The fall front desk can be considered the cousin of the Secretary desk. Both have a main working surface or desktop which does double duty as a cover to seal up papers and other items located in small shelves or small drawers placed one on top of the other in front of the user. Thus, all working papers, documents and other items have to be stored before the desk is closed.
Unlike the secretary desk, the fall front desk's desktop panel is in a perfectly vertical position when in its closed position. Often, there are no additional shelves or drawers above the section which is enclosed by the desktop.
The fall front desk is also called a drop front desk, and sometimes also a drop lid desk. Scrutoire and scriptoire are ancient variations. The "secrétaire à abattant" is a nearly identical form, but usually in a French style such as Louis XV. In the early 19th century, Shaker communities produced a tall and plain variation which is often known as a "cupboard desk".
In 1975, I inherited a drop front desk from my grandparents. It was always the first thing I saw when I visited their 1914 Craftsman Bungalow in Ballard--it was in the entry hall. It was made of mahogany, and my grandfather always had it piled with books and letters.
Shortly after acquiring this desk, I stripped it of its old finish, sanded it to a satiny sheen, and stained and sealed it. It has a simple but elegant design, and today, it is the first thing you see when you enter my entry hall. I have the desk filled with my grandfather's books and watch repair tools, and on the top of the desk, I have a hand-made wooden box made by one of my grandparent's friends, who was a master woodworker. There is also an antique letter opener and the certificate for my grandmother's confirmation in 1898. It's a wonderful place to stop for a moment and take in the mementos of my grandparent's lives.
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