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
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
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
18th Century Russian Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Gallery
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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
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H 91 in W 48 in D 24 in
American Empire Style Crotch Mahogany Secretary and Bookcase, Late 18th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
American Empire Style Crotch Mahogany Secretary and Bookcase, Late 18th Century.
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 ...
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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