Swedish Gustavian Secretary, circa 1790
Located in Huntington, NY
A two part Swedish Gustavian secretary. The bonnet top consists of an impressive overhanging arched
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Brass, Iron
Swedish Gustavian Secretary, circa 1790
Located in Huntington, NY
A two part Swedish Gustavian secretary. The bonnet top consists of an impressive overhanging arched
Brass, Iron
Early 19th Century Stunning Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is a stunning early 19th century Swedish Gustavian secretary. This secretary features a newer
Brass
Swedish Gustavian Secretary Cabinet, Late 18th/Early 19th Century
Located in Stockholm, SE
A rare and finely crafted two-part Gustavian secretary cabinet from Sweden, dating from the late
Oak, Pine
Gustavian Secretary Desk in Black-Painted Pine – Sweden, c. 1790
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary desk crafted in black-painted pine with brass fittings. The upper section
Brass
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretary with Fall-Front, Black and Coral
Located in Kastrup, DK
A fine Gustavian secretary crafted in black-painted pine with a striking coral-red interior. The
Brass
Swedish Gustavian Secretary Desk, Solid Pine, Antique, Circa 1850
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish country secretary desk in gustavian style from around 1850. Beautiful and genuine country
Pine
19th Century Swedish antique rustic Gustavian Secretary with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
A Swedish antique rustic Gustavian slant front secretary from early 19th century that is perfect
Pine
$2,958Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary / Writing Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Swedish Gustavian Secretary / Writing Desk from early 19th century A rectangular top sitting above
Brass
Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing
Wood
Continental Gustavian Painted Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Gustavian-style (Possibly Swedish/ Danish 18th Century) off-white painted secretary
Wood
19th Century Gustavian-style Secretary Bookcase
Located in Solebury, PA
A stunning 19th-century Gustavian painted secretary bookcase, adorned with an elegant arched top
Wood, Paint
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
Swedish Gustavian 19th Century Painted Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A generously sized 19th century secretary desk from Sweden, made in the Gustavian style, with a
Pine
Swedish Gustavian Painted Secretary Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gustavian Painted Secretary Cabinet Bookcase, Sweden Antique Swedish secretary cabinet in
Brass
$2,640Sale Price|20% Off
Gustavian Style Painted Light Blue Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Gustavian Style Painted Light Blue Secretary Desk Cabinet
Wood
$2,396Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
This beautiful and unique 19th century Swedish Gustavian writing desk is perfect for any room or
Wood, Pine, Paint
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Two Part Painted Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand late 18th century Swedish gustavian period two-part secretaire cabinet or bookcase crafted
Iron
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Secretary - Antique Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretary made of hand crafted painted
Metal
18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Gray Painted Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish slant-front secretary with library from the Gustavian period in two parts, circa 1790. A
Brass
Antique Genuine Swedish Secretary Cabinet, in Rococo and Gustavian Style
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique secretary cabinet from northern Sweden. The cabinet is a genuine country furniture
Pine
Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Painted Slant Front Secretary with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood secretary from the late 18th century, with slant front desk
Brass
Guy Chaddock Gustavian Slant-Front Maple Secretary Desk
By Guy Chaddock
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Swedish Gustavian or Rustic European style slant front secretary desk By Guy Chaddock
Brass
Guy Chaddock Gustavian Slant-Front Maple Secretary Desk
By Guy Chaddock
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Swedish Gustavian or Rustic European style slant front secretary desk By Guy Chaddock
Brass
18th Century Black Swedish Gustavian One Part Pine Bureau - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretaire made of hand crafted painted
Metal, Bronze
Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front & Birch Interior
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very lovely Louis Philippe fall-front secretary in pine with a light Gustavian-grey/white painted
Brass
$3,520Sale Price|20% Off
Swedish Secretary Bureau
Located in South Salem, NY
A late 19th century Swedish secretary bureau with a drop front writing surface. Two over three
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Early 19th Century Swedish secretary. Doors carved with decorative detailing and opening to shelf
Wood
19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary Circa 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
functionality should be verified. This Gustavian clock secretary is not only a functional piece of furniture
Pine, Paint
Antique Swedish Secretary Cabinet 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk with open book shelves above the fall front desk and bottom
Wood
19th Century Swedish Blue Oak Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak secretary is a striking statement piece with panel doors, dramatic bonnet, and traditional
Brass
18th Century Antique Swedish Red Painted Baroque Secretary
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A two-tiered wooden cabinet from the 18th century Swedish Gustavian period. The top door opens to
Wood
Mid 19th Century Swedish Blue Painted Pine Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
Mid 19th-century Swedish pine secretary with newer professionally applied layered blue exterior
Pine
Late 18th-Century Scandinavian Two-Part Secretary, Circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
This rare Scandinavian two-part secretary dates to the late 18th century and exemplifies the
Glass, Wood
18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Swedish neoclassical painted secretary desk will make the perfect addition to your
Steel
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
Late 18th Century Swedish Secretary Cabinet with Historic Paint
Located in South Salem, NY
Splendid early antique Gustavian style secretary cabinet, made in Sweden, circa late 19th century
Brass
Tall Oak Secretary Bureau from Sweden, circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
This 7' tall oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with an elaborate carved pediment
Brass
Secretary in Mahogany With Inlaid wood and Brass Handles from the 1790s
Located in Lejre, DK
Light mahogany secretary decorated with inlaid wood decorations and brass handles from around the
Mahogany
Oak Secretary Bureau With Painted Finish from Sweden circa 1760-1800
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak secretary or "bureau" reflects the grace and class of Swedish styling from the early 1800
Brass
$5,530Sale Price|30% Off
19th c. Swedish Secretary with Vitrine Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A charming Swedish vitrine bureau secreatry made in two parts from the 19th century. Original paint on the exterior and later interior paint. The glass was replaced some time ago. Th...
Wood, Paint
$9,560Sale Price|20% Off
Swedish 1770s Baroque Period Light Gray Painted Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Baroque tall secretary from circa 1770, with slant front desk, light Gustavian gray
Glass, Wood
Unavailable|$6,900
Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in Fredericksburg, TX
Charming Swedish Gustavian Secretary with original paint. Both doors are marked with the year the
Wood
Unavailable|$9,600
Swedish Gustavian Two-Part Secretary with Pierced Cornice
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1770. The upper section has double doors
Wood
Unavailable|$8,500
Swedish Antique Secretary Cabinet
Located in Stamford, CT
Swedish antique secretary cabinet constructed with a two door cabinet over a bottom two door
Wood
Unavailable|$6,600
Period Swedish Secretary from Ångermanland
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderful rural interpretation of the late Gustavian style in a two part secretary from
Brass
Unavailable|$1,895
Stunning Lacquered Inlay Secretary with Gorgeous Hardware
Located in Memphis, TN
Bring the grandeur into your home with this fantastic secretary desk with stunning marquetry design
Wood
Unavailable|$995
1800s Tall Secretary with Lower Chest of Drawers
Located in Memphis, TN
1800s tall secretary with lower chest of drawers. Gorgeous wood grain on dresser face, bun feet
Wood
Unavailable|$1,695
Early 1800s Swedish Pine Secretary with Original Brass Hardware
Located in Memphis, TN
Early 1800s Swedish pine secretary with original brass hardware. Substantial and gorgeous, the
Pine
Unavailable|$1,595
1800s Burl Wood Veneered Tall Secretary with Black Trim Throughout
Located in Memphis, TN
Tall secretary from 1800s. Beautiful burl wood veneered drawer and cabinet facing with detailed
Wood, Burl
Sold|$3,895
Swedish Gustavian Secretary Cabinet
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian secretary cabinet. Its been restored and repainted with milk paint.
Wood
Sold|$3,295
Swedish Gustavian Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian secretary hutch. Its been restored and repainted with milk paint.
Wood
Sold|$9,800
Gustavian Secretary Chest
Located in New York City, NY
Swedish Gustavian secretary. Drop-front opens to desk with fitted interior drawers and cubbyholes
Brass
Sold|$3,695
Swedish Gustavian Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian secretary Hutch, it’s been restored and repainted with milk paints
Wood
Sold|$8,125
A 19th c. Gustavian Secretary - SOLD
Located in Atlanta, GA
A painted Gustavian secretary.
Sold|$7,350
19th Century Gustavian Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Period 19th century Gustavian secretary. Featuring a carved pediment that sits above two doors
Wood
Sold|$6,261
Unusually Small Period Gustavian Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
An unusually small period Gustavian secretary. The top two doors open to storage units, decorated
Wood
19th Century Swedish Provincial Gustavian Secretary Cabinet
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th Century Swedish provincial Gustavian secretary cabinet with carved pediment. Featuring two
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretary Cabinet
Located in Berlin, DE
This small and early 19th century Swedish Gustavian secretary was scratched back to its original
Pine
Sold|$6,800
Antique Gustavian Secretary Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Antique Gustavian drop-front secretary cabinet, hand-crafted in the early 19th Century in Sweden
Wood
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.