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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1970s
French Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This stunning Mid-19th-century French Painted Secretary Desk has a captivating fall-front design. This piece showcases an elegant white exteri...
Category

Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Early 19th Century German or Danish Secretaire, Mahogany, Biedermeier, c. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Biedermeier secretary Schleswig-Holstein Mahogany and others Biedermeier around 1815 Dimensions: H x W x D: 137 x 88 x 45 cm Description: Piece of furniture standing...
Category

1810s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Mahogany, Maple

Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant. Mahogany with mahogany & oak secondary wood. Ingenious hidden drawers & locking mec...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Exquisite Biedermeier Secretaire, Germany, c. 1825–1830
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Exquisite Biedermeier Secretaire, Germany, c. 1825–1830 This exceptional Biedermeier secretaire, crafted in Germany between 1825 and 1830, embodies the elegance and refinement of th...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Intarsia Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Handcrafted, this piece has been obviously been designed and created with love. Elegant intarsia inlays adorn the outside of this case piece. Inside hides a whimsical array of storag...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XVI secretary is a truly astonishing work of the cabinetmaker's art! Hand-crafted from solid old-growth in...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Exquisite ebonised secretary desk from the 19th century
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
We are honoured to present an exquisite ebonised secretary desk from the 19th century, hailing from Sweden and exemplifying the elegance of the Biedermeier style. This piece has been...
Category

1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Softwood

Early 19th Century Secretary, Birch and Birch burl veneered
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Secretary Desk, circa 1820, Braunschweig An exceptional secretary desk from around 1820, crafted in Braunschweig. This elegant piece is made of birch and birch burl, veneered with f...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Ebonized, Brass, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Straightened early Biedermeier Secretaire or Drop-Front Secretary / Writing Desk in Cherry Veneer from South Germany around 1820. Neoclas...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Iron, Brass

Large English Regency Mahogany Glazed Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1820 Large English Regency mahogany glazed secretaire bookcase sku 1140 Together W142 x D52 x H226 cm Base W137 x D52 x H101 cm Top W142 x...
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Early Swedish 19th Century Rococo Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Early 19th Century Rococo secretary. With a decorative carved pediment with two doors opening to storage. With a fall front desk opening to writing space. With drawers below two sh...
Category

19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique French Charles X Secretary/Secrétaire à Abattant in Mahogany, c. 1825
Located in Miami, FL
A Charles X secrétaire à abattant in mahogany, France, circa 1825. Fall-front has original counter weight for ease in lowering and closing. Dark green tooled leather on desk top appe...
Category

1820s French Charles X Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing area and three graduated drawers. This Swedish Gustavian style drop-front secretary, ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1860, after Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
We present you another incredible piece of furniture in our collection -- this elegant and highly exquisite Biedermeier secretary desk circa 1860. The secretary desk was manufactu...
Category

1860s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Mid-19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary desk with exquisite ash veneer and a three-drawer commode base. Behind the leather-covered writing surface lies a spacious arched compartment, complemented by six small dra...
Category

Mid-19th Century Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Southern German Secretaire, Cherry, Biedermeier circa 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Plain Biedermeier Secretaire South-West Germany Cherry Biedermeier circa 1830 Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 101 x 52 cm Description: Secretary standing on blackened block feet with...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Secretary - Antique Scandinavian Desk
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...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860. Very good condition, after professional renovation, a piece of furniture finished in polish. Wood: mahogany dimensions: height:...
Category

1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

George III Mahogany Astral Glazed Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
An early 19th century astral glazed bureau bookcase of large proportions. Displaying a pair of astral glazed doors. The base houses four long drawers, on...
Category

Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th c. Swedish Secretary with Vitrine Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A charming Swedish vitrine bureau secreatry made in two parts from the 19th century. Original paint on the exterior and later interior paint. The glass was replaced some time ago. Th...
Category

19th Century Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Biedermeier Drawers Writing Desk Secrétaire Cabinet Swedish Ormolu Detail
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish antique Biedermeier writing desk chiffonier secrétaire cabinet in highly quilted golden birch veneers and finished in the Classic light honey color French polish. It has 2 m...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan
By Karl Johan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Biedermeier writing agency, secretary table made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany with a writing flap, designed by Karl-Johan in goo...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Ebony, in good condition. The b...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze

Swedish Gustavian 19th Century Painted Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A generously sized 19th century secretary desk from Sweden, made in the Gustavian style, with a striking painted finish of ruddy, patinated oxblood enveloping the pine construction. ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

French 19th Century Ebonized & Inlay Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Louis XVI style drop front secretary from the 1800’s has impressive etched brass inlay on its facade. The top has its repaired original inset white marble top surrounded ...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

Empire style secretary desk in flamed mahogany in the style of Aldo Tura work
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Empire style secretary desk in flamed mahogany and bronze locks. This is an Italian work in the style of Aldo Tura. Circa 1970
Category

1970s Italian Neoclassical Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Antique Moroccan Desk or Escritoire
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Important 19th century Moroccan escritoire or desk crafted in mahogany with strong aesthetics movement influences. Featuring Moorish architectural references, floral and geometric bone inlays...
Category

Late 19th Century Moroccan Moorish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Rustic Swedish Painted Pine Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
This secretary is a special find due to the original brick red painted finish, gently scraped to reveal the natural pine below. The interior desk holds multiple drawers with central ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Rustic Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th Century Hand Painted Secretary with Hidden Drawers and Floral Decorations
Located in Sofia, BG
Secretary with "lacquered" decoration in the style of Coromandel lacquers decorated with chrysanthemums, flower vases and other beautiful objects. Rectangular, it opens with four dra...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

European 1800s Two-Part Painted Wood Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall European painted wood two-part secretary from the early 19th century, with molded cornice, dentil molding, slanted front desk and graduated drawers. Created in Europe during t...
Category

Early 19th Century European Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French Ormolu-Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant by Millet
Located in London, GB
The brèche d'Alep marble top above a long frieze drawer, the hinged fall front with gilt-tooled brown leather writing-surface, the fitted interior with four open compartments and a long drawer, above two cupboard doors, the interior with one shelf, on spreading foliate feet, the gilt-bronze banding to the left side signed Millet à Paris.
Category

19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood, Tulipwood

Unusual 18th-19th Century Continental Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Figured wood veneer, the top with a carved cornice over double doors. They open to two shelves over drawers and cubby holes. A middle frieze with three drawers (lacking a key) over t...
Category

19th Century European Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Danish Biedermeier Bureau Secretary Desk
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This early 19th century mahogany Biedermeier secretary bureau was made in two sections, circa 1830. The top section has a superstructure with a straight cornice over a pair of serpen...
Category

19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts
Located in Savannah, GA
This extraordinary French Second Empire period secre´taire a' abattan features flame mahogany, gilt brass-mounts and retains its original dark grey speckled granite top. Decorated th...
Category

1850s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Granite, Brass, Ormolu

Antique High Gloss Secretary Desk, Scandinavia, circa 1850s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
ANTIQUE-UNIQUE. Impressive secretary from the mid-19th century in Biedermeier style. Antique furniture with a more beautiful form will add elegance to any interior. A representative ...
Category

1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

A W N Pugin Attri, Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with Linenfold & Floral Carving
Located in London, GB
A W N Pugin attributed, A Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with finely executed carved gallery to the top and a sloping writing area opening to reveal storage...
Category

1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Empire Napoleon III Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A fine large sized flat desk otherwise referred to as a "bureau de ministre" or ministers flat desk. In mahogany and mahogany veneer flamed on all sides, beautiful ornamentation of...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Gustavian Cinnabar Red Secretary, Swedish Antique C. 1800
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary painted in an elegant cinnabar red and a black-painted top with a profiled edge. The interior is revealed when the writing surface is lowered and features a black...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Italian Biedermeier Style Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Style Walnut Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet. Veyr light weight. Measures 24" in width, 17" in depth and stands 75" tall.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood, Walnut, Wood

19th Century English Chinoiserie Ladies Secretaire Writing Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary 19th century English ladies secretaire desk or writing table. The two part desk was made in the Chinoiserie revival period of Europe ...
Category

19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Bonheur du Jour, litterally "Happiness of the Day" Desk in Boulle Marquetry
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful Bonheur du Jour, litterally "Happiness of the day" desk is made of a Boulle marquetry. Tiered upper part, opening with two medallion doors and two small drawers. Lower...
Category

1880s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk with Brass Shelf Railing and Carved Front
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk with Brass Gallery Shelf Rail. It was made most likely before the 1880s. We base the age on the hardwar...
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Writing Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine and well-proportioned 19th century French Louis XV style ladies desk. The case is veneered with marquetry decoration and embelli...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Luciano Frigerio Credenza Diamante, 1970's
Located in bari, IT
Mid-Century Modern 12-drawer Diamante chest of drawers is made of walnut and is decorated with a complex block pattern designed by Luciano Frigerio di Desio.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary in mahogany veneer with two-door bottom part as well as dark marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with brown leather there are more drawers and co...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

French Mahogany Louis Philippe Secretary, Late 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
French late 19th century Louis Philippe secretary with a mahogany veneer. The top drawer front folds down and pulls out to reveal a leather wr...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Diminutive Antique Directoire Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A finely constructed bookcase secretary with a chest. The tall cabinet has a pierced brass 3/4 gallery around the marble top with cookie corners. The bookcase has a frieze drawer ove...
Category

19th Century Directoire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

Dutch Marquetry Burl Walnut Bombay Figural and Foliage Inlaid Desk, Circa 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
Dutch Marquetry burl walnut Bombay figural and foliage desk with exotic exterior inlays, fitted interior, three lower case drawers, original urn brasses, carved scalloped skirt, and ...
Category

1850s Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and elaborated 19th century Chinoiserie red lacquered slant front secretary. Hand painted and raised decoration. The interior with pigeon holes and drawers and a writing ...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

A fine pair of Japanese export lacquer secretaires owned by Sir Stamford Raffles
Located in Amsterdam, NL
'The Stamford Raffles Secretaires.' A pair of Japanese Kyoto-Nagasaki style export lacquer secretaires by ‘Lakwerker Sasaya’ each with the name ‘Ol...
Category

Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Secretaires

Materials

Gold, Brass

19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite French Louis XV style secrétaire with wave shaped front adorned with beautiful flower marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with ...
Category

1870s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Directoire Bureau a Cylindre - France, circa 1800, Mahogany Secretaire or Desk
Located in Greven, DE
Desk with mirror attachment - Bureau à cylindre France Mahogany Directoire circa 1800 Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 97 x 50 cm Description: Top-mounted desk standing on tapered rou...
Category

Early 1800s French Directoire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and truly exceptional early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1825. Viennese Biedermeier is distinguished by their sophisticated proportio...
Category

Early 19th Century Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Bombe Marquetry Secrétaire à Abattant, Marble Top and Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
19th century bombe marquetry secrétaire à abattant, marble top and bronze mounts. Offered for sale is a late 19th century Louis XV styl...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century English Queen Anne Chinoiserie Chest on Stand
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is an elegant English black lacquered English Queen Anne cabinet chest on Stand decorated overall with gilt chinoiseries. This case piece was originally a traveling secretary...
Category

Early 19th Century English Queen Anne Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and rare early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna c. 1825. The secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design and excellent craft...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th C. French Empire Style Louis Philippe Period Secretaire Abattant
Located in Forney, TX
A Louis Philippe period (1830–1848) fruitwood secretaire abattant fall front desk. Born in France in the mid-19th century, hand-crafted of rich solid fruitwood with warm wood tones, subtle grain detail, and nicely aged mellow patina over the whole. Finished in French Empire taste, having a molded cornice, concealed ogee frieze drawer with dovetail joinery, over fall front panel, opening to reveal original fitted interior gallery, with inset gilt tooled leather writing surface, large open shelf cubby, six drawers of various size, above double-door cabinet with brass shield escutcheon that opens to provide generous storage space, and an additional lower drawer for valuables hidden in the base molding, rising on square feet. Dimensions: (approx) 56.75" High 41" Wide, 17.5" Deep History/Back Story: Louis Philippe furniture had the same types and forms as the earlier French Restoration style, but with less decoration; comfort was the primary consideration. During the turbulent French Revolution and following Napoleon rule, Louis Philippe (1773-1850) remained in exile for 21 years until the Bourbon Restoration, when he became the King of the French from 1830 to 1848. For the first time, the developing upper class–not the monarchy–influenced the progression of this style’s characteristics. However, King Louis Philippe’s personality still inspired many aspects.  His casual nature reflected this style’s informal, comfortable build. Much of the style was taken from the personality of the King himself. Unlike his Bourbon predecessors, he wore business dress...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Fruitwood

Antique Eastlake Incised Walnut and Burl Slant Front Secretary, circa 1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Eastlake secretary offers paneled walnut construction with upper having shaped crest surmounting shelf and slant front opening to writing...
Category

19th Century American Eastlake Antique Secretaires

Materials

Burl, 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.

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