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Secretaire Napoleone III, France, 19th Century, Black
Located in Prato, IT
France, second half '800
Lastronate in ebanized wood.
Inlay in brass, copper, pewter, mother-of-pearl.
Marble top in "Fior di pesco".
Inside three drawers with leather top with g...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Venetian Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A painted Venetian secretaire with shelves and drawers on bottom portion of body.
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Pair of Black Lacquered Midcentury Secretaires by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A pair of Italian midcentury Neo-Classical black lacquered secretaires by Paolo Buffa. Each with
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Beech
18th Century Black Swedish Gustavian Oak Bureau - Antique Drop Front Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
. The black, drop front secretaire represents the neoclassical Greek style with the original brass
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
No Reserve
H 42.5 in W 47 in D 30.75 in
Tesselated Black Marble Stone and Brass Inlay Secretaire by Maitland-Smith
Located in Casteren, NL
A monumental secretaire made by Maitland-Smith in the late 20th century. The whole piece was
Category
Vintage 1980s Philippine Greek Revival Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
H 86.62 in W 48.04 in D 29.14 in
19th Century Louis XVI Style French Secretaire with Black Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
In the lavish world of 19th-century French design, the Louis XVI Style Secretaire with a Black
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble
French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century Empire secrétaire à abattant made of rich bookmatched and figured walnut
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Chinoiserie Gilt Lacquer Table Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
This charming tabletop secretaire is decorated in gold and black in the Chinoiserie style. The
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Italian Art Deco Maple Briar, Gold Leaf and Black Lacquered Secretaire, 1940s
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco secrétaire was produced in Italy in the 1940s.
It is completely made of an elegant
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Gold Leaf
H 50.79 in W 42.52 in D 18.12 in
Demi Lune Bureau Art Deco Style Secretaire Desk in Black Lacquer with Cannelure
Located in Ulm, DE
Fluted, semicircular secretary with drawers
Piano lacquer in high-gloss black
Interior in
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Birdseye Maple, Lacquer
H 63.78 in W 42.52 in D 21.66 in
Magnificent William IV Mahogany Secretaire
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
interior with small drawers and original black leather writing surface above a drawer and further panelled
Category
Antique 1830s English William IV Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Oak and matte black lacquered French secrétaire, designed by Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
made of French oak. You are free to choose another lacquer other than the presented matte black that we
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Wood, Lacquer
H 49.22 in W 35.44 in D 18.12 in
19th Century Empire / Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
be removed upwards. The writing surface is covered with black linoleum.
The secretaire is in very
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique French Chinoiserie Secretaire à abbantant
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Antique French Chinoiserie secretaire à abbantant.
This cabinet is finished with bamboo trims
Category
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan, Oak
Regency Mahogany Gillows Secretaire à Abattant
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Regency fiddleback mahogany secretaire à abattant in the manor of Gillows, with a black slate top
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Period Danish Rococo Front Slant Secretaire
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
for useful storage.
Repainted in soft black, with a green/grey interior.
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Black Lacquer Art Deco Secretaire Desk With Etched Mirror On Very Elegant Legs
Located in Ulm, DE
Writing furniture / bar furniture
Piano lacquer in black high gloss
Original Art Deco, France
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Mirror
H 46.07 in W 40.56 in D 14.57 in
Alias 80N Layout Secrétaire w Lid in Oak Top and Black Lacquered Aluminum Frame
By Alias, Michele de Lucchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 80N Layout Secrétaire w Lid in Oak Top and Black Lacquered Aluminum Frame by Michele De Lucch
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Secretaires
Materials
Aluminum
H 27.56 in W 55.12 in D 27.56 in
19th Century Dutch Bleached Oak Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
, as can be seen in the photos. The writing surface is made of a black fleece. The lower part of the
Category
Antique 19th Century Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century, French, Wooden Secretaire Vitrine
Located in High Point, NC
penmanship. Warm wood tones shine from within the case, framed by a rich black exterior.
Category
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Circa 1810 Empire Period Secretaire à Abatant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Empire period, c.1810, Secretaire à Abatant, French. Walnut. Demi-columns with bronze dore mounts
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Impressive 18th Century Italian Venetian Walnut Secretaire
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive and unusually tall Venetian black walnut and burled walnut secretary. The mirrored
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Cherrywood Secretaire - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 64.5 in W 41.75 in D 20.25 in
18h Century Louis XVI Walnut Cylinder Bureau / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful cylinder Bureau from the time of Louis XVI circa 1780-1790. The Secretaire is made of
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Secretaire Stamped Sotto
Located in Kittery Point, ME
drawer, the fall-front with gilt-tooled black leather writing surface enclosing a fitted interior with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Italian Art Deco Aquamarine Shagreen Secretaire, Attr. to Borsani, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco secretaire was produced in Italy in the 1940s and is attributable to Osvaldo Borsani
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Metal
H 51.19 in W 56.3 in D 19.69 in
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI-Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Secretaire Abbatant, Early 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Louis XVI-Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Secretaire Abbatant, Early 19th Century. The inset
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
H 60.25 in W 39.5 in D 18 in
French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts
Located in Savannah, GA
This extraordinary French Second Empire period secre´taire a' abattan features flame mahogany, gilt brass-mounts and retains its original dark grey speckled granite top. Decorated th...
Category
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Granite, Brass, Ormolu
Secretaire Dit De Dame - Stamp: Romain Magniant - Period: XIXth Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
the richness of its marquetry.
The opening of the flap, covered in black leather and enhanced by a
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 46.46 in W 25.6 in D 13.39 in
Vintage Walnut Bookshelf and Secretaire by Claudio Salocchi for Sormani, Italy
By Sormani, Claudio Salocchi
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s - 1960s.
This bookshelf and secretaire features a walnut frame with nickel
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass, Nickel
H 71.26 in W 31.5 in D 16.93 in
Fine French Louis XV Bureau Dos D' Ane/ Secretaire/ Desk
Located in Westport, CT
opened an antique black leather inset writing surface is revealed as well as shelving, four compartments
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaire in Lacquer by Jacques Dubois (1694-1763)
By Jacques Dubois
Located in NICE, FR
front and sides of the secrétaire are each veneered with a single panel of red Asian lacquer, the panel
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 40.95 in W 38.19 in D 16.15 in
Antique French Charles X Secretary/Secrétaire à Abattant in Mahogany, c. 1825
Located in Miami, FL
A Charles X secrétaire à abattant in mahogany, France, circa 1825. Fall-front has original counter
Category
Antique 1820s French Charles X Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
H 58.5 in W 37.75 in D 16 in
19th Century Louis XV Style French Marquetry and Bronze Ladies Secretaire Chest
Located in Darmstadt, DE
"Secrétaire à abattant" - a so called ladies secretaire from the time around 1870-1890 in the style
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
H 50.2 in W 25.99 in D 13 in
Pair of Secretaire and Cupboard, Epoche Charles X, France, circa 1830
Located in Greven, DE
drawer at the top below the black marble top.
We see elaborate inlays of dark wood on a light-coloured
Category
Antique 1830s French Charles X Secretaires
Materials
Maple
Secretaire à la Bourgogne, Transformation Table, Louis XV Style, 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
covered in black leather, which is supported at the front by the drawer underneath.
The rear part of the
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 31.11 in W 27.56 in D 19.69 in
A fine pair of Japanese export lacquer secretaires owned by Sir Stamford Raffles
Located in Amsterdam, NL
'The Stamford Raffles Secretaires.'
A pair of Japanese Kyoto-Nagasaki style export lacquer
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Secretaires
Materials
Gold, Brass
Free Shipping
H 69.69 in W 39.97 in D 18.9 in
Fine Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A black lacquer chinoiserie secretary in two parts. The upper cabinet with two doors that open to
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary, 18th Century Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Period Danish Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary. Refinished in painted black
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 40 in W 48.75 in D 24.5 in
Fine and Rare 18th C Georgian Black Lacquered and Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and rare 18th century Georgian black lacquered and Chinoiserie decorated elaborate secretary.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
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
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Bronze
H 40.25 in W 43.5 in D 21.25 in
Black Painted Rococo Secretary from Denmark circa 1760-1800
Located in Round Top, TX
.
Later professionally custom painted with an exceptional black painted exterior complimented by a soft
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wrought Iron
Midcentury French Style Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk / Cabinet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a midcentury French style hand painted chinoiserie secretary with a unique bombe form base and glass top. It works so well for both display and functional desk. It is unmarke...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Lacquer
Narrow Raised Lacquer Black Chinoiserie Slatfront Secretary Desk circa 1950
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
Vintage 1950s Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 40.5 in W 25.25 in D 21 in
English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
H 86.5 in W 35.5 in D 18.5 in
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
Arbalete Front Chinoiserie Writing Desk, Italy, 18th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Slant/drop front secrétaire commode, with arbalete front. Louis XIV style, decorated with hand
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
Rare Golden Lacquer and Brass Maison Jansen Secretary Cabinet 1970s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Paris, IDF
proportions are impeccable. The care that went into the construction of every tiny detail of the secretaire is
Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Pochette Hanging Container Designed by Barbara Schweizer
By Barbara Schweizer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
.
Designed by Barbara Schweizer
Made in varnished iron (RAL Black 9005) and natural brass.
Dimensions: cm
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Georgian Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, England, circa 1800
Located in Miami, FL
Early 19th century oak English fall-front secretary with carvings of acanthus leaves and urns.
Note: Relaxed, antique condition. Drawers are working well and original brasses are com...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Oak
18th Century Italian Silver & Ebonized Wood Bargueño Desk & Chest of Drawers
Located in Marbella, ES
18th century Italian silver and ebonized wood barqueño desk and chest of drawers.
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Silver
H 49.22 in W 31.5 in D 15.75 in
George III Mahogany Standing Bureau, Great Library Accent Piece, Good Color.
Located in Buchanan, MI
A George III mahogany standing bureau, great library accent piece.
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 47.75 in W 37 in D 24 in
19th Century Hand Painted Secretary with Hidden Drawers and Floral Decorations
Located in Sofia, BG
Secretary with "lacquered" decoration in the style of Coromandel lacquers decorated with chrysanthemums, flower vases and other beautiful objects. Rectangular, it opens with four dra...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 59.06 in W 33.86 in D 14.97 in
English Secretary, Cabinet with Mahogany Glass Top, circa 1850, Victorian
Located in Berlin, DE
High rectangular carcass, two doors. over it extendable writing board provided with several drawers and shelves. Rear-mounted glass top with rung glazing. Extremely rare in this vers...
Category
Antique 1840s English Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 84.26 in W 38.19 in D 17.33 in
Donald Deskey Style Art Deco Skyscraper Design Secretary Wall Cabinet or Desk
By Donald Deskey
Located in Westport, CT
hardware, black tarnished trim. Stamped and numbered on back.
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Nickel
H 62.25 in W 39.25 in D 18.75 in
Chinese Export Lacquer Bureau on Stand and Toilet Glass Dressing Table
Located in London, by appointment only
A Chinese export lacquer bureau on stand decorated with an unusual polychrome flower design
This Chinese lacquer bureau on stand was made in China in the mid-18th century, circa 1...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
H 66.15 in W 27.56 in D 16.93 in
Rare Sesamo Secretary by Frattini for Bernini
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Munich, DE
Designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1981 and made by Bernini. Signed and in good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th C. Louis XV Bureau Scriban Bibliotec Secretary Cabinet Mahogany Antiques LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
rare and Tall Scribing bibliotic secretaire Library desk of a Gentleman or a Lady. Enclosing fitted
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wrought Iron, Metal, Metallic Thread
H 108 in W 50 in D 24 in
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Black Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the black secretaire you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A black secretaire — often made from wood, metal and brass — can elevate any home. Find 126 options for an antique or vintage black secretaire now, or shop our selection of 6 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer black secretaire, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Each black secretaire bearing Georgian, Baroque or Art Deco hallmarks is very popular. T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Baker Furniture Company and Barbara Schweizer each produced at least one beautiful black secretaire that is worth considering.
How Much is a Black Secretaire?
The average selling price for a black secretaire at 1stDibs is $5,949, while they’re typically $608 on the low end and $346,832 for the highest priced.
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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