English Georgian Secretaire
Antique 1810s English Georgian Secretaires
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1840s English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1780s English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Hardwood
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Oak
Antique 1780s English Georgian Secretaires
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 1760s English George III Secretaires
Oak
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-18th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Bookcases
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Secretaires
Mahogany, Leather, Glass
Antique Late 18th Century British Cabinets
Wood
Antique Early 1800s Furniture
Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Desks
Brass
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Desks
Metal
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Desks
Walnut
Antique 1740s English Cabinets
Mahogany
Antique 1790s English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
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2010s Table Lamps
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Hardwood
Antique Early 1800s English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique Late 18th Century Chippendale Desks
Cherry
2010s Belgian Modern Club Chairs
Linen
Antique Mid-18th Century English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century British George III Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Late 20th Century American Georgian Desks
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Greek Stone Sinks
Marble
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany, Oak
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Antique Late 18th Century English Hepplewhite Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s English Hepplewhite Secretaires
Glass, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Early 1800s English George III Secretaires
Leather, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Oak, Paint
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1880s English Georgian Secretaires
Oak
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English Hepplewhite Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Wood
Antique Early 1900s English Chippendale Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1890s English Georgian Secretaires
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Antique 1880s English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Leather, Glass, Cherry, Mahogany
Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Secretaires
Pine
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Cabinets
Satinwood
Antique 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 1800s English George III Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century British Cabinets
Wood
Antique 1820s English Georgian Linen Presses
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Bookcases
Mahogany, Oak
Antique 1780s Great Britain (UK) Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1730s English George II Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Iron
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Secretaires
Oak
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Brass, Bronze, Iron
20th Century Italian Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1780s English Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century Georgian Secretaires
Lacquer
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Brass
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1790s English Gustavian Secretaires
Mahogany, Oak
Antique 1890s English Georgian Desks
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Desks
Mahogany
Antique 18th Century English Georgian Desks
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Bookcases
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Desks
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Oak, Pine
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Brass
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English George III Secretaires
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Secretaires
Brass
English Georgian Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is an English Georgian Secretaire?
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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