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American Solid Cherry 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Desk Solid Brass Pulls MINT
By Baker Furniture Company, Pennsylvania House
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Chippendale Style Bracket Feet American Solid Cherry 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Desk Solid
Category
20th Century American Country Dressers
Materials
Brass
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Lovely Yew Wood Secretary Campaign Chest
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London
Located in Crawley, GB
, green leather drop front desk which is super useful for compact living as when not in use, it can be
Category
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Exceptionel Bookcase Forming Desk, by G. Grohé, France, Circa 1860
By Guillaume Grohe
Located in PARIS, FR
forming drop-front desk supported by two pillars with drawers. The lateral parts each open with a moulded
Category
Antique 1860s French Renaissance Bookcases
Materials
Wood
$814,508 Sale Price
20% Off
ANTIQUE SHERATON REVIVAL BUREA BOOKCASE LEATHER TOP HARDWOOD WALNUT
SATiNWOOD
By Sheraton Revival
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Revival Walnut, Mahogany & Satinwood Bureau bookcase with brown leather drop front desk
Please note the
Category
20th Century English Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Hardwood, Satinwood, Walnut
Antique New England American Chippendale Curly Maple Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
An exquisite New England Chippendale Drop Front Secretary Desk, circa 1800. Features a curly maple
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$2,625 Sale Price
30% Off
Tall Double Glass Doors Ball Claw Carved Finial Drop Block Front Secretary MINT!
By Drexel, Baker Furniture Company, Kittinger Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Tall Double Glass Doors Ball Claw Carved Finial Drop Block Front Secretary Desk Bookcase MINT!
Category
20th Century American Chippendale Dressers
Materials
Mahogany
Guillerme
Chambron Highboard or Wardrobe in Solid Oak and Ceramic
By Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Waalwijk, NL
of their works. The left side of the wardrobe has an open shelving space at the top and a drop-front
Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Materials
Oak
Oiled Medium Walnut Mid Century Modern Art Deco Drop Down Desk Secretary Cabinet
By James Mont, Harvey Probber
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Square shape lines Mid Century Danish modern drop down front secretary desk console table with
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Aluminum
Danish Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Fulton, CA
A Danish Modern drop-front or secretary desk with 3 drawers and writing surface. Beautiful rosewood
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Antique English secretary desk, 18th century
Located in Linkebeek, BE
antique English drop-front secretary desk, featuring three large drawers and two smaller drawers in the
Category
Antique 18th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French Provincial Louis XV Lacquered Secretary Desk With Bookcase, 1950s
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 1950s American Louis XV Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Georgian Red Lacquered Lighted Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet With Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style lighted breakfront bookcase cabinet with drop front
Category
Vintage 1970s American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Raymond Lowey for Mengel Mid Century Secretary Desk c.1950’s
By Raymond Loewy, Mengel Furniture Co.
Located in Lutz, FL
Mid Century Modern Mengel drop front secretary desk by designed by Raymond Loewy c.1950’s. Original
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Louis XVI Tall Secretaire (Retains Original Leather on Desk-Top), 18th C. French
Located in Atlanta, GA
bonnet over an upper recessed bookcase with elegant recessed panel front doors, a mid-section with drop
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Antique Secretaire Cabinet, English, Chest of Drawers, Bureau, Desk, Georgian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique secretaire cabinet. An English, mahogany chest of drawers with drop front
Category
Antique Late 18th Century British Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Red Lacquered Secretary Desk with 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 1970s American French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Antique Bureau Cabinet, English, Walnut, Writing Desk, Tambour, Edwardian, 1910
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique bureau cabinet. An English, walnut drop-front writing desk with tambour, dating
Category
Early 20th Century British Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Rare Victorian Flamed Hardwood Library Bookcase Secretaire Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
drawer is actually a drop front writing desk with the original distressed brown leather writing surface
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
$2,624 Sale Price
30% Off
Baker Furniture Style Georgian Carved Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
drop front secretary desk
In the manner of Baker Furniture
England, Circa 1980s
Gorgeous carved
Category
Vintage 1980s English Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture Style English Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
drop front secretary desk
In the manner of Baker Furniture
England, Circa 1980s
Gorgeous carved
Category
Vintage 1980s English Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture Style English Georgian Breakfront Bookcase Cabin
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
drop front secretary desk
In the manner of Baker Furniture
England, Circa 1980s
Gorgeous carved
Category
Vintage 1980s English Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Ebonized
Inlay Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
sections above the drop-front door that becomes the desk’s felt top writing surface. Inside the desk are
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Baker Furniture Style Georgian Carved Flame Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style dining cabinet or breakfront bookcase with drop front
Category
Vintage 1980s American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
American Colonial Solid Maple Eleven-Drawer Dresser or Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
chest of drawers with removable hutch top with drop front secretary desk
USA, 1970s
Carved solid maple
Category
Vintage 1970s American American Colonial Dressers
Materials
Brass
Karges French Regency Louis XVI Cream Lacquered Hand Painted Secrétaire á Abatta
By Karges Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Regency Louis XVI style bureau with drop front secretary desk
By Karges
USA
Category
Vintage 1980s American Louis XVI Dressers
Materials
Brass
Georgian Style Mahogany Satinwood Inlay Breakfront Bookcase Bubble Glass Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
features individual panes of bubble glass, drop front writing desk surface with green tooled leather top
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Georgian Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture Style Georgian Flame Mahogany Bubble Glass Breakfront Bookcase
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet with drop front
Category
Mid-20th Century American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Secretary Cabinet in Black Lacquer with Mirrored Interior, France 1930s
Located in Ulm, DE
cabinet presents as a classic writing desk. But open the drop-front panel and a dazzling surprise is
Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer, Mirror, Beech
Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Mahogany, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant early Biedermeier Secretaire or Drop Front Secretary Desk from South Germany around 1820
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Softwood
$7,881 Sale Price
30% Off
John Widdicomb Walnut Aged Mirrored Tombstone Style Georgian Secretary
By John Widdicomb
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
collectibles.
The lower section includes a drop-front writing desk with fitted compartments and drawers
Category
Vintage 1940s American Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Empire Secretaire, Walnut, Maple, Paw Feet, Austria circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Fine Early Biedermeier or late Empire Secretaire / Drop-Front /Secretary Desk from Austria around
Category
Antique 1820s Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Bureau-Commode. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
drawers and a shelf behind a drop-front writing surface. The writing desk and interior accents feature
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Materials
Brass
French Renaissance Louis XV Style Figural Carved Walnut Curio Display Buffet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
includes a drop front with fabric lined writing desk interior (later custom addition). A truly impressive
Category
Vintage 1920s Renaissance Buffets
Materials
Glass, Walnut
1940
s Italian Secretaire with Reverse Painted Glass
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Hanover, MA
Golden birch veneered drop front secretary desk with three drawers and reverse painted glass panel
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Birch
Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Ebonized, Brass, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Straightened early Biedermeier Secretaire or Drop-Front Secretary / Writing Desk in Cherry Veneer
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Iron, Brass
19th Century Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with four interior drawers
Category
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with four interior drawers
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Exceptional Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Commode by Henry Dasson
By Henry Dasson
Located in Long Island City, NY
made some larger pieces— secrétaires à abattant (drop-front secretary desks), tables, and commodes— he
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Country French Regence Style Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
traditional slant-front drop down desk surface that when closed, exhibits extraordinary artistry carved
Category
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Outstanding Early 18th Century English George I Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
original mirrors to the front.
The drop down desk front opens to reveal 8 drawers and 4 cubbies with a
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
Antique Victorian Holland
Sons Mount Street London Hand Carved Display Cabinet
By Holland
Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
glazing and drop front secrataire desk finished in oxblood leather
Please note the delivery fee listed
Category
Antique 19th Century English Gothic Revival Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
Osvaldo Borsani Mid-Century Modern Italian Bar Cabinet
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Forney, TX
case with drop-front secretary desk style slant-front bar work surface, over double-door cabinet
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dry Bars
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
20th Century French Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one high drawer and one
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Oak
$3,440 Sale Price
20% Off
Deco drop front desk
Located in Hudson, NY
Maple drop front desk with side cabinets. Drop front has leather insert.
Category
Vintage 1940s American Desks
Materials
Maple, Leather
$6,500
Swedish Drop-front Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautifully painted drop-front desk with 3 exterior drawers and 16 interior drawers.
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Materials
Wood
$9,750
Macassar Drop Front Desk By Jacques Adnet
Located in San Francisco, CA
Awesome drop front desk by Adnet.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks
Hand Carved Chinese Drop-Front Desk by George Zee
By George Zee and Co
Located in Fulton, CA
compartmentalized drop-front desk by George Zee & Company, Hong Kong, circa 1960. Depicting architectural structure
Category
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Chinese Export Desks
Materials
Hardwood
Early 18th Century Inlaid, Drop Front Desk (Varguena) with Inlaid Fitted Interior
Located in Richmond, VA
Early 18th Century Inlaid Drop Front Desk (Varguena) with Inlaid Fitted Interior
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Desks
Vintage Painted drop front desk
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Highly decorative well made desk with paint decorated finish
Category
Late 20th Century American Desks
Materials
Wood
Drop front desk by Gustav Stickley
By Gustav Stickley
Located in Syracuse, NY
This early and desirable Gustav Stickley desk with strap hardware still retains its original
Category
Early 20th Century American Desks
Materials
Copper
Scandinavian Drop Front Desk
Located in East Hampton, NY
2 PIECES
Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Drop Front Desk Attributed To L&JG Stickley For the Safe Craft Line
By L.
J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in Hudson, NY
Arts and crafts drop front desk. Attributed to Stickley. "Safe Craft" line. Early 20th century.
Category
20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Provincial Walnut Drop Front Desk circa 1750
Located in Carson City, NV
This is a lovely country French drp front desk in walnut circa 1750. The desk is in very good
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks
Materials
Walnut
Rare Robert Pansart Verre Églomisé Mirrored Drop Front Desk
By Robert Pansart
Located in Los Angeles, CA
collaborated with other well-known designers such as Arbus and Poillerat.
This beautiful drop front secretaire
Category
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks
Incredible Eglomoise Drop Front Desk attrib to Max Ingrand
Located in San Francisco, CA
Completely sheathed in mirror with a sycamore interior. Amazing work!
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks
Danish Teak Secretary Cabinet with Drop Front Desk by Hans Wegner for Ry Mobler
By Ry Møbler
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful Danish teak desk with drop-down desk and storage cabinet above. There are two open
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Desks
Materials
Teak
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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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