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Japanese Series CU07 Cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1958
By Cees Braakman
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Japanese series CU07 cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1958.
Teak and white laminate drop-front
Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Steel
Antique French Louis XIV Style Carved Walnut Cupboard with Secretary, circa 1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
front door panels carved with festoons of flowers concealing drop front desk with drawers and storage
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French Louis XV Style Kingwood, Rosewood, Ormolu
Marble Abattant Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
rosewood case having drop front desk surmounting case with drawers, foliate cast ormolu mounts throughout
Category
20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Metal, Ormolu
Attractive Mid-Century Walnut Room Divider
By Hooker Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage modern coffee table with hutch by Hooker. Features double side glass cabinet, drop front
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
French Louis XV Style Carved Oak Drop Front Secretary Bureau, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Louis XV Style carved oak drop front secretary or bureau or writing desk, France, 1930s.
Opened it
Category
Vintage 1930s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Queen Anne-Style Chinese Red Chinoiserie Desk and Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
gilt decoration, a drop-front desk / writing surface, a scroll bonnet top / pediment, raised on
Category
Mid-20th Century English Queen Anne Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Georgian Drop-Front Bureau with Elaborate Interior
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mid-18th century Georgian drop-front bureau or desk in Cuban mahogany, having three drawers below
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Desks
Materials
Brass
Large Swedish 19th Century Karl Johan Corner Cabinet Made of Painted Fir Wood
Located in Atlanta, GA
doors. Two doors up and down, mall drop front desk and cutaway opening for storage.
Karl Johan is the
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Karl Johan Corner Cupboards
Materials
Fir, Paint
Petite 1860s French Empire Style Walnut and Marble Drop-Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
, made of the drop-front desk sitting atop two lower drawers. The desk, decorated with a laurel wreath
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Night Stands
Materials
Marble
1780s Gustavian Period Swedish Grey Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
piece captures the essence of Scandinavian refinement. The drop-front desk opens to reveal a perfectly
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Gustavian Period 1820s Drop-Front Painted Secretary with Bronze Mounts
Located in Atlanta, GA
sitting above a drop-front desk, accented by bronze mounts on each sides, evoking a French Empire
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French 40
s Cerused-Oak Secretaire
Located in Doylestown, PA
A large French drop-front desk in cerused oak, with two drawers below the open shelf at top, two
Category
Vintage 1940s French Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Noral Olson For Kopenhavn Freestanding Scandinavian Style Unit
By Noral Olson
Located in Pasadena, TX
made of walnut includes a drop front desk, shelved storage unit with sliding doors, section with three
Category
Vintage 1960s American Cabinets
Materials
Cane, Walnut
Large 19th Century Swedish Painted Wood Corner Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
doors. Two doors up and down. Centered on the piece is a small drop front desk area.
Karl Johan is
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Karl Johan Corner Cupboards
Materials
Fir, Paint
Antique Victorian Oak Horner School Side by Side Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1900
By R.J. Horner
Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
carved foliate crest surmounting bookcase with single glass door beside drop front desk with upper mirror
Category
Early 20th Century American Victorian Bookcases
Materials
Metal
Nils Strinning String Storage Unit by Deutsche Gmbh
By Nils Nisse Strinning
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Solid birch shelves and drop front storage unit which can be used as a desk or bar suspended by
Category
Vintage 1940s German Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Materials
Steel
Chinoiserie Decorated Chippendale Style Ebonized Drop Front Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
and garden scenes having pagodas and birds including herons, slant front drops down to reveal desk
Category
20th Century European Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Metal
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Abattant Secretary
Located in Wilton, CT
Louis Philippe style burled Walnut. Locks with brass escutcheon plate, drop front desk with
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
George Nelson for Herman Miller Primavera Desk Cabinet
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in New Windsor, NY
” pulls. Walnut case on those black block feet. Drop front desk over three deep drawers and a side door
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Antique French Inlaid Kingwood
Satinwood Parquetry Marble Top Secretary, c1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
over drop front desk and lower case with long drawer and double door cabinet; cast foliate bronze
Category
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Country French Oak Secretary, Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
Combining a drop-front desk with a book display, this charming country French secretary-bookcase is
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Secretaires
Peter Hvidt for John Stuart Cabinets
By Peter Hvidt
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Gorgeous secretary with cubbyhole top with adjustable shelves and drop front desk. Five drawers
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
English 19th Century Mahogany Secrétaire
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
adjustable shelves at 8” deep. A drop front desk opens to a wine colored leather writing surface with gold
Category
Antique 19th Century English Other Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Abattant Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Louis Philippe style burled cherry wood, locking with ivory escutcheon plate, drop front desk with
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique Danish Baroque Drop Front Bureau Secretary, circa 1770
Located in Round Top, TX
style of desk. In the inside center is one small cabinet door, which opens to reveal a small storage
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Baroque Desks
Materials
Pine
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 drop-front secretary desk
By Drexel Heritage
Category
Vintage 1970s American Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A.B. Svenska Moebel Fabrikerna Swedish Birchwood Secretary Cabinet
By SMF Svenska Möbelfabriken Bodafors
Located in Oakland, CA
locking drop front desk with series of drawers, over a cabinet with two doors and drawers. Key provided
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Antique Arts
Crafts Weis Mahogany Two-Stack Barrister Bookcase Secretary c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts and Crafts barrister secretary by Weis offers mahogany construction with drop front
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany, Fiberglass
Teak Cabinets by Peter Hvidt
Orla Mølgaard
By Hvidt
Mølgaard
Located in Dallas, TX
has a locking drop front desk with drawers.
Category
Vintage 1950s Bookcases
Materials
Teak
Antique Adam Style Painted Decorated Mahogany Drop-Front Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Adam style mahogany drop-front secretary features bookmatched panels with hand-painted
Category
20th Century English Adam Style Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Carved Mahogany Drop-Front Secretary with Brass Gallery, circa 1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
drawers over slant-front desk with carved patera reserve, raised on cabriole legs, c1910
Measures
Category
Early 20th Century Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Monumental Eastlake Stepback Walnut
Burl Secretary Bookcase, C1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
construction with central case having upper bookcase with double glass doors over drop front desk and drawer
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Eastlake Bookcases
Materials
Metal
18th Century Painted Swedish Secretary, Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
-front desk surface and lower drawers,
circa 1770s.
Measures: 79 H x 39 W x 20.5 D.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Piero Fornasetti Gio Ponti Architettura Trumeau Secretary Bookcase Cabinet, 1951
By Piero Fornasetti, Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
original state, less than 40 of these cabinet were produced between 1951 and 1975. The Trumeau (drop-front
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Swedish Mid 19th Century Rococo Style Tall Secretary with Broken Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
cabinet above a drop-front desk and three lower drawers. This Swedish tall secretary features an exquisite
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louis XVI Style 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 1910s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
Dresser / Chest of Drawers by Raymond Loewy for Mengel
By Raymond Loewy
Located in New York, NY
painted black steel legs and hardware.
We also have a matching drop front desk in this
Category
Vintage 1940s American Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Antique Greco America Empire Flame Mahogany Quervelle School Secretary 19th C
By Anthony Gabriel Quervelle
Located in Big Flats, NY
form overlay surmounting lower case with drop front desk and long drawers raised on bracket feet, 19th
Category
Antique 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
Rustic A. Brandt Ranch Oak Secretary Style Drop Front Student Desk with Bookcase
By A. Brandt Ranch Oak Furniture
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome Late 20th Century Rustic or Western secretary style drop front lighted student desk with
Category
Late 20th Century American Rustic Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Victorian Library Burr Pollard Oak Library Bookcase Drop Front Secretaire Desk
By Reid and Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
bookcase in Pollard Burr oak with oxblood leather drop front secretaire desk
A very good looking and
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Louis XVI French Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, drop front desk, from France in the Louis XVI style. This cabinet is made of blond
Category
Antique 1820s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Louis XVI Mahogany Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, drop front desk, French, made of Cuban flamed Mahogany. This piece is finished in a
Category
Antique Early 1800s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Italian Baroque Hand-Painted Bombe Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
facades! Three drawers add copious storage, with a drop front desk that is perfect for I-Pads, laptops
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Baroque Secretaires
Antique Danish Single Door Pine Armoire
Located in Round Top, TX
secretary with a drop front desk with drawers above and below, but this is just an "illusion" due to the
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Wardrobes and Armoires
Materials
Pine
19th Century European Glass Door Painted Wood Bureau Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European 19th century glass door cabinet with three lower drawers and drop front desk. The
Category
Antique 19th Century European Rococo Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century English Renaissance Secretary, Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
by angels on the cornerposts above. Paw feet and elaborate carvings on the drop-front desk, cabinet
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Renaissance Revival Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique Country French Secretary, Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
framework and double-scrolled muntions. The drop-front desk opens to reveal a surprisingly effective
Category
Early 20th Century French Régence Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Samuel Marx Secretary
Located in New York, NY
shelves, flanked by two glass-paneled doors opening opening to shelves.
Drop-front desk with pigeon
Category
Vintage 1940s American Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Silver Leaf
Oscar Sideboard by Didier Rozaffy, France circa 1950
By Didier Rozaffy
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
, featuring wooden doors, interchangeable black and ivory glass doors, and a drop-front desk.
Manufacturer
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Wood
Swedish Gustavian Style Two-Part Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Remarkable two-part secretaire bookcase featuring a slant drop front desk. Made in the Swedish
Category
20th Century American Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Jacobean Style Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk by Bloomingdales
Located in Plainview, NY
A 1970's Jacobean Spanish colonial style drop-lid slant front desk made of quality flame mahogany
Category
20th Century American Jacobean Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Ebonized Antique Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, drop front desk, from France, of Mahogany in the Louis XVI style. This cabinet is
Category
Vintage 1910s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
French Drop Front Writing Desk
Located in Hixson, TN
An unusual and rare drop front writing desk. This is a two part cabinet, the top cover with fabric
Category
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Mahogany, Fruitwood
Art Deco Bookcases and Chests by Modernage
By Modernage Furniture Company
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of Art Deco Asymmetrical Bookcases / Credenzas / Drop Front Desks by Modernage, American
Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
19th Century English Mahogany Secretary and Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
special feature, however, is the drop front desk that when opened, reveals cubby holes, drawers and a
Category
Antique 1880s English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood, Mahogany
Burr Oak Drop- Front Writing Desk
Located in Firenze, IT
Europe, 19th century
Lovely North European Burr Oak drop- front writing desk, interior is
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Studio Craft Teak Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique studio craft desk will be a standout piece of any room. This drop front teak desk features
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern 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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