French Drop Leaf Secretaire
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
Rare French Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Secretaire with Architecture Scenes
Located in London, GB
; the upper compartment, a counterweighted and lockable drop-front is veneered with panels of pictorial
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
A drop-front secretary desk - 1950 - France.
By Rene Gabriel, Charlotte Perriand, Marcel Gascoin
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
.
Height with the drop-down leaf open: 75 cm.
Dimensions of the drop-down leaf: 45 cm x 80 cm.
Great
Category
Vintage 1950s French Secretaires
Materials
Elm
Louis XVI Style marquetry inlaid Secrétaire abattant.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
-top, a drop leaf section, opening to reveal a fitted interior, three serpentine fronted inlaid drawers
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top Hrh
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th C. royal antique burl wood secretary desk & black leather drop leaf top HRH . Very rare early
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 61 in W 31 in D 18.5 in
Art Deco Secretaire Abattant by Jules Leleu Signed, Circa 1935
By Jules Leleu
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
parquetry and marquetry inlaid drop-front secretaire cabinet, with ebony and mother of pearl inlay flower
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
French Louis XVI Style Inlaid Secretary
Located in New York, NY
French Louis XVI-style (19th Century) parquetry inlaid drop front secretary abattant with gilt
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Other
Elegant French Louis XV Period Secretary Writing Desk with Hidden Compartment
Located in Atlanta, GA
writing desk features a slant-leaf front with elegant plaque shaped carved panel, when dropped down into a
Category
Antique Early 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 44.75 in W 35 in D 23.25 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
19th Century, French Louis XVI Style Wood Secretaire Sideboard
Located in IT
19th Century, French Louis XVI Style Wood Secretaire Sideboard
Rare veneered wood secretaire
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Cabinets
Materials
Wood
18th Century French Louis XVI Marquetry Secretaire or Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
An 18th century French Louis XVI marquetry secretaire, or secretary desk with bookcase. Beautifully
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Jewelry Boxes
Materials
Brass
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French 19th Century Louis XV Style Three-Piece Giltwood and Aubusson Salon Suite
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style three-piece giltwood carved and silk Aubusson tapestry three-piece salon suite, comprising of a settee and two fauteuils (armchairs), t...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Living Room Sets
Materials
Silk, Wood
H 44.5 in W 63.25 in D 31 in
Prisma Amethyst Stainless Steel Flatware Set Service 60 Pieces
By Prisma
Located in Big Bend, WI
Elegant stainless steel Prisma - Amethyst by designer Larry Laslo for Mikasa - Japan, circa 1982. The handles of this set are made of lovely amethyst color Lucite with beveled edges ...
Category
20th Century Sterling Silver
Materials
Stainless Steel
Antique Burr Walnut Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Drop Front Secretaire Drawers
By Biedermeier
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this super quality, antique Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire desk with 35 drawers
Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers w...
Category
Antique 1880s Swedish Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 54.34 in W 48.63 in D 18.9 in
Rare Fine Antique Early Victorian Military Campaign Writing Slope Davenport Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this early Victorian Military Campaign writing slope in the form of a Davenport desk circa 1840-1860 in solid mahogany
I’ve only ever seen one o...
Category
Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Desks
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
H 29.93 in W 19.3 in D 14.57 in
Stamped early 18th Century Louis XVI Duchesse Brisee Longue Chair French Bergère
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Extremely rare French Louis XVI Duchesse Brisee (Chaise Longue or Lounge chair) by Nicolas-Jean Marchand, circa 1730s. Beautifully hand carved oak wood, newly restored and reupholste...
Category
Antique 1730s French Louis XVI Chaise Longues
Materials
Oak
H 38 in W 70 in D 27 in
Large Maison Jansen Directoire Mahogany and Bronze Ormolu Cylinder Desk
By Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Maison Jansen Directoire style marble-top cylinder desk with brass sabots and accents. 18 drawers with 2 16.5" leather top extensions.
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
H 52.75 in W 59.25 in D 27 in
Conical Secrétaire, 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary in Birch, Germany
Located in Greven, DE
Conical secretary
North-East Germany
birch,
19th century, Biedermeier, circa 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D 150 x 102 (94) x 52 cm
Description:
Rare conically tapering secret...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
H 59.06 in W 40.16 in D 20.48 in
Lady's Writing Desk/ Secretary in Mahogany w/ Cylinder Top over Chest of Drawers
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful writing secretary in figured mahogany featuring a flight of 4 drawers & a cylinder top that opens to reveal a pull out writing surface with 4 interior drawers & letter cu...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 41.25 in W 35 in D 24.5 in
Biedermeier Writing Desk Chiffonier Secrétaire Cabinet Swedish Ormolu Detail
Located in LONDON, GB
Swedish antique Biedermeier writing desk chiffonier secrétaire cabinet in highly quilted golden birch veneers and finished in the Classic light honey color French polish.
It has t...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
H 55.12 in W 43.31 in D 18.9 in
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A statley 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apr...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Buffets
Materials
Marble, Brass
Set of Six Spode Oyster Plates, Pink, Lavender & Gold-Made for Tiffany's
By Copeland & Garrett Spode
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Wonderful rare set of six "Aesthetic Movement" hand-painted oyster plates, made by Spode and retailed by Tiffany and Company. The fabulous shaded soft pink ground shaded to...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Dinner Plates
Materials
Paste, Porcelain
Pair (2) Portraits Gentleman & Lady, William & Rachel Helyar c.1656, Civil War
By Robert Walker
Located in London, GB
Portrait of Colonel William Helyar (1621-1698) and Rachel Helyar (c.1633-1678) c.1656
Circle of Robert Walker (act. 1637-1656)
These fascinating portraits, presented by Titan Fine ...
Category
17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
H 51.97 in W 44.1 in D 1.97 in
Bed King Tester 4 Poster Oak RenaissanceStyle Carved Adam Eve Armorials Tapestry
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A vintage king size oak tester or four poster bed in the Renaissance style. Hand carved with Adam & Eve carvings in the headboard, figurative sculptures in the bedposts, three carve...
Category
Vintage 1950s English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Oak
H 88.98 in W 70.87 in D 94.89 in
English Georgian Mahogany Gadrooned and Upholstered Tester Bed, Circa 1800
Located in Hollywood, SC
English Georgian mahogany four-poster bed with a carved molded inset headboard, tapered head post, serpentine gadrooned and upholstered tester with a centered carved urn & swags, dec...
Category
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
H 102 in W 61.5 in D 79 in
Tiffany Studios New York "Damascene Harp" Desk Lamp
By Louis Comfort Tiffany, Tiffany Studios
Located in New York, NY
This desk lamp by Tiffany Studios, dating from circa 1910, features a damascene favrile glass shade on an adjustable patinated bronze harp base. With dichroic amber-golden and green ...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Materials
Bronze
Directoire Style Desk with Cylinder Top, France, 19th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
Directoire style desk with cylinder top, France 19th century
Mahogany veneer with satinwood inlays. This elegant little desk is perfect for a small working space. The writing top fo...
Category
Antique 1860s French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Recent Sales
Drop-Leaf Sculpted Secretaire by Jacques Jarrige, 2006
By Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
A spectacular sculpted cabinet or desk by Jacques Jarrige. This unique drop-leaf desk is silver
Category
Early 2000s French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French Louis XVI Secretaire
Located in Austin, TX
French antique Louis XVI style secretaire of solid mahogany. "Trianon gray" patina with white
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Mid-Century French Drop-Leaf Desk by Rene Gabriel
By Rene Gabriel
Located in Pasadena, CA
This Mid-Century secretaire is finished with bookmatched oak, brass fittings, and a light ceruse
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French Directoire Style Antique Painted Secrétaire
Located in Austin, TX
This stunning secrétaire is made of solid cherrywood with bronze feet and hardware and gold leaf
Category
Vintage 1920s French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century French Directoire Secretaire à Abbattant
Located in Winter Park, FL
A late 18th century Country French Directoire Period secretaire à abbattant. This drop leaf desk is
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Transitional Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
wrapping the front and both sides. The drop-leaf work surface opens with a key and has a leather insert
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Grand Louis XVI Carrara Marble Top Secretaire
Located in Austin, TX
19th century French Louis XVI style secretaire in solid mahogany, ebonized with a lustrous French
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Gold Leaf, Brass
Antique Dutch Walnut Marquetry Secretaire Abattant Chest Late 18th Century
Located in London, GB
"secrétaire à abattant" is a nearly identical form, but usually in a French style such as Louis XV, Art Deco
Category
Antique 1780s Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
H 59.45 in W 39.38 in D 20.08 in
French 1940s Secretary
Located in Buchanan, NY
, drop leaf hinge and sabot are brass.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI French Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, drop front desk, from France in the Louis XVI style. This cabinet is made of blond
Category
Antique 1820s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Empire Style Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
throughout. The drop front opens to an original red leather writing surface embossed with a gold leaf frieze
Category
Vintage 1920s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Antique Louis XVI Style Secretary Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Antique mahogany “Secrétaire” finished with a lustrous ebonized French polish, Carrara marble top
Category
Vintage 1930s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
Oak Cabinet / Secretary by Guillerme et Chambron, France, 1960's
By Boleslaw Danikowski, Votre Maison, Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Austin, TX
typical of their designs, the clover leaf finial secures the drop down desk surface, which is supported by
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Oak, Ceramic
19th Century French Secretaire with Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Plaques
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in London, GB
, spring released by a concealed button; over, the secretaire, the drop flap fitted with a French lock, has
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Brass, Ormolu
French Directoire Solid Walnut Secretaire
Located in Austin, TX
French Directoire style secretaire in solid walnut with fluted legs, brass trim, and three drawers
Category
Vintage 1920s French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
French Art Deco Secretaire Highboy
Located in North York, ON
mirror at the back, and beneath is a drop-down leaf with mirrors on all sides. The bottom half is
Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Louis XVI Style Fall-Front Secretaire Abattant
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic fall front secretaire abattant desk made in the French Louis XVI taste. Features a large
Category
Antique 19th Century English Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Elegant Semainier-Secretaire Fully Repolished by Maison Jansen, Paris, 1950
By Maison Jansen
Located in Brussels, BE
.
White marble top and his brass gallery.
The secretaire is in burl amboyna with four drawers. The drop
Category
Vintage 1950s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
H 56.3 in W 29.53 in D 16.54 in
19th Century French Beidermeier Drop Front Abattant Secretary Desk Writing Table
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning 19th century French Empire drop leaf secretary abattant with ebony accents and columns
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 62 in W 32 in D 19 in
18th Century French Painted Writing Desk
Located in London, Park Royal
leaf across the top section and drawers, painted in two tones of French grey with warm white highlights
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Midcentury French Louis XVI Style Secretary with Marble Top
Located in Miami, FL
dovetailed drawers with their finely cast hardware, and a drop front leaf featuring a writing surface covered
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Secretary
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
doors. The bottom has a drop leaf desk and cabinet below.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Macassar Ebony Secretary
Located in Southampton, NY
Macassar ebony cabinet with drop leaf writing plateau and 2 cabinets.Upper cabinet lined in blonde
Category
Vintage 1940s French Secretaires
Materials
Macassar, Ebony
Fine French Louis XVI Antique Mahogany Secretaires Desk, 1910s
Located in Hialeah, FL
Fine antique mahogany “Secrétaires”, the mahogany wood has been finished with a French polished
Category
Vintage 1910s French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
French, Faux Bamboo Secretaire Chest of Drawers with Drop Down Desk
Located in Bridport, CT
Stunning French Secretary Desk. Chest of drawers with bamboo detailing. Four drawers and a drop
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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French Drop Leaf Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic French drop leaf secretaire available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and mahogany, every French drop leaf secretaire was constructed with great care. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect French drop leaf secretaire — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. Each French drop leaf secretaire bearing Louis XVI, Empire or louis xv hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made French drop leaf secretaire over the years, but those crafted by Boleslaw Danikowski, Guillerme et Chambron and Jules Leleu are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a French Drop Leaf Secretaire?
Prices for a French drop leaf secretaire can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $800 and can go as high as $559,534, while the average can fetch as much as $6,000.
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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