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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
Style: Victorian
Style: Biedermeier
Original Antique Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Mahogany Veneer, circa 1845-1850
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid pinewood. High-right body on padfoot feet. In the articulated front four drawers of different sizes. Straight writing plate with a medaillion-shaped depression. Beh...
Category

20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Biedermeier Secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860. Very good condition, after professional renovation, a piece of furniture finished in polish. Wood: mahogany dimensions: h...
Category

1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Biedermeier Cherry Fall Front Desk / Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Introducing a stunning late Biedermeier Slant-Front Secretary, crafted from solid cherry wood in the 1840s. This exquisite piece of furniture features three drawers spanning the enti...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Spruce, Cherry

Antique Biedermeier Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Kerepes, HU
We present to you this special piece of furniture in the Biedermeier style. The presented piece is appropriate for its age is in condition. Materials and techniques: Wood walnut v...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood

20th Century antique Biedermeier style secretire birdseye maple veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Exotic maple root veneer on solid softwood. Straight, two-drawer body above short, conical square legs, above an inclined writing flap and staggered office division of drawers and co...
Category

20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Biedermeier Table, Secretaire, 19th Century
Located in Kerepes, HU
We present to you this special small secretaire table in Biedermeier style. This piece of furniture is richly decorated with fine marquetry. With its elegant silhouette and beautif...
Category

19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Amazing Secretaire Biedermeier Germany, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Amazing Secretaire Biedermeier Germany 19th century 155x107x50.5cm Secretaire inlaid in various woods with columns. Biedermeier period perfect condition for the age.
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Victorian Secretary Desk Circa. 1800's
Located in Fulton, CA
American Victorian secretary desk made of solid walnut. Circa. 1875. Drop-front desk with birdseye maple detail. Carved walnut pulls with "rac...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Walnut

Biedermeier Writing Desk Chiffonier Secrétaire Cabinet Swedish Ormolu Detail
Located in LONDON, GB
Swedish antique Biedermeier writing desk chiffonier secrétaire cabinet in highly quilted golden birch veneers and finished in the Classic light h...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Late 19th Century Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Secretary, Victorian, 1890
Located in Greven, DE
Antique ship's or captain's secretary, so-called Military Campaign Chest of Drawers England Mahogany, brass Victorian around 1890 Dimensions: H x W x D: 135 x 92 x 52 cm D...
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Early 20th-Century Biedermeier Brown Oak Secretary Desk
Located in Opole, PL
Early 20th-Century Biedermeier Brown Oak Secretary Desk We present you this piece of furniture composed of a three-drawer dresser with a sliding de...
Category

Early 20th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Oak

19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Bureau-Commode. Vienna, c. 1820-25.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant early Biedermeier walnut bureau-commode is the best example of top-quality Viennese piece from circa 1820-25. Viennese Biedermeier is distinguished by their sophisticated proportions, rare and refined design and excellent craftsmanship and continue to have a great influence on modern design. This elegant Biedermeier piece has beautiful, highly figured walnut veneer with gorgeous light deep amber color and 200 hundred years old patina. Two drawer Biedermeier bureau...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique German Mahogany Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
Outstanding early 19th century German Biedermeier secretary desk, circa 1830, with exceptional book matched mahogany drawer and desk front. ...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Classicist Vienna Secretary, circa 1790
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Richly inlaid classicist secretary circa 1790-1800 original from Vienna. Some repairs in the past. Very good original condition with sigs of usage.
Category

18th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Arnold Bros Hardwood Chippendale Drop Front Bureau Desk Lovely Timber
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1900 mahogany drop front bureau in the Thomas Chippendale style made and stamped by Arnold Bros A good looking and well-made p...
Category

Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany
Located in Opole, PL
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany Furniture in the Biedermeier style, made of soft wood veneered with mahogany, dated around 1840. The monumental shape...
Category

1840s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Conical Secrétaire, 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary in Birch, Germany
Located in Greven, DE
Conical secretary North-East Germany birch, 19th century, Biedermeier, circa 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D 150 x 102 (94) x 52 cm Description: Rare conically tapering secret...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1860, after Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
We present you another incredible piece of furniture in our collection -- this elegant and highly exquisite Biedermeier secretary desk circa 1860. The secretary desk was manufactu...
Category

1860s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

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

Davenport Desk in Walnut, 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb Davenport in walnut and burl walnut from England from the 19th century V ery elegant small travel desk in walnut and burl walnut which has a very elegant base The right side...
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

CIRCA 1880 VICTORIAN GREEN MAN HiGH QUALITY CARVED OAK BUREAU
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this charming Victorian solid oak bureau, writing desk. This bureau has exceptional colour and patina. The drawers are carved with green man handle...
Category

1880s European High Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Antique secretary from around 1880, Northern Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique secretary from the end of the 19th century (circa 1880s) Produced in Scandinavia, in mahogany wood. Furniture in preserved in very good ...
Category

1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Architectural Form 19th C. Swedish Birch Biedermeier Barrel Roll Secretaire
Located in St. Louis, MO
Strong Architectural Form, early 19th Century elegant Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire with book matched flame birch veneer, pyramidal top, locking upper storage compartments, barrel roll desk with pull out tilting writing surface with hidden compartments, internal desk compartments...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Biedermeier Chest of Drawers/ Writing Commode, Austria, ca. 1830
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable 19th century nutwood chest of drawers/ writing commode from the early Biedermeier era in Austria around 1830. Impressing with an absolute outstanding looking grain which r...
Category

Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique 19thC English Victorian Hobbs Kneehole Cylinder Roll Writing Bureau Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th Century Hobbs & Co London kneehole cylider writing desk. Made of oak featuring seven drawers with roll top that opens to multiple compartments and cubbies, three more dr...
Category

19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Oak

19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and truly exceptional walnut Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1825. The Secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design an...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Walnut

20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Sensational Vienna secretaire in Biedermeier style. Tulip veneer on solid pinewood, partially ebonized. Round, bowed body on profiled clump-feet. In the structured front, there are ...
Category

20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Wood

19th Century Ebony and Thuya Wood Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a 19th century amboyna and ebony cabinet, with three quarter balustrade gallery, above two panelled doors set with Paris porcelain portrait ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Amboyna

Antique High Gloss Secretary Desk, Scandinavia, circa 1950s, Restored
Located in Chorzów, PL
ANTIQUE-UNIQUE. Impressive secretary from the mid-19th century in Biedermeier style. Antique furniture with a more beautiful form will add elegance to any interior. A representative ...
Category

1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Biedermeier Secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
Secretary Biedermeier, Northern Europe, circa 1850. Currently under renovation. Wood: Mahogany Dimensions: height 214 cm width 123 cm depth 57 cm.
Category

1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Late 18th Century Narrow Antique Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire in Pine
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful and in fully original condition Swedish pine secretaire features rounded corners with a curved drawer on top and beneath a key-locked fall front, which opens to reveal a wr...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the h...
Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Other

19th Century French Drop-Front Marquetry Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one low door with compartment, beautiful marquetry oakwood. The wood inside opens to a central compartment fl...
Category

Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Drop Front Secretary Desk from G
Located in Round Top, TX
Rich dark wood and stately lines define this handsome Biedermeier drop front secretary from Germany. Note the concave curve of the upper cabinet door and beautiful mahogany grain pat...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates back to the early phase of the Biedermeie...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Elm, Walnut

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1820-25.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and truly exceptional early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1820-25. The Secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design ...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English Secretary, Cabinet with Mahogany Glass Top, circa 1850, Victorian
Located in Berlin, DE
High rectangular carcass, two doors. over it extendable writing board provided with several drawers and shelves. Rear-mounted glass top with rung glazing. Extremely rare in this vers...
Category

1840s English Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

American Victorian Walnut Secretary Glass Front Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
American Victorian two-piece walnut secretary cabinet with a base having a drawer whose front folds down to create a desktop with interior drawers and green felt over two doors with ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood, Walnut

Rare Cabinet Chest of Drawers with Marble in the antique Biedermeier Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Maple root on solid conifers. Single-door cabinet in cylindrical shape. Corpus on corresponding frame. Gering marble top surface with light-grey grain. Partially ebonised. Interior s...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birdseye Maple

19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Austria, c. 1825-30.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and early Austrian Biedermeier secretaire was made circa 1825-30. The Secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare ...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century Secretary Desk Writer’s Bureau
Located in Pasadena, TX
48" Victorian secretary desk writer’s Bureau Crafted from solid cherry, this multi-function piece can serve as a desk as well as a bookcas...
Category

Late 18th Century North American Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid oak . Rectangular body on pointed legs. Provided with three drawers . Straight writing tablet, behind it architectur...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century antique Biedermeier Style Slope-Flap Secretaire mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid softwood. Straight, two-drawer body above short, conical square legs, above an inclined writing flap and staggered office division of drawers and compartments. Clas...
Category

20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Sweden, circa 1880
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique secretary from the end of the 19th century. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation. Finished in gloss polish. Unique restored piece by our renovat...
Category

1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Edwards and Roberts Antique Inlaid Secretary Desk, 1860-1875, London
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Stately Mahogany inlaid leather top secretary desk, London England 1860-1875 by Cabinetmakers Edwards and Roberts. Moulded cornice over arched glazed panel doors with green fabric lined interior above a rolled front inlaid fan, shell and scroll decoration. Pull out embossed green leather writing surface above graduated drawers on narrow feet: stamped "Edwards and Roberts" on top drawers edge. Famous cabinetry makers. The firm Edwards and Roberts were among the best English antique furniture cabinet makers of the second half of the nineteenth century. The company was founded in 1845 and by 1854 was trading as ‘Edwards and Roberts’, 21 Wardour Street, ‘Antique and Modern Cabinet...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Leather, Glass

19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, circa 1820. Cylinder top opens to a pull-out desk which offers an adjustable baize-lined lectern or writing surface flanked by sliding storage compartments, as well as a series of small interior drawers around a central cabinet. Above the desk, are three cupboards with bowed doors, the central one featuring a pediment top. Below the pull-out desk drawer, there are three long storage...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South West German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South west German, 1820. This beautiful drop front desk has three drawers in the lower part, they are embellish...
Category

1810s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Biedermeier Birchwood Sweden Secretaire and Armoires , 1830s
Located in Roma, RM
Rare Biedermeier furniture, seeing it looks like a small cabinet, opening the doors we are on the right side a small, elegant, Secretaire, while on the left side a small wardrobe. Sm...
Category

1830s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

20th Century Petite Secretary in Biedermeier Style
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Petite Secretary in Biedermeier style Mahogany partially blackened, on solid softwood. Rectangular body on flattened ball feet. In the...
Category

20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood

20th Century Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Delicate secretaire in Biedermeier style. Maple root on solid pinewood. Interior, blackened full-columns, plastic shown in squared form. (L-Sam-41).
Category

20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Maple, Pine

Biedermeier Burl Wood Secretary Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A shaped cabinet with a scrolled bonnet, a centre compartment with door opening to two shaped shelves, flanked by curved side compartments (one shelf inside at the left). Below is a ...
Category

19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Burl

20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Lyre Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Imposing lyre secrétaire in the manner of Vienna Biedermeier. Ebonized partially bird’s-eye maple veneer on solid pinewood. Inframed with maple root c...
Category

20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

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

Mahogany Two-Door Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Cheshire, GB
Victorian mahogany secretaire - bookcase, the ogee cornice above a pair of arched glazed doors, enclosing four adjustable shelves, the pr...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Empire or Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Very well preserved conical secretary with stepped head Front with multiply mirrored pyramid mahogany entire surface with original shellac hand polish high-quality cabinet part with thread intarsia and leg buttons very elaborate workmanship and rare furniture...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Northern Europe, circa 1860
Located in Chorzów, PL
Historic secretary from the second half of the 19th century. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: Mahogany Dimensions: he...
Category

1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Biedermeier Fall Top Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Classic Biedermeier fall top desk, South German, 1820, walnut veneer on the outside and mahogany veneer on the inside. It has a beautiful veneer grain. T...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, 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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