$14,500
H 84.5 in W 46.25 in D 21.5 in
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 1800.
Ash, Burl
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 be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, ci...
Mahogany
$14,500
H 84 in W 48 in D 24 in
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 interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Birch
Russian Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
Russian (18th Century) mahogany secretary bookcase with brass gallery pediment and trim with 2 front doors revealing 3 drawers and shelves above a lower section of 4 large drawers.
Brass
$17,500
H 83 in W 46 in D 21 in
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 secretary with bookcase in ash with inlays and marquetry silhouettes of neoclassic...
Ash
19th Century American Empire Secretary Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
A remarkable, and strong early 19th century American Empire secretary bookcase of grand architectural scale with an incredible arched pediment over a bookcase with two doors retainin...
Mahogany
Sold
H 68.5 in W 63.63 in D 17 in
R. J. Horner Style Victorian Mahogany Glass Front Triple Bookcase with Secretary
By R.J. Horner & Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding antique Victorian or American Empire side-by-side triple bookcase cabinet with drop front secretary desk In the manner of R.J.
Brass
Empire Bookcase Secretary
Located in East Aurora, NY
A superb two piece 19th century Empire Mahogany and Cherry blind door bookcase secretary constructed of a very highly figured Mahogany and solid Cherry with White Pine as the seconda...
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very fine empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, ci...
Mahogany
Sold
H 87.25 in W 45.25 in D 23 in
Early 19th Century Mahogany American Empire Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Nashville, TN
Early 19th century American Empire secretary with bookcase Circa 1840 Highly polished flamed mahogany case with three drawers resting on turned rear feet and ogee bracket feet.
Mahogany
Sold
H 82.5 in W 39 in D 25.5 in
Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary, Bookcase & Desk, C1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Reliable Professional Service & Fully Insured*** Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary with Upper Bookcase with Double Glass...
Mahogany
Sold
H 73.25 in W 42.75 in D 33.5 in
Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany and Bronze Secretary Bookcase
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique American Empire secretary features flame mahogany construction with three long drawers in lower cabinet seated on highly detailed carved acanthus paw feet, leather flip top w...
Bronze
Sold
H 86 in W 41.5 in D 20.25 in
American Mahogany and Stenciled Secretary with Bookcase. NY Circa 1825
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany stenciled and painted foliage secretary bookcase with fitted inlaid birds eye maple interior, shelving, fall front desk, lower cabinet doors, and terminating on scr...
Sold
H 96 in W 46.5 in D 24.75 in
American Classical Secretary Bookcase in Mahogany Attributable to John Meads
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
46.5 wide x 24 .75 deep x 96 high (Desk surface height: 31") A very fine American Classical Mahogany Secretary Bookcase attributable to John Meads, Albany, New York, circa early ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 81.25 in W 44 in L 81.25 in
Antique Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1850s
Located in South Bend, IN
A stunning antique flame mahogany slant front secretary desk with glass front bookcase USA, circa 1850s Book-matched flame mahogany and glass Measures: 44" W x 19.25" D x 81...
Glass, Mahogany
American Flame Mahogany Empire Bookcase Secretary, circa 1850
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Period 1850 American Empire secretary desk in flame mahogany. Two-door bookcase, two small drawers below with orig key and lockset sits on base which consists of a desk which opens o...
Mahogany
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Secretary, circa 1845
By Anthony Quervelle
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire secretary offers deeply striated flame mahogany construction with upper bookcase with ogee crown and two double doors having stylized arched glass panels f...
Glass, 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 be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, ci...
Sold
H 83.5 in W 47 in D 21.5 in
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Bookcase Drop Front Secretary, circa 1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
An American Empire flame mahogany secretary features upper bookcase with double fretwork glass doors opening to adjustable shelf interior with drawers and pigeon holes surmounting ca...
Bronze
Sold
H 83 in W 46.5 in D 24.25 in
Antique Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase in West Indies Mahogany, c. 1800
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An exquisite Empire bureau secretary with bookcase, in fine West Indies/ Cuban mahogany.
Mahogany
Bold Antique 19th Century Hand-Painted Empire Secretary Bookcase
Located in Hudson, NY
A very nice and unique antique Empire secretary bookcase, circa 1850, with a hand-painted distressed grey and white finish, which highlights the bold exaggerated form and details on ...
Louis XVI Style Sofa
By La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XVI style canape made by La Maison London. Hand carved in solid wood, painted in an ecru white with gold highlights. Upholstered in a fabric of your choice Please note: 11m of...
Giltwood
$176,552
H 45.28 in W 56.3 in D 17.33 in
Italian Art Deco Bar Cabinet in Parchment with Inlays Signed by Anzani, 1930s
By Giuseppe Anzani
Located in Meda, MB
This bar cabinet was produced in Italy, in the late 1930s and is a really unique and special piece. Its tremendous historical and artistic value is what makes this item a real piece...
Glass, Mirror, Wood, Maple, Walnut, Parchment Paper
$3,290 / item
H 35 in W 86 in D 40 in
Modern English Sofa in a Caramel Mustard Faux Velvet Mohair with Down Cushion
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Introducing Our Modern English Sofa in beautiful rich Caramel Mustard tone. This piece is designed to be the centerpiece of your living space, combining contemporary elegance with cl...
Cotton, Velvet, Oak, Down
Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H. Clearance: 27"
Wood
$24,000 / set
H 42 in W 33 in D 26 in
French Pair of Louis XVI Style Marquise Bergere Giltwood Armchairs
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French pair of Louis XVI style marquise bergère armchairs, gilt wood, 19th century. In the clean and classic Louis XVI style, the name Marquise is attributed due to their exceptiona...
Velvet, Wood
19th Century Biedermeier Column Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged front. High-right body on padfoot feet. Fitted with three drawers of different sizes, the base drawer is curved. Straight writing...
Mahogany, Wood
$5,000
H 23 in W 16 in D 8.5 in
Grand Tour Bronze Figure of Seated Hermes, Early 19th Century After the Antique
Located in Beachwood, OH
Large Figure of Seated Hermes, Grand Tour Bronze, Early 19th Century 19th Century Continental School After the Antique The large size figure well cast, with brownish green patination...
Marble, Bronze
$187,500
H 102 in W 84.5 in D 22.5 in
Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
Large-scale 19th century English display cabinet executed in the Chinoiserie tradition. Constructed in carved mahogany and conceived as a tripartite architectural façade, each glazed...
Glass, Mahogany
$4,474Sale Price|29% Off
H 61.42 in W 40.16 in D 20.08 in
Biedermeier Walnut and Root Walnut Secretary, South Germany circa 1840
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Charming small Biedermeier Secretary from Southern Germany, crafted around 1840. The piece impresses with its fine walnut and walnut-root veneer on a solid pine body, polished to a w...
Birch, Pine, Walnut
$15,400 / set
H 34.5 in W 19.5 in D 18.5 in
19th Century German Set of Six Antique Biedermeier Walnut Dining Room Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique German Biedermeier set of six dining room chairs made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Walnut, in good condition. The side chairs have an open, detailed carved ba...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut, Ebony
Swedish Empire Karl Johan Wood Sofa 19th Century Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish Empire Karl Johan style sofa dating c. 1830
Upholstery, Wood, Birch
George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase
Located in Huntington, NY
This exceptional George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase with Glazed Doors, has wonderful flame & crotch grain Mahogany. Comprised of a large central cabinet, flanked by 2 sma...
Brass
French Empire 19th Century Walnut Armoire
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An impressive French Empire-style armoire from the early 1800s. The pronounced cornice makes a statement above the pair of paneled and carved doors all crafted of solid, book-matched...
Steel, Brass
20th Century Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Delicate secretaire in Biedermeier style. Maple roots on solid pinewood. Natrual leather covered and gold-embossing. (L-Mhs-42).
Leather, Wood, Maple
$14,500
H 59.5 in W 51.5 in D 23.5 in
Louis Phillipe North German Fall-Front Secretary in Flame Mahogany, circa 1855
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A captivating one of a kind Louis Phillip secretary in book-matched, flame mahogany with shaped, curvi-linear drawer fronts and faux drawer fronts on the fall-front and the sides. Of...
Mahogany
$99,375
W 80.71 in L 124.02 in
Tapestry Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Madrid, ES
Tapestry from the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period , made in 1738 at the Gobelins One panel from a series of Gobelins tapestries depicting the Hi...
Wool, Silk
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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