Skip to main content

Secretaires

to
315
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
806
1,488
80
12
1,514
1,278
1,580
1,505
1,533
Secretaires For Sale
20th Century Painted Wood Venetian Bureau Desk, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian bureau from the second half of the 20th century. Beautifully designed furniture, pleasantly lacquered and hand painted with floral decorations. High leg bureau equipped with...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Stunning Lacquer Secretary by Pierre DUNAND (1914-1996) circa 1950
By Pierre Dunand
Located in Paris, FR
Art deco period secretary in plum lacquer (frame and base) and coral lacquer (facade). The body is quadrangular on a pedestal base. The lower façade opens with two doors, surmounted...
Category

1950s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

20th Century Inlaid Wood Lombard Trumeau Desk, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Elegant mid-20th century Lombard trumeau. Double body cabinet in Baroque style carved in walnut, ebonized wood and fruitwood. Trumeau for living room or study equipped with three dra...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Teak Secretary Cabinet by Hvidt and Mølgaard-Nielsen, Denmark
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Danish Modern teak secretary cabinet by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen. Manufactured by Søborg Møbelfabrik in Denmark, circa 1950s. Made from solid teak with drop-down surface...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique Tallboy Correspondence Desk, French, Kingwood, Escritoire, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique tallboy correspondence desk. A French, drawing room escritoire in bookmatched kingwood, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. A statement in both form a...
Category

Early 20th Century French Late Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Kingwood, Satinwood

Arbalete Front Chinoiserie Writing Desk, Italy, 18th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Slant/drop front secrétaire commode, with arbalete front. Louis XIV style, decorated with hand-painted chinoiserie scenes. A very rare and exquisite piece.
Category

18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Secretaires

Rosewood and Iron Fall Front Secretary or Writing Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Fantastic marriage of styles with this Danish rosewood secretary desk. The top is traditional fall front, a clean lined somewhat dimure Scandinavian piece. It opens to reveal maple c...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Iron

18th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Eindhoven, NL
18th century mahogany secretary in beautiful original condition. Nice sleek interior, warm weathered color. Super quality and beautiful mahogany....
Category

1770s Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Scandinavian Modern Teak Drop Front Desk Secretary in a Box, 1960-2000
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome MCM (a.k.a. Mid-Century Modern) vintage Scandinavian Modern drop front desk or secretary in a box. It is in wonderful vintage condition. There...
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

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 Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This stunning Mid-19th-century French Painted Secretary Desk has a captivating fall-front design. This piece showcases an elegant white exteri...
Category

Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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

Antique mid 19th century Dutch honey color oak Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Located in Casteren, NL
Offered here is a stunning Dutch secretary desk in the Biedermeier style, crafted in the mid-19th century, around 1840. This exquisite piece is made entirely from the finest quality ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Bone

Antique 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
This stunning Biedermeier secretary was crafted in Denmark during a peak era known for high quality furniture craftsmanship. Enlarge photos to appreciate the beauty of the wood, note...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Antique 19th Century Dutch Oak Drop Front Bombe Secretary
Located in Charleston, SC
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...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Paint

Mid-century Torbjorn Afdal Danish Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish secretary desk designed by Torbjørn Afdal for Nesjestranda Møbelfabrik, Norway, 1965. Crafted from Brazilian rosewood, the secretary desk ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Arne Vodder Rosewood Vanity Dresser
Located in Oakland, CA
circa 1955 Brazilian rosewood vanity with flip-top mirror and lights. Crafted of stunning Brazilian Rosewood with dark grains and dynamic book-matched patterns across the front of dr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

Empire Secretaire, Ebonized, Maple, Ink Painting, Brass, Gold, Vienna circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Fine neoclassical Empire or early Biedermeier Secretaire / Drop Front Desk from Vienna, Austria around 1810-15. Ebonized veneer on oak. Classicist gable cornice with surrounding gol...
Category

1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Iron, Gold Leaf

A George I Style Burl Walnut Secretary Desk, England
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A beautifully detailed and well appointed Georgian style secretary desk, made in England. The dovetailed drawers with brass hardware with a l...
Category

20th Century English George I Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Black Painted Baroque Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau, circa 1780-1810
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with a curved bonnet. Note the heavily carved panel doors and the large curvaceous lower three serpentine drawers. T...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Chest of Drawers / Secretary in Dutch Style Marquetry Holland Design
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Chest of drawers in Dutch style from the beginning of the century. Entirely inlaid with floral decoration, with brass handles and a lion paw shaped base. The upper part consists of...
Category

1910s Dutch Dutch Colonial Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Red Japanned Bureau Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a highly decorative and stylish Chinese red painted bureau bookcase decorated overall with gilt chinoiseries. The top section contains a broken arched pediment over two confo...
Category

20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Arne Vodder Scandinavian Danish Modern Teak Desk Vanity Table Top Organizer
Located in Wayne, NJ
Wonderful aged teak three-drawer organizer. Beautifully crafted, finished on all sides. This can also be for multiple purposes such as used as a desktop organizer , jewelry , Makeup...
Category

1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Large Swedish Gustavian Dry Scraped Bureau
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1800 Large Swedish Gustavian dry scraped bureau (vat qualifying) Measures: W 120 x D 53 x H 218cm Base W 112 x D 53 x H 98cm Top W 120 x D 37 x ...
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

A W N Pugin Attri, Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with Linenfold & Floral Carving
Located in London, GB
A W N Pugin attributed, A Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with finely executed carved gallery to the top and a sloping writing area opening to reveal storage...
Category

1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Italian Regency Burlwood Laminate Saber Leg Tall Secretary Desk Display
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian Regency Burlwood Laminate Saber Leg Tall Secretary Desk Display Curio Bookcase. Details: Tall shapely cabriole/saber legs, broken arch top with finial, roll top desk,...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Regency Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Laminate

Swedish 1856 Two-part Painted Secretary with Four Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
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...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Modernist Secretary Showcase, Lacquered Wood, Chrome-Plated Metal, Customizable
Located in Berlin, DE
German modernism 'Dahlem' secretary showcase designed and manufactured by GMD Berlin. Wood lacquering in various colors and finish. Available on reque...
Category

2010s German Modern Secretaires

Materials

Steel

18th Century Baroque Secretaire, Lake Constance Region
Located in Belmont, MA
18th century baroque secretaire, Lake Constance region. Two-drawer body on curved square feet, foldable desk, inside six drawers, a wide shelf and a sec...
Category

1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Danish Teak Secretary Desk with Hidden Vanity Mirror
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish teak secretary desk crafted of teak with book-matched grain across the drawers. The secretary features a pull-out writing surface over three drawers. A pair of sliding glass c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Teak

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
This beautiful and unique 19th century Swedish Gustavian writing desk is perfect for any room or hallway. The colors are amazing with th...
Category

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Pine, Paint

Queen Anne Japanned Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
With double arched top over a pair of arched mirror doors opening to a red interior fitted with drawers and shelves, the base with slant lid des...
Category

1720s English Queen Anne Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

18th century, Italian Solid Walnut Wood Trumeau
Located in IT
18th century, Italian solid walnut wood Trumeau Measures: height cm 239, width cm 122, depth cm 52, depth raised cm 30 Elegant Trumeau, made in piedmont, north of Italy, in th...
Category

Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

1960s Omann Jun Palisander Upcycled Cabinet, Denmark
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good/Verygood original condition with minor signs of use - The iron hairpin legs were aded afterwards
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Palisander

Antique Ebonised Boulle Ormolu Desk Cabinet Bonheur du Jour Kunst Mobel Denmark
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique Napoleon III French style ebonzied Boulle & ormolu Bonheur du Jour by Nordisk Kunst & Mobel-Etablissement, Copenhagen Denmark, 1903. In remarkable condition. Thi...
Category

Early 1900s Danish Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ormolu, Brass, Bronze

Napoleon III French Travel Fall Front Desk in Rosewood and Boxwood Veneer 1860s
Located in Huntington, NY
Napoleon III French travel fall front desk in rosewood and boxwood veneer 1860s. With inset leather fall front. Small compartment in top. Cut outs to interior for ink wells & paper organizing...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Louis XV Style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French 19th century Louis XV style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk. Elegant French burlwood and ormolu mounted Lady’s cylinder desk. The single door cabinet is raised by slend...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ormolu

Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1860, after Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
We present you another incredible piece of furniture in our collection -- this elegant and highly exquisite Biedermeier secretary desk circa 1860. The secretary desk was manufactu...
Category

1860s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite French Louis XV style secrétaire with wave shaped front adorned with beautiful flower marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with ...
Category

1870s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

English mahogany secretary with fitted interior early 19th century
Located in Charleston, SC
English secretary with fitted interior fall front desk early 19th century
Category

19th Century English Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Oak and matte black lacquered French secrétaire, designed by Eric Gizard, Paris
Located in Landivy, FR
This secretary desk belongs to our ÉGÉE COLLECTION designed by the Parisian designer Eric Gizard. Eric adopts for this collection the refined codes of Scandinavian design, combinin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Oak

Louis XVI three-drawer Secretaire, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A large three-piece secretary bureau with a lower section consisting of three drawers, an angled flap and a two-door top section with a gallery rail. The bureau is veneered in walnut...
Category

18th Century Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Early 19th Century American Tigerwood Maple Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
This Early 19th Century American Tigerwood Maple Secretaire. The desk features a drop-front green felted writing surface above a chest of three width-wide drawers below. A pair of h...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

English Painted Writing Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
18th century English painted oak writing bureau with a nice fitted interior. 1780. Height to underside of fall front is 29.5" (75cm). Code: 8681 Dimensions: W: 34.5" (87.6 cm) H: ...
Category

18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Mid-Century Modern Wall Secretary Desk in Oak
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Wall secretary desk, model Odense. Oiled solid oak. Natural leather interior full grain untreated. Designed by Møbler Gallery. Made in France by ma...
Category

2010s French Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Louis XV Secretary Desk, France 18th century
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite 18th-Century Louis XV Secretary Desk This stunning Louis XV Secretary Desk, dating back to 1770, showcases the elegance of 18th-century Fr...
Category

1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Kingwood, Rosewood

19th Century Gustavian Style Walnut Secretaire Avatant
Located in Madrid, ES
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...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Dorothy Draper Lacquered Viennese Secretary Desk for Henredon, circa 1963
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Everyone can have a taste of iconic Dorothy Draper Hollywood Regency style with this perfectly sized and oh so elegant Viennese Collection Secretaries Desk Breakfront. Regal. Whimsical and gregarious flair. The scroll cornice of the cabinet recalls some of the mill work Dorothy designated in her iconic hotel design work. A more petite version of Dorothy Draper's Viennese China...
Category

1960s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century Biedermeier Chest of Drawers/ Writing Commode, Austria, ca. 1830
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable 19th century nutwood chest of drawers/ writing commode from the early Biedermeier era in Austria around 1830. Impressing with an absolute outstanding looking grain which r...
Category

Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Austro-Hungarian Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Woodbury, CT
Wearing a layer of Austrian walnut root veneer, this secrétaire has a unique grain that one does not often see; it swirls and undulates across the surface drawing the eye along in a ...
Category

19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Burl

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

18th Century English Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 18th century English painted oak bureau with a good fitted interior. 1780. Height to the underside of the fall front is 73cm. Code: 8514 Dimensions: W: 35" (88.9 cm) H: 40.5"...
Category

18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Early 19th Century Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Empire Secretary, Germany, 1820 A magnificent Empire-style secretary crafted in walnut veneer over coniferous wood, with ebonized accents and partial gilding. This piece showcases t...
Category

Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Late 18th-Early 19th C. French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 18th-early 19th Century French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet Single glass door upper display cabinet 3-drawer bombe form base &...
Category

Late 18th Century Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Glass

Arne Vodder Rosewood Vanity Dresser
Located in Oakland, CA
circa 1955 Brazilian rosewood vanity with flip-top mirror and lights. Crafted of stunning Brazilian Rosewood with dark grains and dynamic book-matched patterns across the front of dr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

solid pine secretary desk by WASA, Germany 1990s
Located in ECHT, NL
Secretary desk made by German company Wasa in 1992. it is made from solid pine. It has a lid that folds down to function as a work top. Behind the lid there are shelves and drawers....
Category

Late 20th Century German Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Exceptional Two Part George I English Secretary Desk in Walnut
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional example of a late George I English secretary desk in walnut, its upper case with a molded broken arch pediment with urn finials surmounting two arched paneled doors, o...
Category

Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Baroque Ebonized and Eglomise Bureau Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
Slightly arched top that may have held a bust at some point, over a middle section with drawers with reverse painted panels with scenes of ancient towns and ruins with a central mirr...
Category

1690s Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Pierre Gautier-Delaye Secretary Cabinet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pierre Gautier-Delaye cabinet with drop down secretary desk Rare design of the renown designer - France, 1950's Cabinet is constructed of fir wood with open doors that reveal shel...
Category

1950s French Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

George II Walnut Double Dome Bureau Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
With double arch top over a pair of mirror doors opening to an elaborately fitted interior, the base with two candle slides and hinged slant lid writing ...
Category

1730s English George II Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century French Directory Cherry Wood Secetary Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
A French Directory era secretary desk, from the early 19th century, made of beautiful cherry wood, in a light tone with bronze handles and bronze keyholes as well. In their lower par...
Category

Early 19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Cylinder Desk, South German, 1780-1800
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Louis XVI Cylinder Desk, South German, 1780-1800, with beautiful walnut veneer on the outside and on the inside, including the writin...
Category

1780s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Louis XVI Drop Front Desk, France 1780-1800, Walnut Root Veneer
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Louis XVI drop front desk, France 1780, walnut root veneer with details in cherry, plum and boxwood veneer and Marquetry. The special so...
Category

1780s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Boxwood, Cherry, Walnut

Extraordinary Italian Parquetry Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux Rome, 1740
Located in Rome, IT
Outstanding Italian 18' century walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage, The upper section with a shaped carved cresting centered by a cartouche-sha...
Category

Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Hand-Painted & Decorated Front Neoclassical Style Breakfront Secretary Bookcase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
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...
Category

1840s French Neoclassical Antique Secretaires

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Paint

20th Century antique Biedermeier Style Slope-Flap Secretaire mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid softwood. Straight, two-drawer body above short, conical square legs, above an inclined writing flap and staggered office division of drawers and compartments. Clas...
Category

20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Rare + Sculptural Mid Century Italian Cabinet with Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
A stunning 1950s Italian secretary desk constructed with birch and walnut. This piece features a sculptural profile with a channeled trim detail and angled, tapered legs. A uniquely ...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Unusual 18th-19th Century Continental Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Figured wood veneer, the top with a carved cornice over double doors. They open to two shelves over drawers and cubby holes. A middle frieze with three drawers (lacking a key) over t...
Category

19th Century European Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th C. Louis XV Bureau Scriban Bibliothèque Secretary Cabinet Mahogany Antique
Located in West Hollywood, CA
18th C. Louis XV Bureau Scriban Bibliothèque Secretary Cabinet Mahogany Antique . A very important rare and Tall Scribing bibliotic secretaire Library desk of a Gentleman or a Lady. ...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Metallic Thread, Wrought Iron

19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Louis XV Style French Marquetry and Bronze Ladies Secretaire Chest
Located in Darmstadt, DE
"Secrétaire à abattant" - a so called ladies secretaire from the time around 1870-1890 in the style of Louis XV. Fruitwooad and nutwood as well as pr...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique High Gloss Secretary Desk, Scandinavia, circa 1850s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
ANTIQUE-UNIQUE. 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 ...
Category

1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

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.

Recently Viewed

View All