Antique Marquetry Secretaire
19th Century Louis Philippe Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Ebony, Bone
19th Century George III Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Kingwood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
1850s French Rococo Revival Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble, Ormolu
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Bronze
1880s English Victorian Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Satinwood
1750s Italian Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Walnut
Late 17th Century Baroque Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Ormolu
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Bronze
18th Century Italian Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Carrara Marble, Bronze
1880s French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble, Ormolu
1920s French Art Deco Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble
1770s French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Kingwood, Satinwood, Walnut
1750s German Baroque Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Walnut, Softwood
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Leather, Walnut
1810s English Georgian Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
1920s Swedish Art Deco Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Birch
19th Century Austrian Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Ormolu
18th Century and Earlier Austrian Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century British Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Hardwood
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Maple, Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Birch
Mid-18th Century Baroque Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
Mid-18th Century French Agra Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Breccia Marble, Bronze
1780s Dutch Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Walnut
Early 1800s Dutch Empire Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood, Rosewood, Walnut, Softwood
19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble
1890s French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Satinwood
18th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Brass
1860s Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Walnut
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Kingwood
Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Oak
1870s French Louis XV Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Rosewood
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Ormolu, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Satinwood
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Fruitwood, Maple, Walnut
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Kingwood, Rosewood
19th Century Swedish Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
1750s German Baroque Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble
19th Century Dutch Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Brass
Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Mahogany, Satinwood
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Marble, Bronze
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Maple, Oak, Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Marquetry Secretaire
Wood
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Antique Marquetry Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Marquetry 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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