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American Solid Cherry 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Desk Solid Brass Pulls MINT
American Solid Cherry 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Desk Solid Brass Pulls MINT

American Solid Cherry 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Desk Solid Brass Pulls MINT

By Pennsylvania House, Baker Furniture Company

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Chippendale Style Bracket Feet American Solid Cherry 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Desk Solid

Category

20th Century American Country Dressers

Materials

Brass

Lovely Yew Wood Secretary Campaign Chest
Lovely Yew Wood Secretary Campaign Chest

Lovely Yew Wood Secretary Campaign Chest

By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London

Located in Crawley, GB

, green leather drop front desk which is super useful for compact living as when not in use, it can be

Category

Mid-20th Century British Campaign Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Exceptionel Bookcase Forming Desk, by G. Grohé, France, Circa 1860
Exceptionel Bookcase Forming Desk, by G. Grohé, France, Circa 1860

Exceptionel Bookcase Forming Desk, by G. Grohé, France, Circa 1860

By Guillaume Grohe

Located in PARIS, FR

forming drop-front desk supported by two pillars with drawers. The lateral parts each open with a moulded

Category

Antique 1860s French Renaissance Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Bureau

Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Bureau

Located in Round Top, TX

Early 19th century Swedish Biedermeier mahogany secretary featuring a drop-front desk and three

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI Style Drop-Front Secretaire by Rinck
Louis XVI Style Drop-Front Secretaire by Rinck

Louis XVI Style Drop-Front Secretaire by Rinck

By Rinck

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

Mid-20th century French Louis XVI style drop-front secretaire desk by Rinck, one of Paris’s most

Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Secretary Bureau
Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Secretary Bureau

Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Secretary Bureau

Located in Round Top, TX

and a central notched rack originally used to display family silver. The drop-front desk opens to an

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Country Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Pine

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

By Sheraton Revival

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Revival Walnut, Mahogany & Satinwood Bureau bookcase with brown leather drop front desk Please note the

Category

20th Century English Sheraton Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Hardwood, Satinwood, Walnut

Tall Double Glass Doors Ball Claw Carved Finial Drop Block Front Secretary MINT!
Tall Double Glass Doors Ball Claw Carved Finial Drop Block Front Secretary MINT!

Tall Double Glass Doors Ball Claw Carved Finial Drop Block Front Secretary MINT!

By Kittinger Furniture Company, Baker Furniture Company, Drexel

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Tall Double Glass Doors Ball Claw Carved Finial Drop Block Front Secretary Desk Bookcase MINT!

Category

20th Century American Chippendale Dressers

Materials

Mahogany

Guillerme & Chambron Highboard or Wardrobe in Solid Oak and Ceramic
Guillerme & Chambron Highboard or Wardrobe in Solid Oak and Ceramic

Guillerme & Chambron Highboard or Wardrobe in Solid Oak and Ceramic

By Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron

Located in Waalwijk, NL

of their works. The left side of the wardrobe has an open shelving space at the top and a drop-front

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Oak

Oiled Medium Walnut Mid Century Modern Art Deco Drop Down Desk Secretary Cabinet
Oiled Medium Walnut Mid Century Modern Art Deco Drop Down Desk Secretary Cabinet

Oiled Medium Walnut Mid Century Modern Art Deco Drop Down Desk Secretary Cabinet

By Harvey Probber, James Mont

Located in Rockaway, NJ

Square shape lines Mid Century Danish modern drop down front secretary desk console table with

Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Aluminum

18th Century Antique English Secretary Desk with Rustic Charm
18th Century Antique English Secretary Desk with Rustic Charm

18th Century Antique English Secretary Desk with Rustic Charm

Located in Linkebeek, BE

antique English drop-front secretary desk, featuring three large drawers and two smaller drawers in the

Category

Antique 18th Century English Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Walnut Burl Carved Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase Bureau Cabinet
Mid Century Walnut Burl Carved Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase Bureau Cabinet

Mid Century Walnut Burl Carved Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase Bureau Cabinet

Located in Dayton, OH

with burlwood front that opens via a drop front for use as a desk. Secretary desk interior has pigeon

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Walnut, Burl

Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Red Lacquered Secretary Desk with Hutch
Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Red Lacquered Secretary Desk with Hutch

Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Red Lacquered Secretary Desk with Hutch

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 1970s American French Provincial Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Barrister Bookcase by Gunn, Circa 1920s
Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Barrister Bookcase by Gunn, Circa 1920s

Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Barrister Bookcase by Gunn, Circa 1920s

By Globe Wernicke

Located in South Bend, IN

A beautiful antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period barrister bookcase with drop front secretary

Category

Vintage 1920s American Arts and Crafts Bookcases

Materials

Brass

19th Century Louis XVI Style Secretaire a Abattant
19th Century Louis XVI Style Secretaire a Abattant

19th Century Louis XVI Style Secretaire a Abattant

Located in Winter Park, FL

A late 19th century French Louis XVI style secrétaire à abattant, or drop front secretary desk

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Vintage 1960s Oak Fold Down Secretary Bureau in style of Kjærnulf
Vintage 1960s Oak Fold Down Secretary Bureau in style of Kjærnulf

Vintage 1960s Oak Fold Down Secretary Bureau in style of Kjærnulf

Located in Store Heddinge, DK

modern living, with a total desk depth of 83 cm (32.68 in) when the drop-front is open. The desk area is

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Brutalist Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Ebonized & Inlay Secretary
French 19th Century Ebonized & Inlay Secretary

French 19th Century Ebonized & Inlay Secretary

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

sections above the drop-front door that becomes the desk’s felt top writing surface. Inside the desk are

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

English Arts and Crafts Secretary Bookcase, ca. 1910s
English Arts and Crafts Secretary Bookcase, ca. 1910s

English Arts and Crafts Secretary Bookcase, ca. 1910s

Located in Meulebeke, BE

upper bookcase with a drop‑front writing desk and a bank of drawers, creating a single piece that unites

Category

Vintage 1910s English Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Copper

*An Exquisite 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Fitted Secretaire
*An Exquisite 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Fitted Secretaire

*An Exquisite 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Fitted Secretaire

Located in Reading, Berkshire

19th-century French flame mahogany secretaire à abattant, or drop-front secretary desk. Design

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Steel

Baker Furniture Style Georgian Flame Mahogany Bubble Glass Breakfront Bookcase
Baker Furniture Style Georgian Flame Mahogany Bubble Glass Breakfront Bookcase

Baker Furniture Style Georgian Flame Mahogany Bubble Glass Breakfront Bookcase

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet with drop front

Category

Mid-20th Century American Georgian Bookcases

Materials

Brass

John Widdicomb Walnut Aged Mirrored Tombstone Style Georgian Secretary
John Widdicomb Walnut Aged Mirrored Tombstone Style Georgian Secretary

John Widdicomb Walnut Aged Mirrored Tombstone Style Georgian Secretary

By John Widdicomb

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

collectibles. The lower section includes a drop-front writing desk with fitted compartments and drawers

Category

Vintage 1940s American Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Walnut

Empire Secretaire, Walnut, Maple, Paw Feet, Austria circa 1815
Empire Secretaire, Walnut, Maple, Paw Feet, Austria circa 1815

Empire Secretaire, Walnut, Maple, Paw Feet, Austria circa 1815

Located in Regensburg, DE

Fine Early Biedermeier or late Empire Secretaire / Drop-Front /Secretary Desk from Austria around

Category

Antique 1820s Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

1940's Italian Secretaire with Reverse Painted Glass
1940's Italian Secretaire with Reverse Painted Glass

1940's Italian Secretaire with Reverse Painted Glass

By Osvaldo Borsani

Located in Hanover, MA

Golden birch veneered drop front secretary desk with three drawers and reverse painted glass panel

Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Birch

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Bureau-Commode. Vienna, c. 1825.
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Bureau-Commode. Vienna, c. 1825.

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Bureau-Commode. Vienna, c. 1825.

Located in Vienna, AT

drawers and a shelf behind a drop-front writing surface. The writing desk and interior accents feature

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...

Materials

Brass

19th Century Louis XV Style Secretaire
19th Century Louis XV Style Secretaire

19th Century Louis XV Style Secretaire

Located in Belmont, MA

marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with four interior drawers

Category

Antique 1890s French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood

19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire
19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire

19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire

Located in Belmont, MA

marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with four interior drawers

Category

Antique 1870s French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Antique Country French Regence Style Secretary
Antique Country French Regence Style Secretary

Antique Country French Regence Style Secretary

Located in Dallas, TX

traditional slant-front drop down desk surface that when closed, exhibits extraordinary artistry carved

Category

Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Exceptional Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Commode by Henry Dasson
Exceptional Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Commode by Henry Dasson

Exceptional Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Commode by Henry Dasson

By Henry Dasson

Located in Long Island City, NY

made some larger pieces— secrétaires à abattant (drop-front secretary desks), tables, and commodes— he

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Commodes and Chests of Dra...

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Outstanding Early 18th Century English George I Secretary
Outstanding Early 18th Century English George I Secretary

Outstanding Early 18th Century English George I Secretary

Located in Dallas, TX

original mirrors to the front. The drop down desk front opens to reveal 8 drawers and 4 cubbies with a

Category

Antique Early 18th Century English George I Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut

Antique Victorian Holland & Sons Mount Street London Hand Carved Display Cabinet
Antique Victorian Holland & Sons Mount Street London Hand Carved Display Cabinet

Antique Victorian Holland & Sons Mount Street London Hand Carved Display Cabinet

By Holland & Sons

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

glazing and drop front secrataire desk finished in oxblood leather Please note the delivery fee listed

Category

Antique 19th Century English Gothic Revival Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Hardwood

Osvaldo Borsani Mid-Century Modern Italian Bar Cabinet
Osvaldo Borsani Mid-Century Modern Italian Bar Cabinet

Osvaldo Borsani Mid-Century Modern Italian Bar Cabinet

By Osvaldo Borsani

Located in Forney, TX

case with drop-front secretary desk style slant-front bar work surface, over double-door cabinet

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars

Materials

Wood, Rosewood

20th Century French Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
20th Century French Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant

20th Century French Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant

Located in Miami, FL

Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one high drawer and one

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Deco drop front desk
Deco drop front desk

Deco drop front desk

Unavailable|$6,500

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

Unavailable|$9,750

Swedish Drop-front Desk

Located in Dallas, TX

Beautifully painted drop-front desk with 3 exterior drawers and 16 interior drawers.

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks

Materials

Wood

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

Macassar Drop Front Desk By Jacques Adnet

Located in San Francisco, CA

Awesome drop front desk by Adnet.

Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks

Hand Carved Chinese Drop-Front Desk by George Zee
Hand Carved Chinese Drop-Front Desk by George Zee

Hand Carved Chinese Drop-Front Desk by George Zee

By George Zee and Co

Located in Fulton, CA

compartmentalized drop-front desk by George Zee & Company, Hong Kong, circa 1960. Depicting architectural structure

Category

Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Desks

Materials

Hardwood

Vintage Painted drop front desk
Vintage Painted drop front desk

Vintage Painted drop front desk

Located in Santa Rosa, CA

Highly decorative well made desk with paint decorated finish

Category

Late 20th Century American Desks

Materials

Wood

Drop front desk by Gustav Stickley
Drop front desk by Gustav Stickley

Drop front desk by Gustav Stickley

By Gustav Stickley

Located in Syracuse, NY

This early and desirable Gustav Stickley desk with strap hardware still retains its original

Category

Early 20th Century American Desks

Materials

Copper

Scandinavian Drop Front Desk
Scandinavian Drop Front Desk

Scandinavian Drop Front Desk

Located in East Hampton, NY

2 PIECES

Category

Vintage 1950s Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Drop Front Desk Attributed To L&JG Stickley For the Safe Craft Line
Drop Front Desk Attributed To L&JG Stickley For the Safe Craft Line

Drop Front Desk Attributed To L&JG Stickley For the Safe Craft Line

By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.

Located in Hudson, NY

Arts and crafts drop front desk. Attributed to Stickley. "Safe Craft" line. Early 20th century.

Category

20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

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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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