decorated black lacquer Chinoiserie drop front desk with one drawer over the fitted

Category

Antique 19th Century French Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

French  Drop Front Desk
French  Drop Front Desk

French Drop Front Desk

Located in Miami, FL

A very chic desk with drop front. Nice scale for a smaller space but still a good workable size

Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Materials

Brass

Ebonized Drop Front Desk.
Ebonized Drop Front Desk.

Ebonized Drop Front Desk.

Located in Hudson, NY

Walnut dropfront desk with one drawer. Walnut tapering legs.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Desks

Danish Rosewood Corner Cabinet with Drop Front Desk
Danish Rosewood Corner Cabinet with Drop Front Desk

Danish Rosewood Corner Cabinet with Drop Front Desk

Located in Baltimore, MD

Danish rosewood corner cabinet has a drop front desk with key. Glass-front display and lower

Category

Vintage 1970s Danish Corner Cupboards

Materials

Rosewood

Oak Slant / Drop Front Desk
Oak Slant / Drop Front Desk

Oak Slant / Drop Front Desk

Located in Vancouver, BC

Well proportioned oak slant front desk, rectangular top above carved lid (30" H when down), fitted

Category

Early 20th Century Scottish Desks

Materials

Brass

Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Desk, circa 1900
Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Desk, circa 1900

Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Desk, circa 1900

Located in Charlevoix, MI

A magnificent Dutch bombe drop front desk with walnut burl and rosewood on claw and ball feet

Category

Antique Early 1900s Dutch Desks

Materials

Rosewood, Walnut, Burl

Swedish Drop Front Desk
Swedish Drop Front Desk

Swedish Drop Front Desk

Located in Houston, TX

Swedish drop front secretary with scrumbled, partial stripped paint finish. Interior paint in blue

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

swedish drop front desk
swedish drop front desk

swedish drop front desk

Located in Newburgh, NY

.

Category

20th Century Swedish Secretaires

Mid Century Neo-Classic Drop Front Desk
Mid Century Neo-Classic Drop Front Desk

Mid Century Neo-Classic Drop Front Desk

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

Iron and black Lacquer desk/ cabinet. Front surface opens with touch latch and becomes a desk

Category

20th Century American Desks

18th c.  Italian Drop Front Desk Secretaires
18th c.  Italian Drop Front Desk Secretaires

18th c. Italian Drop Front Desk Secretaires

Located in Summerland, CA

18th c. Wonderful patinated light walnut desk. Front drops down for writing surface with interior

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks

Materials

Walnut

1950 Super Exotic Rosewood Drop-Front Desk
1950 Super Exotic Rosewood Drop-Front Desk

1950 Super Exotic Rosewood Drop-Front Desk

Located in Hudson, NY

Danish made. Beautiful grain with warm orange-brown tones. 3 small pull out drawers on top with 4 larger drawers below. Has key for locking.

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks

Materials

Wood

Nice Paul Mc Cobb Drop Front Desk

Nice Paul Mc Cobb Drop Front Desk

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Very nice.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Desks

Secretary on Top of Dresser with Drop Front Desk by Hans J Wegner Oak and Teak
Secretary on Top of Dresser with Drop Front Desk by Hans J Wegner Oak and Teak

Secretary on Top of Dresser with Drop Front Desk by Hans J Wegner Oak and Teak

By Ry Møbler, Hans J. Wegner

Located in Helsingborg, SE

shelves on top and a drop front desk below. At the bottom of the piece there are 6 drawers. Designed by

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks

Materials

Oak, Teak

18th Century Italian Olive Burlwood Drop front Desk
18th Century Italian Olive Burlwood Drop front Desk

18th Century Italian Olive Burlwood Drop front Desk

Located in San Francisco, CA

A beautiful 18th century Italian desk with bookmatched olive burlwood inlay. The lockable dropfront

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks

A drop-front desk over drawers designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel
A drop-front desk over drawers designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel

A drop-front desk over drawers designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel

By Raymond Loewy

Located in Antwerp, BE

A drop-front desk over drawers designed by Raymond Loewy for Mengel. Circa 1950. Features

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Swedish Art Deco Drop Front Desk by Ferdinand Lundquist
Swedish Art Deco Drop Front Desk by Ferdinand Lundquist

Swedish Art Deco Drop Front Desk by Ferdinand Lundquist

By Ferdinand Lundquist

Located in Richmond, VA

Swedish inlaid art deco/neo-classical drop front secretaire/desk. Made at Ferdinand Lundquist in

Category

Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Desks

1950 Paul Mccobb 2-Part Drop Front Desk and Cabinet
1950 Paul Mccobb 2-Part Drop Front Desk and Cabinet

1950 Paul Mccobb 2-Part Drop Front Desk and Cabinet

Located in Hudson, NY

restored exterior. Drop down has two finger pull drawers and a 40.5 x 17.5 writing surface. The surface has

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Iron

Swedish Art Deco Drop-Front Desk by Ferdinand Lundquist, circa 1920
Swedish Art Deco Drop-Front Desk by Ferdinand Lundquist, circa 1920

Swedish Art Deco Drop-Front Desk by Ferdinand Lundquist, circa 1920

By Ferdinand Lundquist

Located in Richmond, VA

Swedish inlaid Art Deco or neoclassical drop front secretaire or desk. Made at Ferdinand Lundquist

Category

Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Desks

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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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