Antique German Secretaire
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Wood
1820s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Cherry
1750s German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Cherry, Softwood
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Birch
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Iron, Brass
Late 18th Century German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Brass
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
1830s Austrian Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Iron, Tin
19th Century Antique German Secretaire
Cherry, Walnut
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique German Secretaire
Birdseye Maple, Pine, Cherry
18th Century German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Softwood
1750s German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Walnut, Softwood
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Brass
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Birch, Pine, Walnut
1820s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Softwood
1750s German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany
1820s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Wood, Ash
1770s French Louis XV Antique German Secretaire
Kingwood, Satinwood, Walnut
18th Century German French Provincial Antique German Secretaire
Softwood
1820s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany
1890s French Louis XVI Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany
1790s German Louis XVI Antique German Secretaire
Bronze
1890s French Louis XV Antique German Secretaire
Satinwood
Early 1800s German Neoclassical Antique German Secretaire
Brass
18th Century English Georgian Antique German Secretaire
Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany
1870s French Louis XV Antique German Secretaire
Rosewood
Early 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique German Secretaire
Cherry, Pine
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany
1780s German Louis XVI Antique German Secretaire
Maple, Rosewood, Walnut
1750s Swiss Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
1820s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Elm, Walnut
18th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Wood
18th Century German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Pine
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Wood
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Birch, Burl
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
1820s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany, Walnut
1810s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Birch
1780s German Louis XVI Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
1780s German Louis XVI Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
1790s German Neoclassical Antique German Secretaire
Brass
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique German Secretaire
Bronze
1810s German Empire Antique German Secretaire
Bronze
1830s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Birch, Cherry, Walnut
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique German Secretaire
Birch, Fruitwood
1830s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Birch
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Fruitwood, Maple, Walnut
Early 19th Century German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Hardwood, Maple, Pine, Oak
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique German Secretaire
Ash
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique German Secretaire
Maple, Oak, Walnut
1730s German Baroque Antique German Secretaire
Walnut
18th Century German Antique German Secretaire
Wood, Walnut, Burl
1840s German Antique German Secretaire
Mahogany
1820s German Biedermeier Antique German Secretaire
Birch
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Antique German Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique German 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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