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Drop Front Desks

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1860s English George III Drop Front Desk with Original Walnut Finish
1860s English George III Drop Front Desk with Original Walnut Finish

1860s English George III Drop Front Desk with Original Walnut Finish

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Explore the historic charm of our circa 1860s English George III Drop Front Desk, beautifully hand

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

French Industrial Steel Drop Front Desk/Bar Cabinet
French Industrial Steel Drop Front Desk/Bar Cabinet

French Industrial Steel Drop Front Desk/Bar Cabinet

Located in Port Chester, NY

A fabulous riveted French industrial steel cupboard with a front drop down writing or work surface

Category

Vintage 1940s French More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Steel

Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk Console
Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk Console

Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk Console

By Paul McCobb

Located in New York, NY

Rare to Market Paul McCobb Planner Group drop front secretary console Ca. 1955 in excellent

Category

20th Century American Secretaires

Materials

Maple

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 Secretaires

Danish Modern Torring Mobelfabrik Rosewood Drop Front Desk or Secretary
Danish Modern Torring Mobelfabrik Rosewood Drop Front Desk or Secretary

Danish Modern Torring Mobelfabrik Rosewood Drop Front Desk or Secretary

By Nils Jonsson

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

This beautiful secretary fold down desk measures in at 35” W x 17” D Closed / 27” D Open x 42.5” H

Category

Vintage 1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Striking Chinoiserie Drop-Front Secretary Desk
Striking Chinoiserie Drop-Front Secretary Desk

Striking Chinoiserie Drop-Front Secretary Desk

Located in Fulton, CA

Exceptional hand painted Chinese Chippendale Chinoiserie drop-front desk featuring beautiful hand

Category

Vintage 1930s American Chinoiserie Desks

Maitland Smith Drop Front  Horn Inlay Desk
Maitland Smith Drop Front  Horn Inlay Desk

Maitland Smith Drop Front Horn Inlay Desk

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Very highly crafted horn inlay drop front desk attributed to Maitland Smith. It has several

Category

Vintage 1960s American Desks

Materials

Wood

French Mid-20th Century Louis XV Style Marble-Top Commode with Drop Front Desk
French Mid-20th Century Louis XV Style Marble-Top Commode with Drop Front Desk

French Mid-20th Century Louis XV Style Marble-Top Commode with Drop Front Desk

Located in Toronto, ONTARIO

A lovely French three-drawer commode where the top drawer drops to reveal a desk. Louis XV style

Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

French Industrial Steel Slant Front Desk
French Industrial Steel Slant Front Desk

French Industrial Steel Slant Front Desk

Located in New York, NY

turns into a great utilitarian drop front desk.

Category

Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Steel

Rare Drop Front Wicker Desk And Chair
Rare Drop Front Wicker Desk And Chair

Rare Drop Front Wicker Desk And Chair

Located in Sheffield, MA

American antique wicker drop-front desk and chair in faux natural finish with natural stained oak

Category

Early 20th Century American Desks

Materials

Reed

20th Century Danish Oak Slant Front Desk
20th Century Danish Oak Slant Front Desk

20th Century Danish Oak Slant Front Desk

Located in Vancouver, BC

Early 20th century Danish oak slant, drop front desk, the raised panel fall front enclosing fitted

Category

Early 20th Century Danish Desks

Materials

Brass

Venetian Painted Desk
Venetian Painted Desk

Venetian Painted Desk

Located in Santa Rosa, CA

Unusual old drop front desk with painted birds and gilt decoration

Category

20th Century Desks

Desk
Desk

Desk

Sold|$15,750

Desk

Located in New Orleans, LA

18th century Italian drop front desk with chinoiserie panels and banded inlay, from a prominent New

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks

Materials

Fruitwood

19th Century French Oak Desk
19th Century French Oak Desk

19th Century French Oak Desk

Located in San Francisco, CA

19TH CENTURY FRENCH OAK DESK ( secretary, drop front desk)

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Rene Gabriel Desk
Rene Gabriel Desk

Rene Gabriel Desk

By Rene Gabriel

Located in Los Angeles, CA

French oak drop front desk with original red leather. Only 14" deep when closed.

Category

Vintage 1950s French Desks

Original Paint Swedish Dropfront Desk
Original Paint Swedish Dropfront Desk

Original Paint Swedish Dropfront Desk

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

Swedish drop front desk with original paint. Excellent patina and wear.

Category

20th Century Swedish Desks

Small Portable Industrial Desk
Small Portable Industrial Desk

Small Portable Industrial Desk

Located in Treasure Island, CA

Great industrial drop-front desk, could be great as hostess station at restaurant (or any other use

Category

Vintage 1930s American Desks

Materials

Steel

An oak Art & Crafts Desk in the style of Stickley
An oak Art & Crafts Desk in the style of Stickley

An oak Art & Crafts Desk in the style of Stickley

By Stickley Brothers

Located in Salt Lake City, UT

An American made solid oak, drop-front desk with three exterior drawers.

Category

20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks

Materials

Oak

Stripped 19th Century Swedish Desk
Stripped 19th Century Swedish Desk

Stripped 19th Century Swedish Desk

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

19th century Swedish pine drop front desk. Finish has been stripped and preserved with a thin coat

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks

Raymond Lowey for Mengel desk/cabinet
Raymond Lowey for Mengel desk/cabinet

Raymond Lowey for Mengel desk/cabinet

Located in New York, NY

A Raymond Lowey mahogany veneer with nickel hardware drop front desk/cabinet. Great storage for

Category

Vintage 1950s American Desks

Materials

Nickel

French Inlaid Desk w/ Marble Top
French Inlaid Desk w/ Marble Top

French Inlaid Desk w/ Marble Top

Located in Bridgehampton, NY

A French drop front desk with marble top. Desk has extensive interior detail and a case of drawers

Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Materials

Marble

18th Century Italian Desk
18th Century Italian Desk

18th Century Italian Desk

Located in Houston, TX

Unusual Bombay drop front desk from the Lombardi reigon of Italy. Bold curve on sides and front

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

1930s American Streamline Desk/Cabinet/Dresser
1930s American Streamline Desk/Cabinet/Dresser

1930s American Streamline Desk/Cabinet/Dresser

By Modernage Furniture Company

Located in TUJUNGA, CA

American streamline modern drop front desk featuring three large drawers, bookcases, and storage

Category

Vintage 1930s American Desks

Materials

Wood

Paul McCobb Desk
Paul McCobb Desk

Paul McCobb Desk

Sold|$3,745

Paul McCobb Desk

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This drop front desk by Paul McCobb planner group has been professionally restored, is made out of

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Brass

Louis XVI Style Mahogany Secretaire
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Secretaire

Louis XVI Style Mahogany Secretaire

Located in Hudson, NY

A Louis XVI style secretaire abattant as a faux semainier,with drop front desk and interior

Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Antique Secretary Desk, Oak Bookcase, Scotland, 1910, Antique Furniture
Antique Secretary Desk, Oak Bookcase, Scotland, 1910, Antique Furniture

Antique Secretary Desk, Oak Bookcase, Scotland, 1910, Antique Furniture

Located in Vancouver, BC

front desk with Pidgeon hole interior Flanked by two tall leaded glass doors revealing three adjustable

Category

Vintage 1910s Scottish Victorian Desks

Materials

Oak

Spanish Vargueño, or Cabinet on a Stand
Spanish Vargueño, or Cabinet on a Stand

Spanish Vargueño, or Cabinet on a Stand

Located in Salt Lake City, UT

A Spanish drop-front desk, trimmed and decorated in iron beadwork, leather, and red velvet. The

Category

20th Century Spanish Desks

Maitland Smith Chinoiserie Secretary
Maitland Smith Chinoiserie Secretary

Maitland Smith Chinoiserie Secretary

Located in Stamford, CT

secretary made for Maitland Smith. The interior has myriad individual drawers and cubbies. A drop front desk

Category

Late 20th Century Hong Kong Desks

Handsome Antique Swedish Pine Desk Cabinet
Handsome Antique Swedish Pine Desk Cabinet

Handsome Antique Swedish Pine Desk Cabinet

Located in Hudson, NY

A very handsome 18th century Swedish cabinet with a drop-front desk surface, and a combination of

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Cabinets

19th C. French Drop Front Walnut Desk
19th C. French Drop Front Walnut Desk

19th C. French Drop Front Walnut Desk

Located in San Francisco, CA

19th Century French Drop Front Walnut Desk 31''w x 36''h x 16''d open 28''d

Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Style Drop Front Oak Desk
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Style Drop Front Oak Desk

Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Style Drop Front Oak Desk

Located in New York, NY

Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Style Drop Front Oak Desk, the drop front opening to pigeon

Category

20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables

Ico Parisi High Cabinet
Ico Parisi High Cabinet

Ico Parisi High Cabinet

By Ico Parisi

Located in Porto, PT

Rosewood high cabinet with drop front desk.

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Rosewood

Superb 19th Century English Bamboo Drop Front Writing Desk
Superb 19th Century English Bamboo Drop Front Writing Desk

Superb 19th Century English Bamboo Drop Front Writing Desk

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Bamboo drop front writing desk with fitted interior and oriental motif. Late 1800s natural finish

Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks

Materials

Bamboo

Danish Teak Wood Wall Unit
Danish Teak Wood Wall Unit

Danish Teak Wood Wall Unit

Located in New York, NY

Wall Unit with a bar and and drop front desk (not photoed). In four sections.

Category

20th Century Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Teak

Beautiful Danish Modern Teak Secretary Desk Bureau
Beautiful Danish Modern Teak Secretary Desk Bureau

Beautiful Danish Modern Teak Secretary Desk Bureau

Located in Vancouver, BC

Beautiful drop front desk or bureau in teak, dating to the 60's. Fall front lid opens to large work

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

19th Century French Empire Drop Front Secretary
19th Century French Empire Drop Front Secretary

19th Century French Empire Drop Front Secretary

Located in Fairhope, AL

A 19th century French Empire drop front secretary. Has a marble top and side columns with bronze

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

M|n Originals Lacquered Drop Front Secretary
M|n Originals Lacquered Drop Front Secretary

M|n Originals Lacquered Drop Front Secretary

By M | n Originals

Located in New York, NY

M| Originals lacquered drop down secretary desk with upper bookcase.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

George Nelson secretary, mfg. Herman Miller.
George Nelson secretary, mfg. Herman Miller.

George Nelson secretary, mfg. Herman Miller.

Located in New York, NY

George Nelson dresser/secretary, mfg. Herman Miller with drop front desk. Walnut case with

Category

20th Century American Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Lacquer

French Secretaires
French Secretaires

French Secretaires

Located in Stamford, CT

2 part French Secretaire. Shelved cupboard top. Drop front desk with drawers and cupboard bottom

Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Danish Modern Secretary by Bernhard Pedersen & Son
Danish Modern Secretary by Bernhard Pedersen & Son

Danish Modern Secretary by Bernhard Pedersen & Son

By Bernhard Pedersen & Son

Located in San Diego, CA

Versatile Danish Modern Secretary by Bernhard Pedersen & Son. Drop-front desk work area with

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Carved English Drop Front Bureau
Carved English Drop Front Bureau

Carved English Drop Front Bureau

Located in Hinsdale, IL

Campaign desk (two pieces carried on a military or building campaign) with drop front and fitted

Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks

Rare Drop Front Libraire Cabinet in Original Lacquer by Raphael
Rare Drop Front Libraire Cabinet in Original Lacquer by Raphael

Rare Drop Front Libraire Cabinet in Original Lacquer by Raphael

By Raphael Furniture

Located in New York, NY

central cabinet features a drop front desk with a deep green two tone lacquer writing surface, interior

Category

Vintage 1960s French Bookcases

Materials

Bronze

Robsjohn Gibbings Brass Leg Room Divider

Robsjohn Gibbings Brass Leg Room Divider

Located in Palm Springs, CA

features a lighted drop front desk.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Cabinets

Danish Modern Teak and Oak Drop-Front Secretary Desk or Vanity, 1951
Danish Modern Teak and Oak Drop-Front Secretary Desk or Vanity, 1951

Danish Modern Teak and Oak Drop-Front Secretary Desk or Vanity, 1951

Located in San Francisco, CA

An utterly charming and quite uncommon 1951 Scandinavian modern teak and oak drop-front secretary

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks

Materials

Brass

Shaker Style Drop Front Secretary
Shaker Style Drop Front Secretary

Shaker Style Drop Front Secretary

Located in Culver City, CA

This wonderful little shaker style desk or cabinet has a fall front writing area that reveals

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Shaker Desks

Materials

Metal

JASPER "Legacy" Cherry Chippendale Bonnet Top Block Front Secretary Desk
JASPER "Legacy" Cherry Chippendale Bonnet Top Block Front Secretary Desk

JASPER "Legacy" Cherry Chippendale Bonnet Top Block Front Secretary Desk

By Jasper Furniture Company

Located in Charlotte, NC

-slide out supports for lockable drop front desk top which conceals six small drawers, four with open fan

Category

Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Marquetry  Secretary
19th Century French Marquetry  Secretary

19th Century French Marquetry Secretary

Located in New Orleans, LA

with two glass doors, a drop front desk and bombe drawers.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Flame Mahogany Military Secretaire Chest, circa 1850
Antique Flame Mahogany Military Secretaire Chest, circa 1850

Antique Flame Mahogany Military Secretaire Chest, circa 1850

Located in London, Greenwich

An antique military secretaire chest with three drawers and drop front desk with nine small drawers

Category

Antique 1840s English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Widdicomb Cabinet / Desk
Widdicomb Cabinet / Desk

Widdicomb Cabinet / Desk

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Cabinet, dresser, desk by Widdicomb, paper label. Ten drawers, drop front desk with gallery. Cloth

Category

Vintage 1960s American Cabinets

Rare Drop Front Libraire Cabinet in Original Lacquer by Raphael
Rare Drop Front Libraire Cabinet in Original Lacquer by Raphael

Rare Drop Front Libraire Cabinet in Original Lacquer by Raphael

By Raphael Furniture

Located in New York, NY

central cabinet features a drop front desk with a deep green two tone lacquer writing surface, interior

Category

Vintage 1960s French Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

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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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