With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the French modern secretaire you’re looking for. Frequently made of
wood,
lacquer and
hardwood, every French modern secretaire was constructed with great care. There are 22 variations of the antique or vintage French modern secretaire you’re looking for, while we also have 20 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect French modern secretaire — we have versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. When you’re browsing for the right French modern secretaire, those designed in
mid-century modern,
Scandinavian Modern and
modern styles are of considerable interest.
Eric Gizard,
Guillerme et Chambron and
Votre Maison each produced at least one beautiful French modern secretaire that is worth considering.
A French modern secretaire can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $3,240, while the lowest priced sells for $1,945 and the highest can go for as much as $55,000.
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.