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Art Deco Bar and Drop-Front Desk in the Taste of André Sornay '1902-2002'
Art Deco Bar and Drop-Front Desk in the Taste of André Sornay '1902-2002'

Art Deco Bar and Drop-Front Desk in the Taste of André Sornay '1902-2002'

By Andre Sornay

Located in Paris, FR

Asymmetrical Art Deco bar and drop-front desk crafted of rosewood veneer in the taste of André

Category

20th Century French Art Deco Dry Bars

Materials

Rosewood

Unusual Walnut and Marquetry Drop Front Desk
Unusual Walnut and Marquetry Drop Front Desk

Unusual Walnut and Marquetry Drop Front Desk

By Daisy Line

Located in Petaluma, CA

. Even the narrow draw below has a unique design. When dropping down the front, we see several useful

Category

Vintage 1920s American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Walnut

French 19th Century Empire Drop Front Desk
French 19th Century Empire Drop Front Desk

French 19th Century Empire Drop Front Desk

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

This French 19th century solid walnut desk has many interesting features. The slant front folds

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

A Swedish Mid 19th Century Swedish Karl Johan Drop-Front Desk
A Swedish Mid 19th Century Swedish Karl Johan Drop-Front Desk

A Swedish Mid 19th Century Swedish Karl Johan Drop-Front Desk

Located in Atlanta, GA

A charming Swedish Mid 19th Century Karl Johan Drop-Front Painted Wood Desk with Three Graduated

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Karl Johan Desks

Materials

Paint, Wood

Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, 1950s
Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, 1950s

Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, 1950s

By Paul McCobb, Planner Group

Located in South Bend, IN

A rare and exceptional Mid-Century Modern drop front storage cabinet or secretary desk with a lower

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, Refinished
Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, Refinished

Paul McCobb Planner Group Drop Front Desk with Sliding Door Credenza, Refinished

By Paul McCobb, Planner Group

Located in South Bend, IN

A rare and exceptional Mid-Century Modern drop front secretary desk cabinet with a lower sliding

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Grasscloth, Maple, Lacquer

Antique Stickley Style Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Desk, Circa 1900
Antique Stickley Style Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Desk, Circa 1900

Antique Stickley Style Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Desk, Circa 1900

By Stickley Brothers

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique Mission oak Arts & Crafts slant front writing desk In the manner of Stickley

Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique Danish Country Pine Bureau / Drop Front Desk
Antique Danish Country Pine Bureau / Drop Front Desk

Antique Danish Country Pine Bureau / Drop Front Desk

Located in Round Top, TX

This pine drop front secretary is charming in every way, with a soft, satin wax finish that

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Country Secretaires

Vintage Inlaid French Bombe Drop Front Desk Secretaire
Vintage Inlaid French Bombe Drop Front Desk Secretaire

Vintage Inlaid French Bombe Drop Front Desk Secretaire

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

An unusual highly-inlaid French fall-front desk or secretaire of dramatic 'bombe' form, the whole

Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Brights of Nettlebed Burr Walnut Bureau with Drop Front Desk & Chest of Drawers
Brights of Nettlebed Burr Walnut Bureau with Drop Front Desk & Chest of Drawers

Brights of Nettlebed Burr Walnut Bureau with Drop Front Desk & Chest of Drawers

By Brights of Nettlebed

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

walnut As mentioned I have a pair of these, this one has an arrangement of drawers and drop front desk

Category

20th Century English Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Small 18th Century Swedish Cabinet or Drop Front Desk
Small 18th Century Swedish Cabinet or Drop Front Desk

Small 18th Century Swedish Cabinet or Drop Front Desk

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Early Baroque wood desk or Hostess station; has four small drawers, one medium drawer and one large

Category

Antique Early 18th Century Swedish Baroque Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Globe Wernicke Arts & Crafts Mahogany Barrister Bookcase With Drop Front Desk
Globe Wernicke Arts & Crafts Mahogany Barrister Bookcase With Drop Front Desk

Globe Wernicke Arts & Crafts Mahogany Barrister Bookcase With Drop Front Desk

By Globe Wernicke

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts stacking barrister bookcase with fall front secretary desk By

Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Vintage Louis Phillipe Mahogany Drop Front Desk High Chest of Drawers
Vintage Louis Phillipe Mahogany Drop Front Desk High Chest of Drawers

Vintage Louis Phillipe Mahogany Drop Front Desk High Chest of Drawers

Located in W Allenhurst, NJ

Beautiful warm highboy dresser with drop-front secretary. Leather embossed writing surface with 3

Category

20th Century Federal Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Wood, Birdseye Maple

Rare Maple Chest w/ Hidden Drop Front Desk By Heywood Wakefield
Rare Maple Chest w/ Hidden Drop Front Desk By Heywood Wakefield

Rare Maple Chest w/ Hidden Drop Front Desk By Heywood Wakefield

By Heywood-Wakefield Co.

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Very odd chest of drawers in champagne finish with an unusual drop front drawer that pulls out for

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Vintage Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk
Vintage Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk

Vintage Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

front top drawer revealing a sliding secrataire desk A good looking and compact desk in period

Category

20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Victorian Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk
Victorian Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk

Victorian Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

drop front top drawer revealing a sliding secrataire desk A good looking and compact desk in period

Category

20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Rare Mahogany 1890 Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire
Rare Mahogany 1890 Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire

Rare Mahogany 1890 Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

chest with drop front Secretaire desk. A very large and well-made piece in stunning lightly restored

Category

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

Materials

Brass

Vintage Queen Anne Baker Style Cherry Secretary Drop Front Desk by Colonial
Vintage Queen Anne Baker Style Cherry Secretary Drop Front Desk by Colonial

Vintage Queen Anne Baker Style Cherry Secretary Drop Front Desk by Colonial

By Colonial Furniture Company

Located in Big Flats, NY

construction with drop front writing surface opening to interior pigeon holes and storage compartments, four

Category

20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Huge 19th Century Walnut Biedermeier Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire
Huge 19th Century Walnut Biedermeier Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire

Huge 19th Century Walnut Biedermeier Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire

By Biedermeier

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

chest of drawers with sliding drop front Secretaire desk A very good looking and functional piece of

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk
Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk

Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

drawers with drop front secrataire desk and green leather writing surface A good looking and well made

Category

20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Yew

Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk
Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk

Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

drop front secrataire desk and green leather writing surface A good looking and well made chest of

Category

20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Yew

Italian slant front desk
Italian slant front desk

Italian slant front desk

Located in Stamford, CT

An Italian, 18th century Bombe form drop front desk. The desk is over two drawers and made of

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks

Materials

Walnut

Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Drop Front Teak Desk for John Stuart
Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Drop Front Teak Desk for John Stuart

Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Drop Front Teak Desk for John Stuart

By Hvidt & Mølgaard

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard- Nielsen teak drop front desk with three drawers for John Stuart

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Lady’s Carved Oak Drop-Front & Serpentine Desk, C1920
Antique Lady’s Carved Oak Drop-Front & Serpentine Desk, C1920

Antique Lady’s Carved Oak Drop-Front & Serpentine Desk, C1920

Located in Big Flats, NY

having flanking pierced scroll and foliate corbels over drop front desk having carved oak decoration and

Category

Early 20th Century American Desks

Materials

Oak, Mirror

Classical Empire Tiger Maple Two-Tone Inlaid Drop Front Butlers Desk
Classical Empire Tiger Maple Two-Tone Inlaid Drop Front Butlers Desk

Classical Empire Tiger Maple Two-Tone Inlaid Drop Front Butlers Desk

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique Classical Empire butler's desk feature two toned inlay tiger maple with drop front desk

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Desks

Materials

Maple

Antique RJ Horner School Oak Drop Front Ladies Writing Desk, Circa 1910
Antique RJ Horner School Oak Drop Front Ladies Writing Desk, Circa 1910

Antique RJ Horner School Oak Drop Front Ladies Writing Desk, Circa 1910

By R.J. Horner & Co.

Located in Big Flats, NY

shaped case having slant drop-front desk over single long drawer and raised on cabriole legs having lower

Category

Early 20th Century American Desks

Materials

Wood, Oak

small desk
small desk

small desk

Sold|$8,800

small desk

Located in New York, NY

drop front desk

Category

Vintage 1940s French Desks

Materials

Iron

Swedish Desk
Swedish Desk

Swedish Desk

Sold|$3,995

Swedish Desk

Located in Atlanta, GA

Painted Swedish Drop Front Desk

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks

French Antique Neoclassical Desk
French Antique Neoclassical Desk

French Antique Neoclassical Desk

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

A 19th century mahogany-and-marble French drop-front desk with original leather. A clever design

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Desks

Quality Oak Arts & Crafts Desk
Quality Oak Arts & Crafts Desk

Quality Oak Arts & Crafts Desk

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

A nice-quality, solid oak, Arts & Crafts style drop-front desk with copper drawer pulls and

Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks

Materials

Copper

18th c. Gustavian Swedish Desk with Distressed Finish
18th c. Gustavian Swedish Desk with Distressed Finish

18th c. Gustavian Swedish Desk with Distressed Finish

Located in Dallas, TX

18th c. Gustavian Swedish Desk with Distressed Paint Finish. Lockable Drop-front Desk with three

Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks

Materials

Wood

19th Century Italian Figured Walnut Desk of Smaller Size
19th Century Italian Figured Walnut Desk of Smaller Size

19th Century Italian Figured Walnut Desk of Smaller Size

Located in Essex, MA

Figured Italian walnut drop front desk or slant lid beautiful figuring three-drawer cabriole

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Desks

Materials

Walnut

Ladies ‘Bonheur De Jour’ Writing Desk
Ladies ‘Bonheur De Jour’ Writing Desk

Ladies ‘Bonheur De Jour’ Writing Desk

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

19th century French inlaid drop-front desk with beautiful patina and color and subtle brass accents

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Desks

Materials

Brass

Bernhard Pedersen & Sons Teak Secretary Desk
Bernhard Pedersen & Sons Teak Secretary Desk

Bernhard Pedersen & Sons Teak Secretary Desk

By Bernhard Pedersen & Son

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Beautiful teak secretary desk with tambour door by Bernhard Pedersen and Son. BPS. Drop front desk

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Teak

George Nelson desk
George Nelson desk

George Nelson desk

Located in Chicago, IL

Drop front desk from the "Thin Edge" series designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller.

Category

Vintage 1950s American Desks

Materials

Aluminum

Italian Florentine Style Walnut Podium Desk, circa 1920
Italian Florentine Style Walnut Podium Desk, circa 1920

Italian Florentine Style Walnut Podium Desk, circa 1920

Located in San Francisco, CA

A 16th century Florentine style, podium height drop front desk. Beautifully carved solid walnut

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Desks

Materials

Walnut

Solid Walnut French Louis XV Style Desk
Solid Walnut French Louis XV Style Desk

Solid Walnut French Louis XV Style Desk

Located in Austin, TX

Lovely antique French Louis XV style drop front desk in solid walnut, three drawers, lost wax

Category

Early 20th Century French Desks

Materials

Walnut

Paul McCobb Connoisseur Collection Dropfront Desk
Paul McCobb Connoisseur Collection Dropfront Desk

Paul McCobb Connoisseur Collection Dropfront Desk

By Paul McCobb

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This stunning drop-front desk is from the Connoisseur Collection designed by Paul McCobb for H

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Metal

Antique Sheraton Flame Mahogany Tambour Secretary Desk, circa 1830
Antique Sheraton Flame Mahogany Tambour Secretary Desk, circa 1830

Antique Sheraton Flame Mahogany Tambour Secretary Desk, circa 1830

Located in Big Flats, NY

double door cabinet over two lower drawers and surmounting cas with drop front desk and three long

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Federal Desks

Materials

Metal

Teak Danish Modern Desk / Secretary
Teak Danish Modern Desk / Secretary

Teak Danish Modern Desk / Secretary

Located in Fulton, CA

A teak Danish Modern desk. Unusual form, varying from a secretary, vanity and drop front desk

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks

Materials

Teak

Georgian Slant Top Mahogany Desk
Georgian Slant Top Mahogany Desk

Georgian Slant Top Mahogany Desk

Located in Atlanta, GA

Mahogany George III (circa 1800-1820) slant top, drop front desk. Mahogany top with ebony and

Category

Antique 19th Century English Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Governor Winthrop Mahogany Slant Front Serpentine Ball & Claw Secretary
Governor Winthrop Mahogany Slant Front Serpentine Ball & Claw Secretary

Governor Winthrop Mahogany Slant Front Serpentine Ball & Claw Secretary

Located in Big Flats, NY

front doors opening to bookshelf with painted interior seated on slant drop front desk opening to reveal

Category

20th Century American Chippendale Desks

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Rustic Secretary Desk by Monterey Furniture
Rustic Secretary Desk by Monterey Furniture

Rustic Secretary Desk by Monterey Furniture

By Frank Mason, Monterey Furniture

Located in Fulton, CA

A rustic California Rancho or Spanish Colonial style drop-front secretary desk made by Monterey

Category

Vintage 1930s American Rancho Monterey Desks

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Style Drop Front Dresser with Desk by Widdcomb
Mid-Century Modern Style Drop Front Dresser with Desk by Widdcomb

Mid-Century Modern Style Drop Front Dresser with Desk by Widdcomb

By Widdicomb Furniture Co.

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This Widdicomb six piece modular unit combines display storage with sliding glass doors, drop front

Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers

Antique Victorian Oak RJ Horner School Secretary Desk, Circa 1920
Antique Victorian Oak RJ Horner School Secretary Desk, Circa 1920

Antique Victorian Oak RJ Horner School Secretary Desk, Circa 1920

By R.J. Horner & Co.

Located in Big Flats, NY

opening to shelved interior; lower with drop front desk over two long drawers and cabinet flanked by

Category

Early 20th Century American Victorian Desks

Materials

Metal

Georgian Drop Front Secretary Chest, Circa 1770
Georgian Drop Front Secretary Chest, Circa 1770

Georgian Drop Front Secretary Chest, Circa 1770

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A beautiful Georgian secretary / chest of drawers in mahogany. The drop-front desk opens to a

Category

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

Teak Drop Front Bureau
Teak Drop Front Bureau

Teak Drop Front Bureau

Located in Puslinch, ON

: A vintage teak drop front desk with drawers. All locks work and comes with key. Freshly imported

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

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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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