Secretaires

German Empire Secretary Desk, circa 1810–1820 – Walnut Veneer, Brass Details, Shellac Finish This elegant early 19th-century Empire secretary desk was crafted in Germany between 1810 and 1820. It features exquisite book-matched walnut veneer with rich, natural grain patterns that highlight the refined craftsmanship of the Empire style. The lower section includes two paneled doors that open to reveal three spacious interior drawers, offering ample concealed storage. The upper section features a fall-front writing flap, which opens to a well-organized interior with several small drawers and open compartments—ideal for correspondence and personal items. Above this is a wide additional drawer for extra storage. Two striking full-length columns with brass capitals and bases frame the piece, adding a classical architectural touch. The entire desk has been beautifully restored with a traditional hand-applied shellac polish, enhancing its depth and sheen while preserving its historic character. Key Features: Authentic Empire period desk, Germany, circa 1810–1820 Book-matched walnut veneer Original architectural details: brass-mounted columns Writing flap with interior drawers and compartments Large drawer above writing section Fully restored with hand-applied shellac polish Ships from Germany – shipping to Boston included This antique Empire secretary desk...

For Restoration: A handsome Antique Chest with pull-out desk having drawers with original brass knobs oval brass drawer pulls and cubbies. The case with highly figured Mahogany with ...

Tall walnut desk cabinet in Baroque style with gilded brass ornamentation. The upper glazed part reveals seven drawers, a leaf, and fifteen lockers, the flap revealing six drawers, s...

This pyramid-shaped secretary from the early 19th century impresses with its architectural design and high-quality craftsmanship. The gable-shaped top with segmental filling is accen...

German Biedermeier (circa 1820) mahogany secretary cabinet with Corinthian columns on top and bottom section and a centered drop front revealing a...

Elegant early Biedermeier / neoclassical secretaire from south Germany around 1820, early 19th century. Cherry wood book-matched veneered on softwood and cherry solid wood, partly ebonized. Inside in mahogany veneer with drawers and three open compartments. Above one long drawer under the cornice. Below two long drawers with old box locks. Fully restored and hand-polished with shellac. Dimensions: * Metric: H 150 cm x W 96...

Large, original Biedermeier Secretaire from South Germany around 1840. Cherry veneered on softwood and solid cherry. Solid cherry solid columns with carved Corinthian capitals. Pro...

An antique Renaissance Revival diminutive cylinder desk offers walnut and burl construction with upper case having carved cartouche over double glass door bookcase...

19th century Swedish Gustavian fall front desk from Burtrask Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden. Scraped by hand to its original color. Small cute model in child size. Fits so nicely i...

Antique Louis-Philippe Secretary Desk in Burl Walnut, Circa 1845 – From the Loire Valley This extraordinary Louis-Philippe secretary originates from a historic château nestled in a ...

Introducing our exquisite 19th-century Neoclassical Style Hand-Painted & Decorated Front Breakfront/Secretary Bookcase, a stunning blend of artistry and functionality that adds a tou...

This small charming Empire secretary desk, crafted in Copenhagen around 1810, consists of three sections. The upper section has three doors: a l...

Antique 19th century Dutch oak drop front bombe secretary with a 3-drawer bombe front and carved ball and claw feet. The drop front has writing area and...

Louis XV style oak secretary desk with intricate and highly detailed carvings on front, top and sides. The scalloped door, with a working key, drops...

19th Century Victorian Burl Walnut Slant Front Secretary Desk Attr To Jelliff Dimensions : 103" Tall X 46" Wide X 22" Deep This stunning burled walnut secretary desk was made in th...

A Japanese style carved wood cabinet, with a painted decor imitating Japanese lacquer, ornamented with flowers, birds and butterflies. Opening onto two drawers and a paper filer, the upright-secretary door is also fitted with red velvet. Surmounted by a drawer and asymmetrical shelves, composed in the Japanese « zen » spirit, the cabinet stands on four legs joined by an engraved stretcher. The great influence of the Far-East, through China and Japan, in the second half of the 19th century French art could be found first in painting and soon after in decorative arts and furniture as well. Following the Franco-English military campaign led in 1860 against the Imperial army in China, the French troops of Napoleon III brought back from the Summer Palace, a part of the Chinese Imperial court treasure, which will make up the famous Chinese Museum of Empress Eugénie at the Fontainebleau Palace. The French artists won’t be long to take inspiration from those exotic and sumptuous objects for their creations, as they used to do in the 18th century, when the best French cabinet-makers adapted the Chinese lacquers on the luxurious royal chests. But the influence of Japan, at the Meiji period (1868-1912), came also very quickly to France, thanks to the opening of the country in the middle of the 19th century, as well as the development of traveling and the amazing Universal Exhibitions, in which Japan participated for the first time in 1867 in Paris. Then many Japanese objects and prints were imported to France and to all Europe, and for which some collectors spent already fortunes. With Manet and Impressionists generation, the passion for Japanese art, more than a simple taste for an exotic style, was still in fashion until the turn of the 19th century. It provoked not only a craze among the French aristocratic families as well as the wealthy Paris high society, wishing renew their mansion inner decoration, but turned also to a real revolutionary movement among the “avant-garde” artists. Those artists, whoever they were, painters, cabinet-makers or designers of ceramic, bronze and crystal objects, adapted then those techniques and naturalistic motifs unknown until this time. Christofle, very famous since 1867 as a silversmith, was also one of the leaders among the inventors of Japanism. He knew how to use Japanese elements to his own splendid works made in silver or “cloisonné” enameled bronze. During the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, Christofle presented with great success his life-sized bronze Japanese ladies torcheres, executed by the renowned sculptor Guillemin. Another famous company to be mentioned, is “L’Escalier de Cristal”, producing art objects and furniture, all of high standard quality and innovating much with their Japanese decor. Highly remarked during the Universal Exhibitions, “L’Escalier de Cristal” collaborated with the greatest artists, such Gallé and Rousseau for glass- and ceramic wares, and the cabinet-makers Lièvre and Viardot, whom made furniture including sometimes authentic Japanese elements. In 1872, Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert opened in Paris, at 33 rue du Quatre-Septembre a store that offered “natural bamboo furniture and cane seats” and all kinds of textile fittings for furniture. This furniture used for winter gardens and terraces of mansions knew then a resounding success. They developed their business around 1884 with their Japanese style furniture, very close to that executed by Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906). In 1886, the company appearing in the category of “Chinoiserie and Japoneries” offered, in addition to furniture and seating creation, works of art and inlaid furniture directly imported from the Far East ; an activity that expanded rapidly. Their exotic fantasy furniture presented at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889 and 1900, rewarded them two silver medals. In 1894, the company was listed under the name “Perret et Vibert”, headed by the son of Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert. The same year, they redesigned their store on rue du Quatre-Septembre, creating ten new show-rooms, showing complete furniture sets of Japanese and Chinese style inspiration. It was not until 1895, that the company was finally named “La Maison des Bambous” and organized then in their shops an “exhibition of country furniture and seats for castles and villas”, which was visited by Empress Eugenie to furnish her villa Cyrnos at Cap Martin. She actually was a regular customer of the “Maison des Bambous” as she bought repeatedly furniture. In October of the same year, the king of Greece...

This mid-nineteenth century French Louis XVI style commode secretary features fluted bronze columns at the corners with striated bronze plaques above and below. Additional bronze ban...

Very well preserved conical secretary with stepped head Front with multiply mirrored pyramid mahogany entire surface with original shellac hand polish high-quality cabinet part with thread intarsia and leg buttons very elaborate workmanship and rare furniture...

Scriban or secretary chest in the Louis XVI style from France. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany. It has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous Fr...

This wonderful Baroque-style secretary commode features a wavy serpentine chest of drawers surmounted by a slant-top desk. Hand-carved in Southern Germany during the 1800s, the secre...

Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk. Item features 2 part construction, beautiful tapered capitol, brass hardware, mother of pearl keyh...

Gorgeous French antique 19th century Renaissance revival / Hunt style Writing desk in carved oak. Marvelous decorated hunt style desk with fox head drawers & barley twisted columns...

A Superb Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XVI Style Bureau à Cylindre Possibly François Linke for Maison Krieger In the manner of Adam Weisweiler, Possibly by François Linke for Maison Krieger Cajou, platane trellis-parquetry, ébène and buis stringings, the rounded corner marble top above three small drawers, the cylinder front opening to a gilt-tooled leather lined writing slide and five small drawers, the frieze fitted with three drawers, the central drawer, with spring-loaded secret release, is decorated with an ormolu relief plaque which depicts a group of putti at play, the two side drawers with hidden key...

Pine secretary crafted in the early 1800's in Sweden. Note the original gray painted finish (with green undertones) with red and blue accents as well. The original painted finish h...

This wonderful walnut secre´taire a` abattant was constructed in the style of Louis XVI during the 19th century. Topped with a great piece of black and white marble. A single, slim d...

19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk with open book shelves above the fall front desk and bottom cabinet doors. The desk section has multiple sma...

Lovely antique French Louis XVI painted secretarie. This piece has a very fine patina and nice clean lines. Top section has a nice area for display and there is a good amount of stor...

Pyramids mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged inner life. Not long ago, the secretary was grounded. Several drawers from inside as well as from outside. With secret compar...

A remarkable, and strong early 19th century American Empire secretary bookcase of grand architectural scale with an incredible arched pedimen...

This directory secretary was crafted in 1810, yet the condition of this desk seems practically new. The dark wood color is a beautiful stained walnut. There are two big lower drawers...

Biedermeier secretaire with three drawers and flat writing flap. The body is veneered in cherry and polished by hand. The secretaire stands on square feet which are flanked by eboniz...

Swedish 19th century two-part painted wood secretary circa 1856 with slant front desk, four doors and bracket feet. of Scandinavian taste for light palettes. Enrich your space with a...

This antique English oak secretaire from the late 18th/early 19th century is a real eye-catcher. It has oak fronts, a stepped interior, beautiful original details and working locks. ...

19th Century Secretary with Trick Lock and Secret Compartments Sweden Birch, mahogany Historicism - dated 1857 Dimensions: H x W x D: 126 x 109 x 55 cm Description: Unusual piece ...

19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary represents the essence of efficiency with a flair for style! Hand-crafted from solid oak, i...

Early 19th century Swedish Period Gustavian two part secretaire cabinet with writing surface. The secrétaire cabinet is with two upper reeded door, two selves, two smaller drawer an...

Antique Elm Wood Secretary from 1840 This exquisite antique roll-top secretary desk exudes timeless elegance with its rich, warm wood grain and intricate craftsmanship. The piece fe...

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...

Beautiful craftsmanship Louis Philippe abattant secretary desk in a walnut cherry wood with exterior front inlay with farmscapes, castle and flowers marquetry details. The secretary ...

An exciting example of French design firm Maison Jansen’s commissioned pieces. This secretary cabinet is made from solid mahogany, lacquered in a rich dark brown and bronze–golden fi...

Rare and important antique American early 19th century figured mahogany "Duncan Phyfe" style flap-top secretary bookcase with gorgeous lyre-shaped glazed doors. Color of mahogany has...

A Truly Magnificent 19th century Secre´taire a` Abattant by Maison Rogie´ of Paris After the original in the Wallace Collection, London, made in 1777 by Pierre-Antoine Foullet Con...

The warm patina of the aged wood glows with life in this lovely rococo secretary or bureau with striking inlaid double star pattern along desk front. The interior 14 drawers and one ...

We present you a Louis Philippe secretaire from the mid-19th century. There are three bottom drawers, a removable board flush with the rest, and a narrow drawer with a concave-conve...

A Swedish writing desk, made of walnut wood, also decorated with gilded lateral grooves in the late Gustavian style. The writing desk is divided into two parts, each of which has bro...

This is a very authentic looking Italian Rococo secretary desk with a bookcase top by Baker furniture company. The piece is made of gorgeous warm walnut and features mirrored doors o...

A Louis XVI secretary desk in mahogany with satinwood inlays. Offers a cylinder top that opens to reveal a series of small drawers surrounding...

Pine secretary or "bureau" from Sweden from the latter 1800's. Standing 4' tall, this secretary has 3 traditional large lower drawers with brass pulls and upper desk section. The des...

Proportioned in a smaller scale than most, this slant front bureau / desk in walnut has parallel strings of satinwood surrounding the herringbone crossbanding that is used throughout...

19th century mahogany wood neoclassical style bronze ormolu mounted secretary. The secretary is raised on tapered feet mounted bronze ormolu. The center section is fitted with a pane...

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...

Well constructed with fine mahogany veneer with Federal style brass eagle finial on a pedestal. The carved cornice with urn form finials over a carv...

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 piece of furnitu...

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...

The secretary made of Dutch oak from the 19th century rich in decorations consists of an upper and lower part. The upper part is hinged to the front. The flap sits on two pullouts th...

A magnificent mid 19th century Biedermeier chest with figured mahogany secretaire cabinet, with a raised serpentine single drawer, a frieze drawer over paneled fall front, and the in...

Pair of impressive marble, porcelain, and ormolu mounted Victorian secretaires English, 19th Century Height 126cm, width 77cm, depth 37cm This stunning pair are a showcase of Engl...

Elegant Antique Ash Veneer Secretary Desk This exquisite original secretary desk, crafted in fine ash veneer, is a true testament to timeless elegance and expert craftsmanship. Its ...