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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1910s
Regency Brass Mounted Mahogany Two-Part Secrétaire Military Campaign Chest
Located in Charleston, SC
This mid-19th century brass-mounted mahogany two-part Campaign chest has a removable mahogany panel covering the satinwood. Fitted interior of the secrétaire drawer with usual foldin...
Category
Mid-19th Century English British Colonial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19C Irish Georgian Style Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING a STUNNING 19C Irish Georgian Style Secretary Bookcase.
From circa 1850-60 and most definitely, “IRISH”.
Made of gorgeous flamed Cuban mahogany which would have been imported from the British Colonies at the end of the 18th Century and early 19th Century.
This piece of is of IMPRESSIVE PROPORTIONS ….. it is a real STATEMENT piece and EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY !
It has a very ‘Regency Style’ pelmet or crown with egg and dart moldings under a very straight line crown.
The top section consists of a 4 door bookcase, each with 3 shelving areas. It appears to retain it’s original glass, but it could likewise have been replaced at some time during it’s long life, as it is very rare to find pieces that have not suffered breakages over 150+ years.
Each bookcase door still retains the original moldings to the front with a star shape above and below a central circular viewing panel.
Each section is separated by a carved and fluted roman column/pillar.
The bookcase section rests on top of the base, which consists of a beautiful central secretaire desk accessed by drop down front with working lock and key and rests on 2 pull out rests on either side. The secretary portion has a central tabernacle, with an inlaid oval satinwood medallion above another scallop shell drawer. It has 6 smaller drawers and 8 cubbies. The 2 pillars on either side of the central tabernacle are secret drawers and pull out. The curved crowns above the cubbies on either side are likewise secret drawers and pull out.
Either side of the secretary there are 2 drawers (4 total) with a press or cupboard underneath.
Under the secretary there are 4 large central drawers.
The brasses and hardware are all original to the piece (save 2 extra hinges that have been attached to the drop down secretary to give it more support and stability.
Again, each section is separated by a turned and fluted column/pillar which replicates the 2 side pillars to the central tabernacle of the secretary.
The piece sits on 8 curved feet.
This was an extremely high quality piece when made. This is also supported by the fact that the secondary woods are also mahogany and not pine or oak for slightly lesser quality pieces of the era.
This piece is specifically identifiable as an Irish Georgian Style piece by virtue of the scallop shell moldings on the base side presses (see photos).
Irish Georgian furniture...
Category
Mid-19th Century Irish George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany, Satinwood
Late 19th Century Italian Walnut Burl Inlaid Louis XIV Secretary Drop Leaf Desk
Located in Encinitas, CA
Late 19th Century Italian Walnut Burl Inlaid Louis XIV Secretary Drop Leaf Desk.
Trim three-drawer bureau chest featuring secretary drop lid with lock and key revealing small drawers and compartments. Beautiful walnut veneers and solids with rosewood inlaid detail. Handsome hardware, hinges and pulls. Lock and key.
Due to the curved shape of the desk and components, some measures are a close approximation.
Exterior measures of the desk: 39" W x 20.5" D x 40.75" H
99.1 cm W x 52 cm D x 103.5 cm H
Opened drop lid desk...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Dressing Table Ladies France Napoleon III in Bronze and Wood, 19th Century
By Napoléon III
Located in Milano, IT
Amazing Napoleon III style women's grooming of circa 1800. French toilet with original ormolu holders and working lock and key. The upper part rises up t...
Category
Early 1800s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Antique 19th Century Carved Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in New Orleans, LA
This is an extremely handsome, well-carved secretary bookcase in fine condition. It will not fail to please.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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 English 3-Drawer Oak Bureau Office Desk with Bronze Hardware
Located in Marbella, ES
19th century English 3-drawer oak bureau office desk with bronze hardware.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century William IV Wood Mahogany Bookcase Secretaire, 1830s
Located in Roma, RM
Irish bookcase in mahogany and mahogany feather, with carved capitals on the uprights of the doors, central flap drawer with internal drawers. Furniture of extreme beauty and proport...
Category
1830s Irish William IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant with Cuban Acajou Mahogany
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This secretaire a abattant is the in French Empire style and is veneered in Cuban acajou mahogany, with bronze doré mounts and a gray Saint Anne marble top.
Dimensions Closed:
Height: 56.5 in. (143.51 cm)
Width: 38 in. (96.52 cm)
Depth: 15.75 in. (40.01 cm)
Overall Cabinet Depth with the slant-front opened is 33.75".
The desk top/slant opened is 21.38" deep.
The piece has three lower drawers which are lockable (key included) and the single hidden drawer at the top. The interior has five document and accessory storage drawers. The fall-front (which locks) retains its original tooled leather border (with a Greek-Key pattern) and a later replacement dark green felt.
The bronze doré mounts on the drawers are cornucopias which symbolize bounty. The fall-front has a mount with scrolling roses and foliage. There are two mounts with a male and female profile. The male has a baby owl on his helmet which symbolizes wisdom. And hanging from the females hair-band is a peacock which symbolizes the ability to see all.
The fall front desk can be considered the cousin of the secretary desk. Both have a main working surface or desktop which does double duty as a cover to seal up papers and other items located in small shelves or small drawers placed one on top of the other in front of the user. Thus, all working papers, documents and other items have to be stored before the desk is closed.
Unlike the secretary desk, the fall front desk's desktop panel is in a perfectly vertical position when in its closed position. Often, there are no additional shelves or drawers above the section which is enclosed by the desktop. Thus, the fall front desk is identical in shape to a Barguen~o desk which would have been placed on a Stand of drawers, or more precisely to the form known as Desk on a chest or as "chest-on chest".
The fall front desk is also called a drop front desk or drop-front desk, and sometimes also a drop lid desk...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Secretaire with Bronze Decoration in Louis XVI Style
Located in Sofia, BG
Small secretaire in doucine, curved on three sides, in veneer of precious wood inlaid in leaves in entourages of nets. It opens with four large drawer...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Charles X Secretary/Secrétaire à Abattant in Mahogany, c. 1825
Located in Miami, FL
A Charles X secrétaire à abattant in mahogany, France, circa 1825. Fall-front has original counter weight for ease in lowering and closing. Dark green tooled leather on desk top appe...
Category
1820s French Charles X Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Dutch Floral Marquetry Inlaid Bombé Bureau, 18th Century
Located in Glasgow, GB
A 19th century Dutch marquetry inlaid bombé bureau profusely decorated all-over with marquetry depictions of flowers, urns and birds. With a rectangular flap opening to reveal a stri...
Category
19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fall-Front Desk in West Indies Mahogany, Attrib to Gustav Friederich von Hetsch
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely secretary with serpentine front in beautiful West Indies/ Cuban mahogany attributable to Danish architect and painter, Gustav Friederich von Hetsch (1788-1864). A mirro...
Category
1830s Danish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Sweden Secretaire, 1870s
Located in Roma, RM
Small Secretaire Biedermeier, Scandinavian origin, of excellent workmanship and in good conservative condition. In elm wood, circa 1870. A few minor d...
Category
1870s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Elm
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
Biedermeier Fall Top Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Classic Biedermeier fall top desk, South German, 1820, walnut veneer on the outside and mahogany veneer on the inside. It has a beautiful veneer grain. T...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
A Russian Neoclassical Roll Top Writing Desk
Located in New Haven, CT
A most elegant Russian Plumpudding mahogany cylinder desk, circa 1810. Raised on four tapered legs the lower case holds seven drawers and two sliding shelves with leather tops that e...
Category
1810s Russian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Notable French Secretaire Cabinet With Leather Bound Doors And Drawers
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A secretaire a deux corps with a tall separately made upper cabinet. The top with three curved drawers over double doors with French leather bound book spines, 18th century. Opening to a chinoiserie wall papered...
Category
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Wood, Paper
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
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
Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Pedestal Desk in the Empire Style
Located in London, GB
A fine French late 19th century mahogany and ormolu pedestal desk with tooled leather top in the Empire style, having nine drawers, one containing a locking secret compartment, with ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
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
19th Century Venetian Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A painted Venetian secretaire with shelves and drawers on bottom portion of body.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Louis XVI Secretary with Cylinder Top & Tambour Front Northern Europe circa 1800
Located in Miami, FL
A Louis XVI secretary desk in mahogany with satinwood inlays. Offers a cylinder top that opens to reveal a series of small drawers surrounding...
Category
Early 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany, Satinwood
Napoleon III 'Sevres' Porcelain and Ormolu-Mounted Bureau De Dame, circa 1860
Located in New York, NY
A fine Napoleon III Sevres style porcelain and ormolu-mounted tulipwood and parquetry Bureau De Dame, circa 1860
With stepped rectangular superstructure with three shaped rectangu...
Category
1860s French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Style marquetry inlaid Secrétaire abattant.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality French 19th century marquetry inlaid secretair abbatant. Having a serpentine marble-top, a drop leaf section, opening to reveal a fitted interior, three serpentine fro...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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 sec...
Category
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
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
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk.
With a grey marble top over three drawers, the fall enclosing a sliding tan lea...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Elm Secretary Desk, circa the 19th Century
Located in Opole, PL
We present you this piece of furniture made of solid elm wood with a beautiful grain, circa 1840.
The chest section hides four drawers and a cylindrically closed lid; it is placed o...
Category
1840s European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Elm
Early 19th Century English Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Early 19th century English desk.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century Hand Painted Secretary with Hidden Drawers and Floral Decorations
Located in Sofia, BG
Secretary with "lacquered" decoration in the style of Coromandel lacquers decorated with chrysanthemums, flower vases and other beautiful objects. Rectangular, it opens with four dra...
Category
Early 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
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Wood Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish mid-19th century painted wood Gustavian style slant-front desk or secretary with three lower drawers standing on short tapered feet.
Here are the measurements: 48" W x 2...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Mahogany Inlaid Slope Front Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century mahogany inlaid slope front secretaire bookcase with astragal glazing below a dentil cornice, four graduating drawers with marquis...
Category
Early 19th Century Irish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A strong, elegant piece to keep you perfectly organized! Crafted of hand-hewn fir and ash and veneered with thick hand-cut ash veneers, this chest offers storage for everything. A lo...
Category
1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ash
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique French Empire drop front "abattant" secretary desk made with magnificent high quality flame mahogany adorned with bronze doré mounts and its original gray marble top....
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
Late 19th Century Marquetry and Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre by François Linke
Located in New York, NY
A special late 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted marquetry and parquetry bureau a cylindre.
By François Linke - Index no. 393.
The upper section with a shaped pie...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Louis XVI Style Secretaire Cabinet
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 19th century French Louis XVI style satinwood marquetry inlaid secretaire cabinet, with wonderful inlaid decoration to the fall front, opening to reveal a fitted inter...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Flame Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Commode with Rouge Griotte By Molitor
By Molitor
Located in Stamford, CT
A superbly crafted French Empire commode with Rouge Griotte marble top by Molitor. A pair of these commodes were acquired by King Jerome between 1809 and 1812 and listed in the i...
Category
Early 1800s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Regency Rosewood Secretaire
Located in New York, 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
Georgian Oak Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Very handsome Georgian lowland oak secretary with walnut trim.
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Walnut
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
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 keyholes in gilded bronze.
Napoleon ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
19th Century Charles X Mahogany France Secretaire Marble Top att.L.E. Lemarchand
By L. E. Lemarchand
Located in Roma, RM
Fantastic example of Secretaire Carlo X, attributed to L.E. Lemarchand (1795-1872), in mahogany wood, finely inlaid with decorative elements and animals. Carrara white marble on the ...
Category
1830s French Charles X Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier secretaire, circa 1830
Located in London, GB
A Biedermeier secre´taire a` abattant of unusual tapered form, goncalo alves with ebonized, inlaid and pewter decoration, and an enclosed fitted interior, Russian/Baltic, circa 1830.
Category
1820s Baltic Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pewter
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
English Georgian Style Secretary Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary cabinet.
Category
19th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top Hrh
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th C. royal antique burl wood secretary desk & black leather drop leaf top HRH . Very rare early 19th century secretary " Secrétaire a' Aba...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
English Chinese Chippendale Style Lattice Design Secretary
Located in New York, NY
English Chinese Chippendale style (19th century) carved mahogany lattice design secretary with gilt eagle pediment.
Category
19th Century Chinese Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Mahogany
19th Century French Rococo Revival Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
Dating from around 1850, this is a wonderful antique French Rococo Revival Secretaire a Abattant featuring ormolu mounted mahogany, gonzalo alves and marquetry.
A Secretaire a abatt...
Category
1850s French Rococo Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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 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
Collinson & Lock, Attri to E W Godwin, A Fine Quality Rosewood Writing Table
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Lock. Attributed to E W Godwin. An exceptional quality rosewood writing table with five upper drawers and stylized swan neck drop handles with eight finely turned legs each set of four united by circular pierced details.
Renewed period style leather work area.
Collinson and Lock of London 'Art Furnishers', founded with the partnership of F.G. Collinson and G.J. Lock, former employees of Jackson and Graham. Designers employed by the firm included T.E. Collcutt, the architect of their premises; E.W. Godwin, who was paid a retainer to produce exclusive designs for the company from 1872 to 1874, H.W. Batley and Stephen Webb...
Category
1870s English Anglo-Japanese Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Early 19th Century Duncan Phyfe Grecian Plain Style Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An important piece of American furniture, attributed to the shop of Duncan Phyfe, circa 1840.
To quote "Duncan Phyfe: Master Cabinetmaker in New York," 2011 (Kenny, Brown). "At its best, Phyfe's Grecian plain style furniture captures, the strength, simplicity and noble repose that characterize the best Greek Revival architecture. Phyfe achieved this effect by using the classical orders, often in abstracted form, and a quiet yet radiant palette of warm-toned rosewood and mahogany veneers, meticulously selected and applied in architectural manner."
This secretary employs the finest available mahogany and follows in the strict adherence to proportion and form that made this expression of Phyfe's later career so powerful. The piece exactly matches a description of a piece sold at auction dissolving the Phyfe showroom and warehouse in 1844. The "Grecian standard" or scroll leg with the molded pedestal base and convex disc are all hallmarks of Phyfe's iconic work from 1834-1841. The cornice is supported on either side by scroll brackets which have lambs tongue details below, features linking it to another Phyfe secretary bookcase sold through Northeast Auctions...
Category
1830s American American Classical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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.
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