Antique Biedermeier Secretaire Chest Secretaire Abattant 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A truly magnificent antique flame mahogany architectural biedermeier secretaire abattant, circa 1840 in date.
Mahogany
Austro-Hungarian Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Woodbury, CT
Wearing a layer of Austrian walnut root veneer, this secrétaire has a unique grain that one does not often see; it swirls and undulates across the surface drawing the eye along in a ...
Walnut, Burl
Vintage Biedermeier Birdseye Maple Ebonized Drop Front Secretaire Secretary Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
An absolutely stunning late 20th-century Art Deco style reproduction of a classic early 19th-century German Biedermeier secretaire à abattant (fall-front desk).
Brass
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period.
Bronze
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period.
Bronze
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period.
Bronze
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period.
Bronze
$3,440Sale Price|20% Off
20th Century French Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one high drawer and one low door with compartment, beautiful marquetry oakwood . The wood inside opens to a c...
Oak
19th Century Biedermeier Secretaire Abattant
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century Biedermeier Secretaire Abattant. Has original leather writing surface and appears to have a new top.
Antique Biedermeier Secretaire a Abattant
Located in New York, NY
Antique Biedermeier Secretaire a Abattant Original Hardware and Escutcheons, Ebonized Black Accents Interior Drawers and Hidden Storage Lower Part has Two Doors with One Shelf
Biedermeier Yew Wood Secretaire Abattant
Located in Midlothian, VA
Fine Biedermeier Yew Wood Secretaire with Ebonized String Inlay, Ebonized Half Column Front and Finished Interior
Yew
19th Century, Early Biedermeier Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Wels, AT
Early Austrian Biedermeier Secretaire a abattant bearl Wood veneered, with carved, polychrome painted and gilded caryatides The Secretaire have two lower doors with two drawers inside.
Biedermeier Secretaire Abattant
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Biedermeier feathered birch secretaire abattant with bone escutcheons and finely inlaid interior, circa 1840.
Birch, Bone
Biedermeier Secretaire a abattant
Located in New York, NY
This formal secretary is comprised of an upper section with multiple interior drawers and original ebonized pulls with mother of pearl inlay. The locking central door features an in...
19th c. Biedermeier Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Oakland, CA
The tall figured walnut cabinet with chamfered corners and classical architectural details, features a frieze drawer above a fall-front writing surface which opens to reveal an arran...
Wood
Finely Inlaid Biedermeier Birch Secretaire à Abattant
Located in New York, NY
With beautifully figured bookmatched veneers; the shaped cornice over a frieze drawer and fall front inclosing an arrangement of drawers around a prospect door, all with walnut bandi...
Birch
Biedermier Secretaire Abattant
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Biedermeier inlaid secretaire abattant with a stepped architectural interior, 19th century.
Wood
Burled Walnut & Bone Biedermeier Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Chicago, IL
Biedermeier fourteen drawer secretary constructed of solid woods and beautiful burled walnut veneers. Escutcheons/keyholes are made of bone. With front in horizontal position, birdse...
Walnut, Pine, Bone
Biedermeier Burled Walnut & Bone Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Chicago, IL
Exceptionally crafted and still in wonderful condition, this Biedermeier secretary is constructed of solid woods and beautiful burled walnut veneers. Escutcheons/keyholes are made of...
Walnut, Pine
19th Century Biedermeier Abattant Secretary
Located in Denton, TX
Biedermeier abattant secretary in figured birch.
Wood
Sold
H 66 in W 38 in D 18 in
Antique English Burl Wood Biedermeier Abattant, Drop Front Secretary Desk 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English Biedermeier Abattant secretary features burl wood construction with frieze drawer surmounting drop front secretary opening to reveal writing surface and interior s...
Satinwood, Burl
Sold
H 57.87 in W 37 in D 17.32 in
18th Century Catalan Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Spain
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1790, Biedermeier period.
Oak
Sold
H 69.68 in W 39.37 in D 20.27 in
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period.
Period Austrian Biedermeier Neoclassical Secretary
Located in Essex, MA
Period Austrian Biedermeier Fallfront Secretary or Secretaire Abattant --Mahogany and Ebony --Fitted Interior --Neoclassical Panel in Front
Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Fall Front Secretary/Chest
Located in Water Mill, NY
19th century Swedish Biedermeier secretaire a abattant, birch desk/chest with three drawers and key in great condition.
Birch
Sold
H 54.75 in W 42 in D 22 in
Antique Swedish Golden Birch Ebony Biedermeier Fall Front Desk Secretary Chest
Located in Portland, OR
A fine and elegant antique first period Biedermeier golden birch & ebony secretaire abattant, circa 1820.
Birch, Ebony
Secretaire a' Abattant
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century mahogany Biedermeier Secretaire a' Abattant
Johnson Bros, Satinwood Marquetry & Bronze Secrétaire à Abattant, c1910
By Johnson Brothers
Located in Big Flats, NY
Intricately inlaid Johnson Bros. French Biedermeier style Secrétaire à Abattant (fall front desk) features mahogany construction with fine satinwood marquetry throughout and bronze a...
Bronze
Sold
H 75 in W 41.75 in D 20.75 in
Biedermeier Style Burled Birchwood Secretary Desk by Colombo Mobili
By Colombo Mobili
Located in Shippensburg, PA
BIEDERMEIER STYLE BURLED BIRCHWOOD SECRETARY DESK Executed by Colombo Mobili, ca. 21st century Item # 312SBP08Q A truly remarkable Biedermeier style secretaire a'abattant desk from ...
Brass
Biedermeier-Style Burl Wood Fall Front Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
This vintage Biedermeier secretaire abattant has great storage space with five drawers on the outside and another five drawers inside above the red-leather-tooled-in-gold writing boa...
Brass
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Fruitwood Secretaire a Abattant
Located in New York, NY
The attractively figured golden fruit with contrasting ebonized detailing throughout; the upper part with arched paneled doors flanked by carved giltwood Classical male caryatids ope...
Fruitwood
Sold
H 50.25 in W 42 in D 21.25 in
Antique Austrian Biedermeier Flame Mahogany Secretary Abattant Desk Chest 1870
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & elegant antique Austrian flame mahogany Biedermeier secretary chest desk, circa 1870. The chest having a stepped top with a fall front locking secretary desk below, the tall...
Mahogany
Sold
H 51.97 in W 24.41 in D 10.04 in
19th Century French Drop-Front Marquetry Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one low door with compartment, beautiful marquetry oakwood. The wood inside opens to a central compartment fl...
Oak
Sold
H 75 in W 41.75 in D 20.75 in
Biedermeier Style Burled Birchwood Secretary Desk by Colombo Mobili
By Colombo Mobili
Located in Shippensburg, PA
BIEDERMEIER STYLE BURLED BIRCHWOOD SECRETARY DESK Executed by Colombo Mobili, ca. 21st century Item # 411OBP20A A truly remarkable Biedermeier style secretaire a'abattant desk from ...
Brass
Sold
H 52.5 in W 36 in D 19 in
Antique Burled Walnut Locking Biedermeier Secretaire, Three-Drawer, 19th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Biedermeier burl walnut secretaire a' abattant (fall front secretary) features bookmatched central reserve with drop front opening to reveal writing surface and interior stor...
Walnut
Biedermeier Secretaire Abattant
Located in Manchester, GB
A stunning mid 19th century North European secretaire abattant. Sat on beautiful burr walnut veneers and in super condition for it's age with only traces of shrinkage to the fall. Al...
Brass
Biedermeier Black Lacquered Secretaire à Abattant
Located in Dallas, TX
Biedermeier black lacquered secretaire a' abattant, rectangular top over a frieze drawer with lion mask ring handles, fall front writing surface, fitted interior.
Bronze
Biedermeier Secretaire a Abattant, Early 19th Century
Located in Santander, ES
Biedermeier secretaire a abattant dating to the first quarter of the 19th century with finely figured mahogany veneer fronts and of classic north German design.
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Danish Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Santander, ES
Danish Biedermeier secretaire a abattant dating to the beginning of the 19th century, featuring masterfully matched figured mahogany, line inlaid throughout and frontal columns with ...
Mahogany
Northern European Birch Secretaire Abattant
Located in New York, NY
Northern European, Biedermeier, Birch Secretaire Abattant
Birch
Sold
H 55.12 in W 50.4 in D 22.05 in
Secretaire a Abattant Biedermeier 19th Century Swedish Elm Karl Johan Period
Located in Santander, ES
19th century Biedermeier Swedish elm secretaire a abattant with frontal black lacquered columns and a fall front door that reveals an interior of multiple drawers and central cabinet...
Austrian Biedermeier Maple Secretaire a Abattant, c, 1850-1880
Located in Norwalk, CT
Austrian Biedermeier Maple Secretaire a Abattant, c, 1850-1880, in the Empire style with fall front desk over three drawers, full columns with bronze mounts.
Biedermeier Secretary Abattant
Located in Hudson, NY
Mahogany secretary abattant, the fall front opening to a fitted interior with small drawers and compartments. Classical style with pedimented top and columns on either side.
Secretaire Biedermeier Burl Walnut Swedish origin
Located in Santander, ES
Secretaire a abattant Biedermeier of Swedish origin with Louis Philippe influence, with walnut and burr walnut veneer as primary woods. 4 large exterior drawers and a fall front doo...
Burl, Walnut
BIEDERMEIER WALNUT SECRÉTAIRE À ABATTANT 19TH C
Located in Louisville, KY
BIEDERMEIER WALNUT SECRÉTAIRE À ABATTANT, 19th Century; in three parts, the top part with a demi-luned cabinet flanked with bronze neo-classical figures; the middle section with a fa...
Bronze
Superb Museum Quality 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary a Abattant
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a superb quality very unique antique satinwood secretaire a abbatant. A single, full width drawer over the drop front portion and two full width drawers below. The interior o...
Satinwood
$3,485Sale Price|24% Off
H 32.49 in W 34.45 in D 17.92 in
Small Biedermeier Walnut Half Cabinet with Drawer, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Elegant small Biedermeier half cabinet from Southern Germany, circa 1830. The charming piece is veneered in richly grained walnut on a solid spruce body, displaying the warm tones an...
Walnut, Spruce
$4,240Sale Price|20% Off
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
19th Century Biedermeier Column Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged front. High-right body on padfoot feet. Fitted with three drawers of different sizes, the base drawer is curved. Straight writing...
Mahogany, Wood
$5,747Sale Price|27% Off
H 36.62 in W 44.89 in D 23.63 in
Biedermeier Chest of Drawers in Walnut, Germany, circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This fine Biedermeier chest of drawers was crafted in Southern Germany around 1830 and is distinguished by its richly figured walnut veneer with beautiful book-matched grain. The fro...
Walnut, Spruce
$6,455Sale Price|20% Off
H 66.15 in W 38.19 in D 18.9 in
Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire, Antique Desk from Germany, Circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This stunning Biedermeier secretary desk is an authentic antique piece crafted from walnut wood, both inside and out. Dating back to the early 19th century, this masterpiece showcase...
Pine, Walnut
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Marble, Ormolu
$15,400 / set
H 34.5 in W 19.5 in D 18.5 in
19th Century German Set of Six Antique Biedermeier Walnut Dining Room Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique German Biedermeier set of six dining room chairs made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Walnut, in good condition. The side chairs have an open, detailed carved ba...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut, Ebony
$6,966Sale Price|20% Off
H 62.21 in W 44.1 in D 23.23 in
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 of furniture with three drawers at the bottom, a drop front, and a narrow drawer und...
Baize, Mahogany
$7,700
H 52 in W 48 in D 20 in
19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan
By Karl Johan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Biedermeier writing agency, secretary table made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany with a writing flap, designed by Karl-Johan in goo...
Metal, Brass
$5,433Sale Price|50% Off
H 62.21 in W 59.06 in D 84.65 in
19th Century Hand Carved and Hand Painted Queen Size Bed Frame Louis XVI Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century exquisite queen size beautifully hand carved bed frame in the elegant Louis XVI style. The headboard and footboard frames are raised on six legs and are hand curved and ...
Cane, Wood
$3,495
H 73.75 in W 34.5 in D 20 in
Antique Austrian Figured Ash & Ebony Biedermeier Standing Corner Cabinet 1830
Located in Portland, OR
A very stylish antique Austrian Biedermeier figured Ash corner cabinet, circa 1830. The cabinet with an ebonized crown and a glazed door below with arched panels, the door enclosing ...
Ebony, Ash
$9,883Sale Price|24% Off
H 61.42 in W 43.31 in D 21.26 in
19th Century South German Biedermeier Walnut Chiffoniere with Seven Drawers
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This elegant South German Biedermeier chiffoniere dates from around 1830 and features a finely mirrored walnut veneer with a warm, deep patina. The seven drawers can each be locked i...
Spruce, Oak, Walnut
$4,789Sale Price|25% Off
H 49.22 in W 77.56 in D 33.86 in
Restoration Period Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Sofa Bed, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Restoration period mahogany veneered boat-shaped bed with a slightly overturned bedside. The front is soberly dressed with an ormolu plaque with scrolls and flowers framing a female ...
Bronze
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Table. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
This exceptional Biedermeier walnut table, crafted in Vienna circa 1825, epitomizes the elegance and sophistication of the era. Viennese Biedermeier pieces are renowned for their imp...
Walnut
French Empire Style Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE STYLE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK Composed of 19th century elements ref. 501GWU22P 45 7/8" H x 32 1/8" W x 15 5/8" D; writing area is 15" D x 26 1/8" W Thi...
Bronze, Ormolu
$2,322Sale Price|20% Off
H 55.91 in W 33.86 in D 19.3 in
Biedermeier Corner Cabinet, 19th Century, Fully Renovated
Located in Wrocław, Poland
Biedermeier corner cabinet from 19th century. It comes from France most probably. It is made of pine wood, veneered with beautiful pyramidal mahogany. It features two shelves and a d...
Pine
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.