Drop Front Desks
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desks
Metal
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks
Vintage 1940s American Desks
Maple, Leather
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Vintage 1930s French Desks
Early 20th Century English Desks
Early 20th Century Swedish Desks
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Granite, Brass
Vintage 1930s American Desks
20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks
Metal
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks
Walnut
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Teak
Antique 19th Century American Desks
Vintage 1940s French Desks
Late 20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Desks
Wood
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Desks
Vintage 1950s Desks
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Biedermeier Desks
Antique 1860s American American Classical Desks
Birdseye Maple
Antique 19th Century English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Swedish Secretaires
Antique 19th Century English Desks
Bamboo, Leather
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Desks
Rosewood
Vintage 1950s American Desks
Wood
Antique 19th Century British Desks
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Desks
Vintage 1940s American Desks
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks
Wood
Antique 19th Century Dutch Desks
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Brass
Vintage 1950s American Desks
Vintage 1910s Scottish Desks
Oak
Vintage 1970s Danish Corner Cupboards
Rosewood
Vintage 1910s Scottish Edwardian Desks
Oak
Antique Early 1900s Dutch Desks
Rosewood, Walnut, Burl
Early 20th Century Scottish Desks
Brass
Early 20th Century Desks
Late 20th Century American Victorian Desks
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Swedish Secretaires
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
Oak, Teak
20th Century American Desks
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks
Walnut
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Desks
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Metal
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Desks
Vintage 1920s Scottish Cabinets
Walnut
Vintage 1910s Scottish Arts and Crafts Dressers
Oak
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Iron
Antique 1870s Scottish Cabinets
Oak, Walnut
Vintage 1920s Scottish Desks
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
- 1
- ...
Drop Front Desks For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Drop Front Desks?
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.
- 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.
Read More
37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.