Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Desks
Mahogany
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century European Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wool
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Secretaires
Wood
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Cabinets
Glass, Wood
Antique Early 1900s British Queen Anne Furniture
Bronze
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 18th Century Unknown Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer
People Also Browsed
20th Century French Benches
Velvet, Beech
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Cabinets
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Armchairs
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Wood
Antique 1810s English Dinner Plates
Porcelain
20th Century Hollywood Regency Sofas
Upholstery
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Cabinets
Rosewood
2010s American Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Gustavian Armchairs
Beech
Antique 1890s French Art Nouveau Daybeds
Iron
20th Century Louis XIV Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Cabinets
Fabric, Faux Bamboo, Wood
20th Century British Taxidermy
Organic Material, Wood
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary American Louis XVI Armchairs
Wood
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Wood
20th Century English Georgian Cabinets
Gold, Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
20th Century European Chinoiserie Desks
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Desks and Writing T...
Bone, Bamboo, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1930s English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century English Secretaires
20th Century Chinoiserie Cabinets
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Giltwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century English George II Secretaires
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Brass
20th Century Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Vintage 1950s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks
Oak
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Metal
20th Century American Chinoiserie Bookcases
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century Queen Anne Secretaires
Wood
Late 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Chinoiserie Cabinets
Metal
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1930s English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Gold, Brass
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
20th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
Antique 19th Century English George III Bookcases
Wood
Antique 1770s English George III Secretaires
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Giltwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Portuguese Secretaires
Pine, Oak
Early 2000s American Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
Wood
Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk?
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.
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.