Secretaires
20th Century Hollywood Regency Secretaires
Malachite, Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Glass, Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Pine
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Biedermeier Secretaires
Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
19th Century English Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 1900s American Industrial Antique Secretaires
Iron
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Cherry, Walnut
1940s English Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Oak
1890s French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Maple
Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Glass, Wood
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Metal, Bronze
1780s British George III Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Mid-18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Rosewood
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Brass
20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Victorian Secretaires
Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaires
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Bamboo
1960s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Teak
1910s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Secretaires
Copper
Early 19th Century American American Classical Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Wood
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Brass
1820s Baltic Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Pewter
Early 19th Century Federal Antique Secretaires
Glass, Mahogany
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Glass
1970s American Chinoiserie Vintage Secretaires
Brass
1960s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Walnut
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Wood
20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Brass
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Oak
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Marble
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
18th Century European Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Teak
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Satinwood
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Brass
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Griotte Marble, Bronze
18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Spruce, Walnut
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Teak
1880s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American George III Secretaires
Hardwood
1960s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Wood
1860s British Victorian Antique Secretaires
Boxwood, Rosewood, 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.