Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary
By Giovanni Gariboldi, Marelli & Colico, Paolo Buffa
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paolo Buffa, Secretary, Italy c. 1948, Brass Intarsia by Giovanni Gariboldi, Manufactured by Marelli e Colico, Cantù.
Brass
Italian secretary attributed to Paolo Buffa circa 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in PARIS, FR
A beautiful Italian secretary attributed to Paolo Buffa circa 1950 Top with brass stars decorations Nice condition
Brass
$12,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 85.75 in W 42.5 in D 19.5 in
Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary, by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A fine example of a Mid-Century rosewood secretary by Italian designer, Paola Buffa (1903-1970) and brass intarsia inlay by artist Giovanni Gariboldi (1908-1971). The upper case with...
Brass
$51,000 / set
H 46 in W 40.75 in D 15.75 in
Paolo Buffa Pair of Cabinets, Dry-Bar Cabinet and Secretary, circa 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional and rare pair of Paolo Buffa, Italy, circa 1950 mahogany cabinets with molded front panels, rectangular top and dentil carved moldings.
Brass
$12,500Sale Price|30% Off
H 87 in W 42.5 in D 20 in
Paolo Buffa & Giovanni Gariboldi Inlaid Brass Secretary Cabinet c 1950, Restored
By Paolo Buffa, Giovanni Garibaldi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Experience the elegance of mid-20th century Italian craftsmanship with this beautifully restored secretary cabinet, crafted circa 1950. Designed by the renowned Italian artist Paolo ...
Brass
Unavailable
Paolo Buffa Secretary Palisander
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Rimini, IT
important palisander Bar/Secretary by Paolo Buffa Brass feet,mirrored The price including shipping store to door worldwide
Paolo Buffa Rosewood Secretary
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom two-piece rosewood secretary with bronze inlay by Giovanni Garibaldi. Original finish, restoration to veneer.
Brass
PAOLO BUFFA Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very unique and rare piece from one of the greats--Paolo Buffa.
Be the only one with this one of a kind collector's item!
Bronze
Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Kingwood Secretary
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Mid-Century kingwood and floral inlaid trimmed secretary cabinet with 4 oval shaped glass panel doors over a slant front desk with drawers and bronze trim (Attributed to PAOL...
Bronze
1950's Paolo Buffa Brass-Inlaid Mahogany Secretary
By Giovanni Gariboldi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Queens, NY
Attributed to Italian designer Paolo Buffa, this mahogany slant front secretary cabinet has a fluted form, two door lower section, and two door upper divided into eight glass panels.
Brass
Sold
H 47.64 in W 31.5 in D 16.15 in
Art Deco Italian Paolo Buffa black and white couple of Cabinets Secretaries
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind pair of cabinet-secretaire in black lacquer wood and parchement attibuted to Paolo Buffa (Milan, Italy, 1903-1970). The furniture designed by the Milanese architect...
Leather, Wood, Lacquer, Parchment Paper
Sold
H 49.61 in W 31.5 in D 17.33 in
Paolo Buffa Important Cabinet Secretarie in Maple and Brass, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Important secretary by Paolo Buffa in maple and brass from 1950.
Brass
Rare Secretary - Custom Designed by Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Rosewood Cabinet with Bronze Inlays and Sabotz. Ribbed lower doors open to reveal mirrored shelving. Center drop front door opens to a satinwood lined desk with 6 drawers...
Drop Front Secretary Custom Designed by Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Rosewood Cabinet w/ Classic Lines & Bronze Inlays. Bombay Front w/ Ribbed Cabinet Doors that Open to Reveal Mirrored Interior. Center Section w/ Drop Front Door Opens to Re...
Secretary by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Chicago, IL
Secretary by Paolo Buffa
Brass
Paolo Buffa Italian Secretary Rosewood, Restored
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Paolo Buffa Italian Rosewood Secretary Trumeau with Giovanni Gariboldi inlay, circa 1948, two bottom doors, flap door in the middle section and windowed doors.
Rosewood
An Important Rosewood Secretary By Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
An important veneered and carved rosewood fall front secretary. The maple veneered interior with two drawers.
Literature: Guglielmo Ulrich, Arredatori contemporanei, M...
A bar and secretary sideboard by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
An extraordinary shaped flap front rosewood veneered sideboard by Milanese architect Paolo Buffa. The two flaps with a framed print on each center concealing a maple veneered secreta...
Brass
Important Rosewood Drop Front Bureau or Secretary by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Veneered and carved impressive rosewood secretary by Paolo Buffa, on elegant tapered legs.
Maple, Rosewood
A Secretary by Paolo Buffa with inlays by Giovanni Gariboldi
By Paolo Buffa, Giovanni Garibaldi
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
A small secretary by Paolo Buffa with a floral inlay on the flap front by Giovanni Gariboldi.
Brass
$1,650 / item
H 16.1 in Dm 11.5 in
'Plissé White Edition' Pleated Textile Table Lamp by Folkform for Örsjö
By Örsjö Industri AB
Located in Glendale, CA
'Plissé White Edition' pleated textile table lamp by Folkform for Örsjö. This unique table lamp was awarded “Lighting of the Year 2022” by Residence Magazine Sweden, who called it “...
Textile
$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
Chic 'Méandre' Gilt Bronze Side Chair by Design Frères
By Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Undulating 'Méandre' gilt bronze finish side chair by Design Frères. Gilt bronze finish over steel frame. Natural linen upholstered cushion with contrasting piping. Chic and unders...
Steel
$6,907 / set
H 24.01 in Dm 13.78 in
Pair of Constant Night Stands in Iroko Wood by Master Studio for Lemon
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Neatly proportioned with exceptional detailing, the constant nightstand is your perfect bedside partner. In our furniture making, the IDEA is to create special pieces that you can bu...
Hardwood
Rosso Wall Mirror
By Specchi Veneziani
Located in Milan, IT
Crafted in the finest Murano tradition, this exquisite Venetian mirror is a true work of art. Assembled with crystal and gold elements, and adorned with red glass flowers, each piece...
Glass
Pair of 70s Style Italian Bamboo and Brass Table Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Monumental size Bamboo lamps. Crafted in Italy and made to order, these lamps are modern and chic. Production lead time 2-4 weeks. Base diameter 8 inches, hat diameter 20 inches, he...
Brass
$2,931Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 31.5 in Dm 27.56 in
Rigadin Chandelier 5 Arms encased Ivory Murano Glass Edgar by Multiforme
By Multiforme
Located in Trebaseleghe, IT
Edgar chandelier, 5 lights, Ivory encased rigadin Murano glass by Multiforme Edgar Murano glass chandelier is one of those chandeliers in our collections that stands out thanks to it...
Blown Glass
Italian Walnut Stool, circa 1940
Located in New York, NY
An Italian walnut stool with an elliptical shaped carved structure supporting the seat; newly upholstered in an Italian cream cotton fabric. Northern Italy, circa 1940 Size: 18" hi...
Fabric, Walnut
$2,622Sale Price|25% Off
H 58.27 in W 89.77 in D 20.08 in
Italian Sideboard Style of Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Budapest, HU
A wonderful multifunctional Italian sideboard cabinet bar style of Paolo Buffa, 1950s.
Wood
English Painted Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Wonderful early 19th century English painted breakfront bookcase. Good carved decoration and astragal glazing. Fitted with adjustable shelving. 1830. Code: 8693 Dimensions: W: 81.5...
Oak, Pine
IVY Cabinet, Cherry, Brass, Josef Frank
Located in Miami, FL
IVY Cabinet by Dosbananos. Two-door cabinet covered in original Josef Frank 'Paradiset' wallpaper. Cherry wood with brass hinges and brass stretchers. Cabinet has four adjustable she...
Brass
Mid-Century Folding Bar Cabinet, Italy circa 1950s
Located in New York, NY
An Italian modernist folding bar cabinet. Bar folds open in the middle and is finished on all sides to be free standing. Mahogany, teak, patinated brass details.
Mahogany
$16,624 / item
H 53.15 in W 125.99 in D 59.06 in
Oval Brass and Parchment Chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires
By Diego Mardegan
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful chandelier by Diego Mardegan for Glustin Luminaires, this other version of the spider chandelier has longer arms on the sides giving the oval shape. The metal arms paint...
Metal, Brass
$1,685Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 24.81 in D 29.53 in
Small Gray Velvet Armchair Italy 1950s Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Bedroom armchair Paolo Buffa Italy 1950s
Velvet
$7,700
H 52 in W 48 in D 20 in
19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan
By Karl Johan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Biedermeier writing agency, secretary table made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany with a writing flap, designed by Karl-Johan in goo...
Metal, Brass
Art Deco Burlwood Wardrobe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Deco burlwood armoire cabinet. The doors retain their original door latches, handles and working lock and key. Made in UK circa 1930s.
Burl
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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