Secretaires
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1850s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Fir
Early 18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
Early 18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Swiss Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1910s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Walnut
1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Kingwood, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Ormolu
1750s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Maple, Walnut, Birdseye Maple
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Secretaires
Pine
Late 20th Century North American Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Wood
20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
1750s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Kingwood
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
19th Century Unknown Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Secretaires
Birch
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
1770s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Kingwood, Satinwood, Walnut
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
1820s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany, Oak
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Ormolu
1750s Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Wood
1810s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
1930s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Walnut
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 1800s Dutch Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Oak
1770s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Kingwood, Satinwood
20th Century Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Late 18th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Wood
1830s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1760s Dutch Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1920s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Walnut, Burl, Mirror
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.