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Spanish Walnut Drop Front Secretary, circa 1850
Located in Evergreen, CO
Behind the drop front, the desk has three storage drawers with wood knobs. The interior of the top
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Original Painted Swedish Clock Cabinet With Secretary, Circa 1840
Located in Round Top, TX
Remarkable original painted Swedish cabinet with clock and secretary with drop front desk.
The
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Antique Sheraton Revival Burea Bookcase Leather Top Hardwood Walnut
Satinwood
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Bureau bookcase with brown leather drop front desk.
A very well made and bureau made in the Sheraton
Category
Antique 19th Century English Sheraton Cabinets
Materials
Leather, Glass, Satinwood, Walnut, Hardwood
Antique Federal Style Walnut Hutch Cabinet with Original Hand Blown Glass
Located in Portsmouth, VA
, collectibles, or blue-and-white porcelain. The drop-front desk opens to reveal small storage cubbies that once
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Federal Cabinets
Materials
Blown Glass, Walnut
19th Century English Pine Drop Front Secretaire Dresser Chest
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic 19th century English pine commode, chest, or dresser featuring a drop-front slant secretaire
Category
Antique 19th Century English Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Iron
Antique Dutch Walnut Marquetry Secretaire Abattant Chest Late 18th Century
Located in London, GB
Desk on a chest or as "chest-on chest".
The fall front desk is also called a drop front desk or drop
Category
Antique 1780s Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Walnut Mid Century Modern Drop Down Desk Secretary
By Harvey Probber, James Mont
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Square and straigh lines Mid Century Danish modern drop down front secretary desk with large Art
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Aluminum
Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Louis XV Walnut Drop Front Secretary
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 1960s American Louis XV Bookcases
Materials
Brass
19th Century Empire Mahogany Secrétaire with Drop-Front Door, France, 1810
Located in IT
original and a drop-front opens to a desk with a long open storage area for papers above a series of fitted
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
MCM Teak Veneer German Shrunk Wall Unit Secretary Liquor Cabinet 2-Piece
Located in Topeka, KS
inherent of this type of furniture and part of its beauty. The interiors of the drop front desk or liquor
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Grasscloth, Paint, Teak
Period Danish Chest/Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Three draws under a drop front retractable desk with draws, cabinets and secret compartments.
Category
Antique 19th Century Danish Commodes and Chests of Drawers
$3,995
Heywood Wakefield Secretary Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
Desk
Features:
Rectangular design
Drop-front half desk
Three long drawers
Two moveable shelves
Marked
Category
20th Century American Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Artes De Mexico Walnut and Oyster Burl Fall Front Bureau
Located in Chicago, IL
small door. Comes with single key for drop front plateau.
Depth of desk with front open is 25.50".
Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Manhasset, NY
A fine paint decorated secretary desk, Italian. The double bookcase top over a drop front with an
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Italian Painted Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in West Hartford, CT
features a unique shape with bookcase top over a drop front with an interior desk. The lower section has
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Louis XVI Secretaire Desk, circa 1790
Located in Doylestown, PA
A nice Louis XVI drop-front secretaire desk in blonde walnut, circa 1790, with its original grey
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary
By R.J. Horner
Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
front secretary desk
In the manner of R.J. Horner & Co.
USA, Circa 1890s
Gorgeous mahogany, with
Category
Antique 1890s American American Empire Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Danish Modern Teak and Oak Secretary Desk
Located in Berkeley, CA
This unusual drop front Mid-Century secretary desk in teak is crafted with some truly memorable
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Teak
Raymond Loewy Secretary Desk for Mengel Furniture
By Mengel Furniture Co., Raymond Loewy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oak secretary desk by Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture c.1950s, USA. This drop front oak desk
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique French Painted Secretary Desk Display Cabinet
Located in West Hartford, CT
Exquisite antique French hand-painted 2 part drop front secretary desk display cabinet. Features
Category
Early 20th Century French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Early 19th Century Danish Empire Fall-Front Secretary in Cuban Mahogany, c. 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
pedestal top above top drawer, with drop-front opening to a desk with open storage area for papers
Category
Antique 1820s Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
Rare Monterey Furniture Secretary Desk, circa 1930s
By Monterey Furniture
Located in Fulton, CA
A scarce Monterey Furniture drop-front secretary desk in green with hand painted floral design
Category
20th Century American Rancho Monterey Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Small Georgian Mahogany Bureau Desk With Ivory Inlay
Located in Troy, MI
Drop front mahogany bureau desk dates from 1825. Ivory inlay, beautiful wood grain, several
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Teak Dropfront Secretary Desk with Drawer and Compartments
Located in Pasadena, TX
A vintage, solid teak, drop-front secretary desk with a lock and a drop-down writing surface. A
Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Baker Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet with Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous English Georgian style two-piece breakfront bookcase cabinet with drop-front secretary
Category
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Trosby Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet With Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style monumental breakfront bookcase cabinet with drop front
Category
Vintage 1980s American Georgian Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Kittinger Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet with Secretary Desk
By Kittinger Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Georgian style lighted breakfront bookcase cabinet with drop front secretary desk
Category
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase With Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet with drop front
Category
Vintage 1980s American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture Chippendale Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase with Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Chippendale or Georgian style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch
Category
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Antique American Victorian Cherry Secretary Desk
Bookcase Hutch Curio Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique American Victorian fall/ drop front secretary desk, bookcase, hutch and curio. Made of
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Cherry
Baker Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet With Secretary Desk, 1940s
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous English Georgian style breakfront bookcase cabinet with drop-front secretary desk
By
Category
Vintage 1940s American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
George III England Antique Mahogany Secretaire Secretary Desk Bureau Bookcase
Located in West Hartford, CT
Early George III antique drop front secretary desk with gorgeous detail and multiple drawers and
Category
Antique 1810s English George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Eastlake Carved Walnut Double Bookcase with Secretary Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful antique Victorian Eastlake double bookcase cabinet with drop front secretary desk
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Georgian Carved Flame Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet With Secretary Desk
By Vanleigh Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet with drop front
Category
Vintage 1930s American Georgian Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Antique Saginaw Flame Mahogany Breakfront China Cabinet Butler Secretary Desk
By Saginaw
Located in Dayton, OH
with fretwork bubble glass doors, lower cabinet and drawers, and a drop front butlers writing secretary
Category
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut Secretary Desk Bookcase Hutch Display Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
An exquisite antique Victorian Eastlake drop front secretary desk and bookcase; circa 1880s. Made
Category
Antique 1880s Eastlake Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Baker Furniture Country French Provincial Louis XV Walnut Bonnet Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
fronts, drop front writing desk with leather top surface, fitted interior, three dovetail constructed
Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Victorian Quartersawn Oak Side by Side Secretary Desk Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
of quartersawn or "tiger" oak with a curved glass bookcase and drop front secretary desk. The
Category
Early 20th Century Late Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Walnut Secretary Desk with Bookcase
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
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
19th C. Chippendale Flame Mahogany Bookcase Side Secretary Desk Curio Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
design made from crotch mahogany with carved backsplash. Features a drop front writing desk flanked by
Category
Antique 19th Century Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Baker Furniture Georgian Cherry Chest of Drawers with Secretary Desk, Refinished
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian or Chippendale style ten-drawer dresser or chest of drawers with drop front
Category
Late 20th Century American Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Antique Italian Venetian Olive Burl Serpentine Secretary Slant Desk Bureau Chest
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive antique Italian Venetian drop front secretary desk. Made from olive burl with a
Category
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Olive, Burl
Mid Century Modern Vintage Freestanding Wall Unit Desk in Walnut, circa 1960s
Located in Troy, MI
1960s
Freestanding with adjustable upper drop front cabinet and floating desk
Walnut construction with
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Victorian Carved Tiger Oak Side-by-Side Bookcase With Secretary Desk
By R.J. Horner
Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Victorian side-by-side drop front secretary desk and bookcase or display cabinet
In the
Category
Early 20th Century American Victorian Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mirror, Oak
Danish Modern RY100 Murphy Bed, Desk
Shelving System by Hans J Wegner for Ry
By Hans J. Wegner
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Murphy bed boasts a lovely cane front with heavyweight steel hardware and drop down bed upholstered in
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Oak
Baker Furniture Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style breakfront bookcase cabinet with drop front secretary desk
Category
Vintage 1960s American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Fine 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Birch and Parcel Gilt Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine Biedermeier period Satinwood Birch drop front secretary. Ebonized writing desk front
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Kittinger Georgian Carved Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
By Kittinger
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet with drop front
Category
Vintage 1960s American Georgian Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture French Empire Burl Wood Secrétaire á Abattant With Brass Ormolu
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire or Neoclassical style drop front secretary desk
By Baker Furniture
Category
Vintage 1980s American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Italian Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Desk with drop front from Italy made of rosewood and black lacquered steel legs with brass hardware
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Steel
19th c. Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Dallas, TX
details. Many drawers but no keys. Marble top and drop-front with leather desk top.
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Midcentury Teak and Oak Secretaire by Børge Mogensen 1960s
By Børge Mogensen, Søborg Møbelfabrik
Located in Asaa, DK
secretary with legs in solid oak. Drop down front. Large desk area. Two small drawers and five open
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Set of Eight Stacking Storage Units
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
, wooden-fronted storage, a drop-down desk and a liquor cabinet. The sections may be interchanged into
Category
Mid-20th Century French Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Oak
Danish Teak Free Standing Wall Unit, ca. 1950s
Located in Peabody, MA
Danish teak free-standing wall unit consisting of drop front secretary writing desk, two cabinets
Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Cabinets
Materials
Teak
Gustavian Secretary Chest
Located in New York City, NY
Swedish Gustavian secretary. Drop-front opens to desk with fitted interior drawers and cubbyholes
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Outstanding Three Piece Wall Unit By Founders
By Founders Furniture Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
, made of quality walnut grain with cane front doors, drop front cabinet/desk, drawers and various size
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
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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, 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023In 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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