Secretaire Abattant Walnut
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Vintage 1970s American Louis XV Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Revival Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century English Directoire Jewelry Boxes
Walnut
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1870s French Empire Revival Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century European Secretaires
Walnut, Pine
Antique 19th Century American Secretaires
Walnut, Pine, Bone
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Rosewood, Walnut, Leather
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1780s Dutch Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Brass
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique 18th Century French Other Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Restauration Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century European Biedermeier Desks
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Belgian Black Marble
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Baltic Secretaires
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Rosewood, Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1840s French Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires
Antique 1840s Danish Biedermeier Secretaires
Antique 19th Century Desks
Bronze
Antique 19th Century American Neoclassical Desks
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1830s French Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
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2010s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Armchairs
Sheepskin, Giltwood, Upholstery
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Revival Vitrines
Mahogany
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Canapes
Upholstery, Giltwood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Vitrines
Bronze
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Maple
Antique 1840s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Baize, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Maple
Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X Bergere Chairs
Mahogany
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Console Tables
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Secretaire Abattant Walnut For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Secretaire Abattant Walnut?
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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