18th Century Secretary Desk
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18th Century Secretary Desk Writer’s Bureau
Located in Pasadena, TX
48" Victorian secretary desk writer’s Bureau
Crafted from solid cherry, this multi-function
Category
Antique Late 18th Century North American Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
18th Century Italian Piemonte Commode Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Traditional 18th century Italian secretary desk from the Piemonte region made from solid walnut
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Desks
Materials
Walnut
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Maple Secretary Desk Writing Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Exquisite and Rare antique American Chippendale Period secretary writing desk or Escritoire. Made
Category
Antique 18th Century Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Maple
H 40 in W 40.5 in D 19.75 in
Antique 18th Century Federal Sheraton Mahogany Fall Front Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
An exquisite and rare late 18th century American Federal Sheraton library secretary desk. Made of
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Sheraton Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
H 52 in W 21 in D 41 in
Antique 18th Century Flip Top Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous vintage 18th century desk. A chic Flame Mahogany drop down desk. Incredible wood grain
Category
Antique Late 18th Century North American Georgian Desks
Materials
Metal
Desk – or secretary, cylinder, in mahogany. Late 18th century period.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Desk – or secretary – with cylinder, in mahogany. The body opens with two small handles decorated
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Desks
Materials
Wood
H 44.1 in W 30.32 in D 19.69 in
Antique 18th Century Flip Top Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous vintage 18th century desk. A chic Flame Mahogany drop down desk. Incredible wood grain
Category
Late 20th Century North American Georgian Desks
Materials
Metal
French Scriban desk, Donkey desk, Secretary -Louis XV Period - France 18th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Magnificent donkey back desk, sloping desk from the Louis XV period from the 18th century. It opens
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Bronze
H 40.95 in W 32.68 in D 18.51 in
18th Century Dutch Burl Walnut Secretary Cabinet Scriban Desk library Antique LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
An important and rare 18th century Dutch burl walnut secretaire cabinet Scriban desk Enclosing
Category
Antique 18th Century Dutch Desks
Materials
Wood, Walnut
H 93 in W 51 in D 25 in
Antique English Georgian Walnut Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique slant front secretary desk with graduated drawers (one over two short, over two long
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Original Walnut Queen Anne Secretary Desk /Bureau
Located in Pomona, CA
An original Queen Anne period writing desk, circa 1720. Fantastic patina on it's original walnut
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Fruitwood Secretary 1770
Located in Pomona, CA
French Fruitwood Bureau/ Secretary c1770. The desk has a secret storage area behind the removable
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
Dutch Rococo Bombe Marquetry Inlaid Drop Front Desk / Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Dutch Rococo (Late 18th Century) drop front desk / secretary with elaborate foliate marquetry inlay
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Wood
18th Century French Louis XV Period Walnut Chateau Bonheur Du Jour or Secretary
Located in Birmingham, AL
A rare 18th century French Louis XV period chateau bonheur du jour or secrétaire handcrafted of
Category
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
H 103 in W 54.5 in D 28.5 in
Antique Kittinger Spanish Colonial Walnut Fall Front Secretary Desk Barley Twist
By Kittinger Furniture Company
Located in Dayton, OH
"Extremely rare 1 of a kind early Kittinger Spanish Colonial fall front secretary or library desk
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
H 48.5 in W 46 in D 21 in
Continental Dutch Satinwood Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Continental Dutch-style (18/19th Century) satinwood and inlaid trimmed drop front desk with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century European Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
French Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant / Secretary desk, circa 1800
Located in Lucenec, SK
last decade of the 18th century.
The Monroe Doctrine Desk, is known for having been the drawing board
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique Small Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk Bureau 1780
Located in Portland, OR
mahogany, it is just a cut above many late 18th century bureaus and is a fabulous compact size, this lovely
Category
Antique 1780s English Georgian Desks
Materials
Brass
H 35.5 in W 26 in D 19.75 in
18th Century French Secretary Desk
Located in Belmont, MA
This gorgeous Louis XV Secretary desk dates back to around 1750-60 and was made in France. The
Category
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood
Kittinger Georgian Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk From the White House
By Kittinger Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
secretary desk was commissioned by the White House in the 1970s, most likely by President Richard Nixon. If
Category
Vintage 1970s American Georgian Desks
Materials
Brass
H 34.25 in W 31 in D 19 in
Early Antique English Georgian Secretary, circa 1750
Located in Big Flats, NY
An early antique English Georgian secretary offers lift top and drop-down desk over two long
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Desks
Materials
Wood
Small French Directoire Cherry Secretary, Cherry Stained, Cream Leather Pad
Located in Landivy, FR
the 18th century. This period is remarkable with its straight, classical and timeless lines.
It is
Category
2010s French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
H 52.76 in W 24.81 in D 15.75 in
Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary, 18th Century Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Period Danish Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary. Refinished in painted black
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 40 in W 48.75 in D 24.5 in
18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Swedish neoclassical painted secretary desk will make the perfect addition to your
Category
Antique 1790s Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Steel
Louis XV Secretary Desk, France 18th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
This original 18th century Louis XVI Secretaire has a stunning veneer and marquetry. The elegant
Category
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut, Birdseye Maple
18th Century Baroque Secretary or Writing Desk in Walnut
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Exceptional Baroque secretary or writing desk, probably from southern Germany, around 1760.
The
Category
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Nutwood, Walnut, Pine
European 18th Century Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Old Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European two-part tall secretary from the 18th century with gray / cream painted finish, old
Category
Antique 18th Century European Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
H 86 in W 46 in D 22 in
English Mahogany Secretary with Fitted Desk Drawer Late 18th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany secretary with fitted fall front desk.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish 18th Century Rococo Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th century Rococo cabinet.
With a decorative carved pediment and two doors opening to storage
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Cabinets
Materials
Wood
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest of Mahogany from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of patinated mahogany, c.1770 - an
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
18th Century French Louis XV Walnut Desk Secretary from Provence
Located in Dallas, TX
Carved in southern France, circa 1760, the fold out secretary is both stylish and functional; the
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique 18th Century Dutch Oak Drop Front Bombe Secretary Desk Secretaire
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful Dutch Baroque style secretary with a 3-drawer bombe front and carved ball and claw feet
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
H 42.13 in W 42.13 in D 21.66 in
18th Century Grey Swedish Gustavian Two Part Pine Secretary - Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk is composed with two
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 83.5 in W 49.25 in D 238.5 in
Original 18th Century Venetian Secretary Desk Bookcase burled walnut with inlaid
By Bassano's Ebanisteria
Located in Vigonza, Padua
embellish and complement elegantly environments inspired by any design style.
Measure Desk cm
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 91.74 in W 39.38 in D 21.66 in
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretary, Walnut, Marquetry, Cylinder Desk
Located in Greven, DE
Louis XVI cylinder desk with marquetry
Germany (Westphalia)
Walnut etc.
Classicism around 1795
Category
Antique Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Oak, Walnut
H 46.46 in W 45.67 in D 24.41 in
Italian early 18th century Baroque Walnut Secretary-Bookcase
Located in Troy, NY
Italian secretary with beautiful, thick walnut radica veneer, wonderful color, ebonized moldings
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XVI Flame Mahogany Secretary or Drop Leaf Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A fine late 18th century French Louis XVI Secretary or drop leaf desk made of beautiful flame
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 54.75 in W 31.38 in D 15 in
Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Exceptional 18thc Painted Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic painted Italian secretary with original designs, paint and interior silk fabric.
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer, Wood
Superb 18th century Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Secretary Bookcase
Located in Charleston, SC
Superb 18th century Georgian Mahogany Breakfront Secretary Bookcase. This incredible secretary has
Category
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Italian Rococo Oyster Burl Secretary Cabinet / Desk
Located in New York, NY
Italian Rococo secretary desk / cabinet with an upper door that folds down to reveal a writing
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
French Louis XV Period 18th Century Walnut Slant Front Secretary and Buffet
Located in Atlanta, GA
secretary from the 18th century, a masterpiece that flawlessly blends the sophistication of a desk with the
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 37.7 in W 53 in D 27.5 in
19th Century Classical Charles X Burled Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
three below the desk area. The secretary workspace features its original weathered leather writing
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Charles X Desks
Materials
Mahogany
H 56.5 in W 36.62 in D 16.15 in
19th Century Classical Charles X Burled Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
seven below the desk area. The secretary workspace features its original weathered leather writing
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Charles X Desks
Materials
Mahogany
H 56.11 in W 38.59 in D 15.75 in
Antique 18th Century VOC Dutch Colonial Padouk Ebony Secretary Desk Bureau 1730
Located in Portland, OR
A very rare antique Dutch Colonial V.O.C. (Dutch East India Company) fall front bureau/desk on
Category
Antique 1730s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 44 in W 38.25 in D 22.25 in
Outstanding Early 18th Century English George I Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a stunningly gorgeous and outstanding early 18th century English George I Secretary
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
Italian 18th Century Rococo Secretary with Mirrored Doors and Lacca Povera Décor
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An Italian Rococo period lacca povera tall secretary from the 18th century, with bonnet top
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Paper, Mirror, Wood
H 96 in W 40 in D 22 in
18th Century Satin Mahogany and Rosewood Secretary
Located in Savannah, GA
This is a secretary / bureau/ desk made in England, circa 1780. The top and the fall have a
Category
Antique 1780s English George III Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Late 18th Century Swedish Secretary Cabinet with Historic Paint
Located in South Salem, NY
Splendid early antique Gustavian style secretary cabinet, made in Sweden, circa late 19th century
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine English Queen Anne Walnut Bookcase with Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A fine 18th century English Queen Anne-period furnishings such as this walnut secretary are
Category
Antique 18th Century French Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Neoclassic Period French Commode W/Hidden Butler's Secretary & Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
18th and 19th century. This antique commode from France gives the appearance of being a three drawer
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Materials
Wood
H 35.75 in W 49.25 in D 23.75 in
English Mahogany and Satinwood Secretary Desk Bookcase, 1790-1820
Located in San Francisco, CA
a kind mahogany secretary-desk-bookcase with satinwood marquetry detail of seashell motif.
The
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Bombe Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
center tabernacle door. Under the desk, there are three bombe drawers with original bronze hardware and
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Two Part Oak Secretary with Brass Hardware
Located in Middleburg, VA
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Two Part Oak Secretary with Brass Hardware. This piece stands
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 74 in W 35.75 in D 19 in
Light Gray 18th Century Period Swedish Two Part Secretary with Carved Pediment
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th century period two part wood secretary with a decorative carved pediment. Two carved front
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 79.93 in W 48.82 in D 22.45 in
Large French Directoire Period Traveling Secretary Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
end of the 18th century, while the base was created sometime later in the early 19th century. The
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Iron, Brass
18th Century Black Swedish Gustavian One Part Pine Bureau - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk is composed with a writing flap, three
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Bronze
H 40.25 in W 43.5 in D 21.25 in
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
Category
Antique 1790s English Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Austrian Baroque Walnut Pearwood Marquetry Secretary Late 18th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 18th Century Austrian Baroque marquetry & inlaid secretary - Vienna, Austria, having 3
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Pearwood, Burl, Kingwood
H 81 in W 45 in D 24.5 in
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18th Century Secretary Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the 18th century secretary desk you’re looking for. A 18th century secretary desk — often made from wood, walnut and mahogany — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a 18th century secretary desk — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 19th Century. When you’re browsing for the right 18th century secretary desk, those designed in Georgian, Baroque and Louis XVI styles are of considerable interest.
How Much is a 18th Century Secretary Desk?
A 18th century secretary desk can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $8,500, while the lowest priced sells for $1,225 and the highest can go for as much as $125,000.
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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