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Secretaires For Sale
19th C. Spanish Leather-Wrapped Secretary Cabinet on a Custom Iron Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
A 19th century Spanish secretary desk, on custom iron base. This antique case piece from Spain has a leather-wrapped exterior which is adorn in ...
Category
19th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Wood
Desk Walnut Art Nouveau with Brass Fittings, Fitted Interior, with Brass Accents
By Murray-Kay Limited
Located in Toronto, CA
A beautiful drop front desk in walnut with interesting fitted interior. Great Art Nouveau brass fitted hardware and details. Presented to Dr. Anthony Stewart of Palmerston Ontario by appreciative friends in 1911
tags Murray -Kay Ltd which existed between 1910 and 1923. This recently restored desk...
Category
Early 20th Century Canadian Art Nouveau Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Large Robsjohn-Gibbings Dresser Secretary w Bookcase
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-century modern Robsjohn Gibbings walnut multifunction cabinet.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Regency Rosewood Secretaire Side Cabinet/Chiffoneer
Located in Folkestone, GB
A superior quality and unusual Regency rosewood Side Cabinet, the top drawer with fold-down, leather-lined front, fully fitted with drawers and pigeon holes. below are a pair of silk...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Secretaire Napoleone III, France, 19th Century, Black
Located in Prato, IT
France, second half '800
Lastronate in ebanized wood.
Inlay in brass, copper, pewter, mother-of-pearl.
Marble top in "Fior di pesco".
Inside three drawers with leather top with g...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini Secrétaire and Wall Shelves
Located in London, GB
An Italian secrétaire with three wall shelves by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini. In rosewood veneer, with brass handles and key and brushed gold legs.
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Beech
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
Antique secretary from around 1880, Northern Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique secretary from the end of the 19th century (circa 1880s)
Produced in Scandinavia, in mahogany wood.
Furniture in preserved in very good ...
Category
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Tall Cabinet in Solid Patinated Pine Designed by Martin Nyrop for Rud Rasmussen
Located in Lejre, DK
Tall cabinet with glass doors in patinated solid pine. Designed by MAA. Martin Nyrop as interior for Copenhagen town hall in 1905. Made ...
Category
Early 1900s Danish Scandinavian Modern Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Glass
Elegant Louis XVI Cherrywood Secrétaire Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Louis XVI cherrywood secrétaire cabinet.
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Cherry
1960s Danish Modern Tall Wardrobe / Entry Piece / Hall Stand in Rosewood
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark
Designer: Unknown
Manufacturer: Unknown
Era: 1960s
Dimensions: 35.5? wide x 12.5? deep x 71? tall
Condition: In excellent original condition with some light vi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Grosfeld House 1940s Secretary by Lorin Jackson
Located in Hanover, MA
Lorin Jackson for Grosfeld House 1940s cabinet bookcase in mahogany featuring a pull-out secretary with writing surface. Distinctive Grosfeld "Glassic" lucite ring pulls with sunburs...
Category
1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Tall Mid-Century Highboy Drop Front Secretary
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unique highboy dresser with burl wood drop font writing surface with fitted insert. Additional storage drawers above and below. Please confirm item location (NY or NJ) with dealer.
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Burl
Midcentury George Nelson Gentlemens Secretary Chest
Located in Pasadena, TX
George Nelson
George Nelson (1908-1986) was an important modernist whose work cut across the fields of interior, industrial and exhibition design. Nelson studied architecture at Yale University in the 1920s, and in the next two decades earned a strong reputation as a writer on design for Architectural Forum, Interiors and Fortune.
In 1945 Nelson began a long association with the Herman Miller Furniture Company of Zeeland, Michigan, where as head designer he developed an innovative line of furniture and commissioned new designs from others. His first commission was Isamu Noguchi`s biomorphic glass-topped coffee table, which began production in 1947, the first of many designs that the sculptor would create for Herman Miller in the late Forties. Nelson also was responsible for bringing the designs of Charles Eames to Herman Miller, and he collaborated with R. Buckminster Fuller on a number of projects.
Among Nelson`s own creations are classic works of 1950s design, including the bubble lamp, ball clock, marshmallow sofa and the pole-supported wall-storage system. Nelson also designed numerous exhibitions, including the 1959 American National Exhibition in Moscow, and the Chrysler Corporation display at the 1964 New York World`s Fair.
Vintage midcentury George Nelson walnut secretary
1960s
A great example of early George Nelson design. Secretary desk and dresser...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Baroque Secretaire, Lake Constance Region
Located in Belmont, MA
18th century baroque secretaire, Lake Constance region. Two-drawer body on curved square feet, foldable desk, inside six drawers, a wide shelf and a sec...
Category
1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
English Chippendale Mahogany & Satinwood Fall Front Secretary w/ Bookcase C 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale mahogany and satinwood fall front secretary / bookcase with a molded edge pendent cornice, flanking upper case hinged original glass doors revealing removable int...
Category
1780s English Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Dutch Neoclassical Apothecary Cabinet, Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Dutch neoclassical apothecary cabinet ~ secretary was obviously a product of sublimely talented artisans, indeed! Created with a stately elegance inspired by ancient Greek architects, it features a crown with facing pitched moldings flanking a center pediment that is a design copied by the early Federal style furniture crafters in the then-young country of the USA. A bold cornice provides a platform for the crown moldings, and appears over the generously sized upper cabinet, whose two large, tailored doors open to reveal adjustable shelf storage above, and a tambour cabinet below that opens to reveal multiple cubby holes, ideal for the pharmacist...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Country French Neoclassical Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Country French neoclassical secretary is a splendid example of the genre, dating to the reign of Louis XVI himself! The period saw ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Edwardian Walnut Secretary with Hand Painted Motifs
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely Edwardian walnut Secretary, the top having two glazed doors within Gothic mullions. The bottom section with a slant drop front, contains a hand painted center medal...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Swedish neoclassical painted secretary desk will make the perfect addition to your home whether your decor is modern, traditional,...
Category
1790s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Steel
19th Century Louis-Philippe Period French Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Step into a world of refined elegance with this Antique Louis-Philippe Period French Secretary, meticulously restored to its former glory. The restoration has brought out the authen...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
STUNNiNG ANTIQUE CIRCA 1840 SHERATON REVIVAL LIBRARY BUREAU BOOKCASE ON DRAWERS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England, Sheraton Revival, Library Bureau bookcase circa 1840
Please note the deli...
Category
1840s English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
Pair Antique Country French Walnut Petite Secretaries
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique Country French Walnut Petite Secretaries are truly an amazing and unique find! The design is unusually tall, shallow and narrow all at...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique English oak secretaire with stepped interior and working locks
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This antique English oak secretaire from the late 18th/early 19th century is a real eye-catcher. It has oak fronts, a stepped interior, beautiful original details and working locks. ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
English Hepplewhite Secretaire
Located in Wilson, NC
The top of this English Hepplewhite secretaire has two drawer fronts that drop down to reveal the secretary interior. There are six small and two l...
Category
Early 1800s English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Citronnier Wood and Marquetry Secretaire by Englander & Bonta, Argentina, 1950
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Citronnier wood and marquetry secretaire by Englander & Bonta, Argentina, 1950.
Englander & Bonta where two European designer that migrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1930 and man...
Category
1950s Argentine Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
James Mont Cinnabar Lacquered Secretaire
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE
Extremely rare, possibly one of a kind, secretary cabinet with bookcase by the godfather of exotic modernism, James Mont, circa 1950. Hand rubbed cinnabar lacquered...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Irish Mahogany Georgian Secretary with Sunflowers and Irish Hound
Located in Richmond, VA
18th century Irish mahogany Georgian secretary with mirrored doors, broken arch pediment and fitted interior. The pediment has Irish eye su...
Category
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany
19th Century Bombe Marquetry Secrétaire à Abattant, Marble Top and Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
19th century bombe marquetry secrétaire à abattant, marble top and bronze mounts. Offered for sale is a late 19th century Louis XV style bombe marquetry secrétaire à abattant with a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Fine Antique George II Circa 1740 Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase Chest of Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine Burr Walnut & Brass George II circa 1740 Library Bureau Bookcase with campaign handles
A very good looking and well made piece, ...
Category
1740s English George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
J&J Kohn Austrian Secessionist Bentwood Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
Austrian Secessionist Bentwood (19/20th Century) small secretary with 2 grill doors and 2 embossed wood doors. (J.&J. KOHN)
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Secretaires
Materials
Bentwood
19th Century Northern Italian Walnut and Ebony Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th Century Northern Italian Walnut and Ebony Secretary is a stunning antique piece that combines walnut and ebony wood to create a beautiful and...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Empire Secretaire, Ebonized, Maple, Ink Painting, Brass, Gold, Vienna circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Fine neoclassical Empire or early Biedermeier Secretaire / Drop Front Desk from Vienna, Austria around 1810-15.
Ebonized veneer on oak.
Classicist gable cornice with surrounding gol...
Category
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Iron, Gold Leaf
Fantastic English Adams Paint Decorated Satinwood Slant Lid Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb Adams paint decorated satinwood desk made in England during the 1880s era. The desk wears superbly painted scenes and floral themes and shimmering satinwood. The des...
Category
Early 1900s English Adam Style Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Antique Anglo Indian Military Campaign Camphor Wood & Brass Bureau Desk Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely late Victorian Anglo Indian campaign Camphor wood with brass inlay Military bureau desk
This piece really is exquisite. It’s a genui...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Modern Bureau by Otto Schulz for Boet, 1940s
By Otto Schulz, Boet
Located in Karlstad, SE
Very rare bureau by Otto Schulz for Boet, circa 1940.
This bureau is covered in cream white vinyl attached with pearl nails, significant for the designer. The skewed front is made o...
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Scandinavian Modern Secretary Desk by Torbjorn Afdahl
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Secretary desk designed by Torbjørn Afdal and made by Nesjestranda Møbelfabrikk. Crafted in rosewood (also known as Palisander) with elegant details. Original key and working lock m...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Harrods Kennedy Burr Yew Wood Green Leather Secrataire Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England Harrods Kennedy Military Campaign, Secrataire desk with drawers
A very good looking well made and decorative pi...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century English Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Pretty 18th century narrow painted bureau with a fitted interior and working lock and key. The interior features a hidden well and a lovely original chinoiserie lacquer. 1790.
Heigh...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
German Biedermeier Olivewood Inlaid and Parcel Gilt Secretary / Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
German Biedermeier (18th Century) olivewood secretary / bookcase in shaped rectangular with the top section having a hinged 2-door shelved cabinet with glass windows bordered by parc...
Category
18th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Cylinder Secretary Desk in Lucite Late 1980s Style Louis XVI
By Comatec
Located in Brussels, BE
Amazing very rare limited edition cylinder secretary desk in Lucite late 1980s
This is the best secretary kept in town: A fine art, exquisite...
Category
1980s Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires
Teak Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Secretary Desk Chest Drawers Dresser
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning Danish Modern teak bow front chest/secretary desk over four drawers. Key included and could be used as dry bar as well. Original brass hardware and pulls. When desk is pu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Richly decorated, inlaid antique Italian secretary in Moorish style, circa 1860
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This highly decorative, museum-quality antique Italian secretary is beautifully adorned with intricate inlays featuring striking and decorative motifs. The piece has two doors with a...
Category
1860s Italian Moorish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century German Pine Baroque Secretary
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
German provincial baroque secretary à deux corps from around 1750. Solid made in pine wood.
Consisting of a three drawer commode lower part with S-...
Category
18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Continental Gustavian Painted Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Gustavian-style (Possibly Swedish/ Danish 18th Century) off-white painted secretary with carved column sides and carved simple swag and t...
Category
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire From the 2nd Half of the 19th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Biedermeier Secretaire From the 2nd Half of the 19th Century
Imagine a piece of furniture that marries the clean lines of Northern European design with the warm glow of richly figur...
Category
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Black Lacquer Art Deco Secretaire Desk With Etched Mirror On Very Elegant Legs
Located in Ulm, DE
Writing furniture / bar furniture
Piano lacquer in black high gloss
Original Art Deco, France 1930s
Dimensions:
Width: 103 cm
height: 117 cm
Depth: 37 cm
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Mirror
French Art Deco Secretary Attributed to René Prou
By René Prou
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful French sycamore veneer secretary framed with gilded brass details, the fall front decorated with the original cafe au lait coloured leather, inside is the drawer and elegan...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Sycamore
20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Lyre Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Imposing lyre secrétaire in the manner of Vienna Biedermeier.
Ebonized partially bird’s-eye maple veneer on solid pinewood. Inframed with maple root c...
Category
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Louis XVI Desk Cabinet "bureau à pente"
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Louis XVI style antique desk chest of drawers called "bureau à pente".
Three dovetailed drawers, bronze details.
On the front opens a tab...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
18th Century Baroque Secretaire/ Writing Cabinet Nutwood, Germany ca. 1770
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Important 18th century secrétaire or writing cabinet elaborately made in the baroque period in West Germany around 1770. Different kinds of fine nutwood/ walnut were used to set up a...
Category
Late 18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
1850s Antique Cabinet with Bone Inlay and Handcrafted Details
Located in Marbella, ES
Exquisite antique cabinet with detailed ornamentation highlighted by bone inlays in geometric and floral patterns. The front features a central design evoking a tree of life, surroun...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Wood
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
Biedermeier Fall Top Secretaire, Berlin 1820 with Exquisite Interior
Located in Belmont, MA
Outstanding Biedermeier fall top secretaire, Berlin 1820, mahogany veneer with ebonized details. The interior has one central compartment surrounded by 8 s...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Secretaire by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century palisander secretaire designed by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik.
It consists of a fold down door and two drawers.
Gorgeous cabinet with eye for details and qu...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Bureau Bookcase, Two Doors over Slant Front Fitted Desk
Located in Buchanan, MI
Italian bureau bookcase, two doors over slant front fitted desk.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib. 19th Century Restored
By Ferdinando Pogliani
Located in Madrid, ES
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib.
Amazing Italian Secretaire
19th Century.
Perfect condition.
RESTORED
Wood, precious stones
Measures: 170cm x 104cm...
Category
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Precious Stone, 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.