$2,450Sale Price|30% Off
H 73 in W 40 in D 29.5 in
Antique Early 19th Century Plantation Desk Secretary + Bookcase Hutch Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
An exceptional mid to early 19th century primitive American Plantation writing desk / hutch
Poplar, Pine
Antique Sheraton Mahogany Plantation Secretary c. Mid 19th Century
Located in Westfield, MA
A rare and beautifully proportioned mid-19th century Sheraton plantation sec retary, this piece
Mahogany
Sold
H 82 in W 38 in D 22.5 in
Antique Early American 19th C Plantation Desk Secretary Bookcase Hutch Cupboard
Located in Dayton, OH
An exquisite Early American Plantation, clerk or mail Desk, Circa mid 19th C.. This exceptional 2
Glass, Hardwood
Sold
H 70 in W 45 in D 28.5 in
Antique Early American 19th C Plantation Writing Desk Secretary Cabinet Cupboard
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful plantation or secretary desk featuring primitive styling with upper cabinet or bookcase
Poplar, Walnut
Antique Federal Period Maple Plantation Secretary c. 1830
Located in Westfield, MA
This Federal period plantation secretary, crafted in solid maple, dates to circa 1830 and reflects
Maple
Sold
H 80.5 in W 52.5 in D 24.5 in
French Provincial Plantation Style Walnut Secretary Desk and Bookcase, 19th C.
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This early (circa 1830) French Provincial plantation style walnut secretary desk and bookcase
Brass
Early 20th Century American Plantation Desk
Located in Astoria, NY
A vintage "plantation desk" or secretary in wood. The piece has a single pull out drawer with wood
Wood
Sold
H 44 in W 31 in D 28 in
Antique Cherry & Tiger Maple New England Sheraton Plantation Desk/Secretary 1820
Located in Portland, OR
Antique cherry and tiger maple New England, Sheraton, plantation desk/secretary, circa 1820. To the
Cherry, Maple
Sold
H 78 in W 49.21 in D 34.84 in
French Provincial Plantation Style Walnut Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
This early (circa 1830) French Provincial plantation style walnut secretary desk This is an
Walnut
Sold
H 41.34 in W 45.28 in D 21.66 in
French Provincial Plantation Style Walnut Secretary Desk with Shelves
Located in Miami, FL
This early (circa 1830) French Provincial plantation style walnut secretary desk is an especially
Walnut
$980Sale Price|30% Off
H 38.5 in W 21 in D 16 in
Rare Antique Edwardian Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Filing Cabinet Console 39"
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare Antique Edwardian filing cabinet secretary desk / console / music stand. Made of mahogany featuring a unique stacked design with upper secretary and lower filing cabinets. Pat...
Mahogany
19th Century mahogany inlaid writing desk
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality 19th Century mahogany inlaid writing desk, the super structure comprising of three mahogany lined drawers either side with the original turned brass knob handles and...
Mahogany
$2,625Sale Price|30% Off
H 41.5 in W 42.5 in D 21.5 in
Antique Georgian Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Writing Desk Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Exquisite antique early 19th century secretary writing storage desk. Made of flame mahogany featuring Georgian styling with three large dovetailed drawers and a drop front that open...
Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
Antique Burr Walnut Leather Top Kidney Shaped Desk
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique burr walnut leather top kidney shaped desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1920’s period. The quality is outstanding, this has a beautiful de...
Leather, Walnut
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Leather Top Kidney Shaped Desk
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and rare antique Victorian burr walnut leather top kidney shaped desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1860-1880 period. The quality is outstanding, t...
Leather, Walnut
French 19th Century Round Walnut Drop Leaf Dining Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A round walnut drop leaf dining table, made in France circa 1850. The table is made of solid walnut with wonderfully expressed graining and boards which were book matched for continu...
Brass
Antique Burr Walnut Leather Top Desk
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique burr walnut leather top desk in the Queen Anne style. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1930’s. It is of superb quality, with beautiful and intri...
Leather, Walnut
$1,230
H 6.5 in W 17 in D 10 in
19th C. English Victorian Brass-Inlaid Burlwood Writing Desk with Inkwells
By James Allen
Located in Morristown, NJ
A finely constructed 19th-century English portable writing slope, crafted in richly figured burlwood with a contrasting mahogany crossbanded edge and a central brass escutcheon. The ...
Brass
Antique Victorian Mahogany Inlaid Kidney Desk 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a delightful antique Victorian flame mahogany kidney shaped kneehole desk, Circa 1880 in date. The free standing desk features satinwood and box woodline inlay and banding. ...
Mahogany, Satinwood
$8,643
H 38.39 in W 52.17 in D 25.2 in
Antique Edwardian Satin wood & Floral Painted Carlton House Writing Desk
Located in London, GB
This is a truly exceptional antique Edwardian Sheraton Revival hand painted and inlaid satin wood Carlton House Desk, circa 1900 in date. This exquisite desk is made from the finest...
Satinwood
Edwardian Mahogany Carlton House Desk
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality Edwardian mahogany Carlton House desk, having an inset leather writing surface, above an arrangement of seven drawers, each with brass handles, standing on...
Mahogany
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Vanity, Circa 1920s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style vanity or writing desk By Romweber USA, Circa 1920s Stunning book-matched exotic burled Narra wood, with carved cabriole legs, and ...
Brass
Antique English Regency Mahogany Butlers Secretary c. 1820
Located in Westfield, MA
This exquisite English Regency mahogany butler’s secretary, dating to circa 1820, captures the grandeur and functionality of early 19th-century design. The mahogany boasts a rich, de...
Mahogany
Victorian Figured Walnut Ladies Writing Bureau or Bonheur de Jour
Located in Montreal, QC
This desk is both highly decorative and unusually functional. The well-figured walnut is complemented by delicate inlays. It is diminutive and interestingly designed. Instead of a fi...
Wood
19th Century Carlton House Satinwood Desk
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
19th Century fine quality Edwardian Satinwood Carlton desk. It has a pierced brass gallery to the top and marquetry inlay depicting musical instruments covering the whole of this des...
Satinwood
19th Century Walnut Italian Writing Desk with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th Century Walnut Italian Writing Desk with Marquetry Inlay is a stunning piece of furniture that exudes elegance and sophistication. Made from high-quality walnut wood, this d...
Walnut
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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