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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1970s
Superb George III Style Inlaid Marquetry Secretaire Cabinet
By Mayhew & Ince
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Magnificent antique English Secretaire cabinet with satinwood, hare wood, tulipwood, and kingwood marquetry, of monumental form, in two parts. The upper section with molded cresting ...
Category
19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
1920s Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut & Burl Veneer, Threaded Maple
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Early 20th Century Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut & burl Veneer, Threaded of Maple.
Elegant walnut flap. It has a front with three drawers and a calatoia door. Trhee large...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Burl
Highly Carved Pine Secretary from Denmark, circa 1890
Located in Round Top, TX
Elaborate carving accentuate the entire surface of this striking pine secretary.
Enlarge photos to appreciate the extensive details, including vines, birds, leaves, trees, dentil mol...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Anglo-Indian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
English Bookcase Secretary with Moroccan Style Glass Doors, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
English secretary with glass door and three glass shelves, leather inlay on desk surface, original glass panels, 19th Century. There is one ...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Patent Secretaire, France, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Patent secretaire with mahogany veneered frame and columns with bronze capitals and bases.
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Mid 19th Century Mahogany Roll Top Writing Desk
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Roll bureau or roll secretary. Mid 19th century. Solid mahogany and veneered on oak.
Standing on 4 twisted turned table legs with 5 long frame d...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Oak
Early 19th Century Stunning Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is a stunning early 19th century Swedish Gustavian secretary. This secretary features a newer, professionally applied white and gray e...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Brass Inlaid Ladies Bureau Desk
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A top quality French rosewood brass inlaid desk, with tambour front, you have to pull open the drawer to release the tambour and then fold over the original velvet writing surface, l...
Category
Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Secretary Bureau
Located in South Salem, NY
A late 19th century Swedish secretary bureau with a drop front writing surface. Two over three drawers sits atop ogee bracket feet. Later paint.
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Chinese Chippendale Style English Bamboo Slanted Lift-Top Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning Hand Crafted English Chinese Chippendale Bamboo Secretary.
This handsome and special Secretary has two top facing doors and a Middle "cubby Hole" opening for Books, small decorative pieces, etc., The tilt top Desk...
Category
19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Bamboo, Wood, Maple
Antique Secretary, Scandinavia, Around 1870, After Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the end of the 19th century.
Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 210 cm ...
Category
1870s Norwegian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Wooden Secretary Rustic with Flap 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This desk is composed of a cupboard and an openable drawer. Very nice piece of ironwork in metal trim. This little « Bureau de pente » is in solid wood.
France 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Empire Secretaire, Vienna, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Viennese secretaire on square pointed feet with bronze sabots. The body with beveled corners has a two-door base, a writing flap with central lock and one top drawer. The front side ...
Category
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Ornately Carved English Oak Library Bureau Bookcase Lion's Head Brass Handles
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable, ornately carved, circa 1860 Jacobean revival, Antique Library Bureau bookcase
Please note the delivery fe...
Category
1860s English Jacobean Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Solid wood, manufactured to a high quality. The display cabinet has a pull-out function and can be used as a secretary than...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
English 19th Century Campaign Mahogany Box with Unfolding Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English mahogany campaign period box on legs from the 19th century revealing a desk with drawers and green felt. This English mahogany campaign period box on legs from the 19th ce...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Museum Biedermeier Secretary Signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum Biedermeier secretary signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825
Fire-gilt fittings. High quality Cuba mahogany on solid linden wood. Architecturally structured front. Rect...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Bonheur du Jour Secretaire in Lous-Seize-Style, Late 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Two-door Bonheur du Jour ladies' secretaire standing on tall, tapered legs with brass sabots, featuring a leather-covered writing surface in the lower drawer and compartments for ink...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Sublime Early 19th Century French Secrétaire
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Sublime early 19th century French secrétaire.
Category
Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Early 19th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early XIX Century Mahogany Secretary
Germany, 1800
Mahogany
This classicist cylinder bureau made of mahogany dates from 1810 and is an original from the Empire & Biedermeier era. Th...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th C. Drop Front Desk, Secretary Abattant, with Multiple Wood Marquetry Inlay
Located in Madrid, ES
This handsome Carlos IV style "secretaire-abattant" or drop front desk combines functionality with ample storage space. Top, front and sides feature detailed marquetry inlay in geome...
Category
Early 19th Century Spanish Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Secretaire Writing Cabinet in Antique Biedermeier Style Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High quality rosewood veneer on solid conifers. Conical body on profile frames. Base in the front, between four drawers, straight flap with shield-shaped filling. Behind it is a richly divided compartmental division of a bent temple-shaped central compartment with mirrored full columns, flanked by star-starved drawers. Over cantilevered profile cornice flat gypsum, stepped with oval cover plate. Front. All drawers and backboard made of solid wood. So-called pyramid furniture...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th C Chippendale Style Mahogany Block Front Shell Carved Secretary Desk Lowboy
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th century Chippendale style mahogany blockfront secretary desk. Item features solid mahogany wood construction, dramatic shapely legs terminating with ball and claw feet on the fr...
Category
Late 19th Century American Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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 style bombe marquetry secrétaire à abattant with a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Secretaire Napoleone III, France, 19th Century, Black
Located in Prato, IT
France, second half '800
Lastronate in ebanized wood.
Inlay in brass, copper, pewter, mother-of-pearl.
Marble top in "Fior di pesco".
Inside three drawers with leather top with g...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Exquisite 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exquisite Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry and Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre
The stepped rectangular top with pierced three quarter gallery ab...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Vintage John Stuart White Lacquered Campaign Wood Desk X-Chrome Base Two Drawer
Located in North Miami, FL
This newly restored vintage John Stuart campaign 2 drawer desk and or writing desk is white lacquered over wood with chrome handles and 2 X-frame ...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Chrome
English Chinese Chippendale Style Lattice Design Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
English Chinese Chippendale style (19th century) carved mahogany lattice design secretary with gilt eagle pediment.
Category
19th Century Chinese Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
Rare Cabinet Chest of Drawers with Marble in the antique Biedermeier Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Maple root on solid conifers. Single-door cabinet in cylindrical shape. Corpus on corresponding frame. Gering marble top surface with light-grey grain. Partially ebonised. Interior s...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple
English Georgian Style Secretary Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary cabinet.
Category
19th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Pine Secretary, Circa 1820-40
Located in Round Top, TX
It is the warm patina of the aged pine that draws one to this secretary with graceful Swedish country charm.
Desktop rests on two extended arms. Desk opens reveals 8 small drawers an...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
English Regency Rosewood Secretaire
Located in Queens, NY
English Regency rosewood secretaire cabinet with two upper shelves supported by a lyre form over a secretaire drawer fitted with a leather wri...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Charles X Writing Desk with secret compartment
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Charles X Writing Desk with secret compartment. Gorgeous piece. Age appropriate wear on wood and red leather top, see detailed pics.
Category
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louis XV Style Kingwood Bureau de Dame by Alphonse Giroux et Cie
Located in Montreal, QC
This parquetry desk has the attributes one would expect when bearing the name to one of Paris leading retailers of objet deluxe. It is bombe...gently swelling and raised on cabriole legs. It is applied with oval porcelain panels which we have not dismounted but are to Sevres standard. It extensively mounted with bronze chutes sabots and moldings of various sorts. Including a bronze pierced plaque with the monogram of the owner. It is in a small way, highly evocative of 19th century Paris at its best.
This company flourished between the consulate and 1867 when it closed. It enjoyed Royal patronage and was certainly a leading supplier of luxury goods of the highest quality.
Maison Giroux, the famous curiosity and luxury goods shop, was situated at No. 7 rue du Coq-Saint-Honoré and in business from the time of the Consulate until the end of the Second Empire. The business was founded in 1799 by Francis Simon Alphonse Giroux, cabinetmaker and official restorer of Notre Dame. “Maison Alphonse Giroux” also known as “Giroux & Cie” specialized in producing ornate objects d’art and technically sophisticated furniture. Patronized by various members of the French Royal Family, including Louis XVIII, Charles X, Henri...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Large cylinder desk in mahogany and flamed mahogany veneer in the Empire style. This secretary with semi-cylindrical flap has eight drawers with pa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A Charming Victorian Postcard or Stationary Stand, South Coast
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Charming Victorian Postcard or Stationary Stand, South Coast
This is a very attractive piece, the box is made walnut and is sign written with local advertisements
The cabinet has several storage sections for leaflets postcards etc. at the back, it may have been displayed in a Hotel Foyer or similar. At the front there is a writing space with blotter, this can be folded away when space is needed
All the advertisements are from Southsea, Portsmouth, The Isle of Wight and surrounding area.
This is a very attractive piece the advertising work is all in good condition, there is a small bevelled mirror...
Category
19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts England
Located in Atlanta, GA
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts, England, circa 1830.
Category
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century "Secretaire Abattant" Style Standing Drop Front Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
A striking 19th century "Secretaire Abattant" style standing desk with a drop front writing surface. A handsome and functional piece of furniture with copious storage space. It features dramatic wood grain patterns, and fine geometric marquetry fillets of alternating light and darker woods. The interior has ample slots and shelving for display of personal items, and the original leather writing pad...
Category
19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Biedermeier Roll-Top Desk, Cherry Veneer, Brass, Ink, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
High-quality early Biedermeier Roll-top or Cylinder Secretaire or Writing Cabinet from South Germany around 1820.
Very thick cherrywood saw veneer on softwood and solid cherrywood. E...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Émile Gallé Game Table in Walnut and Marquetry of Veneered Wood with a Floral
By Émile Gallé
Located in Ixelles, BE
"Émile Gallé Game Table in Walnut and Marquetry of Veneered Wood with a Floral Thistle Motif (c. 1895).
Émile Gallé’s game table is an exceptionally refined work of art, perfectly e...
Category
1880s French Art Nouveau Antique Secretaires
Materials
Nutwood
Fine George III Flame-Figured Mahogany Secretaire Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
The arched pediment centered by paneled roundel, over two glazed doors with pointed astragals opening to a chartreuse silk-lined interior with shelves; the lower part with a pullout ...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Small Mahogany Port Desk, Louis XV period – 18th century
Located in HÉRIC, FR
Beautiful solid Cuban mahogany sloping desk with two drawers on each side, each secured by an internal locking system, in a secret cache. Below, a single drawer with identical handle...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Marble-Top Secretaire in Blackened Wood Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
Lady's secretaire of blackened wood and nets decorated with rosettes and scrolls in gilded brass. It opens on the front with a drawer and a flap discovering niches and small drawers ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English Regency Metamorphic Book Case -Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
This finely made English regency period metamorphic bookcase-desk is also of an interesting and useful small scale. The mahogany construction is done in a clean simple straight-grain...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Secretaire Cartonnier, Transition , wood leather
Located in Valladolid, ES
A sensational and unique French PP S XIX cartonnier, Transition style from Louis XV to Louis XVI, high quality, mahogany, mahogany palm and leather. The cartonnier rises on a solid m...
Category
Early 1800s French Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Cherrywood Secretary From The 19th Century -france
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant cherry wood secretary from the 19th century
It is unusual to find a secretaire in cherry wood
The secretary is in superb condition. It has all its keys and we have placed a ...
Category
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Empire Secretary Desk, France 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
French Empire Secretary Desk, 19th Century – Mahogany Veneer, Marble Top, Bronze Details
This stunning 19th-century French Empire secretary desk...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Beautiful French 19th Century Hand-Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful French 19th century hand-painted secretary desk, the patina is so much beautiful in person, it has a little repair on one side, see...
Category
1880s French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Fall Top Secretaire, Berlin 1820 with Exquisite Interior
Located in Belmont, MA
Outstanding Biedermeier fall top secretaire, Berlin 1820, mahogany veneer with ebonized details. The interior has one central compartment surrounded by 8 s...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Georgian Mahogany Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian mahogany secretary cabinet with a bottom section with drawers and an upper section with 2 lattice glass doors
Two drilled h...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
German Biedermeier Slant-Front Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
A very good German slant front desk with a lower case of drawers. The writing surface very nicely finished veneers with interior drawers having inlay ...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Transforming Table, Ladies Desk, Secretaire, Walnut, France ca 1860
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique secretary, lady's desk
France
Walnut
around 1860
Dimensions: H x W x D: 90 x 59 x 53 cm
Description:
Quite extraordinary small piece of transforming furniture...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Pine Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Handcrafted during the 19th century, this French Louis Philippe period pine secretary is ideal for the casual decor with its clean lines and sublime functionality. The tailored lines...
Category
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Late 19th Century Flamed Mahogany Secretaire
Located in Bronx, NY
Late 19th century flamed mahogany secretaire.
Category
19th Century American Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Secretary Desk, Italy, 1970s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wooden secretary desk, Italy, 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Fall-Front Desk
Located in Buchanan, MI
Handsome and functional Regency mahogany fall front desk, server, entry way piece, great inlay, elegant form. Exceptional exaggerated arched foot.
Category
19th Century North American Federal Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satin
19th Century French Writing Desk Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very fine late 19th century French writing desk secretary with dore bronze mountings and Marble. It is made of a variety of woods - f...
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Biedermeier Style Cuba-Mahogany Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist secretary, circa 1800-1810.
Cuba mahogany on solid softwood partly ebonized. High-right, architecturally designed body on conical legs. In the front three drawers. Straig...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
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.