1870 Secretary
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Very good condition, after professional renovation
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Oakwood Secretary Cabinet - Baroque Revival, Austria ca. 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
beautiful dark nutwood tone. This secretary cabinet from around 1870 - the so-called "second Baroque
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$7,900
H 51.97 in W 27.56 in D 16.14 in
Antique Italian or Dutch Small Rococo Bombe Secretary Desk w/ Marquetry, c 1870
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exquisite 19th century Rococo secretary in mahogany with bombe front & sides, with floral
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Dutch Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood, Kingwood, Tulipwood
$14,500
H 43 in W 34 in D 21 in
Fantastic American Centennial Solid Walnut Philadelphia Carved Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
secretary desk, a true testament to 19th-century craftsmanship. This exquisite piece features a beautifully
Category
Antique 1870s American Federal Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$2,796 Sale Price
20% Off
H 98.75 in W 42 in D 22.5 in
Incredible Carved Italian Luigi Frullini Narrow Figural Walnut Secretary Desk
By Luigi Frullini
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This incredible Italian secretary desk, attributed to the renowned 19th-century master carver Luigi
Category
Antique 1870s Italian Renaissance Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$9,995
H 75.5 in W 32.75 in D 21 in
Louis XV style lady’s secretary with red and gold chinoiserie decoration
Located in Wien, AT
Louis XV style, France, end of the 19th century. Various hardwoods and softwoods, veneered, primed in red, decorated in lacquer technique in the form of landscape scenes on the rever...
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$8,892
H 36.62 in W 35.44 in D 22.05 in
The Honorable Intimate Secretaries - Lithograph by A. Maganaro - 1872
By Antonio Manganaro
Located in Roma, IT
The Honorable Intimate Secretaries is an original lithography artwork realized by Antonio Manganaro
Category
1870s Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph
$592
H 17.96 in W 11.82 in D 0.08 in
19th Century French Louis XV Marble Top Carved Walnut Marquetry Secretary Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
circa 1870, the fruitwood secretary stands on cabriole legs ending with bronze sabots feet over a
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$4,600
H 58.5 in W 38 in D 16.5 in
Recent Sales
Tabernacle Baroque Secretary; 1870, Germany
Located in Homburg, DE
Tabernacle Baroque secretary
- circa 1870 South Germany
- Nutwood veneered on oakwood
- Very
Category
Antique 1870s German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 19th century French Empire drop front secretary with black as a marble top and side columns with
Category
Antique 1870s French Empire More Carpets
Materials
Mahogany
Victorian Period Light Oak Slant Front Bureau Secretary Butlers Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
This antique bureau desk was hand-crafted in Victorian England around the year 1870. Today the
Category
Antique 1870s English Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Desk Secretary
Located in Liverpool, GB
Very high-class, impressive secretary with a retractable writing table, made in the second half of
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Oak secretary, Northern Europe, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Oak secretary, Northern Europe, around 1870.
Very good condition, after professional renovation, a
Category
Antique 1870s French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Antique Secretary Desk, Scandinavia, circa 1870
Located in Chorzów, PL
The antique, stylish secretary was made of mahogany wood in the second half of the 19th century. A
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Secretary, Scandinavia, Around 1870, After Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the end of the 19th century from Scandinavia
Made of walnut wood
Furniture
Category
Antique 1870s Scandinavian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Secretary Desk from circa 1870, After Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
A historic secretary from the second half of the 19th century. The furniture is kept in a very good
Category
Antique 1870s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Category
Antique 1870s Scandinavian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 51.58 in W 42.92 in D 29.53 in
Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Northern Europe, circa 1870
Located in Chorzów, PL
Historic secretary from the second half of the 19th century.
Very good condition, after
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique secretary desk from around 1870, Northern Europe. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary desk from the second half of the 19th century, Northern Europe.
The furniture is
Category
Antique 1870s Norwegian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 44.49 in W 37.41 in D 21.26 in
Antique American Renaissance Revival Carved Walnut Secretary Desk Bookcase, 1870
Located in Portland, OR
A very grand antique American Renaissance Revival carved bookcase secretary, circa 1870. The
Category
Antique 1870s American Renaissance Revival Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
H 104.25 in W 49.75 in D 21.5 in
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Very good condition, after professional renovation
Category
Antique 1890s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Napoleon III Secretary Desk in Bronze and Boule Marquetry, France, 1870
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Precious Napoleon III style secretary desk in boule marquetry and gilt bronze ornamentations
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Single-Door Pine "False Front Secretary, " circa 1870
Located in Round Top, TX
This single door pine armoire was known as a "False front secretary" because the door was styled to
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Wardrobes and Armoires
Napoleon III Writing Travel Table Desk Secretary Boulle Style, France, 1870
By André-Charles Boulle, Susse Freres
Located in Paris, FR
Gorgeous Napoleon III secretary writing travel case in Boulle marquetry folder with a violin shape
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 3.94 in W 12.6 in D 14.18 in
c.1870 Napoleon III Style Secretary w/ Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
Located in Chicago, IL
Napoleon III style black lacquered secretary with five drawers (there is a hidden one on the bottom
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mother-of-Pearl
Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Northern Europe, circa 1870
Located in Chorzów, PL
Secretary Biedermeier, Northern Europe, circa 1840. Unique
Very good condition, after professional
Category
Antique 1840s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Swedish Baroque Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Baroque secretary hutch. It was found at an Estate Auction in Uppsala, Sweden.
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Secretary Desk Biedermeier, Northern Europe, 1870s
Located in Chorzów, PL
The antique secretary made of mahogany wood was created in the second half of the 19th century. The
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English George III Style Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1870
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous 19th century English George III style secretary desk with bookcase. The desk features
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Cherry, Mahogany
H 91.75 in W 44.88 in L 91.75 in
Secretary Desk Biedermeier, Northern Europe, 1870s
Located in Chorzów, PL
The antique, stylish secretary was made of mahogany wood in the second half of the 19th century. A
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Secretary Desk Biedermeier, Northern Europe, 1870s
Located in Chorzów, PL
The antique, stylish secretary was made of mahogany wood in the second half of the 19th century. A
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Secretary Bookcase
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An English Victorian mahogany secretary bookcase, circa 1870.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Country French Louis XVI secretary performs two functions at once ~ copious storage in
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Chippendale Mahogany Cabinets with Secretary Fronts
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in Hixson, TN
19th century Chippendale mahogany cabinets with secretary fronts
This is an amazing pair of
Category
Antique 1870s Great Britain (UK) Chippendale Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century chest of drawers with secretary
Located in Eindhoven, NL
knobs.
Origin: England,
Period ca. 1870
Size. W. 97cm, H. 102cm, D. 52cm
Category
Antique 1870s English Late Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Drop Front Solid Wood Secretary and Chest
Located in Houston, TX
Writing desk from France, circa 1870. Features six larger drawers on the bottom and six small
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Herter Brothers Inlaid Walnut American Victorian Secretary Desk, Circa 1870s
By Herter Brothers
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful and rare Herter Brothers secretary desk. The desk measures 56 3/4" H x 36 1/2
Category
Antique 1870s American High Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
H 56.75 in W 36.5 in D 20.25 in
Herter Brothers Inlaid Walnut American Victorian Secretary Desk, Circa 1870s
By Herter Brothers
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful and rare Herter Brothers secretary desk. The desk measures 56 3/4" H x 36 1/2
Category
Antique 1870s American High Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
H 56.75 in W 36.5 in D 20.25 in
Antique secretary from the second half of the 19th century, Northern Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the second half of the 19th century, Northern Europe.
Very good condition
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 44.49 in W 45.28 in D 22.05 in
Superb Etched Mirror Brass Inlaid Marble Top Boulle Style Dresser Secretary Desk
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a stunning and extremely elaborate dresser with a built-in secretary desk and a beautiful
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Dressers
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
H 74.25 in W 52 in D 19.75 in
Sicilian Baroque Style Painted Wood Secretary Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having original green paint trimmed in gold, the shallow upper section with a molded edge top and having three shelves, the lower section with a slant front folding desk housing two ...
Category
Antique 1870s Italian Baroque Secretaires
19th Century French Henri II Walnut Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Henri II walnut secretary is an elegant way to provide a compact work station
Category
Antique 1870s French Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Spanish Grain Painted Tall Secretary Bookcase, Second Half of the 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Tall and shallow, this unique cabinet is faux grain painted and is one piece construction, the upper section with glass doors above a middle section with horizontal lozenge detail an...
Category
Antique 1870s Spanish Neoclassical Revival Secretaires
H 93.25 in W 38 in D 12.5 in
19th Century French Regence Secretary, Dry Bar
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Regence Secretary, dry bar was sculpted from select French oak, and features
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XIV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Napoleon III Desk Secretary Writing Table and Its Armchair France, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Gorgeous Napoleon III desk secretary writing table with 5 drawers with beautiful ornamentation of
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
H 30.32 in W 78.75 in D 27.56 in
Napoleon III Boule Marquetry Cabinet Secretary, France, 1875
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Napoleon III secretary, Boulle marquetry in the queen style inlaid with brass and mother of pearl
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique Fretwork Folk Art Eterger/Secretary or Étagère with Dressing Table
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
, dressing mirrors and table, drawers, cubbies and open shelving or ètagère. New York, circa 1870-1880
Category
Antique 1870s American Adirondack Primitives
Materials
Wood
H 74.5 in W 46.5 in D 16 in
19th Century Italian Walnut Bombe Secretary Bookcase with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Dallas, TX
Elegant antique fruitwood secretaire a abattant from Italy, circa 1870; the bookcase secretary
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Vintage Yew-Wood Long Bow by Bown, Leamington Spa
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
since. Mr. Merridew continued as secretary till 1870, when he was succeeded by Mr. Bown, the bowmaker in
Category
Antique 1870s British Sporting Art Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Materials
Yew
Fine Quality American Victorian Carved Walnut Secretary Desk Circa 1870
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb carved Victorian secretary desk made in the 1870s most likely in Ohio by
Category
Antique 1870s American High Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Austrian Biedermeier Flame Mahogany Secretary Abattant Desk Chest 1870
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & elegant antique Austrian flame mahogany Biedermeier secretary chest desk, circa 1870.
The
Category
Antique 1870s Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 50.25 in W 42 in D 21.25 in
Antique Victorian Rosewood Secretary Drop Front Desk with Bookcase, circa 1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Victorian secretary offers deeply striated rosewood construction with upper bookcase
Category
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Rosewood
H 87.5 in W 46.5 in D 23 in
19th Century Rustic English Chippendale Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century rustic english chippendale secretary desk is the ultimate answer to the age-old
Category
Antique 1870s English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Monumental Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut Secretary Desk & Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
A massive towering Victorian era Eastlake secretary writing desk and bookcase, circa 1870s. Made
Category
Antique 1870s Eastlake Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Walnut
H 106.5 in W 43.5 in D 20.5 in
Antique American Victorian Eastlake Walnut Cylinder Roll-Top Desk Secretary 1875
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American Eastlake walnut cylinder roll-top desk, 1875. The desk having a carved gallery, below is a cylinder roll-top having burl walnut panels. Inside is a fitted interior w...
Category
Antique 1870s American Eastlake Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
H 47.5 in W 42 in D 22 in
19th Century French Louis XV Walnut Marquetry Secretary Chest with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
circa 1870, the tall fruitwood secretary features intricate marquetry and parquetry decor, decorative
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 52.5 in W 32.75 in D 17.5 in
French Napoleon III Secretary "Faux Semainier" Boulle Inlays, circa 1870
Located in Grenoble, FR
Napoleon III secretary (faux semainier), Boulle brass pattern inlays, foliage and scrolls
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
H 55.12 in W 27.56 in D 14.97 in
B304 Antique Scottish Victorian Oak Secretary, Fall Front Desk/Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Vancouver, BC
Scotland, 1870.
Solid oak and veneer construction.
Original finish.
Upper section with two
Category
Antique 1870s Scottish Desks
Materials
Oak
H 92 in W 20 in D 48 in
18th Century Swedish Drop Front Secretary with Faux Marble Painted Interior
Located in Nashville, TN
18th century Swedish drop front secretary with faux marble painted interior. Beautiful original
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 41 in W 41.25 in D 29.38 in
Antique English Arts and Crafts Secretary Base, circa 1875
Located in Houston, TX
” button below and see them first!
The bold carving seen in this antique English oak secretary base
Category
Antique 1870s English Arts and Crafts Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French Lady Secretary in Red Boulle Marquetry and Brass, circa 1875
Located in Grenoble, FR
Lady secretary in red, Boulle marquetry and brass, patterned scrolls, interlacing foliage. Base in
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Secretaires
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Get Updated with New Arrivals
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1870 Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the 1870 secretary you’re looking for. Each 1870 secretary for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and metal. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer 1870 secretary, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 19th Century. A 1870 secretary is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Victorian, Baroque and Louis XVI styles are sought with frequency. A well-made 1870 secretary has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by André-Charles Boulle and Susse Frères are consistently popular.
How Much is a 1870 Secretary?
The average selling price for a 1870 secretary at 1stDibs is $4,775, while they’re typically $432 on the low end and $28,500 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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