$9,995
H 75.5 in W 32.75 in D 21 in
Incredible Carved Italian Luigi Frullini Narrow Figural Walnut Secretary Desk
By Luigi Frullini
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This incredible Italian secretary desk, attributed to the renowned 19th-century master carver Luigi Frullini, is a museum-worthy example of Renaissance Revival craftsmanship. Execute...
Walnut
$3,883 / item
H 52.76 in W 24.81 in D 15.75 in
French Directoire Style Narrow Secretary Desk in Wood, Orange Gray Lacquered
Located in Landivy, FR
This Secretary is a handmade modernized interpretation of the French Directoire style at the end of the 18th century. This period design is remarkable with its straight, classical an...
Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
$3,800
H 79 in W 30 in D 19 in
Narrow 30" Wide 4 Drawers Slant Front Secretary Desk w/ Glass Doors Bookcase
By Henredon
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Narrow 30" Wide 4 Drawers Slant Front Secretary Desk w/ Glass Doors Bookcase MINT
Brass
Fine Narrow Classical Secretaire Bookcase, New York
Located in Providence, RI
In order to fill the larger rooms of houses that increased in size during the early 19th century, Classical or Empire case pieces came in larger proportions than their antecedents. T...
Mahogany
19th Century French Secretaire
Located in Nashville, TN
This 19th century narrow French Secretaire features a top drawer which opens to reveal a desk and four operable drawers.
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 74 in W 26 in D 18.5 in
Vintage Narrow Georgian Inlay Mahogany Secretary Desk & Bookcase Secretaire
Located in West Hartford, CT
Expertly hand made in England, this classic Georgian secretary desk has a bookcase above. The original finish s to die for - see pics. It also features delicate banding and a tradit...
Glass, Mahogany
Sold
H 61.03 in W 31.5 in D 16.15 in
19th Century Narrow Biedermeier Secretaire, Walnut, Cherry, Austria circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Narrow Biedermeier writing cabinet, Secretaire Austria (Vienna) Walnut, cherry tree Biedermeier around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 155 x 80 x 41 cm Description: When clos...
Cherry, Walnut
Sold
H 59.85 in W 37.8 in D 18.51 in
19th Century Narrow Biedermeier Secretary, Padouk, Antique Secretaire circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Narrow Biedermeier Secretary Central/Eastern Germany Probably Padouk 19th century, Biedermeier, circa 1825 Dimensions: H x W x D: 152 x 96 x 47 cm Description: Very nice ...
Padouk
Sold
H 55.91 in W 29.53 in D 14.97 in
Late 18th Century Narrow Oak Swedish Study Cabinet / Secretaire in Empire Style
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful and in fully original condition Swedish oak secretaire or study cabinet features black round columns with brass details and a top drawer with brass hangings. Beneath a key-...
Metal, Brass
Sublime Narrow Tall English Antique Secretary with Shell Decoration
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Incredibly pretty tall narrow English secretary having gorgeous bookshelf top with original glass and slant front that opens to reveal exquisite cubbies and drawers as well as a tool...
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Sold
H 55.5 in W 30 in D 15 in
French Neoclassical Style 19th Century Secrétaire with Arabesques and Flowers
Located in Atlanta, GA
Created in France during the 19th century, this painted secrétaire features a narrow drawer at the top sitting above a drop front desk adorned with a bouquet of flowers surrounded by...
Wood
Sold
H 72.5 in W 26 in D 16 in
Narrow Venetian Italian Circassian Walnut Mirrored Secretary Desk, circa 1930
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful desk with a great narrow width that's perfect for smaller spaces or an entryway. The secretary is in good original condition with a fine aged patina on the mirror...
Walnut
Sold
H 63.39 in W 37.41 in D 19.3 in
Narrow German Biedermeier Secretary with Secret Drawer, Walnut, circa 1840
Located in Greven, DE
Narrow antique Biedermeier cabinet with secret compartment Hesse/Palatinate Walnut etc. Biedermeier around 1840 Dimensions: H x W x D: 161 x 95 x 49 cm Description: Narro...
Walnut
French Faux Bamboo Cherry Bookcase/Secrtaire
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a warm, mellow French faux bambooLouis XVI style bookcase/secretaire. The narrow molded cornice and prominent frieze are positioned over two glazed cabinet doors with figure-...
Cherry
Sold
H 33 in W 25.5 in D 10.5 in
Parquetry Kingwood Secretaire Cabinet Cupboard - shallow narrow depth
Located in London, by appointment only
France, circa 1850. A fine 19th century secretaire cabinet veneered in book matched kingwood veneers, the upper section with a fold out writing surface and three leather fronted b...
Kingwood
Sold
H 53.94 in W 37.01 in D 14.97 in
Narrow Antique Biedermeier Secretaire In Pine Sweden Late 19th Century
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Note that this cabinet has a narrow shape what makes it very easy to place into tiny spaces.
Pine
Sold
H 60.5 in W 26 in D 17 in
Narrow Width Antique Italian Provincial Secretary Desk with Lined Surfaces
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a very narrow Italian secretary desk with one door containing 2 shelves, 10 drawers, and a drop desk. Its perfect for small spaces and is beautiful because of its simpilicty ...
Wood
Sold
H 40.5 in W 25.25 in D 21 in
Narrow Raised Lacquer Black Chinoiserie Slatfront Secretary Desk circa 1950
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Walnut
Sold
H 89 in W 35 in D 21 in
Tall Narrow English Turn of Century Mahogany Georgian Secretary Beveled Glass
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Turn of the century mahogany Georgian two part secretary leather top desk writing table with individual beveled glass panes.
Mahogany
19th Century Mahogany Campaign Secretaire Chest
Located in Eindhoven, NL
It is unusual to have a small narrow drawer above the secretaire drawer. This makes the whole chest more refined to see.
Mahogany
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
$5,023 / item
H 56.11 in W 25.6 in D 19.1 in
Arcate sideboard, in Canaletto walnut by Accardibuccheri Medulum for Medulum
By Mauro Accardi & Silvia Buccheri
Located in Meolo, Venezia
Il settimanale Arcate fa parte di una collezione esclusiva che include comodini e comò, ideata dal rinomato studio milanese Accardi Buccheri per il brand MEDULUM. La scocca, realizza...
Walnut
French 19th Century Walnut Secretary Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A wonderful walnut secretary desk from 19th century France. The desk can be separated into two bodies: a lower writing surface, and the upper glass-front cabinet. The top cabinet ha...
Walnut, Leather, Glass
$3,995
H 63.5 in W 29 in D 16.5 in
Antique 17th Century Dutch Carved Ebonized Oak Credence Cabinet on Stand 1680
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique late 17th Century carved ebonized oak cabinet on stand, circa 1680. Such cabinets are commonly referred to as credence or chalice cabinets, referring to a ecclesiastic...
Oak
19th Century Spanish Baroque Style Oak Library Table or Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Handsome oak library piece that can be used as a desk or Work table. Made of oak having carved gadrooned edges. A stretcher made of iron. Carved on all sides and five drawers ox bow ...
Oak
French 19th Century Ebonized & Inlay Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Louis XVI style drop front secretary from the 1800s has impressive etched brass inlay on its exterior, which is made even more dramatic by the deep ebonized finish. The t...
Marble, Brass
$187,500
H 102 in W 84.5 in D 22.5 in
Exceptional 19th Century English Chinoiserie Pagoda Display Cabinet
Located in Houston, TX
Large-scale 19th century English display cabinet executed in the Chinoiserie tradition. Constructed in carved mahogany and conceived as a tripartite architectural façade, each glazed...
Glass, Mahogany
French Faux Bamboo Secretaire à Abattant, or Drop Front Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A French secrétaire à abattant, or drop front secretary desk, with the case made of birdseye maple veneer over solid oak and the faux bamboo details made of turned cherry wood. Four ...
Brass
$34,192
H 70.87 in W 73.23 in D 88.19 in
Bed Tester Spanish Baroque Carved Dark Green & Gilded Leather Superking 6ft180cm
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rare, Spanish Demi-Tester, Baroque Bed With Carved, Green Painted & Gilded Posts 181cm, 6ft High, Floral Painted Leather Headboard, sold with custom made box spring mattress base, ac...
Giltwood, Paint
$16,500
H 86.5 in W 35.5 in D 18.5 in
English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secr...
Glass, Wood
$164,126
H 90.95 in W 61.03 in D 77.56 in
IMPORTANT BISHOP JAMES STANLEY 1508 KING HENRY VII ENGLiSH OAK TUDOR TESTER BED
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly important, Museum quality, English Tudor King Henry VII Oak tester bed made for an...
Oak
20th Century Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Biedermeier style secretaire Delicate secretaire in Biedermeier style. Tulip veneer, partially blackened, on solid pinewood. Blackened full-columns. (L-Sam-42).
Wood, Pine
Unavailable|$91,488
H 69.3 in W 40.95 in D 35.83 in
Genoese Cabinet Called Stipo From The Renaissance Period In Walnut - 16th Centur
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Exceptional Genoese cabinet called stipo "a bambocci" from the Italian Renaissance in walnut from the end of the 16th century with its original base Museum quality piece Provenance:...
Walnut
$2,738Sale Price|20% Off
H 59.26 in W 49.41 in D 20.67 in
Henri 2 Cabinet or Secretaire in Sculpted Oak Renaissance Style, 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Rare cabinet desk Henri II style in carved oak. The base is made up of two boxes each with a drawer and a door carved and framed by columns. On the wooden top rests the cabinet treat...
Oak
Biedermeier secretaire, circa 1830
Located in London, GB
A Biedermeier secre´taire a` abattant of unusual tapered form, goncalo alves with ebonized, inlaid and pewter decoration, and an enclosed fitted interior, Russian/Baltic, circa 1830.
Pewter
20th Century Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Delicate secretaire in Biedermeier style. Maple root on solid pinewood. Interior, blackened full-columns, plastic shown in squared form. (L-Sam-41).
Wood, Maple, Pine
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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