$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
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.
Brass
18th Century Dutch Bombe Slant Front Secretary Desk in Pine
Located in Houston, TX
An exceptional and character-rich 18th century Dutch bombe secretary desk, crafted in warm, honey-toned pine and retaining its beautifully worn original surface. The graceful bombe ...
Pine
Antique Italian or Dutch Small Rococo Bombe Secretary Desk w/ Marquetry, c 1870
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exquisite 19th century Rococo secretary in mahogany with bombe front & sides, with floral & foliate inlays in tulipwood, kingwood & satinwood on the top, front panels of the drawe...
Mahogany, Satinwood, Kingwood, Tulipwood
Dutch Oak Bombe Bureau Secretaire, Circa 1800
Located in Heathfield, East Sussex
A Dutch oak Bombe Bureau Secretaire, circa 1800. Having a lovely organic shape and color.
Brass
Dutch Bombe Secretaire Desk in Pine
Located in Doylestown, PA
An 18th century Dutch "bombe" slant-front secretaire desk in stripped and bleached pine, in two parts with a fitted interior over a lower case with three large drawers.
Pine
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.
Brass
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.
Brass
Sold
H 41.75 in W 42 in D 23.5 in
18th C. Dutch Marquetry Inlay Drop Front Secretary Desk Bombe Commode Secretaire
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Dutch marquetry hand inlaid bombe form drop front desk or secretaire, circa 1790.
Walnut
19th Century Dutch Bombè Bureau
Located in Hixson, TN
19th century Dutch bombè bureau Here is a very clean 19th century bureau with fitted interior, Graceful bombé shaped front, decorated hardware, beautiful burl walnut front and strai...
18th Century Dutch Marquetry Burr Walnut Bombe' Bureau
Located in London, GB
We are pleased to present for your inspection, this very imposing antique 18th Century Dutch burr walnut and floral marquetry ‘bombe’ shaped walnut bureau which is believed to date f...
Walnut
Antique Dutch Marquetry Walnut Bombe' Bureau, circa 1780
Located in London, GB
This is a stunning, antique Dutch walnut and marquetry bombe' shaped bureau, circa 1780 in date.
Antique 19th Century Dutch Oak Drop Front Bombe Secretary
Located in Charleston, SC
Antique 19th century Dutch oak drop front bombe secretary with a 3-drawer bombe front and carved ball and claw feet.
Oak, Paint
Sold
H 40.5 in W 43 in D 21.25 in
Antique Dutch Rococo Inlaid Marquetry Walnut Bombe Secretary Desk Bureau 1780
Located in Portland, OR
A fine 18th century Dutch Rococo walnut inlaid marquetry bombe shaped desk, circa 1780. The desk top is inlaid with a satinwood panel and having corresponding panels to the sides, th...
Fruitwood, Walnut, Ebony, Satinwood
Sold
H 92.13 in W 49.61 in D 23.63 in
Dutch 18th century Cuban mahogany bombé writing cabinet with glass upstand.
Located in AALSMEER, NL
Very beautiful Cuba flower mahogany writing cabinet with 'S-lid' inlaid with olive green leather. wall cabinet with two (old) glass doors, mirrored flower veneer and carvings on the ...
Mahogany, Oak
Sold
H 82.68 in W 45.28 in D 20.48 in
Antique Dutch Secretaire Desk with Bombe Chest Finished in Fruitwood Marquetry
Located in London, Park Royal
Antique Secretaire desk: Early 20th century, Dutch with intricate cabinet work and bombe chest all finished in fruitwood marquetry.
Wood, Fruitwood
A Tall 18th Century Dutch Bleached Oak Bombe Secrétaire Cabinet
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
A unique 18th century bleached oak Dutch secretaire, featuring large circular handles to all three of the gradually shaped drawers above a double door cupboard. The top drawer displa...
Oak
Sold
H 42.13 in W 42.13 in D 21.66 in
Antique 18th Century Dutch Oak Drop Front Bombe Secretary Desk Secretaire
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful Dutch Baroque style secretary with a 3-drawer bombe front and carved ball and claw feet.
Brass
Dutch Bombe Desk
Located in High Point, NC
Worn and weathered 18th C. Dutch Bombe Desk with old chipping scrubbed off paint and brass hardware
Brass
c.1910 Dutch Bombe Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
c. 1920 Dutch tortoise shell pattern veneer secretary. It is in two parts, the bottom half being a bombe shaped chest of drawers with a desk area built in. The top half is shelving b...
Wire
Dutch Rococo Style, Bombe-Form Burled Walnut Secretary
Located in Antwerp, BE
Dutch Rococo style bombe form burled and oyster walnut secretary. The interior contains curved drawers and a center door flanked by two secret pull-out faux leather book compartment...
Walnut
Sold
H 80.32 in D 26.58 in
An Early 18th Century Diminutive Burr Walnut & Walnut Dutch Bombe Bureau Bookcase -Saturday Sale Only!
Located in Werkendam, NL
A diminutive early 18th century burr walnut and walnut crossbanded bombe bureau bookcase (circa 1720) with beautifully bookmatched burr veneers of the first quality; of outstanding c...
$18,525Sale Price|35% Off
H 88 in W 50.5 in D 19.5 in
19th Century Japanese Cinnabar / Lacquer Cabinet
Located in Fulton, CA
Incredible example of Asian lacquer carving. Standing over seven feet tall, this monumental display shelf was produced in Japan at the end of the Edo period, late 19th century. It fe...
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century French Louis XV Bergère Armchair
Located in Munich, DE
19th century French Louis XV Bergère armchairs in their original patina still very comfortable, perfect for deco or your next project! The chairs wood frame is nicely carved. The cab...
Wood
$47,950
H 34.5 in W 55.5 in D 24 in
French 19th C. Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted & Marquetry Commode by Bourdet
By Jean Baptiste Hedouin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine and Impressive French 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze-mounted tulipwood, kingwood and fruitwood marquetry bombé two-drawer commode - dresser with marble top, by M...
Marble, Bronze
$574,500
H 84 in W 56 in D 20 in
An Imperial Japanese Meiji Shibayama Tea Cabinet by The Tokugawa Samurai Clan
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
An Imperial Japanese Meiji Shibayama Tea Ceremony Cabinet by The Tokugawa Samurai Clan. This extraordinary Meiji-period shibayama cabinet, attributed to the Tokugawa samurai clan, s...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer
Rare Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Chinese Lacquer Cabinet
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Rare Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Chinese Lacquer cabinet, c. 1750 (Regence Period) A truly magnificent, monumental, and one of a kind cabinet, painted throughout with gi...
Ormolu
Very Large Armoire - France, 18th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Impressive cupboard from a convent (1 meter deep). Carved details, original hinges and key, original paint (except for the cornice). The interior can be adapted according to speci...
$340,578
H 100.6 in W 66.93 in D 24.81 in
Rare Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim & Pauly Cie Et Venice Antique Carved Armoire
By Pauly et Cie, Guggenheim Museum
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare one of a kind Pauly CIE Et stamped hand carved walnut armoire made by the genius that was Moses Michelangelo Guggenheim 1837-1910 W...
Walnut
$198,395
H 57.68 in W 85.44 in
Flemish 17th, Orpheus and Animals, Large Decorative Wall Old Master Painting
Located in Greven, DE
Flemish school, 17th century Orpheus and the animals Oil on canvas, 146,5 x 217 cm Provenance: South German private collection. On an impressive, room-filling format, this painting ...
Canvas, Oil
$25,202
H 94.49 in W 53.55 in D 25.99 in
Antique Walnut Dutch Marquetry Bureau Cabinet Bookcase 18th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an important antique Dutch walnut and marquetry bureau bookcase, circa 1780 in date. It has been made from the finest burr walnut with fabulous marquetry decoration depicti...
Walnut
$8,786
H 43.9 in W 40.36 in D 20.48 in
Antique Dutch Floral Marquetry Inlaid Bombé Bureau, 19th Century
Located in Glasgow, GB
A 19th century Dutch marquetry inlaid bombé bureau profusely decorated all-over with marquetry depictions of flowers, urns and birds. With a rectangular flap opening to reveal a stri...
Brass
Swiss Gold and Enamel Musical Vinaigrette
Located in New Orleans, LA
A musical movement distinguishes this wonderful early 19th-century gold vinaigrette box. The vessel is covered in delicate engraving highlighted by blue and white champlevé enamel de...
Metal
$34,875Sale Price|20% Off
H 58.27 in W 42.52 in D 22.84 in
Japanese Lacquer Meiji Period Cabinet on Stand, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A exquisite, fine quality Meiji period (1868-1912) Japanese black lacquer cabinet on stand with wonderful scrolling gilded decoration. Having a pair of inset panel doors depicting sc...
Lacquer
Exceptional, Period Chinoiserie Commode
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A most unusual and rare, c. 1800, hand-carved and painted, serpentine, Venetian, Chinoiserie commode in the bombé style, with rounded legs terminating in ormolu feet. The whole richl...
Onyx, Marble, Bronze
18th Century Dutch Burr Walnut Floral Marquetry Bureau
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful antique late 18th century Dutch burr walnut and marquetry bombe' bureau. It has been accomplished in burr walnut, with exquisite hand cut floral marquetry typica...
Walnut
$48,750 / set
H 32.5 in W 42.5 in D 20 in
A Pair of French Chinoiserie Lacquered & Gilt Marble Top 2-Drawer Commodes
By Maison Jansen
Located in New York, NY
A Fine and Rare Pair of French Chinoiserie Lacquered & Gilt Marble Top 2-Drawer Commodes, Attributed to Jansen. These exquisite pieces showcase a scalloped predominantly white varie...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Renaissance Revival Hunt Buffet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Renaissance Revival Hunt Buffet represents a spectacular example of the glorious revival of the Renaissance that occurred during the middle of the century all acr...
Oak
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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