Secretaires
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1,641
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300
929
766
1,736
1,663
1,689
180
111
110
93
78
74
68
57
29
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27
23
13
9
5
3
1
1
372
691
577
95
102
322
69
20
6
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27
33
53
102
25
14
5
Height
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1,658
497
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1,421
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Secretaires For Sale
High quality teak art deco secretaire by Gerson’s furniture store, Bangkok 1930s
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Solid high quality teak art deco secretaire by Gerson’s furniture store, produced in Bangkok, 1930s. Beautiful marquetry and all-in solid wood. When the deks opens there is another b...
Category
Mid-20th Century Thai Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Teak
Antique Victorian Painted Grain Dragon Griffon Secretary Library Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Early 20th Century Victorian style secretary writing desk featuring painted grain finish and dragon / serpent / griffon carving. The desk opens to large writing surface with...
Category
Early 20th Century Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Antique English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1790
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
The image displays an English George III mahogany two-piece secretary cabinet, a fine example of 18th-century craftsmanship. The cabinet is constructed from rich mahogany, a wood cho...
Category
1790s British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Chippendale Kingwood Military Campaign Chest with Secretary, Circa 1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
English Chippendale Kingwood Military Campaign graduated chest with an upper drawer fitted with a hinged fall front secretary revealing a central prospect door with a secret interior drawer, flanking pigeon holes with eight interior drawers, top edge carved with an egg & dart border, three graduated lower case drawers, original recessed brasses and escutcheons, and resting on a carved egg & dart rope skirt with the original bun feet. Late 18th Century Campaign...
Category
1780s English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique early 20th century ladies' secretary desk. Made from walnut with a maple writing surface. Features a drop front with neoclassical brass hardware over large central drawer ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Georgian Style Two Piece Cerused Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Painted English Georgian style two-piece secretaire bookcase featuring a slant front or drop front desk. The top section has two paneled glass doors opening to a three shelf interior...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century English Country Secretary in Hand-Carved Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century English Country Secretary in Hand-Carved Oak is a superlative example of the design, conceived as a piece that takes up no more space than a chest of drawers, but can se...
Category
1790s English Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century French Lady's Secretaire Rosewood Veneer
Located in Münster, DE
Ornamental lady's secretary, France around 1770, rosewood veneered, leather overlay, brass edging and metal appliques, 3 drawers, shellac-wax polish
height: 75 cm, width: 94,5 cm, d...
Category
1770s French Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique British Colonial Campaign Chest Secretary
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 19th century campaign chest secretary handcrafted in mahogany in a two-piece construction featuring a pull-out leather top secretary ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Painted Swedish Secretary, 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
This 19th-century Swedish secretary is a captivating example of timeless design. Its cream-painted exterior exudes classic charm, while the writing surface features the popular faux ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Pine Roll Top Desk Bureau from Sweden circa 1840
Located in Round Top, TX
Lovely pine roll top desk or bureau from Sweden from the 1800's.
The age of this secretary is revealed in the warmth of the deep patina in the pine which only happens through genera...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Glazed Secretary From The 18th Century In Mahogany-england
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Mahogany glazed secretary from the end of the 18th century of very good quality
Very beautiful secretary composed of 4 drawers as well as a theater in the lower part and an upper gl...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Writing Desk Art Deco, 20th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
An impactful rosewood Art Deco writing desk with walnut and chromed cast iron detailed base with three large drawers and side extensive ...
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Metal
18th Century Louis Seize Rosewood and Walnut Secretaire Secretary
Located in Münster, DE
Diagonal flap secretary
Louis Seize, around 1780/90, rosewood, walnut and other precious woods veneered and marquetry, 1 spacious drawer, original fittings, wax polish
Dimension...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Rosewood, Walnut, Softwood
18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaire in Lacquer by Jacques Dubois (1694-1763)
Located in NICE, FR
A brown-red low secretary in lacquer adorned with chinoiserie motifs by the great French cabinetmaker Jacques Dubois (1694-1763). This exquisite piece of...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
English George III Mahogany Secretary Desk and Bookcase, 18th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK AND BOOKCASE
England, circa last quarter of the 18th century
Item # 305PKI25A
An incredibly beautiful George III mahogany fall-front secretary de...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Dresser/Desk/Dressing Table Veneered with Mahogany, circa 1860
Located in Opole, PL
A piece of furniture on turned legs, with a liftable top and an extended desktop inside.
Under the desktop, there are two drawers, including the one with compartments padded with a ...
Category
1860s European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English 19th Century Campaign Mahogany Box with Unfolding Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English mahogany campaign period box on legs from the 19th century revealing a desk with drawers and green felt. This English mahogany campaign period box on legs from the 19th ce...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Northern European Biedermeier-style secretary from the second half of the 1800s
Located in Barletta, IT
Beautiful Northern European secretary from the second half of the 1800s, Biedermeier style, made of mahogany and mahogany featherwood. It features a...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Swedish secretary Erik Chambert circa 1930
Located in PARIS, FR
Elegant Swedish secretary Erik Chambert circa 1930
Veneered with elm, birch rosewood and others
Key included
Category
1930s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Late 18th Century Secretaire with Architectural Marquetry, Italy, circa 1770
Located in Greven, DE
Antique top secretary
Italy
various precious woods
second half 18th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 219 x 89 x 50 cm
Description:
Slender and well-proportioned secretary with archi...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Venetian Style Chest of Seven Drawers from 1960, Original Worn Painting
Located in Buggiano, IT
Venetian style chest of seven drawers from 1960, original worn painting
Very practical and elegant piece of furniture.
Comes from an old city hous...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Fir
Midcentury French Style Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk / Cabinet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a midcentury French style hand painted chinoiserie secretary with a unique bombe form base and glass top. It works so well for both display and functional desk. It is unmarke...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Lacquer
English 19th Century Walnut Campaign Butler's Desk with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English walnut Campaign butler's desk from the 19th century with writing area, three drawers, bracket feet and brass hardware. This 19th-century English walnut Campaign butler's d...
Category
19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Danish 1810s Beige Gray Painted Two-Part Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Danish painted wood two-part secretary from circa 1810 with beige / light gray painted finish, slanted desk, four doors and carved reeded panels. A testament to timeless Danish cra...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Portuguese Secretaire of the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Portuguese Secretaire
of the 19th Century, in mahogany wood with inlays. Bottom with two drawers.
Elevation with two shelves.
Small defects Dim.: 105 x 89 x 56 cm.
very good condition
Category
19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French Ormolu-Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant by Millet
Located in London, GB
The brèche d'Alep marble top above a long frieze drawer, the hinged fall front with gilt-tooled brown leather writing-surface, the fitted interior with four open compartments and a long drawer, above two cupboard doors, the interior with one shelf, on spreading foliate feet, the gilt-bronze banding to the left side signed Millet à Paris.
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood, Tulipwood
Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and elaborated 19th century Chinoiserie red lacquered slant front secretary. Hand painted and raised decoration. The interior with pigeon holes and drawers and a writing ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louis Seize Secretary around 1800 Nutwood Veneer on Oak
Located in Münster, DE
Cylinder bureau, Westphalia circa 1800, walnut and other fine woods veneered on oak, marquetry work, partly fire shaded, fluting and meander frieze, on the cylinder closure depiction...
Category
Early 1800s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Nutwood, Oak
Secretary in Mahogany With Inlaid wood and Brass Handles from the 1790s
Located in Lejre, DK
Light mahogany secretary decorated with inlaid wood decorations and brass handles from around the 1790s.
Measurements in cm: H:130 W:107 D:48
Category
1790s Danish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Burled Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This Burled Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture has all the features of an antique original. Made of high quality mahogany solids and burled veneers...
Category
2010s Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Fine English George III Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk circa 1780
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A VERY FINE GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE WITH A GLAZED BOOKSHELF ABOVE A CHEST OF DRAWERS
England, circa 1780 Three drawers signed "William Jones"
...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I secretary bureau escritoire or scriptor of figured patinated walnut from the 18th century featuring original s...
Category
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century English Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 19th century English black lacquered Chinoiserie secretary. Beautiful painted Asian designs and many compartments. A true w...
Category
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Secretary in mahogany with brass fittings and Intarsia from the 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
German secretary of patinated elm wood with top and brass fittings decorated with marquetry from Berlin around the 1840s.
Dimensions in cm: H:207.5 W:...
Category
1840s German Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Louis XV Secretary Desk, 1760
Located in Belmont, MA
Step back in time with our exquisite 18th-century Louis XV Secretary Desk, a true masterpiece of French craftsmanship. This elegant piece of history...
Category
1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This elegant and rare early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna c. 1825.
The secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design and excellent craft...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Secretaire Dit De Dame - Stamp: Romain Magniant - Period: XIXth Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
A sumptuous "Lady's" secretary in burr cedar and blackened pearwood.
This magnificent piece is the work of a 19th century cabinetmaker and gilder, Mr Romain MAGNIANT, the stamp is pr...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage French Provincial Corner Cabinet Writing Desk Bookcase Hutch 80"
Located in Dayton, OH
Intriguing French Provincial Corner unit or writing desk, circa 1970s. Base features a central dovetailed drawer and work surface with upper light. The hutch has a central dovetail...
Category
1970s French Provincial Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
18th Century English Chippendale Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
Step into the grace and sophistication of the 18th century with our exquisite English oak secretaire, an embodiment of Georgian Chippendale-style craftsmanship. Elegantly merging for...
Category
18th Century English Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Extraordinary Colorful Rococo Style Painted Secretary Cabinet with Chair
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Custom painted in a striking blue exterior with an electric and contrasting green interior and having a strong form, ornate gilt hinges and pulls, escutcheons (with keys) and Top fin...
Category
1940s Rococo Revival Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Directory Cherry Wood Secretary Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
A French Directory era secretary desk, from the early 19th century, made of beautiful cherry wood, in a light tone with bronze handles and bronze keyholes as well. In their lower part they have a long drawer, and two smaller upper ones. When opening the lid, with a mechanism of lateral iron bars, we can see four other smaller drawers, two on each side, separated by a small walnut arch...
Category
19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Georgian Mahogany Blind Door Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early Georgian Mahogany blind door bookcase secretary desk 1740-50. This is a great looking piece that retains an old and possibly original surface with a great mellow color and patina to the aged Mahogany. Three adjustable shelves in the top section. The bottom piece with two over two drawers and the fitted interior with a sliding lid that opens to a well area. All hardware is original to the piece and all of the locks are working with a key to the bookcase top and desk lid...
Category
1740s English George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage Mahogany Secretary with Flip Down Desk and Storage
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Vintage wood tall secretary having pretty flat front with carved wood decoration and urn shape in the center. Lovely grain and particularly narrow depth. Turned legs have a lower tie...
Category
1940s American Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th c. Swedish Early Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish early Gustavian period secretary with library from the 18th century with shaped cornice, scalped apron, and original bronze hardware. The upp...
Category
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century Biedermeier Column Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged front. High-right body on padfoot feet. Fitted with three drawers of different sizes, the base drawer is curved. Straight writing...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Northern Europe, circa 1870
Located in Chorzów, PL
Historic secretary from the second half of the 19th century.
Very good condition, after professional renovation.
Wood: Mahogany
Dimensions: he...
Category
1870s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Secretary Cabinet, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
This cabinet dates from circa 1920, produced in Germany. With 12 drawers and a door with a shelf behind it in the lower part. In the upper part a display case and a flap. The cabinet...
Category
1920s German Industrial Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Oak, Pine, Plywood
Henredon Solid Oak Olive Finish Wide Open Bookcase Secretary Desk Country French
By Henredon
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Henredon Solid Oak or Chestnut Olive Finish Wide Open Bookcase Secretary Desk Country French MINT!
Category
20th Century American Country Secretaires
Materials
Chestnut, Oak
George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
1820s Swedish Wooden Desk
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden cabinet created in 1820s Sweden. Tall, slender, and painted in an inviting reddish ochre, this cabinet presents an air of familiarity and amicable function. This discreet se...
Category
1820s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English Glass Front William IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Free Union, VA
A stylish English mahogany William IV period piece, (ca. 1830), with a strikingly arched cornice terminating in half palmettes. Arched tracery distinguishes the glass doors of the to...
Category
1830s English William IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Baroque Bureau /Secretary Denmark c 1750
Located in Kastrup, DK
Baroque secretary /bureau in two parts.
Upper cabinet with curved top, pair of doors with marked profiled fillings.
Top of the doors is followed by the top of the bureau.
Bottom with slanted writing flap and marked profile filling.
Small drawers behind slanted writing flap, including three drawers with curved front.
Painted midt 19'th. ctr. in charming light gray and blue shades with edges and profiles in gold leaf
Measurement (cm) H: 202 W: 87 D: 54 ( 81 open )
A charming small bureau...
Category
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
1800s Scandinavian Light Painted Slant-Front Secretary with Multiple Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian slant-front secretary from circa 1800 with carved panel, four drawers, light gray / cream painted finish and carved bracket feet. Steeped in history and elegance, this...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Eindhoven, NL
18th century mahogany secretary in beautiful original condition. Nice sleek interior, warm weathered color. Super quality and beautiful mahogany....
Category
1770s Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Faux Bamboo Rattan Enamel and Decorated Slant Top Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
An Exquisite hand-crafted Faux Bamboo Rattan, hand enamed and Decorated Slant Top Secretary Desk with open bottom lower tier and high knee cle...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Modern Secretaires
Materials
Enamel
Cherrywood Secretary From The 19th Century -france
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant cherry wood secretary from the 19th century
It is unusual to find a secretaire in cherry wood
The secretary is in superb condition. It has all its keys and we have placed a ...
Category
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Secretaire with Flap in Sycamore. French work. Circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This unusual secretaire desk in sycamore with bronze handles is composed of a small sloping desk with flap closing on four drawers and forming a chest of drawers with three drawers i...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Sycamore
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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