$3,600
H 83 in W 40 in D 17 in
Double Bonnet Dome Top Burl Wood 3 Drawer Drop Front Secretary Desk 1900s Clean!
By Berkey & Gay Furniture, Henredon, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Double Bonnet Dome Top Burl Wood 3 Drawer Drop Front Secretary Desk 1900s Clean!
Brass
$2,950
H 76 in W 35 in D 19 in
Antique English Adams Style Hand Painted Double Bonnet Bookcase Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Adams Style Hand Painted Double Bonnet Top Bookcase Secretary Desk. Item features a double bonnet top, hand painted figural scenes to the front and sides, 2 swing doo...
Mahogany
Swedish Gustavian Secretary, circa 1790
Located in Huntington, NY
A two part Swedish Gustavian secretary. The bonnet top consists of an impressive overhanging arched pediment cornice.
Brass, Iron
18th Century, Veneered and Inlaid Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning, hand carved, 18th century, parquetry inlaid and veneered, bonnet top, two-part secretary from the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy.
Wood, Fruitwood, Walnut
$9,995
H 82 in W 47 in D 22.25 in
Turn of the 18th -19th C. Swedish Rococo Style Slant Front Secretary w/ Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A late 18th century-early 19th century Rococo style slant front painted fir Swedish secretary with bonnet top, two doors and multiple drawers.
Fir
Chippendale Bonnet-Top Secretary
Located in Litchfield, CT
Connecticut River Valley, circa 1765-1775. Maple, pine: Secondary wood. Having carved rope-twisted quarter columns and vine carved panels flanking raised panel doors is fitted abov...
Unavailable
H 90.5 in W 39 in D 20 in
BAKER Georgian Walnut Bonnet Top Secretary Desk with Mirrored Blind Bookcase
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Charlotte, NC
A Georgian style secretary desk by Baker Furniture. Walnut with brass hardware, double bonnet arched top with three finials, crown molding and bracket feet.
Brass
English Bonnet Top Secretary Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Small scale George II style secretary desk with mirrored doors. Walnut veneers on oak. Quality craftsmanship.
Trosby TC1103 Solid Walnut Queen Anne Double Bonnet Top Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exceptional desk is still being made today! This Trosby desk, model TC1103 took 500 hours to make according to the manufacturer and has hide away drawers and is solud walnut and...
Walnut
Swedish paint decorated secretary / desk.
Located in Stamford, CT
Bonnet top secretary desk with two doors over a four drawer base.
Brass
Sold
H 86.25 in W 50 in D 23 in
Swedish Rococo 18th Century Tall Secretary with Bonnet Top and Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted wood two-part secretary from the 18th century, with bonnet top, slant-front desk and lateral handles.
Wood
Sold
H 86 in W 52.5 in D 18 in
Baroque Style 1840s Swedish Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish painted wood Baroque style secretary with bonnet top, upper cabinet, slant-front desk, and lower drawers from the mid 19th century.
Wood
Sold
H 82 in W 43 in D 27 in
Dutch Marquetry Style Inlaid Double Bonnet Top Secretary Desk Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Truly impressive, mid-20th century, Dutch marquetry style inlaid and burl wood secretary desk. Item is inlaid from top to bottom including the front, sides, and interior with varying...
Satinwood, Walnut, Burl
Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
Magnificent decorated black with raised gilt chinoiserie broken arch bonnet top secretary desk with exquisite hand painted landscape scenery on front and sides.
Wood
Sold
H 74 in W 23 in D 16 in
HICKORY CHAIR James River Chippendale Burl Walnut Bonnet Top Secretary Desk
By Hickory Chair Furniture Company
Located in Charlotte, NC
Burl walnut, brass hardware, single bonnet arched top, slant front and bracket feet. Upper cabinet features two adjustable wood shelves behind a single arched glass door.
Brass
American Cherry Chippendale Secretary
Located in Norwalk, CT
Connecticut Chippendale Cherry Bonnet top Secretary in two parts the top with solid doors the upper interior fitted with cubby holes and bookshelves the Base with a slant lid and ...
Cherry, Poplar
Sold
H 89.77 in W 39.38 in D 21.66 in
18th Century Scriban Cabinet Secretary Writing Desk Flap in Mahogany
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
18th century solid two colors mahogany bonnet top secretary writing desk with a flap, two glass doors and three shelves on top, central drawers and in between a secret hiding place, ...
Mahogany
Rare and Important Chippendale Secretary
Located in Litchfield, CT
Transitional Chippendale Bonnet-Top Secretary New York, ca. 1755-1765. The upper case has a scrolled arch and bonnet-top with carved pedal form rosettes and a central carved cartou...
Mahogany, Poplar
Sold
H 81 in W 36 in D 15.5 in
JASPER "Legacy" Cherry Chippendale Bonnet Top Block Front Secretary Desk
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in Charlotte, NC
Solid cherry, brass hardware, double bonnet arched top, block front and ogee bracket feet.
Brass
Italian Double Bonnet Painted Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
Late 19th century double bonnet top painted secretary bookcase
Wood
Queen Anne Secretary
Located in Lawrenceburg, TN
Queen Anne crimson and gold double bonnet top bureau bookcase or secretary with hand-painted chinoiserie.
19th Century Queen Anne Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Lawrenceburg, TN
Queen Anne period double bonnet top bureau bookcase or secretary with tortoise-shell brown and gold chinoiserie lacquered decoration, elaborate fitted interior, gilt finials, and bun...
Wood
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H. Clearance: 27"
Wood
$15,439 / item
H 32.68 in W 110.24 in D 40.56 in
Art Deco Sofa by Munna Design Studio with Velvet Upholstery
By Munna Design Studio
Located in New York, NY
This sofa features a wonderfully elegant fan-shaped motif, with its accentuated curvy lines with decadent and lavish finish. The feminine curves are ravishingly enhanced by the diffe...
Velvet
$2,695
H 82 in W 36 in D 18.5 in
Henredon Georgian Walnut Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian or Queen Anne style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top By Henredon USA, Circa 1980s Gorgeous figured walnut, with original bra...
Brass
$4,500
H 32 in W 32.75 in D 17.5 in
Swedish Gustavian-Style Blue Chest of Drawers with Faux Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined Swedish Gustavian-style chest of drawers. Crafted in pine, this piece is painted in a soft blue tone, a color popular beginning with late 19th-century Scandinavian interpre...
Wood
Cabinet 18th Century Sweden Period Rococo
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century Swedish Cabinet from period rococo ca 1760 Stockholm. Original hardwares - please see in photo of very original key. Upper cabinet with two large doors, resting on six s...
Bronze
$7,672
H 80.32 in W 55.91 in D 19.69 in
Genuine Swedish Rococo Cabinet from the Late 1700s, Made by Hand in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine Swedish rococo cabinet from the late 1700s. The cabinet is made in two parts and very well crafted from solid pine around 1770 to 1780. Healthy and stable frame with old hard...
Pine
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk. Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80.5"...
Mahogany
$2,595
H 76.25 in W 36.5 in D 18.75 in
Georgian Solid Birch Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian, Chippendale, or Early American style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top USA, Circa 1970s Gorgeous carved solid birch, with original ...
Brass
Fabergé Silver Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary 128-piece service by Fabergé is a rare treasure in more ways than one. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and in pristine c...
Silver
On Hold|$2,995
H 83 in W 32.5 in D 18.75 in
John Stuart Georgian Burl Wood Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase Hutch
By John Stuart
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Georgian or Queen Anne style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top By John Stuart USA, circa 1960s Gorgeous burled walnut, with leather wr...
Brass
Swedish Rococo Cabinet, circa 1760
Located in Huntington, NY
A Swedish Rococo cabinet. The bonnet top consists of an impressive overhanging arched pediment cornice. Upper section has three shelves and three small drawers (with teardrop brass ...
Brass, Iron
$8,852 / set
H 32.68 in W 23.23 in D 17.92 in
Art Deco Walnut Vintage Pair of Nightstands or Chests or Commodes 1930s Vienna
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco vintage pair of nightstands or small chests or commodes from walnut Vienna 1930s. While the wonderful nightstands show a lively play of walnut veneer and solid walnut in a w...
Bakelite, Walnut, Plywood
George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase
Located in Huntington, NY
This exceptional George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase with Glazed Doors, has wonderful flame & crotch grain Mahogany. Comprised of a large central cabinet, flanked by 2 sma...
Brass
$11,950
H 81.5 in W 37.5 in D 18.25 in
European two-part vitrine cabinet with fine carvings, circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant European two-part vitrine cabinet dating to circa 1790, distinguished by its refined proportions and finely carved architectural details. The upper section features two gl...
Glass, Wood
$5,950
H 45.5 in W 49.5 in D 21.5 in
1820s Late Gustavian Period Swedish Buffet with Carved Reeded Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish late Gustavian period buffet from circa 1820 with gray painted finish, carved reeded diamond motifs, petite rosettes and inner drawers. Radiating a quiet sophistication, th...
Wood
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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