Secretary Compartments
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Italian Bombe Inlay Olive Wood Dresser Drop Front Jewerly Compartment Secretary
Located in Rockaway, NJ
front jewelry secretary compartment.
Excellent vintage condition. Stunning piece.
Category
20th Century Italian Baroque Revival Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Olive
H 47 in W 21 in D 47 in
Paul Frankl Brass X-Pulls Brown Cherry High Chest with Drop Front Secretary
By John Stuart Inc., Paul Frankl
Located in Rockaway, NJ
. The dresser has nice drop front secretary compartment suitable for a lap top desk space. Super clean
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Widdicomb, Mid-Century Double Chest of Drawers
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in New York, NY
and has a center secretary compartment with a drop front which conceals shelves and drawers
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Brass
Early 20th-Century Scriban in Chinese Lacquer
Located in NICE, FR
, which opens with a fold-down flap as part of a secretary compartment. This section reveals ten small
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Burlwood Drop-Front Secretary, One of Four Produced; Båstad, Sweden, c. 1880
Located in Norwalk, CT
secretary compartment. Inside, a central cabinet door is decorated with a stunning and highly detailed
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Burl
H 50.25 in W 44 in D 17 in
Late 19th Century Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Secretary, Victorian, 1890
Located in Greven, DE
cavity above the secretary compartment. From the outside, this cavity in the piece of furniture is
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 53.15 in W 36.23 in D 20.48 in
Elegant French Louis XV Period Secretary Writing Desk with Hidden Compartment
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV period Rococo secretary with hidden compartment, circa 1760. This antique French
Category
Antique Early 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 44.75 in W 35 in D 23.25 in
Solid Cherry Multi Compartment Drop Front Secretary Desk w/ Drawer File Cabinet
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Solid Cherry Multi Compartment Drop Front Secretary Desk w/ Drawer File Cabinet
Category
20th Century American Federal Dressers
Materials
Cherry
H 83 in W 35.5 in D 19 in
Intarsia Secretary
Located in New York, NY
inlays adorn the outside of this case piece. Inside hides a whimsical array of storage compartments and
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Burled Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This Burled Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture has all the features of an antique original. Made
Category
2010s Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
The Mahogany Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture. This reproduction slant front writing desk has
Category
2010s Renaissance Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
English Mahogany Secretary
Located in Wilson, NC
The top of this secretary has shaped raised panels. It has the original four lever lock and key
Category
Antique 1760s English Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Beautiful Sloping Flap Secretary / Roll-Up Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful sloping flap secretary / roll-up secretary, 20th century
Wood veneered with tulip wood
Category
20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Tulipwood
Chippendale Secretary/Desk
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in New Haven, CT
George III period mahogany Chinese Chippendale secretary bookcase, England, circa 1790. The
Category
Antique 1790s English Chippendale Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century English Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Queen Anne period furnishings such as this walnut secretary are incredibly rare and important
Category
Antique 18th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
European Whitewashed Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
A wonderful designed modernized 18th century style secretary bookcase with a whitewashed exterior
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English George II Secretary
Located in Wilson, NC
The top section of this secretary has three adjustable shelves and has two candlestick pullouts
Category
Antique 1720s English George II Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Experience the allure of the Red Lacquered Chinese Secretary Desk. Meticulously crafted with
Category
20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Lacquer
1930s Art Deco Secretary Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
1930s Art Deco secretary cabinet.
Exquisite Art Deco display cabinet in walnut with glass front
Category
Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Early 19th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early XIX Century Mahogany Secretary
Germany, 1800
Mahogany
This classicist cylinder bureau made
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Conical Shape Secretary,
Germany, 1820
This fine Biedermeier secretary made of
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
A Spectacular English Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in New York, NY
This impressive and grand Chinoiserie Secretary having an intricate detailed decoration both on
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint
Late 18th Century Italian Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
This Italian secretary dates back to the 1780s. Item features a dozen hidden compartments as
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Painted Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary
Located in Houston, US
Really beautiful Swedish secretary with drop front, interior drawers, cubbies and a secret
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century French Secretary Desk
Located in Belmont, MA
This gorgeous Louis XV Secretary desk dates back to around 1750-60 and was made in France. The
Category
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Biedermeier Burl Wood Secretary Cabinet
By Biedermeier
Located in Bridgeport, CT
shelves, flanked by curved side compartments (one shelf inside at the left). Below is a roll top secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Burl
Arts Secretary Desk in Walnut
By Carpanelli
Located in Milan, IT
interior drawers and one secret compartment.
Category
2010s Italian Tables
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary, Birchwood
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
plenty of storage space thanks to its four drawers and numerous compartments. The secretary impresses
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
19th Century Biedermeier Column Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
. Trellised cornice with so-called "Schinkel roof", below ebonized tooth frames. There is a secret compartment
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Venetian Painted Secretary Bureau Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
with interior compartments and three long drawers. The entire piece is raised on bracket feet. It
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Other Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Walnut Secretary in Louis XVI Style
Located in Vulpellac, Girona
and on the top the secretary opens to five small drawers and five compartments.
Category
Antique 18th Century Spanish Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French Louis XV Secretary Desk, 1760
Located in Belmont, MA
Step back in time with our exquisite 18th-century Louis XV Secretary Desk, a true masterpiece of
Category
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Butler's Desk or Walnut Secretary
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
.
The interior compartment of the desk features a shelf to hold and store small electronics with a pass
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Desks
Materials
Brass
Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Dutch secretary desk, Netherlands, around 1800.
This elegantly curved secretary desk has three
Category
Antique 1790s Dutch Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Baroque Secretary Desk, Switzerland 1750, Walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
Baroque secretary desk, Switzerland, 1750.
This gorgeous baroque secretary desk stands out for its
Category
Antique 1750s Swiss Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Secretary With Drawer by Mylene Niedzialkowski
Located in Geneve, CH
secretary has door compartments and a flap compartment suitable for writing. The secretary with drawers is
Category
2010s French Modern Secretaires
Materials
Steel
English secretary bookcase Arts&Crats 1910
Located in Meulebeke, BE
This English secretary bookcase in arts & crafts style is a beautiful piece of furniture that
Category
Vintage 1910s English Arts and Crafts Secretaires
Materials
Copper
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Elm, Walnut
19th Century Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1835
Located in Berlin, DE
Pyramids mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged inner life. Not long ago, the secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Louis XV Secretary In Floral Marquetry
Located in BARSAC, FR
Sublime Louis XV secretary desk in rosewood and violet marquetry presenting over the entire facade
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Agra Secretaires
Materials
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Regency Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
Period Regency mahogany secretary bookcase. Carved neoclassical elements. Pediment with carving and
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Biedermeier Secretary, Bookcase, Cherry, Walnut, 1840s
Located in Greven, DE
Antique cabinet secretary from the biedermeier period around 1845.
Body in cherry, parts of the
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
Italian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Cypress, CA
Attractive Italian Rococo style walnut veneer secretary cabinet, early 20th century.
The top part
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Cabinets
Materials
Bronze
French Louis XV Secretary, circa 1850
Located in Evergreen, CO
This beautiful quarter sawn oak secretary is comprised of three pieces. It features a top shelf
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique German Mahogany Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
Outstanding early 19th century German Biedermeier secretary desk, circa 1830, with exceptional book
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Louis Philippe Secretary Desk
Located in Opole, PL
, the cut corners of the secretary desk are decorated with semi-plastic, turned elements.
A storage
Category
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Marquetry Children's Bureau Secretary
Located in Delft, NL
A 19th century marquetry children's bureau secretary
A marquetry children's bureau secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century German Children's Furniture
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Country French Neoclassical Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Country French neoclassical secretary is a splendid example of the genre, dating to
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Scandinavian Style Secretary Desk in Walnut
Located in Paris, FR
solution with three drawers, one secret compartment and two lidded sections. Minimalist, elegant and
Category
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Desks
Materials
Walnut
Scandinavian Style Secretary Desk in Oak
Located in Paris, FR
solution with three drawers, one secret compartment and two lidded sections. Minimalist, elegant and
Category
2010s Portuguese Scandinavian Modern Desks
Materials
Oak
19th Century English Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 19th century English black lacquered Chinoiserie secretary. Beautiful painted Asian designs
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Fine English 19th Century Mahogany Secretary-Desk
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine English table with a "hidden" writing desk/ secretary opening via three articulated
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Neoclassical Karelian Birch Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
An extraordinary early 19th Century Neoclassical style Karelian birch secretary. This wonderful
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Baltic Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Arne Vodder Secretary / Vanity / Dresser In Teak
By Arne Vodder
Located in Berkeley, CA
Designed by Arne Vodder in the 1960s, this Danish modern teak secretary is bursting with
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Materials
Teak
Northern Italian Walnut Two-Part Secretary
Located in Newport Beach, CA
a center compartment above two more, relief carved doors bordered by images of vases amidst foliate
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Elegant Red Chinoiserie Hand Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Beautiful tall hand painted chinoiserie secretary desk. The red and gold case with front doors that
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Gunnar Nielsen for Tibergaard bureau, secretary, 1960s
By Gunnar Nielsen Tibergaard
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic secretary from the 1960s by Gunnar Nielsen for Tibergaard. High-quality corpus in teak
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Secretaires
Materials
Teak
18th Century Louis XV Secretary, France, 1770
Located in Belmont, MA
Exceptional French Louis XV secretary with beautiful flower and bird marquetry. This extraordinary
Category
Antique 1770s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Satinwood
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Secretary Compartments For Sale on 1stDibs
An assortment of secretary compartments is available at 1stDibs. Each of these unique secretary compartments was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and hardwood. There are 928 antique and vintage secretary compartments for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 37 modern editions to choose from as well. Secretary compartments have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Secretary compartments made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with Scandinavian Modern — are very popular at 1stDibs. Eric Gizard, Børge Mogensen and Drexel each produced beautiful secretary compartments that are worth considering.
How Much are Secretary Compartments?
Secretary compartments can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $5,933, while the lowest priced sells for $425 and the highest can go for as much as $430,344.
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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Asian Secretaire
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Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Bonnet Top Secretary
Campaign Chest Secretary
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Midcentury Porcelain Swan
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Louis Xvi Secretary 18th Century
Kings Pattern Sterling
Antique Tall Secretary
Empire Abattant