Antique Mahogany Secretaire
19th Century American Victorian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany, Maple
Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Ormolu
19th Century American Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century English Georgian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
1820s English Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century English Other Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century European Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Other
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Brass
Late 18th Century English Sheraton Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany, Satinwood, Tulipwood
1790s Irish George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Glass, Mahogany
19th Century English Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Other
1810s European Georgian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
1830s British Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century English Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Other
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
1830s English William IV Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century British Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century English George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
1880s British Victorian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century English George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Other
1740s English Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century British Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Dutch Charles X Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Ormolu
1820s Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Early 1800s English George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Brass
19th Century English Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
18th Century British George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Brass
Early 1800s German Neoclassical Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Brass
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Marble, Bronze
Early 1800s Dutch Empire Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
18th Century Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century English Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Brass
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century English Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Satinwood
Late 18th Century Irish Georgian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Satinwood, Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Charles X Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Charles X Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century English Victorian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Wood
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century English Regency Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Marble
Late 19th Century Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Granite
19th Century English William IV Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century English Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Satinwood
18th Century English Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century English George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
1860s Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Irish Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Glass, Mahogany
18th Century English George III Antique Mahogany Secretaire
Brass
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Antique Mahogany Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Mahogany Secretaire?
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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