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Secretaires For Sale
French Brown 7 Drawers Gilt Brass Cabinet Napoleon III Boulle 19th
Located in Paris, FR
Unique, Beautiful and rare Week Drawers Cabinet,
elegant small chest of drawers in wood marquetry in frieze, ebony, amaranth fillets and Greek ebony on the drawers. Marquetry on the...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Mid-Century Vintage Inlaid Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century style vintage secretary desk adorned with a colorful abstract inlay on the front. Fold down front reveals a large writing surface as...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$1,200 Sale Price
50% Off
Mid-Century Modern Desk/Secretary by Maurice Pre and Janette Laverrière, 1958
Located in Brussels, BE
Dimensions D: 40 cm (15.75") H: 317 ( MAXIMAL HEIGHT) cm W: 80 cm (31.50")
Category
1950s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Georgian Style Slant Drop Front Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic English George III style slant drop front secretary chest featuring a lacquered case decorated in the chinoiserie taste. The hardwood case has a large drop-front slant door ...
Category
20th Century Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Centurey Baroque Walnut Tabernacle / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The Tabernacle Secretaire is divided into 3 parts.
The upper part has a door with a snap lock in the middle, in this compartment the three small drawers on the right and left side c...
Category
18th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$23,278 Sale Price
27% Off
Italian Louis XV Scriban/Slant Front Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Italian Louis XV scriban or slant front secretary/desk, circa 1740. The slant front opening to four drawers, above the relief carved case retaining the very early finish, carved fro...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$7,500 / item
Directoire Bureau a Cylindre - France, circa 1800, Mahogany Secretaire or Desk
Located in Greven, DE
Desk with mirror attachment - Bureau à cylindre
France
Mahogany
Directoire circa 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 97 x 50 cm
Description:
Top-mounted desk standing on tapered rou...
Category
Early 1800s French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique Danish Louis Philippe Empire Style Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Danish Louis Philippe Empire Style Mahogany Secretary Desk
This exquisite 19th-century secretary desk beautifully combines the influence of the Louis Philippe and Danish Emp...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Danish Painted Bureau Bookcase
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Unusual 18th century Danish painted bureau bookcase with a very good fitted interior. 1780.
Height to the underside of desk is 77cm.
Code: 8569
Dimensions:
W: 44" (111.8 cm)
H: 80...
Category
18th Century Danish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Classic by Carpanelli Iris Secretaire
By Carpanelli
Located in Desio, IT
The structure is solid wood slabs, the curly swirl is plated with briar-wood, the top shaped and enriched by an inlay of leaves and also by the Carpanelli trademark which is hand set. Underneath the top there are its little drawers.
Category
2010s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$7,281 / item
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Solid wood, manufactured to a high quality. The display cabinet has a pull-out function and can be used as a secretary than...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
18th Century Italian Painted Pine Bureau
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
18th Century Italian painted pine bureau. Circa 1780.
With lovely layers of old paint, this bureau offers plenty of overt and hidden storage across two s...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Pine, Paint
Cube Cabinet by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede
Located in Geneve, CH
Cube cabinet by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede
Signed and numbered
Dimensions: L 30 x W 30 x H 90 cm
Materials: Natural oakwood, nordic pine base
Cube cabinet, auxiliary furniture for bedside table, house entrance, bar cabinet or jewel cabinet...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$4,884 / item
19th Century Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1835
Located in Berlin, DE
Pyramids mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged inner life. Not long ago, the secretary was grounded. Several drawers from inside as well as from outside. With secret compar...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Light Hardwood Library Bookcase Secrétaire Desk Brown Leather Surface
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this stunning circa 1880 light mahogany library bookcase with secrétaire desk
A well made and collectable library bookcase. The top s...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
$1,938 Sale Price
30% Off
Adams Style Mahogany Half Cylinder Secretary Writing Desk Hutch Curio 92"
Located in Dayton, OH
A very large and impressive vintage Adams style half cylinder secretary desk / hutch featuring a mahogany finish with upper bookcase curio cabinet with fretwork doors supported by a ...
Category
Late 20th Century Adam Style Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
$2,400 Sale Price
20% Off
A fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood birch and ebony secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood and Birch secretary . Ebony and fine quality inlayed woods .
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Ebony, Satinwood
A fine 18th century Scottish Regency mahogany and satinwood inlayed secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine early 19th century Regency mahogany and satinwood inlayed drop front secretary . Signed in two places
Category
Late 18th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Wood and parchment secretaire by Englander & Bonta, Argentina, circa 1940.
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Wood and parchment secretaire by Englander & Bonta, Argentina, circa 1940.
Category
1940s Argentine Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Parchment Paper
Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Impressive Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted secrétaire à Abattant, In The Manner Of André Charles Boulle.
This drop-front writing cabinet or secrétaire à abattant is finishe...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini Secrétaire and Wall Shelves
Located in Kent, Dover
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
Italian 18th Century Style Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Ebonized and burl walnut 18th century style secretary with panel doors that are mirrored inside and out so can display open or closed. The upper cabinet has been lined with fabric wh...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Lacquered and Gold Chinoiserie Wood Venetian Trumeau Desk, 1940s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Rare Venetian chinoiserie trumeau from the mid-20th century. Double-body furniture, curved in richly carved, lacquered and gilded wood with chinoiserie figures and oriental genre sce...
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Mid-18th Century, Veneto Trumeau
Located in Firenze, FI
Splendid trumeau with four curved legs base and goat foot in solid walnut and walnut veneer.
In excellent condition, it has an elegant and light design. Top that can be opened to ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Scricciolo Jewelry Case by Hans Von Klier for Planula Agliana, Italy, 70s
Located in Padova, IT
Designed by Hans von Klier for Planula Agliana Manufacturing. Jewelry case Scricciolo model.
Original jewelry box with a refined and innovative design. The structure is in wood painted in shades of blue and satin silver. Small drawers allow the orderly storage of jewels and small objects. Its design is the work of the Czechoslovakian designer Hans von Klier who actively collaborated with the well-known Italian architect Ettore Sottsass for the definition of the line of many Olivetti calculators...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Unique Austrian Empire Secretary/Writing Desk, Material Mahogany, Wien 1820-1829
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Empire secretary or writing desk, (Cylinder)
Material: Mahogany.
Completely restored, Shellac polish.
Period: 1820-1829
Source: Austria, Wien.
We guarantee safe a the cheapest air ...
Category
1820s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Late 18th Century French Cherry Wood Secretaire
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A late 18th century French provincial secretary made of cherry wood.
Solidly cherrywood body standing on 6 feet with moulded sides, slight...
Category
Late 18th Century French Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Danish Modern Ejnar Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen Teak & Oak Hutch
Located in Minneapolis, MN
An older design by Aksel Bender and Ejner Larsen. This hutch is likely part of a series of modular cabinets. Ours has a lower set of drawers in oak with sculpted teak pulls. Upper ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Teak
1940's, Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A petite, two part, hand-painted, lacquered, fully finished, drop front Chinoiserie bureau secrétaire from Spain. The interior of the two-door top is wallpapered in faux bamboo fretw...
Category
1940s Spanish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Walnut and Brass Cabinet by Pierre Balmain, France, 1980s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Pierre Balmain; Fashion designer; French Design; 1980s; France; Cabinet; Sideboard; Secretaire; Mid-Century Modern; Paris; Walnut; Brass;
Pierre Balmain walnut cabinet, an original design crafted by French designer Pierre Balmain himself in the 1980s. Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance and exceptional craftsmanship that this stunning piece embodies. Meticulously constructed with a lustrous walnut veneer, this cabinet showcases the allure of natural wood grains, lending a touch of warmth and sophistication to any space. The use of premium materials ensures its durability and longevity, making it a valuable addition to your home. What sets this cabinet apart is its original mark and signature, an authentic testament to its prestigious lineage. Every detail has been carefully considered, including the brass lining that seamlessly incorporates the side panels with the top, exuding a harmonious blend of materials and textures. You'll find more remarkable designs from the Pierre Balmain collection...
Category
1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Ornately Carved English Oak Library Bureau Bookcase Lion's Head Brass Handles
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable, ornately carved, circa 1860 Jacobean revival, Antique Library Bureau bookcase
Please note the delivery fe...
Category
1860s English Jacobean Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Exquisite 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exquisite Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry and Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre
The stepped rectangular top with pierced three quarter gallery ab...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
18th Century Antique English George II Virginia Walnut Bureau
Located in Devon, GB
A good quality George II period antique bureau in well figured walnut, standing on bracket feet and with replaced handles and escutcheons. It has a fall front with a loper support at each end and is set above four long finely graduated drawers. The beautiful fitted interior has six fretted pigeon holes, six drawers, secret book drawers and a central opening door, flanked by decorative carved pilasters.
This bureau is made of so-called “Virginia walnut...
Category
18th Century British George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Petite Queen Anne Style 1880s Walnut Slant-Front Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A late 19th century Queen Anne style small walnut mini slant front desk on stand resting on graceful cabriole legs ending in pad feet. The slant drop front,...
Category
Late 19th Century Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Having a writing section along with a two door commode for mail secretary need...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
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
$19,100 Sale Price
20% Off
Alex Secretary in collaboration with artist Adel Moustafa
By Rania Fahmy
Located in Giza Governorate, EG
Alex Secretary Inspired by Adel Mostafa’s artwork, Valentine’s in Alexandria, and the moment feels electric like walking into a memory wrapped in exquisite layers of light and love....
Category
2010s Egyptian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare Pair of 18th Century Italian Double Dome Bureau Bookcases, circa 1760
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A rare and impressive pair of 18th century Italian burr walnut double dome bureau bookcases, each with canted corners, turned, carved and gilded finials. Ebonised moldings, panelled ...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century English Mahogany Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 19th century English heavily carved mahogany secretary with bronze drawer and door hardware. The key is original. Signed in the top drawer: Edwards and Roberts.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
Postmodern chrome metal console table with two smoked glass shelves, Italy
Located in Taranto, IT
Postmodern chrome metal console table with two smoked glass shelves, Italy.
The item is in excellent conservative condition, no cosmetic or structural defects to report, just slight...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Steel
Émile Gallé Game Table in Walnut and Marquetry of Veneered Wood with a Floral
By Émile Gallé
Located in Ixelles, BE
"Émile Gallé Game Table in Walnut and Marquetry of Veneered Wood with a Floral Thistle Motif (c. 1895).
Émile Gallé’s game table is an exceptionally refined work of art, perfectly e...
Category
1880s French Art Nouveau Antique Secretaires
Materials
Nutwood
Antique Irish Burl Walnut Two Door Bookcase attrib Robert Strahan Dublin Ireland
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A very imposing example of an Irish Burr Walnut Two Door Library Bookcase, made during the third quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Firmly attributed to renowned furniture maker Robe...
Category
Mid-19th Century Irish Early Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
Red Large Secrétaire, Design by Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is mounted in our French workshops and delivered fully assembled.
The overall dimensions of the box itself are
Widt...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Ash, Lacquer
$3,759 / item
19th Century English Bonheur Du Jour Attributed To Gillows Of Lancaster
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine 19th century Burr walnut, ebonised , ormolu and porcelain Bonheur du jour, the superstructure with pierced brass galleries above an open compartment with mirrored interio...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Spectacular masterspiece ladies writing secretary desk Napoleon III, 1860 France
Located in Wien, AT
A masterpiece of French craftsmanship - a Napoleon III era ladies writing secretary desk, circa 1860.
The piece of furniture has a slender, high structure, with a richly decorated f...
Category
1860s French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
French Ormolu-Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant by Millet
Located in London, GB
The brèche d'Alep marble top above a long frieze drawer, the hinged fall front with gilt-tooled brown leather writing-surface, the fitted interior with four open compartments and a long drawer, above two cupboard doors, the interior with one shelf, on spreading foliate feet, the gilt-bronze banding to the left side signed Millet à Paris.
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood, Tulipwood
Antique Baroque Style Top Desk / Secretary Fully Inlaid
Located in Berlin, DE
With rich marquetry in this version, it is very rare to find such a similar piece of furniture. The cupboard stands on paw feet, high-quality maceteria inlays on all sides, i.e. inla...
Category
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French 18th Century Large Louis XVI Marquetry Desk or Bureau à Cylindre
By Jean Kisling
Located in Berlin, DE
French 18th century large Louis XVI marquetry desk or bureau à Cylindre
An exceptional marquetry secrétaire in the form of a bureau with a cylinder front and on a stand with four ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Country French Walnut Baker Secretary with Drop Desk Mini Bar and Lattice Doors
Located in Asheville, NC
Marvelous walnut cabinets with dental moulding, rose floral trim, metal lattice doors, leather top drop desk with Baker key, brass hinges and handles. Mirror...
Category
Mid-20th Century English French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
$14,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Empire Bureau Of Hand Polished Mahogany With Inlaid Wood from 1820s
Located in Lejre, DK
This grand Empire bureau is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the 1820s, crafted from hand-polished mahogany adorned with intricate inlaid wood detailing. Its imposing pr...
Category
1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Rare Near Pair of Regency Bookcases
Located in Stamford, CT
A rare near pair of English Regency period secretary or bookcases with rosewood, ebony, mahogany and satinwood inlay. The fitted drawers in the fall front are slightly different in c...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood
$84,000 / set
Antique 1900s Bureau
Located in Neuss, NW
Wonderful bureau from the 1900s. High-quality solid oak wood corpus with a tambour door, eight drawers, four interior drawers and numerous compartments.
Quality Features:
very good...
Category
Early 1900s British Mid-Century Modern Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
$3,044
Gillows Antique English George III Mahogany Secretaire Low Press Cupboard
Located in Glasgow, GB
circa 1790. With a rectangular top over a concealed long drawer with sloping front, mahogany crossbanding and parquetry and box stringing which continues across the top of the sides...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian Secretary in Rio Rosewood by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Mid-Century Modern Scandinavian writing desk of rosewood, front with two drawers and folding top, behind which shelves and drawers. Manufact...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Antique 18th Century Dutch Burled Walnut Secretary Bookcase with Antique Mirror
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 18th century Dutch Burled walnut secretary bookcase with fitted interior and antique mirror.
Category
18th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Mirror
Italian style "bargueño". Tortoiseshell, wood, bronze. 18th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Uncovered sample desk made of wood, with the central part advanced and highlighted with a double chapel of architectural composition. Each of the sides has five drawers with the front decorated with tortoiseshell and an elaborate golden bronze lock shield (two rampant lions faced, located on a garland and with a shield crowned between them, in which the hollow of the key). The center of the front has two levels: the lower one has four columns with éntasis, two on each side and joined by an entablature and a top finish in dark wood, and a series of gold metal elements in the center between which it stands out, sheltered under a semicircular arch, the figure of Hercules fighting against Caco; the upper one has some moldings forming some recesses, with an important heraldic shield in the center, all enhanced with volutes towards the sides, and different elements in gilded metal, of classicist inspiration.
The general scheme of the furniture responds to a very widespread and valued model in 17th century Europe, of which the best examples have been, as a rule, those of Italian manufacture, and which is continued in the eighteenth century without breaking the compositional clarity of the one that shows in this frontal but yes changing slight decorative details and elements in the area of the central chapel, above all. The practice of using tortoiseshell plates...
Category
18th Century European Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique 18th Century George III Period Light Oak Country House Bureau Bookcase
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
An attractive antique late 18th century, George III period bleached oak with ebony inlay two stage English country house bureau cupboard or bookcase. Circa 1790. Having a moulded cornice with inlay, above two fielded and inlaid panelled doors, opening to reveal a white painted interior with adjustable shelves inside, the inlaid bureau fall opening to reveal a lovely fitted interior with various drawers, compartments and leather surface, with a straight apron running along the top, with two short oak lined drawers and three long oak lined graduated drawers below, with brass plate handles, standing on splayed bracket feet. Great quality. A good piece of Georgian antique furniture. Complete with working locks and key.
DIMENSIONS
Height: 203cm (79.9in)
Width: 112cm (44.1in)
Depth: 51cm (20.1in)
The antique oak bureau bookcase...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
$2,616 Sale Price
30% Off
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
$10,500
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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Mahogany Biedermeier Secretaire
Louis Philippe Secretary
Italian Drop Front Desk
Mahogany Georgian Secretary
Queen Anne Bureau
Rosewood Mid Century Secretary
Mahogany Secretaire A Abattant
Roll Top Secretary
Louis Xvi Secretaire A Abattant
Narrow Secretary
Japanese Secretary
Queen Anne Secretary
Side By Side Secretary Bookcase
Venetian Secretary