{"id":358141,"date":"2022-09-02T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=358141"},"modified":"2024-05-09T13:33:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T17:33:55","slug":"secretary-desk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/secretary-desk\/","title":{"rendered":"What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Interior<\/a>
Interior designer Liz Caan<\/a> converted the secretary desk<\/a> in this Cherry Hill, Massachusetts, living room<\/a> into a dry bar. Photo by Eric Roth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A secretary desk<\/a> is a practical piece of furniture with a secret. Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts \u2014 a chest of drawers on the bottom and a hutch or cupboard with shelves on the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, this tall, bureau-esque specimen looks like any other cabinet<\/a>. But cleverly built into the design is a hinged panel that folds open or drops down to become a sturdy writing surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the leaf is folded out, a delightful collection of inner storage compartments is revealed. For centuries, secretary owners have used these pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers to store their office supplies and desk accessories<\/a> \u2014 from quills, ink and sealing wax to Uniball roller pens, paper clips and external drives \u2014 as well as small valuables and curiosities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A
New York\u2013based firm Brockschmidt & Coleman<\/a> placed a secretary in the guest bedroom of an antiques-filled Park Avenue apartment<\/a>. Photo by Roger Davies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s not surprising that new, vintage and antique secretary desks<\/a> have surged in popularity, with more people than ever now working from home. Handsome and versatile, they\u2019re the workstations of choice in many busy households, especially those with spaces pulling double duty as offices by day and living rooms, dining rooms or bedrooms at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSecretaries are perfect complements to your home, as they not only add sophistication but are incredibly functional pieces of furniture,\u201d says Jake Baer, of New York antiques gallery Newel<\/a>. \u201cIf you\u2019re hosting a dinner, you can simply close the drop front, and it looks like a beautiful case piece. Then, if you want to turn the space into your office, all you need to do is pull up a chair, drop the leaf and start working. The fact that it can take different forms makes it extremely appealing, above and beyond its beautiful aesthetics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, we explain the finer points of the secretary desk and explore its history, myriad styles and enduring appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Is It Called a Secretary Desk?<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"An<\/a>
French ormolu-mounted marquetry secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abattant<\/em>, 1775<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The English terms secretary desk <\/em>and <\/em>secretaire originate from secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abattant, <\/em>the French name for a writing desk (secr\u00e9taire<\/em>) with a drop leaf (abattant<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abattant<\/em> was most likely masterminded by German-born craftsman Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Oeben (1715\u201363), who arrived in France in the 1740s. In 1751, he joined the workshop of Charles-Joseph Boulle, the son of famed cabinetmaker Andr\u00e9-Charles Boulle<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A talented marquetry<\/a> artist and mechanical genius, Oeben produced extraordinary <\/strong>work that soon caught the eye of Madame de Pompadour, celebrated tastemaker and mistress of King Louis XV<\/a>. A few years later, the prestigious title of \u00e9b\u00e9niste du roi<\/em>, or royal cabinetmaker, was bestowed upon him by the court.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A<\/a>
Design firm Koo de Kir<\/a> tucked an antique Swedish<\/a> secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abattant<\/em> into the corner of this cozy study in Montana. Photo by Michael Partenio and Stacy Kunstel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abattant<\/em> is an example of Oeben\u2019s innovative work. The lower half was typically a cupboard with sliding or hinged doors that enclosed shelving or drawers, although some later designs display the drawers in plain view. The upper half featured a large fold-down panel that became the desktop and revealed the storage compartments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no surprise that over the centuries, Oeben’s secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abbatant<\/em> gave rise to innumerable variations with countless combinations of features, sizes, colors, styles and adornments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Secretary Desk Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"English<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"English<\/figure>\n
English Sheraton-style satinwood secretary, 19th century<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The star attributes of the secretary are its drop leaf and hidden cache of small drawers, shelves, cubbies and other compartments \u2014 that\u2019s a given. But as the piece gained popularity, furniture designers added elements that increased its usefulness, accentuated its beauty and made it fit for any room in the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few of the many other features and embellishments you might find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glass or Mirrored Doors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Glass panes on the doors of the upper half of a secretary make it an elegant display case, while mirrored doors enhance and reflect a well-appointed room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A drop leaf outfitted with a lock guards the desk’s contents from thieves and snoops. Some secretaries also have one or more locking drawers, cubbies or internal cabinets to safely stow personal letters and diaries, money, keepsakes and important documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kneehole<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A cut-out recess in the lower portion of the secretary to accommodate the legs of the user became popular in the late 1700s. Drawers on either side of the kneehole made the piece look somewhat more like a traditional desk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beginning around the early 19th century, the heavy lower portion of the secretary was sometimes replaced with legs, giving the desk a more table-like and less chest-like appearance. On more lavish pieces, they were often carved to resemble animal legs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exotic Materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the 1700s through the later half of the 19th century, the highest-quality secretary desks were constructed from exotic woods, including rosewood<\/a>, tulipwood<\/a>, satinwood<\/a> and kingwood<\/a>; later, hardwoods like cherry<\/a>, maple<\/a>, oak<\/a> and mahogany<\/a> were more common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elaborate Ornamentation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some secretaries are adorned with impressive decorative elements, such as intricate inlays, immaculate marquetry<\/a>, glossy lacquer<\/a>, gleaming ormolu<\/a>, fanciful pediments or hand-painted scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Types of Secretary Desks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts \u2014 a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But for most furniture buyers and purveyors, the term secretary<\/em> is a catchall for a number of different types of desks with writing surfaces that drop open to reveal storage compartments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are some of the variations you\u2019ll often find categorized as secretaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bonnet-Top Secretary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"A<\/a>
Queen Anne burled-walnut secretary, ca. 1730<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Also called a hooded top, a bonnet top was a popular decorative feature on secretary desks in the 17th and 18th centuries in England and America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bonnet-top secretary<\/a> features an ornate pediment with a complete or broken arch, often formed by scroll-like molding. A double-bonnet top has a pediment above each door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vargueno<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"An
Spanish baroque walnut vargueno with metal mounts on red velvet, 17th century<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The vargueno<\/a> originated in Spain in the 16th century. Although similar in form to the secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abattant<\/em>, it consists of two separate pieces: a drop-front chest on the top and a chest of drawers \u2014 sometimes replaced by a stand \u2014 on the bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slant-Top Desk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"An<\/a>
Chippendale-style walnut slant-front desk, ca. 1775<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Much like a traditional secretary but without the upper half, the slant-top desk<\/a>, also known as a slant-front or bureau desk, originated in the 18th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the U.S., the piece is sometimes called a Governor Winthrop desk<\/a>, even though its namesake, the Massachusetts Bay Colony governor who died in 1647, long predated the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Butler’s Desk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"A<\/a>
Serpentine-front butler’s desk, 18th century<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Also known as a butler\u2019s chest, the butler\u2019s desk<\/a> is a shorter, more compact version of the secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 abattant <\/em>that resembles a chest of drawers<\/a>. However, the top “drawer” (or sometimes the top two or three) is actually a panel that folds down to create the desktop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some variations have two doors on the lower part with shelves inside. The model above has a serpentine front<\/a>, a design element favored by 18th-century cabinetmakers and their patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campaign Secretary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"A<\/a>
British military officer’s campaign secretary in brass-bound camphor wood, ca. 1860<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The campaign secretary<\/a> is an early forerunner of contemporary knockdown furniture. Campaign furniture<\/a> was first designed for military use on the battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often composed of two pieces, with handles on each side, it\u2019s lightweight, portable and designed to be taken apart and reassembled quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wall Secretary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"A<\/a>
Mid-century-style wall secretary in walnut, new<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

A wall secretary<\/a> is ideal for small spaces<\/a>, since it\u2019s not as deep as a standard secretary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some are mounted directly to the wall rather than freestanding, saving even more room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Popular Styles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Secretaries come in a range of styles that originated during different historical periods. Here’s a small sampling of some that continue to captivate furniture lovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Louis XVI<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Louis<\/a>
Louis XVI inlaid-wood secretary with marble top, late 18th century<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Louis XVI<\/a> style, characteristic of 18th-century France, marked a transition from the earlier florid rococo designs<\/a> to the straight, simple lines and restrained forms of neoclassicism<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinoiserie <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Italian<\/a>
Italian chinoiserie secretary, early 20th century<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Originating in the 17th century, this fanciful style<\/a> interprets a variety of Asian motifs and techniques through a Western lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a secretary is often a statement piece, a chinoiserie desk<\/a> is a showstopper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chippendale<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"Thomas<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Thomas<\/figure>\n
Thomas Chippendale Paxton House mahogany secretary, 1775<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Chippendale<\/a>, England\u2019s most celebrated cabinetmaker, typically produced mahogany secretary desks, often with Queen Anne<\/a> cabriole legs and always with exquisite craftsmanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Classic pieces in this style<\/a> often use dark woods or finishes and display rococo<\/a> influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biedermeier<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Biedermeier<\/a>
Biedermeier secretary desk with mahogany veneer, ca. 1840<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Popular in Germany and Central Europe in the first half of the 19th century, Biedermeier<\/a> pieces are characterized by neoclassical<\/a> design elements, including columns and scrollwork, as well as richly colored wood veneers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art Deco<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Maurice<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Maurice<\/figure>\n
Maurice Jallot Art Deco secretary, 1929<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Art Deco secretaries<\/a> are recognizable by their streamlined silhouettes and simple geometric forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many have finishes that were favored by Deco designers, such as lacquer and parchment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mid-Century Modern<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"A<\/a>
Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture secretary desk, 1950s<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This style\u2019s clean lines and elevation of function over form suit the secretary desk\u2019s practical nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mid-century modern examples<\/a> are frequently made of teak<\/a> or rosewood<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postmodern and Contemporary<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"A<\/a>
Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova Barbarella secretary, 1966\/1985<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Light and airy, many postmodern<\/a> and contemporary secretary desks<\/a> deconstruct the form, paring it down to its essence as a wonderful workstation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chic, Organized and Hardworking<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"A
Interior designer Michael Del Piero<\/a> chose a minimalist secretary to complement the modern art in a Chicago home<\/a>. Photo by Janet Mesic Mackie<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

No matter if your home is cozy or palatial, or your design ethos minimalist or maximalist, there\u2019s a secretary desk that will fit right in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And whether you use it as a workstation, a display case, a safe of sorts or all of the above, you\u2019ll be hard-pressed to find an object that\u2019s more functional \u2014 or more charming \u2014 than this timeless piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBrowse Secretary Desks on 1stDibs\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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A secretary desk is a practical piece of furniture with a secret. Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts \u2014 a chest of drawers on the bottom and a hutch or cupboard with shelves on the top. At first glance, this tall, bureau-esque specimen looks like any other cabinet. But cleverly built into the 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furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.","show_date":true,"interstitial_banners":[{"acf_fc_layout":"collection","interstitial_banner_shortcode":"shop-secretary-desks","interstitial_banner_background_image":401998,"interstitial_banner_heading":"Browse Secretary Desks on 1stDibs","interstitial_banner_subheading":"","interstitial_banner_button_text":"Shop All","interstitial_banner_button_url":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/furniture\/storage-case-pieces\/secretaires\/"}],"show_related_items_footer_popup":false,"slideshows":false,"contributors":{"hide_byline":false,"columnist":[{"ID":361867,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2021-12-14 22:36:17","post_date_gmt":"2021-12-15 03:36:17","post_content":"","post_title":"Joann Plockova","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"joann-plockova","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2021-12-14 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