Secretaire Abattant Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Charles X Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
Late 20th Century North American Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century English Directoire Jewelry Boxes
Walnut
Antique 1860s European Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Leather, Oak
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Table Lamps
Resin
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Pine, Wood, Birdseye Maple
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Bronze, Gold Leaf
20th Century French Art Deco Daybeds
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Side Tables
Resin, Plastic
Antique Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany, Baize
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Secretaires
Granite
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Elm, Walnut
Vintage 1950s English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Vitrines
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Cherry, Walnut
Vintage 1940s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1870s French Empire Revival Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Birch, Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1910s Napoleon III Desks
Antique 1790s German Empire Cupboards
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century European Secretaires
Walnut, Pine
Antique 19th Century American Secretaires
Walnut, Pine, Bone
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Rosewood, Walnut, Leather
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1780s Dutch Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Carrara Marble
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1830s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 1840s French Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Secretaires
Fruitwood, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Directoire Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Secretaires
Glass, Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Glass, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Brass
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Marble, Stone, Metal, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century American Desks
Walnut
Antique 18th Century French Other Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Restauration Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1830s French Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Karl Johan Secretaires
Birch, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century European Biedermeier Desks
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Belgian Black Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Baltic Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Rosewood, Walnut
Secretaire Abattant Walnut For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Secretaire Abattant Walnut?
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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