Compartmental Secretaire
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Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Bureau Secretaire, Biedermeier. Walnut, birdseye, rootwood, intarsia, secret compartments.
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire with fall front writing surface, interior drawers and hidden compartments.
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire in walnut, root wood and ebony with fall-front writing surface; interior
Category
Antique 19th Century Austrian Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire- Dark walnut with fall front writing surface, interior drawers, secret
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebony with a fall front writing surface
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebonized wood with fall-front writing surface
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, mahogany, ebony, intarsia. There are 2 doors, 2 drawers, 2
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
drawer rests above a fall-front inner compartment which opens to reveal ten letter-sized interior drawers
Category
Antique 1850s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Ash
Russian Empire Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Russian Empire Secretaire made of solid birch blond-wood and veneer. Elegant and compact design
Category
Antique 19th Century Russian Secretaires
Dutch Bureau/Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
front writing surface with interior drawers and compartments above three large drawers. original brass
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Grande Biedermeier Secrétaire
Located in New York, NY
veneered in flame mahogany and birch intarsia, with bone escutcheons, secret compartments, locking drawers
Category
Antique 1810s Scandinavian Biedermeier Secretaires
Italian 17th Century Secretaire
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning 17th century Secretaire from Bologna, Italy. Wonderfully constructed from beautiful
Category
Antique Mid-17th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Biedermeier Secretaire Napolean Style
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire Napolean Style with fall front writing surface, interior drawers and secret
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Antique Burr Walnut Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Drop Front Secretaire Drawers
By Biedermeier
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this super quality, antique Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire desk
Category
Antique 1880s Swedish Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 54.34 in W 48.63 in D 18.9 in
1940s Osvaldo Borsani Secretaire
Located in Hanover, MA
compartment hidden under one of the upper drawers!
The entire case stands of four stylized feet.
No apparent
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Goatskin
Louis XV Secretaire, France, 1770
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XV secretaire, France, 1770.
Beautiful walnut veneer with plum, satinwood and kingwood
Category
Antique 1770s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Satinwood, Walnut
Painted Baroque Secretaire, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
feet. The compartments inside consist of six drawers and a shelf. The white painting with dark gray
Category
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Softwood
Empire Secretaire, Vienna, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Viennese secretaire on square pointed feet with bronze sabots. The body with beveled corners has a
Category
Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Swiss Made Secretaire
Located in Greven, DE
simple in oak and consists of six drawers, two secret drawers and five open compartments.
Exceptional
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swiss Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Yew
Antique Burled Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Bridgeport, CT
, and a center compartment with door housing an inkstand with two glass bottles with silverplate tops
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Tall Walnut Cabinet with a Bureau Desk Compartment
Located in Dubai, AE
Tall walnut desk cabinet in Baroque style with gilded brass ornamentation. The upper glazed part reveals seven drawers, a leaf, and fifteen lockers, the flap revealing six drawers, s...
Category
Antique 19th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Secretaire, South German, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier secretaire in cherry veneer with a two-door lower part, a flat writing flap and a wide
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
19th Century Empire / Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
.
Underneath the middle lower drawers, there is a secret compartment in the middle of the interior, which can
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Baroque Tabernacle Secretaire, Mid-18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque Tabernacle Secretaire in three parts, boasting a three-drawer lower chest set on graceful
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Small Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful little Secretaire from the time of the late Biedermeier, circa 1840. The Secretaire is
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Pine, Walnut
Georgian-Inspired Miniature Italian Walnut Secretaire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This stunning Miniature Italian walnut Secretaire is not only a remarkable piece of furniture but
Category
Early 2000s Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
National Trust John Locke Secretaire
Located in Asheville, NC
pulled out, revel secret compartments. Not only extremely functional with abundant storage space, this
Category
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Secretaires
Regency Mahogany Gillows Secretaire à Abattant
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Regency fiddleback mahogany secretaire à abattant in the manor of Gillows, with a black slate top
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Marble
French Secretaire Cartonnier, Transition , wood leather
Located in Valladolid, ES
and the upper part ends with a desk with camel-colored leather embossed in gold. This secretaire opens
Category
Antique Early 1800s French Regency Secretaires
Materials
Metal
18th Centurey Baroque Walnut Tabernacle / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The Tabernacle Secretaire is divided into 3 parts.
The upper part has a door with a snap lock in
Category
Antique 18th Century Austrian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Transitional St. Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine 19th century French transitional cabinet/ secretaire. The whole is raised on cabriole legs
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Sensational Vienna secretaire in Biedermeier style.
Tulip veneer on solid pinewood, partially
Category
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Wood
Retro Mid Century Teak Secretaire Bureau
Located in Leicester, GB
drawers with white carcasses and a simple drop down desk with key. The desk has multiple compartments
Category
Vintage 1970s British Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th Century Charles X Writing Desk with secret compartment
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Charles X Writing Desk with secret compartment. Gorgeous piece. Age appropriate wear
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire in Ashwood, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
writing surface unveils an interior with a curved framed central compartment and six drawers, providing
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Ash
Verni Martin secrétaire abattant , circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
to the centre of the fall, opening to reveal drawers and compartments within and an inset leather
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Dutch Bleached Oak Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
first. In the inner part of the secretary there are many small drawers and various secret compartments
Category
Antique 19th Century Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Louis XVI Cylinder Top Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
18th century Louis XVI Cylinder Top Secretaire, Paris 1780.
The secretaire stands out for its
Category
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood
18th Century Baroque Secretaire, Lake Constance Region
Located in Belmont, MA
18th century baroque secretaire, Lake Constance region. Two-drawer body on curved square feet
Category
Antique 1750s German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Solid wood, manufactured to a high
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Louis Philippe Style Marquetry Secretaire, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Louis Philippe Style Marquetry Secretaire Cabinet, Circa 19th Century, the top drawer with gilt
Category
Antique 19th Century Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire
By Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire
French, late 19th Century
Height 132.5cm, width
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Secretaire in Rosewood Art Nouveau Style, 1940s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
the doors are opened, there is a secretaire type, with a central lowering that conceals drawers and a
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Nouveau Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Rosewood, Burl
Dutch Rococo Style Bombe Burled Walnut Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
Dutch Rococo style burled walnut bombe front secretaire with carved ball and claw feet. Three
Category
Vintage 1940s Dutch Rococo Revival Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Secretaire Sideboard
Located in Suffolk, GB
Rare Antique Regency quality mahogany secretaire sideboard having a pleasing shaped gallery back
Category
Antique 19th Century European Regency Secretaires
Materials
Other
Empire Secretaire à abattant, Vienna circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
mirrored central compartment, featuring flanking full columns and eagle appliqués. The base of the central
Category
Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French Secretaire à Abattant, First Empire Period
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Art Deco Secretaire Cabinet by Jules Deroubaix
By Jules Deroubaix
Located in North York, ON
This Jules Deroubaix display cabinet secretaire is timeless, functional, and effortlessly chic
Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Chrome, Brass
Tiny French Secretaire, Walnut, Mid 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
consists of six drawers of different sizes and an open compartment. The writing surface is covered in black
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Hand Painted White Baroque Secretaire, Saxony 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque writing secretaire with slanted flap and curved front and frame. The secretaire has two
Category
Antique 18th Century German French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Softwood
Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 1810
Located in Greding, DE
fittings. Behind the writing flap with brown leather there are more drawers and compartments.
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Baroque Secretaire, South German, 1750-1760
Located in Belmont, MA
secret compartment.
The secretaire is in very good condition. It comes refinished and French polished
Category
Antique 1750s German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This elegant and truly exceptional walnut Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Cherrywood Secretaire - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 64.5 in W 41.75 in D 20.25 in
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This elegant and truly exceptional early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Mid-Century Teak Secretaire by Børge Mogensen 1960s
By Søborg Møbelfabrik, Børge Mogensen
Located in Asaa, DK
Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern teak Secretaire by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik, Denmark
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Scandinavian Modern Teak Secretaire by Gunnar Falsig 1960s
By Gunnar Falsig, Holstebro Møbelfabrik
Located in Asaa, DK
Scandinavian Modern teak secretaire by Gunnar Falsig 1960s
Mid-century modern Danish secretaire
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Empire Secrétaire Bottega Maggiolini Walnut Italy 19th Century
By Giuseppe Maggiolini
Located in Milano, IT
Secrétaire consisting of drawer under the plan, tilting door, with cabinet and two drawers at the
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Walnut Gentlemen's Secretaire Chest, Scotland 1830, H125
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Walnut gentlemen's secretaire chest, Scotland 1830, H125
Scotland, 1830
Solid Walnut and
Category
Antique 1830s Scottish Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Secretaire with Urn Decoration, around 1790
Located in Greding, DE
look. The interior comprises seven drawers and a mirrored tabernacle compartment surrounded by a curved
Category
Antique 1790s German Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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Compartmental Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic compartmental secretaire available at 1stDibs. Each compartmental secretaire for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, hardwood and pine. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect compartmental secretaire — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. When you’re browsing for the right compartmental secretaire, those designed in Mid-Century Modern, Georgian and Louis XV styles are of considerable interest. Sigfred Omann and Ølholm Møbelfabrik each produced at least one beautiful compartmental secretaire that is worth considering.
How Much is a Compartmental Secretaire?
A compartmental secretaire can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $5,500, while the lowest priced sells for $1,300 and the highest can go for as much as $10,300.
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.
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