19th Century American Mahogany Serpentine Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
A late 19th Century American mahogany serpentine slant front secretary bureau desk. Nice quality mahogany, dovetails drawers and ball and claw feet.
Brass
18th Century Danish Rococo Secretary with Serpentine Front, circa 1760
Located in Atlanta, GA
An exceptional 18th century Danish Rococo secretary dating to circa 1760 and featuring an elegant serpentine front with beautifully refined proportions.
Wood
18th Century Painted Oak Secretary, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece with paneled doors, crown and three large lower serpentine drawers.
Brass
18th century Swedish rococo secretary with original locks and keys.
Located in Brenham, TX
Swedish serpentine front rococo secretary with original hardware and locks.
Oak
Black Painted Baroque Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau, circa 1780-1810
Located in Round Top, TX
Note the heavily carved panel doors and the large curvaceous lower three serpentine drawers. The entire secretary has been given a professional custom layered black painted finish wh...
Brass
Fine Antique French Louis XV Marquetry Rosewood Ormolu Secretaire Abattant 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality antique French Louis XV rosewood, marquetry, ormolu and marble topped secretaire abattant, circa 1880. The serpentine shaped secretary is modeled as a semainier (...
Marble, Ormolu
Fall-Front Desk in West Indies Mahogany, Attrib to Gustav Friederich von Hetsch
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very lovely secretary with serpentine front in beautiful West Indies/ Cuban mahogany attributable to Danish architect and painter, Gustav Friederich von Hetsch (1788-1864).
Mahogany
Italian 18th Century Baroque Secretary
Located in Bantam, CT
A fine North Italian Baroque 18th century olivewood and ebonized secretary bookcase with serpentine front to the secretary base, ebonized highlights and Baroque cornice.
Olive
Sold
H 80 in W 33 in D 18 in
Antique Walnut Serpentine Secretary Desk Chippendale Style Bookcase Oxbow
Located in Dayton, OH
A gorgeous serpentine front one piece secretary desk. Made from American walnut.
Glass, Walnut
Sold
H 76 in W 17 in D 31.5 in
Antique Maddox Walnut Serpentine Secretary Desk Chippendale Bookcase Oxbow
By Maddox Furniture
Located in Dayton, OH
A gorgeous serpentine front one piece secretary desk by Maddox Tables of Jamestown NY.
Glass, Walnut
Sold
H 85.5 in W 39 in D 23 in
1940s Maddox Chippendale Mahogany Serpentine Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase
By Maddox Furniture
Located in Dayton, OH
A gorgeous serpentine oxbow secretary desk by Maddox Tables of Jamestown NY.
Brass
Sold
H 31.38 in W 44.5 in D 22.5 in
English George III Inlaid Mahogany Serpentine Secretary Chest of Drawers
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A very fine example of the George III period, this chest presents with a boldness of form that is unusually moving. The undulating top has an exaggerated projection around all three ...
Brass
Sold
H 39 in W 18 in D 37 in
Antique Italian Venetian Olive Burl Serpentine Secretary Slant Desk Bureau Chest
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive antique Italian Venetian drop front secretary desk. Made from olive burl with a downswept lid and serpentine frame.
Olive, Burl
Antique Italian Walnut and Olive Burl Secretary with (3) Drawers
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This antique walnut and olive burl serpentine secretary was made in Italy. It's featuring solid Italian craftsmanship and en eternal classical beauty.
Walnut
Serpentine Fall Front Secretary Desk
Located in Asheville, NC
Fine serpentine shaped front on this reproduction mahogany secretary from the turn of the 20th century, four nicely shaped drawers with Chippendale Style brass pulls and key escutche...
Brass
Governor Winthrop Mahogany Slant Front Serpentine Ball & Claw Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
Governor Winthrop secretary features mahogany construction with broken arch pediment over two glass front doors opening to bookshelf with painted interior seated on slant drop front ...
Glass, Mahogany
Sold
H 40 in W 33 in D 17 in
Antique Mahogany Chippendale Serpentine Oxbow Secretary Library Writing Desk 40"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Chippendale secretary or writing desk. Made of mahogany featuring serpentine form with drop front writing surface that opens to multiple drawers and cubbies, over four oxbow ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 41.5 in W 20.5 in D 36 in
Antique Chippendale Serpentine Oxbow Mahogany Secretary Library Writing Desk 40"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early 20th century Chippendale style secretary or writing desk. Made of mahogany featuring serpentine form with drop front writing surface that opens to multiple drawers and ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 40.5 in W 39 in D 26 in
North Italian Serpentine Front Banded Walnut Rococo Style Secretary Desk
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The lower serpentine front section offers pull out supports and two long drawers above a shaped apron and short carved cabriole legs accented by bronze mounts.
Bronze
Sold
H 42.5 in W 19.5 in D 36 in
Antique Mahogany Chippendale Serpentine Oxbow Secretary Writing Desk Ball & Claw
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique mahogany secretary or writing desk, circa 1930s. Featuring a flip top that opens to multiple drawers, file storage and hidden compartments. The dresser or chest is constructe...
Mahogany
Sold
H 42 in W 19.5 in D 36 in
Antique Curly Maple Chippendale Serpentine Oxbow Secretary Writing Desk Claw
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique secretary or writing desk. Made from tiger maple featuring a flip top that opens to multiple drawers, file storage and hidden compartments. The dresser is constructed with an...
Maple
Chippendale Style Secretary
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Vintage mahogany Chippendale style serpentine front secretary with ball and claw feet.
Mahogany
Sold
H 50.75 in W 21 in D 36 in
John Stuart Chippendale Flame Mahogany Serpentine Tambour Dresser Tallboy Chest
By John Stuart Inc.
Located in Dayton, OH
"John Stewart mid-20th century serpentine tallboy dresser or gentlemans chest. Drawing inspiration from Chippendale, Georgian and Federal styling with flame mahogany drawer fronts, t...
Mahogany
Sold
H 84 in W 22 in D 38.5 in
Chippendale Style Mahogany Winthrop Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase Bureau 84"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Chippendale slant top secretary desk / bookcase. Made of mahogany featuring upper bookcase curio cabinet with fretwork doors and open pediment with finial, supported by a se...
Brass
Black Painted Oak Secretary or Bureau from Sweden, circa 1800
Located in Round Top, TX
Large curvaceous lower three serpentine drawers. The entire secretary has been given a professional custom layered black painted finish which has been gently distressed to reveal the...
Brass
Dutch Mahogany and Marquetry Drop Leaf Desk
Located in Montreal, QC
Mahogany and marquetry serpentine front drop leaf secretary opening to reveal assorted cubbies and two side drawers, over three drawers resting on cabriole legs.
Mahogany
Governor Winthrop Mahogany Slant Front Serpentine Ball & Claw Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
Governor Winthrop secretary features mahogany construction with broken arch pediment over two glass front doors opening to bookshelf with painted interior seated on slant drop front ...
Glass, Mahogany
Sold
H 41.5 in W 36.5 in D 18 in
Antique Mahogany Chippendale Serpentine Oxbow Secretary Library Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Chippendale secretary, bureau or writing desk. Made from mahogany featuring a flip top that opens to multiple drawers and file storage. The dresser is constructed with an oxb...
Mahogany
Sold
H 15.375 in W 20 in D 12 in
French 1840s Miniature Walnut Slant-Front Secretary with Serpentine Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French miniature walnut slant-front desk with two serpentine drawers and bun feet from the mid 19th century.
Wood, Walnut
Sold
H 87.8 in W 43.71 in D 23.63 in
Rare 18th Century Scandinavian Rococo Period Serpentine Secretary Bureau
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Exceptional and very rare mid-18th century Scandinavian secretaire bureau with a wonderful high arching Rococo top cabinet with inset panelled doors, over a fall front bureau desk wi...
Wood
Burl Walnut Secretary With Chinoiserie Interior
Located in Bedford, NY
VERY DETAILED SERPENTINE SECRETARY --INTERIOR IN BLACK CHINOISERIE DECORATIONS.
Burl, Walnut
Continental Miniature Secretary
Located in Norwalk, CT
Great example of a Bombe' and serpentine miniature secretary veneered with parquetry and marquetry designs, with a fully fitted interior.
Walnut, Kingwood
18th Century Italian Secretary
Located in Culver City, CA
This 18th century secretary has serpentine base, desk and an upper cabinet with an original mirrored door.
Mirror, Walnut
19th Century Dutch Master Secretaire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th century Dutch quartersawn oak secretary with serpentine drawer front and single glazed glass door at top.
Brass
18th Century Swedish Rococo Serpentine Secretary Bureau
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An exceptional 18th century Swedish Rococo secretraire with beautiful shaped glass vitrine bookcase and hand-carved serpentine drawers, Danish, circa 1760. Continental US shipping...
Wood
18th Century Baroque Swedish Bureau
Located in Madrid, ES
18th century baroque Swedish serpentine secretary with original black paint and brass hardware.
Wood
19th century Alpine region hand painted marriage chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th Century Alpine region hand painted marriage chest circa 1890. Here we have a marriage chest which is likely to be from Switzerland. Using a much earlier pine chest this piece ...
Pine, Paint
Petite Queen Anne Style 1880s Walnut Slant-Front Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A late 19th century Queen Anne style small walnut mini slant front desk on stand resting on graceful cabriole legs ending in pad feet. The slant drop front, topped with a Chippendale...
Walnut
$6,895
H 44 in W 47 in D 23 in
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest of Mahogany from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of patinated mahogany, c.1770 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compartments, ...
Metal, Brass
Antique English Fall Front Secretary Desk in Oak
Located in Meer, VAN
Antique Fall Front Secretary Desk in solid oak, England, late 18th to early 19th Century. This is a wonderful English antique fall front secretary desk in solid oak with brass fitti...
Brass
$5,765
H 50.4 in W 48.04 in D 20.08 in
Swedish Gustavian Secretary Desk, Solid Pine, Antique, Circa 1850
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish country secretary desk in gustavian style from around 1850. Beautiful and genuine country furniture made by hand in solid pine in northern Sweden. The piece is made in a clas...
Pine
$2,815Sale Price|28% Off
H 64.97 in W 56.3 in D 18.9 in
20th Century Black Painted Display Bookcase Glazed Cabinet
Located in Kvidinge, SE
A gorgeous Bookcase Display with two glazed cabinet doors Painted and refinished in a black with a delicate hint of red under and distress for an authentic antique feel The inside i...
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Corner Cabinet Cupboard
Located in Round Top, TX
It is the incredible aged patina of the pine that draws one to this traditional Swedish corner cupboard. The interior is painted a soft green, creating a contrast to whatever you cho...
Pine, Paint
$7,400
H 39.75 in W 42.25 in D 20.25 in
Antique Swedish Gustavian Secretary Desk, Pinewood, Circa 1840-1860
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretary made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk is composed with a...
Metal
$12,950
H 81.25 in W 46.75 in D 21.25 in
Late 18th-Century Scandinavian Two-Part Secretary, Circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
This rare Scandinavian two-part secretary dates to the late 18th century and exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Northern European furniture from the Gustavian era. The upper se...
Glass, Wood
19th Century French Walnut Secretary Desk, Louis Philippe Style
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
Antique 19th century English oak secretary / bureau
Located in Eindhoven, NL
A very fine antique secretary/ bureau. With writing desk, 2 large and 2 small drawers and hidden secret letter compartments. Decorated with original brass ornaments and handles. Two ...
Brass
18th century Virginia inlaid walnut desk
Located in Richmond, VA
Great period Virginia inlaid walnut slant front desk with a family history of being made in Rockingham County. Nice proportions, incredible color and beautifully executed interior.
Poplar, Walnut
$1,330
H 38 in W 33 in D 20 in
18th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Desk. Slant Front Writing Secretary.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
18th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Desk. Slant Front Writing Secretary. This 18th century English bureau desk has 3 rows of graduated hand dovetailed drawers and is raised on 4...
Brass
Arts and Crafts Blue Stripe Sofa
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Faversham, GB
A wonderful and unique Arts and Crafts sofa in original blue stripe ticking upholstery. With a generous straight back, accompanied by gently scrolled padded arms that lead to two la...
Linen, Upholstery, Oak
$38,000
H 43 in W 44 in D 23 in
American Chippendale Mahogany Oxbow Slant Top Desk. Boston, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
American Chippendale mahogany oxbow slant top four drawer desk with exposed dove tail, original brasses, fitted interior, shell carved skirt, and terminating on original claw and ba...
Gustavian 19th Century Cabinet with Original Paint
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A Swedish Gustavian cabinet from the 19th century or earlier with its original vibrant paint, reeded doors, and an open shelf. The top portion is removable and features a sharply mol...
Metal
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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