Secretaires
Antique, New and Vintage Secretaires





2010s French Neoclassical Secretaires
Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Metal
Early 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Beech, Birch
20th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Birdseye Maple
Early 1900s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Late 20th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Wood
1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Birch
Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires
Oak
Mid-18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Country Secretaires
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Teak
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Rosewood
18th Century German Antique Secretaires
Wood, Walnut, Burl
1970s American Modern Vintage Secretaires
Chrome
Early 20th Century English Hepplewhite Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Wood
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Paldao
20th Century Empire Secretaires
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Mahogany, Maple
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Wood
1920s Swedish Biedermeier Vintage Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 20th Century Chippendale Secretaires
Brass
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Rosewood
1770s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Kingwood, Mahogany, Rosewood
1820s European George IV Antique Secretaires
Glass, Mahogany
1850s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble, Silver, Bronze
Early 1800s French Antique Secretaires
Paint, Walnut
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Oak, Paint
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Teak
Early 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Mahogany, Rosewood
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Pine, Cherry
Late 18th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Paint
Late 19th Century Swedish Victorian Antique Secretaires
Birch
Late 18th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Rosewood
1850s Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 18th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Wood
1760s British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood
1910s Swedish Vintage Secretaires
Walnut
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Pine
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Pine
Late 20th Century Danish Secretaires
Teak
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires
Wood
1980s Philippine Regency Vintage Secretaires
Brass
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch, Pearwood
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Secretaires
1720s English Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Oak
20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Wood
1940s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Bentwood
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Teak
1820s English Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Wood, Ash, Lacquer
Antique, New and Vintage Secretaires
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.