Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
18th Century Italian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Walnut
18th Century Chippendale Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Maple
Late 18th Century Sheraton Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany
Late 18th Century North American Georgian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Metal
Late 18th Century French Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Bronze
18th Century Dutch Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood, Walnut
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Leather, Walnut
Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood
Late 18th Century French Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Fruitwood
Late 18th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood
1750s French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Iron
Late 18th Century European Chinoiserie Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Colonial Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Walnut
Late 18th Century North American Victorian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Cherry
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
1750s French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Kingwood
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
1790s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Steel
19th Century Dutch Other Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
1750s French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Maple, Walnut, Birdseye Maple
18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Nutwood, Walnut, Pine
Late 18th Century English Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany
18th Century European Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Glass, Wood
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood
18th Century English George III Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Metal, Brass
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Bronze
Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Metal, Brass
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Walnut
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Maple, Oak, Walnut
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Bronze
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Lacquer, Wood
18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Charles X Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Charles X Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Walnut
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Metal, Brass
1730s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Paper, Mirror, Wood
1780s English George III Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Satinwood
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
18th Century French Queen Anne Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mirror, Walnut
Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany, Satinwood
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Walnut
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood, Paint
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
18th Century Swedish Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood
1790s English Neoclassical Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Brass
Late 18th Century French Directoire Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Iron, Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Ebony, Pearwood, Burl, Kingwood
1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Wood, Paint
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century
Walnut
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Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Secretary Desk 18th Century?
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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