Secretaires
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Secretaires
Iron
Late 18th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Brass, Iron
1790s Danish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Ormolu
1880s English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Brass
1830s English William IV Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Metal, Sheet Metal
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Oak
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Metal, Sheet Metal
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Palisander, Glass, Birch, Boxwood, Maple, Oak, Bog Wood, Burl
1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Wood
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Walnut
2010s French Secretaires
Oak
1730s English William IV Antique Secretaires
Rosewood
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Late 18th Century Baltic Baltic Antique Secretaires
Brass
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Metal
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Wood
Mid-18th Century Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Brass
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1780s Italian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Brass, Wrought Iron
1820s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Wood, Lacquer, Maple, Walnut, Spruce
Early 2000s Georgian Secretaires
Walnut, Mahogany
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
1930s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Early 20th Century Secretaires
2010s Spanish Modern Secretaires
Wood
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Metal, Sheet Metal
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Palisander
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Metal
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Metal, Sheet Metal
Early 19th Century Irish Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century European Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wood
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Ormolu
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Late 17th Century Dutch Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Mahogany, Oak
Mid-20th Century English Secretaires
Oak
Early 18th Century European Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Walnut
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1980s English Vintage Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century Indian Campaign Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century English Edwardian Antique Secretaires
Satinwood
19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Wood, Hardwood
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Ormolu
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Oak, Glass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century Danish Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Bone, Maple
18th Century English Antique Secretaires
Walnut
20th Century Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Marble, Chrome
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Ebony, 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.