Narrow Secretaire
Antique 1870s Italian Renaissance Secretaires
Walnut
20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Brass
2010s French Neoclassical Secretaires
Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Regency Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Glass, Mahogany
Antique 1820s Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Cherry, Walnut
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Padouk
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Empire Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Antique 1880s English Secretaires
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1930s Italian French Provincial Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut
20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Cherry
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires
Kingwood
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Pine
20th Century Italian Georgian Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1950s Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires
Walnut
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1840s English Early Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mahogany
People Also Browsed
2010s Italian Art Deco Wall Mirrors
Brass
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Corner Cupboards
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Vitrines
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Vanities
Wood
2010s American Architectural Elements
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Beds and Bed Frames
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Ukrainian Organic Modern Chairs
Wool, Foam, Wood
2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals
Ash
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
Marble, Onyx, Quartz, Travertine
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Cabinets
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
2010s Renaissance Secretaires
Glass, Mahogany
2010s Italian Other Dressers
Wood
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Revival Cabinets
Marble
Narrow Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Narrow 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.
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.