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Antique Danish Country Pine Bureau / Drop Front Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
This pine drop front secretary is charming in every way, with a soft, satin wax finish that
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Country Secretaires
Vintage Inlaid French Bombe Drop Front Desk Secretaire
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An unusual highly-inlaid French fall-front desk or secretaire of dramatic 'bombe' form, the whole
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Brights of Nettlebed Burr Walnut Bureau with Drop Front Desk
Chest of Drawers
By Brights of Nettlebed
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
walnut
As mentioned I have a pair of these, this one has an arrangement of drawers and drop front desk
Category
20th Century English Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French RJ Horner Style Mahogany and Satinwood Inlaid Drop Front Desk, circa 1900
By R.J. Horner
Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
flame mahogany case having allover foliate satinwood marquetry inlay, drop front writing surface opening
Category
20th Century American Desks
Materials
Brass
Small 18th Century Swedish Cabinet or Drop Front Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Baroque wood desk or Hostess station; has four small drawers, one medium drawer and one large
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Swedish Baroque Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Piano Black Lacquer Drop Front Desk or Room Divider by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in San Francisco, CA
on opposing side. Polished chrome legs and hinges.
30" desk height.
Category
Vintage 1950s British Desks
Henredon Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase Bureau with Drop Front Desk
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Chippendale or Georgian style bureau with drop front secretary desk and lighted
Category
Vintage 1980s American Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Globe Wernicke Arts
Crafts Mahogany Barrister Bookcase With Drop Front Desk
By Globe Wernicke
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts stacking barrister bookcase with fall front secretary desk
By
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Vintage Louis Phillipe Mahogany Drop Front Desk High Chest of Drawers
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful warm highboy dresser with drop-front secretary. Leather embossed writing surface with 3
Category
20th Century Federal Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Wood, Birdseye Maple
19th Century French Mahogany Napoleon III Secretaire Secretary Drop-Front Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
inlay, the front corners of the case accented with brass fluted columns, the marble top with brass
Category
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare Maple Chest w/ Hidden Drop Front Desk By Heywood Wakefield
By Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Very odd chest of drawers in champagne finish with an unusual drop front drawer that pulls out for
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Vintage Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
front top drawer revealing a sliding secrataire desk
A good looking and compact desk in period
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Victorian Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Secrataire Drop Front Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
drop front top drawer revealing a sliding secrataire desk
A good looking and compact desk in period
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Louis XV Bureau Italian Genoese Walnut Marquetry Drop-Front Desk
Located in Milano, MI
An exceptional Italian Genoese walnut veneered and inlaid fall front bureau secretaire desk, dating
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Rare Mahogany 1890 Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
chest with drop front Secretaire desk.
A very large and well-made piece in stunning lightly restored
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of ...
Materials
Brass
Vintage Queen Anne Baker Style Cherry Secretary Drop Front Desk by Colonial
By Colonial Furniture Company
Located in Big Flats, NY
construction with drop front writing surface opening to interior pigeon holes and storage compartments, four
Category
20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Huge 19th Century Walnut Biedermeier Chest of Drawers Drop Front Desk Secretaire
By Biedermeier
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
chest of drawers with sliding drop front Secretaire desk
A very good looking and functional piece of
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
drop front secrataire desk and green leather writing surface
A good looking and well made chest of
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Yew
Lovely Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Built in Drop Front Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
drawers with drop front secrataire desk and green leather writing surface
A good looking and well made
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Yew
Italian slant front desk
Located in Stamford, CT
An Italian, 18th century Bombe form drop front desk. The desk is over two drawers and made of
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks
Materials
Walnut
$7,600
Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen Drop Front Teak Desk for John Stuart
By Hvidt
Mølgaard
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard- Nielsen teak drop front desk with three drawers for John Stuart
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique Lady’s Carved Oak Drop-Front
Serpentine Desk, C1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
having flanking pierced scroll and foliate corbels over drop front desk having carved oak decoration and
Category
Early 20th Century American Desks
Materials
Oak, Mirror
Classical Empire Tiger Maple Two-Tone Inlaid Drop Front Butlers Desk
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Classical Empire butler's desk feature two toned inlay tiger maple with drop front desk
Category
Antique 19th Century American American Empire Desks
Materials
Maple
Antique RJ Horner School Oak Drop Front Ladies Writing Desk, Circa 1910
By R.J. Horner
Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
shaped case having slant drop-front desk over single long drawer and raised on cabriole legs having lower
Category
Early 20th Century American Desks
Materials
Wood, Oak
small desk
Located in New York, NY
drop front desk
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks
Materials
Iron
$8,800
Swedish Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Painted Swedish Drop Front Desk
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
$3,995
French Antique Neoclassical Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A 19th century mahogany-and-marble French drop-front desk with original leather. A clever design
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Desks
Quality Oak Arts
Crafts Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A nice-quality, solid oak, Arts & Crafts style drop-front desk with copper drawer pulls and
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desks
Materials
Copper
18th c. Gustavian Swedish Desk with Distressed Finish
Located in Dallas, TX
18th c. Gustavian Swedish Desk with Distressed Paint Finish. Lockable Drop-front Desk with three
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Materials
Wood
19th Century Italian Figured Walnut Desk of Smaller Size
Located in Essex, MA
Figured Italian walnut drop front desk or slant lid
beautiful figuring
three-drawer
cabriole
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Desks
Materials
Walnut
Ladies ‘Bonheur De Jour’ Writing Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
19th century French inlaid drop-front desk with beautiful patina and color and subtle brass accents
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Desks
Materials
Brass
Bernhard Pedersen
Sons Teak Secretary Desk
By Bernhard Pedersen
Son
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful teak secretary desk with tambour door by Bernhard Pedersen and Son. BPS. Drop front desk
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Teak
George Nelson desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Drop front desk from the "Thin Edge" series designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Desks
Materials
Aluminum
$7,500
Italian Florentine Style Walnut Podium Desk, circa 1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
A 16th century Florentine style, podium height drop front desk. Beautifully carved solid walnut
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Desks
Materials
Walnut
Solid Walnut French Louis XV Style Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Lovely antique French Louis XV style drop front desk in solid walnut, three drawers, lost wax
Category
Early 20th Century French Desks
Materials
Walnut
Late 20th Century Vintage Regency Chinoiserie Mirrored Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
and a drop front desk surface. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Paul McCobb Connoisseur Collection Dropfront Desk
By Paul McCobb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning drop-front desk is from the Connoisseur Collection designed by Paul McCobb for H
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
Materials
Metal
Antique Sheraton Flame Mahogany Tambour Secretary Desk, circa 1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
double door cabinet over two lower drawers and surmounting cas with drop front desk and three long
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Federal Desks
Materials
Metal
Teak Danish Modern Desk / Secretary
Located in Fulton, CA
A teak Danish Modern desk. Unusual form, varying from a secretary, vanity and drop front desk
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks
Materials
Teak
Georgian Slant Top Mahogany Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Mahogany George III (circa 1800-1820) slant top, drop front desk. Mahogany top with ebony and
Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Governor Winthrop Mahogany Slant Front Serpentine Ball
Claw Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
front doors opening to bookshelf with painted interior seated on slant drop front desk opening to reveal
Category
20th Century American Chippendale Desks
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Rustic Secretary Desk by Monterey Furniture
By Monterey Furniture, Frank Mason
Located in Fulton, CA
A rustic California Rancho or Spanish Colonial style drop-front secretary desk made by Monterey
Category
Vintage 1930s American Rancho Monterey Desks
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Style Drop Front Dresser with Desk by Widdcomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Widdicomb six piece modular unit combines display storage with sliding glass doors, drop front
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Antique Victorian Oak RJ Horner School Secretary Desk, Circa 1920
By R.J. Horner
Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
opening to shelved interior; lower with drop front desk over two long drawers and cabinet flanked by
Category
Early 20th Century American Victorian Desks
Materials
Metal
Georgian Drop Front Secretary Chest, Circa 1770
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful Georgian secretary / chest of drawers in mahogany. The drop-front desk opens to a
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Drexel Heritage French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secrétaire À Abattant
By Drexel
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style carved walnut drop-front secretary desk with shell
Category
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Gilt Bronze Mounted 18th Century Louis XVI Mahogany and Satinwood Abbatant
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A small scale Louis XVI abbatant (drop front desk) and chest of drawers in mahogany and satinwood
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Vintage Hepplewhite Style Mahogany Tambour Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
doors flanking central panel with satinwood inlaid medallion surmounting case with drop front desk and
Category
Mid-20th Century English Hepplewhite Desks
Materials
Brass
Vintage Governor Winthrop Mahogany Secretary by Maddock Colonial, circa 1930
Located in Big Flats, NY
, mahogany drop front desk, circa 1930.
Measures: 85.25" H x 38.75" W x 23.25" D.
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Desks
Materials
Metal
Antique Second Empire French Marble-Top Flame Mahogany and Ormolu Abattant
Located in Big Flats, NY
drawer above bookmatched drop front desk opening to writing surface with pigeon holes and small drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Art Deco Gilbert Rohde Paldao Dropfront Desk/Secretary
By Gilbert Rohde, Herman Miller
Located in Atlanta, GA
Art Deco transiting to Streamline modern drop front desk/secretary designed by Gilbert Rohde in
Category
Vintage 1940s American Streamlined Moderne Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique English Chippendale Mahogany Drop Front Bookcase Secretary, 18th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
having dental molding and surmounting slant drop front desk over two small and three graduated long
Category
Antique 18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th C. Dutch Marquetry Inlay Drop Front Secretary Desk Bombe Commode Secretaire
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Dutch marquetry hand inlaid bombe form drop front desk or secretaire, circa 1790. This
Category
Antique 17th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
George Winthrop Carved Mahogany Drop Front Secretary
Bookcase, circa 1950
Located in Big Flats, NY
shelved interior, lower serpentine case having drop front desk over four long drawers and raised on carved
Category
20th Century American Federal Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
18th Century Gustavian Secretary Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
18th-century secretary desk in gustavian style with a drop-front desk and 3 drawers.
Painted in a
Category
Antique 1780s Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Johnson Bros, Satinwood Marquetry
Bronze Secrétaire à Abattant, c1910
By Johnson Brothers
Located in Big Flats, NY
contains one long drawer above drop front desk concealing small drawers, pigeon holes, and central
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Bronze
Antique Louis XV Bombe Marquetry Drop-Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
features floral and foliate marquetry on the upper drawer; drop front desk surface and lower cabinet doors
Category
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Marble
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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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