Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Mahogany
Early 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Wood
Late 19th Century British Edwardian Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Mahogany
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Wood
19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Marble, Brass
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Ash
1850s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Mahogany
18th Century English George III Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Bronze
Early 19th Century European Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Brass
1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Kingwood, Rosewood
Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Brass
1770s German Louis XVI Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Walnut
Late 18th Century Classical Roman Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Wood, Oak, Walnut
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Brass
Late 18th Century American Sheraton Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Mahogany
18th Century English George III Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Brass
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Bronze
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Walnut
18th Century Dutch Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Brass, Bronze
19th Century English Sheraton Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Brass
19th Century French Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Mirror, Wood
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Marble, Ormolu
1840s European Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Elm
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Wood, Boxwood, Rosewood
1810s Danish Empire Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Mahogany
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Leather, Birch, Cherry
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Brass
1760s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Bronze, Enamel
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments
Marble, Bronze
Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Antique Secretary Desk With Hidden Compartments?
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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