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18th Century Black Swedish Gustavian Oak Bureau - Antique Drop Front Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
. The black, drop front secretaire represents the neoclassical Greek style with the original brass
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
No Reserve
H 42.5 in W 47 in D 30.75 in
18th Century Oak Drop Front Secretaire
Located in Dallas, TX
French oak drop front secretarie with green leather writing surface.
Circa 1780
Category
Antique 18th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Antique Burr Walnut Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Drop Front Secretaire Drawers
By Biedermeier
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this super quality, antique Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire desk
Category
Antique 1880s Swedish Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 54.34 in W 48.63 in D 18.9 in
French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Period two Part Flame Mahogany Drop Front Abattant. Item features beautiful
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 61.5 in W 41.25 in D 20.25 in
Vintage Hardwood Marble Topped Chrome Drop Front Secretaire Desk with Drawers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this exquisite, tall, Rosewood with marble top and chrome fittings free standing Secratire desk
A truly stunning desk, its very large and yet d...
Category
20th Century Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Chrome
H 52.17 in W 30.12 in D 19.1 in
Blue Painted Swedish Secretaire
Located in Washington, DC
A blue painted Swedish Drop Front Secretaire with decorative painting inside the doors.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Arbalete Front Chinoiserie Writing Desk, Italy, 18th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Slant/drop front secrétaire commode, with arbalete front. Louis XIV style, decorated with hand
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
Art Deco Secretaire Abattant by Jules Leleu Signed, Circa 1935
By Jules Leleu
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
parquetry and marquetry inlaid drop-front secretaire cabinet, with ebony and mother of pearl inlay flower
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century "Secretaire Abattant" Style Standing Drop Front Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
A striking 19th century "Secretaire Abattant" style standing desk with a drop front writing surface
Category
Antique 19th Century British Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Maple Drop Front Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very attractive early 19th century Maple and Ebony German Biedermeier drop front secretary. Nice
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Maple
American Victorian Walnut Drop Front Secretary
Located in New York, NY
American Victorian walnut drop front secretary with two glass doors.
Category
20th Century American Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Empire Drop Front Desk, Kopenhagen, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Empire drop front desk, Copenhagen 1810-20.
This unique Danish secretary desk is embellished with
Category
Antique 1810s Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A lovely architectural form secretary with marquetry inlay doors.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Gustavian Style Drop Front or Slant Front Secretary, Late 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
This late 19th-century Gustavian style drop-front secretary bookshelf is a true embodiment of
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
A drop-front secretary desk - 1950 - France.
By Rene Gabriel, Charlotte Perriand, Marcel Gascoin
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
.
Height with the drop-down leaf open: 75 cm.
Dimensions of the drop-down leaf: 45 cm x 80 cm.
Great
Category
Vintage 1950s French Secretaires
Materials
Elm
Tall Mid-Century Highboy Drop Front Secretary
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unique highboy dresser with burl wood drop font writing surface with fitted insert. Additional
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Burl
Antique Biedermeier-Style Drop-Front Mahogany Secretary Chest
By Biedermeier
Located in Milano, IT
This marvelous Biedermeier-style drop-front secretary chest, dating back to around 1830 and crafted
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Metal
18th Century French Drop Front Child Size Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A late 18th century Country French child's Size drop front desk from Alsace. Made of solid oak with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Studio Craft Drop Front Desk by Karel Mikolas
Located in Dallas, TX
An incredibly crafted drop front secretary desk by Karel Mikolas. Made from various solid hardwoods
Category
Vintage 1970s Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
1940s French Abatant with Original Vellum Drop Front
Located in Dallas, TX
1940s French abatant with original vellum drop front facing. Faux volumes of books create a
Category
Vintage 1940s French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Børge Mogensen Drop Front Secretary Desk in Teak
By Børge Mogensen, Søborg Møbler 1
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark
Designer: Børge Mogensen
Manufacturer: Søborg Møbler
Era: 1950s
Materials: teak
Measurements: 39.5? wide x 18? deep x 47.25? tall
Condition: In excellent orig...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Antique 19th Century Dutch Oak Drop Front Bombe Secretary
Located in Charleston, SC
Antique 19th century Dutch oak drop front bombe secretary with a 3-drawer bombe front and carved
Category
Antique 19th Century Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Paint
French Louis Philippe Drop Front Secretary, late 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
black stone top. This exquisite piece of 19th-century craftsmanship boasts a drop front that unveils a
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Victorian Eastlake Cherry Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk 61"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian drop front secretary or library writing desk. Made of cherry featuring Eastlake
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Eastlake Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
. Features a drop front with neoclassical brass hardware over large central drawer with French pulls. Opens
Category
Early 20th Century Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
English Hepplewhite Secretaire
Located in Wilson, NC
The top of this English Hepplewhite secretaire has two drawer fronts that drop down to reveal the
Category
Antique Early 1800s English Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Italian Walnut Drop-Front Bombe Secretary in Louis XV Style
Located in Chicago, IL
Italian drop front Louis XV style bombe secretary/chest with three drawers. Brass Rococo pulls and
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Drop Front Desk, France 1780-1800, Walnut Root Veneer
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Louis XVI drop front desk, France 1780, walnut root veneer with details in cherry, plum
Category
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Boxwood, Cherry, Walnut
Crotch Mahogany Individual Glass Pains Door Drop Front Secretary Breakfront MINT
By Kittinger Furniture Company, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Crotch Mahogany Individual Glass Pains Door Drop Front Secretary Breakfront MINT!
Category
20th Century American Federal Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 76 in W 61 in D 18 in
Model 63 Drop Front Teak Secretary Desk by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen, HNJ Møbler, Tørring Møbelfabrik
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark
Designer: Kai Kristiansen
Manufacturer: HNJ Møbel / Tørring Møbelfabrik
Era: 1960s
Materials: Teak
Measurements: 35" wide x 17" deep x 42.5" tall
Condition: I...
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th Century French Drop-Front Marquetry Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one low door with
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Oak
H 51.97 in W 24.41 in D 10.04 in
1780s Gustavian Period Swedish Grey Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period grey painted drop-front secretary from circa 1780 with multiple inner
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 50.5 in W 43 in D 21.7 in
Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 44.1 in W 59.6 in D 17.9 in
French Louis XVI Style 19th Century Parquetry Inlaid Drop Front Secretary
Located in New York, NY
French Louis XVI style 19th century parquetry inlaid drop front secretary (abattant) with gilt
Category
Antique 19th Century Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique French Empire drop front "abattant" secretary desk made with magnificent high
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Arnold Bros Hardwood Chippendale Drop Front Bureau Desk Lovely Timber
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in GB
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
H 39.38 in W 30.71 in D 16.93 in
19th C. Drop Front Desk, Secretary Abattant, with Multiple Wood Marquetry Inlay
Located in Madrid, ES
This handsome Carlos IV style "secretaire-abattant" or drop front desk combines functionality with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Spanish Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood, Kingwood, Mahogany
H 59.06 in W 39.38 in D 19.69 in
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 56.7 in W 38 in D 16.54 in
Burlwood Drop-Front Secretary, One of Four Produced; Båstad, Sweden, c. 1880
Located in Norwalk, CT
Dating from around 1880, this exceptional "secrétaire à abattant" is one of four identical chests
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Burl
H 50.25 in W 44 in D 17 in
Chinese Export Secretaire Chest
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Tall Chinese secretaire chest, similar to a campaign chest.
With a wonderful drop front, this
Category
Antique 19th Century English Country Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Secretary Cabinet
By Minton-Spidell
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Secretary Cabinet
This Vintage
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Gold Leaf
H 88 in W 58 in D 26 in
Model 68 drop front Secretary by Arne Wahl Iversen, 1960s Danish Rosewood
By Arne Wahl Iversen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Model 68 drop front secretary desk by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik, 1960s. This stunning
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 43.31 in W 37.41 in D 16.54 in
18th Century Louis XV Bureau Italian Genoese Walnut Marquetry Drop-Front Desk
Located in Milan, IT
An exceptional Italian Genoese walnut veneered and inlaid fall front bureau secretaire desk, dating
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 44.1 in W 45.28 in D 21.66 in
1940s Osvaldo Borsani Secretaire
Located in Hanover, MA
Rare and very unusual piece of Italian modern design.
Vintage 1940s Italian bow-fronted secretary
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Goatskin
English 19th Century Mahogany Secrétaire
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
adjustable shelves at 8” deep. A drop front desk opens to a wine colored leather writing surface with gold
Category
Antique 19th Century English Other Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Stunning 1900s Burr & Burl Walnut Drop Front Bureau Desk Lovely Timber Patina
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1900 Burr & Burl Walnut drop front bureau
Category
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 40.56 in W 31.7 in D 17.72 in
Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Drop Front Secretary Desk from G
Located in Round Top, TX
Rich dark wood and stately lines define this handsome Biedermeier drop front secretary from Germany
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
H 84.5 in W 44.25 in D 25 in
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy
By Mengel Furniture Co., Raymond Lowey
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
H 47.25 in W 36 in D 19.25 in
Teak Mid-Century Modern Wall Storage Bookcase Cabinet with Drop Front Desk
Located in Topeka, KS
drop front desk in teak. It is in wonderful vintage condition but not without some signs of age
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Laminate, Teak
H 61.25 in W 98.5 in D 20 in
Louis XVI Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Pasadena, CA
secretaire is configured with 3 long drawers. It appears that the secretaire's drop front has spent most of
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Chinoiserie Gilt Lacquer Table Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
pigments atop low relief elements. At the base is a large drawer with a scalloped front and two drop
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Rustic A. Brandt Ranch Oak Secretary Style Drop Front Student Desk with Bookcase
By A. Brandt Ranch Oak Furniture
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome Late 20th Century Rustic or Western secretary style drop front lighted student desk with
Category
Late 20th Century American Rustic Secretaires
Materials
Metal
H 74.5 in W 32 in D 15 in
Rio Rosewood Drop Front Secretary Desk by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabri
By Arne Wahl Iversen, Vinde Møbelfabrik
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Model 68 drop front secretary desk by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik, 1960s. With
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
H 42.52 in W 37.41 in D 16.93 in
Antique Burled Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Bridgeport, CT
lower long drawers. The middle faux drawers drop down to the secretary. The fitted interior with drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Napoleon III Secretaire Abattant, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique secretaire abattant cabinet with drop down writing panel with interior carved wooden rails
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite French Louis XV style secrétaire with straight front adorned with beautiful flower
Category
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Louis Philippe Style Marquetry Secretaire, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
bronze pulls and key above a drop front opening to reveal leather-inset writing surface and interior
Category
Antique 19th Century Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite French Louis XV style secrétaire with wave shaped front adorned with beautiful flower
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Georgian Style Two Piece Cerused Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Painted English Georgian style two-piece secretaire bookcase featuring a slant front or drop front
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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Drop Front Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the drop front secretaire you’re looking for. A drop front secretaire — often made from wood, metal and mahogany — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer drop front secretaire, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A drop front secretaire, designed in the mid-century modern, louis xv or Victorian style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Guillerme et Chambron, Herman Miller and Gilbert Rohde each produced at least one beautiful drop front secretaire that is worth considering.
How Much is a Drop Front Secretaire?
Prices for a drop front secretaire can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $799 and can go as high as $150,000, while the average can fetch as much as $4,725.
Finding the Right secretaires for You
Your antique, new or vintage secretary desk has become the (chic) saving grace of the "new normal" at home.
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 — pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers — are revealed.
Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts — a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top. Taking its name from the French word for the piece, secrétaire, the secretary desk dates back to the 18th century, when Paris-based cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben, known for his exquisite marquetry and clever mechanical desks, is thought to have invented the secrétaire à abbattant, or drop-leaf desk.
While the defining drop-down feature of the secretary desk has remained constant, the materials used, as well as its configuration, size and style have evolved over time.
At first, secretaries were typically made from exotic woods, like rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood; later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common. The desks also became lighter, with space carved out of the lower half for the writer’s feet or with drawers replaced by legs — making them more table-like.
When open, the secretary is a dynamic, versatile Wunderkammer. When closed, it’s a sophisticated, space-saving piece of furniture.
“A fine secretary with a good provenance adds stature and credence to its owner — it is a cornerstone piece,” says antiques dealer Stanley Weiss, who specializes in 18th- and 19th-century English and American furniture. “In this disposable world, fine furniture is always passed on and speaks to who its owner is.”
No matter what style or period you choose, and no matter how you decide to use it, the timeless, flexible secretary desk is bound to become an indispensable part of your daily routine.
Browse a range of antique and vintage secretary desks on 1stDibs, including mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others.
Questions About Drop Front Secretaire
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023A 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.
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Curio Secretary Desk
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