Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mid-19th Century Dutch Charles X Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
19th Century Dutch Secretaires Antique
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Early 1800s Dutch Empire Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
1730s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
1790s Dutch Baroque Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
1780s Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak, Paint
19th Century Dutch Neoclassical Dutch Secretaires Antique
Ormolu
Late 19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Satinwood
Late 17th Century Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany, Oak
18th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut, Mirror
1760s Dutch Louis XV Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Dutch Rococo Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany, Satinwood, Kingwood, Tulipwood
Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
Early 19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
1770s Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut, Fruitwood
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Satinwood
Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Early 18th Century Belgian Baroque Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
18th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Wood, Walnut
18th Century French Dutch Secretaires Antique
Wood, Paint, Canvas
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1860s English Victorian Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
20th Century Biedermeier Dutch Secretaires Antique
Pine, Wood, Birdseye Maple
Mid-20th Century French Other Dutch Secretaires Antique
Iron
1890s German Dutch Secretaires Antique
Porcelain
1780s English George III Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
Late 18th Century English George III Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
Early 20th Century American Georgian Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
19th Century Dutch Arts and Crafts Dutch Secretaires Antique
Copper
18th Century English George III Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Early 19th Century American Sheraton Dutch Secretaires Antique
Wood, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dutch Secretaires Antique
Metal
1950s French Art Deco Dutch Secretaires Antique
Bronze
Late 19th Century Indian Campaign Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
2010s Italian Other Dutch Secretaires Antique
Wood
Early 19th Century American Chippendale Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Late 18th Century English George III Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
Recent Sales
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Bronze
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Satinwood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century Dutch Empire Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
Early 18th Century Dutch George I Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Early 1800s Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany, Oak
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Early 20th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany, Mother-of-Pearl, Pine
Late 18th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany, Walnut
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Wood, Mirror
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Dutch Secretaires Antique
18th Century Dutch Baroque Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
18th Century European Dutch Colonial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
Early 1900s Dutch Art Nouveau Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Kingwood, Mahogany, Rosewood, Walnut
18th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
1810s Contemporary Dutch Secretaires Antique
Engraving
Mid-18th Century English Chinoiserie Dutch Secretaires Antique
Lacquer
Late 18th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
Early 20th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Metal
Mid-19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Bronze
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Pine
Early 1800s Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany, Satinwood
Mid-18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Pine
Late 18th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Fruitwood, Walnut
18th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Bronze, Metal
Early 19th Century Dutch Neoclassical Dutch Secretaires Antique
Rosewood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
17th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
1780s Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Leather, Walnut
18th Century Dutch Louis XV Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
Late 19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Late 19th Century European Louis Philippe Dutch Secretaires Antique
Hardwood, Pine
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
18th Century Dutch French Provincial Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Dutch Secretaires Antique
Birch, Oak
1730s Vatican Louis XIV Dutch Secretaires Antique
Maple, Rosewood, Walnut
1820s German Biedermeier Dutch Secretaires Antique
Cherry, Walnut
Late 19th Century Dutch Baroque Dutch Secretaires Antique
Oak
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Dutch Secretaires Antique
18th Century Dutch Baroque Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
1760s Dutch Louis XV Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
1780s Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Walnut
1770s French Louis XV Dutch Secretaires Antique
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Mid-19th Century Dutch Louis XVI Dutch Secretaires Antique
Marble
Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Dutch Secretaires Antique
Satinwood, Walnut
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Secretaires Antique
19th Century Indonesian Dutch Secretaires Antique
Wood
18th Century and Earlier Dutch Secretaires Antique
Padouk, Mirror
19th Century Dutch Secretaires Antique
19th Century Dutch Other Dutch Secretaires Antique
Brass
19th Century Dutch Dutch Secretaires Antique
Wood
Dutch Secretaires Antique For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Dutch Secretaires Antique?
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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