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Escritoire Secretaire

English Buffet Secretaire, Escritoire Cabinet Oak, with Drawers, circa 1920
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique english escritoire secretaire cabinet, made circa 1920 Oak and leather The upper part of
Category

Vintage 1920s English Desks

Materials

Leather, Oak

19th C Buffet Secretaire, Escritoire Cabinet Louis Philippe Cherrywood, France
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique Louis Philippe buffet escritoire secretaire cabinet, circa 1850-1860 Desk very convenient
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks

Materials

Cherry

19th Century Buffet Secretaire, Escritoire Cabinet Cherrywood, France
Located in Labrit, Landes
Antique buffet escritoire secretaire cabinet, made circa 1900 Desk very convenient to store and
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Desks

Materials

Cherry

French Boulle Escritoire
Located in Wilson, NC
This French Boulle escritoire has profuse brass inlays with arabesques and brass ornamental mounts
Category

Antique 1890s French Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French Boulle Escritoire
French Boulle Escritoire
H 61.5 in W 31.5 in D 21 in
Swedish 19th Century Painted Pine Escritoire Writing Desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century painted pine escritoire writing desk circa 1870. We are pleased to offer
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Rustic Secretaires

Materials

Pine

George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I secretary bureau escritoire or scriptor of figured patinated walnut
Category

Antique 18th Century English George I Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

20th Mid-Century Spanish Buffet Secretaire, Escritoire Cabinet Oak
Located in Labrit, Landes
Vintage buffet escritoire secretary cabinet, made circa 1960 in Spain. Oak, wrough iron, brass and
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wrought Iron

Antique Queen Anne Walnut Secretaire Chest / Escritoire, 18th Century
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Queen Anne walnut secretaire chest / escritoire, circa 1710 in date. The upper section
Category

Antique 1710s Queen Anne Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Rosewood Escritoire by Jamar
By S. Jamar, London 1
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
, pp.273-280, pls. 510, 511, 518, 520, 521. A related secretaire cabinet by S. Jamar sold anonymously
Category

Antique 1820s English Cabinets

Materials

Rosewood

Rosewood Escritoire by Jamar
Rosewood Escritoire by Jamar
H 57.49 in W 33.86 in D 16.93 in
A George IV mahogany mechanical escritoire attributed to Gillows
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A George IV mahogany mechanical escritoire attributed to Gillows, of rectangular form with a
Category

Antique 1820s English George IV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Mid 19th century Swedish burr birch secretaire chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Stunning birch root escritoire circa 1855. We are pleased to offer this piece for sale.  Profusely
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Birch

Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest
Located in Greenwich, CT
lower section opening via machined brass arch hinges to reveal a well-appointed secretaire escritoire
Category

Antique 1760s English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest
Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest
H 77.5 in W 42 in D 24 in

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Cabinet 19th Century, Napoleon III Period, Style Boulle
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Antique 19th Century French Louis XIV Cabinets

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Lovely Display Cabinet / Tallboy, France
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Handsome quality made antique display cabinet, with the best interior for storing crockery/porcelain, glasses and cutlery. The cabinet is from France circa 1900, and was originally u...
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Early 20th Century French Cabinets

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Lovely Display Cabinet / Tallboy, France
Lovely Display Cabinet / Tallboy, France
H 94.49 in W 46.46 in D 19.49 in
Antique Spanish Bargueño 19th Century Renaissance Bar Cabinet Oak Bobbin Carved
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite Spanish Bargueño cabinet from late 19th century Renaissance style , Richly carved with wrought iron grips on the side & bobbin legs. Amazing details & craftsmanship in a ...
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Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Renaissance Revival Dry Bars

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Napoleon III Boulle Centre Table
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Nashville, TN
Good condition Ebonized Napoleon III Bedel & Cie Parisian made Boulle style centre table. One centre drawer, four cabriolet legs. The table is heavily decorated with bronze sabots, k...
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Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Center Tables

Materials

Tortoise Shell

Antique 18th Century Solid Oak Spanish Kitchen Display Cabinet
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful hand carved solid oak kitchen cabinet It has a recessed upper part for the display of plates and cups. The lower cabinet features a fixed shelf and the doors are decorate...
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Antique Mid-18th Century Spanish Baroque Cupboards

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19th C. French Charles X Restoration Period Sewing Stand Work Table
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce period Charles X (1818-1834) French Restoration mahogany travailleuse sewing (thread stand - side table - jewelry dressing table) with light, warm, beautifully aged patina....
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Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X End Tables

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Bronze, Ormolu

Antique English Oak Wardrobe
Located in Fulton, CA
Fine example of a 1930's English tiger oak Jacobean style wardrobe. Exceptional glow to original finish. Original hardware working as in tended. Original oval beveled mirror and ribb...
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Early 20th Century English Jacobean Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Brass

Antique English Oak Wardrobe
Antique English Oak Wardrobe
H 82 in W 48 in D 19 in
Empire Dresser Chest of Drawers Solid Cherry
Located in Cookeville, TN
Beautifully crafted Empire style solid cherry wood chest of drawers. Dovetail joints, turned legs and drawer pulls. Amazing aged patina. In classic empire style, the top drawer is th...
Category

Early 20th Century American Empire Dressers

Materials

Wood

Empire Dresser Chest of Drawers Solid Cherry
Empire Dresser Chest of Drawers Solid Cherry
No Reserve
H 47 in W 43.5 in D 22 in
Scrubbed Pine and Oak Cricket Table
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Unusual English or Welsh cricket table circa 1830 having a single board pine top over oak base having splayed tapered legs joined by box stretcher and retaining traces of original re...
Category

Antique 19th Century Tables

Materials

Pine

Antique Pocket Field Microscope, English, Brass, Instrument, Edwardian, C.1910
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique scientist's field microscope. An English, brass, pocket instrument, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. Appealing brass instrument with fine colour, ide...
Category

Early 20th Century British Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet France, 1830 Cherrywood, This early nineteenth century French Buffet is constructed of solid Cherrywood. Three drawers of dovetail con...
Category

Antique 1830s French Empire Buffets

Materials

Cherry

19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet
19th Century Empire Period Sideboard or Buffet
H 36.03 in W 66.93 in D 21.86 in
Antique French Louis Revival Vernis Martin Display Cabinet 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique French wood and Vernis Martin bowfront vitrine in the Louis XV manner, circa 1880 in date. It has three quarter glazed bow panelled doors with exquisite hand p...
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Antique 1880s French Louis XV Cabinets

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Ormolu

Tall Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Walnut Buffet or Sideboard
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Louis Philippe period buffet from the nineteenth century is known as a buffet d'appui in French which translates "buffet to lean on," due to its unusually tall height of 45 inch...
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Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Buffets

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Walnut

Antique French Louis XVI Armoire Display Shelf Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique French Louis XVI Armoire Display Shelf Cabinet Country: France Materials: Oak, Glass Shelves, Metal Mesh Door Condition: Original Condition Style: French Antique Year: 194...
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Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Antique Napoleon III Boulle Style Writing Box
Located in New York, NY
Dealer: S138XX
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Antique French Parquetry Ormolu Mounted Vitrine Cabinet 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Louis Revival parquetry and ormolu mounted breakront vitrine, circa 1860 in date. This beautiful cabinet has exquisite parquetry and crossbanded ...
Category

Antique 1860s French Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Recent Sales

French Regency Rosewood Escritoire
Located in Pawleys Island, SC
French Regency rosewood escritoire featuring satinwood interior drawers. This elegant piece
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Regency Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood, Satinwood

French Regency Rosewood Escritoire
French Regency Rosewood Escritoire
H 66 in W 44 in D 23 in
Late 18th Century Mahogany Escritoire
Located in Dorking, Surrey
A fine late 18th century mahogany Escritoire, with fitted interior and of small proportions.
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Secretaires

Late 18th Century Mahogany Escritoire
Late 18th Century Mahogany Escritoire
H 64.18 in W 29.93 in D 20.08 in
Stylish Masur Birch Biedermeier Escritoire
Located in Wiltshire, GB
A stylish masur birch Biedermeier escritoire. A very stylish Swedish writing cabinet fitted
Category

Antique 19th Century English Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Rare Early Walnut and Marquetry Scriptor Escritoire, circa 1715
Located in East Sussex, GB
A very rare walnut scriptor of small proportions and with a most attractive figuring and colour. The scriptor has beautiful and original marquetry inlays to the fall and interior ...
Category

Antique 1710s British Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Louis XV Escrutioire (Lingerie Chest)
Located in Lawrenceburg, TN
Louis XV bronze-mounted marble-top escritoire with marquetry inlay and good fitted interior. All
Category

Antique 1860s French Louis XV Secretaires

Flemish Gothic Revival Scriptor Oak Desk Painted by Young Artist, circa 1910
Located in Sint-Kruis, BE
phantasmagorical flora and fauna on an old Arts and Crafts scriptor. The escritoire is in the local Flemish gothic
Category

20th Century Belgian Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Biedermier Escritoire
Located in Port Chester, NY
Good example of a Biedermier escritoire, dark green leather inlay, secret top and bottom drawers
Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Biedermier Escritoire
Biedermier Escritoire
H 59.5 in W 38 in D 18 in
Rosewood French Inlaid Escritoire
Located in Wilson, NC
This rosewood French inlaid escritoire is profusely inlaid with urns, flowers, stylized scalloped
Category

Antique 1890s French Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Rosewood French Inlaid Escritoire
Rosewood French Inlaid Escritoire
H 64.75 in W 32 in L 64.75 in
19th Century Mahogany Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
A lovely quality 19th century mahogany escritoire by, or in the manor of William Trotter of
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century European William IV Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Mahogany Escritoire
19th Century Mahogany Escritoire
H 77 in W 37 in D 20 in
19th Century French Oak Escritoire
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
19th century French, oak escritoire, having amazing inlay with various woods in balanced
Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Oak Escritoire
19th Century French Oak Escritoire
H 54.34 in W 34.65 in D 20.48 in
Queen Anne Walnut Crossbanded Escritoire
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Queen Anne walnut crossbanded escritoire, the molded cornice over a cushion frieze drawer above a
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Great Britain (UK) Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Queen Anne Walnut Crossbanded Escritoire
Queen Anne Walnut Crossbanded Escritoire
H 62.5 in W 41.5 in D 18.5 in
Early 19th Century Mahogany Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
A fantastic quality early 19th century English , mahogany escritoire, lovely quality mounts, one
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century mahogany escritoire circa 1830
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th Century mahogany escritoire circa 1830 OF EXHIBITION QUALITY
Category

Antique 19th Century British Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Swedish Birch Escritoire Desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Superb quality burr birch escritoire, circa 1860. Featuring a single drawer at the top, fall with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Swedish Birch Escritoire Desk
19th Century Swedish Birch Escritoire Desk
H 50.75 in W 44 in D 19.3 in
19th Century Elegant Danish Mahogany Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality Danish mahogany escritoire, circa 1850. Beautiful color on this flame mahogany desk
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century European Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Italian Carved Rosewood Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare Italian rosewood escritoire, circa 1880. Nice small proportions on this piece. Carved
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century Swedish Carved Birch Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality birch escritoire writing desk, circa 1860. Featuring barley twist carved columns
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Scandinavian Burr Walnut Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality Scandinavian burr walnut escritoire, circa 1870. Stunning example made with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Italian Carved Palisander Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Italian carved palisander escritoire circa 1880. Nice smaller proportions on this
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Palisander

Early 19th Century Biedermeier Ebonised Birch Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century Biedermeier ebonised birch escritoire circa 1820. We are pleased to offer
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

Mid-19th Century Swedish Burr Birch Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Stunning birch root escritoire circa 1850. We are pleased to offer this piece for sale
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish High Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Mid-19th Century Swedish Burr Birch Escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Stunning birch root escritoire, circa 1850. We are pleased to offer this piece for sale
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish High Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Rare Queen Anne Walnut and Seaweed Marquetry Escritoire
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare Queen Anne walnut and seaweed marquetry escritoire. This beautiful fall-front secretaire on
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Mahogany Brass Inlaid Escritoire Writing Cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
French empire writing cabinet circa 1820. Inlaid with brass and ebony, in 2 parts. The bottom section opens to reveal a space with brackets for shelves (no shelves present) the t...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Secretaires

Exemplary Very Small George I Figured Walnut Escritoire with Provenance c. 1720
Located in Heathfield, GB
A particularly small, fine and very original English walnut scriptor dating from c. 1720 and with an excellent colour and wonderful richly grained walnut throughout. The scriptor ...
Category

Antique 18th Century George I Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, South Germany/Munich, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very elegant and unadorned Biedermeier secretaire/ bureau/ escritoire from Munich, circa 1820. It
Category

Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Bone, Wood, Cherry, Walnut

Antique Queen Anne Burr Walnut Secretaire Chest, 18th Century
Located in London, GB
walnut Queen Anne secretaire chest / escritoire. It has a secret cushion moulded drawer in the frieze
Category

Antique 1710s English Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Empire Secretaire, Walnut Veneer, Gold-Plate, Paw Legs, Vienna, circa 1810
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine neoclassical Empire Secrétaire / Secretary / Escritoire / writing armoire from Vienna
Category

Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires

Materials

Gold Plate

Rare Empire Secretaire with Side Drawers, Mahogany, Bronzes, France circa 1810.
Located in Regensburg, DE
Fine, unusual, petite Empire so called Secretaire / Secretary Desk / Escritoire from France around
Category

Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Oak Desk
Located in High Point, NC
inspiration from the ornate escritoires of previous centuries—from the serpentine shape of the cabinet to the
Category

Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Oak Desk
19th Century French Oak Desk
H 36.4 in W 32.5 in D 16.5 in
Antique Escritoire Cabinet, French Secretaire, Chest of Drawers, Victorian, 1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique escritoire cabinet. A French, burr walnut secretaire chest of drawers with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Georgian Oak Escritoire
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A charming Georgian 18th century George 1 period oak escritoire, or secrétaire tallboy, of very
Category

Antique Early 18th Century English Georgian Cupboards

Materials

Oak

18th Century Georgian Oak Escritoire
18th Century Georgian Oak Escritoire
H 64.5 in W 38 in D 21 in
19th Century Italian Carved Palisander Secretaire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare Italian rosewood escritoire circa 1880. Nice small proportions on this piece. Carved cornice
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Palisander

19th Century French Secretaire with Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Plaques
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in London, GB
A fine Escritoire After a Design by Adam Weisweiler Constructed in amboyna, dressed with blue and
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass, Ormolu

Arts & Crafts Bureau Desk Mahogany English, circa 1910
Located in Mimizan, FR
Arts & Crafts bureau writing desk mahogany, circa 1910 Lovely small size escritoire secretaire In
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Arts and Crafts Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

19th Century Swedish Painted Oak Escritoire Desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Oak escritoire of large proportions, circa 1860. Two parts. Later black paint has now weathered
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Maison Jansen Ebonized Marble Top Commode Escritoire
By Maison Jansen
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic ebonized commode or chest of drawers featuring an escritoire or secretaire drop down
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

French Empire Mahogany and Ormolu-Mounted Escritoire or Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
. The secretaire or writing desk with flamed Cuban mahogany providing an outstanding decorative effect
Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Antique Genuine Northern Swedish Gustavian Style Country Escritoire or Secretary
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish escritoire. This escritoire, or secretary desk, is an authentic Swedish
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Antique Louis XV Escritoire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique, 19th century Louis XV fall front writing desk. Solid walnut construction with oak as secondary wood. Hand carved decoration is solid wood panels top, front and sides. Origin...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Antique Louis XV Escritoire
Antique Louis XV Escritoire
H 42 in W 48 in D 21 in
Queen Anne Walnut Secretary / Escritoire England, circa 1710
Located in San Francisco, CA
Walnut Queen Anne secretary / escritoire, England, circa 1710. This useful and elegant desk / chest
Category

Antique 1710s English Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

French 19th Century Marquetry Inlaid Escritoire Writing Cabinet
Located in Macclesfield, GB
An exceptional quality French marquetry inlaid escritoire writing cabinet. The fall is beautifully
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

18th Century Dutch Mahogany Escritoire with Marquetry Inlay
Located in East Sussex, GB
A late 18th century Dutch mahogany escritoire with marquetry inlay and dating from circa 1790. The
Category

Antique 18th Century Dutch Sheraton Secretaires

Materials

Ebony, Fruitwood, Mahogany, Satinwood, Tulipwood

William and Mary Period Walnut Escritoire of Delightfully Small Proportions
Located in Cambridge, GB
This fine escritoire is veneered with finely-figured timber and decorated with inlaid chevron
Category

Antique Late 17th Century English Secretaires

18th Century French Walnut Secretary
Located in Encinitas, CA
Very nice burled walnut escritoire from Provence. Lovely bronze angels on each side of the stepped
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

18th Century French Walnut  Secretary
18th Century French Walnut  Secretary
H 89.5 in W 36 in D 14 in
Rare Early Walnut and Marquetry Scriptor Escritoire, circa 1715
Located in Dallington, East Sussex
A very rare walnut scriptor of small proportions and with a most attractive figuring and colour. The scriptor has beautiful and original marquetry inlays to the fall and interior ...
Category

Antique 1710s Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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Escritoire Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic escritoire secretaire available at 1stDibs. Each escritoire secretaire for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and birch. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer escritoire secretaire, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 19th Century. A escritoire secretaire, designed in the Victorian or Empire style, is generally a popular piece of furniture.

How Much is a Escritoire Secretaire?

A escritoire secretaire can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $7,707, while the lowest priced sells for $4,153 and the highest can go for as much as $38,000.

Finding the Right storage-case-pieces for You

Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

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