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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1970s
19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Hand
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Handles
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
English secretary/desk 19 th c. With display
Located in Houston, TX
Construction that is exceptional with cabinetry that is difficult to find
In a piece of furniture of this time period. It is mid nineteenth century
And has been well preserved. The u...
Category
Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Secrètaire Empire Lombardy Italy First Quarter Nineteenth Century
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Empire secretaire made in Milan in the early 1800s of mahogany veneered walnut and mahogany feather; on the front three drawers in the base body and on the top a drop-leaf door with ...
Category
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
Dutch 19th Century Oak Secretaire
Located in Delft, NL
A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire
A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire and a wooden balcony rack.
The secretaire consists of various drawers between 2 columns and a hidden draw...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Dutch 19th Century Oak Secretaire
Located in Delft, NL
A Dutch 19th Century oak secretaire
A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire on claw legs and a copper balcony rack.
The secretaire consists of various drawers and a hidden drawer.
...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Secretaire à la Bourgogne, Transformation Table, Louis XV Style, 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Very rare antique desk or secretary, so-called bureau à transformation "à la Bourgogne" in Louis XV style.
France
Walnut
19th century
Dimensions: H...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Napoleon III Ebony Chiffonier with Secretary Desk, Brass Inlay Detailing
Located in Madrid, ES
This charming and practical Napoleon III style chiffonier with hidden secretary desk has been professionally refinished, and now shines in deepest ebony with richly contrasting brass...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Northern Italian Walnut Two-Part Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning, c. 1820, solid walnut, two-tier, fall-front scriviana from the Piedmont district of Northern Italy. The paneled doors in the upper cabinet bordered by relief carved acanthu...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Early 19th Century George l Style Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a charming George l style walnut diminutive secretary. The domed cornice over a conforming cabinet door has a mirror plate. The bottom section contains a drop-front opening t...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Bureau Secretaire, Biedermeier. Walnut, birdseye, rootwood, intarsia, secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Very good condition, after professional renovation. The furniture is finished in high gloss in French polish.
dimensions: height 138 ...
Category
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Oakwood Secretary Cabinet - Baroque Revival, Austria ca. 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary hand-carved oakwood secretary cabinet from the Baroque revival period in Austria. A real unique, perfect sized bureau cabinet/ secretary made of solid oakwood and stain...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Large Swedish Gustavian Dry Scraped Bureau
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1800
Large Swedish Gustavian dry scraped bureau
(vat qualifying)
Measures: W 120 x D 53 x H 218cm
Base W 112 x D 53 x H 98cm
Top W 120 x D 37 x ...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Italian Empire trumeau in briarwood and brass with secrets
Located in Milano, IT
This Italian Early Empire Trumeau is a true masterpiece of elegance and mystery, masterfully crafted from burl feather wood, known for its fascinating grain that evokes the nobility ...
Category
1810s Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Renaissance Revival Standing Desk, ca. 1880
Located in New York, NY
This is a functional and beautiful piece with many unique features. The drawers pulls and escutcheons are a geometric delight, made of pewter/brass and black cellulose. Deep and gene...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pewter
German Birchroot Biedermeier Abbatant With Architectural Pediment
Located in Charleston, SC
This monumental Berlin Biedermeier Secretaire is one of the finest examples with its Classical Architecture of Doric Pediments, Columns, and Dental Moldings. The main structure of the Secretaire has a majestic architectural superstructural cabinet resting on top, representing a temple. The Biedermeier Abbatant is veneered in Birchroot with a fall front writing desk...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Burl
Louis XVI Style Secretary Stamped Quignon in Paris
By Frederic Gustave Quignon
Located in BARSAC, FR
Gustave-Frédéric Quignon
Superb Louis XVI style piece of furniture in very finely carved solid mahogany forming a secretary / document holder cabinet.
Opening 6 drawers including...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Mahogany Estate Managers Desk, circa 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
Mahogany estate managers desk with fitted top. The center lock will release upper doors to reveal a fitted interior.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Italian Empire Neoclassical Walnut and Parcel-Gilt Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire neoclassical walnut and parcel-gilt secretary Handsome masculine Empire campaign desk on stand with pivoting dressing mirror below balustraded cornice with ball finial...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood, Walnut
Napoleon III Secretaire Abattant, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique secretaire abattant cabinet with drop down writing panel with interior carved wooden rails in a yellow color wood finish.
The fall front has a green leather writing surface...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Antique High-Quality Mahogany Housekeeper's Cupboard with Secretaire, circa 1800
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique Georgian housekeeper's cupboard secretaire bookcase chest crafted during the George III era around 1800. Also known as an estate cupboard, this rare period piece showcases ex...
Category
Early 1800s George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Danish Late Empire Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire secretary bureau in mahogany veneered oak with beautiful grain.
In 2 parts.
Desk top offers three bowed doors. A concave door in the mid...
Category
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Mahogany
Danish Late Empire Mahogany With Inlay Bureau / Secretair
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rare Danish early 19th century secretary or slant front bureau.
Exquisitely crafted from mahogany with fabulous marquetry decoration in black n...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
Antique Specimen Cabinet, French Oak Cupboard, Secretaire, Desk, circa 1850
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique specimen cabinet, a French, oak cupboard offering a secretaire desk dating to the late 19th century, circa 1850.
In a de...
Category
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Renaissance Revival Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Design details indicate that this secretary was made at the end of the Biedermeier period as interest in historical periods bloomed. The uppermost drawer is curved in the classic Biedermeier/Louis Philippe design, favored between 1830-1860, as does the raised display platform resting on the top surface of the piece. The choice of carefully selected French walnut veneers...
Category
1850s Swedish Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Rare Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Secretaire Sideboard
Located in Suffolk, GB
Rare Antique Regency quality mahogany secretaire sideboard having a pleasing shaped gallery back with a quality mahogany drop well bow fronted top. The fall ...
Category
19th Century European Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Other
19thc French Napoleon III Inlaid A.C Boulle style Top Portion "Bonheur Du Jour"
Located in Opa Locka, FL
This beautiful piece of furniture is the Top Portion Only of a 19thc French Napoleon III Boulle Inlaid "Bonheur Du Jour". This piece has been dated to the last portion of the 19thc b...
Category
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretarie
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Early 19th Century French Louis XV Style Secrétaire showcases a timeless and classy blend of functionality and elegance. Crafted from bleached oak, this piece features graceful ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
Located in Handewitt, DE
Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany, Birch and elmwood veneer. Inlays in different woods. Original fittings in bronze and...
Category
1810s German Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Secretary Desk 700s Lombard by "Bottega Milanese Dei Valentini", walnut & burl
By Bottega Milanese dei Valentni
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Important precious desk bureau production of on 19th century by "Bottega Milanese dei Valentini", restored and polished to wax.
The piece of furniture is made of solid walnut and b...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis Philippe Period Secretary, Mid 19th Century, Burl Walnut
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
This antique secrétaire, crafted from richly grained burl walnut, is a testament to masterful 19th-century French cabinetry. The walnut burl, carefully selected for its aesthetic app...
Category
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Michel Pigneres Brass Chrome Black Cabinet Secretaire, 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
Unique French Mid-Century Modern cabinet secrétaire by Michel Pigneres made in the early 1970s. This piece is an exquisite example of refined, highly detailed and very well made furn...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Antique French Empire Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Imported French Empire Flame Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary Desk
This 19th-century French Empire-style secretary d...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Bookcase, Cylinder Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Bookcase ~ Cylinder Secretary is a stately reminder of a bygone era! Hand-crafted by talented cabinetmakers from a mixture of in...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Style 19th Century Secretaire from France
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Beautiful rich mahogany color 19th Century secretaire Louis XVI style C.1880.
Dimensions:
W: 37″
D: 16″
T: 60.5″
Desk Height: 28.5″
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
English Sheraton Satinwood Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
English Sheraton-style (19th Century) satinwood and inlaid small secretary with arched lattice doors and pediment top
Category
19th Century Sheraton Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Satinwood
Rustic Old Hickory Hutch
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Old Hickory hutch with natural log legs, a slatted table top & shelf, one drawer, decorative cutouts & rope trim (SIGNED with brand: Old Hicko...
Category
19th Century American Rustic Antique Secretaires
Materials
Slate
Indonesian 19th Century Handmade Slant-Front Desk with Raised Panels and Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
An Indonesian antique handmade slant-front desk from the 19th century, with raised panels and inner drawers. Created in Indonesia during the 19th century, this secretaire features a ...
Category
19th Century Indonesian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Mahogany and Leather Notary Furniture
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice notary furniture is made of mahogany and leather. This is a rare and interesting secretaire with leather drawers. This is a French work...
Category
1850s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Wood
19th Century Carved and Painted French Oak Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th Century Carved and Painted French Oak Secretary is an antique piece of furniture that features painted oak and nice carvings. This elegant secretary desk showcases the craft...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Gillows of Lancaster attri., Gothic Revival Oak Architect's Desk
Located in London, GB
Attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. A rare Gothic Revival architect's folding desk. The top has opposing slides opening to reveal a compartment for storing drawing utensils etc. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
Grey marble top above a single long drawer, two columns with gilded detailing on either side of fall-front desk enclosing six small drawers surrounding one larger drawer and original...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut, Giltwood
19th Century Venetian Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A painted Venetian secretaire with shelves and drawers on bottom portion of body.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
19th Century Cuban Mahogany Wood Bargueno Desk
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This Bargueno desk is hallmarked Garcia & HN Monte #122 Habana. It is embellished with a carving scene from the book of Don Quixote de la Mancha bordered...
Category
Late 19th Century American Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Wall Decoration Old House with Staircase, 1974
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice and unseal handmade wall decoration. Brass and Metal. Old house with staircases
comes with a Bronze little boy figurine. Lots off patine. Signed Hirsch 1974.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Very Fine 19th Century French Louis XVI Marquetry Secretaire Abattant by Diehl.
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century Louis XVI marquetry inlay secretaire A Abattant by Charles Diehl. Kingwood, satinwood and tulipwood inlay with fine gilt bronze ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Burled Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall cabinet with carved cavetto cornice, over a slim curved frieze drawer and one upper and two lower long drawers. The middle faux drawers drop down to the secretary. The fitted interior with drawers, and a center compartment with door housing an inkstand with two glass bottles with silverplate tops. With patinated brass bat...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Magnificent William IV Mahogany Secretaire
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
Magnificent William IV, mahogany abbatant of unusually slim proportions, having original brass gallery above a pair of panelled cupboard doors and fall front which open to reveal ori...
Category
1830s English William IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Venetian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Lacquered by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic late 19th century Italian secretaire cabinet or bookcase made in the Venetian Rococo taste. Crafted from walnut the two-part case features a speckled lacquer finish centered by a cartouche shaped window with a painted bust by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The bureau cabinet has a bombe shaped dresser base with a drop front diminutive writing table. The drop front has two storage drawers and a small pigeon hole storage above. Below the desk are two small drawers and two large storage drawers with rocaille patinated brass pulls. The dresser is supported by small cabriole legs with scrolled feet. The dresser is surmounted by a bookcase with a painted door depicting a nobleman holding a chicken. The painting is painted on board titled "Venezia" and signed by Yeager with a fictitious date of 1725. The door opens to a three-shelf bookcase. The case is topped with a pediment having a cartouche shaped window and corniced top. The entire secretary is speckled with a mustard yellow tone over a taupe background. This whimsical cabinet...
Category
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Georgian Chippendale Style Mahogany Block Front Shell Carved Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Mahogany Block Front Shell Carved Secretary Desk Lowboy. Item features solid mahogany wood construction, dramatic shapely legs terminating ...
Category
19th Century Unknown Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Secretaire with Flap in Sycamore. French work. Circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This unusual secretaire desk in sycamore with bronze handles is composed of a small sloping desk with flap closing on four drawers and forming a chest of drawers with three drawers i...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Sycamore
Restored Empire Chest of Drawers, Walnut, Maple, Spruce, Austria, 1820s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This exquisite chest of drawers, originating from Austria in the early 19th century, is a perfect example of the Empire style. Made of solid spruce and walnut veneer, it impresses wi...
Category
1820s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Maple, Walnut, Spruce
Dressing Table Ladies France Napoleon III in Bronze and Wood, 19th Century
By Napoléon III
Located in Milano, IT
Amazing Napoleon III style women's grooming of circa 1800. French toilet with original ormolu holders and working lock and key. The upper part rises up t...
Category
Early 1800s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Lamb of Manchester, An Aesthetic Movement Walnut Writing Desk.
Located in London, GB
Lamb of Manchester. An Aesthetic Movement walnut and leather writing desk with a bank of four graduating drawers to the left and a large upper drawer to the right with turned and flu...
Category
1880s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
British Colonial Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
A British Colonial secretary, probably Anglo-Indian, in Campaign form with burl wood and ebony and bone inlay.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Ebony
Regency Ebony Inlaid Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine Regency period mahogany bookcase cabinet with secretary drawer, the molded cornice with ebonized ball drops over two astragal glazed doors over satinwood fitted pull out se...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique Fine Quality Inlaid Burr Walnut Bonheur De Jour Desk Writing Table
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique 19th Century Inlaid Burr Walnut Bonheur de Jour Bureau Desk Writing Table
This fine quality 19th Century Bonheur de Jour bureau desk is crafted from inlaid burr walnut venee...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Petit 19th c. Walnut Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Lovely Walnut Six Drawer Chest with Desk
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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.