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American Empire Secretary

Antique Quervelle School American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary c1840
Antique Quervelle School American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary c1840

Antique Quervelle School American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary c1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

School American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk C1840. Measures - 93"H x 43.25"W x 21.75"D

Category

Antique 19th Century American Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century American Mahogany Butler's Desk/Secretary Chest
Early 19th Century American Mahogany Butler's Desk/Secretary Chest

Early 19th Century American Mahogany Butler's Desk/Secretary Chest

Located in Louisville, KY

desk/chest is made of fine figured mahogany. The extended top drawer is a fall front secretary that

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Commodes and Chests ...

Materials

Brass

Recent Sales

Neoclassical Mahogany Pedestal Base Secretary or Desk by Stephen Smith, Boston
Neoclassical Mahogany Pedestal Base Secretary or Desk by Stephen Smith, Boston

Neoclassical Mahogany Pedestal Base Secretary or Desk by Stephen Smith, Boston

By Stephen Smith

Located in Andover, MA

This unique mahogany pedestal base secretary or desk was described in an ad by Smith as “bank and

Category

Antique 1830s American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Ash, Baize, Mahogany, Poplar

19th Century American Empire Secretary Cabinet
19th Century American Empire Secretary Cabinet

19th Century American Empire Secretary Cabinet

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H 92.25 in W 53.25 in D 24 in

19th Century American Empire Secretary Cabinet

Located in Chicago, IL

A remarkable, and strong early 19th century American Empire secretary bookcase of grand

Category

Antique 1830s American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century Mahogany American Empire Secretary with Bookcase
Early 19th Century Mahogany American Empire Secretary with Bookcase

Early 19th Century Mahogany American Empire Secretary with Bookcase

Located in Nashville, TN

Early 19th century American Empire secretary with bookcase Circa 1840 Highly polished flamed

Category

Antique 1840s American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper having arched

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper having arched

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Antique Classical American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk c1850
Antique Classical American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk c1850

Antique Classical American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk c1850

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique Classical Greco American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Dropfront Secretary Desk, circa 1840
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Dropfront Secretary Desk, circa 1840

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Dropfront Secretary Desk, circa 1840

By Anthony Quervelle

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique American Empire secretary offers deeply striated flame mahogany construction with upper

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany and Bronze Secretary Bookcase
Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany and Bronze Secretary Bookcase

Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany and Bronze Secretary Bookcase

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique American Empire secretary features flame mahogany construction with three long drawers in

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Antique American Empire Classical Flame Mahogany Secretary, c1840
Antique American Empire Classical Flame Mahogany Secretary, c1840

Antique American Empire Classical Flame Mahogany Secretary, c1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper bookcase having

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Glass

Antique Greco America Empire Flame Mahogany Quervelle School Secretary 19th C
Antique Greco America Empire Flame Mahogany Quervelle School Secretary 19th C

Antique Greco America Empire Flame Mahogany Quervelle School Secretary 19th C

By Anthony Gabriel Quervelle

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique American Empire secretary in the manner of Quervelle offers deeply striated flame

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Glass

Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary, Bookcase & Desk, C1840
Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary, Bookcase & Desk, C1840

Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary, Bookcase & Desk, C1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

*** Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary with Upper Bookcase with Double Glass Doors over Lower

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Mahogany American Empire Colonial Small Secretary Writing Desk Table
Antique Mahogany American Empire Colonial Small Secretary Writing Desk Table

Antique Mahogany American Empire Colonial Small Secretary Writing Desk Table

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Antique Mahogany American Empire Colonial Small Secretary Writing Desk Table. Item features

Category

Antique 19th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique 1900's Rosewood Empire Secretary Desk
Antique 1900's Rosewood Empire Secretary Desk

Antique 1900's Rosewood Empire Secretary Desk

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H 38.5 in W 28 in D 15.5 in

Antique 1900's Rosewood Empire Secretary Desk

Located in Chicago, IL

28” x 15.5” x 38.5”H; desk height 28” Gorgeous Empire-style rosewood secretary desk from the turn

Category

Antique Early 1900s American American Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Antique Flame Mahogany Empire Drop-Front Secretary, circa 1840
Antique Flame Mahogany Empire Drop-Front Secretary, circa 1840

Antique Flame Mahogany Empire Drop-Front Secretary, circa 1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique flame mahogany Empire secretary features bookmatched facing with drop front writing surface

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Antique American Mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' Desk/Secretary Chest, circa 1820
Antique American Mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' Desk/Secretary Chest, circa 1820

Antique American Mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' Desk/Secretary Chest, circa 1820

By John Needles

Located in Portland, OR

Antique American mahogany Baltimore 'Butler's' desk/secretary chest, circa 1820. The desk made of

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Dressers

Materials

Mahogany

American Mahogany and Stenciled Secretary with Bookcase. NY Circa 1825
American Mahogany and Stenciled Secretary with Bookcase. NY Circa 1825

American Mahogany and Stenciled Secretary with Bookcase. NY Circa 1825

Located in Charleston, SC

American mahogany stenciled and painted foliage secretary bookcase with fitted inlaid birds eye

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires

American Classical Secretary Bookcase in Mahogany Attributable to John Meads
American Classical Secretary Bookcase in Mahogany Attributable to John Meads

American Classical Secretary Bookcase in Mahogany Attributable to John Meads

Located in INTERLAKEN, NY

46.5 wide x 24 .75 deep x 96 high (Desk surface height: 31") A very fine American Classical

Category

Antique 19th Century American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1850s
Antique Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1850s

Antique Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1850s

Located in South Bend, IN

A stunning antique flame mahogany slant front secretary desk with glass front bookcase USA

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary
R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary

R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary

By R.J. Horner & Co.

Located in South Bend, IN

An outstanding antique Victorian or American Empire side-by-side triple bookcase cabinet with drop

Category

Antique 1890s American American Empire Bookcases

Materials

Brass

American Flame Mahogany Empire Bookcase Secretary, circa 1850
American Flame Mahogany Empire Bookcase Secretary, circa 1850

American Flame Mahogany Empire Bookcase Secretary, circa 1850

Located in Port Jervis, NY

Period 1850 American Empire secretary desk in flame mahogany. Two-door bookcase, two small drawers

Category

Antique 1850s American American Empire Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Secretary, circa 1845
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Secretary, circa 1845

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Secretary, circa 1845

By Anthony Quervelle

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique American Empire secretary offers deeply striated flame mahogany construction with upper

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

American Empire Neoclassical Meeks School Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk, c1840
American Empire Neoclassical Meeks School Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk, c1840

American Empire Neoclassical Meeks School Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk, c1840

By Joseph Meeks

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique American Empire neoclassical secretary in the manner of Joseph Meeks offers flame

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Glass

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Carved Slant Front Secretary 19th Century
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Carved Slant Front Secretary 19th Century

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Carved Slant Front Secretary 19th Century

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique American Empire slant drop front desk features flame mahogany with cared floral and foliate

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Drop Front Secretary, circa 1840
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Drop Front Secretary, circa 1840

Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Drop Front Secretary, circa 1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

An American Empire flame mahogany secretary features upper bookcase with double fretwork glass

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Desks

Materials

Bronze

Antique Neoclassical American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk C1840
Antique Neoclassical American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk C1840

Antique Neoclassical American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk C1840

Located in Big Flats, NY

*** Antique Neoclassical American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary with Upper Double Glass Door Bookcase over

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Greco Roman Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Glass

Antique Philadelphia Empire Quervelle Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary
Antique Philadelphia Empire Quervelle Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary

Antique Philadelphia Empire Quervelle Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary

By Anthony Gabriel Quervelle

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique Philadelphia American Empire flame mahogany secretary features upper glass front bookcase

Category

Antique 19th Century American American Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Empire Gothic Secretary Chest
Empire Gothic Secretary Chest

Empire Gothic Secretary Chest

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H 77 in W 44 in D 22 in

Empire Gothic Secretary Chest

Located in San Francisco, CA

A nice small scaled American Empire period secretary chest made during the first half of the 19th

Category

Antique 19th Century American Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Glass

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Exquisite ebonised secretary desk from the 19th century
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$4,689

H 51.58 in W 39.38 in D 17.33 in

Exquisite ebonised secretary desk from the 19th century

Located in Stahnsdorf, DE

We are honoured to present an exquisite ebonised secretary desk from the 19th century, hailing from Sweden and exemplifying the elegance of the Biedermeier style. This piece has been...

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Located in Philadelphia, PA

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$1,800

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Located in Laguna Beach, CA

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$4,650

H 38.19 in W 33.47 in D 17.72 in

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Cherry Chippendale Slant Front Desk

Cherry Chippendale Slant Front Desk

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American Empire Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic American empire secretary available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of mahogany, wood and glass, every American empire secretary was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer American empire secretary, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 19th Century. An American empire secretary, designed in the Empire style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made American empire secretary over the years, but those crafted by John Needles are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is an American Empire Secretary?

Prices for an American empire secretary can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $1,295 and can go as high as $35,000, while the average can fetch as much as $2,403.

Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets 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.