18th Century, George II Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A magnificent English 18th century Chippendale secretary bookcase of exceptional detail.
Category
Antique 1760s English Chippendale Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Chippendale Secretaries
Recent Sales
Antique 18th Century English Oak Chippendale Slant Drop Front Secretary Desk
Unavailable
H 41 in W 37.25 in D 20.25 in
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.
Category
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Chippendale Bonnet-Top Secretary
Located in Litchfield, CT
Connecticut River Valley, circa 1765-1775. Maple, pine: Secondary wood. Having carved rope-twisted quarter columns and vine carved panels flanking raised panel doors is fitted abov...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
English Secretary Bookcase
Located in Athens, GA
English secretary bookcase in mahogany, 18th century, made in 3 parts, original shaped feet, period heavy brass, great color and finish, impressive, traditional Chippendale design.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Maple Secretary Desk Writing Bureau
Sold
H 40 in W 40.5 in D 19.75 in
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Maple Secretary Desk Writing Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Exquisite and Rare antique American Chippendale Period secretary writing desk or Escritoire. Made from maple featuring a flip top that opens to a fan carved interior and multiple dra...
Category
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Maple
Antique English Chippendale Mahogany Drop Front Bookcase Secretary, 18th Century
Sold
H 87 in W 39 in D 22.25 in
Antique English Chippendale Mahogany Drop Front Bookcase Secretary, 18th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
An English Chippendale secretary offers mahogany construction with mirrored upper bookcase cabinet having dental molding and surmounting slant drop front desk over two small and thre...
Category
Antique 18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Connecticut River Valley Two-Part Cherry Chippendale Secretary
Sold
H 92.5 in W 41.25 in D 22.25 in
18th Century Connecticut River Valley Two-Part Cherry Chippendale Secretary
Located in Milford, NH
Connecticut Valley in origin, dating to the late 18th or early 19th century.
Category
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Antique RI or CT Chippendale Mahogany Slant Front Secretary c. Late 18th Century
Sold
H 43 in W 37 in D 24 in
Antique RI or CT Chippendale Mahogany Slant Front Secretary c. Late 18th Century
Located in Westfield, MA
The Chippendale Mahogany Secretary, a late 18th-century gem hailing from Rhode Island or Southern Connecticut, embodies the distinct elegance and intricate craftsmanship of the era.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century American Chippendale Desks
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century American Maple Secretary Bookcase
Located in San Francisco, CA
An American (New England) tiger maple secretary bookcase, the paneled cupboard doors concealing eight compartments above four small drawers, above a fall front desk with a well-fitte...
Category
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Bookcases
Materials
Maple
American Chippendale Secretary, Connecticut circa 1780
Located in Milford, NH
In cherry. Upper case features three spiral-form finials and a broken arch pediment with scrolls culminating in beautifully carved floral rosettes. Paneled doors with serpentine mold...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Period Chippendale Figured Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, circa 1765
Located in Essex, MA
Period Chippendale George III Secretary Bookcase with Desk Interior British, circa 1765, highly figured veneers, blind fretwork, leaf, and gadrooned carving, gilt finial rosettes an...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Desks
Materials
Mahogany
American Chippendale Mahogany Bookcase over Secretary Desk, Massachusetts
Sold
H 102 in W 47.25 in D 25 in
American Chippendale Mahogany Bookcase over Secretary Desk, Massachusetts
Located in Shippensburg, PA
The crown is self-contained and lifts off of the bookcase, this crafted with open dovetails at the rear corners and affixing to the bookcase with screws. The swan's neck pediment is ...
Category
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Bookcases
Materials
Brass
English George III Chippendale slant front secretary desk, c. 1770
Located in Kenilworth, IL
George III secretary bookcase with glazed astral doors on a slant front desk. The case is defined by a denticulated cove cut cornice above a figured mahogany entablature and astragal...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century British George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine Quality George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine quality George III mahogany secretary bookcase, the lattice form broken pediment cornice above a pair of glazed doors with geometric mullions, the lower case fitted with 3 dr...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Early American Chippendale Cherrywood Drop-Front Secretary Desk
Sold
H 40 in W 35.5 in D 18 in
18th Century Early American Chippendale Cherrywood Drop-Front Secretary Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A stunning 18th century early American cherrywood drop-front secretary desk. The desk features solid wood construction, with gorgeous cherry wood grain. It offers ample room for stor...
Category
Antique 18th Century American American Colonial Desks
Materials
Brass
Period George III Chippendale Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
Georgian period Chippendale mahogany slant lid secretary bookcase. Period Georgian slant lid secretary. Original top to bottom. Original backboards, original broken arch pediment ...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Walnut Chippendale Secretary Desk
Located in West Chester, PA
This example of Philadelphia craftsmanship demonstrates what the finer hands of this period could do. A scrolled top with three urn and finials are all nicely complemented by vine c...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Walnut Chippendale Secretary Desk
Located in West Chester, PA
This example of Philadelphia craftsmanship demonstrates what the finer hands of this period could do with a secretary desk. A scrolled top with three urn and finials are all nicely ...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Chippendale Cherry Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
It dates from the late 18th Century, and was made in New York or New England.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chippendale Secretaires
Chippendale Walnut Fall-Front Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
American Chippendale walnut fall-front secretary, the slant front opening to a plain writing surface and eight maple-banded drawers flanking shaped cubbyholes and a shelf, all above ...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Desks
Materials
Walnut, Maple
Exceptional Chippendale Period Secretary, circa 1770
Located in Bantam, CT
An exceptional quality George III mahogany Chippendale secretary bookcase, With a swan neck fret carved cornice above astragal doors. The fall front exposing a fine interior with se...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Chippendale Secretaires
Rare and Important Chippendale Secretary
Located in Litchfield, CT
Transitional Chippendale Bonnet-Top Secretary New York, ca. 1755-1765. The upper case has a scrolled arch and bonnet-top with carved pedal form rosettes and a central carved cartou...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Poplar
American Cherry Chippendale Secretary
Located in Norwalk, CT
Connecticut Chippendale Cherry Bonnet top Secretary in
two parts the top with solid doors the upper interior fitted with
cubby holes and bookshelves the Base with a sl...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Poplar
Rhode Island Chippendale Secretary Bookcase
Located in Woodbury, CT
A cherry wood slant-front secretary raised on ogee bracket feet, with a complex blocked fan or shell carved interior, multiple drawers & pigeon holes, and a ledger recess. The two u...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Pine
Fine Mahogany Chippendale Secretary Bookcase
Located in Providence, RI
This secretary bookcase is extremely well executed with all of the important embellishments this form takes. For example, the broken arch pediment employs dental work within its mold...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Bookcases
Diminutive English Mid-18th Century Mahogany Bureau Secretary
Located in Woodbury, CT
A diminutive mahogany bureau secretaire with pitched pediment and mirrored door flanked by stop fluted pilasters and gilt lined frame. The pediment retains a giltwood applique within...
Category
Antique 1750s English Chippendale Secretaires
Fine George III Chippendale Secretary Bookcase. Circa 1755
Located in New York, NY
# F181 - Exceptional George III mahogany secretaire cabinet, after designs by Hepplewhite (published 1788) in his "The Cabinet Makers and Upholerers Guide" plate 42 and 43. The piec...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Georgian Bookcases
Superb Padauk (Padook) Wood Secretary
Located in Woodbury, CT
made of all padauk wood, including drawers, stained to resemble mahogany. made in 2 sections the double glazed doors above with 3 adjustable shelves. below, the slant front rests...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A Fine English Secretary Bookcase in Mahogany by Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Woodbury, CT
An impressive mahogany Gillows secretary bookcase with dentil crown molding over glazed doors with carved appliqué corners and adjustable shelved interior on a secretaire base with b...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier British Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Chippendale Secretary
Located in Athens, GA
Period English Chippendale Bureau bookcase with secretary interior. Only 36" wide, original dental molding, dark, rich mahogany, oak interiors, petite size but tall and makes a state...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
Large-scale 19th century English display cabinet executed in the Chinoiserie tradition. Constructed in carved mahogany and conceived as a tripartite architectural façade, each glazed...
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George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase
Located in Huntington, NY
This exceptional George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase with Glazed Doors, has wonderful flame & crotch grain Mahogany. Comprised of a large central cabinet, flanked by 2 sma...
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary bookcase, Circa 1890.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Early George III Period Bureau Bookcase with Swan Neck Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early George III period bureau bookcase with fretwork swan neck pediment, 30-paned bookcase, slant front enclosed leather writing surface, fitted drawers and pigeon-holes. Below w...
Category
Antique 1760s English George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Bookcase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 19th Century George III mahogany inlaid bureau bookcase in the Neoclassical manner, the moulded and stepped cornice supported over two blind doors with Neoclassical architectur...
Category
Antique Early 1800s Irish George III Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
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18th Century Chippendale Secretaries For Sale on 1stDibs
There is a range of 18th century chippendale secretaries for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, mahogany and metal, all 18th century chippendale secretaries available were constructed with great care. Georgian 18th century chippendale secretaries are consistently popular styles.
How Much are 18th Century Chippendale Secretaries?
18th century chippendale secretaries can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $16,250, while the lowest priced sells for $1,795 and the highest can go for as much as $57,000.
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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