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French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant

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

French Empire Secretaire À Abattant With Faux Book Front
French Empire Secretaire À Abattant With Faux Book Front

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

Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant

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

Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century
Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century

Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century

By Empire Furniture

Located in Madrid, ES

: Mahogany wood Additional Information: Secretaire "a Abbatant" French, Empire Style, 19th century. This

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Wood

French Secretaire à Abattant, First Empire Period
French Secretaire à Abattant, First Empire Period

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

Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 1810
Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 1810

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 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant

French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A stately 19th century mahogany secretaire a abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

Empire Secretaire
Empire Secretaire

Empire Secretaire

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful classic piece.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire
19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire

19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire

Located in Southampton, NY

Grey marble top above a single long drawer, two columns with gilded detailing on either side of fall-front desk enclosing six small drawers surrounding one larger drawer and original...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut, Giltwood

French Empire Period Walnut Secretaire Desk, Circa 1810
French Empire Period Walnut Secretaire Desk, Circa 1810

French Empire Period Walnut Secretaire Desk, Circa 1810

Located in LA CIOTAT, FR

This elegant French secrétaire desk dates from the Empire period, circa 1810–1820, and represents a

Category

Antique 1810s French Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut

French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk
French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk

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

19th C. French Empire Style Louis Philippe Period Secretaire Abattant
19th C. French Empire Style Louis Philippe Period Secretaire Abattant

19th C. French Empire Style Louis Philippe Period Secretaire Abattant

Located in Forney, TX

detail, and nicely aged mellow patina over the whole. Finished in French Empire taste, having a molded

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Fruitwood

French Walnut Secrétaire á Abbatant
French Walnut Secrétaire á Abbatant

French Walnut Secrétaire á Abbatant

Located in Faversham, GB

A beautiful walnut Secrétaire à Abattant in the Empire style of the 19th century, The top bears a

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Revival Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer
Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer

Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer

Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France

This beautiful Empire clapper secretaire is made of burr walnut. It has very elegant detached

Category

Antique 1850s French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Patent Secretaire, France, 19th Century
Patent Secretaire, France, 19th Century

Patent Secretaire, France, 19th Century

Located in Greding, DE

Patent secretaire with mahogany veneered frame and columns with bronze capitals and bases.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts
French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts

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

Empire Secretary Desk, France 19th century
Empire Secretary Desk, France 19th century

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

Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810
Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810

Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810

Located in Belmont, MA

Introducing a remarkable Empire Fall Top Desk, hailing from France during the period of 1800-1810

Category

Antique Early 1800s European Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Secretary W/ Mirror
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Secretary W/ Mirror

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

French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810

French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810

Located in Rome, IT

A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk. With a grey marble top over

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810

French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810

Located in Rome, IT

A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk. With a grey marble top over

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet

19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

secretaire represents the First French Empire time period, era also known as Napoleonic France. Wear

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary

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

Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim

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

18th Century Empire Secretary Veneered with Mahogany
18th Century Empire Secretary Veneered with Mahogany

18th Century Empire Secretary Veneered with Mahogany

Located in Opole, PL

We present you an antique piece of furniture covered with mahogany veneer with beautiful grain. It is topped with a green marble board. The whole is dated the turn of the 18th and th...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Spectacular Napoleon III Empire Secretaire 19th Century  RESTORED
Spectacular Napoleon III Empire Secretaire 19th Century  RESTORED

Spectacular Napoleon III Empire Secretaire 19th Century RESTORED

By Empire Furniture

Located in Madrid, ES

Spectacular Napoleon III Empire Secretaire 19th Century France in mahogany, mahogany root rich

Category

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century
Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century

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

French Transition Period secretary c. 1760 Jean-Francois Dubut
French Transition Period secretary c. 1760 Jean-Francois Dubut

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, Transition, Jean-Francois Dubut rosewood, amaranth, violet and ebony veneered on o...

Category

Antique 1760s French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Vintage French Empire Marquetry Secretaire
Vintage French Empire Marquetry Secretaire

Vintage French Empire Marquetry Secretaire

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Commanding attention with its exquisite craftsmanship and timeless design, this vintage French

Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top

19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Early 19th century secretary " Secrétaire a' Abattant " desk " Retour D'Egypt " Provenance, Succession

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"

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 First Empire Period, circa 1805, ‘Secretaire Abattant’
French First Empire Period, circa 1805, ‘Secretaire Abattant’

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

Empire style Mahogany secretaire abattant, circa 1840
Empire style Mahogany secretaire abattant, circa 1840

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

19th Century French Empire Secretaire
19th Century French Empire Secretaire

19th Century French Empire Secretaire

Located in Nashville, TN

This 19th century French Empire secretaire features lovely columns with finely cast gilt brass

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble

French Empire Secretaire a Abattant with Cuban Acajou Mahogany
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant with Cuban Acajou Mahogany

French Empire Secretaire a Abattant with Cuban Acajou Mahogany

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

This secretaire a abattant is the in French Empire style and is veneered in Cuban acajou mahogany

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century Empire Flame Mahogany and Black Marble Secretaire
Early 19th Century Empire Flame Mahogany and Black Marble Secretaire

Early 19th Century Empire Flame Mahogany and Black Marble Secretaire

Located in Toledo, Castilla La Mancha

Wonderful French empire secretaire, early 19th century. Flame mahogany, Belgian black marble

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

Secrétaire  Bonheur du jour Empire
Secrétaire  Bonheur du jour Empire

Secrétaire Bonheur du jour Empire

Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur

a very unusual secretaire Bonheur du jour with black marble top.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire Period Painted Oak Secretaire Cabinet, circa 1820
French Empire Period Painted Oak Secretaire Cabinet, circa 1820

French Empire Period Painted Oak Secretaire Cabinet, circa 1820

Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire

This is a really beautiful French Empire period painted oak secretaire cabinet, with well painted

Category

Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century, Empire Secretaire, Mahogany Feather, Gilded Bronze
19th Century, Empire Secretaire, Mahogany Feather, Gilded Bronze

19th Century, Empire Secretaire, Mahogany Feather, Gilded Bronze

Located in PALERMO, IT

Empire secretaire, veneered in mahogany feather wood, and adorned with applications in finely

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Napoleonic Empire Period Mahogany Secretaire A Abbattant, circa 1820
French Napoleonic Empire Period Mahogany Secretaire A Abbattant, circa 1820

French Napoleonic Empire Period Mahogany Secretaire A Abbattant, circa 1820

Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire

This is a beautifully made and stylish French early 19th century Napoleonic Empire period

Category

Antique 1820s French Napoleon III Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Mahogany Secrétaire
19th Century French Mahogany Secrétaire

19th Century French Mahogany Secrétaire

Located in Milan, IT

French mahogany secrétaire A-vantaux, first quarter of the 19th century. The secretaire has a high

Category

Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century Empire Style Secretaire a Abbatant
19th Century Empire Style Secretaire a Abbatant

19th Century Empire Style Secretaire a Abbatant

Located in Los Gatos, CA

Late 19th/Early 20th Century Empire Style Gilt Metal Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a Abbatant

Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Third Republic Secretaire Abattant, French
19th Century Third Republic Secretaire Abattant, French

19th Century Third Republic Secretaire Abattant, French

Located in Sydney, NSW

A 19th century secretaire abattant in the Empire taste. Bookmatched feathered mahogany, the

Category

Antique 1870s French Empire Revival Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant, 19th century
Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant, 19th century

Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant, 19th century

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire having a marble top over a single frieze drawer, with a

Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Ormolu

Beautiful 19th Century Droptop Secretaire
Beautiful 19th Century Droptop Secretaire

Beautiful 19th Century Droptop Secretaire

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Very elegant 19th century secretaire with drop-top and gallery. Features several drawers and brass

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

19th Century Third Empire Secretaire a Abbatant in the Louis XVI Taste
19th Century Third Empire Secretaire a Abbatant in the Louis XVI Taste

19th Century Third Empire Secretaire a Abbatant in the Louis XVI Taste

Located in Sydney, NSW

This secretaire is of desirable compact size and has recently undergone museum quality

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

19th Century French Secretaire a`Abbattant with a Marble Top, circa 1830
19th Century French Secretaire a`Abbattant with a Marble Top, circa 1830

19th Century French Secretaire a`Abbattant with a Marble Top, circa 1830

Located in Salisbury, GB

A 19th century French secretaire a' abbatant. The marble top over a marquetry inlaid mahogany base

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Empire Secretary Attibuted to Georges Jacob
Empire Secretary Attibuted to Georges Jacob

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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French Empire Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the French empire secretaire you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, mahogany and metal, every French empire secretaire was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a French empire secretaire — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A French empire secretaire is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Empire styles are sought with frequency. Iporito Ceri each produced at least one beautiful French empire secretaire that is worth considering.

How Much is a French Empire Secretaire?

The average selling price for a French empire secretaire at 1stDibs is $6,677, while they’re typically $1,200 on the low end and $90,000 for the highest priced.

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.

Questions About French Empire Secretaire
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The Classical world is primarily what influenced French Empire furniture. Greek and Roman motifs appear on many pieces. In addition, the opulence of Egyptian furniture inspired furniture makers active during the period. On 1stDibs, shop a range of French Empire furniture.