Secretaires
Mid-20th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Oak
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
1810s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut
19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
18th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood
1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Maple, Walnut
1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Ash
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass, Other
Late 18th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Pine
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Maple, Pine
Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Oak
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Softwood, Wood, Mahogany
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Maple, Wood
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Leather, Wood, Maple
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Pine
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Birdseye Maple
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Iron, Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires
Oak
1830s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
1820s Baltic Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Pewter
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century English Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Marble
Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch, Burl
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
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.