$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century, Anglo Indian Heavily Carved Rosewood Campaign Secretary Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century Anglo-Indian campaign secretary bookcase (in 3-parts) is an extraordinary example of colonial-era craftsmanship, rendered in richly grained rosewood and heavily ado...
Brass
Anglo-Indian Danish Modern Style Secretary Desk / Vanity by Hayat, Circa 1960s
By M. Hayat & Bros Ltd.
Located in Peabody, MA
A mid-century Anglo-Indian rosewood secretary desk / vanity by the world renowned M.
Brass
Highly Carved Pine Secretary from Denmark, circa 1890
Located in Round Top, TX
Elaborate carving accentuate the entire surface of this striking pine secretary. Enlarge photos to appreciate the extensive details, including vines, birds, leaves, trees, dentil mol...
Pine
$21,000
British Colonial Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
A British Colonial secretary, probably Anglo-Indian, in Campaign form with burl wood and ebony and bone inlay.
Bone, Ebony
Anglo Indian Rosewood Campaign Secretary Bookcase
Located in Houston, TX
Important Anglo-Indian secretary bookcase with campaign hardware.
Rosewood
Anglo-Indian Secretary with Secret Compartment
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Anglo-Indian Ebonized Mahogany 5-Drawer secretary. ( w/Secret Compartment).
19th C. Anglo-Indian Secretary (GMD#2612)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
(Now on sale for 2,700.00 - reduced from 5,400.00) 19th Century Anglo-Indian Ebonzied Mahogany 5-Drawer Secretary (with Secret Top Compartment under Hinged Top).
Wood
Anglo Indian Carved Secretary Cabinet
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A fantastic example of the marriage of British design, and Indian craftsmanship. The ebonized oak cabinet is in fine original condition, with incredibly intricate carvings throughout...
Ivory, Burl, Oak
An Anglo-Indian Campaign Secretary / Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
The rectangular top with egg and dart molded edge, above the top section with a secretary drawer opening to a writing surface, drawers, pigeon holes and secret compartments, the lowe...
Rosewood
Anglo-Indian Camphor Wood and Sandalwood Secretary, Circa 1860
Located in Lake Forest, IL
Anglo-Indian Camphor Wood and Sandalwood Secretary, Circa 1860. with many puzzle drawers
Sandalwood
Hand carved secretary cabinet, wardrobe, entertainment center
Located in Canaan, CT
Beautiful vintage hand carved wooden cabinet. Mirrors inside the doors as well as outside. The interior shelves slide right out if you wanted to put a tv inside. Great storage wit...
Wood, Mirror
$29,195
H 68.51 in W 40.16 in D 21.66 in
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Empire Secretary, Germany, Prussia, C. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
North Germany / Prussia Birch Biedermeier / Empire around 1815 Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 102 x 55 cm Description: Very exclusive secretary from the Prussian North German ...
Birch, Fruitwood
$6,583
H 44.3 in W 38.98 in D 18.71 in
Victorian Military Campaign Chest in Solid Mahogany with Original Brass Fittings
Located in Kastrup, DK
Military Campaign Chest crafted from solid mahogany, featuring a beautifully aged patina, original brass fittings, and locks (later key). The chest includes two upper drawers, a cent...
Brass
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Marble, Ormolu
$56,800
H 64.5 in W 41.75 in D 20.25 in
Antique German Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherrywood & Burlwood, 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Cherrywood and Burlwood, in good condition. The ...
Metal, Brass
19th Century Venetian Armoire
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful Italian armoire made up of exceptional carved and painted panels.
$3,960
H 74.41 in W 39.18 in D 15.36 in
Swedish Cabinet 'Ståndskåp' from Hälsingland, Sweden, late 1800s
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Cabinet 'Ståndskåp' from Hälsingland, Sweden, late 1800s Years of sun, wear, and neglect have transformed it into what it is today – a beautiful Swedish blue painted cabinet...
Pine
$651,300
H 20 in W 31 in D 18 in
Important, Rare French Ormolu Sevres Style Porcelain Jewelry Box on Bronze Table
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A rare and important French ormolu/bronze and Sevres style turquoise porcelain jewelry box casket on matching French ormolu/bronze table with Sevres style porcelain plaques. Of pala...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
$5,500
H 35.25 in W 37.25 in D 21 in
18th C. Irish George III Burled Mahogany Secretary Chest for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An early chest requiring restoration. With a serpentine case, the top drawer opens to a secretary/ toilette section with a green felt cover, compartments (some with lids), two glass ...
Brass
$9,400
H 43.75 in W 31.25 in D 15.75 in
Swedish Art Deco Secretary by Axel Larsson, Birchwood, Circa 1920-1930
By Axel Larsson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Swedish Art Deco secretary made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Birchwood, designed most likely by Axel Larsson in good condition. The Scandinavian cupboard, cabi...
Metal, Brass
$12,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 63.39 in W 38.19 in D 21.66 in
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates back to the early phase of the Biedermeier style. It has a beautiful walnut veneer ...
Elm, Walnut
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...
Brass
$14,500
H 59.5 in W 51.5 in D 23.5 in
Louis Phillipe North German Fall-Front Secretary in Flame Mahogany, circa 1855
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A captivating one of a kind Louis Phillip secretary in book-matched, flame mahogany with shaped, curvi-linear drawer fronts and faux drawer fronts on the fall-front and the sides. Of...
Mahogany
Antique Campaign Secretary Chest
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive antique British Colonial Chinese campaign chest crafted in teak wood in two piece construction with brass hardware, featuring a unique pullout desk ambitiously crafted wit...
Brass
Rene Prou Secretary
By René Prou
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
A Rene Prou palissander and sycamore secretary.
Sycamore, Shagreen, Rosewood
19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Conical Shape Secretary, Germany, 1820 This fine Biedermeier secretary made of mahogany is a real gem for every lover of antique furniture. With a height of 194 cm, a w...
Mahogany
$8,386
H 53.94 in W 34.65 in D 17.72 in
Early 19th Century German or Danish Secretaire, Mahogany, Biedermeier, c. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Biedermeier secretary Schleswig-Holstein Mahogany and others Biedermeier around 1815 Dimensions: H x W x D: 137 x 88 x 45 cm Description: Piece of furniture standing...
Birch, Mahogany, Maple
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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