$14,800
H 86.5 in W 48 in D 29.25 in
Tessellated Black Marble Brass Inlay Secretary Desk by Maitland Smith
By Maitland Smith
Located in Houston, TX
Maitland Smith 20th Century tessellated black marble Secretary.
Malachite, Brass
NVIN0579 Vintage Maitland Smith Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
The Vintage Maitland Smith Secretary Desk comes in two sections.
Wood, Glass
Extraordinary Maitland Smith Flame Mahogany Secretary
By Maitland Smith
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A superior impressively intricate secretary having amazing details such as satinwood and ebony inlay, leather embossed desk surface, a pair of slide out candle holders, gorgeous neoc...
Mahogany, Satinwood
Sold
H 87 in W 40 in D 25 in
Wonderful Maitland Smith Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk Queen Anne Style
By Maitland Smith
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Wonderful Maitland Smith Chinoiserie decorated secretary desk.
Wood
Sold
H 86 in W 40 in D 22 in
Maitland Smith Black Lacquer & Hermes Orange Interior Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in West Hartford, CT
Maitland Smith 20th Century black lacquer two-piece secretary with coveted Hermes orange interior.
Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 21.5 in W 40.25 in L 21.5 in
Maitland Smith Olive Burlwood Regency Secretary Desk, Made in Italy
By Maitland Smith
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
From Maitland Smith comes this fantastic Hollywood Regency desk made from a patch olive burlwood, made in Italy. This Hollywood Regency style writing desk is detailed with cabriolet ...
Burl
Sold
H 67 in W 37.5 in D 23.25 in
Regency Style Maitland Smith Flame Mahogany Burl Two Part Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in Plainview, NY
This stunning Regency style Maitland Smith flame mahogany secretary desk has two parts.
Brass
Maitland Smith Attributed Inlaid Walnut Venetian Style Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous desk most likely made by Maitland Smith. The tables feature mixed woods used for inlay and a variety of scenes of different people doing many everyday things. The ...
Walnut
Gorgeous Walnut And Ostrich Leather Slant Front Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in Long Branch, NJ
The quality is very nice and the piece could possibly be Maitland Smith or Theodore Alexander however it is not tagged.
Ostrich Leather, Walnut
Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk by Maitland Smith
By Maitland Smith
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Fabulous lacquered chinoiserie secretary made for Maitland Smith. The interior has many individual drawers and compartments.
Hardwood
Maitland Smith Regency Style Leather Top Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in South Bend, IN
Offering a beautiful secretary desk by Maitland Smith. The desk is made from satinwood veneers.
Brass
Maitland Smith Barrel Top Burled Wood Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A barrel top burled wood secretary desk from Maitland Smith. A timeless piece of elegance and functionality.
Wood
Extraordinary Maitland Smith Ornate Flame Mahogany and Inlay Secretary
By Maitland Smith
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A superior impressively intricate secretary having amazing details such as satinwood and ebony inlay, leather embossed desk surface, a pair of slide out candle holders, gorgeous neoc...
Mahogany, Satinwood
Maitland Smith Queen Anne Style Chinosierie Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in Raleigh, NC
Dramatic Maitland Smith Queen Anne style secretary desk with plenty of work space, organizing compartments and storage.
Maitland Smith Queen Anne Style Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in Raleigh, NC
Dramatic Maitland Smith Queen Anne style secretary desk with plenty of work space, organizing compartments and storage.
Giltwood
Maitland Smith Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Black on the outside and Hermes orange on the inside --a beautifully lacquered chinoiserie secretary made for Maitland Smith. The interior has myriad individual drawers and cubbies.
Lacquer Double Dome Secretary
By Maitland Smith
Located in Woodbury, CT
This custom-made secretary by Maitland-Smith is a beautiful work of the lacquer artist.
Lacquer
Certified Maison Bagues Ship Chandelier - iron and crystal
By Maison Baguès
Located in Paris, FR
Certified Maison Baguès Chandelier - iron and crystal Finish: Gold or Silver gilding Re-edition of its old model "Le Bateau". UL listing available for an additional charge.
Crystal, Iron
Classic Tufted Leather King Bed
Located in Westwood, NJ
This stunning bed is upholstered in black leather, offering a smooth, sophisticated feel. The elegant tufted design on the headboard and footboard adds a classic touch, while the Fre...
Leather, Wood
$1,983Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.1 in W 13.98 in D 1.58 in
Venetian Modern Octagonal Small Wall Mirror with Pink Purple Glass and Brass
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cool Venetian style Hollywood Regency octagonal mirror with iridiscent and mirror glass panels. Spain, 1960s This glamorous wall mirrors features a double layered mirror frame made o...
Metal, Brass
$525Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 9.06 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Antique Pair of Silver Peacock Stand, Decoration Object for Home Decor
Located in Wembley, GB
Pair of Silver-Plated Peacock Figurines Hollywood Regency Style, Vintage Luxury A striking pair of silver-plated peacock sculptures, masterfully handcrafted in the classic Hollywood ...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Fine Maitland-Smith Georgian Display Cabinet
By Maitland Smith
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A 20th century Maitland-Smith display cabinet with Georgian style, expertly constructed with figured light, medium, and dark brown veneers for a stately appearance. Features a fluted...
Brass
$68,500 / set
H 0.75 in Dm 10.75 in
Minton Mazarine Extensive Pristine Dinner Service Cobalt Blue & Gold 232 Pcs
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
It's always time to entertain! This is one of the most elegant and versatile patterns imaginable in a Classic and rare Minton cobalt blue pattern with raised paste gold on a white gr...
Porcelain
$500Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 10.75 in D 7.75 in
Vintage Chinese Jade & Quartz Bonsai Tree Sculpture
Located in Plainview, NY
A vintage Chinese Jade and Quartz bonsai tree. Delicately crafted, this bonsai tree boasts beautiful and colorful leaves and petals.The flowers are made on bendable wrapped wires and...
Jade, Quartz
$95,950 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Chrysanthemum Tiffany Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 255 pcs Fitted Chest
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Big Bend, WI
Chrysanthemum (c1880) originally called Indian Chrysanthemum .Tiffany's luxurious Chrysanthemum silver was designed in 1880 by Charles Grosjean. With its flowing curves, swirling ve...
Sterling Silver
A large red coral branch from Wunderkammer, Italy 1870.
Located in Milan, IT
This large branch of Mediterranean coral, 'Corallium Rubrum' is mounted on a gilt bronze base. The creation of the vase-shaped base involves various techniques: lost wax casting, mol...
Coral, Bronze
$3,495
H 28.75 in W 22 in D 16 in
Antique Flemish Dutch Antwerp Red Tortoiseshell Box Cabinet Chest On Stand
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptional Baroque period Flemish or Dutch red tortoiseshell, bone, horn, ebony, and rosewood lift-top chest with drawer, circa 1725, mounted on a later stand. 17th/18...
Bone, Tortoise Shell, Rosewood, Horn, Wood, Ebony
Brass Peacock Sculpture by Sergio Bustamante
By Sergio Bustamante
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Brass peacock sculpture by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante. It comes with original invoice and proof of authenticity numbered 80/100.
Brass, Pewter
Chinoiserie Teabowl Set Circa 1725, Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Reign
Located in seoul, KR
Each teabowl is delicately painted with blue pigments, showcasing scenes of mountains, trees, boats, figures, and animals. The graceful brushstrokes and gentle curves evoke tradition...
Ceramic, Porcelain
$140,000 / set
H 24 in W 44.5 in D 21.5 in
Rare Pair French Retour D'egypt Terracotta Lions Sculptures Statues Los Angeles
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rare Pair French Retour D'egypt Terracotta Lions Sculptures Statues Los Angeles , Exceptional fine pair of Large French Retour D'egypt period terracotta lions, circa 1790-1810. The F...
Terracotta
Fabergé Silver Flatware Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional 77-piece complete service by Fabergé is a rare treasure from the world-renowned firm. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and ...
Silver
$615,728
H 106.3 in W 66.93 in D 22.45 in
‘Grand Psyche’, Monumental Art Nouveau Mirror by Maison Millet
By Claudius Marioton, Maison Millet
Located in London, GB
‘Grand Psyche’, monumental Art Nouveau mirror by Maison Millet French, c. 1900 Height 270cm, width 170cm, depth 57cm This exquisite antique mirror was crafted around 1900 by the e...
Bronze, Ormolu
$45,500Sale Price|30% Off
H 43 in W 18 in D 12 in
Monumental Chinese Green Translucent Serpentine Jade Carved Pagoda Censer
Located in Long Island City, NY
Monumental Chinese serpentine jade carved pagoda censer, early 20th century. A masterfully carved Chinese serpentine pagoda censer. The base of the tripod censer is set upon lion-he...
Jade
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.