Marble Top Louis Xv Secretaire
Antique 1880s French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Secretaires
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Early 1900s French Louis XV Secretaires
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Antique 1850s Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Kingwood, Satinwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks
Bronze
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Cabinets
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Cabinets
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Cabinets
Porcelain, Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Side Tables
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Commodes and Chests of Dra...
Marble, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Cabinets
Bronze
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Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Secretaires
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Rosewood
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Ormolu
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Secretaires
Ormolu
20th Century French Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1860s French Louis XV Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Secretaires
Rosewood
Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Tulipwood
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Secretaires
Tulipwood
Antique Late 19th Century Cabinets
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1910s French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1760s French Louis XV Secretaires
Kingwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Ormolu
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
20th Century French Secretaires
20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Metal, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique Mid-18th Century French Agra Secretaires
Breccia Marble, Bronze
Vintage 1950s French Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer
Antique 1770s French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Kingwood, Rosewood
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Kingwood, Rosewood
Antique 1780s Dutch Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique 1890s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Brass
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Marble, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
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Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 1770s French Louis XV Secretaires
Kingwood, Rosewood
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Secretaires
Rosewood
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Pedestals and Columns
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Marble, Ormolu
Vintage 1910s French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Secretaires
Marble
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Rosewood
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Ormolu
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Wood
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Marble
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Secretaires
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
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Marble, Ormolu
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Kingwood, Wood
Marble Top Louis Xv Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Marble Top Louis Xv Secretaire?
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.
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