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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
20th Century Wood Venetian Style Bureau Desk, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian bureau from the mid-20th century. Furniture with a wavy front and sides, inlaid with walnut and mahogany wood, beautiful lines and pleasant furnishings. Bureau equipped with...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Liberty & Co A Moorish Walnut Desk with Angular Design & 4 Opposite Side Drawers
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co.
A Moorish Walnut Desk with Mushrabia turnings to the upper shelf, just below to the turned uprights there are dowel holes which I have shown in the images, they are the...
Category
1890s English Moorish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Mid Century Swedish Rosewood Rolltop Secretary Desk
Located in Detroit, MI
This mid-century Swedish modern Egon Ostergaard rosewood cylinder rolltop secretary desk cabinet was made in Sweden circa 1960. The classic Scandinavian modern design has clean, mini...
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Secretaire or Cabinet by František Mezulánik for UP Závody, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare mid-century secretaire/cabinet, made by František Mezulánik for UP Závody, in the 1960's.
Made of wood.
Cleaned, applied reviving oil, shows signs of age, overall in great shape.
Category
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century, Anglo Indian Heavily Carved Rosewood Campaign Secretary Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century Anglo-Indian campaign secretary bookcase (in 3-parts) is an extraordinary example of colonial-era craftsmanship, rendered in richly grained rosewood and heavily ado...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Anglo-Indian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Slant-Top Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A stunning, petite French slant-top desk or "bureau de pente" in the Louis XV style, turquoise and gold polychromed with Chinoiserie detailing, and red under-body. Desk opens to rev...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco Modernist Partners Desk, circa 1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this superbly stylish 1930s Partners desk. The base wood is Mahogany and veneered in a Bombay Walnut veneers which has a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Chrome
Solid Oak Cabinet and Desk by Guillerme et Chambron, France, 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and rare "dos d'âne" style desk and cabinet by French designers Guillerme and Chambron featuring leather straps holding the desk tray. Chest of 4 drawers In overall good vint...
Category
1960s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Laminate, Oak
Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary bookcase, Circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
*An Exquisite 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Fitted Secretaire
Located in Reading, Berkshire
An Exquisite 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Secretaire.
Complete With Fitted Interior, & Enclosed Shelves, Raised On A Plinth ...
Category
19th Century French Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Steel
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
Mid 19th Century French Louis Philippe Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet, 1890s
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful walnut secretary from the 19th century, it has a top drawer with a key, it also has a central folding door that hides three drawers (2 small and one larger) when opened, and a leather-upholstered desk...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
English secretary bookcase Arts&Crats 1910
Located in Meulebeke, BE
This English secretary bookcase in arts & crafts style is a beautiful piece of furniture that expresses both elegance and functionality. The secretary bookcase was made around 1910 i...
Category
1910s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Copper
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Vintage wall unit / shelving unit by Kai Kristiansen made in the 50s
Located in Breda, NB
Vintage wall unit / shelving unit by Kai Kristiansen made in the 50s.
Dimensions:
Width: 266.2 cm
Height: 161.5 cm
Depth desk shelf: 41.5 cm
Width desk shelf: 89.5 cm
Depth shelves:...
Category
1950s Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary / Writing Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Swedish Gustavian Secretary / Writing Desk from early 19th century
A rectangular top sitting above a slant front desk opening to reveal a gray painted interior and multiple smal draw...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Sensational Vienna secretaire in Biedermeier style.
Tulip veneer on solid pinewood, partially ebonized. Round, bowed body on profiled clump-feet. In the structured front, there are t...
Category
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Maple
Charak Ball & Claw Mahogany 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Dresser MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Charak Ball & Claw Mahogany 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Dresser MINT
Category
20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Rocco Style Secratery Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Rocco Style Secratery Hutch . its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Category
1970s Swedish Rococo Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Pine
19th Century English Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 19th century English black lacquered Chinoiserie secretary. Beautiful painted Asian designs and many compartments. A true w...
Category
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Stunning Poul Hundevad Rosewood Secretary Cabinet , Denmark
Located in Buffalo, NY
Danish modern, two piece, book matched rosewood, bookcase secretary cabinet by Poul Hundevad ... Birch wood interior,,, features a 26 inch height bottom cabinet with sliding doors, a...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Rosewood
Danish Secretary's Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Vitze Secretary's Dresser. Teak wood with oil finish. Drop down desk with key. 3 spacious drawers.
Category
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
1950 Compact Home Office Desk in Oak and Blond Wood
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1950 compact home office desk in oak and blond wood
Interesting desk storage.
Measures: 115 x 87 x 54 cm closed.
115 x 175 x 70 cm open.
Category
1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Sycamore, Oak
19th Century English Mahogany Estate Office Lockers, c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late-19th Century English mahogany, multi-doored, large set of lockers, primarily would have been used as an estate cupboard, as the description...
Category
19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
National Cash Register Co.
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
National Cash Register Co. Brass Cash Register, Early 1900s, on wooden plinth.
Category
Early 1900s American Industrial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Grande Biedermeier Secrétaire
Located in New York, NY
A perfect example of the wealthy, elegant Biedermeier period, this impressive, secretary is veneered in flame mahogany and birch intarsia, with bone escutcheons, secret compartments,...
Category
1810s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Antique English Mahogany Glass Front Bureau Bookcase, circa 1830
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English mahogany glass front Bureau bookcase with Fitted Interior, circa 1830.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
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
Early 20th Century Secretary with Drawers and Marquetry and Brass Details
Located in New York, NY
This early 20th century secretary has two drawers and a flap, with storage behind the flap. The flap opens by key, which is included. The ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Regency Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Pennsylvania House Slant Front 4-Drawer Cherry Secretary Desk with Lock
Located in Germantown, MD
Pennsylvania House Slant Front Cherry Secretary Desk with Lock. Features four fully functional drawers with dovetail construction and Chippendale...
Category
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fantastic American Centennial Solid Walnut Philadelphia Carved Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
From Slatoff Estate. Walnut. 2piece. Top has 2 glass doors containing 2 shelves. Bottom has 5 dovetail drawers and drop down door with fitted interior. 98 3/4" h x 41 7/8" w x 22 1/2...
Category
1870s American Federal Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Swedish Modern Bureau by Otto Schulz for Boet, 1940s
By Otto Schulz, Boet
Located in Karlstad, SE
Very rare bureau by Otto Schulz for Boet, circa 1940.
This bureau is covered in cream white vinyl attached with pearl nails, significant for the designer. The skewed front is made o...
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rare Antique Federal American Mahogany Secretary Writing Desk Gothic Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
A fine and impressive Federal Period Mahogany secretary and bookcase, circa 1830s. The bookcase features an eighteen pane gothic arched cabinet fro...
Category
Early 19th Century American Federal Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
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 ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Federal Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Henkel-Harris 2 Part Solid Wild Black Cherry Secretary Drop Front Desk Bookcase
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Henkel-Harris 2 Part Solid Wild Black Cherry Secretary Drop Front Desk Bookcase
Category
20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Oak Secretary Desk Attributed to Robert Guillerme, France 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
A 1960s French secretary desk constructed of beautifully grained solid oak in a warm, honey hue. This piece features eight lower drawers adorned with aqua-toned metal pulls and a spa...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Early 19th Century Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Secretary, Germany, 1820
A magnificent Empire-style secretary crafted in walnut veneer over coniferous wood, with ebonized accents and partial gilding. This piece showcases t...
Category
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Very Fine Olive Burl Wood 83" Tall Secretary Desk Cabinet Chest of Drawers MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very Fine Compact Burl Wood Queen Ann Secretary Desk Bookcase Dresser Drawers MINT!
Category
20th Century Italian Federal Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Walnut & Burl Barrel Roll Top Secretary Bookcase & Desk C1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote***
Antique Victorian Walnut & Burl Barrel Roll Top Secretary, Double Glass Door Bookcase & Desk wi...
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Glass
Biedermeier Secretaire with Hidden Compartement, Walnut, Austria circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Secretary with black ink painting
Austria
Walnut
Biedermeier circa 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 155 x 85 x 46 cm
Description:
Exceptionally narrow writing desk with a highly intere...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Anglo Indian Military Campaign Camphor Wood & Brass Bureau Desk Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely late Victorian Anglo Indian campaign Camphor wood with brass inlay Military bureau desk
This piece really is exquisite. It’s a genui...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk
Located in Portland, OR
A rare & unusual antique Bohemian inlaid marquetry Elm tabernacle cabinet and desk, Austria, circa 1820.
The cabinet in two sections, the top with an arched pediment, the sides of th...
Category
1820s Austrian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Elm, Fruitwood, Ebony
19th Century German Biedermeier Cherrywood Secretaire - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Cherrywood and Burlwood, in good condition. The ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Secretary Desk / Vanity
Located in Gardiner, NY
Authentic vintage mid century Danish / Scandinavian Modern teak secretary desk / dresser / chest of drawers / vanity with mirror.
This piece is in excellent refinished condition wit...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Antique Tallboy Correspondence Desk, French, Kingwood, Escritoire, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique tallboy correspondence desk. A French, drawing room escritoire in bookmatched kingwood, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. A statement in both form a...
Category
Early 20th Century French Late Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Satinwood
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent high quality flame mahogany adorned with bronze doré mounts and its original gray mar...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Fine Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A black lacquer chinoiserie secretary in two parts. The upper cabinet with two doors that open to reveal 2 shelves, 4 pigeon holes ...
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
20th Century Oak Wood Dutch Bureau Desk, 1920
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Dutch bureau from the first half of the 20th century. Furniture carved in oak of beautiful lines and excellent proportions. Bureau equipped with six external drawers and a central do...
Category
1920s Dutch Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire, Walnut, Maple, Paw Feet, Austria circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
High-quality early Biedermeier Secretaire, Drop-Front or Secretary Desk from Austria around 1820.
Walnut veneered on hardwood (walnut and mahogany). Partly ebonized and details ven...
Category
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Fine Paint Decorated Baroque Style Armoire Secretary/ Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall custom Venetian baroque shaped frame, the double doors with inset beveled antiqued mirrors open to two shelves. The slant front opens to drawers and a cubby hole. The lower ca...
Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Danish Mid Century Teak Secretary Desk
Located in VANCOUVER, CA
Teak Danish secretary desk, circa 1960's. Beautiful book matched veneer, dovetail-constructed drawers, integrated handles, and sleek legs. Elegant bow front, chest of drawers, slidin...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak, Glass
English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secr...
Category
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the h...
Category
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Other, Brass
Børge Mogensen for Søborg Secretary Desk 1960s
Located in Handewitt, DE
Secretary desk / cabinet, designed in 1950s by Børge Mogensen for Søborg Møbelfabrik Denmark. Made in fine walnut early 1960s. Front with three drawers and a writing flap. Behind the...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
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
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.