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1920s Secretary Desk

Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk
Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk

Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk

Located in Essex, MA

the century, a French provincial secretary/desk came out of a New York City Park Avenue apartment

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint

Lifetime Furniture English Jacobean Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1920s
Lifetime Furniture English Jacobean Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1920s

Lifetime Furniture English Jacobean Oak Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1920s

By Lifetime

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique English Jacobean or Renaissance Revival style drop front secretary desk By

Category

Vintage 1920s American Jacobean Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Art Deco secretary desk. France 1920s. High-gloss-black finish
Art Deco secretary desk. France 1920s. High-gloss-black finish

Art Deco secretary desk. France 1920s. High-gloss-black finish

Located in Köln, NW

Elegant Art Déco secretary desk. High-gloss-black finish. France 1920s. Fine interior. Very high

Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Metal

1920s Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut & Burl Veneer, Threaded Maple
1920s Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut & Burl Veneer, Threaded Maple

1920s Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut & Burl Veneer, Threaded Maple

Located in Vigonza, Padua

Early 20th Century Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut & burl Veneer, Threaded of Maple

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Burl

Recent Sales

Antique American Victorian Secretary Desk w/ Drop Front
Antique American Victorian Secretary Desk w/ Drop Front

Antique American Victorian Secretary Desk w/ Drop Front

Located in Los Angeles, CA

1920s, secretary desks like this one remained a staple in well-appointed homes, serving as personal

Category

Vintage 1920s American Victorian Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Renaissance Revival Carved Mahogany Secretary Desk or Bar Cabinet, 1920s
Antique Renaissance Revival Carved Mahogany Secretary Desk or Bar Cabinet, 1920s

Antique Renaissance Revival Carved Mahogany Secretary Desk or Bar Cabinet, 1920s

Located in South Bend, IN

An excellent antique Renaissance Revival carved mahogany secretary desk or bar cabinet. The cabinet

Category

Early 20th Century Renaissance Revival Desks

Materials

Mahogany

1920s French Oak Secretary Desk
1920s French Oak Secretary Desk

1920s French Oak Secretary Desk

Sold

H 37.8 in W 32.3 in D 18.5 in

1920s French Oak Secretary Desk

Located in High Point, NC

Enchanting sylvan carving makes this oak secretary desk a captivating find. Made in 1920s France

Category

Vintage 1920s French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Arts & Crafts Oak Barrister Bookcase with Drop Front Secretary Desk, circa 1920s
Arts & Crafts Oak Barrister Bookcase with Drop Front Secretary Desk, circa 1920s

Arts & Crafts Oak Barrister Bookcase with Drop Front Secretary Desk, circa 1920s

By Globe Wernicke

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts barrister bookcase with fall front secretary desk Recently

Category

Vintage 1920s American Arts and Crafts Bookcases

Materials

Brass

English Chinoiserie 1920s Black and Gold Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk
English Chinoiserie 1920s Black and Gold Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk

English Chinoiserie 1920s Black and Gold Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk

Located in Atlanta, GA

striking lines and beautiful gold and black japanned décor, this English tall secretary circa 1920 will be

Category

Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

1920's Spanish Revival Writing Desk/Secretary
1920's Spanish Revival Writing Desk/Secretary

1920's Spanish Revival Writing Desk/Secretary

Sold

H 48 in W 31.75 in D 17.25 in

1920's Spanish Revival Writing Desk/Secretary

Located in Pasadena, CA

Handsome and functional writing desk concealed in vargueno-like cabinet, sits atop turned legs

Category

Early 20th Century American Secretaires

Art Deco Tiger Oak Wood Bureau Bookcase Secretary Desk, 1920s
Art Deco Tiger Oak Wood Bureau Bookcase Secretary Desk, 1920s

Art Deco Tiger Oak Wood Bureau Bookcase Secretary Desk, 1920s

Located in Hawthorne, CA

Beautiful Art Deco bureau bookcase / secretary desk. Solid tiger oak construction featuring open

Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cabinets

Materials

Chrome

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French Louis XV Style Painted Queen Size Bed circa 1950
French Louis XV Style Painted Queen Size Bed circa 1950

French Louis XV Style Painted Queen Size Bed circa 1950

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A French Louis XV style painted Queen size bed , cabriole legs, circa 1950. Interior Dimensions: 55.5"W x 77"D This bed is smaller than todays queen size. Often times old "quee...

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French 18th Century Louis XV Painted & Gilt Queen Bed
French 18th Century Louis XV Painted & Gilt Queen Bed

French 18th Century Louis XV Painted & Gilt Queen Bed

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A quality Louis XV Period carved and gold gilt queen bed frame. The four piece frame has classic carvings of Rococo influenced Louis XV style with flamboyant carvings and gold gilt c...

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Rosace Bed, US King Hand Carved in the Louis XVI Style by La Maison London
Rosace Bed, US King Hand Carved in the Louis XVI Style by La Maison London

Rosace Bed, US King Hand Carved in the Louis XVI Style by La Maison London

By La Maison London

Located in London, Park Royal

The Rosace bed is an elegant example of the French LXVI style, with its classic columns and restrained ornamentation the bedstead stands tall and exudes a noble confidence. The apex ...

Category

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Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch

By Jasper Furniture Company

Located in Elkhart, IN

A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top In the manner of Jasper Furniture Company USA, Late 20th Century Black lacquered...

Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Large Scale Carved and Parcel-Gilt Floor Mirror
Large Scale Carved and Parcel-Gilt Floor Mirror

Large Scale Carved and Parcel-Gilt Floor Mirror

$5,440Sale Price|35% Off

H 91 in W 71 in D 3 in

Large Scale Carved and Parcel-Gilt Floor Mirror

Located in Dallas, TX

Exceptional large scale carved and parcel-gilt floor mirror. Very fine carvings and fabulous patina on this mirror. Exquisite!!

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Floor Mirrors and Full-Length Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s
Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s

Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This Venetian Italian paint decorated secretary desk with bookcase, circa 1890s, is a remarkable example of hand-crafted artistry and old-world European charm. Exuding the opulence a...

Category

Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany
Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany

Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany

$4,500Sale Price|43% Off

H 41.74 in W 45.28 in D 23.63 in

Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany

Located in Belmont, MA

Dutch secretary desk, Netherlands, around 1800. This elegantly curved secretary desk has three spacious drawers in the lower part. The writing flap opens to a beautiful interior w...

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Mahogany

Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk
Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk

Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk

$3,000Sale Price|38% Off

H 81.5 in W 36 in D 21 in

Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This fantastic paint decorated Venetian secretary desk with faux marble interior is a remarkable statement piece that captures the artistry and elegance of 19th to early 20th century...

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French 19th Century Painted Pinewood Cabinet
French 19th Century Painted Pinewood Cabinet

French 19th Century Painted Pinewood Cabinet

$4,080

H 94.49 in W 65.36 in D 25.6 in

French 19th Century Painted Pinewood Cabinet

Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse

Charming, painted pinewood vitrine/display cabinet in two sections. The top section has glass panes and the lower section, two doors with diamond detail.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Rustic Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Pine

19th Century Swedish Blue Oak Secretary Bureau
19th Century Swedish Blue Oak Secretary Bureau

19th Century Swedish Blue Oak Secretary Bureau

Located in Round Top, TX

This oak secretary is a striking statement piece with panel doors, dramatic bonnet, and traditional lower three large drawers. The entire secretary has been given a professional cust...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Late 18th-Early 19th C. French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet
Late 18th-Early 19th C. French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet

Late 18th-Early 19th C. French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet

Located in San Francisco, CA

Late 18th-early 19th Century French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet Single glass door upper display cabinet 3-drawer bombe form base & secretary Beautifully hand ...

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Antique Late 18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

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Wood, Glass

Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted Tall Secretary Desk & Chair
Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted Tall Secretary Desk & Chair

Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted Tall Secretary Desk & Chair

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted 2 Piece Tall Secretary Desk & Chair. Item features blue and off-white painted finish with intricate bird and floral motifs on the ...

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19thc French Painted Secretary
19thc French Painted Secretary

19thc French Painted Secretary

$6,900

H 39.25 in W 45.25 in D 23 in

19thc French Painted Secretary

Located in New Orleans, LA

Beautiful 19thc Robin’s egg blue secretary/fall front desk.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk

Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk

Located in Swedesboro, NJ

This Italian-made Rococo secretary desk is a bright and beautiful example of 20th-century craftsmanship inspired by 18th-century elegance. With its curvaceous bombe form, delicately ...

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Vintage 1950s Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Painted Italian Secretary Bookcase
Painted Italian Secretary Bookcase

Painted Italian Secretary Bookcase

$8,400

H 89 in W 47 in D 22 in

Painted Italian Secretary Bookcase

Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL

This is a lovely, decorative Italian secretary, painted overall with floral sprays against a pale yellow ground with light blue demarcations. The dome cornice is over two paneled doo...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Other Bookcases

Materials

Wood

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1920s Secretary Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal 1920s secretary desk for your home. Frequently made of wood, natural fiber and rattan, every 1920s secretary desk was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a 1920s secretary desk — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A 1920s secretary desk, designed in the mid-century modern, Art Deco or Arts and Crafts style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made 1920s secretary desk over the years, but those crafted by Charak Furniture Company, Globe Wernicke and George Nelson are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a 1920s Secretary Desk?

The average selling price for a 1920s secretary desk at 1stDibs is $2,995, while they’re typically $500 on the low end and $9,500 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Storage-case-pieces for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

Questions About 1920s Secretary Desk
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    A secretary desk is called by its name because of its original function. When the desks first emerged in 19th-century France, the secretaries of estates used them to conduct business. Once they finished paying bills and reconciling accounts, they could raise the hinged writing surface and close the desk. Secretary desks are 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. On 1stDibs, shop an array of secretary desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Secretary desks originated in the early 18th century. They were typically used by secretaries and clerks and featured plenty of compacted drawers for stationary storage. On 1stDibs, find a collection of secretary desks from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A secretary desk works with the help of hinges that secure the writing surface to the rest of the piece. To use one, you simply pull down on the wooden door to open the hinge and lower the writing surface. Return the desk to its closed position by lifting the writing surface up. You'll find a selection of secretary desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.

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