Secretaires
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302
930
767
1,738
1,665
1,691
180
111
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93
78
75
68
57
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27
23
13
9
5
3
1
1
374
691
577
95
102
322
69
20
6
16
27
33
53
102
25
14
5
Height
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1,660
498
394
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Secretaires For Sale
A George I Style Burl Walnut Secretary Desk, England
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A beautifully detailed and well appointed Georgian style secretary desk, made in England. The dovetailed drawers with brass hardware with a l...
Category
20th Century English George I Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and rare Biedermeier walnut roll top secretary . Fine satinwood inlay . French polished and ready to place. Several drawers and compartments for storage .
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood, Walnut
18th C. Swedish Baroque Secretary with Library in Original Gray Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish slant-front secretary from the 18th century in two parts with arched cornice and bracket base. Found in Kronoberg in southern Sweden, an area known for crystal and furnitur...
Category
18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Modernist Secretary Cabinet, Lacquered Wood, Chrome-Plated Metal, Customizable
By GMD Berlin
Located in Berlin, DE
German modernism free-standing secretary cabinet designed and manufactured by GMD Berlin. Wood lacquering in various colors and finish. Available on request in different amounts.
Category
2010s German Modern Secretaires
Materials
Steel
Vintage Desk Cabinet in Teak, 1960s
By WK Möbel
Located in HEILOO, NL
Teak wooden cabinet with fold-out desk, produced in Germany in the 1960s.
The cabinet has 2 doors with lock and stands on adjustable metal legs.
The top of the cabinet folds fo...
Category
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Kai Kristiansen Teak Secretary Desk
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark
Designer: Kai Kristiansen
Manufacturer: Torring Møbelfabrik
Era: 1960s
Materials: Teak
Measurements: 35.5? wide x 17.25? deep x 44? tall
Condition: In excelle...
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Louis XV Style Carved Oak Drop Front Two Drawers Secretary Bureau, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Louis XV Style carved oak drop front secretary or bureau or writing desk, two drawers with shaped bronze handles, made in France in the 1920s....
Category
1920s French Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Dutch Bleached Oak Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The secretary made of Dutch oak from the 19th century rich in decorations consists of an upper and lower part. The upper part is hinged to the front. The flap sits on two pullouts th...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers with White Marble Top, France, 1900s
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
France, 1900
Faux bamboo chest of drawers with white marble top.
H 144 x W 87 x D 40 cm
Category
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Vintage Cresent Queen Anne Style Cherry Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Beautiful Queen Anne style secretary desk and bookcase by Cresent Manufacturing Company, circa 1970s. Made from cherry with a natural distre...
Category
1970s Queen Anne Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Cherry
Antique Oak Secretary Desk, Sweden, circa 1920
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the beginning of the 20th century.
Made of oak wood.
Very good condition.
Dimensions: Height 111 cm / width 88 cm / depth. 52 cm.
Category
1920s Swedish Chippendale Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Spanish Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, Spain, circa 1950
Located in Miami, FL
Mid 20th century walnut Spanish front cabinet with molded carvings and two compartments, the hight compartment has a sliding door that can be hidden easily to open the space and the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Secretaires
Materials
Oak
1950s Guillerme et Chambron Design Oak Wooden Chest of Drawers And Secretary
Located in Tourcoing, FR
1950s - 1960s French Guillerme et Chambron design oak chest of drawers and secretary "dos d'âne" model composed of a oak wood structure with 3 large drawers back and an hidden secret...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Black & Gold Hitchcock Style Secretary Desk & Chair - 2pc Set
Located in Middletown, MD
A stunning vintage two-piece set, wonderfully preserved, to add a touch of historical charm to your home décor. Painted in rich black with gold accents featuring the classic Harvest stenciling, beautiful brass/porcelain drawer pulls displaying a painted scene on each, exuding the timeless Hitchcock style that was popularized in the late 1800’s and continues to be a highly sought staple of American décor...
Category
20th Century American American Classical Secretaires
Materials
Maple
French Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant / Secretary desk, circa 1800
Located in Lucenec, SK
The secrétaire à abbatant or fall front desk is nearly identical to the desk 5th President James Monroe brought back from France in 1797. These desks are ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Hand-Painted Furniture Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with Roses.
We love how the choice of sweet curves and pastello colors ...
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 18th C Italian Baroque Figured Walnut Secretary w/ Architectural Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Figured Walnut Secretary with Architectural Pediment, Arched Mirror Cabinet Door
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Thomasville Cherry Blockfront Secretary Bookcase Cabinet Dry Bar Cabinet
By Thomasville
Located in Dayton, OH
Traditional Thomasville blockfront secretary bookcase or dry bar, circa last quarter 20th century. Made from cherry with an illuminated laminate drop front work surface over three lo...
Category
Late 20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Burled Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This Burled Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture has all the outstanding qualities of an antique original. Made of select mahogany solids and beauti...
Category
2010s Renaissance Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Louis-Philippe Period French Secretary
Located in San Antonio, TX
Step into a world of refined elegance with this Antique Louis-Philippe Period French Secretary, meticulously restored to its former glory. The restoration has brought out the authen...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts England
Located in Atlanta, GA
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts, England, circa 1830.
Category
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Compass Writing Desk Bureau by Pedro Miralles Claver for Punt Mobles, circa 1990
Located in London, GB
The compass desk was designed by Pedro Miralles Claver for Punt Mobles, circa 1990. One of Pedro Miralles last designs before his untimely death in 1993...
Category
1990s Spanish Post-Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Cherry
English Chippendale Mahogany Inlaid Fall Front Secretary with Bookcase, C.1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
English Chippendale mahogany fall front secretary with carved molded edge finial cornice, flanking upper case hinged glass doors revealing adjustable interior shelves, period brasses...
Category
1780s English Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Marble Top Carved Walnut Marquetry Secretary Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an office or bedroom with this elegant antique "Secretaire a Abattant". Crafted in Paris circa 1870, the fruitwood secretary stands on cabriole legs ending with bronze sabot...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Biedermeier Secretaire, South German, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier secretaire in cherry veneer with a two-door lower part, a flat writing flap and a wide top drawer. The edges are set off with a strip of burl veneer. The escutcheons are ...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Swedish 18th Century Rococo Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th century Rococo cabinet.
With a decorative carved pediment and two doors opening to storage. Below sits a fall front desk, opening to useful writing or computer space.
With two further small storage drawers...
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French 18th C. Louis XV/XVI Transitional Ormolu Mounted Secretaire by RVLC
Located in PARIS, FR
A Louis XV/XVI transitional ormolu mounted tulipwood secretaire by RVLC
Rare and elegant secretary of elliptical shape, veneered on all sides of rosewood with herringbone decoration...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Wooden Mid-Century Modern Drop off Wall Secretaire Attributed to Marcel Gascoin
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Wooden wall secretaire with drop-off top desk, made in the 1950s.
The design and workmanship of this secretaire is very reminiscent of the works of Marcel Gascoin made between 1949 ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel drop front secretary desk by Raymond Loewy. Comprised of an oak case, cerused oak drawer fronts, and blac...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Metal
"Swedish Grace" Period Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Grace was the inspiration for this lovely birch secretary which makes working from home a joy! Three locking drawers sit beneath a generous drop-front with 6 interior drawers, a pair...
Category
1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Napoleon III Period Secretary from the 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
" Napoleon III period secretary from the 19th century. "
19th century gilt bronze and marquetry secretary, Napoleon III period, circa 1880.
h: 132cm, l:92cm, p: 38cm
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Biedermeier Secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1850.
Very good condition.
Wood: mahogany
dimensions: height 205 cm width 109 cm depth 59 cm.
Category
1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Style Lyre Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Highly valuable bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood. Framed with maple root inlays. Two base-drawers, above an oval corpus with two half-round drawers, between a down-folding writing-plate. This so called Lyre Secretaire...
Category
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th C. French Empire Style Louis Philippe Period Secretaire Abattant
Located in Forney, TX
A Louis Philippe period (1830–1848) fruitwood secretaire abattant fall front desk.
Born in France in the mid-19th century, hand-crafted of rich solid fruitwood with warm wood tones, subtle grain detail, and nicely aged mellow patina over the whole. Finished in French Empire taste, having a molded cornice, concealed ogee frieze drawer with dovetail joinery, over fall front panel, opening to reveal original fitted interior gallery, with inset gilt tooled leather writing surface, large open shelf cubby, six drawers of various size, above double-door cabinet with brass shield escutcheon that opens to provide generous storage space, and an additional lower drawer for valuables hidden in the base molding, rising on square feet.
Dimensions: (approx)
56.75" High 41" Wide, 17.5" Deep
History/Back Story:
Louis Philippe furniture had the same types and forms as the earlier French Restoration style, but with less decoration; comfort was the primary consideration.
During the turbulent French Revolution and following Napoleon rule, Louis Philippe (1773-1850) remained in exile for 21 years until the Bourbon Restoration, when he became the King of the French from 1830 to 1848.
For the first time, the developing upper class–not the monarchy–influenced the progression of this style’s characteristics.
However, King Louis Philippe’s personality still inspired many aspects. His casual nature reflected this style’s informal, comfortable build. Much of the style was taken from the personality of the King himself. Unlike his Bourbon predecessors, he wore business dress...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Fruitwood
Mid-Century Modern Teak Rolltop Desk Bureau, 1960s
Located in Harlingen, TX
A vintage 1960's Swedish modern teak roll-top desk/bureau. Featuring a roll-up top, extendable desk surface, five storage cubbies, three upper drawers and four lower drawers with scu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass
American Hepplewhite Mahogany Inlaid Fall Front Secretary with Bookcase, C. 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Hepplewhite mahogany satinwood string inlaid secretary bookcase with a hinged fall front leather writing surface, central arched tulip wood inlaid cornice with original bras...
Category
1790s American Hepplewhite Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Unusual 18th-19th Century Continental Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Figured wood veneer, the top with a carved cornice over double doors. They open to two shelves over drawers and cubby holes. A middle frieze with three drawers (lacking a key) over t...
Category
19th Century European Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Gustavian Style 19th Century Painted Slant Front Desk with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood secretary from the 19th century, with slant front desk, multiple drawers, grey painted interior, three dr...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Inlays, Brass, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Large, imposing original Biedermeier secretaire from south Germany around 1830.
Cherry veneered on softwood and solid cherry. Solid cherry solid columns with carved Corinthian capita...
Category
1830s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron, Tin
Secretary In Walnut 18 ° Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
a fine Secretary in walnut and burr walnut from the 18th century
Very good quality and small English model
secretary composed of 3 drawers as well as a...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Bookcase, Cylinder Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Bookcase ~ Cylinder Secretary is a stately reminder of a bygone era! Hand-crafted by talented cabinetmakers from a mixture of in...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Cylinder Secretary, Writing Desk, Walnut, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Louis XVI cylinder secretary in walnut, writing desk
West Germany
Walnut and others
Louis XVI around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 112 x 96 x ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French Mahogany Secretary Matching Marble Top From The 1890
Located in Lejre, DK
French secretary in mahogany with many intarsia and drawers with matching marble top from around 1890. A super high quality secretary.
Measurements in cm: H:159 W:102 D:43
Category
1890s French Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century Glazed Secretaire Bookcase in Walnut, England
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Glazed secretaire bookcase in walnut from the second part of the 19th century of very good quality from England
Very beautiful secretary of small ...
Category
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Secretary Simulated Chiffonier, Napoleon III Period
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique 19th century secretary simulated chiffonier, Napoleon III period
A magnificent secretary simulated chiffonier. It is created with gre...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century George III Hepplewhite Cylinder Top Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
Period Mahogany George III Hepplewhite Cylinder Top Secretary Bookcase. Tapered Legs. Maple inlaid top. Interior reveal leather writing surface and pigeon hole compartments. Beau...
Category
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Maple
Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Painted Slant Front Secretary with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood secretary from the late 18th century, with slant front desk, multiple drawers, dark painted interior, th...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Country Secretary Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish folk art secretary desk from the early 19th century, 1810 to 1820. The secretary is a genuine Swedish country house furniture in pine. The surface is very distressed and the wood and its structure shines trough the paint. The surface of this furniture sets it apart and gives that antique character that can’t be replicated.
A secretary is also a multipurpose furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
18th Century Flemish Louis XV Secretary Chest of Drawers in Oak
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A 18th century Flemish Louis XV slanted-flap secretary. Solidly made of oak.
Half-high lateral coffered corpus with 2 large drawers and a slightly recessed superstructure with sla...
Category
18th Century Belgian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th Century George III Style Mahogany Bureau Secretary Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a sophisticated and stately Danish secretary bookcase. The partially pierced cornice and a secondary tiered; a shaped cornice over tw...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Swedish Mahogany Secretaire Chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Biedermeier period swedish mahogany secretaire chest of drawers, circa 1810.
Stunning secretaire chest in rich mahogany. 4 drawer chest with architectural elements to the bottom d...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, C. 1810-1815
Located in Handewitt, DE
Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany, Birch and elmwood veneer. Inlays in different woods. Original fittings in bronze and...
Category
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Stunning 1900s Burr & Burl Walnut Drop Front Bureau Desk Lovely Timber Patina
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1900 Burr & Burl Walnut drop front bureau
A good looking and well-made piece, you don't come across many in Burr walnut, it i...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Swedish 1870s Birch Inlaid Secretary with Inlaid Motifs and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish 1870s birch inlaid two part tall secretary with slant front desk, two doors, four drawers and inlaid star motifs. Imbued with a refined elegance, this Swedish 19th Century bi...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century German Pine Baroque Secretary
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
German provincial baroque secretary à deux corps from around 1750. Solid made in pine wood.
Consisting of a three drawer commode lower part with S-...
Category
18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Oak Secretary, Northern Europe, Around 1820
Located in Chorzów, PL
Oak secretary, Northern Europe, around 1820!
Very good condition, after professional renovation.
Wood: oak
Dimensions: height: 200 cm, width: ...
Category
1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th Century German Biedermeier Veneered Mahogany Cabinet - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique German Biedermeier two-part cabinet with a writing flap made of handcrafted veneered Mahogany, in good condition. The bottom part of the shellac polished secretary is composed with two large drawers, standing on four wide wooden legs. The inside consists five drawers and two compartments, particularized by polished brass hardware, columns. The top part of the buffet is composed with one large drawer and two small drawers, the center is consisting a storage compartment with an arched...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique, New and Vintage Secretaires
Your antique, new or vintage secretary desk has become the (chic) saving grace of the "new normal" at home.
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 — pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers — are revealed.
Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts — a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top. Taking its name from the French word for the piece, secrétaire, the secretary desk dates back to the 18th century, when Paris-based cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben, known for his exquisite marquetry and clever mechanical desks, is thought to have invented the secrétaire à abbattant, or drop-leaf desk.
While the defining drop-down feature of the secretary desk has remained constant, the materials used, as well as its configuration, size and style have evolved over time.
At first, secretaries were typically made from exotic woods, like rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood; later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common. The desks also became lighter, with space carved out of the lower half for the writer’s feet or with drawers replaced by legs — making them more table-like.
When open, the secretary is a dynamic, versatile Wunderkammer. When closed, it’s a sophisticated, space-saving piece of furniture.
“A fine secretary with a good provenance adds stature and credence to its owner — it is a cornerstone piece,” says antiques dealer Stanley Weiss, who specializes in 18th- and 19th-century English and American furniture. “In this disposable world, fine furniture is always passed on and speaks to who its owner is.”
No matter what style or period you choose, and no matter how you decide to use it, the timeless, flexible secretary desk is bound to become an indispensable part of your daily routine.
Browse a range of antique and vintage secretary desks on 1stDibs, including mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others.
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