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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
Italian Secretaire, circa 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian secretaire circa 1930s, featuring beautiful walnut and maple inlaid.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Maple, Walnut
Italian Bureau Bookcase, Two Doors over Slant Front Fitted Desk
Located in Buchanan, MI
Italian bureau bookcase, two doors over slant front fitted desk.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
George III Mahogany Standing Bureau, Great Library Accent Piece, Good Color.
Located in Buchanan, MI
A George III mahogany standing bureau, great library accent piece.
Category
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Spanish Wooden Cabinet with Original Foot, Door and Drawers
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century Spanish Wooden Cabinet with Original Foot, Door and Drawers
Category
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Mounted Parquetry Cabinet
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in Long Island City, NY
A beautiful late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain mounted parquetry cabinet.
A marble top above a single door adorned with Sèvres style porcelain plaques, the large plaque...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebony with a fall front writing surface, interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Copf Style Cherry Inlay Secretaire Cabinet, ca. 1800
Located in Budapest, HU
Early 19th century hutch, (combination of a writing secretaire and a glass cabinet) in Copf-Style. The pine corpus has a cherry veneer, and has fine...
Category
Early 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Pine
Circa 1880 Solid Oak & Brass Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Secrataire Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine, highly collectable solid oak with over sized brass fittings Military Campaign chest of drawers with mahogany lined & brown leather ...
Category
1880s English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Regency Walnut and Ebony Secretaire-Chest
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Very handsome English Regency walnut and ebony secretaire-chest with four drawers with pull-out secretaire with ebony in-set central writing sur...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire
French, late 19th Century
Height 132.5cm, width 91cm, depth 66cm
This elegant secretaire, or writing desk, is a fine piece of nin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Contemporary Art Writing Desk Amanuense Dark Cherry Wood by Adolfo Natalini
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies.
Amanuense, decoded in his characterizing elements (the functional nature of the writing desk-Sécretaire, the symbolic hand and the stick) or dynamic elements; (the folding lid, closed/open) is a contraption of the symbolic time of the memory and of the intimate, of the intensity and of the intellectual and “spiritual” concentration, of the transcription of thoughts into figures, alphabets, ideograms, cosmology.
Writing desk or secretary in dark cherry wood...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XV Gold and Bronze Desk, 1950s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Small desk with drawers. Finely decorated with gold and fake turtle, Boulle style. handles and details in gilded bronze.
Packaging with bubble...
Category
1950s Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
1940s French Abatant with Original Vellum Drop Front
Located in Dallas, TX
1940s French abatant with original vellum drop front facing. Faux volumes of books create a decorative door facing with key lock. Bronze scroll detail on base. Beautiful chevron vene...
Category
1940s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Lacquered Wood Desk by Stilka, Argentina, circa 1970
By Stilka
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Lacquered wood desk by Stilka, Argentina, circa 1970.
Category
1960s Argentine Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Privé" secrétaire by Jürgen Lange for Rosenthal Germany 1987
Located in Renens, CH
"Privé" writing desk or secrétaire by Jürgen Lange for Rosenthal Germany 1987.
This is an extremely well thought and crafted desk. While standing on a small footprint it offers amaz...
Category
1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Fruitwood
Neo-Gothic Small Desk Secretary in Solid Oak, 1900
Located in Lüdinghausen, DE
Small desk restored neo-Gothic around 1900 solid oak secretary
Features:
Small model with two drawers
Very high quality processing
Drawers pronged
Very elaborate carved decora...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French Transitional 19th Century Ladies Writing Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming French 19th century Transitional style tulipwood, ormolu, and white Carrara marble secretary desk. The secretary is raised by fine cabriole legs with elegant foliate ormol...
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Important Early 19th Century Danish Neoclassical Secretaire NIcolai Abildgaard
By Nicolai Abildgaard
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The slender secretaire on an unusual high stand with four curved legs dived into quarters, the frame with a central inlaid palmette motif. The fall down writing flap, enclosing a fitted interior with numerous drawers, above and below are two doors enclosing one shelf. The top of the secretaire in form of a classical triangular pediment, the center of which is decorated with an inlaid stylized anthemion. The entire front is very plain and geometrical, divided into six panels inlaid with rectangular fields in light wood.
The design of this mahogany secretaire is based on classical Roman and Greek models, in this case the bookcases that were portrayed on frescoes, reliefs and Roman gold glass. As secretaires were not known in Antiquity, Abildgaard designed his secretaire as a cupboard though in such a way, that the two centre doors are actually a fall front writing top. The carved turned underframe is inspired by Etruscan footstools, which were known especially from reliefs and had been reproduced in contemporary prints. Abildgaard designed this piece of furniture far more in accordance with ancient tradition than did the other furniture designer of the day. The most important (and avantgarde) piece of the furniture Abildgaard designed in the first decade of the 19th century, is this secretaire, which marks a real renewal in relation to the secretaires that constituted the master's test for the members of the guild of cabinetmakers at this time. Compared with these, this secretaire is a very light piece of furniture that does not follow the contemporary fashion towards classical architectural decorations such as columns, pillars, architraves, etc. which often endow such pieces.
Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard (11 September 1743 – 4 June 1809) was a leading Danish Neoclassical painter who also designed (mostly for his own use) elegant Grecian furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Maple
Secretaire / Scriban Art Deco in Maple Veneer, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Secretaire / scriban art deco in maple veneer, circa 1950
Medium condition, small lack of wood, veneer, varnish to redo.
Category
1950s European Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Maple
Secretary with Flap, 1950
Located in Marseille, FR
Secretary shelves 1950 with crosspiece, with an indoor lamp of dimension height 186 cm for a width of 130 cm and a depth of 50 cm.
Style: Scandinavian.
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Russian Empire Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Russian Empire Secretaire made of solid birch blond-wood and veneer. Elegant and compact design with weight bearing dolphins and arrows. Lower section ...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Secretaires
A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and rare Biedermeier walnut roll top secretary . Fine satinwood inlay . French polished and ready to place. Several drawers and compartments for storage .
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood, Walnut
1980s Spanish Bamboo Six-Drawer Chest
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish bamboo six-drawer chest.
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Bamboo
Edwardian Satinwood Bonheur du Jour by Edwards & Roberts
Located in Montreal, QC
This exquisite desk, made by the celebrated partnership, is of the highest quality. The glazed upper section is perfect for the display of objet d'art, the cylinder top which is open...
Category
19th Century English Edwardian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
English Regency Period Secrétaire Cabinet with Egyptian Motifs
By George Oakley
Located in London, GB
A secrétaire cabinet of the Regency period
Firmly attributed to George Oakley.
Constructed in a finely faded and patinated goncalo alvez, having holly and purple heart stringing;...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Purpleheart, Satinwood, Holly
Biedermeier Secretaire Napolean Style
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire Napolean Style with fall front writing surface, interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Biedermeier Revival Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Revival Secretaire made of blond burl with ebonized columns. Upper section with exterior drawers and cubby hole. Lower section with fall fron...
Category
Early 20th Century Secretaires
French 19th Century Transitional St. Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine 19th century French transitional cabinet/ secretaire. The whole is raised on cabriole legs with ormolu sabots below two quarter veneered tu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
20th Century Pedestal Column in the Ancient Antique Louis XVI Style Rosewood
Located in Berlin, DE
Different rosewoods on solid conifers mirrored veneer. Sides with paneled parquet decorated with grid-shaped, perforated wide measuring strips.
Cover plate with stepped veined marble...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Napoleon III Desk and Bookcase, circa 1860-1870
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique Napoleon III desk and bookcase, circa 1860-1870. This museum quality antique has fine briarwood and wonderful ormolu throughout.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Mahogany Inlaid Slope Front Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century mahogany inlaid slope front secretaire bookcase with astragal glazing below a dentil cornice, four graduating drawers with marquis...
Category
Early 19th Century Irish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Cartonnier / Secretaire by Antoine Krieger
Located in Long Island City, NY
A rare late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted cartonnier or secretaire
By Antoine Krieger
The upper section containing seven deep tooled leather veneer drawers, abov...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Empire Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Empire Secretaire made of walnut and root wood with brass capitals and hardware. Three exterior drawers. Fall front writing surface w/five interior drawers and mirrored cubby hole. ...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Secretaires
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire made of walnut, rootwood and ebonized wood. It has a fall front writing surface with interior drawers and a cubby hole. Lower section with exterior drawers.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire with fall front writing surface, interior drawers and hidden compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebonized wood with fall-front writing surface, interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, mahogany, ebony, intarsia. There are 2 doors, 2 drawers, 2 glazed doors, shelves with secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany
Mahogany Furniture to Keep Paintings, Plans and Special Documents
Located in Marbella, ES
Mahogany furniture to keep paintings, plans and special documents. It can be oriented in different positions.
Category
Late 20th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rare Antique Swedish Secretary Desk in Folk Art from Northern Sweden
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rate antique Swedish secretary desk in folk art made around 1830 in northern Sweden. The secretary is made by hand with a frame in solid pine...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI St. Secrétaire in Arbalette Shape
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. tulipwood Secretaire. The secretaire has a fine quarter veneered tulipwood marquetry on the front and sides, ornamented with pierced ormolu mo...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Danish Teak Drop-Down Door Secretary Bookcase Display Top
Located in Kensington, MD
This Danish Modern teak bookcase display top will store your precious items in minimalist splendor. This piece can be set directly on the ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th c. Georgian Style Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
England: Georgian style black lacquered Chinese export small secretary with gilt figural scenes
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Wood
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.