Louis Philippe Secretary
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Bookcases
Glass, Hardwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Carrara Marble, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Cabinets
Marble, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble, Iron
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1860s European Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1810s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique 1860s French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Wood, Walnut
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Empire Secretaires
Metal
Antique Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Cherry
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of...
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Birdseye Maple, Walnut, Leather
Antique Late 19th Century French Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Antique 19th Century Louis Philippe Secretaires
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Dr...
Marble
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Antique 1830s Danish Louis Philippe Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Belgian Black Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Antique 1850s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble, Metal
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Oak, Nutwood, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of D...
Marble
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 1840s French Secretaires
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of D...
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Carrara Marble
Vintage 1910s Norwegian Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks
Antique 19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Paperweights
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Louis Philippe Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Italian Louis Philippe Secretaires
Maple, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century European Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
Antique 1860s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Faux Leather, Walnut, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires
Pine
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Louis Philippe Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Louis Philippe Secretary?
A Close Look at Louis-philippe Furniture
Known as the “Citizen King,” Louis Philippe reigned from 1830 to the Revolution of 1848 with the support of the upper bourgeoisie. Whereas the monarchs of 18th-century France, including Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, dictated aesthetics through the decadence of the aristocratic court, Louis Philippe had a more down-to-earth presence. He could be seen walking the streets like an ordinary person, carrying his own umbrella and shaking hands with subjects. Antique Louis Philippe–style furniture reflects a sense of simplicity and the sovereign’s passion for the country’s history, such as his establishment of a Museum of the History of France at Versailles, which had been mostly disused since the French Revolution.
Middle Ages, Gothic and Renaissance design informed a nationalist style that celebrated this heritage, with the hodgepodge of influences becoming prevalent in the homes of the bourgeoisie. Cabinetmakers Guillaume and Jean-Michel Grohé created reproductions of historic pieces for the king as well as royal houses abroad. Louis Philippe commissioned sculptor François Rude to create patriotic monuments that paid tribute to military heroes, while designs for furniture published by Claude-Aimé Chenavard, an ornamentalist who conceived widely loved objects for the Sèvres manufactory, further helped spread a revival of Renaissance style.
The rounded profiles of authentic Louis Philippe tables and chairs were preferred in the apartments rather than palaces being furnished by the affluent middle and upper classes. Ornamentation was minimal on the finely crafted pieces, such as large rectangular mirrors adorned with gold and silver leaf finishes and subdued carvings. The popular Louis Philippe commodes were solidly made with clean lines that showed off the grain of the wood and were often topped with marble surfaces.
Find a collection of antique Louis Philippe seating, dining tables, bedroom furniture and other items on 1stDibs.
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.