$1,120Sale Price|30% Off
H 67 in W 37.5 in D 13 in
Antique Quartersawn Oak Side by Side Secretary Desk Bookcase Curio Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
featuring Art Nouveau styling with curio cabinet next to a drop front secretary over drawers that opens to
Mirror, Oak
Sold
H 95.5 in W 44 in D 21 in
Antique American Victorian Cherry Secretary Desk & Bookcase Hutch Curio Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique American Victorian fall/ drop front secretary desk, bookcase, hutch and curio. Made of
Glass, Cherry
Sold
H 72.5 in W 42 in D 13.5 in
Antique Quartersawn Oak Side by Side Secretary Desk Bookcase Curio Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
quartersawn oak featuring Art Nouveau styling with curio cabinet next to a drop front secretary that opens to
Oak
Sold
H 53.25 in W 14.25 in D 54 in
19th C. Chippendale Flame Mahogany Bookcase Side Secretary Desk Curio Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
hand dovetailed drawer. Includes lower cabinet for storage below drop front. The exterior flanked curio
Glass, Mahogany
Antique 19th Victorian Curio Cabinet Secretary Desk
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique late 19th century French petite Victorian cabinet secretary desk, circa 1900. Elegant with
Pine
Hepplewhite Mahogany Secretary Desk Bookcase Curio Top
By George Hepplewhite
Located in Toledo, OH
Hepplewhite mahogany secretary desk bookcase with curio top. Drop down writing surface with pullout
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Stained Glass Door
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A beautiful early 20th Century glazed hardwood door with Japanese inspired stained glass panels depicting a parrot and other birds seated on branches of stylised blossom.
Glass, Hardwood
$385Sale Price|30% Off
H 20.5 in W 22 in D 5.5 in
Mahogany Chippendale Style Wall Hanging Curio Cabinet Display Shelf 22"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 20th century mahogany Chippendale style curio / display cabinet featuring a three sided glass front, arch top, and three interior shelves. Back of cabinet is fitted with slot...
Glass, Mahogany
$2,860Sale Price|20% Off
H 52.76 in W 42.52 in D 15.75 in
1950s Swedish Drinks Cabinet in the Style of Eugen Höglund
By Eugen Höglund
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
This elegant Swedish drinks cabinet dates from the 1950s and is crafted in a refined combination of beech and maple wood. The cabinet stands on slender, slightly tapered legs and fea...
Beech, Maple
$2,152Sale Price|64% Off
H 24.81 in W 94.49 in D 36.62 in
Art Deco Black Wood and Leather Day Bed Sofa
Located in IT
Art Deco black wood and leather daybed sofa. Art Deco daybed sofa, from France, from 1930s Art Deco period. Black wood frame and leather upholstery. Conservative restoration of woode...
Leather, Wood
The 'Matisse' Etagere
Located in London, GB
The 'Matisse' wrought iron side table. A hand made and patinated wrought iron etagere with whimsical Matisse style cut-out decoration. Made to order based on a 1960s original. Avail...
Wrought Iron
$611Sale Price|44% Off
H 7.5 in W 4.5 in D 7 in
Art Deco Nude Nymph L610 Spelter Frankart Table Lamp by Sarsaparilla w/ Shade
By Sarsaparilla
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This Frankart sculptural table lamp features a beautiful nude woman doing a split on a stepped base, holding a 3" lamp shade. The whole sculpture comes together to create a simple ye...
Metal
$297Sale Price|30% Off
H 20 in W 28 in D 2 in
Antique Victorian Mother of Pearl Lace Folding Fan Shadow Box Display 28"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian Mother of Pearl floral lace folding hand fan in shadow box display. Dimensions: 28" x 2" x 20" (Width x Depth x Height)
Mother-of-Pearl
$2,625Sale Price|30% Off
H 80 in W 2 in D 51.5 in
Monumental Antique Victorian Art Nouveau Leaded Stained Glass Window French Door
Located in Dayton, OH
A rare and exceptional reclaimed large two part leaded stained glass French Door / Window. Features a large rectangular frame with two 2-part hinged doors with separate operating win...
Stained Glass, Hardwood
$5,300
H 32.5 in W 85 in D 28 in
Antique 19th C. American Empire Flame Mahogany Claw Foot Parlor Sofa Couch 85"
Located in Dayton, OH
Fine American Empire parlor sofa / couch with classical form and masterful carvings. Made of flamed mahogany featuring carved back crest and flared rolled arms accented with carved f...
Mahogany, Burl
$490Sale Price|30% Off
H 28 in W 15.5 in D 11 in
Antique American Mahogany 3 Tier Corner Hanging Shelf Pipe Rack Display Stand
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique corner pipe / spoon display stand sconce shelf. Made of mahogany featuring a scalloped design with 3 tiers, upper pipe rack and lower shelf with drawers. Dimensions: 28" x 1...
Mahogany
$472Sale Price|49% Off
H 16.15 in W 8.08 in D 2.76 in
Italian 18/19th Century Hand Carved Giltwood Floral Ornament
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful handcarved giltwood floral ornament that once adorned a chapel .Original period piece that due it’s high age has a wonderful weathered look. Italy circa 1780/1850 , weathe...
Wood
$1,380Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.5 in W 17 in
17th Century Dutch Oil Painting Figures outside Building in Ancient Landscape
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Figures in Landscape Dutch School, 17th century oil on wood panel, framed in antique wooden frame framed: 14.5 x 17 inches panel : 10 x 12 inches Provenance: private collection, Engl...
Oil
$2,630Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.41 in W 42.52 in D 17.72 in
1950s Tallboy Dresser by Holmström Johansson, Sweden
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Elegant Swedish cabinet from the 1950s, crafted in warm teak with beautifully patterned veneer doors. The interior features high-quality beechwood drawers and shelves, showcasing ref...
Beech, Teak
$2,160Sale Price|20% Off
W 62.99 in L 90.55 in
1970s Gorgeous Verner Panton Style "Quadrat" Geometric Space Age Op Art Rug.
By Verner Panton
Located in Milano, IT
1970s This gorgeous space age "Quadrat" model rug in whool embodies the distinctive style of Verner Panton, featuring a mesmerizing geometric design that commands attention. A true w...
Wool
Canapé "Rognon" Art déco en placage d'acajou 1930
Located in TOURCOING, FR
Canapé "Rognon" Art déco en placage d'acajou 1930's Restauration nécessaire
Wood
$1,750Sale Price|30% Off
H 24.5 in W 8 in D 8 in
Antique Victorian Aesthetic Arts Nouveau Stained Slag Glass Parlor Lamp 25"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian era Aesthetic Movement / Art Nouveau style table lamp. Mushroom shaped lamp crafted of swirling blue, white, and purple slag glass framed with ornate filigree brass...
Slag Glass
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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