Bleached Secretaire
19th Century Dutch Bleached Oak Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
splayed carved feet. The furniture is made of oak wood that was first sandblasted and then bleached. The
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Antique 19th Century Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Louis-Philippe Period French Secretary
Located in San Antonio, TX
Louis-Philippe era, showcasing the piece's impeccable beauty.
The stunning bleached walnut veneer with
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Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
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Early 20th Century French Wooden Secretary
Located in High Point, NC
motifs. A delicate bleaching process has been applied to the surface of the oak, re-enlivening the
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Early 20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
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Brass
Mid-Century Modern Étagères by Paul McCobb for Calvin Furniture
By Paul McCobb, Calvin Furniture
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A well scaled Mid-Century Modern étagère in bleached walnut designed by Paul McCobb. The cabinet or
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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Located in Rio Vista, CA
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Located in High Point, NC
A bleached oak cabinet from France, produced circa 1880. A stately chest standing seven feet tall, this piece features an upper, locking, double door cabinet of three shelves, a lowe...
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By Osvaldo Borsani
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1920s Belgian Bleached Oak Secretary Cabinet
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19th Century Dutch Bleached Oak Secretary
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
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Antique Bleached Oak Secretary Drawer Chest
Located in High Point, NC
fitted with a folding writing desk. Bleached oak finish gives this cabinet a bright and contemporary
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Louis XVI Bleached Oak Secretary Cabinet
Located in High Point, NC
A Louis the 16th era “secrétaire” from France, circa 1820. With two lower and three upper drawers
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Located in High Point, NC
This bleached oak secretary desk was made in France, circa 1860. It features geometric paneling and
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Located in High Point, NC
This bleached oak secretary desk and vitrine was made in Belgium, circa 1880. The calming sky blue
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Located in High Point, NC
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Located in New York, NY
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Late 19th Century Bleached Oak Secretary Cabinet
Located in High Point, NC
compartments. Bleached oak finish gives this cabinet a bright and contemporary presentation, while highlighting
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Located in Miami, FL
sanded through. Once the effect of the sun-bleaching is removed, the patina is irretrievably gone and the
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H 83 in W 46.5 in D 24.25 in
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Located in High Point, NC
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1860s French Bleached Oak Vitrine
Located in High Point, NC
A bleached oak vitrine from France, produced circa 1860. A capable secretaire, makes a powerful
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Located in Atlanta, GA
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French Antique Secretaire Louis Philippe Style Bleached in Walnut, 19th Century
Located in Stuart, FL
French antique secrétaire desk Louis Philippe style bleached and in walnut woodland 5 drawers wit
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French antique secretary desk in old oak which we have bleached and stripped to reveal the gorgeous
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Bleached Oak Antique French Secretary, circa 1780
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French Antique Secretary Desk in old french Oak wood which we have stripped and bleached. Beautiful
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accessible. Original hardware and bleached oak finish.
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Scottish Art Nouveau Mahogany Secretary Desk
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marquetry trim and floral motifs. Drop-down writing surface reveals bleached mahogany drawers with bone
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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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