Empire Secretary Desk, France 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
French Empire Secretary Desk, 19th Century – Mahogany Veneer, Marble Top, Bronze Details This
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
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Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
$6,884Sale Price|40% Off
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder) Material: Mahogany. Completely restored, Shellac
Category
Antique 1820s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer
19th Century American Empire Secretary Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
A remarkable, and strong early 19th century American Empire secretary bookcase of grand
Category
Antique 1830s American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Elegant Mahogany Empire Secretary Desk with Satinwood Intarsia
Located in Kastrup, DK
This small charming Empire secretary desk, crafted in Copenhagen around 1810, consists of three
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Leather, Mahogany, Maple, Satinwood
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Material Mahogany, Wien 1820-1829
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder) Material: Mahogany. Completely restored, Shellac
Category
Antique 1820s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
18th Century Empire Secretary Veneered with Mahogany
$3,816Sale Price|20% Off
18th Century Empire Secretary Veneered with Mahogany
Located in Opole, PL
. This secretary is composed of a double-leaf cabinet with drawers and a movable board hiding the inside
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century Mahogany Empire Secretary Bureau from Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
Rich mahogany and stately lines define this handsome Empire drop front secretary. Refer to close up
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
$26,958Sale Price|20% Off
Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
Located in Handewitt, DE
Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany
Category
Antique 1810s German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Empire Secretary, Germany, Prussia, C. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
North Germany / Prussia Birch Biedermeier / Empire around 1815 Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Fruitwood
Antique Danish Late Empire Mahogany Secretary Bureau
$1,717Sale Price|60% Off
Antique Danish Late Empire Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire secretary bureau in mahogany veneered oak with beautiful grain. In 2 parts. Desk top
Category
Antique Early 19th Century European Empire Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Mahogany
19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Antique North German/Danish Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1815
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
From the Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany, once part of Denmark, a very handsome Empire
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Ash
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Ash, Burl
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Secretary W/ Mirror
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite early 19th century French Empire secretary, meticulously restored and sourced from
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Early 19th Century Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Secretary, Germany, 1820 A magnificent Empire-style secretary crafted in walnut veneer over
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Early 19th Century Danish Mahogany Empire Inlaid Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 19th-century Danish Empire secretary bureau crafted in mahogany veneer with both bowfront and
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Leather
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
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, Ormolu
19th Century Lion Secretary Empire Berlin
$40,572Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Lion Secretary Empire Berlin
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on solid oak and softwood partly ebonized. High-rise, architecturally designed corpus. In the front three drawers of different sizes. Straight writing board, behind it ...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
EMPIRE STYLE GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK Composed of 19th century elements ref
Category
20th Century French Empire Desks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Italian Empire Neoclassical Walnut and Parcel-Gilt Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire neoclassical walnut and parcel-gilt secretary Handsome masculine Empire campaign
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Mirror, Giltwood
Empire Style Secretary Made In Mahogany & Intarsia From 1820s
$3,087Sale Price|20% Off
Empire Style Secretary Made In Mahogany & Intarsia From 1820s
Located in Lejre, DK
This impressive Empire style secretary from the year 1820 is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship
Category
Antique 1820s Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire or Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Very well preserved conical secretary with stepped head Front with multiply mirrored pyramid
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Quervelle School American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary c1840
$3,160Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Quervelle School American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary c1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
School American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk C1840. Measures - 93"H x 43.25"W x 21.75"D
Category
Antique 19th Century American Empire Desks
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu, Bronze & Fruitwood Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome Continental mid 19th century Empire st. mahogany, ormolu, patinated bronze and
Category
Antique 19th Century Unknown Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
$6,320Sale Price|20% Off
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 19th century French Empire drop front secretary with black as a marble top and side columns with
Category
Antique 1870s French Empire More Carpets
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk. Item features 2
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Empire Classical Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk c1840
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Empire Classical Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk c1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Empire Classical Flame Mahogany Secretary with Blind Door Upper, Drop Down Desk and
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Empire Style Secretary with Brass and Marble Top mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany veneer on solid conifers. High-right corpus on chased bronze claw feet. Architecturally articulated front with library dummy and brass rim sockets. On both sides slightly co...
Category
20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Extremely Decorative Secretary Empire Style with Dummies Books
Located in Berlin, DE
with gold-embossed leather inlays, behind it richly structured secretary division with several drawers
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk in Flame Mahogany Drop Down
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk from the late 19th century is a striking piece of
Category
Antique 1890s Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Italian Empire Revival Secretary Desk with Marble Top, 1940s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
accented by Empire-style columns and gilt mounts
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
$2,730Sale Price|58% Off
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Russian Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
Russian (18th Century) mahogany secretary bookcase with brass gallery pediment and trim with 2
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Russian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Empire style secretary desk in flamed mahogany in the style of Aldo Tura work
$3,381Sale Price|20% Off
Empire style secretary desk in flamed mahogany in the style of Aldo Tura work
By Aldo Tura
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Empire style secretary desk in flamed mahogany and bronze locks. This is an Italian work in the
Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century American Mahogany Butler's Desk/Secretary Chest
Located in Louisville, KY
desk/chest is made of fine figured mahogany. The extended top drawer is a fall front secretary that
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Commodes and Chests ...
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
of mahogany dates from 1810 and is an original from the Empire & Biedermeier era. The secretary is
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Transition Period secretary c. 1760 Jean-Francois Dubut
$17,199Sale Price|20% Off
French Transition Period secretary c. 1760 Jean-Francois Dubut
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary à battant - Jean-Francois Dubut Elaborately crafted bureau à battant, Paris circa 1760
Category
Antique 1760s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century Russian Antique Veneered Mahogany Secretary by Heinrich Gambs
By Heinrich Daniel Gambs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Top cabinet secretary, Baden, around 1780/90 Walnut and walnut burl
$15,266Sale Price|20% Off
Top cabinet secretary, Baden, around 1780/90 Walnut and walnut burl
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary à deux corps Top cabinet Baden, around 1780/90 Walnut and walnut burl veneered and
Category
Antique 1780s German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Nutwood
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
simple, round brass pulls on each drawer allow easy access. This Empire-style secretary features eye
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Abattant with Figural Ormolu 19thC
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Abattant with Figural Ormolu 19thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French Empire abattant secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper drawer
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Swiss Early 19th Century Empire Bureau Cabinet, Signed Hirschgartner
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This fine Empire drop-front secretary (secrétaire a'abattant or secrétaire en armoire) with a
Category
Antique 19th Century Swiss Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top
$72,000Sale Price|20% Off
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top HRH . Very Rare
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Biedermeier Nutwood Secretary Desk/ Secretaire, Austria ca. 1820/25
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
surface. Influenced by the previous empire epoch, this superb, antique secretary is adorned by two
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A fine 19th c Biedermeier birch secretary. Ebonized details and gilt bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine Biedermeier period drop front secretary. Fine Empire gilt bronze details . Ebonized
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Empire Secretaire, Walnut, Maple, Paw Feet, Austria circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Fine Early Biedermeier or late Empire Secretaire / Drop-Front /Secretary Desk from Austria around
Category
Antique 1820s Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Large cylinder desk in mahogany and flamed mahogany veneer in the Empire style. This secretary with
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Secratary
Unavailable|$21,000
Empire Secratary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire Secratary with three drawers and retractable desk, Inset marble top. Adjustable sliding
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
19th Century French Empire Secretary
Unavailable|$6,500
19th Century French Empire Secretary
Located in Washington, DC
French Empire secretary in cherry with architectural interior and ebonized columns with bronze doré
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks
Empire Secretary Attibuted to Georges Jacob
Unavailable|$66,428
Empire Secretary Attibuted to Georges Jacob
By Jacob Frères
Located in Antibes, FR
EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY Secretary BY GEORGES AND FRANCOIS-HONORE-GEORGES JACOB, CIRCA 1805
Category
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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Empire Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the empire secretary you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each empire secretary for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and metal. There are many kinds of the empire secretary you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Each empire secretary bearing Empire hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made empire secretary over the years, but those crafted by Baker Furniture Company, Jean Joseph Chapuis and Johan Högman are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Empire Secretary?
An empire secretary can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $6,562, while the lowest priced sells for $1,200 and the highest can go for as much as $155,000.
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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