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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1930s
19th Century English Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century English ladies writing desk with finely painted satinwood. The desk has two drawers and two doors. The handles are sterling ...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Sterling Silver
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
19th Century French Marble-Top Secretaire Bronze Decoration Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
French chiffonier forming secretary, inlaid with violet wood and rosewood, flap opening with four drawers with red marble top. Falling cuffs and keyh...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Louis XVI Style Secretary by H. Dasson, France, Circa 1880
By Henry Dasson
Located in PARIS, FR
A very fine Louis XVI style upright secretary, executed in veneered wood, finely decorated with painted medallions representing mythological scenes. Fine chiseled and gilded bronze m...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
1850s Antique Cabinet with Bone Inlay and Handcrafted Details
Located in Marbella, ES
Exquisite antique cabinet with detailed ornamentation highlighted by bone inlays in geometric and floral patterns. The front features a central design evoking a tree of life, surroun...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Wood
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 English Bonheur Du Jour Attributed To Gillows Of Lancaster
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine 19th century Burr walnut, ebonised , ormolu and porcelain Bonheur du jour, the superstructure with pierced brass galleries above an open compartment with mirrored interio...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
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
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
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
Antique Pine Roll Top Desk Bureau from Sweden circa 1840
Located in Round Top, TX
Lovely pine roll top desk or bureau from Sweden from the 1800's.
The age of this secretary is revealed in the warmth of the deep patina in the pine which only happens through genera...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Italian Lombardy Flower Inlaid Monetiere , in the manner of Maggiolini, Ca. 1820
Located in CH
Italian Lombardy Flower Inlaid Monetiere , in the manner of Maggiolini, Ca. 1820.
During the Neoclassical period Italian furniture was enriched with inlays of various kinds. Of the ...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
High mahogany secretary with marquetry and brass fittings from around the 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
High mahogany secretary with marquetry and brass fittings from around the 1840s.
Measurements in cm: H:215 W:104 D:52
Category
1840s Danish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th C. Spanish Leather-Wrapped Secretary Cabinet on a Custom Iron Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A 19th century Spanish secretary desk, on custom iron base. This antique case piece from Spain has a leather-wrapped exterior which is adorn in ...
Category
19th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Wood
Antique Danish Louis Philippe Empire Style Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Danish Louis Philippe Empire Style Mahogany Secretary Desk
This exquisite 19th-century secretary desk beautifully combines the influence of the Louis Philippe and Danish Emp...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
George III Diminutive English Mahogany Glazed Bookcase Bureau
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1800
George III Diminutive English Mahogany Glazed Bookcase Bureau
sku 2040
Together W59 x D44 x H200 cm
Base W59 x D44 x H102 cm
Top W59 x D24 x H98 cm
Top internal shelf dept...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Louis XVI Floral Marquetry Writing Cabinet or Lady's Secrétaire
Located in Berlin, DE
19th Century Louis XVI Floral and Musical Instruments Marquetry Writing Cabinet or Lady's Secrétaire, also called "Bonheur du Jour"
A 19th century bonheur du jour writing cabinet o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Sèvres Porcelain Mounted Secretaire
Located in London, GB
Antique Louis XVI style ormolu and Sèvres porcelain mounted secretaire
French, c. 1840
Height 127cm, width 76cm, depth 37cm
This magnificent ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Davenport Secretaire
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Beautiful antique Davenport bureau in burl walnut. Light brown leather inlay with gold profiling. Under the writing surface there is 1 small drawer and 2 false drawer fronts. On the...
Category
1840s English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
Introducing a remarkable Empire Fall Top Desk, hailing from France during the period of 1800-1810. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this magn...
Category
Early 1800s European Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Russian Neoclassic Mahogany Secretaire
Located in Queens, NY
Russian Neoclassic (Late 18th/ Early 19th Century) ormolu mounted ebonized and mahogany secretaire cabinet with a Pair of doors above a fitted fall...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu, Bronze & Fruitwood Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome Continental mid 19th century Empire st. mahogany, ormolu, patinated bronze and ebonized fruitwood drop front secretary. The secretary is raised by four square tapered...
Category
19th Century Unknown Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Swedish Biedermeier Desk Made of Birch Wood and Rosewood
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Swedish Biedermeier Desk Made of Birch Wood and Rosewood
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique English Walnut Glass-Front Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1880-1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English walnut glass-front secretary bookcase, circa 1880-1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Walnut
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
French Louis XV Secretary, circa 1850
Located in Evergreen, CO
Elegant and functional, this stunning quarter sawn oak secretary was crafted in France in the mid-19th century and is comprised of three pieces. It features a top shelf cabinet with ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Large Display Cabinet / Bookcase with Secretary in Oak, 1900
Located in Lüdinghausen, DE
Large display cabinet with secretary restored oak bookcase
Features:
Six-door model with secretaire with three drawers and two extension leaves
Very...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Hand Painted Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand painted and silver gilt secretary with inset original glass mirrored doors and fitted interior.
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Mahogany, 1820s Austria
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder)
Material: Mahogany.
Completely restored, Shellac polish.
Period: 1820-1829
Source: Austria, Wien.
Category
1820s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer
ANTIQUE ViCTORIAN 1860 WALNUT SCRIBAN BUREAU BOOKCASE MUST SEE PICTURES
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning circa 1860-1880 Walnut framed Scriban bureau bookcase
Please note the delivery fe...
Category
1860s English High Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Walnut
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Having a writing section along with a two door commode for mail secretary need...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Material Mahogany, Wien 1820-1829
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder)
Material: Mahogany.
Completely restored, Shellac polish.
Period: 1820-1829
Source: Austria, Wien.
We guarantee safe a the cheapest air ...
Category
1820s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Italian Cherrywood Drop-Front Desk Secretaire with Inlay
Located in San Francisco, CA
A cherrywood drop front desk with four small drawers fitted in the upper interior and three drawers below.
Handsomely detailed inlay work, lovely patina and Fine quality workmanship...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
19th Century French Secrétaire by Durand
Located in New Orleans, LA
Superior craftsmanship and intricate marquetry characterize this rare secrétaire by Gervais-Maximilien-Eugène Durand, one of the most popular French ébénistes of the 19th century. Th...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Secretary in mahogany with brass fittings and Intarsia from the 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
German secretary of patinated elm wood with top and brass fittings decorated with marquetry from Berlin around the 1840s.
Dimensions in cm: H:207.5 W:...
Category
1840s German Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Rene Drouet Attributed, Art Deco walnut and Thuya Burr Cabinet
By René Drouet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rene Drouet attributed, Art Deco walnut and thuya burr cabinet.
Ivory and interior in sycamore veneer.
Secret drawers, original bronzes.
Fully restored. F...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Rare Near Pair of Regency Bookcases
Located in Stamford, CT
A rare near pair of English Regency period secretary or bookcases with rosewood, ebony, mahogany and satinwood inlay. The fitted drawers in the fall front are slightly different in c...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood
Antique Irish Burl Walnut Two Door Bookcase attrib Robert Strahan Dublin Ireland
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very imposing example of an Irish Burr Walnut Two Door Library Bookcase, made during the third quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Firmly attributed to renowned furniture maker Robe...
Category
Mid-19th Century Irish Early Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
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
Swedish Secretaire Cupboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Swedish 19th Century painted secretaire cupboard in the Gustavian style.
This cupboard dates from the late 19th Century and consists of two cupboard doors below the secretaire fal...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
English Walnut Slant Front Bureau/Desk with String Inlay
Located in Woodbury, CT
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...
Category
19th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Superb 19th Century French Empire Escritoire
Located in Dallas, TX
Marvelous 19th century French Empire three-drawer escritoire with lovely Breche africaine marble top. Having detailed bronze mounts in urn and floral motifs, columnar supports with p...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
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
Superb Parchment Covered Desk by Primavera, Art Deco, France, 1930's
By Primavera
Located in Paris, FR
Superb Art Deco desk/secretaire by Primavera. It is made of a beech wood structure, all faces entirely covered with leather (parchment). All angles are reinforced with chromed metal....
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Chrome
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
Napoleon III French Secretary Chest of Drawers Mahogany Rosewood Inlaid
Located in Brooklyn, NY
19th century Napoleon III French secretary (secretaire) chest of drawers in fine mahogany rosewood Inlaid marquetry. It has a grey marble top complete with its original in gilt bronz...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
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
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
19th Century George III Style Mahogany Bureau Secretary Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a sophisticated and stately Danish secretary bookcase. The partially pierced cornice and a secondary tiered; a shaped cornice over tw...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
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
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
Very Rare Italian Hardwood Cylinder Bureau Bookcase Desk with Must See Pictures
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are is delighted to offer for sale this very fine 19th century Italian cylinder top Bureau bookcase with ornately inlaid internals
This is one of the finest flamed mahogany cyl...
Category
1820s English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
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 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 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
20th Century Inlaid Wood Genoese Trumeau Desk, 1930s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Elegant Genoese trumeau of the first half of the 20th century. Double body furniture of high-quality inlaid kingwood, rosewood and burl. Lower body with bureau having three external ...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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.