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Mid-century Torbjorn Afdal Danish Rosewood Secretary Desk
Mid-century Torbjorn Afdal Danish Rosewood Secretary Desk

Mid-century Torbjorn Afdal Danish Rosewood Secretary Desk

By Torbjørn Afdal, Nesjestranda Møbelfabrik

Located in Oakland, CA

. Crafted from Brazilian rosewood, the secretary desk features a locking drop-front desk that opens to

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Desk with Brass Fittings, Germany, 1820
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Desk with Brass Fittings, Germany, 1820

Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Desk with Brass Fittings, Germany, 1820

Located in Leimen, DE

Biedermeier secretary desk, South west German, 1820. This beautiful drop front desk has three

Category

Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

1960’s Italian Inlaid Secretaire
1960’s Italian Inlaid Secretaire

1960’s Italian Inlaid Secretaire

Located in Bradenton, FL

, the drop front desk and two serpentine drawers are inlaid with satinwood marquetry urns and scrolled

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk
Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk

Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk

Located in Essex, MA

. This lovely drop-front desk reveals four small drawers and cubby holes in the era's style. True to its

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint

18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Painted Secretary Desk
18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Painted Secretary Desk

18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Painted Secretary Desk

Located in Dallas, TX

-front desk surface. When open, the interior reveals three cubby holes, 12 larger drawers and six smaller

Category

Antique 1790s Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Steel

French 19th Century Empire Solid Marble Top Mahogany Secretaire
French 19th Century Empire Solid Marble Top Mahogany Secretaire

French 19th Century Empire Solid Marble Top Mahogany Secretaire

Located in Carmine, TX

This Empire secrétaire (drop-front desk) reflects the bold, architectural elegance of the early

Category

Antique 1850s French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique English Jacobean Carved Oak Glass Front Double Bookcase, Circa 1920s
Antique English Jacobean Carved Oak Glass Front Double Bookcase, Circa 1920s

Antique English Jacobean Carved Oak Glass Front Double Bookcase, Circa 1920s

By Berkey & Gay Furniture

Located in South Bend, IN

and drop front secretary desk In the manner of Berkey and Gay England, Circa 1920s Carved oak, with

Category

Vintage 1920s English Jacobean Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique American Inlaid Serpentine Desk
Antique American Inlaid Serpentine Desk

Antique American Inlaid Serpentine Desk

Located in Bridgeport, CT

Late 18th-early 19th century mahogany drop-front writing desk with satinwood banding and marquetry

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American Chippendale Desks

Materials

Brass

Venitian style Secretary desk with drop front
Venitian style Secretary desk with drop front

Venitian style Secretary desk with drop front

Located in Miami, FL

Hand painted Venitian style Secretary desk with a drop front Made by Patina, Italy. Sold with his

Category

1990s Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Queen Anne Style Black Lacquer Writing Desk, 20th Century
Queen Anne Style Black Lacquer Writing Desk, 20th Century

Queen Anne Style Black Lacquer Writing Desk, 20th Century

Located in Lisbon, PT

functional metal hardware and a drop-front design. The desk opens to reveal an assortment of drawers

Category

20th Century English Queen Anne Desks

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture Style Antique French Provincial Secretary Desk, Circa 1890s
Baker Furniture Style Antique French Provincial Secretary Desk, Circa 1890s

Baker Furniture Style Antique French Provincial Secretary Desk, Circa 1890s

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous petite French Provincial Louis XV style drop front writing desk or secretary desk In

Category

Antique 1890s American Louis XV Desks

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secretary Desk
Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secretary Desk

Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secretary Desk

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 1980s American Louis XV Desks

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Maple Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk
Mid Century Maple Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk

Mid Century Maple Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk

Located in Freehold, NJ

drawers with brass hardware, drop front writing surface with slatted storage compartments inside, atop

Category

Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Vintage Drop Front Secretary Desk with 3 Drawers
Vintage Drop Front Secretary Desk with 3 Drawers

Vintage Drop Front Secretary Desk with 3 Drawers

Located in Freehold, NJ

This vintage secretary desk features hardwood construction, beautiful maple veneer with original

Category

Late 20th Century American American Craftsman Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Mahogany & Brass Inlay Secretary Boulle Desk
French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Mahogany & Brass Inlay Secretary Boulle Desk

French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Mahogany & Brass Inlay Secretary Boulle Desk

By André-Charles Boulle

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A fine and rare French 19th century Louis XIV style mahogany and brass inlaid drop-front

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XIV Desks

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Art Deco  Secretary Cabinet  Desk in Book Matched  Walnut by Gilbert Rohde
Art Deco  Secretary Cabinet  Desk in Book Matched  Walnut by Gilbert Rohde

Art Deco Secretary Cabinet Desk in Book Matched Walnut by Gilbert Rohde

By Gilbert Rohde

Located in New York, NY

This rare and captivating Art Deco Drop Front Secreter Desk in Book-matched Hand-Rubbed Walnut is

Category

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Desks

Materials

Walnut

California Design Group Freestanding Modular Wall Unit by Lou Hodges
California Design Group Freestanding Modular Wall Unit by Lou Hodges

California Design Group Freestanding Modular Wall Unit by Lou Hodges

By Lou Hodges

Located in Oceanside, US

-door cabinet and a drop-front desk/storage compartment, paired with eight modular adjustable shelves

Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Oak

Mid-20th Century Danish Oak Drop-Front Secretary Desk
Mid-20th Century Danish Oak Drop-Front Secretary Desk

Mid-20th Century Danish Oak Drop-Front Secretary Desk

Located in Nørre Aaby, DK

correspondence or a laptop, while maintaining a compact and space-efficient form. The drop-front writing surface

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture Georgian Burled Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Baker Furniture Georgian Burled Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk

Baker Furniture Georgian Burled Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

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

Category

Late 20th Century American Georgian Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Very Fine Custom c1940s Bubble Glass Drop Front Butlers Desk Break Front MINT
Very Fine Custom c1940s Bubble Glass Drop Front Butlers Desk Break Front MINT

Very Fine Custom c1940s Bubble Glass Drop Front Butlers Desk Break Front MINT

By Baker Furniture Company, Heritage-Henredon, Drexel

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Very Fine Custom c1940s Bubble Glass Drop Front Butlers Desk Break Front MINT. Phenomenal quality

Category

20th Century American Federal Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Glass, Mahogany

George Nelson For Mobilier International Paris Mid Century Wall Unit
George Nelson For Mobilier International Paris Mid Century Wall Unit

George Nelson For Mobilier International Paris Mid Century Wall Unit

By Mobilier International

Located in Bridgeport, CT

units- a storage unit with tambour doors and shelves on the left, a drop front desk in the center with

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Shelves

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Original 1890 Army & Navy C.S.L Stamped Campaign Chest of Drawers Including Desk
Original 1890 Army & Navy C.S.L Stamped Campaign Chest of Drawers Including Desk

Original 1890 Army & Navy C.S.L Stamped Campaign Chest of Drawers Including Desk

By Army & Navy CSL

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

C.S.L stamped officers Campaign chest of drawers with drop front Birds Eye Maple desk These are

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of ...

Materials

Brass

Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

By Jasper Furniture Company

Located in Elkhart, IN

A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top

Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Napoleon III Drop-front Secretary Desk In Black Lacquered Wood
Napoleon III Drop-front Secretary Desk In Black Lacquered Wood

Napoleon III Drop-front Secretary Desk In Black Lacquered Wood

Located in PARIS, FR

Napoleon III period drop-front secretary desk in black lacquered wood with hand-painted floral

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Baker Slant Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Chest MINT
Baker Slant Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Chest MINT

Baker Slant Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Chest MINT

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Baker Slant Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Chest MINT

Category

20th Century American Country Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Harrods Kennedy Burr Yew Wood Green Leather Secrataire Desk Chest of Drawers
Harrods Kennedy Burr Yew Wood Green Leather Secrataire Desk Chest of Drawers

Harrods Kennedy Burr Yew Wood Green Leather Secrataire Desk Chest of Drawers

By Harrods, Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

campaign chest on stand however it has the additional feature of a good sized, green leather drop front

Category

20th Century English Campaign Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Georgian Solid Birch Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Georgian Solid Birch Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

Georgian Solid Birch Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

Located in South Bend, IN

A beautiful Georgian, Chippendale, or Early American style bureau with drop front secretary desk

Category

Vintage 1970s American Georgian Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Georgian Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Hand-Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk
Georgian Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Hand-Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk

Georgian Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Hand-Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

An exceptional Georgian Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk

Category

Vintage 1980s American Chinoiserie Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

By Jasper Furniture Company

Located in Elkhart, IN

A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top

Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century George II Crossbanded Burl Mulberry, Walnut, and Cedar Secretary
18th Century George II Crossbanded Burl Mulberry, Walnut, and Cedar Secretary

18th Century George II Crossbanded Burl Mulberry, Walnut, and Cedar Secretary

Located in Solebury, PA

proportions. The centerpiece is a drop-front desk that opens to a meticulously fitted interior, featuring

Category

Antique Early 18th Century English George II Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Cedar

French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk
French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk

French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk. Item features 2

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Cerused White Wash Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk Bookcase Credenza
Cerused White Wash Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk Bookcase Credenza

Cerused White Wash Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk Bookcase Credenza

By John Widdicomb, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Multi use limed oak credenza with built in drop front secretary. Beautiful large and heavy circular

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Oak

Mid 20th Century, Danis Modern Oak Drop‑Front Secretary Desk / Bureau
Mid 20th Century, Danis Modern Oak Drop‑Front Secretary Desk / Bureau

Mid 20th Century, Danis Modern Oak Drop‑Front Secretary Desk / Bureau

Located in Odense, DK

An elegant mid 20th century Danish oak drop‑front secretary desk / bureau featuring a classic fall

Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Arnold Bros Hardwood Chippendale Drop Front Bureau Desk Lovely Timber
Antique Arnold Bros Hardwood Chippendale Drop Front Bureau Desk Lovely Timber

Antique Arnold Bros Hardwood Chippendale Drop Front Bureau Desk Lovely Timber

By Thomas Chippendale

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1900 mahogany drop front bureau in the Thomas

Category

Antique Early 1900s English Late Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Georgian Cherry and Burl Wood Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Georgian Cherry and Burl Wood Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

Georgian Cherry and Burl Wood Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

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

Category

Vintage 1980s American Georgian Bookcases

Materials

Brass

French Commode with Drop-Front Secretary Desk, 3 Drawers, Pierre Cardin 1980s
French Commode with Drop-Front Secretary Desk, 3 Drawers, Pierre Cardin 1980s

French Commode with Drop-Front Secretary Desk, 3 Drawers, Pierre Cardin 1980s

By Pierre Cardin

Located in PARIS, FR

great success in other design fields, most notably furniture. Cardin's desks, chairs, cabinets, tables

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

A drop-front secretary desk in mahogany veneer - René-Jean Caillette - France
A drop-front secretary desk in mahogany veneer - René-Jean Caillette - France

A drop-front secretary desk in mahogany veneer - René-Jean Caillette - France

By Rene Gabriel, Marcel Gascoin, Pierre Guariche, René-Jean Caillette

Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR

A beautiful drop-front secretary desk in mahogany veneer, designed by René-Jean Caillette for

Category

Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Birdseye or Tiger Maple Multifunctional Drop Front Cabinet Desk or Bar
Birdseye or Tiger Maple Multifunctional Drop Front Cabinet Desk or Bar

Birdseye or Tiger Maple Multifunctional Drop Front Cabinet Desk or Bar

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Interesting superb quality modern bird's-eye maple cabinet with many interesting feature and compartments as pictured. It could be used as a nice hall or entry cabinet or a wide pede...

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas

Materials

Birdseye Maple

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy

By Raymond Lowey, Mengel Furniture Co.

Located in Topeka, KS

Handsome vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel drop front secretary desk by Raymond Loewy. Comprised of

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Metal

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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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