Secretaires
15
1,646
89
7
to
314
929
771
1,742
1,669
1,695
177
111
111
92
79
74
69
57
28
28
27
25
13
9
4
3
1
1
373
698
574
96
101
318
71
20
6
16
27
33
52
99
25
14
5
Height
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Width
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Depth
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1,663
498
394
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334
1,425
403
296
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218
21
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10
9
Secretaires For Sale
Edwardian satinwood decorated cylinder desk
Located in Salisbury, GB
Edwardian painted satinwood cylinder bookcase
We are pleased to offer you this elegant Edwardian painted satinwood cylinder bookcase.
Made in the Edwardian period an era that was kno...
Category
1890s English Edwardian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Antique French Louis XVI Style Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Sheridan, CO
French Louis XVI style fall front desk, early 20th c. This Secretaire desk features a single drawer over fall front panel, opening to fitted interior gallery, inset leather writing s...
Category
1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mobile archivio italiano, legno di noce e dettagli in ottone, modernariato 1940
Located in MIlano, IT
Mobile archivio da ufficio in legno di noce con doppia colonna di cassetti con dettagli in ottone.
1940 ca.
Buone condizioni.
Misure in cm 91,5x40x184h
Favoloso mobile archivio inter...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Rococo Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
Desk 32 inches high, 43 inches open
Upper cabinet 12 inches deep, bottom 25 inches deep.
Category
1780s Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Arne Wahl Iversen Model 68 Teak Secretary Desk for Vinde Mobelfabrik
Located in Winnipeg, MB
Stunning Model 68 teak drop-front secretary desk designed by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik, Denmark. This beautiful piece features solid construction, a drop-down writing s...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Mid Century Secretary Desk, Denmark 1960s
Located in Herentals, BE
Danish secretary-desk in blond oak 1960s
At the bottom there is a cupboard element with 2 doors and 1 shelf inside.
1 drop leaf shelf in the middle of the secretary and a open spac...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Original 18th Century Venetian Secretary Desk Bookcase burled walnut with inlaid
Located in Vigonza, Padua
What makes this piece unique and special is its originali twist to the characteristic Secretaire, a must-have object among Venetian aristocratic families that could not be missing in...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Late 19th Century Louis Philippe Orange Lacquered Wood Italian Secretaire
Located in Catania, Sicilia
This Orange and brown Lacquered Italian Secretaire serves as both a functional and aesthetically pleasing piece, showcasing the design sensibilities of its era with a bold and distin...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood, Lacquer
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
Teak Secretary Desk, Danish Design, 1960s, Renovated
Located in Chorzów, PL
Teak writing desk, Danish design,
Very good condition, after professional renovation.
Wood: Teak
Dimensions: Height 95 cm, width 89 cm, depth 42 cm.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
French Secretary by Pierre Balmain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W35.5 D17.5 H49.5 KC25
Vintage 1980s drop down desk in a dark walnut finish. Item features brass inlay joinery, original textured hardware and comes with original key. Item shows in...
Category
1960s Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Mid Century Modern Vintage Freestanding Wall Unit Desk in Walnut, circa 1960s
Located in Troy, MI
Vintage Mid Century Modern Freestanding Wall Unit Desk
Great modernist secretary wall unit circa 1960s
Freestanding with adjustable upper drop fr...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Secretaire à la Bourgogne, Transformation Table, Louis XV Style, 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Very rare antique desk or secretary, so-called bureau à transformation "à la Bourgogne" in Louis XV style.
France
Walnut
19th century
Dimensions: H...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
19th Century French Louis Philippe Pine Secretary ~ Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis Philippe Pine Secretary ~ Bookcase is an unusual combination of tailored elegance melded with a casual impression providing both storage and a work surface,...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Capsule Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our brand new Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary with palms decor in gold-leaf.
In collaboration with Damonte & Lacarrieu...
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
1960's Mid Century Modern Obelisk Form Secretary/ Display Case/ Cabinet
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Rare Form 1960's Mid Century Modern Obelisk Display Case/ Secretary/ Cabinet. This is the first time I have seen one like this. There is a writing area, storage cabinets and upper gl...
Category
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Italian Venetian Olive Burl Serpentine Secretary Slant Desk Bureau Chest
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive antique Italian Venetian drop front secretary desk. Made from olive burl with a downswept lid and serpentine frame. Each panel shows off exquisite burl and shapely cro...
Category
Early 20th Century Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Olive, Burl
Antique English Mahogany Bureau, 19th Century
Located in Ely, GB
English Antique Mahogany Bureau, 19th Century . circa 1880s.
Made from mahogany and of high quality, the cabinet has good colour, patination and great proportions.
Structurally, th...
Category
1880s British Late Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paolo Buffa, Secretary, Italy c. 1948, Brass Intarsia by Giovanni Gariboldi, Manufactured by Marelli e Colico, Cantù.
An exquisite and collectible Mid-Century secretary by esteemed ...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing area and three graduated drawers. This Swedish Gustavian style drop-front secretary, ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Having a writing section along with a two door commode for mail secretary need...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
1940's Traditional Burl Wood Secretary/ Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Beautiful Grand Scale 1940's Traditional style Burl Wood Secretary/ Writing Desk.
This secretary is in very good condition. Miami Beach acquisition.
Category
1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Swiss Made Secretaire
Located in Greven, DE
Antique secretary or chest of drawers
Switzerland
Yew, oak
second half of 18th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 105 x 116 x 61 cm
Description:
Antique sloping flap chest of drawers ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swiss Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Yew
Charles Spooner Arts & Crafts Oak secretaire Cabinet with Serpentine Stretchers
By Charles Spooner
Located in London, GB
Charles Sydney Spooner, probably made by J H Brandt.
A rare oak secretaire cabinet on stand, with quarter veneered panels to the doors and drawers with black and green diamond shaped handles. The doors open to reveal adjustable shelves. The sides and lower stand are all made from solid quarter sawn oak with beautiful figuring. The slightly graduated mouldings to the waist frame the tidy little writing area. Standing on squashed ball feet, united with serpentine entwined stretchers.
This is an oak variation of the cabinet Charles Spooner exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1910. One can see that both cabinets are essentially the same design, one with drawers one with a pull down writing area. Both have quartered veneered panels to the doors, the Mahogany one with applied moulded decoration to the doors.
See : illustration below from : Arts and Crafts Furniture by John Andrews.
See also : Charles Spooner Arts and Crafts Architect, page 209 illustration 10:28.
: Fine Art Society for a Coromandel variation and Puritan Values : Important Furniture Page 1, for a larger four door lacquered panelled variation.
Charles Spooner is noted as one of the most influential people and also credited as one of the fathers of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Born at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington (London), Spooner was the second of 5 children of Charles Spooner and Sarah Frances Trinder, who lived at Brook Green, Hammersmith. Spooner became an architect and an instructor of furniture design at the London County Council's Central School of Arts and Crafts. He was a pupil and then assistant of Sir A W Blomfield and in 1890 won the RIBA’s Soane Medallion (Proc RIBA). He specialised in smaller churches and houses turning out some beautiful and complete buildings. He was influenced by E W Godwin and contemporary American architects such as H H Richardson. He was a member of the Society and Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Art Workers Guild, he worked in the tradition of William Morris, teaching...
Category
1920s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Vintage Scandinavian Modern Teak Drop Front Desk Secretary in a Box, 1960-2000
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome MCM (a.k.a. Mid-Century Modern) vintage Scandinavian Modern drop front desk or secretary in a box. It is in wonderful vintage condition. There...
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Napoleon III Marquetry Secretary Vitrine Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique 19th century Napoleon III desk Bonheur Du Jour in walnut and mahogany.
Upper part showcase with three shelves and lower part with a couple of drawers and extendable top and...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Antique Biedermeier-Style Drop-Front Mahogany Secretary Chest
By Biedermeier
Located in Milano, IT
This marvelous Biedermeier-style drop-front secretary chest, dating back to around 1830 and crafted in Austria, is a true work of art. Made from precious mahogany wood, it features b...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Art Deco Secretaire in Feather Mahogany
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Art Deco Secretaire in feather mahogany.
Packaging with bubble wrap and cardboard boxes is included. If the wooden packaging is needed (crates or boxes) for US and International Shi...
Category
1930s Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk by Falsig Mobler
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful scandinavian modern secretary desk in rosewood manufactured by Falsig Mobler in Denmark in the 1960's. This special case piece, recently imported from Europe to C...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
vintage secretary | wall cupboard | 60s | Sweden
Located in GRONINGEN, NL
vintage secretary | wall cupboard | 60s | Sweden
period | 60's
design | unknown | Sweden
condition | good | light signs of use | veneer traces on the back
size | 186 x 95 x 42 (hxwx...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mid century Vintage small TV cabinet by František Jirák, 1960´s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
Mid century Vintage small cabinet or TV table from the 1960´s. It was designed by František Jirák and was manufactured by Tatra nábytok company in the former Czechoslovakia. Walnut v...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Plywood
Mid Century Modern Hvidt & Molgaard Teak Secretary
By Peter Hvidt
Located in Tulsa, OK
Mid Century Modern Hvidt & Molgaard Teak Secretary
Above average vintage condition and structurally sound. Has some expected small scratches and finish wear due to age. Beautiful co...
Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Danish Teak Secretaire by Nils Jonsson - Kai Kristiansen for HJN Mobler
By HJN Møbler
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted dark teak wood secretaire with pull down door front that slides back to make an adjustable desk top . Inside there is great storage with two floating letter holde...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
1780s Gustavian Period Swedish Grey Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period grey painted drop-front secretary from circa 1780 with multiple inner drawers and four drawers on the façade. Discover the sublime craftsmanship of this Sw...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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 Chippendale Serpentine Oxbow Mahogany Secretary Library Writing Desk 40"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early 20th century Chippendale style secretary or writing desk. Made of mahogany featuring serpentine form with drop front writing surface that opens to multiple drawers and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Gianfranco Frattini 804 Rolltop desk for Bernini, 1962
Located in Misinto, IT
The 804 secretaire is one of the most significant pieces of Gianfranco Frattini's creativity. Designed in 1962 for Bernini, it highlights Frattini's exceptional design prowess and th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Aluminum
Antique Country French Secretary Desk ~ Secretaire
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Secretary Desk ~ Secretaire represents the understated elegance of the genre, with stately lines accentuated with subtle m...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Country Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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 upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet.
The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
French Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This late 19th-century French secretary exudes timeless elegance with its creamy painted finish. Its writing surface boasts a faux marble pattern, a lovely feature of French furnitur...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Russian Antique Veneered Mahogany Secretary by Heinrich Gambs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, designed and produced by Heinrich G...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Black Lacquer Art Deco Secretaire Desk With Etched Mirror On Very Elegant Legs
Located in Ulm, DE
Writing furniture / bar furniture
Piano lacquer in black high gloss
Original Art Deco, France 1930s
Dimensions:
Width: 103 cm
height: 117 cm
Depth: 37 cm
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Mirror
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 glass doors, slant front desk and five graduated drawers....
Category
18th Century European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century French Wooden Secretary
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden desk created in early 20th century France. A crest of musical instruments and vines is proudly engraved into the center of this illustrious desk, framed in by a series of fl...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
Napoleon III Secretaire Abattant, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique secretaire abattant cabinet with drop down writing panel with interior carved wooden rails in a yellow color wood finish.
The fall front has...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
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
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
Rattan Secretary Desk by Pierce Martin
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Dramatic in scale and proportion. An exceptional eye catching tropical motif
fall front desk by the iconic designer.
The piece is superbly crafted with multiple drawers and fitted w...
Category
1980s Philippine Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Rattan
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
Secretary With Drawer by Mylene Niedzialkowski
Located in Geneve, CH
Secretary With Drawer by Mylene Niedzialkowski
Dimensions: W 59 x H 160.
Materials: Solid oak and solid steel.
A rotating secretary with engaged curves on a solid steel axis. Combin...
Category
2010s French Modern Secretaires
Materials
Steel
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
French Louis Philippe Drop Front Secretary, late 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
Experience the timeless allure of a Louis Philippe secretary, resplendent in mahogany veneer and a black stone top. This exquisite piece of 19th-century craftsmanship boasts a drop f...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Art Deco Maple Briar, Gold Leaf and Black Lacquered Secretaire, 1940s
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco secrétaire was produced in Italy in the 1940s.
It is completely made of an elegant maple briar, with black lacquered and gold leafed details.
In particular, some of t...
Category
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique Victorian Eastlake Cherry Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk 61"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian drop front secretary or library writing desk. Made of cherry featuring Eastlake styling with upper brass gallery and six apothe...
Category
Late 19th Century Eastlake Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
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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