Directoire Secretary
Large French Directoire Period Traveling Secretary Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
This French Directoire traveling secretary is made of walnut. Its large size is unusual and would
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Iron, Brass
Directoire Style Mahogany and Brass secretary Aabatant Leather Desk Surface
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Marble top. One dovetailed drawer on top. One drop down door containing leather and fitted interior. Two doors on bottom containing one shelf. Brass or bronze hardware and accents. ...
Category
Vintage 1950s French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Small French Directoire Cherry Secretary, Cherry Stained, Cream Leather Pad
Located in Landivy, FR
This Secretary is a handmade modernized interpretation of the French Directoire style at the end of
Category
2010s French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
H 52.76 in W 24.81 in D 15.75 in
19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic Italian Venetian Painted secretary/cabinet. This piece has a wonderful color palette but
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Directoire Cupboards
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Directory Cherry Wood Secretary Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
A French Directory era secretary desk, from the early 19th century, made of beautiful cherry wood
Category
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century French Folding Secrétaire in Walnut Veneer, Époque Directoire
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century folding secretary in walnut veneer and flamed mahogany opening to a drawer in the
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
H 57.49 in W 35.44 in D 18.9 in
Transformation Secretary circa 1795 by Johann Michael Vetter, Neuwied, Mahogany
Located in Epfach, DE
Transformation secretary circa 1795 by Johann Michael Vetter, Neuwied, Mahogany
Secretary with in
Category
Antique Late 18th Century German Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 40.95 in W 49.22 in D 27.17 in
Fine Quality French Mahogany Bronze Mounted Secretary Desk Bookcase Top
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an absolutely gorgeous and superb quality diminutive secretary desk from France. The desk
Category
Vintage 1940s French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Cherrywood Secretary From The 19th Century -france
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant cherry wood secretary from the 19th century
It is unusual to find a secretaire in cherry
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
French Directoire Style Secrétaire in Cherry Wood, Orange & Dark Grey Lacquered
Located in Landivy, FR
This Secretary is a handmade modernized interpretation of the French Directoire style at the end of
Category
2010s French Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
H 52.76 in W 24.81 in D 15.75 in
Louis XVI Secretaire, Waxed Polished Mahogany Veneer, 18th Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
A delightful Louis XVI secretary, built in oak and polished mahogany veneer, it is topped with a
Category
Antique 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
People Also Browsed
Minimalist Curved Front Console with Arches in Edo on Oak by Martin and Brockett
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Martin & Brockett's Arcade Console 72" is a nod to the ancient Roman architectural form- a succession of contiguous arches supported by columns. The console has a slight convex curva...
Category
2010s American Console Tables
Materials
Oak
H 30 in W 72 in D 18 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö.
This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Textile
Pair of Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' Verdigris Patinated Outdoor Sconces
By Örsjö Industri AB, Hans-Agne Jakobsson
Located in Glendale, CA
Hans-Agne Jakobsson 'Mini-Tratten' patinated outdoor sconces. An exclusive made for U.S. and UL listed authorized re-edition of the classic Swedish design executed in rich verdigris ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Materials
Metal
H 7.75 in W 5.35 in D 7.75 in
Art Deco Style Black Marble Quartz Top and Oval Brass Bar Cabinet or Counter
Located in Tourcoing, FR
Oval black bevelled quartz marble stone tray, curved and rounded lines bar or counter table sparkling and sophisticated with black lacquered wooden and brass finishes, opening shelve...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Art Deco Carts and Bar Carts
Materials
Marble
H 41.74 in W 105.52 in D 33.08 in
Large 19th Century Mid-Victorian Arched Carrara Marble Fireplace Surround
Located in Manchester, GB
Large antique mid-Victorian Carrara marble fireplace surround with arched aperture. Fielded panels to the spandrels are flanked by quarter round outside fillets and meet at the flute...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Materials
Carrara Marble
H 47.25 in W 77.96 in D 13 in
Maurice Calka for Leleu-Deshays, "Boomerang" Desk, France, 1970
By LeLeu Deshays, Maurice Calka
Located in New York, NY
“Boomerang” desk designed by Maurice Calka for Leleu.
Marked: "CREATION M. CALKA EDITION LELEU DESHAYS"
This desk was exhibited in the museum show "Leleu 50 ans de mobilier et de d...
Category
20th Century French Desks
Materials
Metal
1950's Amazing "Magic Box' Organiser Bureau Compact Plywood Ateliers Genestar
By Mummenthaler and Meier
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
This 'Magic Box' organising desk has been produced by various manufactures in Europe in the 1950's and 1960's
Commonly this desk is known as produced in Switzerland by Mummenthale...
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak, Plywood
H 44.49 in W 32.68 in D 21.26 in
Bespoke Handmade Belgian Linen Sofa
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Introducing the home collection.
An iconic, unobtrusive design.
A small selection of timeless Flemish designs made by hand for us in a small third generation workshop in Belgium....
Category
2010s Belgian Modern Sofas
Materials
Linen
Great 18 Palmette Shallow Flush Ceiling Mount, Murano
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Here the larger version of the successful 12 leaves compact palmette ceiling fixture.
This group of shallow ceiling mount Murano chandelier was first designed for a luxury yacht low...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Materials
Metal
USM Haller Credenza C2A Storage System
By Paul Schaerer, Fritz Haller, Usm Haller
Located in New York, NY
Offered by M2L.
With two drop down doors. Designed by Swiss architect Fritz Haller and Paul Schaerer in 1963. Made from powder coated steel and chrome-plated steel tubes, the Usm ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Sideboards
Materials
Chrome, Steel
21st Century Contemporary Minimal White Velvet Bench With Black Lacquered Base
Located in Porto, PT
Fifih Bench is a luxury bench upholstered in velvet and wood base. A contemporary design bench is perfect for minimalist and modern interior architecture projects.
Materials: Uphols...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Materials
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
H 18.51 in W 63 in D 19.69 in
Portuguese Side Table Poppy in Beige Travertine Natural Stone by Mambo
By Mambo Unlimited Ideas
Located in Lisbon, PT
Poppy table is an emblem of nature and organic growth, behind this design lies an essence of naivety effortlessly found within natural forms. Poppy tables are a finely tuned example ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Brutalist Center Tables
Materials
Marble
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Winston Server designed by Kevin Frankental
By Kevin Frankental
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Winston server stands as a testament to the extraordinary influence of Franca Helg, the revered Italian designer and architect whose collaboration with Franco Albini from 1945 to...
Category
2010s South African Minimalist Sideboards
Materials
Walnut
Modern Black Lage Bookcase, Brass Walnut, Handmade in Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Lage Bookcase, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple.
The Lage modern bookcase was designed to be the focal point in any living area or office. Its...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Brass
H 94.49 in W 78.75 in D 14.97 in
19th Century Petite English Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorative 19th century petite red Chinoiserie secretary from England. Very nice hand painted Asian images and nice storage inside the desk. A great accent piece for a narrow space. ...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
20th Century Viennese Biedermeier Style Lyre Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Ebonize, partially bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid Pinewood. Moulded Lions Masks with grisp rings. This so called lyre secretaire is the crowning of all European furniture Art ...
Category
20th Century Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Recent Sales
Period Directoire Secretary
Located in New Orleans, La
Beautiful wooden color with gold trim
Hidden drawers with very special details
Hidden drawers with very special details
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Secretaires
Materials
Paint
Mahogany "Directoire" Secreter
Located in Brussels, BE
Very elegant Directoire secretary in mahogany veneer on solid oak.
11 drawers and 11 bronze keys
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Directoire Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A French secretary made in mahogany with gilt bronze details. Gilt bronze details around the
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Directoire Secretaire, France, 1790s
Located in Greding, DE
French Directoire secretary desk with four drawers and several shelves and drawers inside. The
Category
Antique 1790s French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Directoire Style Chiffonier Commode Secretary
Located in Hopewell, NJ
front that pull down to reveal secretary with orange brown leather and cubbies inside.
Note: Marble
Category
Antique 19th Century English Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Directoire Style Cylinder Roll Top Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
French mahogany cylinder roll top secretary with leather inset writing surface and brass trim and
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Directoire Lady's Secretary or "Bonheur-du-Jour" with Marquetry, France
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely lady's writing desk in mahogany with marquetry inlays in geometric patterns using various contrasting woods. This "bonheur-du-jour" ("daytime delight") features a book-...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Rare 18th Century Directoire Era French Writing Table with Secretary Drawer
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Directoire period walnut writing table features bronze banding and a black marble top. Its
Category
Antique 1790s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
H 29 in W 29.5 in D 15 in
A French Directoire Chest
Located in New York, NY
A French Directoire Chest/secretary in mahogany and brass and a marble top.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French Antique Directoire Drop-Front Secretaire
Located in Austin, TX
French 19th century ebonized mahogany secretary with original "Gris Saint-Anne" marble top, lost
Category
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Directoire Style Ebonised Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1885 drop front secretary / armoire with ebonised finish and decorative brass hardware and
Category
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Marble Top Mahogany Dresser/Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
French Louis Directoire style dresser/secretary, possibly first quarter of 1900s, the rectangular
Category
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
French 19th Century Transitional Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This unique secretary desk is made of beautiful mahogany with a white marble top and offers plenty
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Secrétaire à Abattant by Molitor
By Christian Dell
Located in New Orleans, LA
of fitted drawers (in both the secretary and base), shelves and secret compartments, perfect for
Category
Antique 18th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Black and Gold Chinoiserie Directoire Secretary Desk and Chair
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant chinoiserie secretary desk with chair. Great scale to the desk, not too big and will fit
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Directoire Lady's Secretary or "Bonheur-du-Jour" with Marquetry, France
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely lady's writing desk in mahogany with marquetry inlays in geometric patterns using various contrasting woods. This "bonheur-du-jour" ("daytime delight") features a book-...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Directoire Lady's Secretary or "Bonheur-du-Jour" with Marquetry, France
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely lady's writing desk in mahogany with marquetry inlays in geometric patterns using various contrasting woods. This "bonheur-du-jour" ("daytime delight") features a book-...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Directoire Period Hand Carved Painted Bureau De Pente or Secretary Desk
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This exceptional rare Directoire period bureau de pente or writing desk features intricately
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French Directoire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Sheffield, MA
French antique secretary bureau is made of merisier (prune wood). It has a Provincial Directoire
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century French Directoire Secretaire in Cherry
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Beautiful French cherrywood simple Directoire period fall-front secretary with geometric diamond
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Directoire Secretary
Located in New Jersey City, NJ
French directoire secretary in flame walnut with the inside filled with drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Marble
French Directoire Cherry Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
French Directoire period cherry "bureau a cuisine" with glass doors and slant front desk, circa
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Materials
Wood
French Directoire Fruitwood Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
French Directoire Book matched fruitwood barrel roll secretary with losange panels and matched
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Directoire Secretaire / Desk / Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Handsome Secretary with Drop LeafFront,three drawers at the bottom and one on the top, the interior
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Secretaire in Mahogany with Bronze Detail and Marble Top
Located in San Antonio, TX
Elegant and highly functional French drop front mahogany secretary with original leather writing
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Secretaire à Abatant Stamped by Henri Jacob.
Located in Bainbridge Island, WA
Louis XVI period / Directoire Cuba Flamed Mahogany secretary with very high quality Gilt Bronze
Category
French Secretaires
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Directoire Secretary", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
Directoire Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the directoire secretary you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each directoire secretary for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and metal. There are many kinds of the directoire secretary you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. A directoire secretary is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in styles are sought with frequency.
How Much is a Directoire Secretary?
The average selling price for a directoire secretary at 1stDibs is $3,895, while they’re typically $1,800 on the low end and $59,466 for the highest priced.
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.
More Ways To Browse
Antique Cherry Wood Desk
Louis Xvi Secretary
Eating Chairs
Small Cherry Desk
Directoire Mahogany Desk
Tall Mahogany Bookcase
Antique Mahogany Secretaire Chest Of Drawers
Marble Desk With Brass Legs
Antique Lion Carved Chair
Cherrywood Desk
French Marble Top Bookcase
Drop Front Secretary Antique
French Mahogany Antique Dresser
Secretary Dresser
Secretary Desk Hand Painted
Blue Lacquer End Tables
Solid Cherry End Table
Italian Painted Secretary