Antique Walnut Secretaire
1920s Swiss Art Deco Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
18th Century European Baroque Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century French Charles X Antique Walnut Secretaire
Marble
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
Early 19th Century English Directoire Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Walnut Secretaire
Mirror, Walnut
Mid-18th Century French Rococo Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
18th Century English George I Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Walnut Secretaire
Maple, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Walnut Secretaire
Wood, Rosewood, Walnut, Softwood
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
1710s Queen Anne Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
Early 18th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Walnut Secretaire
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Early 1800s Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
18th Century and Earlier Austrian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
1750s German Baroque Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut, Softwood
1880s Swedish Victorian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Walnut Secretaire
Birch, Pine, Walnut
18th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Walnut Secretaire
Brass
18th Century English Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century English Regency Antique Walnut Secretaire
Ebony, Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
1830s Scottish Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
1880s Italian Country Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut, Fir
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Cherry, Walnut
19th Century Austrian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Ebony, Walnut
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Ebony, Walnut
19th Century French Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
1850s French Empire Antique Walnut Secretaire
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Swiss Louis XV Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
1750s Italian Louis XV Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Directoire Antique Walnut Secretaire
Marble
1870s French Renaissance Revival Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
18th Century Italian Other Antique Walnut Secretaire
Silver
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
19th Century French Antique Walnut Secretaire
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Wood
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Ebony
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Wood
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Ebony, Mahogany
19th Century Antique Walnut Secretaire
Mid-17th Century Italian Antique Walnut Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century Austrian Antique Walnut Secretaire
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Antique Walnut Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique Walnut 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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