Skip to main content

German Secretary

to
25
227
64
261
33
1
37
31
19
9
6
5
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
56
180
25
34
5
13
2
4
2
1
1
6
1
275
73
70
48
46
290
287
2
2
1
295
289
289
3
2
2
2
2
Sort By
Neoclassical Cylinder Secretary Desk with Clock, circa 1780
Neoclassical Cylinder Secretary Desk with Clock, circa 1780

Neoclassical Cylinder Secretary Desk with Clock, circa 1780

Located in Greding, DE

Significant neoclassical cylinder secretary resting on six tapered square legs, canted at the

Category

Antique 1780s German Neoclassical Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Secretary, Birch and Birch burl veneered
Early 19th Century Secretary, Birch and Birch burl veneered

Early 19th Century Secretary, Birch and Birch burl veneered

Located in Stahnsdorf, DE

Secretary Desk, circa 1820, Braunschweig An exceptional secretary desk from around 1820, crafted

Category

Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Birch

White-Painted Secretary Desk with Glazed Cabinet, 18th Century
White-Painted Secretary Desk with Glazed Cabinet, 18th Century

White-Painted Secretary Desk with Glazed Cabinet, 18th Century

Located in Greding, DE

Elegant secretary desk with glazed upper cabinet and a gracefully broken arched pediment. The

Category

Antique 18th Century German French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1810
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1810

Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1810

Located in Stahnsdorf, DE

Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1810 An exceptional and rare Empire

Category

Antique 1810s German Empire Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer
Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer

Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer

Located in Berlin, DE

attachment with profiled cornice. Beautiful patina, with shellac hand polish. The secretary was completely

Category

Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Mid-18th Century Baroque Secretary Cabinet in Walnut Veneer
Mid-18th Century Baroque Secretary Cabinet in Walnut Veneer

Mid-18th Century Baroque Secretary Cabinet in Walnut Veneer

Located in Greding, DE

An elegant Baroque secretary cabinet from Saxony, crafted in the mid-18th century. The lower

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Jürgen Lange, Secretary mod. Privé for Rosenthal Einrichtung, 1980
Jürgen Lange, Secretary mod. Privé for Rosenthal Einrichtung, 1980

Jürgen Lange, Secretary mod. Privé for Rosenthal Einrichtung, 1980

By Jürgen Lange

Located in Saarbrücken, SL

The secretary mod. "Privé" by Jürgen Lange is formally characterized by the interplay of horizontal

Category

Vintage 1980s German Post-Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Acrylic, Wood

Baroque Secretary with Upper Cabinet in Walnut, 18th/19th Century
Baroque Secretary with Upper Cabinet in Walnut, 18th/19th Century

Baroque Secretary with Upper Cabinet in Walnut, 18th/19th Century

Located in Greding, DE

Baroque fall-front secretary veneered in walnut, featuring a commode base with three drawers and a

Category

Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Louis Philippe Secretary Desk, Second Half of the 19th Century
Louis Philippe Secretary Desk, Second Half of the 19th Century

Louis Philippe Secretary Desk, Second Half of the 19th Century

Located in Greding, DE

Louis Philippe secretary desk veneered in mahogany, featuring a flat writing flap, two-door lower

Category

Antique Late 19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Baroque Secretary or Writing Desk in Walnut
18th Century Baroque Secretary or Writing Desk in Walnut

18th Century Baroque Secretary or Writing Desk in Walnut

Located in Dusseldorf, DE

Exceptional Baroque secretary or writing desk, probably from southern Germany, around 1760. The

Category

Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Nutwood, Walnut, Pine

Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps in Walnut, Mid-18th Century
Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps in Walnut, Mid-18th Century

Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps in Walnut, Mid-18th Century

Located in Greding, DE

Impressive Baroque secretary in three sections ("à trois corps"), raised on compressed bun feet and

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

A fine 19th century Biedermeier  satinwood  birch and ebony secretary
A fine 19th century Biedermeier  satinwood  birch and ebony secretary

A fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood birch and ebony secretary

Located in Dallas, TX

A very fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood and Birch secretary . Ebony and fine quality inlayed

Category

Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Ebony, Satinwood

Walnut and plum Baroque Secretary à deux corps around 1760
Walnut and plum Baroque Secretary à deux corps around 1760

Walnut and plum Baroque Secretary à deux corps around 1760

Located in Münster, DE

Secretary à deux corps Baroque around 1760 Walnut and plum veneered on softwood, lower part with

Category

Antique 1760s German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Nutwood

Biedermeier Cylinder Secretary Desk, von Arnim/Boitzenburg Provenance, ca. 1810
Biedermeier Cylinder Secretary Desk, von Arnim/Boitzenburg Provenance, ca. 1810

Biedermeier Cylinder Secretary Desk, von Arnim/Boitzenburg Provenance, ca. 1810

Located in Berlin, DE

Dieses Biedermeier Zylinderbureau, entstanden am Anfang des 19. Jahrhunderts, stellt ein herausragendes Zeugnis deutscher Ebenistenkunst dar und besticht gleichermaßen durch seine ar...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Museum Biedermeier Secretary Signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825
Museum Biedermeier Secretary Signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825

Museum Biedermeier Secretary Signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825

Located in Berlin, DE

Museum Biedermeier secretary signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825 Fire-gilt fittings. High

Category

Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Top cabinet secretary, Baden, around 1780/90  Walnut and walnut burl
Top cabinet secretary, Baden, around 1780/90  Walnut and walnut burl

Top cabinet secretary, Baden, around 1780/90 Walnut and walnut burl

Located in Münster, DE

Secretary à deux corps Top cabinet Baden, around 1780/90 Walnut and walnut burl veneered and

Category

Antique 1780s German Empire Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Nutwood

A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830
A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830

A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830

Located in Dallas, TX

A very fine and rare Biedermeier walnut roll top secretary . Fine satinwood inlay . French polished

Category

Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood, Walnut

Louis XVI Cabinet with Secretaire, South Germany 1780
Louis XVI Cabinet with Secretaire, South Germany 1780

Louis XVI Cabinet with Secretaire, South Germany 1780

Located in Belmont, MA

Exquisite Louis XVI Secretary Cabinet, South Germany, 1780 This remarkable Louis XVI Secretary

Category

Antique 1780s Louis XVI Cabinets

Materials

Cherry, Walnut

Tabernacle Baroque Secretary; 1870, Germany
Tabernacle Baroque Secretary; 1870, Germany

Tabernacle Baroque Secretary; 1870, Germany

Located in Homburg, DE

Tabernacle Baroque secretary - circa 1870 South Germany - Nutwood veneered on oakwood - Very

Category

Antique 1870s German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Bronze

18th Century German Rococo Walnut Secretary
18th Century German Rococo Walnut Secretary

18th Century German Rococo Walnut Secretary

Located in Houston, TX

German Rococo walnut secretary cabinet' comes in 3-part top has conforming carved cornice above a

Category

Antique 18th Century German Rococo Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Biedermeier Secretary from Northern Germany, circa 1825
Biedermeier Secretary from Northern Germany, circa 1825

Biedermeier Secretary from Northern Germany, circa 1825

Located in Dallas, TX

This magnificent Secrétaire à Abattant / Secretaire / Secretary is a fine example of period

Category

Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Birch, Walnut, Burl

Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815

Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815

Located in Handewitt, DE

Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany

Category

Antique 1810s German Empire Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Walter Wirtz for Wilhem Renz Secretary Bureau Desk Teak, Germany, 1960s
Walter Wirtz for Wilhem Renz Secretary Bureau Desk Teak, Germany, 1960s

Walter Wirtz for Wilhem Renz Secretary Bureau Desk Teak, Germany, 1960s

By Walter Wirz, Wilhelm Renz

Located in Vienna, Vienna

A rare vintage writing desk secretary in teak, designed by Walter Wirtz and manufactured by Wilhem

Category

Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Teak

Fläpps Secretary, White
Fläpps Secretary, White

Fläpps Secretary, White

Unavailable|$354

Fläpps Secretary, White

Located in Berlin, BE

Wall Art, Workstation Functional and discreet, this Fla¨pps wall desk makes the perfect seated or standing workstation depending on the height it is mounted on the wall. When the ...

Category

2010s German Modern Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Baroque Compound Secretary, Brunswick, 1750s
Baroque Compound Secretary, Brunswick, 1750s

Baroque Compound Secretary, Brunswick, 1750s

Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein

Baroque Compound Secretary, Brunswick. Made of walnut, oak, and other real woods. 1750s. This

Category

Antique 1750s German Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Walnut

Fläpps Secretary of State, White
Fläpps Secretary of State, White

Fläpps Secretary of State, White

Unavailable|$835 / item

Fläpps Secretary of State, White

Located in Berlin, BE

Load and fold your Workstation! When folded away the Secretary of state is restraint like a

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Secretary of State, Black
Fläpps Secretary of State, Black

Fläpps Secretary of State, Black

Unavailable|$895 / item

Fläpps Secretary of State, Black

Located in Berlin, BE

Load and fold your Workstation! When folded away the Secretary of state is restraint like a

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Secretary of State White
Fläpps Secretary of State White

Fläpps Secretary of State White

Located in Berlin, BE

Load and fold your Workstation! When folded away the Secretary of state is restraint like a

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary, Black
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary, Black

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary, Black

Located in Berlin, BE

Wall Art, Workstation Functional and discreet, this Fla¨pps wall desk makes the perfect seated or standing workstation depending on the height it is mounted on the wall. When the ...

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Vintage Teak Bokkcasevand Secretary Unit
Vintage Teak Bokkcasevand Secretary Unit

Vintage Teak Bokkcasevand Secretary Unit

Located in Frederick, MD

This pair of teak office pieces include a Bookshelf with lower cabinet and the second unit has storage area plus a tilt-down desk which would also work well as a bar. This set was p...

Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Fläpps Secretary of State-1 - White
Fläpps Secretary of State-1 - White

Fläpps Secretary of State-1 - White

Located in Berlin, BE

Load and fold your Workstation! When folded away the Secretary of state is restraint like a

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary-1 - Black
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary-1 - Black

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary-1 - Black

Located in Berlin, BE

Wall Art, Workstation Functional and discreet, this Fla¨pps wall desk makes the perfect seated or standing workstation depending on the height it is mounted on the wall. When the ...

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary-1 - White
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary-1 - White

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary-1 - White

Located in Berlin, BE

Wall Art, Workstation Functional and discreet, this Fla¨pps wall desk makes the perfect seated or standing workstation depending on the height it is mounted on the wall. When the ...

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Secretary of State 80x50-1 - Black
Fläpps Secretary of State 80x50-1 - Black

Fläpps Secretary of State 80x50-1 - Black

Located in Berlin, BE

Load and fold your Workstation! When folded away the Secretary of state is restraint like a

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - White
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - White

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - White

Located in Berlin, BE

Fläpps Secretary (100x60-1). After work, this fully-grown desk folds back up so discretely against the

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - Black
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - Black

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - Black

Located in Berlin, BE

Fläpps Secretary (100x60-1). After work, this fully-grown desk folds back up so discretely against the

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 80x80-2 - Black
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 80x80-2 - Black

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 80x80-2 - Black

Located in Berlin, BE

and 80x80-3 be without the small workplace of the Fläpps secretary 80x80-2 with integrated folding

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 80x80-2 - White
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 80x80-2 - White

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 80x80-2 - White

Located in Berlin, BE

and 80x80-3 be without the small workplace of the Fläpps secretary 80x80-2 with integrated folding

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Plywood

Biedermeier Period Cylindrical Secretary from Hamburg, 1830s
Biedermeier Period Cylindrical Secretary from Hamburg, 1830s

Biedermeier Period Cylindrical Secretary from Hamburg, 1830s

Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein

Biedermeier period cylindrical secretary from Hamburg, 1830s. Made of mahogany on an oak wood core

Category

Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Oak

1960s Secretary / Highboard / Sideboard by Wk Möbel
1960s Secretary / Highboard / Sideboard by Wk Möbel

1960s Secretary / Highboard / Sideboard by Wk Möbel

By WK Möbel

Located in Hemiksem, VAN

Rare mid-century secretaire/secretary or highboard from the German WK Möbel. This wooden cabinet

Category

Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - White
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - White

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary 100x60-1 - White

Located in Berlin, BE

Fläpps Secretary (100x60-1). After work, this fully-grown desk folds back up so discretely against the

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary White 80x80-2
Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary White 80x80-2

Fläpps Wall Desk/Secretary White 80x80-2

Located in Berlin, BE

and 80x80-3 be without the small workplace of the Fläpps secretary 80x80-2 with integrated folding

Category

2010s German Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Stainless Steel

Neo-Classical Period Secretary from Hamburg, circa 1805
Neo-Classical Period Secretary from Hamburg, circa 1805

Neo-Classical Period Secretary from Hamburg, circa 1805

Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein

Neo-Classical period secretary from Hamburg, circa 1805. Made of mahogany and other real woods

Category

Antique Early 1800s German Neoclassical Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

  • 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "German Secretary", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

German Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic German secretary available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, hardwood and walnut, every German secretary was constructed with great care. There are 231 variations of the antique or vintage German secretary you’re looking for, while we also have 34 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer German secretary, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A German secretary is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in modern, Baroque and Empire styles are sought with frequency. GMD Berlin, Biedermeier and Martin Mestmacher each produced at least one beautiful German secretary that is worth considering.

How Much is a German Secretary?

Prices for a German secretary start at $42 and top out at $1,492,810 with the average selling for $8,054.

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.

Read More

37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name

Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.

The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home

Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.

What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?

The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.

This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once

Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.

Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition

Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.

Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way

Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.

Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture

In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.

These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project

From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.