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 facade.
Stone
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.
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant, Walnut & Marble, Circa 1810
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century French Empire secrétaire à abattant made of richly figured, bookmatched walnut.
Marble, Brass
French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant, Mahogany & Marble, 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
A handsome 19th-century French Empire style secrétaire à abattant crafted in richly figured mahogany and surmounted by its original black fossil marble top.
Marble
19th Century French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant, Mahogany & Marble
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately 19th century mahogany secretaire a abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal St.
Marble, Brass
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 or cantilevered desk.
Marble, Bronze
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 marble top. The secretary features two front side columns with bronze mounts detail w...
Brass
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 brass-mounts and retains its original dark grey speckled granite top. Decorated th...
Granite, Brass, Ormolu
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 rounded rectangular fossil marble top above a substantial fall door, inlaid with a ...
Brass
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 furniture, crafted from flame mahogany. The abattant (drop-front) design allows for a con...
Wood, Mahogany
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 drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Bronze
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 drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Bronze
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 drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Bronze
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 drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Bronze
$6,320Sale Price|20% Off
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 bronze mounts, three drawers below and one drawer above. Double brass locking syste...
Mahogany
$12,222Sale Price|30% Off
*An Exquisite 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Fitted Secretaire
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th-century French flame mahogany secretaire à abattant, or drop-front secretary desk.
Brass, Steel
Empire Style Secretaire a Abattant, Walnut and Brass, France, 1840s
Located in Kaštel Sućurac, HR
Empire Style Secretaire a Abattant, Walnut and Brass, France, 1840s.
Brass
Rare French Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Secretaire with Architecture Scenes
Located in London, GB
By oral family tradition and repute, our secretaire was purchased from the estate of the Parisian apartment of Sultan Abdulhamid the Second by the grandfather of the vendor, in appro...
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Large French Empire Walnut Secretaire Abattant, Early 20th Century
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Elegant French Empire secretaire abattant crafted in walnut, featuring striking book-matched veneer, ebonized column details, and brass capitals.
Brass
$6,240Sale Price|20% Off
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent high quality flame mahogany adorned with bronze doré mounts and its original gray mar...
Bronze
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 or cantilevered desk.
Marble, Ormolu
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.
Mahogany
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 Abattant'.
Ormolu
Unique French Style Ebonized Secretary
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Refined French abattant in the Empire style, featuring a striking black finish with elegant gold accents. The piece showcases a structured silhouette and traditional detailing, offer...
Wood
Antique Biedermeier Secretaire Chest Secretaire Abattant 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A truly magnificent antique flame mahogany architectural biedermeier secretaire abattant, circa 1840 in date. The top section with a projecting cornice over an arched panelled door ...
Mahogany
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Very Rare Early 19th century secretary " Secrétaire a' Abattant " desk " Retour D'Egypt " Provenance, Succession: Prince Murat Documents It Still Holds the Ink Stamp from the Sale fr...
Bronze
Antique Napoleonic French Empire Parcel-Gilt Mahogany Wine Cabinet Armoire 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality French Empire Napoleonic period Mahogany & parcel gilt wine cabinet/armoire, circa 1810.
Bronze
Unavailable
H 56.5 in W 38 in D 15.75 in
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, with bronze doré mounts and a gray Saint Anne marble top.
Marble, Bronze
Unavailable
H 59.06 in W 34.65 in D 18.9 in
Gilt Bronze-Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a` Abattant in French Empire Style, 1820
Located in Napoli, IT
The superstructure with a white marble top flanked by volute scrolls above a frieze drawer and recessed fall flap enclosing a fitted interior with mirror within columns over a flush ...
Unavailable
H 60 in W 38 in D 18 in
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 fall front enclosure concealing a fitted interior over two long drawers, flanked by ...
Ormolu
19th Century Third Republic Secretaire Abattant, French
Located in Sydney, NSW
A 19th century secretaire abattant in the Empire taste. Bookmatched feathered mahogany, the interior of the desk being in pale bookmatched figured walnut. Gilt bronze mounts and grey...
Bronze
Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in New York, NY
Surmounted by a Spanish brocatelle marble top, the frieze is centered by a foliate-ornamented urn flanked by two flaming lamps in front and stylized rosettes on either side. Bordere...
Marble, Ormolu
Burr oak French Escritoire
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Hutton-Clarke Antiques is pleased to offer a high-quality French abattant escritoire, beautifully veneered in rare Burr Oak and featuring its original black marble top. The piece is ...
Oak
Unavailable
H 55.52 in W 37.41 in D 15.36 in
Antique Ebonized Silver Empire Secretary an Abattant from France, 19th Century
Located in Vienna, AT
An original antique Empire secretary from the early 19th century from France. The secretary is ebonized and has wonderful silver plated fittings. The secretary has two main compar...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Winter Park, FL
Made of solid cherry retaining its original condition this secretaire has nice classical lines and interesting architectural elements in the interior colonnade. Leather writing surfa...
Sold
H 58.27 in W 43.31 in D 21.26 in
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant in Brown Walnut with Grey Marble Top, 1810
Located in Berlin, DE
This beautiful French Empire secretaire a Abattant is veneered in walnut and has a grey marble top.
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stunning 19th century Empire secretary, in mahogany, from France. The desk has a black, fossil marble top with finished edge, that is in spectacular antique condition. The front of...
Brass
French Secretaire Abattant
Located in San Francisco, CA
Empire Mahogany, Top Section of a Secretaire Abattant.
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 positively stunning secretary desk from the second quarter of the 19th century features...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Fine Mahogany French Empire Period Secretaire a' Abattant, France Circa 1815
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The richly figured mahogany case showing a black marble top over a single flush mounted drawer, the drop-down panel fronting an interior compartment housing small drawers and a gilt ...
Marble
Sold
H 58 in W 33.25 in D 15.25 in
Baker Furniture French Empire Burl Wood Secrétaire á Abattant With Brass Ormolu
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire or Neoclassical style drop front secretary desk By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Gorgeous burl wood, with ebonized columns, and original brass hard...
Brass
Secrétaire à Abattant by Molitor
By Christian Dell
Located in New Orleans, LA
This most extraordinary secrétaire à abattant by Bernard Molitor displays superb proportion and balance.
Marble, Ormolu
Empire Secretary à abattant, France early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
French Empire secretary à abattant with a two-door base, two wide drawers and a flat writing flap surrounded by smooth full columns with fire-gilt bronze capitals and bases. The bure...
Leather, Mahogany, Maple
Sold
H 55.5 in W 38.5 in D 17.5 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 Desk This 19th-century French Empire-style secretary desk is a true work of art. Craf...
Marble, Brass
Antique French Empire Mahogany Secretary Drop Down Desk Abattant
Located in West Hartford, CT
Exquisite tall 19th century French Empire mahogany secretaire abattant which features elegant patterns, created by the rich mahogany grain, and a drop down with black leather writing...
Granite
Sold
H 69.68 in W 39.37 in D 20.27 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 three drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The w...
French 19th Century Empire-Style Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A beautiful 19th century mahogany secretary, c. 1820. This desk has a black, fossil marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron. Just below the top drawer, the ...
Mahogany
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A divine 19th century mahogany secrétaire à abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional black marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron.
Marble, Brass
Sold
H 57.75 in W 38 in D 17 in
Early 19th Century French Mahogany, Oak & Marble Secretaire with Ormolu Mounts
Located in Middleburg, VA
Important Secretaire a Abattant, Paris, Empire, circa 1805. Mahogany on oak, marble top, ormolu mounts. Caryatides, trophy weapons, fasces, antique Roman and Egyptian ornamentation a...
Marble
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 positively stunning secretary desk from the second quarter of the 19th century features...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Sold
H 56 in W 38.5 in D 18.5 in
19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique fruitwood "Secretaire a Abattant" was crafted in France, circa 1850. The tall secretary with classical straight lines stands on bracket feet and features round ...
Marble
Sold
H 56.13 in W 37.5 in D 17.25 in
French Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk Cabinet with Drawers ca. 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LOUIS PHILIPPE ORMOLU-MOUNTED FLAMED-MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE À ABATTANT Paris, France circa 1830 unmarked Item # 408LTW21P A very good Louis Philippe period secretaire à abattant (sec...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A dignified 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France . This desk has an exceptional black, Belgian Granite top with fossil inclusions resting above a single drawer d...
Stone, Granite, Metal, Brass
Sold
H 56 in W 38 in D 18 in
Antique Second Empire French Marble-Top Flame Mahogany and Ormolu Abattant
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Second Empire French secrétaire à abattant features flame mahogany construction with long drawer above bookmatched drop front desk opening to writing surface with pigeon hole...
Ormolu
1850s French Empire Secretaire a Abattant Brul Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
1850s French Empire secretaire also known as a drop-front brul mahogany secretary desk. White marble top and original bronze. The secretaire comes with four drawers, each one with a ...
Mahogany
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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