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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1970s
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A strong, elegant piece to keep you perfectly organized! Crafted of hand-hewn fir and ash and veneered with thick hand-cut ash veneers, this chest offers storage for everything. A lo...
Category
1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ash
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, mid 19th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
An impressive secretary from the mid-19th century in the Biedermeier style.
Antique furniture with a more beautiful form will give elegance to any interior. A representative piece ...
Category
1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Biedermeier Cherry Fall Front Desk / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Introducing a stunning late Biedermeier Slant-Front Secretary, crafted from solid cherry wood in the 1840s. This exquisite piece of furniture features three drawers spanning the enti...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Spruce, Cherry
19th Century Louis Philippe Style Fall Front Secretary Chest
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship Louis Philippe style secretary chest cabinet desk in a satin / burl wood with exterior front inlay musical instruments and flowers marquetry scene details. Th...
Category
1810s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
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
Georgian Oak Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Very handsome Georgian lowland oak secretary with walnut trim.
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Walnut
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 French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk in Flame Mahogany Drop Down
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk from the late 19th century is a striking piece of furniture, crafted from flame mahogany. The abattant (drop...
Category
1890s Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany
Located in Opole, PL
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany
Furniture in the Biedermeier style, made of soft wood veneered with mahogany, dated around 1840. The monumental shape...
Category
1840s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Birch Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Constructed of solid birch and fir and veneered with hand-cut Nordic birch veneers, the secretary features an upper locking drawer which rests upon a fitted desk area hiding behind a...
Category
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Fir
Biedermeier Burl Wood Secretary Cabinet
By Biedermeier
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A shaped cabinet with a scrolled bonnet, a centre compartment with door opening to two shaped shelves, flanked by curved side compartments (one shelf inside at the left). Below is a ...
Category
19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Burl
1970s Hand Carved Chinoserie Trunk Secretaires Desk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning desk you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, it being...
Category
1970s Asian Chinoiserie Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Russian Neoclassic Mahogany Secretaire Chest
Located in Queens, NY
Russian Neoclassical (Early 19th Century) ormolu, & white marble mounted ebonized & mahogany secrétaire commode with top drawer desk and upper section.
Category
19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Charles 'X' Secretaire
Located in Sheffield, MA
Burled elm charles 'X' drop front secretary (secrétaire à abattant) with black marble top with white vains, drop door revealing a leather covered writing table...
Category
19th Century English Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
It is the aged and scraped patina of the original brown painted finish that draws one to this pine secretary with graceful Swedish country charm.
Desktop rests on two extended arms. ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
19th Century French Bureau de Dame Napoleon III Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Milano, MI
A late 19th century Napoleon III bronze-mounted mahogany bureau à cylinder, an elegant French Bureau de Dame or Bonheur du Jour, a ladies writing desk with cartonnier which opens up ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front & Birch Interior
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely Louis Philippe fall-front secretary in pine with a light Gustavian-grey/white painted finish, and original French-polished birch wood interior. Features a carved bonnet...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine Antique French Louis XV Marquetry Rosewood Ormolu Secretaire Abattant 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality antique French Louis XV rosewood, marquetry, ormolu and marble topped secretaire abattant, circa 1880.
The serpentine shaped secretary is modeled as a semainier (...
Category
1880s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Empire Flamed Mahogany Secretaire a'Abattant Desk ca. 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LOUIS PHILIPPE FLAMED MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A'ABATTANT
France, circa 1830
Item # 407TCJ10P
This positively stunning secretary desk from the second quarter of the 19th century features...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Steel
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
Davenport Desk in Walnut, 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb Davenport in walnut and burl walnut from England from the 19th century V
ery elegant small travel desk in walnut and burl walnut which has a very elegant base
The right side...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Rare and Diminutive British Military Campaign Secretary with Leather Top Fall
Located in Austin, TX
A fine British military officer’s Campaign secretary or secretaire from the early 19th century Georgian Era, of a desirably rare and diminutive scale, fashioned as a chest of drawers...
Category
Early 19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Large English 19thC Ebonised Mahogany Glazed Bookcase Secretaire
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1870.
Large English 19thC Ebonised Mahogany Glazed Bookcase Secretaire with 4 glazed cabinet doors above a pull out mid section leather writing slide. With 2 large dovetailed d...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, circa 1820.
Cylinder top opens to a pull-out desk which offers an adjustable baize-lined lectern or writing surface flanked by sliding storage compartments, as well as a series of small interior drawers around a central cabinet. Above the desk, are three cupboards with bowed doors, the central one featuring a pediment top. Below the pull-out desk drawer, there are three long storage...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th century Georgian mahogany secretaire chest on chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century Georgian mahogany chest on chest circa 1800.
Fine quality English chest on chest which we rescued on our travels around Sweden.
Comprising of 2 parts. Top secti...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Oak
19th Century Lion Secretary Empire Berlin
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on solid oak and softwood partly ebonized. High-rise, architecturally designed corpus. In the front three drawers of different sizes. Straight writing board, behind it ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
Antique 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
This stunning Biedermeier secretary was crafted in Denmark during a peak era known for high quality furniture craftsmanship. Enlarge photos to appreciate the beauty of the wood, note...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
French Secretaire à Abattant, First Empire Period
Located in Montreal, Quebec
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, Bronze
Antique secretary from around 1880, Northern Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique secretary from the end of the 19th century (circa 1880s)
Produced in Scandinavia, in mahogany wood.
Furniture in preserved in very good ...
Category
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black marble top. The secretary features two front side columns with bronze mounts detail w...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Cylinder Roll Top Desk with drawers
By Biedermeier
Located in Pasadena, TX
A fine example of a classic Biedermeier design desk. Clad in fine mahogany veneer and sophisticatedly book matched, the roll top is just the beginning. The interior is done in a beau...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Heavily Carved Oak Desk Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand carved in northern France circa 1860, the "secretaire a abattants" is both stylish and functional. The writing desk is crafted from solid oak wood and stands on cabriole legs en...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Oak
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Chest, Biedermeier walnut secretary with cabinet below. Desk has four small drawers and a letter shelf. Cab...
Category
19th Century Czech Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Empire Drop Front Desk, Kopenhagen, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Empire drop front desk, Copenhagen 1810-20.
This unique Danish secretary desk is embellished with mahogany veneer. The lower part has three cur...
Category
1810s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Louis XV Style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French 19th century Louis XV style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk.
Elegant French burlwood and ormolu mounted Lady’s cylinder desk. The single door cabinet is raised by slend...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Biedermeier Maple Drop Front Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very attractive early 19th century Maple and Ebony German Biedermeier drop front secretary. Nice deep rich color and patina to the Maple surfac...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple
19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary Circa 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exceptional 19th-century Swedish clock secretary, circa 1820, combines functionality with timeless Gustavian elegance. Crafted from pine, this impressive piece features a beauti...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
Painted Swedish Secretary, 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
This 19th-century Swedish secretary is a captivating example of timeless design. Its cream-painted exterior exudes classic charm, while the writing surface features the popular faux ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style tall secretary from circa 1820 with gray painted finish, chapeau de gendarme bonnet top, two doors, slant-front desk and four d...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Louis Philippe Amboyna Secretaire Abbatant
Located in Essex, MA
With a rectangular top over a drawer over a fold down writing surface exposing a fitted interior with secret compartment. The interior with arcade with parquetry floor and fitted dra...
Category
1830s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Amboyna
Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Drop Front Secretary Desk from G
Located in Round Top, TX
Rich dark wood and stately lines define this handsome Biedermeier drop front secretary from Germany. Note the concave curve of the upper cabinet door and beautiful mahogany grain pat...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
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
American Block Front Dropdown Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Queens, NY
American (18/19th Century) block front mahogany secretary desk with a slant top drop front over 3 drawers supported on ogee bracket feet.
Category
19th Century American Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Edwards and Roberts Antique Inlaid Secretary Desk, 1860-1875, London
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Stately Mahogany inlaid leather top secretary desk, London England 1860-1875 by Cabinetmakers Edwards and Roberts. Moulded cornice over arched glazed panel doors with green fabric lined interior above a rolled front inlaid fan, shell and scroll decoration.
Pull out embossed green leather writing surface above graduated drawers on narrow feet: stamped "Edwards and Roberts" on top drawers edge. Famous cabinetry makers.
The firm Edwards and Roberts were among the best English antique furniture cabinet makers of the second half of the nineteenth century. The company was founded in 1845 and by 1854 was trading as ‘Edwards and Roberts’, 21 Wardour Street, ‘Antique and Modern Cabinet...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Leather, Glass
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
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
French Louis XVI Style Inlaid Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style (19th Century) parquetry inlaid drop front secretary abattant with gilt bronze trim and ring hands with 4 drawers below a fitted interior with a leather writin...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Gold Leaf
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century
Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk.
Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80.5"...
Category
19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Directory Cherry Wood Secetary Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
A French Directory era secretary desk, from the early 19th century, made of beautiful cherry wood, in a light tone with bronze handles and bronze keyholes as well. In their lower par...
Category
Early 19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th Century Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Secretary, Victorian, 1890
Located in Greven, DE
Antique ship's or captain's secretary, so-called Military Campaign Chest of Drawers
England
Mahogany, brass
Victorian around 1890
Dimensions: H x W x D: 135 x 92 x 52 cm
D...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Louis XVI Country French Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Louis XVI Country French Secretary Desk is the epitome of efficiency with style! Artfully hand-crafted from dense, old-growth oak, it features a slant front design wher...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Ebonized Burled Walnut Secretary Desk Bookcase with Sevres Style Figures
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb, extremely ornate and intricately designed Napoleonic style writing desk with bookcase top. The desk is crafted of burled walnut, bronze and porcelain Sevres style f...
Category
1880s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Bleached Mahogany Secretaire / Commode With Marble
Located in Viterbo, VT
Louis XVI commode with secretaire hand-crafted in France using mahogany and pegged construction. The commode features three inset drawer, the first of which slides out to reveal a sm...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Louis XV Chinoiserie Writing Desk
Located in Charlottesville, VA
This petite desk has the most charming decoration. It is done in chinoiserie.
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Aesthetic Movement Bonheur du Jour Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
Bonheur du Jour secretary desk cabinet,
circa late 1880s.
Dark walnut with finial accents and turned legs. The hinged writing surface opens to...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Aesthetic Movement Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Swedish Country Folk Art Writing Bureau
Located in Kramfors, SE
Country home writing bureau in folk art from northern Sweden. The bureau is from around 1820 to 1830 and has a writing desk with interior drawers with brass drawer pulls. Underneath ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
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.