German 18th Century Secretaire
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Softwood
Antique 1750s German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German French Provincial Secretaires
Softwood
Antique 18th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1750s German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut, Softwood
Antique 1750s German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Pine
Antique 18th Century German Secretaires
Wood, Walnut, Burl
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Fruitwood, Maple, Walnut
Antique 1790s German Neoclassical Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretaires
Maple, Oak, Walnut
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Nutwood, Walnut, Pine
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Secretaires
Kingwood
Antique 1750s Swiss Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1790s German Louis XVI Secretaires
Mahogany, Maple
Antique 1770s French Louis XV Secretaires
Kingwood, Satinwood
Antique 1760s German Baroque Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century German Directoire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1840s Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Rococo Revival Vitrines
Ormolu
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 1880s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
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Antique Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany, Baize
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Spruce
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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Porcelain
Antique 1730s European Baroque Beds and Bed Frames
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Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
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Pine
Vintage 1910s Dutch Dutch Colonial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 1850s English Elizabethan Cupboards
Oak
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Elm, Walnut
Antique 1790s Dutch Baroque Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1890s German Dinner Plates
Porcelain
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Antique 1730s German Baroque Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1790s German Rococo Secretaires
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Baroque Secretaires
Elm, Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century German Empire Secretaires
Oak
Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Kingwood
Antique Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1750s German Baroque Secretaires
Oak, Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Maple, Oak, Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swiss Louis XVI Secretaires
Maple, Oak, Walnut
Antique 18th Century Dutch Baroque Secretaires
Brass
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Wood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Secretaires
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretaires
Cherry, Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Gustavian Secretaires
Softwood
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut, Leather
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Secretaires
Oak
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Cherry, Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Baroque Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century German Louis XV Secretaires
Fruitwood, Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Kingwood, Mahogany, Rosewood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Wood, Softwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Louis XVI Secretaires
Rosewood, Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Baroque Secretaires
Oak, Paint
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Rococo Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Cherry
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Cherry
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Secretaires
Walnut, Fruitwood
Antique Late 18th Century German Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cherry, Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Fruitwood, Walnut, Pine
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Oak, Walnut
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Cherry
Antique 1880s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires
Satinwood, Kingwood, Rosewood
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Dining Room Chairs
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Antique Mid-18th Century European Rococo Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Nutwood, Walnut
Antique 1830s German Neoclassical Secretaires
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Secretaires
Antique 18th Century German Secretaires
German 18th Century Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a German 18th Century 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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