French Empire Secretary Desk, 1810-20
Located in Leimen, DE
French Empire Secretary Desk, 19th Century – Mahogany Veneer, Marble Top, Bronze Details This stunning 19th-century French Empire secretary desk is a true statement piece, showcasin...
Marble
19th Century French Empire Secretary Desk with Functional Storage
Located in High Point, NC
This wood piece dates to 19th Century and originates from France. Its form as an empire secretary desk reflects both a clear practical purpose and the visual language of the period i...
Wood
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 Paris, France.
Marble, Brass
Empire Secretary in Mahogany Veneer, France, Circa 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...
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 marble top.
Brass
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
$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.
Mahogany
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.
Mahogany
$6,240Sale Price|20% Off
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
The French Empire style secretary has a single hidden drawer on the top and three lower drawers.
Bronze
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...
Marble
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Directoire / Empire Secretary with Caryatids, Mahogany
Located in Greven, DE
Folding-top secretary desk with caryatids France Mahogany early 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 145 x 96 x 43 cm Description: A writing desk with mahogany veneer, standing on ...
Bronze
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.
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
Antique Empire Style Secretary with Brass and Marble Top mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany veneer on solid conifers. High-right corpus on chased bronze claw feet. Architecturally articulated front with library dummy and brass rim sockets. On both sides slightly co...
Mahogany
Antique French Secretary, Circa 1820, Polished Ebony & Birchwood
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The secretaire represents the First French Empire time period, era also known as Napoleonic France.
Metal, Bronze, Brass
$15,871Sale Price|25% Off
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...
Marble
French 19th Century Empire Burl Walnut Marble Top Secretaire
Located in Carmine, TX
Elegant French 19th-century Empire secretary crafted in richly figured burl walnut, featuring a striking black marble top, column-form supports with gilt bronze accents, and a beauti...
Marble
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
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 over drop front desk opening to interior with pigeon holes and drawers, surmounting l...
Ormolu
$9,078Sale Price|20% Off
À battant” secretary desk Jean Nicolas Adriaansen Antwerp ca. 1825/30
Located in Münster, DE
“À battant” secretary desk, Jean Nicolas Adriaansen, Antwerp, ca. 1825/30 Mahogany, solid and veneered, symmetrically designed body with full columns and bronze capitals, top draw...
Marble, Bronze
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Dimensions: Height: 61 in (154.94 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)Depth: 18.5 in (46.99 cm) Style: Empire (Of the Period) Materials and Techniques: Bronze,Burl,Elm,Wood,Carved,Hand-Carved,...
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Secretary
Located in Washington, DC
French Empire secretary in cherry with architectural interior and ebonized columns with bronze doré fittings.
Empire Secratary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Empire Secratary with three drawers and retractable desk, Inset marble top. Adjustable sliding mirror.
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. Very important Jacob brother's Secretary set in mahogany and flame mahogany vene...
Mahogany
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.
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 56.3 in W 38.59 in D 16.74 in
Black Ebonized French Empire Secretary with Silver-Plated Fitting and Marble Top
Located in Vienna, AT
The piece was made in France in the 19th century and is a perfect example of the days of the French Empire.
Marble, Silver, Bronze
Sold
H 56.3 in W 38.19 in D 19.3 in
Early 19th Century French Empire Secretary, Mahogany and Ormolu Fittings, c 1820
Located in Greven, DE
19th Century Empire Secretary France Mahogany Empire around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 143 x 97 x 49 cm Description: Very fine French writing desk with delicate dimensions and a ...
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Secretary
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
French Empire secretary having a fall-front desk opening to fitted drawers and with leather writing surface, and with a bank of three drawers below and a single drawer above.
Mahogany
Mid 20th Century French Empire Secretaire Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vintage French empire secretary of unusually small proportions.
Mahogany
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.
Leather, Mahogany, Maple
Sold
H 53.55 in W 27.17 in D 16.54 in
Small Early 19th Century Empire secretaire, Mahogany, France circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Empire secretary France Mahogany early 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 136 x 69 x 42 cm Description: Extraordinarily small French Empire secretary.
Belgian Black Marble
French Empire Style Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, French, in the Empire style and made of Cuban flamed Mahogany, finished in a Museum quality French polish.
Marble, Bronze
Empire Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Walnut Empire Secretary with Marble Top
Marble, Bronze
Empire Style French Secretary “Retour d’Egypte”
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary from France in the Empire style. This piece is made of mahogany that has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum quality.
Marble, Brass
French Empire Colonial Mahogany Secretary in Oval Shape
Located in Vulpellac, Girona
French Empire colonial mahogany secretary in oval shape.
Mahogany
French 19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An extraordinarily handsome French Empire walnut secretary made in the middle of the 19th century in France.
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Empire style mahogany secretary is the perfect companion for any room, especially a guest bedroom where it affords two spacious drawers outside, four smaller drawers inside, ...
Brass
Empire Secretary Napoleon III 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire Secretary Napoleon III 19th Century opening with a flap and two leaves Amounts in the shape of clear columns Chiseled bronze ornamentation with chariot and putti motifs Fla...
Wood
Sold
H 33.75 in W 29.25 in D 16.5 in
Petite 1860s French Empire Style Walnut and Marble Drop-Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very small French Empire style walnut drop-front secretary with dark grey marble top from the mid-19th century.
Marble
Sold
H 60 in W 45.5 in D 21 in
Antique French Empire Walnut Drop Down Secretary Secretaire Desk Abattant
Located in West Hartford, CT
Beautiful tall 19th Century French Empire walnut secretaire abattant features elegant patterns created by the natural walnut grain, flanked by columns with bronze ormolu mounts. Drop...
Bronze
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.
Marble, Brass
19th Century Napoleon III Empire Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid conifers. Architecturally arranged front. High-rectangular body on pawprints in green. Above the writing table with drawer and below with two wide...
Marble, Bronze
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
Sold
H 58.5 in W 40.75 in D 17 in
French Empire Brass Mounted, Light Walnut, & Ebonized Secretary, 1stq 19th Cen.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular top above a conforming case housing three drawers, one faux drawer, and a fall front desk with a leather writing surface and interior shelving and secret drawers...
Walnut
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Paris, FR
Large mahogany and mahogany veneer secretary desk with gilt bronze decoration. Two columns set in the front of the case are capped with rings. A gilt bronze mask crowned with vine-le...
Bronze
Sold
H 61 in W 28 in D 19 in
Period French Empire Fall-Front Secretary with Fire-Gilded Mounts, circa 1810
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
This French Empire fall front mahogany Emoire secretaire with original ormolu bronze doré́ mounts was discovered at a private residence of grand scale in Brussels. It had been in the...
Ormolu
Early 19th Century Mahogany Secretary Desk Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Mahogany secretary desk with sculpted and gilt bronze accents and Saint Anne marble top. The facade houses four drawers, one on the top and three on the bottom, and a door that opens...
Bronze
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
Empire Period Mahogany Napoleon Secretary Attributed to Pierre-Benoit Marcion
Located in Sofia, BG
Beautiful mahogany desk and mahogany veneer, dating from the early 19th century, Empire period attributed to Pierre-Benoit Marcion (1769-1840), Napoleon cabinetmaker, opening a drawe...
Mahogany
Fine Empire Style Fall-Front Secretary in Walnut with Marquetry
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Inspired by the French Empire style, this handsome secretary has a beautiful design and is very finely constructed.
Walnut
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...
Sold
H 31.89 in W 20.08 in D 20.08 in
Vintage Cherry Wood Secretary Desks-16 Drawers-Office Cabinet-Empire Style-70s
Located in Bussiere Dunoise, Nouvel Aquitaine
Autumn Sale: Enjoy FREE IN-HOME delivery to France and special Shipping Offers for many other Countries. Exquisite French secretary desks crafted from solid cherry wood feature exte...
Brass
Sold
H 29.53 in W 20.48 in D 22.05 in
Super Rare 19th Century Transforming Ladies Desk, Empire Secretary, Mahogany
Located in Greven, DE
Convertible antique writing desk France Mahogany Empire, 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 84 x 52 x 56 cm.
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Empire Secretaire, Walnut, France, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Empire Secretary France Walnut Empire around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 143 x 98 x 49 cm Description: Very fine French writing desk with delicate dimensions.
Walnut
Sold
H 29.14 in W 19.69 in D 16.54 in
Very Rare Transformation Secretary, Commode, Empirestyle, Circa 1890
Located in Greven, DE
Very rare transformation furniture France Mahogany Empire style around 1890 Dimensions: H x W x D: 74 x 50 x 42 cm Description: This unusual piece of furniture can be tra...
Mahogany
French Empire Secretary
Located in Astoria, NY
French Empire secretary in carved wood with gilt metal embellishments and drop front over drawers.
Wood
Sold
H 44.89 in W 38.59 in D 16.54 in
19th Century French Empire Secretary from Countess of Schulenburg-Wolfsburg
Located in Berlin, DE
French Empire secretary 1815 from Countess of Schulenburg-Wolfsburg.
Oak
French 19th Century Petite Empire Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite French Empire mahogany secretary or lady’s correspondence desk.
Marble, Brass
Empire Bronze Mounted Secretary Abattant
Located in Norwood, NJ
Unique slender and narrow stand alone French Empire period Secretaire à Abattant. Drop front panel exposes a leather top writing surface with hinged paper file and inkwell compartmen...
Bronze
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.
Mahogany
French Drop Front Secretary
Located in East Aurora, NY
A very attractive French Drop Front Secretary in a highly figured crotch Mahogany veneer over a Pine case wood. Excellent form and color and a nicely aged patina on the old and possi...
Mahogany
Sold
H 82.63 in W 51.38 in D 25.5 in
Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk by Jean-Joseph Chapuis in Egyptian Taste
By Jean Joseph Chapuis
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Of superb quality in every regard, this most magnificent cylindrical secretairé is a work of art that commands the attention of whatever room it becomes a part of. Crafted by the Par...
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 62 in W 32 in D 19 in
19th Century French Beidermeier Drop Front Abattant Secretary Desk Writing Table
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning 19th century French Empire drop leaf secretary abattant with ebony accents and columns.
Brass
French Empire Secretary Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
This French Empire mahogany secretaire-a-abattant has a Belgian fossilized black marble top above a frieze drawer and hinged fall-front enclosing a fitted interior and a tooled leath...
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Empire Drop Front Secretary
Located in Fairhope, AL
A 19th century French Empire drop front secretary. Has a marble top and side columns with bronze mounts, doors below with three drawers inside and one drawer above.
French Empire Period Mahogany Secretary Chest, circa 1810
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
An lovely small French secretaire or secretary desk and chest of in mahogany, opening to a desk table with deep Empire green new leather.
Mahogany
19th Empire Secretary in Mahogany
Located in Lannebert, FR
19th Empire mahogany secretary with black leather. Measure: Width open 82 cm.
Mahogany, Walnut
Exceptional Empire Secretary
Located in New Jersey City, NJ
Mahogany secretary Black original marble top. It stands on claw wood painted feet
Exceptional Empire Secretary
Located in New Jersey City, NJ
Mahogany secretary Black original marble top. It stands on claw wood painted feet
Empire Dresser or Secretary, Paris, 1810s
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Empire dresser or secretary, Paris, 1810s. Made of mahogany. Feet with fine brass applications. Eight drawers with fine, circumferential brass strips, two handles each, key inlays...
Brass
French Empire-Style Flame Mahogany Wood Fall Front Secretary
Located in Fairhope, AL
French Empire style mahogany secretary with marble top has lower cabinets which are lockable (key included) and the single hidden drawer at the top.
Empire Secretary or Writing Cabinet in Mahogany, Paris, 1800s
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Elaborately designed, courtly Empire secretary / writing cabinet in mahogany, Paris, 1800s. The secretary convinces with his rich, very finely worked, fire-gilded bronze applicati...
Bronze
French Empire-Style Flame Mahogany Wood Fall Front Secretary
Located in Fairhope, AL
French Empire style mahogany secretary with marble top has three lower drawers which are lockable (key included) and the single hidden drawer at the top.
Sold
H 37 in W 49 in D 22 in
French Empire Mahogany Marble-Top Commode, Secretary or Chest, Circa 1840
Located in Savannah, GA
Circa 1840 Empire Mahogany Marble-Top Commode, secretary, or chest, French.
Marble
19th Century French Empire Drop Front Secretary with Marble Top
Located in Fairhope, AL
French Empire style mahogany secretary with marble top has three lower drawers which are lockable (key included) and the single hidden drawer at the top.
$202,351
H 47.75 in W 66.5 in
Grand 19th Century English Marine Painting in Stunning Light
By John Wilson Ewbank
Located in London, GB
John Wilson Ewbank (1799 - 1847) Shipping in the Harbour, South Shields Oil on canvas 39.5 x 58 inches unframed 47.75 x 66.5 inches framed Provenance: Christie's October 2002; L...
Oil
$1,650 / item
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
English Mahogany Writing Table, Early 19th Century
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exquisite writing desk is crafted of rich mahogany and features the straightforward design prevalent in England during the early 19th century. A luxurious leather-covered top pr...
Brass
19th Century French Empire Neoclassical Marble Top Console Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent 19th century French empire gilt wood console table featuring a marbleized limestone top with partial shell fossil remnants. The marble specimen is a dark garnet color with wh...
Marble
Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Germany 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Biedermeier Walnut Dresser from 1820, Southern Germany. This remarkable Biedermeier chest of drawers, dating back to 1820 and originating from Southern Germany, is a true t...
Walnut
$10,580
H 74.02 in W 55.52 in D 24.41 in
Biedermeier Armoire, Walnut Veneer and Full Columns, Austria, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Early Biedermeier Armoire in Walnut Veneer, from Austria, circa 1820. This two-door neoclassical armoire or wardrobe has a beautiful, book-matched walnut veneer and ebonized full co...
Iron
$133,052Sale Price|20% Off
H 90.95 in W 61.03 in D 77.56 in
IMPORTANT BISHOP JAMES STANLEY 1508 KING HENRY VII ENGLiSH OAK TUDOR TESTER BED
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly important, Museum quality, English Tudor King Henry VII Oak tester bed made for an...
Oak
$4,161
H 29.93 in W 37.8 in D 22.84 in
Biedermeier Console Table, Cherry Wood, Full Columns, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant neoclassical Biedermeier Console Table from South Germany about 1820. Concave base veneered in cherrywood in with mirror glass (replaced) in the back. The plate is cherry so...
Mirror, Wood, Cherry
Liceu de Artes e Ofícios. 19th Century Daybed
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This recamier/daybed was conceived and executed with utmost quality and expertise, showing a style that incorporates many influences from the eigtheenth and ninetheenth century. Made...
Wood
19th Century, French Mahogany and Ormalu Empire Cheval Mirror
Located in Delft, NL
A 19th Century French mahogany and Ormalu Empire Cheval mirror A 19th century French mahogany and ormalu Empire cheval mirror with a tilting mirror between mahogany pillars with a...
Bronze
Antique Four Poster Bed
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
A fine late 18th Century large Dutch four-poster bed with exceptional posts and ealy 19th century Italian carved giltwood swans. The posts with well carved elements: neoclassical ur...
Mahogany
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Side Chairs. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant, early Biedermeier chairs were made in Vienna circa 1825. Viennese Biedermeier is distinguished by their sophisticated proportions, rare and refined design and e...
Upholstery, Walnut
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Writing Table, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French Louis XVI style mahogany bureau plat. Having an inset leather top, gilded ormolu mouldings and scrolling foliate mounts to the frieze, two fri...
Ormolu
Louis Seize Secretaire à abattant, End of 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Secretaire with fluted pilasters and two-door bottom part and white marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with green leather there are more drawers and compa...
Marble
Fine Pair of Neoclassical Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite pair of armchairs features high, rounded backrests and C-shaped armrests. They stand on octagonal legs with leaf capitals and bases as well as sabre legs. The intricat...
Upholstery, Cherry, Fruitwood
Biedermeier Pillar Cabinet, 1st Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Mahogany veneered pillar cupboard with two drawers and a slightly convex door. The door is flanked by solid columns with leaf capitals. The cabinet stands on square feet and ends wit...
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.