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Antique French Abattant Desk Fall Front Secretary Chest Drawers Renaissance Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
Exquisite 19th Century Antique French Oak Renaissance Revival Abattant Chest of Drawers and Desk
Category
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
H 56.5 in W 39.25 in D 17 in
French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century French Empire secrétaire à abattant made of richly figured, bookmatched
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant. Mahogany with mahogany & oak secondary wood
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Secretaire à Abattant, First Empire Period
Located in Montreal, Quebec
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, Bronze
Fine French Ormolu-Mounted Marqueterie Secretaire Abattant
Located in Rome, IT
A fine French ormolu-mounted, kingwood , tulipwood and stained sycamore marqueterie and parquetry
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A statley 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
French 19th Century Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful walnut secre´taire a` abattant was constructed in the style of Louis XVI during the
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary in mahogany veneer with two-door bottom part as well as dark marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with brown leather there are more drawers and co...
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Ormolu-Mounted Marqueterie Secretaire Abattant, Cabinet, 1775
Located in Rome, IT
Important French ormolu-mounted, kingwood, tulipwood and stained sycamore marqueterie and parquetry
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 55.91 in W 37.01 in D 15.75 in
French Empire Secretaire À Abattant With Faux Book Front
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Tall French Empire secretaire à abattant featuring a drop-front writing surface and faux book
Category
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Stone
French First Empire Period, circa 1805, ‘Secretaire Abattant’
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most powerful and of the highest quality French First Empire period, Circa. 1805, "Secretaire
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Materials
Ormolu
19th century secretaire abattant
Located in Cheshire, GB
A French secretaire a’ abbattant, in the Louis XVI taste, the well-figured top, above conforming
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
French Ormolu-Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant by Millet
Located in London, GB
The brèche d'Alep marble top above a long frieze drawer, the hinged fall front with gilt-tooled brown leather writing-surface, the fitted interior with four open compartments and a l...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood, Tulipwood
19th Century French Empire desk Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful upright secrétaire from the French Empire period. The desk is made of oak with burr
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Rococo Revival Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
Dating from around 1850, this is a wonderful antique French Rococo Revival Secretaire a Abattant
Category
Antique 1850s French Rococo Revival Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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
Louis XVI Style Five Drawers Abattant Secretaire. France, 19th Century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Abattant secretaire with 5 drawers and a folding door made of mahogany rosewood and fruitwood
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 49.22 in W 20.75 in D 13 in
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 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
French Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant / Secretary desk, circa 1800
Located in Lucenec, SK
Monroe brought back from France in 1797. These desks are elegant examples of the popular style during the
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
French 18th century J.F. LELEU stamped secretaire à abattant
By Jean-François Leleu
Located in AALSMEER, NL
secretaire à abattant By J.F Leleu with its original ‘Bianca Carrara’ marble top with rounded front corners
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Amazing Secretary "À Abattant" Napoleon III French, 19th Century VIDEO
Located in Madrid, ES
AMAZING SECRETARY "À ABATTANT" NAPOLEON III
French, 19th century
in painted and gilded wood with
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 53.75 in W 36.62 in D 14.57 in
French Faux Bamboo Secretaire à Abattant, or Drop Front Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French secrétaire à abattant, or drop front secretary desk, with the case made of birdseye maple
Category
Mid-20th Century French Country Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Style Four Drawers Abattant Secretaire. France, 19th Century.
Located in Madrid, ES
mahogany with bronze handles and applications and a top in French red marble. Louis XVI style, Napoleon III
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
H 54.73 in W 25.99 in D 15.75 in
18th Century French Louis XVI Period Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An Exceptional French Louis XVI Period Secrétaire à Abattant with Parquetry Detailing and Marble
Category
Antique 18th Century Secretaires
Materials
Tulipwood
French Empire Flamed Mahogany Secretaire a'Abattant Desk ca. 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LOUIS PHILIPPE FLAMED MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A'ABATTANT
France, circa 1830
Item # 407TCJ10P
This
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Steel
19th C. French Empire Style Louis Philippe Period Secretaire Abattant
Located in Forney, TX
A Louis Philippe period (1830–1848) fruitwood secretaire abattant fall front desk.
Born in
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Fruitwood
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
H 61.5 in W 41.25 in D 20.25 in
Antique French Empire Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Imported French Empire Flame Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
H 55.5 in W 38.5 in D 17.5 in
Napoleon III Secretaire Abattant, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique secretaire abattant cabinet with drop down writing panel with interior carved wooden rails
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique French Charles X Classical Secrétaire à Abattant Desk Chest Walnut 1825
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & elegant antique French Charles X figured walnut secretaire abattant, circa 1825.
A high
Category
Antique 1820s French Charles X Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
H 60 in W 39.25 in D 17.5 in
Fine Antique French Louis XV Marquetry Rosewood Ormolu Secretaire Abattant 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality antique French Louis XV rosewood, marquetry, ormolu and marble topped
Category
Antique 1880s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
H 50 in W 26 in D 14 in
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
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 58.67 in W 38.98 in D 18.51 in
Antique French Louis XVI Inlaid Rosewood Secretaire Abattant Desk Dresser, 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A good quality antique French inlaid marquetry Rosewood secretaire abattant, circa 1880.
Made from
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble
H 50.5 in W 26.5 in D 13.5 in
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
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 55.71 in W 35.24 in D 14.97 in
Exceptionally Rare 19th Century French Secrétaire à Abattant by Paul Sormani
By Paul Sormani
Located in London, GB
An Exceptionally Rare Secrétaire à Abattant
After the designs of Jean-Henri Riesener for Marie
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
H 60 in W 42.5 in D 16.5 in
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
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 56.7 in W 38 in D 16.54 in
Antique French Charles X Secretary/Secrétaire à Abattant in Mahogany, c. 1825
Located in Miami, FL
A Charles X secrétaire à abattant in mahogany, France, circa 1825. Fall-front has original counter
Category
Antique 1820s French Charles X Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
H 58.5 in W 37.75 in D 16 in
Very Fine 19th Century French Louis XVI Marquetry Secretaire Abattant by Diehl.
By Charles-Guillaume Diehl
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century Louis XVI marquetry inlay secretaire A Abattant by Charles Diehl. Kingwood
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 52 in W 32 in D 18 in
Verni Martin secrétaire abattant , circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Louis XVI style secretaries abbattant, having bombe
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire style Mahogany secretaire abattant, circa 1840
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century French Mahogany marble topped Empire style Secretaire Abattant
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Revival Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Drexel Heritage French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secrétaire À Abattant
By Drexel
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style drop-front secretary desk
By Drexel Heritage
Category
Vintage 1970s American Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 57 in W 26.5 in D 17 in
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
H 57 in W 37.5 in D 18.5 in
French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts
Located in Savannah, GA
This extraordinary French Second Empire period secre´taire a' abattan features flame mahogany, gilt
Category
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Granite, Brass, Ormolu
19th Century Sevres Mounted Secretaire Abattant Cabinet
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 19th century French ebonized secretaire abattant, having its original brocatelle
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Secrétaire à abattant d'époque French Louis XVI Style Secretary c. Late 19th C.
Located in Westfield, MA
This Secrétaire à Abattant, crafted in the French Louis XVI style in the late 19th century, remains
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass
H 65 in W 39 in D 20 in
Louis XVI Desk/Secretaire a Abattant c. 1790-1800
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very good example of a late 18th century Louis XVI Secretaire a Abattant. The secretaire
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
shelved interior.
French, Circa 1870.
This impressive secrétaire à abattant perfectly encapsulates
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Bombe Marquetry Secrétaire à Abattant, Marble Top and Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
19th century bombe marquetry secrétaire à abattant, marble top and bronze mounts. Offered for sale
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
H 50.4 in W 25.99 in D 13.19 in
Secretaire "À Abattant" Signed Hyppolyte-Edme Pretot, Paris, 19th Century
By Hippolyte-Edme Pretot
Located in Madrid, ES
Secretaire "à abattant". Fine woods, marquetry, interior with drawers in rosewood and textile
Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 42.92 in W 31.5 in D 17.33 in
19th Century Classical Charles X Burled Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
surface and a number of drawers and prospect door, France, circa 1840.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Charles X Desks
Materials
Mahogany
H 56.5 in W 36.62 in D 16.15 in
19th Century Classical Charles X Burled Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
A dramatic Charles X fall front secretary in astounding burled mahogany veneer. The original fossilized marble top is supported by an elliptical molding. The main body contains one u...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Charles X Desks
Materials
Mahogany
H 56.11 in W 38.59 in D 15.75 in
Special 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Parquetry Secretaire a Abattant
By Jean-Henri Riesener
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Special Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Parquetry Secretaire a Abattant
The shaped
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Cabinets
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
H 59 in W 43 in D 17 in
19th Century Bombe Marquetry Secrétaire à Abattant, Marble Top and Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
19th century bombe marquetry secrétaire à abattant, marble top and bronze mounts.
Offered for
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
H 51.25 in W 27.75 in D 15 in
French Louis XV Style Marquetry Escritoire circa.1880
Located in Worcester, GB
century French escritoire or secrétaire à abattant in the Louis XV style, crafted circa 1880. The piece is
Category
Antique 19th Century French Cabinets
Materials
Kingwood
Antique French Napoleon III Inlaid Ormolu Marble Top Secretaire Desk Chest 1860
Located in Portland, OR
chest, circa 1860.
This superb antique French secretaire abattant has a black & white veined marble top
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
H 57.5 in W 29.25 in D 15 in
18th C. French Louis XVI Tall Secretaire (Retains Original Leather on Desk-Top)
Located in Atlanta, GA
desk, from the 18th century. This antique "secretaire an abattant" from France features an arched top
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
H 87.5 in W 51.5 in D 25 in
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Secretary With Impressive Marquetry
Located in Greven, DE
known from France, but with a much simpler design.
Until the mid-1780s, the secrétaire à abattant in
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
H 58.67 in W 35.04 in D 18.12 in
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French Abattant For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the French abattant you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A French abattant — often made from wood, metal and mahogany — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a French abattant — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A French abattant, designed in the Louis XVI, Empire or Louis XV style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. A well-made French abattant has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by A. Leclaire, B. Butte and Christian Dell are consistently popular.
How Much is a French Abattant?
Prices for a French abattant can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $850 and can go as high as $398,500, while the average can fetch as much as $5,250.
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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