Black Lacquer Secretaire
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Gold Leaf
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Beech
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Wood, Birdseye Maple, Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Oak, Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer, Mirror
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Secretaires
Aluminum
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Leather, Glass, Lacquer
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Metal
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1950s Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires
Walnut
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Brass
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Secretaires
Lacquer
1990s American Queen Anne Secretaires
Giltwood, Lacquer
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Glass, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French Secretaires
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Secretaires
Satinwood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Louis XV Secretaires
Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Giltwood, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Early 20th Century Edwardian Desks
Wood
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass, Chrome
Antique 1810s Japanese Edo Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Qing Antiquities
Lacquer
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Cabinets
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1920s English Arts and Crafts Cabinets
Oak
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Desks
Bronze
Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Cabinets
Wood, Parchment Paper
Vintage 1930s American Secretaires
Lacquer
Antique Late 17th Century English William and Mary Secretaires
Lacquer
Antique Early 18th Century British Queen Anne Secretaires
Lacquer, Wood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Metal
Antique Early 18th Century British George I Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Lacquer
Antique 1720s British Queen Anne Secretaires
Lacquer
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut
2010s Portuguese Desks
Iron
Vintage 1970s French Secretaires
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Lacquer
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Vintage 1970s Chinese Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer
Antique 19th Century Chinese Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Antique Late 18th Century Chinese Secretaires
Antique Late 19th Century European Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Wood
20th Century American Gustavian Secretaires
Brass
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
Vintage 1930s French Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 18th Century French Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Lacquer
- 1
Black Lacquer Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Black Lacquer 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.
- What is Chinese black lacquer?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Chinese black lacquer is a resin sourced from the Toxicodendron vernicifluum (formerly Rhus verniciflua) tree that grows throughout East Asia. Artisans produce decorative objects entirely from the substance or use it as a finish for wood and other materials. Find a selection of Chinese black lacquer furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Japanese lacquerware items are finished with a sap that comes from the lacquer tree. This finish is prone to degradation, especially if exposed to sun and water, and age will take its toll as well. To clean lacquerware items, wet a lint-free cloth and wring as much water out as you can, then wipe the item. Finish by drying it with a soft lint-free cloth. Shop a range of antique and vintage Japanese lacquerware on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023To shine lacquer furniture, spray a tiny amount of solvent-based furniture cleaner and then wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Ensure that you choose a product specifically labeled as safe for lacquered finishes. Shop a collection of lacquer furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To fix Japanese black lacquer, take it to a furniture repair shop that has previously worked with the material. Lacquer is very delicate. Attempting to fix a piece on your own could cause further damage. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Japanese black lacquer.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Though you can't exactly refinish black lacquer furniture, you can repaint it. As long as you prep the furniture with a primer, you should easily be able to repaint.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023Whether you can use furniture polish on black lacquer furniture depends on the formulation. Heavier polishes may cause streaks and damage the finish. For best results, read the labels carefully and only choose products intended for lacquer. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of lacquer furniture.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
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.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
28 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
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.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
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.