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Secretaires For Sale
18th c. Swedish Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
This is an exceptional Swedish secretary with library, circa 1780. This secretary has retained its original brass hardware and locks and is wearing black paint on the exterior with b...
Category

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century Dutch Trumeau Walnut with Maple Wood Inlays, Netherlands, 1950
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Dutch Trumeau from the mid-20th century. Furniture of exceptional quality, richly inlaid in walnut and maple wood, the interior is covered in mahogany an...
Category

1950s Dutch Dutch Colonial Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Walnut, Fir

Vintage Italian Baroque Style Marquetry Inlay Flip-Up Secretary Display Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Italian Baroque Style Marquetry Inlay Carved Flip-Down Secretary Display Cabinet A practical and elegant addition to any office or living room, this cabinet contains a remar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

19th Century Louis XVI Style French Secretaire with Black Marble Top
Located in Houston, TX
In the lavish world of 19th-century French design, the Louis XVI Style Secretaire with a Black Marble Top stands as a masterpiece of sophistication and functionality. Adorned with th...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Category

Early 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Secretary with Hidden Mechanisms, Mahogany
Located in Greven, DE
Antique secretary after designs by Friedrich Gottlob Hoffmann Central German (Leipzig) Mahogany, maple burl around 1800 Dimensions: H x W x D: 144 x 89 x 51 cm Description: The tw...
Category

1790s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

19th c. Swedish Rococo Secretary with Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A rare, early 19th century Swedish Rococo style slant-front secretary from Fryksdalen in Värmland with arched cornice, circa 1820. The paint has been hand-scraped down to the origina...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Exceptionally Fine Queen Anne Burr Walnut Dome Top Bureau Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
The best English Queen Anne / George I burl walnut secretary bureau bookcase in two sections. The upper arched top portion with a molded and domed cornice inset with mirrored glass a...
Category

Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Fine Carved Walnut French Louis XV Secretary Desk Abatant Basket of Flowers
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb carved walnut secretary abatant that's perfect for narrow hallways or shallow areas in a bedroom. The desk is repleat with a tulipwo...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Tulipwood, Walnut

Beautiful Sloping Flap Secretary / Roll-Up Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful sloping flap secretary / roll-up secretary, 20th century Wood veneered with tulip wood and partially inlaid. High-quality workmanship on short square legs, straight four...
Category

20th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Tulipwood

Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk. It features the most wonderful hand painted, black and gold chinoiserie painted exterior with an equally ...
Category

1990s American Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Giltwood, Lacquer

Georgian 18th Century Mahogany Secretaire Cupboard
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A superb quality late 18th century Georgian mahogany secretaire cupboard having well figured and banded top over one secretaire drawer to frieze, enclosing attractive satinwood in...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Ebonized Antique Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, drop front desk, from France, of Mahogany in the Louis XVI style. This cabinet is finished in a lustrous museum quality ebonized French polish. There are two lower doors w...
Category

1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Federal Cherry Slant Lid Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice size late 18th century American Cherry Chippendale slant front desk with white Pine secondary wood. Four molded graduated dra...
Category

Late 18th Century Chippendale Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

Vintage Henredon Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
A Vintage Henredon Secretary Desk brought to you by Niagara Furniture. This desk is impressive in both it’s design and scale. Made of beautifully grained walnut, the secretary bookca...
Category

Late 20th Century Renaissance Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Two Part Oak Secretary with Brass Hardware
Located in Middleburg, VA
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Two Part Oak Secretary with Brass Hardware. This piece stands tall at just over 6 feet and will be a beautiful antique addition to your home. Mad...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

20th Century Walnut Burl and Beech Wood Italian Trumeau Desk Secrétaire, 1950s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Lombard trumeau of the mid-twentieth century. Moved and rounded, double body, richly carved in walnut, burl and beech woods of beautiful lines and pleasant decor. Trumeau with a work...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Chinoiserie Decorated Ebonized, Gilt, & Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Chinoiserie decorated secretary offers black lacquered wood construction with upper having a broken arch pediment over a cast with double doors opening to vermillion red lacquered ...
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Børge Mogensen Two Piece Cabinet or Secretary for Karl Andersson and Sons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oak and teak storage unit and desk by Børge Mogensen for Karl Andersson and Sons c.1960s, Sweden. This two piece storage cabinet has eight drawers along the lower cabinet and a drop ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Teak

20th Century Wood Italian Lombard Trumeau Desk Secrétaire, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Lombard trumeau from the mid-20th century. Double body furniture carved in walnut, burl and beech of a beautiful line and pleasant decor. Lower body equipped with three drawers and d...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Raymond Loewy Secretary Desk for Mengel Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oak secretary desk by Raymond Loewy for Mengel Furniture c.1950s, USA. This drop front oak desk features three cerused front oak drawers. The interior of the desk has drawers and she...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Kindel Winterthur Collection Mahogany Goddard Townsend Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Kindel Winterthur Collection Mahogany Goddard Townsend Blockfront Secretary Writing Desk. Made from mahogany with a high sheen finish. This exception example of a late 18th century p...
Category

Late 20th Century Federal Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Style Secretary Made In Mahogany & Intarsia From 1820s
Located in Lejre, DK
This impressive Empire style secretary from the year 1820 is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty. Hand-polished mahogany wood gives the secretary an elegant and ...
Category

1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Rosewood secretair by Torbjørn Afdal, Norway, 1960s, Palisander
Located in Hägersten, SE
Secretair designed by Torbjørn Afdal. Produced by Nesjestranda møbelfabrikk during the 1960s. Made from palisander with solid wood in the legs and the drawers. The drawers made with ...
Category

1960s Norwegian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Palisander

Danish Rosewood Secretary Desk and Bookcase
Located in Oakland, CA
Mid century secretary desk and bookcase crafted of Brazilian rosewood with pull-out writing surface over a small cabinet with sliding doors. Mid-section has pair of solid rosewood ta...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Title: Secretaire "a Abbatant" Date/Period: 19th century Dimension: 147cm x 105cm x 51cm. Material: Mahogany wood Additional Information: Secretaire "a Abbatant" French, Empire Style...
Category

Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

English Georgian Two Part Mahogany Secretary circa 1780
Located in Milford, NH
A two part English Georgian secretary, its upper case featuring a cornice with dentil and fluted molding, accented with three satinwood oval paterae, surmounting two glass doors, ope...
Category

1780s English Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Danish Blue Painted Baroque Cabinet with Secretaire
Located in Kastrup, DK
18th Century Danish Baroque period secretary cabinet in two parts. Crafted in oak, painted in a beautiful blue color and a dark grey interior. Upper cabinet with curved crown and a ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Early 19th Century George II Walnut Secretary With Mirrored Doors
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A petite size secretary with lots of style. Mirrored doors are beautiful.
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Walnut

Painted Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary
Located in Houston, US
Really beautiful Swedish secretary with drop front, interior drawers, cubbies and a secret compartment. Two doors sit on two drawers on the top and there are two small drawers over t...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Oak Secretary Bureau, Denmark circa 1800-40
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak secretary reflects the refined grace and style of early 1800's Denmark. The fluted carving along the mid-section and half columns at sides adds a decorative touch to the dro...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Country Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Painted Secretary Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gustavian Painted Secretary Cabinet Bookcase, Sweden Antique Swedish secretary cabinet in Gustavian Style. The cabinet is a well crafted piece in two parts, made by hand. The interi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Biedermeier Secretary with Secret Compartment, Germany circa 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Antique standing secretary North Germany Biedermeier around 1830 Dimensions: H x W x D: 151 x 99 x 49 cm Description: Writing desk standing on lion's paws with a protruding plinth...
Category

1830s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Secretary, Memphis Style
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Secretary, Memphis Style
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Baker Furniture French Empire Burl Wood Secrétaire á Abattant With Brass Ormolu
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire or Neoclassical style drop front secretary desk By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Gorgeous burl wood, with ebonized columns, and original brass hard...
Category

1980s American Empire Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Roller blind cabinet by Interier Paraha, 1950s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
Roller blind cabinet made in the 1950s in the former Czechoslovakia. More precisely, in 1955 by the furniture company Interiér Praha. It is made of beech wood and plywood. The cabine...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Beech, Plywood

charming secretary circa 1960 in solid walnut, gilded metal base.
Located in Mouscron, WHT
charming secretary 1960 in solid walnut, gilded metal base. The leather is stained
Category

1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Small Queen Anne style burr walnut bureau secretary
Located in Chelmsford, GB
A good quality Queen Anne style walnut bureau . A very well proportioned small size with a well fitted interior below there are three drawers ,the whole standing on turned legs unite...
Category

1950s English Queen Anne Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Timothy Oulton Cigar Leather Steamer Trunk Secretary Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Large campaign style reproduction of an antique steamer trunk that opens to a secretaire with a leather fold (29.5" high) down desk. Designed in England by Timothy Oulton for Restora...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Campaign Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

18th Century Italian Walnut Parquetry Important Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux
Located in Rome, IT
An Italian walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage, The upper section with a shaped carved cresting, a shaped doors opening to reveal three shelves, ...
Category

Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique 18th Century VOC Dutch Colonial Padouk Ebony Secretary Desk Bureau 1730
Located in Portland, OR
A very rare antique Dutch Colonial V.O.C. (Dutch East India Company) fall front bureau/desk on stand, Batavia, circa 1730. This desk in the Queen Anne style was made in the Dutch Eas...
Category

1730s Indonesian Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Hand-Painted & Decorated Front Neoclassical Style Breakfront Secretary Bookcase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Introducing our exquisite 19th-century Neoclassical Style Hand-Painted & Decorated Front Breakfront/Secretary Bookcase, a stunning blend of artistry and functionality that adds a tou...
Category

1840s French Neoclassical Antique Secretaires

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Paint

20th Century Inlaid Carved Wood Austrian Biedermeier Style Secretaire Desk, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Austrian secretaire from the 20th century. Biedermeier style furniture elegantly inlaid, veneered and carved in walnut, maple, beech and fruitwood. Secretaire built in a single body,...
Category

1960s Austrian Biedermeier Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Mid-Century Secretary Palisander Wood with Inlays by Paolo Buffa 1940s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Exceptional secretary by Paolo Buffa from the late 1940s in Italy. The object is a real gem due to its distinctive size as well as the fineness of its execution. The look is clea...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Burl, Bog Wood, Oak, Maple, Boxwood, Birch, Glass, Palisander

A fine 19th c Biedermeier birch secretary. Ebonized details and gilt bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine Biedermeier period drop front secretary. Fine Empire gilt bronze details . Ebonized details . Beautiful walnut and birch woods
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Pine Secretary Bureau Desk from Sweden, circa 1880
Located in Round Top, TX
This drop front secretary is charming in every way, with a soft, satin wax finish that compliments the warm patina of the pine and Swedish country styling. The interior drawers and c...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th C. Swedish Rococo Period Two-Part Painted Secretary with Library
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Swedish secretary with library from the late Rococo period, circa 1780. The upper section has two library shelves with glass doors. The lower body is shaped to provide slant desk r...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

Sheraton Secretary desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very fine Sheraton Secretary Desk 1810-1820 in a old refinish with an excellent color and patina. Decorative cross banded veneers and inlay work ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Sheraton Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Cees Braakman CB07 Secretaire in Birch red / blue plywood for Pastoe Netherlands
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stylish Secretaire Model CB07 designed by Cees Braakman and manufactured by Pastoe in the 1950s, the Netherlands. This Secretaire was part of the 'Birch Series' of Pastoe and inspire...
Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Louise Semainier Secretaires in Mid. Hammered Copper by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Louise Semainier Secretaires in Smooth Brass by Paul Mathieu for S. Odegard
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowned designer Paul Mathieu. A remarkabl...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Louise Semainier Secretaires in Smooth White Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Louise Semainier Secretaires in Fine Hammered Antique Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Louise Semainier Secretaires in Smooth Antique Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Louise Semainier Secretaires in Mid. Hammered White Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowned designer Paul Mathieu. A remarkabl...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Louise Semainier Secretaires in Smooth Copper by Paul Mathieu by S Odegard
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowned designer Paul Mathieu. A remarkabl...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Louise Semainier Wardrobes and armoires in Smooth White Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowned designer Paul Mathieu. A remarkabl...
Category

2010s Indian Other Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

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.

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