Drop Front Desks
Antique Late 19th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Desks
Vintage 1940s French More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
20th Century American Secretaires
Maple
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Vintage 1970s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Vintage 1930s American Chinoiserie Desks
Vintage 1960s American Desks
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Steel
Early 20th Century American Desks
Reed
Early 20th Century Danish Desks
Brass
20th Century Desks
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks
Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Vintage 1950s French Desks
Vintage 1950s American Desks
Wood
20th Century Swedish Desks
Vintage 1930s American Desks
Steel
20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks
Oak
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Vintage 1950s American Desks
Nickel
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Marble
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks and Writing Tables
Pine
Vintage 1940s American Chinoiserie Desks
Vintage 1930s American Desks
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Vintage 1910s Scottish Victorian Desks
Oak
20th Century Spanish Desks
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Brass
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Desks
Vintage 1910s American Desks
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Cabinets
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century French Desks
20th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
20th Century Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Teak
Antique 19th Century English Desks
Bamboo
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Teak
20th Century American Secretaires
Walnut, Lacquer
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Teak
Vintage 1950s American Cabinets
20th Century Edwardian Desks
Mahogany
Vintage 1960s French Bookcases
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Desks
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
21st Century and Contemporary American Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1840s English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Vintage 1960s American Cabinets
Vintage 1950s Danish Secretaires
Teak
Vintage 1960s French Cabinets
Bronze
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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.
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