Secretaires
1960s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Wood
1950s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer
1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Teak
Early 20th Century French Late Victorian Secretaires
Kingwood, Satinwood
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Secretaires
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Iron
1770s Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Teak
Late 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Glass, Walnut
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Oak, Bone
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Oak, Paint
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Glass, Rosewood
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Brass, Iron, Gold Leaf
20th Century English George I Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Brass
1910s Dutch Dutch Colonial Vintage Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Teak
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Pine
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Unknown Regency Secretaires
Glass, Laminate
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Wood
2010s German Modern Secretaires
Steel
1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Glass, Teak
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood, Pine, Paint
1720s English Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Oak
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Wood, Palisander
Early 1900s Danish Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Ormolu, Brass, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Ormolu
1860s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1870s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Rosewood
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer, Oak
18th Century Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century American Antique Secretaires
Wood
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Oak
2010s French Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Kingwood, Rosewood
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1960s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Late 18th Century Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Wood, Glass
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Glass, Rosewood
Late 20th Century German Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Pine
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Brass
1690s Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Pine
1950s French Vintage Secretaires
Brass
1730s English George II Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1780s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Boxwood, Cherry, Walnut
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood, Walnut
1840s French Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Wood
19th Century European Georgian Antique Secretaires
Brass
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Metal, Metallic Thread, Wrought Iron
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut
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.