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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1930s
Empire or Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Very well preserved conical secretary with stepped head
Front with multiply mirrored pyramid mahogany
entire surface with original shellac hand polish
high-quality cabinet part with thread intarsia and leg buttons
very elaborate workmanship and rare furniture...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Very Rare Italian Hardwood Cylinder Bureau Bookcase Desk with Must See Pictures
Located in GB
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
Antique Specimen Cabinet, French Oak Cupboard, Secretaire, Desk, circa 1850
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique specimen cabinet, a French, oak cupboard offering a secretaire desk dating to the late 19th century, circa 1850.
In a de...
Category
Mid-19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Dutch 19th Century Oak Secretaire
Located in Delft, NL
A Dutch 19th Century oak secretaire
A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire on claw legs and a copper balcony rack.
The secretaire consists of various drawers and a hidden drawer.
...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Secretaire Writing Cabinet in Antique Biedermeier Style Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High quality rosewood veneer on solid conifers. Conical body on profile frames. Base in the front, between four drawers, straight flap with shield-shaped filling. Behind it is a richly divided compartmental division of a bent temple-shaped central compartment with mirrored full columns, flanked by star-starved drawers. Over cantilevered profile cornice flat gypsum, stepped with oval cover plate. Front. All drawers and backboard made of solid wood. So-called pyramid furniture...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Early 19th Century Regency Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
Period Regency mahogany secretary bookcase. Carved neoclassical elements. Pediment with carving and carved hairy pay feet. Drop down interior to reveal original compartments in satin...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
19th Century Cuban Mahogany Wood Bargueno Desk
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This Bargueno desk is hallmarked Garcia & HN Monte #122 Habana. It is embellished with a carving scene from the book of Don Quixote de la Mancha bordered...
Category
Late 19th Century American Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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 leather writing surface, an interior...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
German Birchroot Biedermeier Abbatant With Architectural Pediment
Located in Charleston, SC
This monumental Berlin Biedermeier Secretaire is one of the finest examples with its Classical Architecture of Doric Pediments, Columns, and Dental Moldings. The main structure of the Secretaire has a majestic architectural superstructural cabinet resting on top, representing a temple. The Biedermeier Abbatant is veneered in Birchroot with a fall front writing desk...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Burl
French Napoleon III Rosewood Pedestal Desk with Pull Out Secretary, circa 1865
Located in Miami, FL
This exceptional desk with secretaire dating from 1865, during the time of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French (1852-1870), displays an extraordinary level of craftsmanship & is a di...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
20th Century French Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one high drawer and one low door with compartment, beautiful marquetry oakwood . The wood inside opens to a c...
Category
Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
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
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Small Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful little Secretaire from the time of the late Biedermeier, circa 1840. The Secretaire is covered outside with walnut and root walnut veneer on a pine body. The inner part is...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Pine, Walnut
Antique Biedermeier Secretary in Cuban Mahogany, Copenhagen, circa 1820
Located in Miami, FL
An exquisite Biedermeier secretary in very fine Cuban/ West Indies mahogany with all of the original appointments which include the hardware, pulls and keys. The cabinet's joinery, a...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier 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
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 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
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
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Chest, Biedermeier walnut secretary with cabinet below. Desk has four small drawers and a letter shelf. Cab...
Category
19th Century Czech Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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
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
Early 19th Century Fall-Front Desk
Located in Buchanan, MI
Handsome and functional Regency mahogany fall front desk, server, entry way piece, great inlay, elegant form. Exceptional exaggerated arched foot.
Category
19th Century North American Federal Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satin
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 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
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
Louis XVI-Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Secretaire Abbatant, Early 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Louis XVI-Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Secretaire Abbatant, Early 19th Century. The inset variegated white marble top with a three-quarter pierced brass gallery and turreted corne...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Early 19th Century English Desk
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Early 19th century English desk.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
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
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
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
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
Neoclassical Roll-Top Desk, Austria, circa 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Large roll-top desk out of solid cherry wood. The base with seven drawers stands on tapered legs. The top has one very slim pullout and a low arcade balustrade on three sides. The in...
Category
Early 1800s Austrian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Frank Brangwyn a Rare Desk Originally Designed for the 1931 Pollard Exhibition
By Frank Brangwyn, E. Pollard & Co
Located in London, GB
Frank Brangwyn. E Pollard and Co.
A rare desk originally designed for the 1931 Pollard Exhibition where it can be seen in a room setting in the original photographs from 1931. See ...
Category
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Sycamore
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
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
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
French Art Deco Secretary in Mahogany and Parchment
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tall Art Deco secretary in mahogany with dark stained border. Parchment door with gold leaf criss cross design opens to writing table with interior compartments. Three drawers with o...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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