Art Deco Secretary Cabinet
Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Secretaires
Walnut
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Desks
Walnut
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Cabinets
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Vitrines
Steel
Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Cabinets
Wood, Parchment Paper
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Secretaires
Nickel
Vintage 1920s Dutch Art Deco Cabinets
Cut Glass, Ebony, Burl
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Secretaires
Sycamore
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Aluminum
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Birch
Vintage 1920s Czech Art Deco Secretaires
Wood, Rosewood, Lacquer
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Bookcases
Walnut, Lacquer
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Cabinets
Metal, Chrome
Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Birch
Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Birch
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Dry Bars
Wood, Macassar
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Bookcases
Paldao
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desks
Chrome
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Wood, Birdseye Maple, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Metal
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Bookcases
Brass
Antique 1830s French Charles X Secretaires
Maple
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Metal
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Bronze
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1990s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
Leather
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Cabinets
Marble
Early 20th Century Art Deco Dressers
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s Unknown Art Deco Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
Velvet, Beech
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Dining Room Chairs
Brass
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Desks
Brass
Mid-20th Century North American American Colonial Dining Room Tables
Pine
Vintage 1980s Regency Bookcases
Walnut
Vintage 1920s Dutch Modern Shelves
Belgian Black Marble
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Cabinets
Bronze
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Wood
Recent Sales
20th Century French Secretaires
Macassar, Ebony
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1940s French Secretaires
Cherry
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Secretaires
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Metal
Vintage 1920s Austrian Art Deco Desks
Cherry
Vintage 1940s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Mahogany, Rosewood
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Desks
Wood
20th Century Desk Accessories
Vintage 1930s Austrian Art Deco Secretaires
Fruitwood, Rosewood
Vintage 1930s French Secretaires
Brass
20th Century Swedish Secretaires
Rosewood
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Desks
Birch
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Secretaires
Brass
20th Century French Art Deco Desks
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
20th Century French Cabinets
Walnut, Maple
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Leather, Oak
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Vitrines
Steel
Early 20th Century Secretaires
Vintage 1920s Secretaires
Burl, Glass, Wood
20th Century French Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Cabinets
Chrome
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Dry Bars
Antique Mid-19th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Mirror, Rosewood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Mirror, Rosewood
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Cabinets
20th Century Swedish Secretaires
Rosewood, Wood
Vintage 1940s American Streamlined Moderne Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1920s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Ash, Birch
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Cupboards
Rosewood, Sycamore
Vintage 1940s French Secretaires
Vintage 1940s Argentine Art Deco Dry Bars
Metal
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Sideboards
Metal
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Hungarian Art Deco Secretaires
Walnut
Vintage 1930s Belgian Art Deco Secretaires
Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Gold Leaf, Brass
Vintage 1940s American Secretaires
Brass
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Grasscloth, Paint, Teak
20th Century French Art Deco Buffets
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Secretaires
Vintage 1930s Art Deco Secretaires
Burl, Glass, Wood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Gold Leaf
20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Leather, Bakelite, Wood
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Secretaires
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Secretaires
Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Sideboards
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1940s Swedish Art Deco Dry Bars
Mahogany
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Nickel
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Aluminum
Vintage 1930s Italian Secretaires
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Art Deco Secretary Cabinet For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Art Deco Secretary Cabinet?
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.