What are antique desks called?

What antique desks are called depends on their design. A desk with chair cutouts on both sides is a partner desk, while one with a pull-down writing surface is a secretary. On a Davenport desk, the desktop lifts to reveal a storage area. Find a variety of antique, vintage and contemporary desks on 1stDibs.

What is an antique Davenport desk?

An antique Davenport desk is a small writing desk, usually with four drawers on one side. The desk would have elaborately decorated supports and a recessed space for adequate legroom. Shop a collection of Davenport desks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

How do I know if my roll top desk is antique?

To tell if a roll-top desk is an antique, look closely at the materials. Real antiques feature hardwoods like cherry, mahogany and black walnut. If you detect the use of engineered woods, the desk is a reproduction. Also, early pieces show off irregular dovetail joints. Joints that appear perfectly uniform indicate that a roll-top desk is a more recent mass-produced piece. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted antique roll-top desks.

How much is my antique secretary desk worth?

An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.

How do I know if my antique roll top desk?

A variety of factors can determine the exact age of an antique roll top desk. Some things to look for is the type of wood and craftsmanship used to create the desk. Typically, older desks will be made from heavier wood. You can also check for a maker’s marks to determine the age. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your roll top desk. You’ll find a variety of expertly vetted roll top desks on 1stDibs.

Postmaster Desk Antique

Mahogany Double Sided Desk

Early American Writing Desk

Hotel Cabinets

Sorting Desk

Vintage Postmaster Desk Sign, c.1940-1950

$125

H 6 in W 17.25 in D 3 in

Vintage Postmaster Desk Sign, c.1940-1950

Located in San Francisco, CA

ABOUT An original wooden desk sign for Ralph T. Cheery, postmaster with brass eagle. CREATOR

Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Brass

Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

$27,383

H 29.73 in W 45.28 in D 37.8 in

Rare 1794 George III Gillows of Lancaster Double Sided Postmasters Sorting Desk

By Gillows of Lancaster & London

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Lancaster twin pedestal double sided postmasters desk in paneled mahogany I have never seen another with

Category

1790s English George III Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Mahogany

Recent Sales

Early 20th Century French Industrial Metal Postmasters Desk

Sold

H 33 in W 74 in D 30 in

Early 20th Century French Industrial Metal Postmasters Desk

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Early 20th century French industrial metal postmasters desk.

Category

Early 1900s French Edwardian Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Metal

Vintage Boho Hand Turned PostMaster’s Desk

Sold

H 72 in W 38 in D 28 in

Vintage Boho Hand Turned PostMaster’s Desk

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A fantastic vintage Boho PostMaster’s desk. A chic hand turned frame with a large upper cabinet

Category

Early 20th Century North American Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Wood

Mid 19th C. Postmaster's Desk, c.1850-Contact us for more affordable shipping

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H 54 in W 56.75 in D 25.5 in

Mid 19th C. Postmaster's Desk, c.1850-Contact us for more affordable shipping

Located in San Francisco, CA

postmaster's desk with dovetails joints, turned legs and joined by a stretcher base. Two hinged lift tops with

Category

Mid-19th Century American Industrial Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Pine

Antique Pine Postmaster Desk with Fitted Interior, Circa 1840s

Sold

H 57 in W 32 in D 24 in

Antique Pine Postmaster Desk with Fitted Interior, Circa 1840s

Located in South Bend, IN

A unique solid pine postmaster or general store desk with fitted interior USA, circa 1840s

Category

Mid-19th Century American American Colonial Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Pine

People Also Browsed

Highclere Castle Jewellery Box

$246,449

H 20.87 in W 21.07 in D 27.56 in

Highclere Castle Jewellery Box

By LINLEY London

Located in London, GB

Over the years, British design company Linley has developed expertise in creating scaled versions of famous architectural buildings including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the R...

Category

2010s British Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Maple

Antique Sterling Silver Canteen of Cutlery for Twelve Persons

$30,806

H 0.5 in Dm 9 in

Antique Sterling Silver Canteen of Cutlery for Twelve Persons

By Viners 1

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A magnificent, fine and impressive, comprehensive antique George V English sterling silver Sandringham pattern flatware service for twelve persons - boxed; an addition to our canteen...

Category

20th Century English Georgian Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

18th Century Spanish Iron-Clad Strong Box in Working Condition with Original Key

$5,040

H 22.75 in W 26.5 in D 19 in

18th Century Spanish Iron-Clad Strong Box in Working Condition with Original Key

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Spanish strong box from the 18th century. This antique safe from is constructed or iron clad wood, and is handsomely adorn in domed iron nailhead trim throughout it's top, front, a...

Category

18th Century Spanish Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Iron

Jaguar XK 120 Roadster 1950, Rare Collection Car, A+ Condition incl. Expert Op.

$239,000

H 55 in W 174 in D 62 in

Jaguar XK 120 Roadster 1950, Rare Collection Car, A+ Condition incl. Expert Op.

By Jaguar Cars Ltd.

Located in Lichtenberg, AT

We offer you the chance of buying this breathtaking, rare Jaguar XK 120 which had its first road legal in february 1950. There has been built only a very little number of these cars,...

Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Metal

Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns

$290,000

H 136 in Dm 108 in

Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns . Monumental Exquisite refined work King Charles X Period Rotunda rotundus building structure with a...

Category

Early 19th Century French Charles X Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Stone, Copper

Louis XVI Style Bunk Beds/Matching Pair of Single Beds Made by La Maison London

$13,897 / set

H 87.01 in W 41.34 in D 88.59 in

Louis XVI Style Bunk Beds/Matching Pair of Single Beds Made by La Maison London

By La Maison London

Located in London, Park Royal

Louis XVI style bunk beds, exclusive to La Maison London: Hand carved featuring a band of intricate laurel leaves along the side bars and hand finished to order (picture shows a pale...

Category

2010s British Louis XVI Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Wood

Unusual English Iron Strong Box by W. Graham & Son, London

$1,800

H 15.25 in W 20 in D 12.5 in

Unusual English Iron Strong Box by W. Graham & Son, London

Located in Essex, MA

Paneled case with top lifting handle and side handles. Signed on top with working lock and key.

Category

Early 19th Century English Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Iron

Antique English Coromandel Fitted Traveler's Box Compendium, Circa 1850-1860

$6,000

H 9.25 in W 14.75 in D 10.75 in

Antique English Coromandel Fitted Traveler's Box Compendium, Circa 1850-1860

Located in New Orleans, LA

Antique English Victorian Coromandel wood fitted traveler's box Compendium, Circa 1850-1860. Made by J.T. Needs, Late Bramah: Purveyor to Her Majesty, Prince Albert & the Royal Family.

Category

Mid-19th Century English Victorian Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Crystal, Silver

Exhibition Austrian Neo-Baroque Carved Mahogany Bed, circa 1890

$246,449

H 103.15 in W 98.04 in D 91.34 in

Exhibition Austrian Neo-Baroque Carved Mahogany Bed, circa 1890

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

An Exceptional Exhibition Austrian Neo-Baroque Carved Mahogany Bed The Foot and Headboard Finely Carved With Figural Crests and Inset with Gilt-Bronze Relief Panels Depicting the Fiv...

Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Silver Plate Epergne and Cruet Service

$18,850 / set

H 21.63 in W 17.5 in D 10.5 in

19th Century Silver Plate Epergne and Cruet Service

Located in New Orleans, LA

This elegant silver plate epergne is a rarity in that it also includes a full, cut-glass cruet set. This service’s delicate central basket is elevated above a plateau holding ten fin...

Category

19th Century Unknown Other Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Silver Plate

Georgian Davenport Desk Attributed to Gillows

$14,850

H 35.13 in W 20.38 in D 22.63 in

Georgian Davenport Desk Attributed to Gillows

By Gillows of Lancaster & London

Located in New Orleans, LA

There is more to this exceptional George IV Davenport desk than meets the eye. Attributed to famed cabinetmaker Gillows of Lancaster and London and crafted of luxurious rosewood, the...

Category

19th Century English Georgian Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Leather, Rosewood

Louis XVI Sterling Silver Gilt Canteen In Louis XV Ormolu Kingwood Vitrine 105pc

$68,000Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 33.5 in W 38.25 in D 20.25 in

Louis XVI Sterling Silver Gilt Canteen In Louis XV Ormolu Kingwood Vitrine 105pc

By Cardeilhac, Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener

Located in Germantown, MD

French Louis XVI Style Crested Gilt-Silver Assembled Flat Table Service in a Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Kingwood Fitted Vitrine cabinet. Enjoy one the greatest combination of top ...

Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Sterling Silver, Ormolu

Unique Georgian Sterling Tureen, c1802

$21,000

H 10 in W 15 in D 9 in

Unique Georgian Sterling Tureen, c1802

By John Roberts & Co

Located in Litchfield, CT

Circa 1802, sterling, John Roberts & Co., Sheffield, England. This very unusual tureen consists of the main tureen with an inserted vegetable dish, which is the uncommon part. Al...

Category

Early 1800s English Georgian Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Sterling Silver

South American Presentation Sword

$48,500 / set

H 39.5 in W 3 in D 1 in

South American Presentation Sword

Located in New Orleans, LA

Believed to have originated from the collection of a South American diplomat, the exquisiteness of this presentation sword conveys its ownership by an individual of great importance....

Category

19th Century South American Other Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Steel, Brass, Bronze

William IV Terrestrial And Celestial Floor Globes By J. W. Cary

$148,500 / set

H 47 in W 31 in D 31 in

William IV Terrestrial And Celestial Floor Globes By J. W. Cary

By John & William Cary

Located in New Orleans, LA

This stately pair of William IV Terrestrial and Celestial Globes was crafted by the esteemed mapmaking firm J. & W. Cary, exuding the essence of late Regency-era elegance. Beyond...

Category

19th Century English Regency Postmaster Desk Antique

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Bedroom Suite Walnut Nightstands Bed Commode 1870

$90,364

H 59 in W 78 in D 84 in

French Empire Bedroom Suite Walnut Nightstands Bed Commode 1870

Located in Potters Bar, GB

This Suite Comprises of a Large Gentleman's Wardrobe, a Ladies Wardrobe, Super King Size Bed, Marble Top Commode and a Pair of Marble Top Bedside Cabinets. The Whole of the Suite Bei...

Category