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Maddox Chinoiserie Style Black Lacquer Secretaire Desk with Drop-Front
By Maddox Furniture
Located in Astoria, NY
, and hand-painted with Asian Motifs. An ornately decorated drop-front (Key provided) with extending
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Wood
Mahogany Wood Slant Front Secretary / Cabinet
Located in Tarry Town, NY
lockable drop front desk top which conceals six small drawers and six cubbies resting on four claw feet
Category
Vintage 1920s North American Chippendale Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Henredon Georgian Yew Wood Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase Hutch
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
By
Category
Late 20th Century American Georgian Desks
Materials
Brass
Bernhard Pedersen and Son Mid Century Rosewood Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Bernhard Pedersen
Son
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Bernhard Pedersen and Son mid century rosewood drop front secretary desk
The desk measures: 35.5
Category
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Rosewood
Baker Georgian Walnut Drop Front Secretary Desk with Mirrored Bookcase Hutch
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Queen Anne style bureau with drop front secretary desk and mirrored bookcase
Category
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Desks
Materials
Brass
Ib Kofod Larson Teak Secretary Desk
By Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A beautiful Danish teak design with a drop front desk, many drawers, sliding doors, and multiple
Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Abalone
Anglo-Indian Victorian Campaign Chest with Integrated Writing Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
central drawer contains a drop-front desk surface with multiple small drawers and a secret compartment
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Paul McCobb Secretary Desk
By Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Miami, FL
also used as a bar cabinet. Fitted with the original brass handle, the drop-front desk opens to an
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Grasscloth, Wood
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Wood Drop-Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
above a drop-front desk that opens up to reveal a multitude of drawers surrounding a central door. The
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Gustav Stickley Mission Oak Arts
Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1900
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional Mission Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk
By Gustav Stickley
USA
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks
Materials
Copper
18th Century, Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant
Located in Doylestown, PA
drawers, a middle drop front desk, and a lower two-door cabinet concealing shelves, in walnut, circa 1780.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Secretary with Aluminum Inlaid Pulls
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Oakland, CA
1960s rosewood secretary desk with drop-front desk over three drawers with aluminum inlay pulls
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Swedish 1810s Late Gustavian Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood drop-front secretary from the early 19th century, with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage Solid Maple Secretary Cabinet, Desk, Storage, Entryway, Living Room
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
and the drop front desk top. There are some small imperfections, wear and scratches to the finish.
If
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown American Colonial Cabinets
Materials
Maple, Wood
Swedish 18th Century Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish 18th century two part secretary with an upper cabinet over a drop front desk with a
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Mid Century Danish Modern Secretary by Borge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This mid century secretary by Borge Mogensen features a drop front desk surface with beautiful teak
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th Century Georgian Oak Secretary Bookcase Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
features a drop front desk concealing a green leather covered writing table with six small drawers and
Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Biedermeier Inlaid Drop Front Secretary, 19th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Biedermeier drop front secretary features inlaid banding throughout, drop front writing
Category
Antique 19th Century Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Wood
Rosewood Danish Freestanding Wall Unit
By Poul Cadovius
Located in New York, NY
Nice Danish modern wall unit, having floating storage cabinets, a drop front desk, and pullout
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Materials
Rosewood
American 1920s Ebonized Desk with Drop Top
Located in Buchanan, NY
American 1920s new-classical ebonized drop top desk. It has three drawers and a handled drop front
Category
Vintage 1920s American Neoclassical Revival Desks
Antique Venetian Secretary Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
In all-over pale salmon paint having floral details. Drop-front desk reveals four small drawers and
Category
Antique 19th Century European French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Terrific Mid-Century Standing Wall Unit and Room Divider
By Poul Cadovius
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tall teak grain bookcase unit with multiple cabinets, fully adjustable. Drop front desk, book
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Drop Front Secretary, circa 1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
doors opening to adjustable shelf interior with drawers and pigeon holes surmounting case having drop
Category
Antique 19th Century American American Empire Desks
Materials
Bronze
Directoire Chest of Drawers with Writing Top, "Butler
s Chest", France, 1790-1800
Located in Belmont, MA
, is a more modern version of the drop front desk. With a closed lid it resembles a chest of drawers.
Category
Antique 1790s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Cherry
Clean Lined Danish Modern Chest by by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen
By Hvidt
Mølgaard
Located in Atlanta, GA
corners. This piece is very versatile and can used as a drop front desk or server in a living area, or as
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
4 Drawer Danish Mid-Century Modern Dresser Svend Langkilde Mobler
By Langkilde Møbler, Svend Langkilde
Located in New York, NY
. Please view the companion pieces to include a two door commode, and a drop front desk we have listed from
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Rosewood
Louis XVI Style Antique French Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, drop front desk, French, in the Louis XVI Style. This cabinet is finished in a lustrous
Category
Vintage 1920s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Danish Teak Bookcase Desk Secretary Designed by Poul Hundevad
By Hundevad
Co., Poul Hundevad
Located in Topeka, KS
its drop front desk with bookcase above and ample storage below. This one has 8 drawers and adjustable
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
Swedish Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
. The upper section is made of a drop front desk with molded accents, opening to reveal multiple inner
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Renaissance Revival Walnut Secretary Cabinet with Arched Doors, 19th Century
Located in Sarasota, FL
— a rare detail. The drop-front desk reveals fitted cubbies, while the lower section includes paneled
Category
Antique 19th Century European Renaissance Revival Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Secretary, circa 1845
By Anthony Quervelle
Located in Big Flats, NY
trim with carved palmette crest and opening to shelved interior surmounting case with drop front desk
Category
Antique 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Painted Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
/or books, while the slant front lower section combines more spacious storage underneath a drop front
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Rustic Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice flame Mahogany 18th century Louis XVI Drop front secretary desk with a nicely fitted
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Georgian Style Two Piece Cerused Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
desk. The top section has two paneled glass doors opening to a three shelf interior. The drop front
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Pair of 1950s Black Cerused Oak Bachelor Chest Commodes Gilbert Rohde Attributed
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Philadelphia, PA
one chest featuring a drop front hidden desk. The pair features the original black cerused oak wood
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
supports that pull out to support the desk surface. There are four graduated drawers below the drop-front
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Gorgeous Danish Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern drop front secretary desk with drawers. Beautiful teak grain throughout, nicely
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Lovely Hand Dyed Brown Leather Writing Table Desk or Bureau with Twin Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this lovely brown leather upholstered writing bureau desk with drop front and
Category
20th Century English Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather
Mid Century Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A mid century Brazilian rosewood drop front secretary desk. Rich wood grain with beige laminate
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Rosewood
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
Swedish Art Moderne Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gorgeous drop-front writing desk in rich combinations of wood with inset parquetry and crotch
Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Modern Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique English Queen Anne Mahogany Secretary, Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
foundation when the drop-front desk is deployed. All of these wonderful features combine to make this a
Category
Early 20th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English George III Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretaire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
open to an interior with asymmetrical cubby shelves. The lower portion features a drop front desk with
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A drop-front secretary desk - 1950 - France.
By Rene Gabriel, Charlotte Perriand, Marcel Gascoin
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A secretary desk from the 1950s, French craftsmanship. Solid elm wood with a beautiful patina
Category
Vintage 1950s French Secretaires
Materials
Elm
Secretary Desk by Gunnar Nielsen Tibergaard Circa 1960s
By Gunnar Nielsen Tibergaard
Located in Oakland, CA
Compact secretary desk by Gunnar Nielsen Tibergaard, constructed of teak and brass. The drop front
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
Materials
Brass
Børge Mogensen Teak Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Berkeley, CA
This lovely drop front Danish modern secretary desk in teak was designed by Børge Mogensen for
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Baker Furniture Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase With Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian or Federal style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
Category
Vintage 1960s American Georgian Desks
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 lighted bookcase
Category
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Desks
Materials
Brass
Danish Mid Century Wall Unit Shelves by Paul Cadovius, circa 1950s-1960s
By Cado, Poul Cadovius
Located in New York, NY
) sliding glass display case and (1) Drop front desk. The (3) large cabinets include (1) Bank of 3 drawers
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Materials
Walnut
Baker Furniture French Provincial Walnut Secretary Desk With Bookcase 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 1960s American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique Mission Oak Arts
Crafts Secretary Desk Attributed to Stickley Brothers
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mission or Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk.
Attributed to Stickley
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks
Materials
Copper
Antique Ebony Asian Buffet Credenza with Square Corner Carved Front
Located in Topeka, KS
. You need to make it yours.
Psst….we have also listed a complimentary drop front desk you may want
Category
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Buffets
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
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Mission Oak Arts
Crafts Secretary Desk with Stained Glass Bookcase Hutch
By L.
J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mission oak Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk with bookcase hutch
In the manner
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks
Materials
Brass
Sheraton Style Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Sheraton style drop front secretary desk, circa 1930-40s. Made from mahogany with a bookmatched
Category
Vintage 1930s American Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis Philippe Chest of Drawers, France 1840, Walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
determine its place of origin because of a drop front desk which originally was probably made for the same
Category
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
George Nelson Five Bay CSS Wall Unit
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in San Mateo, CA
and a drop front desk with an interior light. The wood is walnut. This has six eight foot uprights
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Aluminum, Steel
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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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