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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1970s
French 19th Century Brass and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau
Located in Berlin, DE
French 19th Century Brass Inlaid and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau
A 19th century mahogany cylinder bureau with the rectangular top surrounded by a pierced brass gallery, above two mirrored panelled doors, the roll-top opening to reveal a sliding leather writing surface surmounted by three drawers and a shelf, above two frieze drawers, on fluted circular tapering legs headed by asperges and terminated by cast sabot. The mirrored paneled doors, and the roll top are distinguished by its brass inlays that beautifully frame and outline the design of the item. Together with the brass handles, the brass gallery and the brass toupie feet this cylinder bureau displays...
Category
19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
This secretary desk opens up and offers a beautiful writing space, along with areas to store your writing material. The secretary has bronze mounts, a marble top and Venis Martin...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
English Regency Period Goncalo Alves and Gilt Brass Secretaire Bookcase
By John Mclean
Located in London, GB
A Regency period secretaire bookcase attributed to John Mclean of London.
Constructed in a well figured goncalo alves, with extensive use of gilt brass accents. Rising from compressed ball brass feet, the lower section consists of two blind cupboard...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Tabernacle/ Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Tabernacle - walnut veneer and marquetry decorated in typical "Vienna Set-top Style". Fall front writing surface and 3 drawers in lower section. Eight drawers and a cen...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Secretaires
Louis XV Style Dore Bronze Mounted Boulle Marquetry Secretary Desk or Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous Louis XV style French dore bronze mounted Boulle Marquetry secretary desk or cabinet. With a cylindrical form in ebonized veneer a...
Category
1830s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Flemish Louis XIV Secretary or Bookcase with Embossed Brass
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Flemish Louis XIV secretary or bookcase with embossed brass combines the talents of a master furniture crafter with the artistry of a metal sculptor! Fashioned with a cl...
Category
Mid-19th Century Belgian Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Mahogany Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th century English heavily carved mahogany secretary with bronze drawer and door hardware. The key is original. Signed in the top drawer: Edwards and Roberts.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Style Parquetry, Gilt-Bronze and Lacquer Mounted Petit Secretaire Cabi
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Fine Louis XVI Style Parquetry, Gilt-Bronze and Lacquer Mounted Petit Secretaire Cabinet, Attributed to Maison Beurdeley.
Stamped to the reverse of the bronze mounts to the botto...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Biedermeier Secretary Desk in Maple Burl with Ebonized Details
By Biedermeier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A refined 19th-century Biedermeier secretary desk, crafted in maple burl and veneers, showcasing the elegant simplicity of the Biedermeier period. The drop-front design opens to reve...
Category
19th Century German Antique Secretaires
Materials
Burl
Studio Craft Drop Front Desk by Karel Mikolas
Located in Dallas, TX
An incredibly crafted drop front secretary desk by Karel Mikolas. Made from various solid hardwoods with carved panels and a cast bronze key escutcheon.
Category
1970s Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Napoleon III Inlaid Ormolu Marble Top Secretaire Desk Chest 1860
Located in Portland, OR
An exceptional French antique Napoleon III inlaid ebonized & ormolu mounted marble top secretaire chest, circa 1860.
This superb antique French secretaire abattant has a black & white veined marble top, with a reverse breakfront gilded bronze frieze below, the front of the secretaire is very finely inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl & gilt bronze 'rope twist' decoration. The chest has eight drawer fronts with gilded cast bronze garland decorated lock escutcheons, three of the drawers are dummy & form the fall front for the pull down secretary, which has the original blue velvet writing surface and engraved lock-plate. The interior is made of the finest flame grained satinwood and has two drawers with lozenge shaped inlay, the top of the chest with a pair of very finely cast gilt bronze caryatid brackets, the base with a corresponding pair of gilt bronze acanthus shaped brackets. The secretaire is raised on turned bun feet with gilt bronze mounts and a shaped skirt also with a gilt bronze mount, the sides of the chest with inlaid bronze stringing.
Condition is excellent, this exceptional French antique secretary chest...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Amazing Secretary "À Abattant" Napoleon III French, 19th Century VIDEO
Located in Madrid, ES
AMAZING SECRETARY "À ABATTANT" NAPOLEON III
French, 19th century
in painted and gilded wood with bronze applications, interior with six drawers, l...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire in walnut, root wood and ebony with fall-front writing surface; interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
Walnut Carved Secretaire Desk from H. Dufin, France, 19th Century
By Honoré Dufin
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful fine carved secretary desk.
The desk was made by the famous French cabinet maker Honoré Dufin. The secretary is signed on both sides by...
Category
1870s French Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Rosewood Inlaid Louis XVI Ladies Desk Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century French Rosewood Inlaid Louis XVI Ladies Desk Bonheur Du Jour
Dimensions : 30" Wide X 19" Deep X 52.75" Tall
This stunning ladies ...
Category
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood, Satinwood
Antique French secretaire Napoleon 3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful French napoleon 3 secretaire, it has a beautiful inlaid, made of rosewood,
ALL SALES ARE FINAL, STORE CREDIT OR EXCHANGE ONLY
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Impressive Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted secrétaire à Abattant, In The Manner Of André Charles Boulle.
This drop-front writing cabinet or secrétaire à abattant is finishe...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Fall Top Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI style fall top secretaire, France second half of the 19th century, mahogany veneer with white marble top. In very good condition.
The se...
Category
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
STUNNiNG ANTIQUE CIRCA 1840 SHERATON REVIVAL LIBRARY BUREAU BOOKCASE ON DRAWERS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England, Sheraton Revival, Library Bureau bookcase circa 1840
Please note the deli...
Category
1840s English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire- Dark walnut with fall front writing surface, interior drawers, secret compartments and exterior drawers.
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Louis Philippe Secretary with Marble Top
Located in Hudson, NY
Louis Philippe secretary with marble top.
Category
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Louis Seize Secretary around 1800 Nutwood Veneer on Oak
Located in Münster, DE
Cylinder bureau, Westphalia circa 1800, walnut and other fine woods veneered on oak, marquetry work, partly fire shaded, fluting and meander frieze, on the cylinder closure depiction...
Category
Early 1800s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Nutwood, Oak
Early 19th Century Mahogany Empire Secretary Bureau from Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
Rich mahogany and stately lines define this handsome Empire drop front secretary.
Refer to close up photos to appreciate the stunning color and pattern of the mahogany veneer.
Multip...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Portuguese Secretaire of the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Portuguese Secretaire
of the 19th Century, in mahogany wood with inlays. Bottom with two drawers.
Elevation with two shelves.
Small defects Dim.: 105 x 89 x 56 cm.
very good condition
Category
19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rare Northern Swedish Antique Pine Secretary Clock Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare Swedish antique clock secretary desk made around 1820 to 1840 in northern Sweden. The desk and body of the clock are made by hand in solid ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Writing Bureau or Secretaire
Located in Kramfors, SE
Painted writing bureau or secretaire from Sweden made during the early 1800s, 1810 to 1820. The bureau is a folk art furniture from the area Hälsingland in Sweden and is made in gustavian style. The bureau is a prime example of the Swedish gustavian period with clean, elegant lines and a timeless expression. A fun detail is the secret compartment hidden in the middle of the interior, see picture. This bureau is a solid antique furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
English Sheraton Mahogany Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
English Sheraton style (19th century) mahogany inlaid secretary with 2 lattice doors.
Category
19th Century Sheraton Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Biedermeier Bureau/ Commode
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Bureau/ Commode made of oak,walnut, fruitwood and maple. Fall front writing surface with interior drawers above three large drawers.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
French Secretaire , Bureau à pente / d’âne Louis XV
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind and very refined French piece , a Louis XV Bureau à Pente / Secretaire ,made in France at the beginning of the 19th century. Entirely veneered in extraordinary preciou...
Category
Early 1800s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Ebony and Thuya Wood Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a 19th century amboyna and ebony cabinet, with three quarter balustrade gallery, above two panelled doors set with Paris porcelain portrait ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Amboyna
Verni Martin secrétaire abattant , circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Louis XVI style secretaries abbattant, having bombe shaped sides, gilded rococo style scrolling ormolu mounts. Wonderful hand painted Ver...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Mid 19th Century French Semainier or High Chest with Secretary Compartement
Located in Greven, DE
Antique pier chest of drawers with secretary compartment - so-called Semainier Galbé
France
Rosewood
circa 1870
Dimensions: H x W x D: 128 x 81 x 42 cm
Description:
Lavishly decor...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Guillerme et Chambron, Secretaire in Blackened Oak, circa 1970
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, Secretaire in blackened oak, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th Century Swedish antique rustic Gustavian Secretary with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
A Swedish antique rustic Gustavian slant front secretary from early 19th century that is perfect for any home.
This originalpainted features a slanted top that pulls down to make a ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
19th Century French Standing Secrétaire / Dry Bar with Tambour Doors, Marble Top
Located in Madrid, ES
A 19th century, French secrétaire with beautiful feathered woodwork, eucalyptus fillet inlay with Louis XVI style detailing. The wood grain veneer is artfully arranged in geometric p...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Unique German Antique Secretaire with Chair Rich Inlay
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Exceptionally beautiful rare antique West Germany secretaire with chair. Early 19 th c, walnut wood with intricate inlay fruitwood. Comes with matching swivel armchair. Right and lef...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Nutwood
Fine 19th Century Mahogany French Secretaire Abbatant
By Maison Lemarchand and Lemoine
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Exceptional, Exhibition Quality, 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Mahogany And Brass Secretaire Abbatant, Having Original Veined Marble Top With Attractive Pierced Brass Ga...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Pair 19th Century Bonheur Du Jours
Located in Brighton, Sussex
Rare pair of 19th Century French Kingwood and Tulip wood veneered Bonheur du jours, each with pierced three quarter brass galleries, gilded ormolu mounts, three drawers either side o...
Category
19th Century Japanese Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Porcelain
Louis Phillipe North German Fall-Front Secretary in Flame Mahogany, circa 1855
Located in Miami, FL
A captivating one of a kind Louis Phillip secretary in book-matched, flame mahogany with shaped, curvi-linear drawer fronts and faux drawer fronts on the fall-front and the sides. Of...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary. Opens to reveal lovely storage space. There are nooks, shelves, a pull out writing surface. There are gilt bronze adornments and there a...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Spectacular masterspiece ladies writing secretary desk Napoleon III, 1860 France
Located in Wien, AT
A masterpiece of French craftsmanship - a Napoleon III era ladies writing secretary desk, circa 1860.
The piece of furniture has a slender, high structure, with a richly decorated f...
Category
1860s French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Period English Regency Secretary Cabinet with Ebonized Trim
Located in Dallas, TX
English Regency period mahogany and satinwood two-piece secretary cabinet. Pine secondary wood. Top section having a shaped cornice with an ebonized lion medallion flanked by sphinxe...
Category
Late 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A Beautiful & Rare Napoleon III 19th Century, Chinese Lacquer & Gilt Secretaire
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful & Rare Napoleon III 19th Century, Chinese Lacquer & Gilt Secretaire On Lion Paw Feet
A fall front reveals a letter rack and inkwells and pen holder...
Category
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Pair of Louis XVI Style Dutch Chinoiserie Secretary and High Chest
Located in Greven, DE
Pair of chinoiserie furniture - secretary and chiffonier
The Netherlands
Satinwood and others, lacquered panels
around 1890
Dimensions: H x W x D: 130 x 63 x 39 cm
Description:
Ve...
Category
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Louis XVI Style Parquetry Secrétaire, circa 1890
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted parquetry and marquetry fall-front Secrétaire with a marble top.
Stamped to the carcass ‘10298’.
This elegantly shaped Secrétaire is deco...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century Russian Antique Veneered Mahogany Secretary by Heinrich Gambs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, designed and produced by Heinrich G...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebony with a fall front writing surface, inside drawers and mirrored cubby hole.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire made of walnut and cherry with fall front writing surface, nine interior drawers, mirrored cubby hole and three exterior drawers. Germany circa 1840.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Secretaire Abattant
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early-mid 19th century Louis XVI style mahogany secretaire abattant
The top having a drawer above the drop front with felt writing surface, multiple compartments/drawers. Bottom hal...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Louis XIII Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Wellington Mahogany Chest Of Drawers Secretary Desk Dovetails Clean
By Wellington
Located in Rockaway, NJ
19th Century Wellington Mahogany Chest Of Drawers Secretary Desk Dovetails Clean
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Drexel Heritage French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secrétaire À Abattant
By Drexel
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style drop-front secretary desk
By Drexel Heritage, "Brittany Collection"
USA, Circa 1970s
Carved walnut, w...
Category
1970s American Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Pair of French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany Bonheurs Du Jours
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI St. Bonheurs du Jours, which literally means, the joy of the day. A type of writing desk introduced in Paris by renowned int...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Knobs
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Knobs
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Regency Brass-Inlaid Rosewood Secretaire Cabinet
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Regency brass-inlaid rosewood secretaire cabinet, the rectangular top with a pierced galleried shelf with trellis work on the sides, above a secretaire drawer, banded with brass pa...
Category
1810s English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Louis XV Style Scriban
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XV Style Scriban, in solid oak. Hand-carved with Provincial carving and hand-painted in an aged ecru on the outside with a dark midnight blue patina on the inside writing section.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid oak . Rectangular body on pointed legs. Provided with three drawers . Straight writing tablet, behind it architectur...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Secretary Simulated Chiffonier, Napoleon III Period
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique 19th century secretary simulated chiffonier, Napoleon III period
A magnificent secretary simulated chiffonier. It is created with gre...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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.