Biedermeier Secretary Desk, 1820
Located in Leimen, DE
Biedermeier secretary desk, South west German, 1820. This beautiful drop front desk has three
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretary Desks
Walnut
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, 1820
Located in Leimen, DE
Biedermeier secretary desk, South west German, 1820. This beautiful drop front desk has three
Walnut
Antique Italian Inlaid Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elegant Italian walnut secretary desk features a slanted fall-front that opens to reveal
Wood
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Eastlake Victorian Walnut Secretary Desk C1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Eastlake Victorian Walnut Secretary Desk C1880 Measures - 83 1/2" x 43" x 21 1/4" An
Walnut
Baroque Secretary Desk, Switzerland 1750, Walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
Baroque secretary desk, Switzerland, 1750. This gorgeous baroque secretary desk stands out for its
Walnut
1800s American Federal Mahogany Butler's Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
An early 19th Century Federal Mahogany Butler's Secretary Desk recently refinished. Measure 45.75
Mahogany
Antique Regency Mahogany Secretary Desk, English, Circa 1860
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique English Regency secretary desk in two parts. Three exterior drawers and many inside
Mahogany
$4,500Sale Price|52% Off
Federal Mahogany and Birch Inlaid Secretary/Desk sq
Located in Water Mill, NY
Federal Mahogany and Birch inlaid secretary/desk with contrasting veneers and bone pulls.
Birch, Mahogany
$4,500Sale Price|43% Off
Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Dutch secretary desk, Netherlands, around 1800. This elegantly curved secretary desk has three
Mahogany
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Mid-19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary desk with exquisite ash veneer and a three-drawer commode base. Behind the leather
Bronze
$12,000Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates
Elm, Walnut
$3,000Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Renaissance Revival Walnut & Burl Secretary Desk C1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Renaissance Revival Walnut & Burl Secretary Desk Unsigned C1880 Measures - 88 1/4" x 45 3/4
Walnut
Vintage Regency Monumental Carved Georgian Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This Vintage Regency Georgian Secretary Desk features intricate carved details and a classic
Glass, Wood
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Eastlake Walnut Cylinder Roll Top Paneled Secretary Desk c1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut Cylinder Roll Top Paneled Secretary Desk C1890 Measures - 62 1/4
Walnut
$2,844Sale Price|20% Off
19th-Century Louis Philippe Walnut Wood & Veneer Secretary Desk After Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Louis Philippe Walnut Wood & Veneer Secretary Desk After Renovation Delicately shaped
Wood, Walnut
Queen Anne Secretary Desk, C. 1750
Located in Doylestown, PA
A Queen Anne period double dome secretary desk in walnut, circa 1750, with glass mullion doors
Walnut
$2,760Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut & Burl Cylinder Secretary Desk c1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
Eastlake Walnut & Burl Cylinder Secretary Desk c1890. 84 1/4" x 38 5/8" x 21 1/2". A fine example of
Walnut, Burl
French Louis XV Secretary Desk, 1750
Located in Leimen, DE
Step back in time with our exquisite 18th-century Louis XV Secretary Desk, a true masterpiece of
Mahogany
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet
Mahogany
Beautiful French 19th Century Hand-Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful French 19th century hand-painted secretary desk, the patina is so much beautiful in
Wood
American Block Front Dropdown Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Queens, NY
American (18/19th Century) block front mahogany secretary desk with a slant top drop front over 3
Mahogany
18th Century French Secretary Desk
Located in Belmont, MA
This gorgeous Louis XV Secretary desk dates back to around 1750-60 and was made in France. The
Kingwood
Empire Secretary Desk, France 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
French Empire Secretary Desk, 19th Century – Mahogany Veneer, Marble Top, Bronze Details This
Marble
$1,312Sale Price|25% Off
Queen Anne Secretary Desk 19th Century
Located in Fulton, CA
A 19th century Queen Anne secretary desk crafted in solid mahogany with flame mahogany detail
Mahogany
Antique American Victorian Secretary Desk w/ Drop Front
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brass Pulls Style: American Victorian This antique American Victorian secretary desk showcases
Brass
Victorian Secretary Desk Circa. 1800's
Located in Fulton, CA
American Victorian secretary desk made of solid walnut. Circa. 1875. Drop-front desk with birdseye
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
$11,200Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Secretary Desk, France 1770-80
Located in Belmont, MA
Antique French Secretary Desk from the Late 18th Century Explore this French 18th century secretary
Kingwood, Satinwood
Antique Spanish Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Spanish Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk This beautiful
Brass
19th Century Vermis Martin Style Bonheur Du Jour Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Vermis Martin Style Bonheur Du Jour Secretary Desk. Hand Painted and with original
Velvet, Hardwood, Paint, Ribbon
Stickley Brothers Antique Oak Arts & Crafts Secretary Desk, Circa 1900
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period slant front writing desk or secretary desk By
Copper
Stickley Brothers Style Antique Mission Arts & Crafts Mahogany Secretary Desk
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mission or Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk In the manner of Stickley
Brass
Stickley Brothers Style Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Secretary Desk
By Stickley Brothers
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mission, Arts & Crafts, or Late Victorian drop front secretary desk In the manner
Brass
Federal Period Massachusetts Mahogany Secretary Desk with Cylinder Tambour
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a Federal mahogany two part secretary desk, with a dentil molded cornice
Brass
Genuine Antique Swedish Folk Art Secretary Desk with Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine folk art secretary desk from the early 1800s. Made by hand in solid pine with the original
Pine
$2,989Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1860, after Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
exquisite Biedermeier secretary desk circa 1860. The secretary desk was manufactured in Northern Europe
Mahogany
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk By Gustav
Copper
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk By Gustav
Copper
18th century Rococo Secretary Desk, Germany 1750
Located in Leimen, DE
Exquisite Antique Rococo Secretary Desk, Germany, c. 1750 A true collector’s gem, this Rococo
Kingwood
Lifetime Furniture Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Lifetime
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period petite drop front secretary desk By
Copper
French Provincial Style Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key
Located in Soquel, CA
French Provincial Style Walnut Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key. Original Finish.
Walnut
Louis XVI Secretary Desk, France, 1780-1800
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Louis XVI Secretary Desk – France, c. 1780-1800 This stunning Louis XVI secretary desk
Kingwood, Rosewood
$9,161Sale Price|20% Off
Original Antique Baroque Secretary Desk, Germany 18th century, Walnut
Located in Leimen, DE
Original Antique Baroque Secretary Desk, Germany, 1750 This exquisite antique Baroque secretary
Walnut
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional Mission or Arts & Crafts period drop front secretary desk By Gustav
Copper
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional Mission or Arts & Crafts drop front secretary desk By Gustav Stickley
Copper
19th-C. American Federal Ebonized & Gilt Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 19th century American federal style drop front secretary desk. This was considering
Oak
Baker Furniture Style Antique French Provincial Secretary Desk, Circa 1890s
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous petite French Provincial Louis XV style drop front writing desk or secretary desk In
Brass
$2,796Sale Price|20% Off
Fantastic American Centennial Solid Walnut Philadelphia Carved Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
secretary desk, a true testament to 19th-century craftsmanship. This exquisite piece features a beautifully
Walnut
$3,120Sale Price|20% Off
Aesthetic Movement Bonheur du Jour Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
Bonheur du Jour secretary desk cabinet, circa late 1880s. Dark walnut with finial accents and
Walnut
Louis XV Secretary Desk, Paris 1750-60
Located in Leimen, DE
This stunning French Louis XV secretary desk, crafted in Paris around 1750, is a remarkable example
Bronze
$11,200Sale Price|20% Off
Louis XV Secretary Desk, France 18th century
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite 18th-Century Louis XV Secretary Desk This stunning Louis XV Secretary Desk, dating back
Kingwood, Rosewood
Antique English Fall Front Secretary Desk in Oak
Located in Meer, VAN
Antique Fall Front Secretary Desk in solid oak, England, late 18th to early 19th Century. This is
Brass
Antique French Provincial Louis XV Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1900
By R.J. Horner & Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk In the
Brass
A Cabinet of Curiosities: Diminutive Tramp Art Secretary Desk
Located in Downingtown, PA
A Cabinet of Curiosities: Diminutive Tramp Art Secretary Desk
Wood
19th Century Wellington Mahogany Chest Of Drawers Secretary Desk Dovetails Clean
By Wellington
Located in Rockaway, NJ
19th Century Wellington Mahogany Chest Of Drawers Secretary Desk Dovetails Clean
Mahogany
19th Century Inlaid Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk Attributed to Horner
By R.J. Horner & Co.
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century Inlaid Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk Attributed to Horner Dimensions : 38" Tall
Mahogany
$7,232Sale Price|20% Off
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining We present you this piece
Baize, Mahogany
Sevres Plaques Inset Bronze Mounted Parquetry Walnut French Secretary Desk
By François Linke
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This magnificent French secretary desk is a true showcase of artistry and craftsmanship
Bronze
Louis XVI Secretary Desk, South German 1770-80, walnut
Located in Leimen, DE
Exquisite Louis XVI Secretary Desk South Germany, 1770-80 Discover a stunning Louis XVI secretary
Walnut
Traditionally, vintage and antique secretary desks were composed of two parts — a chest of drawers on the bottom and a hutch or cupboard with shelves on the top. It’s a practical piece of furniture with a secret. At first glance, this tall, bureau-esque specimen looks like any other cabinet. But cleverly built into the design is a hinged panel that folds open or drops down to become a sturdy writing surface.
When the leaf is folded out, a delightful collection of inner storage compartments is revealed. For centuries, secretary owners have used these pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers to store their office supplies and desk accessories — from quills, ink and sealing wax to Uniball roller pens, paper clips and external drives — as well as small valuables and curiosities.
It’s not surprising that secretary desks have surged in popularity, with more people than ever now working from home. Handsome and versatile, they’re the workstations of choice in many busy households, especially those with spaces pulling double duty as offices by day and living rooms, dining rooms or bedrooms at night.
The English terms secretary desk and secretaire originate from secrétaire à abattant, the French name for a writing desk (secrétaire) with a drop leaf (abattant). The first secrétaire à abattant was most likely masterminded by German-born craftsman Jean-François Oeben (1715–63), a talented marquetry artist and mechanical genius who arrived in France in the 1740s. In 1751, he joined the workshop of Charles-Joseph Boulle, the son of famed cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle. It’s no surprise that over the centuries, Oeben’s Louis XV-era secrétaire à abbatant gave rise to innumerable variations with countless combinations of features, sizes, colors, styles and adornments.
The star features of the secretary are its drop leaf and hidden cache of small drawers, shelves, cubbies and other compartments — that’s a given. From the 1700s through the later half of the 19th century, the highest-quality secretary desks were constructed from exotic woods, including rosewood, tulipwood, satinwood and kingwood; later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common.
No matter if your home is cozy or palatial, or your design ethos minimalist or maximalist, there’s a secretary desk that will fit right in. And whether you use it as a workstation, a display case, a safe of sorts or all of the above, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an object that’s more functional — or more charming — than this timeless piece.
Browse a range of new, vintage and antique secretary desks on 1stDibs, including Chippendale secretaires, mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others.
Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.
Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.