19th Century Danish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
19th century Danish Biedermeier-style secretary or "bureau" crafted in mahogany veneer.
Brass
German Biedermeier Olivewood Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1750
Located in Queens, NY
German Biedermeier (18th Century) olivewood secretary / bookcase in shaped rectangular with the top section having a hinged 2-door shelved cabinet with glass windows bordered by parc...
Wood
19th Century Biedermeier Style Cuba-Mahogany Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist secretary, circa 1800-1810. Cuba mahogany on solid softwood partly ebonized. High-right, architecturally designed body on conical legs. In the front three drawers. Straig...
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 19th century Swedish Biedermeier mahogany secretary featuring a drop-front desk and three lower drawers.
Mahogany
$7,345Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany
Located in Opole, PL
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany Furniture in the Biedermeier style, made of soft wood veneered with mahogany, dated around 1840.
Mahogany
Antique German Biedermeier Bureau, Pinewood, Two-Part Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique German Biedermeier two part bureau, secretary with a two door glass display made of hand crafted Pinewood, in good condition.
Glass, Pine
Biedermeier Roll-Top Secretary in Cherrywood, Saxony circa 1835
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier roll-top secretary raised on block-mounted square legs and fitted with three drawers in the lower section.
Cherry
Biedermeier Pyramid Secretary, Mahogany & Bronze, Germany, Circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
This pyramid-shaped secretary from the early 19th century impresses with its architectural design and high-quality craftsmanship. The gable-shaped top with segmental filling is accen...
Bronze
Handcrafted Biedermeier Intarsia Secretary, Birch Wood, Sweden, 1820
Located in New York, NY
Handcrafted, this piece has been obviously been designed and created with love. Elegant intarsia inlays adorn the outside of this case piece. Inside hides a whimsical array of storag...
Birch
Biedermeier Style Secretary Desk, Wood and Leather, Argentina, 2000s
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
Important secretary to show off in your living room or bedroom, very good size and in very good condition, it only has one defect on the cover that has a small burn about 5 cm long ...
Wood
$7,063Sale 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 of furniture with three drawers at the bottom, a drop front, and a narrow drawer und...
Baize, Mahogany
Antique Danish Biedermeier Pine Secretary Desk With Blue Leather
Located in Centennial, CO
A stately antique circa 1900 Danish Biedermeier style secretary desk crafted out of gorgeous straight grain pine with original brass hardware.
Brass
Antique Biedermeier Austrian Country Secretary Bookcase Desk, Early 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Early 19th Century Biedermeier Austrian Country secretary bookcase desk Additional information: Materials: Fruitwood Color: Sienna Period: Early 19th Century Styles: B...
Fruitwood
Biedermeier Chest, Secretary or Cabinet, Walnut, Southern Germany, circa 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Biedermeier chest of drawers with writing drawer and raised compartment Southern Germany Walnut, birch Biedermeier around 1830 Dimensions: H x W x D: 191 x 126 x 64 cm Description...
Walnut
A fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood birch and ebony secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood and Birch secretary . Ebony and fine quality inlayed woods .
Birch, Ebony, Satinwood
Italian Biedermeier Style Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Style Walnut Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet.
Fruitwood, Walnut, Wood
19th Century Biedermeier Chest Of Drawers with Secretary Compartement, c. 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Biedermeier Chest Of Drawers with Secretary Attachment Baden-Wuerttemberg Walnut Biedermeier around 1830 Dimensions: H x W x D: 118 x 118 x 61 cm Description: Three-drawer chest o...
Walnut
19th Century Biedermeier Chest of Drawers/ Secretary, Nutwood, AT ca. 1830
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Absolutely outstanding 19th century nutwood chest of drawers/ secretary from the early Biedermeier era in Austria around 1830.
Brass
Biedermeier Cylinder Secretary Desk, von Arnim/Boitzenburg Provenance, ca. 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
Dieses Biedermeier Zylinderbureau, entstanden am Anfang des 19. Jahrhunderts, stellt ein herausragendes Zeugnis deutscher Ebenistenkunst dar und besticht gleichermaßen durch seine ar...
Oak, Walnut
A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and rare Biedermeier walnut roll top secretary . Fine satinwood inlay .
Satinwood, Walnut
A fine 19th c Biedermeier birch secretary. Ebonized details and gilt bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine Biedermeier period drop front secretary. Fine Empire gilt bronze details .
Bronze
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Empire Secretary, Germany, Prussia, C. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
North Germany / Prussia Birch Biedermeier / Empire around 1815 Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 102 x 55 cm Description: Very exclusive secretary from the Prussian North German ...
Birch, Fruitwood
Eary 19th Century German Empire Secretaire with Ormolu Bustes, Berlin c. 1811
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier secretary with fire-gilt bronzes Berlin Curly maple and others circa 1810 Dimensions: H x W x D: 141 x 88 x 49 cm Description: Rare and highly refined Berlin w...
Ormolu
$5,524Sale Price|35% Off
Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the high gloss finish of many pieces f...
Brass, Other
Early 19th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early XIX Century Mahogany Secretary Germany, 1800 Mahogany This classicist cylinder bureau made of mahogany dates from 1810 and is an original from the Empire & Biedermeier era.
Mahogany
Classicist Vienna Secretary, circa 1790
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Richly inlaid classicist secretary circa 1790-1800 original from Vienna. Some repairs in the past. Very good original condition with sigs of usage.
Wood
Antique High Gloss Secretary Desk, Scandinavia, circa 1850s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
ANTIQUE-UNIQUE. Impressive secretary from the mid-19th century in Biedermeier style.
Walnut
19th Century Danish Mahogany Tall Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
19th century Danish tall secretary bureau, crafted in mahogany with burlwood veneer. The upper section features three doors with concave and convex shaping, while the hinged desktop ...
Mahogany, Burl
Antique secretary from around 1880, Northern Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the end of the 19th century, Northern Europe. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: height 159 cm / width 112 cm / dep...
Walnut
Ancient secretary, Northern Europe, turn of the 19th centuries.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Stylish secretary from the mid-19th century in mahogany wood. Antique furniture with a more beautiful form will add elegance to any interior. Interesting desk - a desk that focuses o...
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, ci...
Mahogany
$8,946Sale Price|20% Off
Early 19th Century Secretary, Birch and Birch burl veneered
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Inlaid diamond-shaped key escutcheons and elegantly tapered legs complete its sophisticated design. This specific secretary desk has been documented in Wolfgang L. Eller’s well-know...
Birch
$6,422Sale Price|38% Off
19th Century Biedermeier Cherry Fall Front Desk / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Introducing a stunning late Biedermeier Slant-Front Secretary, crafted from solid cherry wood in the 1840s.
Spruce, Cherry
$4,396Sale Price|20% Off
Josephinian Austrian Inlaid Walnut Two Piece 1750s Era Rental Cabinet Secretary
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Josephinian Austrian inlaid walnut two-piece cabinet secretary, circa 1750s, is a remarkable example of fine 18th-century European craftsmanship. Designed during the reign of Em...
Walnut
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Bronze
19th Century Biedermeier Nutwood Chest Of Drawers/ Secretaire Desk, AT ca. 1840
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable Austrian Biedermeier chest of drawers/ secretary desk veneered with finest nut wood from the famous period in Austria around 1840.
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. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
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. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
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. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Bronze
$2,448Sale Price|20% Off
Viennese Baroque Secretary Slant Door Bureau ar 1860 Straight & Heavy Solid Oak
Located in Landshut, BY
This straight and heavy solid oak Viennese Baroque folding desk has been carefully restored to its original condition with no replacements. Even the two main keys are still there. T...
Brass, Iron
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
$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
The authentic Biedermeier furniture on 1stDibs is representative of the first modern European decorative style not dictated by the tastes of the aristocracy. Following the Napoleonic wars, a growing, wealthy urban middle class in the German-speaking states of Central Europe began to demand rights and privileges once granted only to nobles. To avoid trouble, the upwardly striving confined their political discussions to one another’s homes. And so the salon was born.
Cabinetmakers in cities such as Vienna, Berlin and Mainz began to offer goods that reflected the tastes and needs of the new class. The makers of Biedermeier chairs, tables and other furniture used little or no gilding, silver hardware or other lavish ornament. Ebonized trims are common on Biedermeier cabinetry, and neoclassical elements — lyre-shaped chair splats, carved scrollwork, table supports shaped like Greek columns. But the strongest aesthetic statement came from the wood — richly-grained, honey-colored, often book-matched veneers of walnut and fruitwood.
There are two iconic Biedermeier furniture forms, both made to outfit rooms designed for conversation. One is the sofa, deeply upholstered with a strong, architectural wooden frame. The second is the circular pedestal table, which stood at the center of the room, offering a surface on which to place coffee and cake services; or to roll out a map, or sketch out ideas on paper.
“Biedermeier” was originally a derogatory term — it derives from the pen names of two German magazine writers who mocked bourgeois manners. Looking at the elegant and refined antique, new and vintage Biedermeier furniture offered on 1stDibs, that is now an amusing irony.
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.