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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 18th Century
Period: 17th Century
Period: 15th Century and Earlier
Period: 16th Century
18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaire
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century Swedish late Baroque secretaire in original gorgeous blue/green patinated color with slant front desk with a fitted interior over the two long and two smaller drawer bas...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Secretary in Mahogany With Inlaid wood and Brass Handles from the 1790s
Located in Lejre, DK
Light mahogany secretary decorated with inlaid wood decorations and brass handles from around the 1790s.
Measurements in cm: H:130 W:107 D:48
Category
1790s Danish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Baroque Secretaire Walnut
Located in Münster, DE
Sloping flap secretary
Baroque, Brunswick, around 1750,
walnut and walnut root wood, plum and maple veneered on softwood corpus, 3 drawers, double curved corpus on ball feet, slant...
Category
1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Softwood
English George III Mahogany Secretary Desk and Bookcase, 18th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK AND BOOKCASE
England, circa last quarter of the 18th century
Item # 305PKI25A
An incredibly beautiful George III mahogany fall-front secretary de...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Baroque Secretaire Netherlands Nutwood
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary, Netherlands, baroque around 1780
walnut, symmetrically structured
interior with rosewood pilasters
rosewood, bottom with sliding shelf, claw feet
shellac-wax polish
...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Nutwood
Late 18th Century Secretaire with Architectural Marquetry, Italy, circa 1770
Located in Greven, DE
Antique top secretary
Italy
various precious woods
second half 18th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 219 x 89 x 50 cm
Description:
Slender and well-proportioned secretary with archi...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Louis Seize Rosewood and Walnut Secretaire Secretary
Located in Münster, DE
Diagonal flap secretary
Louis Seize, around 1780/90, rosewood, walnut and other precious woods veneered and marquetry, 1 spacious drawer, original fittings, wax polish
Dimension...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Rosewood, Walnut, Softwood
French Louis XV Secretary Desk, 1760
Located in Belmont, MA
Step back in time with our exquisite 18th-century Louis XV Secretary Desk, a true masterpiece of French craftsmanship. This elegant piece of history...
Category
1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaire in Lacquer by Jacques Dubois (1694-1763)
Located in NICE, FR
A brown-red low secretary in lacquer adorned with chinoiserie motifs by the great French cabinetmaker Jacques Dubois (1694-1763). This exquisite piece of...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century French Lady's Secretaire Rosewood Veneer
Located in Münster, DE
Ornamental lady's secretary, France around 1770, rosewood veneered, leather overlay, brass edging and metal appliques, 3 drawers, shellac-wax polish
height: 75 cm, width: 94,5 cm, d...
Category
1770s French Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet.
The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century English Chippendale Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
Step into the grace and sophistication of the 18th century with our exquisite English oak secretaire, an embodiment of Georgian Chippendale-style craftsmanship. Elegantly merging for...
Category
18th Century English Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th c. Swedish Early Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish early Gustavian period secretary with library from the 18th century with shaped cornice, scalped apron, and original bronze hardware. The upp...
Category
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Monumental Irish George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, c. 1780
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Large Irish George III mahogany secretary bookcase, the upper portion with an elaborate cornice carved with trailing shells, dentils and foliate moldings. The glazed doors with engaged fluted pilasters open to three fixed shelves. The desk portion has a figured fall-board opening to a tooled leather surface and interior fitted with pigeon holes and small drawers, centered by a quarter-matched prospect door and two document slots with brick-work inlay. The lower portion has an unusual drawer configuration of four long graduated drawers flanked by short drawers, each with replaced shell hardware, all on a carved molding raised on three bracket feet.
60" wide
64" wide at the cornice
20" deep, closed
36.5" deep, open
95" high
This monumental secretary...
Category
Mid-18th Century Irish George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Walnut and plum Baroque Secretary à deux corps around 1760
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary à deux corps
Baroque around 1760
Walnut and plum veneered on softwood, lower part with concave corrus and three drawers,
two-door top with symmetrically arranged compart...
Category
1760s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Nutwood
Georgian Mahogany Blind Door Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early Georgian Mahogany blind door bookcase secretary desk 1740-50. This is a great looking piece that retains an old and possibly original surface with a great mellow color and patina to the aged Mahogany. Three adjustable shelves in the top section. The bottom piece with two over two drawers and the fitted interior with a sliding lid that opens to a well area. All hardware is original to the piece and all of the locks are working with a key to the bookcase top and desk lid...
Category
1740s English George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I secretary bureau escritoire or scriptor of figured patinated walnut from the 18th century featuring original s...
Category
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
English Chippendale Kingwood Military Campaign Chest with Secretary, Circa 1780
Located in Hollywood, SC
English Chippendale Kingwood Military Campaign graduated chest with an upper drawer fitted with a hinged fall front secretary revealing a central prospect door with a secret interior drawer, flanking pigeon holes with eight interior drawers, top edge carved with an egg & dart border, three graduated lower case drawers, original recessed brasses and escutcheons, and resting on a carved egg & dart rope skirt with the original bun feet. Late 18th Century Campaign...
Category
1780s English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine English George III Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk circa 1780
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A VERY FINE GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE WITH A GLAZED BOOKSHELF ABOVE A CHEST OF DRAWERS
England, circa 1780 Three drawers signed "William Jones"
...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Trumeau, secretaire Luigi XV originale settecentesco
Located in Torino, IT
Trumeau, secretaire
Luigi XV / Transizione
in legno lastronato con
motivo a lisca di pesce.
Doppia anta superiore,
piano a ribalta
e tre cassetti.
PERIODO
Originale del Settecento
...
Category
18th Century European Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
1790s Scandinavian Slant Front Desk with Carved Panel and Four Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian light/medium grey painted slant-front desk from circa 1790 with carved panel and four drawers. Emanating the quiet elegance of Scandinavian design, this circa 1790 lig...
Category
Late 18th Century Scandinavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
George III Glazed Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Batley, GB
A Georgian mahogany beurau bookcase with 4 long drawers raised on bracket feet. The desk fitted with a delicate interior retaining all its original drawers and keys. The astral glaze...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Rococo Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
Desk 32 inches high, 43 inches open
Upper cabinet 12 inches deep, bottom 25 inches deep.
Category
1780s Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1790
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
The image displays an English George III mahogany two-piece secretary cabinet, a fine example of 18th-century craftsmanship. The cabinet is constructed from rich mahogany, a wood cho...
Category
1790s British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
George III Scarlet Japanned Secretary Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
The case 18th century with later scarlet Japanned decoration. With shaped arched pediment over a pair of arched doors with beveled glass. Opening to a...
Category
1750s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Oak
Early 18th C Italian Baroque Figured Walnut Secretary w/ Architectural Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Figured Walnut Secretary with Architectural Pediment, Arched Mirror Cabinet Door
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Eindhoven, NL
18th century mahogany secretary in beautiful original condition. Nice sleek interior, warm weathered color. Super quality and beautiful mahogany....
Category
1770s Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Secretary In Walnut 18 ° Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
a fine Secretary in walnut and burr walnut from the 18th century
Very good quality and small English model
secretary composed of 3 drawers as well as a...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
European 1790s Two-Part Tall Secretary with Glass Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European painted wood tall two-part secretary circa 1790 with glass doors, carved dentil molding, slant-front desk and four graduating drawers. Enhance your home decor with this ex...
Category
Late 18th Century European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
18th C. Swedish Baroque Secretary with Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish slant-front secretary from the 18th century in two parts with arched cornice and bracket base. Found in Kronoberg in southern Sweden, an area known for crystal and furnitur...
Category
18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
French 18th C. Louis XV/XVI Transitional Ormolu Mounted Secretaire by RVLC
Located in PARIS, FR
A Louis XV/XVI transitional ormolu mounted tulipwood secretaire by RVLC
Rare and elegant secretary of elliptical shape, veneered on all sides of rosewood with herringbone decoration...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
American Hepplewhite Mahogany Inlaid Fall Front Secretary with Bookcase, C. 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Hepplewhite mahogany satinwood string inlaid secretary bookcase with a hinged fall front leather writing surface, central arched tulip wood inlaid cornice with original bras...
Category
1790s American Hepplewhite Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century, French Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Sofia, BG
Secretaire a abattant that dates to the end of the 18th century. The interior of the secretaire features five drawers. The secretaire is further configured with two drawers at the to...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Italian 17th Century Secretaire
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning 17th century Secretaire from Bologna, Italy. Wonderfully constructed from beautiful walnut with the upper section having a fall front secretary. Once opened to expose a se...
Category
Mid-17th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Baroque Bureau /Secretary Denmark c 1750
Located in Kastrup, DK
Baroque secretary /bureau in two parts.
Upper cabinet with curved top, pair of doors with marked profiled fillings.
Top of the doors is followed by the top of the bureau.
Bottom with slanted writing flap and marked profile filling.
Small drawers behind slanted writing flap, including three drawers with curved front.
Painted midt 19'th. ctr. in charming light gray and blue shades with edges and profiles in gold leaf
Measurement (cm) H: 202 W: 87 D: 54 ( 81 open )
A charming small bureau...
Category
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
18th C. Swedish Rococo Period Writing Desk in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A period Rococo writing desk from the 18th century in original painted alder wood with period key hole fittings, circa 1760. There are two smaller drawers behind the writing surface ...
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Double Dome Secretaire
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Glazed secretary in oak from the first part of the 18th century of very good quality with double dome
Double dome secretaries are the rarest and ...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
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
18th Century Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 18th century English painted oak bureau with fitted interior. 1790.
Height to desk is 34".
Reference: 7880
Dimensions
41.5 inches (105 cms) Wide
20.5 inches (52 cms) ...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Painted Slant Front Secretary with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood secretary from the late 18th century, with slant front desk, multiple drawers, dark painted interior, th...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century George III Mahogany Bookcase Secretary, Georgian, 1780s
Located in Roma, RM
English Bookcase, George III, circa 1780, mahogany wood, in good condition but in need of restoration.
Fantastic example of English craftsmanship for this type of furniture.
Carefu...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Flemish Louis XV Secretary Chest of Drawers in Oak
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A 18th century Flemish Louis XV slanted-flap secretary. Solidly made of oak.
Half-high lateral coffered corpus with 2 large drawers and a slightly recessed superstructure with sla...
Category
18th Century Belgian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Portuguese Antique Desk Sec XVIII
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
D. José paper chest, 18th century, in rosewood wood.
Corrugated box on the front, with two drawers and three large drawers of increasing Size, framed and flanked by two projecting p...
Category
Late 18th Century Portuguese Modern Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
German Baroque Secretary with Mirror and Silver Plated Fittings from 1730/35
Located in Heiligenberg, DE
Two-piece baroque secretary with mirrored doors, exceptional original silvered fittings with numerous princely crowns, walnut saw veneer on softwood, Thuringia circa 1730/35. This secretary comes from princely property, was made in very high craftsmanship and is in an impeccably restored condition.
In addition to the mirrored glass, the elaborate front of the top is adorned with three pilasters, the shaft of which is framed by double fillet bands and features a walnut field in the center. The profiled bases are cast in silver-plated brass. The three capitals are elaborate silvered castings with leaves and volutes. Under the doors, two delicate shelves with walnut fronts can be pulled out on fine silver-plated knobs. The knobs are the same model as the small drawers in the single-door. Pulling out the shelves reveals a framed area of oak. The framing is multi-profiled, very finely worked and mitered. The trays were probably intended for candlesticks. The light from the candles is clearly enhanced by the mirrors. At that time, this effect was also used for wall blinds.
The carcass sides of the entire piece of furniture are identical in design. The base shows mirrored fields with a cross-veneered framing. In the case of the top, the field is mirrored four times in the form of a cross joint and is also bordered by a cross-veneered framing. On both sides of the base and the top are strong, silver-plated handles, with a splendidly designed base plate of chased, silver-plated brass sheet. Here again we encounter the princely crown. On the original back panel is a handwritten note in chalk: "Salon der Durchl. Fürstin von der Lippe...
Category
1730s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Stunning circa 1780 Jacobean Hand Carved Bureau Desk with Hunting Scene
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable, ornately carved, circa 1780 Jacobean revival, Antique Library Bureau
What a piece! Hand carved from ever...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
18th Century French Drop Front Child Size Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A late 18th century Country French child's Size drop front desk from Alsace. Made of solid oak with marquetry front dated 1797. Interior with seven small drawers and painted writing ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
English Chippendale Mahogany Blind Door Secretary With Bookcase, Circa 1775
Located in Hollywood, SC
English Chippendale mahogany blind door secretary with bookcase. Upper case has a carved cornice fret work with flanking blind doors concealing i...
Category
1770s English Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Italian Walnut Parquetry Important Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux
Located in Rome, IT
An Italian walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage,
The upper section with a shaped carved cresting, a shaped doors opening to reveal three shelves, ...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
18th Century George II Miniature Campaign Bureau Chest on Later Chest Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A GORGEOUS and beautifully proportioned Mid-18th Century George II Miniature Campaign Bureau Chest on later Chest/Stand.
Mid-18th century, made in Britain, circa 1760-1770.
The bureau chest sits on a later stand/chest, that we estimate is late 19th century, circa 1860-1880. It is also British.
We believe that the primary wood in this piece is either Elm or Sycamore with mahogany elements.
Classic Campaign style miniature Bureau Chest, with its ORIGINAL George II brass hardware, including handles on the sides for easy carriage, which is what proves to us, that this chest was made for campaign purposes.
The brasses are GORGEOUS and are classically George II in style, design and construction.
The quality, thickness and patina to the brasses, is what ‘initially’ tells us, that this is a ‘period’ piece and not a reproduction.
Likewise, the dovetailing detail to the drawers, tells us that this was a hand crafted piece and certainly NOT machine made.
The secondary woods appear to be a combination of oak and pine, exactly as one would expect.
The central keyhole escutcheons are FANTASTIC and are in the form of a pair of opposing ‘lyres’.
We have never seen anything like them!
Beautiful natural patina!
The ‘brasses’ look like they have been polished a ‘little too often and vigorously’, over the piece’s 250+ years history … BUT … the bonus of this cleaning is the creation of a rather appealing, '2 Tone effect’, on the patina of the wood around the brasses.
The Bureau has a flat gallery...
Category
18th Century English George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Hand Painted White Baroque Secretaire, Saxony 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque writing secretaire with slanted flap and curved front and frame. The secretaire has two large drawers and behind the arched writing flap small drawers and a deep compartment....
Category
18th Century German French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Softwood
Louis XVI Secretaire, Waxed Polished Mahogany Veneer, 18th Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
A delightful Louis XVI secretary, built in oak and polished mahogany veneer, it is topped with a grey Saint-Anne des Pyrénées marble.
It is equipped with a high drawer, offering a beautiful storage space, just below, it reveals a flap, discovering a space of a sobriety characteristic of Louis XVI Secretaries.
It consists of a large niche under which are seven drawers, six of which are of identical capacity, all in mahogany veneer.
The flap is covered with original Camel coloured leather.
At the bottom, it is equipped with two doors, housing a new storage compartment.
These three front doors are equipped with cut brass lock entries.
This numerical inferiority is compensated by the presence of two pearled brass pull handles on the top drawer.
The fluted uprights of this piece of furniture end in four tapered legs with gilded alloy shoes for the front legs.
The back is a magnificent work of wood veneer entirely of the period.
Period : 18th century
Dimensions : Height : 130cm x Width : 64cm x Depth : 33cm
In the 18th century, the ingenuity and talent of cabinetmakers were used to make secretaries with shapes as diverse as their names and with a great wealth of ornamentation, secretaries with a wide range of colours, and secretaries with a wide range of colours.
of ornamentation, desk secretaries, of which we find in the 1760 General Inventory of Crown Furniture wonderful specimens, such as cylinder secretaries, usually made of solid mahogany, the "bonheur du jour", travelling secretaries...
Category
18th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Escritoire, circa 1680
By Thomas Pistor
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A remarkable and extremly rare William and Mary olive oyster and floral marquetry escritoire, concealing eight secret drawers, circa 1680. England.
Att...
Category
17th Century English William and Mary Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Bone, Oak, Olive, Pine
18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Bombe Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Bordeaux, France, circa 1760, the antique "secretaire a abattant" with upper display shelving is built in two sections. The top part features a curved bonnet cornice with ...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Neoclassic Period French Commode W/Hidden Butler's Secretary & Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Neoclassical commode, with hidden secretary and original hardware, from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique commode from France gives the appearance of being a three drawer chest at first glance. However, discreetly hidden behind the upper "drawer" is in fact a fall-front, which opens to reveal a small writing desk with three open cubbies for organization within. The lower portion of the chest houses two full-sized drawers. The rectangular-shaped top has pronounced and rounded front corners, which carry through down the side posts and are flute-carved. Each drawer front is adorn with brass trim and retains the original brass (and really great) hardware; a pair of rectangular bail pulls with a beautiful Neoclassic escutcheon set at center. This commode is presented upon conical legs with exaggerated tops that canopy over their tapered feet. The rich fruitwood has a wonderful old patina throughout. Note that there have been some prior repairs to the top. This late 18th century French...
Category
Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th-19th Century Grey Swedish Gustavian Two Part Pinewood Bureau, Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 18th-19th century, light-grey, white antique Swedish Gustavian two part bureau made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian secretaire is composed wit...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Italian Rococo Oyster Burl Secretary Cabinet / Desk
Located in New York, NY
Italian Rococo secretary desk / cabinet with an upper door that folds down to reveal a writing surface and 5 small interior drawers, over three drawers with serpentine fronts and orn...
Category
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Swedish 18th Century Rococo Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th century Rococo cabinet.
With a decorative carved pediment and two doors opening to storage. Below sits a fall front desk, opening to useful writing or computer space.
With two further small storage drawers...
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
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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