Secretaires
2010s French Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Leather, Wood, Maple
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1750s English George II Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Metal
19th Century Unknown Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze, Ormolu
Early 2000s American Baroque Secretaires
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Wood, Ash, Birch, Elm, Maple, Poplar, Walnut
1830s Scottish Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Leather, Ash
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Elm
Late 18th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1880s French Antique Secretaires
Wood
19th Century Indonesian Antique Secretaires
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wrought Iron, Metal, Metallic Thread
Late 18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Teak
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Wood
1930s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Walnut, Wood
1930s Moroccan Moorish Vintage Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Secretaires
Mirror, Mahogany
19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1810s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Louis XVI Secretaires
Wood, Fruitwood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
1920s Czech Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Wood, Rosewood, Lacquer
18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Wood
1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Secretaires
Steel
Early 1800s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Brass, Bronze
19th Century European Regency Antique Secretaires
Other
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Bronze
20th Century European Secretaires
Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1970s Vintage Secretaires
Walnut
1790s English Antique Secretaires
Brass
Mid-20th Century Spanish Secretaires
Walnut
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Teak
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English British Colonial Antique Secretaires
Brass
Early 1800s European Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1750s Irish Georgian Antique Secretaires
Mercury Glass, Mahogany
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Wood, Fruitwood, Walnut
Maple Slant Front Desk
Rhode Island
18th Century
The slant front opens to reveal ...
18th Century and Earlier American Antique Secretaires
Early 18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Late 18th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Marble
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.