Secretaires
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297
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9
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Secretaires For Sale
English Mahogany and Satinwood Secretary Desk Bookcase, 1790-1820
Located in San Francisco, CA
An eccentric and highly unusual Classic Sheraton style mahogany and satinwood inlay slant front secretary with Chinese Chippendale style fine tracery (open-work) decoration.
An impre...
Category
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
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 and partially inlaid. High-quality workmanship on short square legs, straight four...
Category
20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Tulipwood
French 19th Century Brass and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau
Located in Berlin, DE
French 19th Century Brass Inlaid and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau
A 19th century mahogany cylinder bureau with the rectangular top surrounded by a pierced brass gallery, above two mirrored panelled doors, the roll-top opening to reveal a sliding leather writing surface surmounted by three drawers and a shelf, above two frieze drawers, on fluted circular tapering legs headed by asperges and terminated by cast sabot. The mirrored paneled doors, and the roll top are distinguished by its brass inlays that beautifully frame and outline the design of the item. Together with the brass handles, the brass gallery and the brass toupie feet this cylinder bureau displays...
Category
19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
20th Century Dutch Trumeau Walnut with Maple Wood Inlays, Netherlands, 1950
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Dutch Trumeau from the mid-20th century. Furniture of exceptional quality, richly inlaid in walnut and maple wood, the interior is covered in mahogany an...
Category
1950s Dutch Dutch Colonial Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut, Fir
American Indianapolis, Indiana Mahogany Wooton Armoire Desk, circa 1880
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A Wooton desk, produced from 1874 to 1890 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Designed by entrepreneur William S. Wooton.
Produced in mahogany on large sledge feet, four large brass hinges op...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Directoire Period French Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary from France from the Directoire period. This piece is made of solid hand "hewned " mahogany with a striking figuring on the drop front and sides. It has been finished with ...
Category
Early 1800s French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
Bonheur du Jour Secretaire in Lous-Seize-Style, Late 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Two-door Bonheur du Jour ladies' secretaire standing on tall, tapered legs with brass sabots, featuring a leather-covered writing surface in the lower drawer and compartments for ink...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Italian Empire trumeau in briarwood and brass with secrets
Located in Milano, IT
This Italian Early Empire Trumeau is a true masterpiece of elegance and mystery, masterfully crafted from burl feather wood, known for its fascinating grain that evokes the nobility ...
Category
1810s Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Hand Crafted Slant Front Secretary, C. 1980's
Located in Ross, CA
Classic secretary, hand made with ball and claw feet. The secretary has five drawers with brass pulls on the bottom, with a slant front on top. The slanted top has a knotty feature ...
Category
1980s American Georgian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique English Adams Decorated Satinwood Drop-Front Desk, 18th-19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English Adam decorated drop-front desk offers satinwood construction with slant front having neoclassical reserve of woman and cherub in co...
Category
19th Century English Adam Style Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Satinwood
Biedermeier Writing Drawers 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 2 m...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch
French Provincial Style Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key
Located in Soquel, CA
French Provincial Style Walnut Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key. Original Finish.
Category
1860s Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Danish Vintage Mid-Century Modern Secretary Desk Cabinet / Bar in Teak Wood
By Paul McCobb
Located in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
resenting a striking midcentury modern desk meticulously fashioned from solid wood, presently offered in good condition on 1stdibs. Skillfully embellished in the enduring elegance of...
Category
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Ivory Lacquered French Art Deco Cabinet or Writing Desk in the style of Arbus
By André Arbus
Located in Miami, FL
Very elegant and rare piece of furniture. This writing desk cabinet is in lacquered wood and has drawers and two side doors with shelves and bookc...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Slant Front Desk or Secretary
Located in Casteren, NL
This classic slant front desk or bureau was made in England in the early 19th century.
It was made in the finest quality watered European oak. The secretary is elevated on bracket feet. It features four drawers fitted with the original brass ajour cut bat-wing period swing grip handles. The bureau has a beautiful and elegant interior that features 6 small drawers, six pigeonholes, and a compartment with a small door. The door has crossband inlay panels...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Fall Top Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Classic Biedermeier fall top desk, South German, 1820, walnut veneer on the outside and mahogany veneer on the inside. It has a beautiful veneer grain. T...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
Introducing a remarkable Empire Fall Top Desk, hailing from France during the period of 1800-1810. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this magn...
Category
Early 1800s European Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Inlaid Wood Louis XVI Style Italian Bureau Desk, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Elegant 20th century Italian Louis XVI style bureau. Furniture finely inlaid with floral motifs, spirals, cornucopias and mythological figures in walnut, rosewood, maple, burl, palis...
Category
1960s Italian Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century French Empire Secretary, Mahogany and Ormolu Fittings, c 1820
Located in Greven, DE
19th Century Empire Secretary
France
Mahogany
Empire around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 143 x 97 x 49 cm
Description:
Very fine French writing desk with delicate dimensions and a ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Mid-Century Danish Rosewood Secretaire: A Treasure Trove of Modern Design
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Unveil the elegance and functionality of mid-century Danish design with this exceptional rosewood secretaire, circa 1960s. This versatile piece, meticulously crafted from rich rosewo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century English Mahogany Bureau Bookcase Secretary
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A handsome secretary with great storage. Very nice .
Category
19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Golden Ash & Ebony Biedermeier Writing Desk Secretary Chest Sweden 1820
Located in Portland, OR
A very elegant antique Biedermeier Golden Ash & Ebony Biedermeier secretary chest, Sweden, circa 1820.
The secretary chest is made of the finest golden ash and ebonized accents, the...
Category
1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ash, Ebony, Burl
Antique 18th Century English Oak Chippendale Slant Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique 18th Century drop front secretary desk in the Chippendale style, unbranded. Solid oak with brass hardware, slant drop front desk top, pull-out desk top supports, and tall ...
Category
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A Secretaire in Oak with Parquetry Front and Three drawers, Denmark 1950's
Located in London, GB
This beautiful Secretaire from Denmark dates back to the 1950's and is crafted from high-quality oak wood. The intricate parquetry front adds a touch of elegance and sophistication t...
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique Neoclassical American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk C1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Reliable Professional Service & Fully Insured***
Antique Neoclassical American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary with Upper Double Glass ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Greco Roman Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Hand
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Handles
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
vintage secretary desk cupboard 60s Sweden
By Bröderna Gustafssons
Located in GRONINGEN, NL
vintage secretary desk cupboard 60s Sweden
period 60's
design Bröderna Gustafsson Sweden
condition good light signs of use
size 95 x 90 x 48 (hxwxd)
details teak; brass;...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare Bright Green Italian Venetian Painted Rococo Secretary Desk Circa 1940
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb green and yellow splash of elegance and color disguised as a secretary desk. The desk is in two pieces and dates to the 1940s era and is in good vintage condition wi...
Category
1940s Italian Rococo Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Vintage secretary / desk by Musterring made in the 60s
Located in Breda, NB
Vintage secretary / desk by Musterring made in the 60s.
Dimensions:
Width: 88.5 cm
Height: 99 cm
Depth: 47 cm
Depth extended blade: 62.3 cm
Height worktop: 70.5 cm
The piece has tr...
Category
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Neo-Renaissance cabinet set, Western Europe, circa 1880. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Neo-Renaissance cabinet set, Western Europe, circa 1880.
Very good condition, after professional renovation.
Wood: walnut
The set includes: a library, a desk, and an armchair.
di...
Category
1880s German Renaissance Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Walnut, Burl, Beech, Mahogany Wood English Double Body Trumeau 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
English trumeau of the 20th century. Double body funiture in walnut, burl, beech, mahogany and fruitwood. Lower body equipped with two smaller parallel drawers and two larger lower o...
Category
1960s English Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage Danish Mid-Century Modern Teak Secretary Desk
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful Scandinavian modern secretary desk in teak wood recently imported from Denmark to California before its refinishing. This exquisite piece features a vibrant wood ...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
20th Century Swedish Birchwood Writing Agency - Chest Attributed to Axel Larsson
By Axel Larsson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Swedish Art Deco secretary made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Birchwood, designed most likely by Axel Larsson in good condition. The Scandinavian cupboard, cabi...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Louis XVI Style 19th Century Secretaire from France
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Beautiful rich mahogany color 19th Century secretaire Louis XVI style C.1880.
Dimensions:
W: 37″
D: 16″
T: 60.5″
Desk Height: 28.5″
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
18th Century Black Swedish Gustavian One Part Pine Bureau - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretaire made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk is composed with a writi...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Painted Secretaire
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely antique French Louis XVI painted secretarie. This piece has a very fine patina and nice clean lines. Top section has a nice area for display and there is a good amount of stor...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Yew Wood Leather Top Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Brass Hardware MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Yew Wood Leather Top Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Brass Hardware MINT!
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Dutch Marquetry Drop Front Secretaire
Located in Houston, TX
An exquisite 18th-century Dutch marquetry secretary, adorned with meticulous inlay work depicting urns, vines, and floral motifs. Its double-door top cabinet adds grandeur, while the...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This elegant and truly exceptional early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1825.
Viennese Biedermeier is distinguished by their sophisticated proportio...
Category
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Mahogany Spinet Piano Style Flip Top Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Victorian Mahogany Spinet Piano Style Flip Top Secretary Writing Desk. Item features 3 drawers, pull out writing surface, flip top, very nice vintage desk. Circa Early 20th ...
Category
Early 20th Century Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage bookcase Secretaire Teak Johannes Sorth
Located in VEENENDAAL, NL
Beautiful vintage bookcase from the 1960s, from Denmark, designed by Johannes Sorth. The vintage cabinet has 3 shelves at the top that are beautifully finished, at the bottom you wil...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Antique Country French Louis XIV Stripped Oak Secretary ~ Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Louis XIV Stripped Oak Secretary ~ Desk is ideal for the efficient yet stylish interior! Providing surprising storage within the two full width drawers, the t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage secretaire Teak with mirror 92 cm
Located in VEENENDAAL, NL
Beautiful secretary from the 1960s. The vintage teak cabinet has a pull-out desk, ideal! In addition, the cupboard has 4 drawers at the top and a mirror. So the cupboard can also be ...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Antique Genuine Swedish Escritoire, Original Faux Paint Country Secretary Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish escritoire from the early 1800s. This escritoire, or secretary desk, is a genuine country furniture from northern Sweden made around 1820 to 1840. Made by han...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Danish secretary in light rosewood by Arne Wahl Iversen 1960's
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Danish secretary desk in light rosewood designed by Arne Wahl Iversen for Brouers Møbelfabrik dating from the 1960's
Model stamped on the back "Made in Denmark"
It is made up of 3 ...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Secretary, desk, Danish in Rio rosewood by Dyrlund 1960.
By Dyrlund
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Magnificent Scandinavian Secretary/Desk composed of 3 large drawers on the lower part and a hinged door which opens onto storage lockers. Modernist square base. Sober and elegant des...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
1940's French Art Deco Exotic Rosewood Secretary Cabinet
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1940's French Art Deco Exotic Rosewood Secretary Cabinet. Top glass enclosed display area. Interior with special sections for desk needs. Rare form.
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an extraordinary secretary desk in the Venetian style. The interior is done in faux marble paint decoration and the exterior is done in a floral and green combination. The de...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Sèvres Porcelain Mounted Secretaire
Located in London, GB
Antique Louis XVI style ormolu and Sèvres porcelain mounted secretaire
French, c. 1840
Height 127cm, width 76cm, depth 37cm
This magnificent secretaire was crafted around 1840 from ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Directoire Style Mahogany and Brass secretary Aabatant Leather Desk Surface
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Marble top. One dovetailed drawer on top. One drop down door containing leather and fitted interior. Two doors on bottom containing one shelf. Brass or bronze hardware and accents. ...
Category
1950s French Directoire Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Gustavian, Swedish Secretaire Desk, White Paint, Pinewood, Sweden, 1900s
Located in Stamford, CT
Gustavian, Swedish Painted Secretaire Desk, White Paint, Pinewood, Sweden, 1900s
Gustavian secretaire desk or storage cabinet designed and produced in Sweden in the early part of the 20th century. This example features a white paint distressed finish. The top portion of the cabinet flips down to reveal a light green paint distressed writing desk...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Paint
Mid-Century English Pine Chinese Chippendale Style Carved Pine Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century Chinese Chippendale style carved pine secretary. It is purported to be English, and it has glass shelves. The drawers do have dovetail construction, and it is t...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Antique secretary's office, Northern Europe, circa 1870. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from around 1870, Northern Europe.
The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 131 cm / width 109 cm / depth 75 cm
Category
1870s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Italian Renaissance Revival Walnut Figural Carved Writing Desk 52"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Neo-Renaissance Revival writing desk. Made of walnut featuring Neoclassical styling with high relief figural carvings of cherubs / puttis, Northwind faces, and acanthus / fl...
Category
Late 19th Century Renaissance Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Rosewood Circassian Walnut Inlaid Beveled Glass French Louis XV Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
From Slatoff Estate. Rosewood with exotic veneer. Vitrine top with marble top. Rouge marble gallery. Beveled glass doors. Brass accents and foot caps. 58" h x 32 1/2" w x 19 5/8" d.
...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Antique, New and Vintage Secretaires
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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