Secretaires
1780s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 1800s Austrian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Cherry
2010s Italian Modern Secretaires
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Secretaires
Bronze, Steel
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Wrought Iron, Metal, Metallic Thread
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1830s Danish Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Brass
1860s French Antique Secretaires
Bronze
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Wood
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany, Walnut
Late 18th Century German Directoire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Brass
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Leather, Mahogany, Satinwood
Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Kingwood, Rosewood
18th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Sycamore
1770s Dutch Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Fruitwood
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Late 18th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble
Early 19th Century Irish Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Secretaires
Brass
Early 1800s European Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Mahogany
1820s French Charles X Antique Secretaires
Leather, Mahogany
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Louis Philippe Secretaires
Maple, Walnut
1750s Irish Georgian Antique Secretaires
Mercury Glass, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Rosewood
Early 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Burl
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Wood
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 1900s Italian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Bronze
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Secretaires
Wood
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Brass, Iron
1870s French Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
19th Century Swiss Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Secretaires
Birdseye Maple, Pine, Cherry
20th Century Secretaires
Oak, Rosewood, Mother-of-Pearl, Ebony
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1950s European Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Maple
Mid-20th Century Dutch Louis XVI Secretaires
Wood
1950s French Vintage Secretaires
Sycamore
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Leather, Mahogany
1830s American American Classical 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.