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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1930s
Antique French secretaire Napoleon 3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful French napoleon 3 secretaire, it has a beautiful inlaid, made of rosewood,
ALL SALES ARE FINAL, STORE CREDIT OR EXCHANGE ONLY
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th C. Swedish Empire Style Secretaire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mahogany, architectural upper section with demi-lune drawer, dentil frieze below and full drawer, drop-front fitted interior with marquetry drawers and doors, two side columns with g...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Pine Secretary Bureau Desk from Sweden, circa 1880
Located in Round Top, TX
This drop front secretary is charming in every way, with a soft, satin wax finish that compliments the warm patina of the pine and Swedish country styling.
The interior drawers and c...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A Spectacular English Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in New York, NY
This impressive and grand Chinoiserie Secretary having an intricate detailed decoration both on the exterior and interior, the top section with 2 doors opening to reveal a fitted i...
Category
Late 19th Century British Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Roll Top, Walnut Marquetry, Germany, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This beautiful Secretary comes from Germany from the beginning of 19th century. The piece is made of coniferous wood, veneered with extraordinary walnut veneer, with very detailed ma...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Diehl French Black Tall 8 Drawers Gilt Brass Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle 19th
Located in Paris, FR
Unique, Beautiful and Large Cabinet Secretary Weekly Planner style Stamped "Diehl" by Charles Guillaume Diehl In Boulle Marquetry style and Napoleon III Period, 19th Century.
Rare weekly organizer in brass boulle marquetry with scroll patterns, interlacing and foliage, with a leafy urn in the center of the drawers. Composed of 8 visible drawers (2 doubles and 4 singles) of good size thanks to a good depth, this piece of furniture combines aesthetics and practicality. It includes a beautiful ornamentation of gilded bronzes with multiple ingot molds, high and low falls, and on the falncs spandrels...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Brass
Tall 24 Drawers French Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle Marble Gilt Bronze 19th Cent
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful Rare Large Notary "Cartonnier" with 24 Drawers in Napoleon III Period and Boulle Style Marquetry
Rare piece of furniture, this large 24-card notary case with rich orname...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Small Biedermeier Secretary, Walnut, Austria, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Biedermeier secretary
Austria
Walnut
Biedermeier around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 146 x 84 x 45 cm
Description:
Piece of furniture standing on pointed feet set ove...
Category
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Biedermeier Secretary, Austria, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This Biedermeier secretary comes from Austria and was made in 19th century. It is made of coniferous wood, veneered with cherrywood. It has undergone a professional renovation proces...
Category
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
FIRST HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY SECRÉTAIRE WITH IRON SAFE
Located in Firenze, FI
This burr walnut secrétaire is an elegant and distinctive piece of furniture, characterized by a linear design and onion-shaped feet. Its peculiarity lies in the presence of a safe h...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron
1880s Danish White Wooden Roll-Top Writing Desk
Located in High Point, NC
A roll-top writing desk from Denmark, circa 1880. The exterior is painted a fresh white; the front rolls back to reveal a desktop with a leather writing surface and a set of stationa...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Charles X Mahogany Secretaire a Abbattant, c. 1830
Located in New York, NY
Charles X Mahogany Secretaire a Abbattant, with ormolu mounts, Circa 1830.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Other Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Small hand-painted Secretaire, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Small painted secretary with two drawers and curved sloping flap. The interior consists of letter compartments with ogival frames and low drawers. The cream white and light blue sett...
Category
19th Century German Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Genuine Northern Swedish Gustavian Style Country Escritoire or Secretary
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish escritoire. This escritoire, or secretary desk, is an authentic Swedish country house furniture piece in Gustavian style. Made in northern Sweden around 1820 ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Empire Secretaire, Ebonized Wood, Maple, Ink Painting, Vienna circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine neoclassical Empire Secretaire or writing cabinet from Austria, Vienna around 1810/15.
Ebonized hardwood body, veneered on oak. Pilaster columns with gilded capitals. All g...
Category
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Iron, Gold Leaf
EARLY 19th CENTURY NEOCLASSICAL SECRÉTAIRE IN SOLID WALNUT
Located in Firenze, FI
This Neoclassical style solid walnut writing desk features carved and gilded wood finishes, which give the piece of furniture an elegant and refined appearance. The lost wax bronze d...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretary, Cherry, circa 1820-1830
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier secretary
South Germany
Cherry tree
Biedermeier around 1820-1830
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 153 x 99 x 50 cm
Description:
Writing desk standing on block feet.
Che...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Biedermeier Secretary Desk in Cherry Wood Veneer, Germany, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This beautiful Secretary comes from Germany and was made in 19th century. The piece is made of pine wood, veneered with cherry wood veneer. When opening the main section the doors tr...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Pine
English Regency Style Mahogany Bookcase Cabinet In Two Parts
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An English Regency style mahogany bookcase cabinet with the upper part having fretwork enhanced glass doors with two adjustable wood sh...
Category
19th Century Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
1930's Art Deco Dominique Secretaire Desk with Keyhole in the Fitting
By Dominique
Located in Ulm, DE
Art Deco Secretary
attributed to Maison Dominique
Mahogany, shellac hand polished
Keyhole in the fitting
Original Art Deco, France 1930s
Dimensions:
Width, body: 60 cm
Width, bas...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
1800s Gustavian Period Swedish Cream Grey Painted Slant-Front Desk with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Gustavian period Swedish cream/grey painted slant-front desk from circa 1800 with three drawers and tapered feet. Emanating timeless Swedish elegance, this Gustavian period slant-f...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique 19th Century Walnut Spanish Secretaire
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique Spanish style secretaire desk, a match to one found in the collection at The Hemingway House in Key West, FL, USA; unbranded. Solid wa...
Category
19th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Empire Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A superb two piece 19th century Empire Mahogany and Cherry blind door bookcase secretary constructed of a very highly figured Mahogany and solid Ch...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Wooden Desk
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden writing desk from 19th century France. The top of this desk opens up to reveal three storage compartments and a writing surface, below which sit two drawers. A sunny aura em...
Category
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique fruitwood "Secretaire a Abattant" was crafted in France, circa 1850. The tall secretary with classical straight lines stands on bracket feet and features round columns on both sides, dressed with a discrete top invisible drawer at the top. The surface is dressed with the original variegated grey marble top. The bottom has double doors with inside shelving for additional storage. The fall front opens and reveals a fully outfitted inside theater decorated with turned columns on the sides, six functioning drawers (a large top drawer across the front and 5 smaller drawers at the bottom), and a wide open niche for books and letters...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
French Empire Antique Secretaire Mahogany and Bronze Mounted Made, circa 1810
Located in Hudson, NY
Fine antique Flame Mahogany and bronze mounted marble top Empire Secretaire. This secretary desk has a counter balanced drop front that opens to a compartmented interior desk. Beauti...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique English Golden Oak Slant Front Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English golden oak slant front secretary bookcase, circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19thC English Campaign Mahogany Secretaire Chest Drawers
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1850
19thC English Campaign Mahogany Secretaire Chest Drawers
sku 1255
W114 x D49 x H128cm
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Late 19th C Louis XVI Style Mahogany Desk, Bonheur du Jour
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1890s French secretary desk or bonheur du jour (translates to daytime delight) in mahogany and brass. Top section has a brass gallery, decorative brass trim and mounts. Two hin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine English Late Regency Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase by Gillows of Lancaster
Located in San Francisco, CA
A beautifully crafted late Regency mahogany secretaire bookcase in 2 parts, made and signed by Gillows of Lancaster, one of England's finest cabinetmakers for over 200 years. The pie...
Category
1830s English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Gustavian Tall Black Writing Desk Secretaire, Sweden 1820
Located in Berlin, DE
This beautiful 19th century Gustavian tall black writing desk secretaire was made in Sweden around 1820. It remains its original paint and is in a ...
Category
1820s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
19th Century German Biedermeier Secretary with Columns, circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Writing cabinet with portico structure.
South Germany
Pear tree
Biedermeier around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 95 x 49 cm
Description:
Strictly cubist piece of furn...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Pearwood
Swedish Fall-Front Secretary in West Indies Mahogany, circa 1850
Located in Miami, FL
A very beautiful and finely-crafted secretary in West Indies mahogany with book-matched crotch mahogany along the entire front. There are three gr...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century American Country Secretary Desk
Located in Forney, TX
A rare antique, circa 1810, classic American country mahogany bookcase secretary desk from the east coast region of Pennsylvania / Virginia.
Born in the early 19th century, hand-crafted of solid mahogany, having wonderfully aged warm, rich patina over the whole. Presents splendidly, with fine high quality handmade detail work throughout, including pegged joinery, dovetail bracket feet, and original keys included.
Two-piece, the upright top section having shaped moulded cornice above a pair of paneled cabinet doors that open to shelves on each side. A slanted middle with hinged door that folds down into a writing desk work table supported by pull out beams that are concealed within the piece when not in use. Behind the drop-front door are thirteen various sized drawers with original patinated brass knob pulls. The lower half of the secretary is essentially a chest of drawers, fitted with three large long graduated drawers that offer generous storage space. Decorated with a shaped skirt, rising on hand-cut dovetailed bracket feet.
Dimensions: (approx)
74" high, 40" wide, 18" deep
(widest and deepest parts)
Condition:
Great original antique condition with beautiful patina, rich antique mahogany color...
Category
Early 19th Century American Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Small Gustavian Fall Front Desk with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian fall front desk from Burtrask Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden.
Scraped by hand to its original color.
Small cute model in child size.
Fits so nicely i...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Bureau Desk Davenport 19th Century Country House-Carved Wood Gothic Revival 1860
Located in Mimizan, FR
Bureau desk Davenport 19th century carved wood Gothic Revival, circa 1860.
Country house carved dark oak
In very good condition with minor signs of use full of character
Worthy of...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Oak
Charles 'X' Secretaire
Located in Sheffield, MA
Burled elm charles 'X' drop front secretary (secrétaire à abattant) with black marble top with white vains, drop door revealing a leather covered writing table...
Category
19th Century English Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Regency Camphorwood Campaign Secretaire Chest
Located in Bournemouth, GB
A Regency period camphorwood secretaire chest. The Rectangular top above the full front drawer opening to a baize writing surface, an arrangement of pigeon holes, four small sliding ...
Category
19th Century British Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Empire Mahogany and Ormolu-Mounted Escritoire or Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
A French Empire mahogany and ormolu mounted writing cabinet surmounted by a Belgian marble-top, fitted with a frieze drawer, the fall inclosing a fitted interior with tooled original leather lined...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th c. Georgian Style Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
England: Georgian style black lacquered Chinese export small secretary with gilt figural scenes
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Wood
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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