Small French Secretaire
Antique Early 1800s French Regency Secretaires
Metal
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Sycamore
Antique 1850s French Secretaires
Ash, Elm, Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 18th Century French Secretaires
Satinwood
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Fruitwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Bronze
2010s French Neoclassical Secretaires
Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
Antique 1830s French Charles X Secretaires
Maple
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Charles X Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Rosewood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Walnut
Early 2000s Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany, Walnut
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Chrome, Brass
Antique 18th Century German French Provincial Secretaires
Softwood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Maple, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique Early 1800s English George III Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Leather, Boxwood, Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Secretaires
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires
Oak
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Secretaires
Maple, Walnut, Birdseye Maple
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Secretaires
Kingwood, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Kingwood, Yew
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Secretaires
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century French Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century Dutch Rococo Secretaires
Kingwood, Tulipwood, Satinwood, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Country Secretaires
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Secretaires
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1860s French Directoire Secretaires
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Boxwood, Cherry, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
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Small French Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Small French Secretaire?
Finding the Right secretaires for You
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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