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Secretaires For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1940s
Mahogany Furniture to Keep Paintings, Plans and Special Documents
Located in Marbella, ES
Mahogany furniture to keep paintings, plans and special documents. It can be oriented in different positions.
Category
Late 20th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Barbarella Writing Desk / Secretary by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1966/1985
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ettore Sottsass Barbarella cabinet for Poltronova, Italy. Designed in 1966, produced in 1985. The cabinet features three drawers over a drop-front ...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Tesselated Black Marble Stone and Brass Inlay Secretaire by Maitland-Smith
Located in Casteren, NL
A monumental secretaire made by Maitland-Smith in the late 20th century. The whole piece was decorated with tessellated black marble and solid brass inlaid Greek key pattern. The low...
Category
1980s Philippine Greek Revival Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Chippendale Style Mahogany Secretary Desk by Baker
Located in Pasadena, TX
Chippendale style mahogany secretary desk by Milling Street Baker
10 drawers with brass pulls.
Desk has ample storage space, featuring 10 drawers. Mi...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Burl
Italian Art Cart designed by Giovanni Pelis for Stile Neolt, 1970s
Located in Hilversum, NL
Made in Italy plastic work station art cart. Designed by Giovanni Pelis for Stile Neolt. Three drawers and lots of storage. Wheels roll ...
Category
1970s Italian Space Age Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Plastic, Fiberglass
1970s, Spanish, Iron Shelving with Wooden Drawers and Doors
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Spanish iron shelving with wooden drawers and doors.
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Danish Teak Bookcase, Desk Secretary by Poul Hundevad
Located in Pomona, CA
This gorgeous secretary was designed by one of the premier Danish Mid-Century designers, Poul Hundevad. As many of the mid-century designers were, Hundevad was inspired by the past f...
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Vintage Scandinavian Modern Teak Drop Front Desk Secretary in a Box, 1960-2000
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome MCM (a.k.a. Mid-Century Modern) vintage Scandinavian Modern drop front desk or secretary in a box. It is in wonderful vintage condition. There...
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Scricciolo Jewelry Case by Hans Von Klier for Planula Agliana, Italy, 70s
By Panula Agliana, Hans Von Klier
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
Secretaire in Rosewood Art Nouveau Style, 1940s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Furniture made of rosewood inlaid with precious briarwood and maple. The furniture is of high bourgeois taste. The contrast of the rigid geometric lines of the body of the furniture that enclose art-nouveau inlays...
Category
1940s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Rosewood, Burl
Rare Golden Lacquer and Brass Maison Jansen Secretary Cabinet 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
An exciting example of French design firm Maison Jansen’s commissioned pieces. This secretary cabinet is made from solid mahogany, lacquered in a rich dark brown and bronze–golden fi...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Gilbert Rohde 'Paldao Group' Modular Bookcase System
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare 3-piece storage system, one of the earliest modular furniture designs, veneered in exotic Paldao burl door-fronts and figured Paldao sides. The dark stain finish is original and beautiful, with a rich rosewood color. The drop-down secretary door is set with an elegantly cast brass knob, and opens to a hidden desk...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Luciano Frigerio Credenza Diamante, 1970's
Located in bari, IT
Mid-Century Modern 12-drawer Diamante chest of drawers is made of walnut and is decorated with a complex block pattern designed by Luciano Frigerio di Desio.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Secretary Desk, Italy, 1970s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wooden secretary desk, Italy, 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Michel Pigneres Brass Chrome Black Cabinet Secretaire, 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
Unique French Mid-Century Modern cabinet secrétaire by Michel Pigneres made in the early 1970s. This piece is an exquisite example of refined, highly detailed and very well made furn...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Chrome
1940's Italian Secretaire with Reverse Painted Glass
Located in Hanover, MA
Golden birch veneered drop front secretary desk with three drawers and reverse painted glass panel of stylized Egyptian women and a chariot...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Birch
1980s Rud Thygesen and Johnny Sørensen Desk and Chair, Denmark
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made of Mahogany
- Very good original condition with minor signs of use
- The dimensions of chairs : Total height 88cm Seat height 59cm width: 45cm depth 51cm.
Category
1980s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage John Stuart White Lacquered Campaign Wood Desk X-Chrome Base Two Drawer
Located in North Miami, FL
This newly restored vintage John Stuart campaign 2 drawer desk and or writing desk is white lacquered over wood with chrome handles and 2 X-frame ...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Chrome
1940's, Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Newport Beach, 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
Contemporary Art Writing Desk Amanuense Dark Cherry Wood by Adolfo Natalini
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies.
Amanuense, decoded in his characterizing elements (the functional nature of the writing desk-Sécretaire, the symbolic hand and the stick) or dynamic elements; (the folding lid, closed/open) is a contraption of the symbolic time of the memory and of the intimate, of the intensity and of the intellectual and “spiritual” concentration, of the transcription of thoughts into figures, alphabets, ideograms, cosmology.
Writing desk or secretary in dark cherry wood...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Contemporary Art Writing Desk Amanuense Nero Black by Adolfo Natalini
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies.
Amanuense, decoded in his characterizing elements (the functional nature of the writing desk-Sécret...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Gilbert Rohde Paldao Secretary Display Case for Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bookcase with drop-front secretary desk and storage drawers in paldao wood. Glass dividers separate storage compartments, and cork-lined back. Retains Herman Miller tag. Great origin...
Category
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Paldao
Guillerme et Chambron, Secretaire in Blackened Oak, circa 1970
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Guillerme et Chambron, Secretaire in blackened oak, Edition Votre Maison, circa 1970.
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
1980s Spanish Bamboo Six-Drawer Chest
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish bamboo six-drawer chest.
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Bamboo
Grosfeld House Secretary Bookcase 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 sunbu...
Category
1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
1940s Osvaldo Borsani Secretaire
Located in Hanover, MA
Rare and very unusual piece of Italian modern design.
Vintage 1940s Italian bow-fronted secretary in walnut with seven drawers with brass ring pulls, attributed to Osvaldo Borsani.
T...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Goatskin
Italian Olive Burl Wood Bombe Secretary Vanity with Display Top & Matching Chair
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous Italian bombe drop front secretary cabinet in olive wood with the matching chair. Bookcase top with Two drawers with brass hardware and exquisite cabriole legs. Expert craft...
Category
1940s Italian Baroque Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Tall Craft Cabinet by Robert and Joanne Herzog
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautifully crafted walnut tambour door cabinet with interior drawers. Made by Robert and Joanne Herzog, 1970s, California.
Category
1970s Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Secretary Cabinet, Walnut, Flap Door, Secret Drawer - France
Located in Girona, ES
Walnut secretaire cabinet with a flap door and a secret drawer, French polish.
France, circa 1940.
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Italian mid-century wood archive stand, 1940s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century wood archive stand, 1940s
Walnut archive dresser from forties, made in Italy. 28 drawers, with brass handles, were used to manage months and months of job, and st...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Maison Jansen French Louis XVI Style Ebonized Secretary Desk
Located in New York, NY
French Louis XVI-style (1940s) ebonized & bronze trim abbatant form desk with a drop front interior above 3 drawers and below a single drawer & a white marble top. (stamped: JANSEN)
Category
1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
Rare Sesamo Secretary by Frattini for Bernini
Located in Munich, DE
Designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1981 and made by Bernini. Signed and in good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern 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
Dutch Rococo Style Bombe Burled Walnut Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
Dutch Rococo style burled walnut bombe front secretaire with carved ball and claw feet. Three drawers with cast brass pulls and cast brass detailed key ho...
Category
1940s Dutch Rococo Revival Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Amanuense Secretary Desk by Adolfo Natalini for Mirabili Limited Edition 2/99
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Limited edition release with metal tag indicating 2/99
"Part of a series of striking pieces designed by Adolfo Natalini, this secretary desk was entirely made in cherrywood with a dark finishing. The collapsible desk...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
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
Rare Jay Spectre "Perceptive" Drop Front Desk
By Jay Spectre
Located in Chicago, IL
Primavera and brushed stainless steel drop front secretary has four drawers with brushed steel Art Deco inspired pulls, plus additional shelf storage. Origami angularity turns this e...
Category
Late 20th Century American Secretaires
Materials
Steel
1940s French Abatant with Original Vellum Drop Front
Located in Dallas, TX
1940s French abatant with original vellum drop front facing. Faux volumes of books create a decorative door facing with key lock. Bronze scroll detail on base. Beautiful chevron vene...
Category
1940s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Grosfeld House Chest or Secretary, 1940s
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant chest of drawers with pull-out desk drawer by Grosfeld House.
Category
1940s American Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Ramsay French Mid-Century Dark Green Lacquered Secretary
Located in New York, NY
French Mid-Century (1940s) dark green lacquered drop front secretary with bronze dore rope design and trim (signed RAMSAY )
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Baker Furniture French Empire Burl Wood Secrétaire á Abattant With Brass Ormolu
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire or Neoclassical style drop front secretary desk
By Baker Furniture
USA, Circa 1980s
Gorgeous burl wood, with ebonized columns, and original brass hard...
Category
1980s American Empire Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage Henredon Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
A Vintage Henredon Secretary Desk brought to you by Niagara Furniture. This desk is impressive in both it’s design and scale. Made of beautiful...
Category
Late 20th Century Renaissance Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Rose Tarlow
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk. It features the most wonderful hand painted, black and gold chinoiserie painted exterior with an equally ...
Category
1990s American Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Lo Studiolo di Ponziani Florentine Chinoiserie HandPainted Secretary Desk Italy
By Ponziani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chinoiserie hand-painted secretary, Lo Studiolo di Ponziani, Florence, Italy. Chinoiserie painted secretary desk Ponziani Firenze. Painted brilliant lemon ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Walnut secretaire, Sproll, Switzerland, 1980's
Located in La Tour-de-Peilz, CH
A dandy in the livingroom ! Its refinement is matched only by its manufacturing quality. At this point the photos speak for themselves, it would be superfluous to depict it, but for ...
Category
Late 20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Maple, 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.
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