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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1940s
Napoleon III Secretaire Abattant, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique secretaire abattant cabinet with drop down writing panel with interior carved wooden rails in a yellow color wood finish. The fall front has a green leather writing surface...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

Dutch 19th Century Oak Secretaire
Located in Delft, NL
A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire and a wooden balcony rack. The secretaire consists of various drawers between 2 columns and a hidden draw...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Pair of French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany Bonheurs Du Jours
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI St. Bonheurs du Jours, which literally means, the joy of the day. A type of writing desk introduced in Paris by renowned int...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

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

Regency Brass-Inlaid Rosewood Secretaire Cabinet
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Regency brass-inlaid rosewood secretaire cabinet, the rectangular top with a pierced galleried shelf with trellis work on the sides, above a secretaire drawer, banded with brass pa...
Category

1810s English Regency Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English secretary/desk 19 th c. With display
Located in Houston, TX
Construction that is exceptional with cabinetry that is difficult to find In a piece of furniture of this time period. It is mid nineteenth century And has been well preserved. The u...
Category

Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Louis XV Style Scriban
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XV Style Scriban, in solid oak. Hand-carved with Provincial carving and hand-painted in an aged ecru on the outside with a dark midnight blue patina on the inside writing section.
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid oak . Rectangular body on pointed legs. Provided with three drawers . Straight writing tablet, behind it architectur...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI Style Secretary Stamped Quignon in Paris
By Frederic Gustave Quignon
Located in BARSAC, FR
Gustave-Frédéric Quignon Superb Louis XVI style piece of furniture in very finely carved solid mahogany forming a secretary / document holder cabinet. Opening 6 drawers including...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Italian Empire trumeau in briarwood and brass with secrets
Located in Milano, IT
This Italian Early Empire Trumeau is a true masterpiece of elegance and mystery, masterfully crafted from burl feather wood, known for its fascinating grain that evokes the nobility ...
Category

1810s Italian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Danish Late Empire Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire secretary bureau in mahogany veneered oak with beautiful grain. In 2 parts. Desk top offers three bowed doors. A concave door in the mid...
Category

Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Mahogany

1850s Aesthetic Secretaire in Birch Wood with Faux Bamboo Cane Decoration
Located in Marbella, ES
Elegant Aesthetic Movement-inspired vertical secretary desk made of birch wood, with bamboo-like marquetry on its frame and moldings. The piece features three large lower drawers, a ...
Category

19th Century German Aesthetic Movement Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique High-Quality Mahogany Housekeeper's Cupboard with Secretaire, circa 1800
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique Georgian housekeeper's cupboard secretaire bookcase chest crafted during the George III era around 1800. Also known as an estate cupboard, this rare period piece showcases ex...
Category

Early 1800s George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Renaissance Revival Standing Desk, ca. 1880
Located in New York, NY
This is a functional and beautiful piece with many unique features. The drawers pulls and escutcheons are a geometric delight, made of pewter/brass and black cellulose. Deep and gene...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pewter

Northern Italian Walnut Two-Part Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning, c. 1820, solid walnut, two-tier, fall-front scriviana from the Piedmont district of Northern Italy. The paneled doors in the upper cabinet bordered by relief carved acanthu...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

A Beautiful & Rare Napoleon III 19th Century, Chinese Lacquer & Gilt Secretaire
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful & Rare Napoleon III 19th Century, Chinese Lacquer & Gilt Secretaire On Lion Paw Feet A fall front reveals a letter rack and inkwells and pen holder...
Category

19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Hand
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Handles
Category

19th Century English Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Oakwood Secretary Cabinet - Baroque Revival, Austria ca. 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary hand-carved oakwood secretary cabinet from the Baroque revival period in Austria. A real unique, perfect sized bureau cabinet/ secretary made of solid oakwood and stain...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Bureau Secretaire, Biedermeier. Walnut, birdseye, rootwood, intarsia, secret compartments.
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Danish Late Empire Mahogany With Inlay Bureau / Secretair
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rare Danish early 19th century secretary or slant front bureau. Exquisitely crafted from mahogany with fabulous marquetry decoration in black n...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bone, Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut

Italian Empire Neoclassical Walnut and Parcel-Gilt Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire neoclassical walnut and parcel-gilt secretary Handsome masculine Empire campaign desk on stand with pivoting dressing mirror below balustraded cornice with ball finial...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood, Walnut

English Sheraton Satinwood Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
English Sheraton-style (19th Century) satinwood and inlaid small secretary with arched lattice doors and pediment top
Category

19th Century Sheraton Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Satinwood

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

19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
Grey marble top above a single long drawer, two columns with gilded detailing on either side of fall-front desk enclosing six small drawers surrounding one larger drawer and original...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut, Giltwood

French Brass Inlaid Ladies Bureau Desk
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A top quality French rosewood brass inlaid desk, with tambour front, you have to pull open the drawer to release the tambour and then fold over the original velvet writing surface, l...
Category

Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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 se...
Category

1890s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Bruno Mathsson reading stand, Karl Mathsson 40's Sweden modernist collector
Located in Forest, BE
Table de lecture en bois et acier nickelé. Daté du début des années 1940. La tablette en bois a été restaurée mais la patine du piétement reste non touché et dans son état le plus proche de l'origine. Ajustable en hauteu. Il y à de beaux détails en laiton. Produite dans les ateliers de son père Karl Mathsson...
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Renaissance Revival Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Design details indicate that this secretary was made at the end of the Biedermeier period as interest in historical periods bloomed. The uppermost drawer is curved in the classic Biedermeier/Louis Philippe design, favored between 1830-1860, as does the raised display platform resting on the top surface of the piece. The choice of carefully selected French walnut veneers...
Category

1850s Swedish Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
Located in Handewitt, DE
Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany, Birch and elmwood veneer. Inlays in different woods. Original fittings in bronze and...
Category

1810s German Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Louis XVI Style Dutch Chinoiserie Secretary and High Chest
Located in Greven, DE
Pair of chinoiserie furniture - secretary and chiffonier The Netherlands Satinwood and others, lacquered panels around 1890 Dimensions: H x W x D: 130 x 63 x 39 cm Description: Ve...
Category

Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood

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

Louis Philippe Period Secretary, Mid 19th Century, Burl Walnut
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
This antique secrétaire, crafted from richly grained burl walnut, is a testament to masterful 19th-century French cabinetry. The walnut burl, carefully selected for its aesthetic app...
Category

1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Indonesian 19th Century Handmade Slant-Front Desk with Raised Panels and Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
An Indonesian antique handmade slant-front desk from the 19th century, with raised panels and inner drawers. Created in Indonesia during the 19th century, this secretaire features a ...
Category

19th Century Indonesian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Secretary Desk 700s Lombard by "Bottega Milanese Dei Valentini", walnut & burl
By Bottega Milanese dei Valentni
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Important precious desk bureau production of on 19th century by "Bottega Milanese dei Valentini", restored and polished to wax. The piece of furniture is made of solid walnut and b...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Late 19th Century Charles X Style Letter Storage Desk Cabinet
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A antique desk cabinet for storing letters and cards. Made of wood veneer with foliage wood inlay. Made in France, circa 1870-1880 Note: one of th...
Category

1880s French Charles X Antique Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood

19thc French Napoleon III Inlaid A.C Boulle style Top Portion "Bonheur Du Jour"
Located in Opa Locka, FL
This beautiful piece of furniture is the Top Portion Only of a 19thc French Napoleon III Boulle Inlaid "Bonheur Du Jour". This piece has been dated to the last portion of the 19thc b...
Category

1880s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretarie
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Early 19th Century French Louis XV Style Secrétaire showcases a timeless and classy blend of functionality and elegance. Crafted from bleached oak, this piece features graceful ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Rare Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Secretaire Sideboard
Located in Suffolk, GB
Rare Antique Regency quality mahogany secretaire sideboard having a pleasing shaped gallery back with a quality mahogany drop well bow fronted top. The fall ...
Category

19th Century European Regency Antique Secretaires

Materials

Other

Gillows of Lancaster attri., Gothic Revival Oak Architect's Desk
Located in London, GB
Attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. A rare Gothic Revival architect's folding desk. The top has opposing slides opening to reveal a compartment for storing drawing utensils etc. The ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Bookcase, Cylinder Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Bookcase ~ Cylinder Secretary is a stately reminder of a bygone era! Hand-crafted by talented cabinetmakers from a mixture of in...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century, Anglo Indian Heavily Carved Rosewood Campaign Secretary Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century Anglo-Indian campaign secretary bookcase (in 3-parts) is an extraordinary example of colonial-era craftsmanship, rendered in richly grained rosewood and heavily ado...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Anglo-Indian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

Very Fine 19th Century French Louis XVI Marquetry Secretaire Abattant by Diehl.
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century Louis XVI marquetry inlay secretaire A Abattant by Charles Diehl. Kingwood, satinwood and tulipwood inlay with fine gilt bronze ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Antique Burled Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall cabinet with carved cavetto cornice, over a slim curved frieze drawer and one upper and two lower long drawers. The middle faux drawers drop down to the secretary. The fitted interior with drawers, and a center compartment with door housing an inkstand with two glass bottles with silverplate tops. With patinated brass bat...
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Mahogany and Leather Notary Furniture
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice notary furniture is made of mahogany and leather. This is a rare and interesting secretaire with leather drawers. This is a French work...
Category

1850s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Wood

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

Petit 19th c. Walnut Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Lovely Walnut Six Drawer Chest with Desk
Category

19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Rare Antique English Regency Rosewood Davenport with Spring-Loaded Pen Drawer
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
This wonderful early 19th century Antique English Rosewood and ebonized Davenport or Ship Captain's Desk is one of the finest we've had in recent years. Davenports or Ship Captain's Desks are so-named originally for a Captain Davenport...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Rosewood

Venetian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Lacquered by Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic late 19th century Italian secretaire cabinet or bookcase made in the Venetian Rococo taste. Crafted from walnut the two-part case features a speckled lacquer finish centered by a cartouche shaped window with a painted bust by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The bureau cabinet has a bombe shaped dresser base with a drop front diminutive writing table. The drop front has two storage drawers and a small pigeon hole storage above. Below the desk are two small drawers and two large storage drawers with rocaille patinated brass pulls. The dresser is supported by small cabriole legs with scrolled feet. The dresser is surmounted by a bookcase with a painted door depicting a nobleman holding a chicken. The painting is painted on board titled "Venezia" and signed by Yeager with a fictitious date of 1725. The door opens to a three-shelf bookcase. The case is topped with a pediment having a cartouche shaped window and corniced top. The entire secretary is speckled with a mustard yellow tone over a taupe background. This whimsical cabinet...
Category

19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Napoleon style secretary, France, around 1870. Very good condition, after professional renovation. The furniture is finished in high gloss in French polish. dimensions: height 138 ...
Category

1870s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Flame Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Commode with Rouge Griotte 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

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

Georgian Chippendale Style Mahogany Block Front Shell Carved Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Mahogany Block Front Shell Carved Secretary Desk Lowboy. Item features solid mahogany wood construction, dramatic shapely legs terminating ...
Category

19th Century Unknown Chippendale Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Dressing Table Ladies France Napoleon III in Bronze and Wood, 19th Century
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

French Secretaire Cabinet With Leather Bound Doors And Drawers for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An extraordinary 19th Century French osecretaire 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

19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk with Folding Front Part
Located in Sofia, BG
French mahogany writing desk with folding front part and hidden drawers in the upper part. There are also three big drawers in the lower p...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

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 leather writing surface, an interior...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Regency Ebony Inlaid Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine Regency period mahogany bookcase cabinet with secretary drawer, the molded cornice with ebonized ball drops over two astragal glazed doors over satinwood fitted pull out se...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood

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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