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Secretaires For Sale
Vintage Hardwood Marble Topped Chrome Drop Front Secretaire Desk with Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exquisite, tall, Rosewood with marble top and chrome fittings free standing Secratire desk
A truly stunning desk, its very large and yet d...
Category
20th Century Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Chrome
English Regency Walnut and Ebony Secretaire-Chest
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Very handsome English Regency walnut and ebony secretaire-chest with four drawers with pull-out secretaire with ebony in-set central writing sur...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
19th Century Gilt Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Mounted Parquetry Cabinet
By Adam Weisweiler
Located in Long Island City, NY
A beautiful late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain mounted parquetry cabinet.
A marble top above a single door adorned with Sèvres style porcelain plaques, the large plaque...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Contemporary Art Writing Desk Amanuense Nero Black by Adolfo Natalini
Located in Pistoia, IT
Limited edition of 99 numbered and signed copies.
Amanuense, decoded in his characterizing elements (the functional nature of the writing desk-Sécret...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Fine Antique Georgian Style Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The lower chest with three graduated drawers with openwork brass batwing drawer pulls and brass escutcheons with the key. Flanking the uppermost drawer are two slide supports with sm...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Oak Drop Front Secretaire
Located in Dallas, TX
French oak drop front secretarie with green leather writing surface.
Circa 1780
Category
18th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
$10,920 Sale Price
30% Off
18th Century Irish George II Mahogany Secretaire Cabinet manner of Giles Grendy
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a fine quality 18th century George II Irish mahogany secretaire cabinet in the manner of Giles Grendy. The shaped mirror panels doors opening ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Irish George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Fine Hammered Brass by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
vintage secretary wall cupboard 60s Sweden
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage secretary wall cupboard 60s Sweden
period 60's
design unknown Sweden
condition good light signs of use veneer traces on the back
size 186 x 95 x 42 (hxwxd)
detail...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$1,413 Sale Price
20% Off
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Smooth Antique Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
Louise Semainier Wardrobes and armoires in Smooth White Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowned designer Paul Mathieu. A remarkabl...
Category
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
Lacquered Wood Desk by Stilka, Argentina, circa 1970
By Stilka
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Lacquered wood desk by Stilka, Argentina, circa 1970.
Category
1960s Argentine Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Mid. Hammered Copper by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
Antique French secretaire Napoleon 3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful French napoleon 3 secretaire, it has a beautiful inlaid, made of rosewood,
ALL SALES ARE FINAL, STORE CREDIT OR EXCHANGE ONLY
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Fine Hammered Antique Bronze by Paul Mathieu
Located in New York, NY
“Semainier” refers to a French piece of furniture with seven drawers (Fr. Semaine = week). It is part of the Louise Collection designed by renowne...
Category
2010s Indian Other Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Sheet Metal
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
19th Century Spanish Wooden Cabinet with Original Foot, Door and Drawers
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century Spanish Wooden Cabinet with Original Foot, Door and Drawers
Category
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Spanish Walnut Writing Desk with Door and Drawers in the Interior
Located in Marbella, ES
18th Century Spanish walnut writing desk with door and drawers in the Interior.
Category
18th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th Century German Burr Elm and Walnut Secretary, with Ebonized Trim and Inlaid
Located in North Miami, FL
18th Century German burr elm and walnut secretary, adorned with ebonized trim and inlaid decorations and patterns. A pair of paneled doors over three small cupboards with beautiful details, over a pull-out writing surface with fitted interior, the base with three small drawers over two sets of three drawers. High quality and incredible hand-carving, one of the most expensive...
Category
18th Century German Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Burl
Elegant 19th Century French Desk – Solid Fruitwood with Bronze Accents
Located in Madrid, ES
This exquisite 19th-century French desk is a stunning example of fine craftsmanship and timeless design. Constructed from solid fruitwood, this elegant piece features intricate bronz...
Category
1890s Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and rare Biedermeier walnut roll top secretary . Fine satinwood inlay . French polished and ready to place. Several drawers and compartments for storage .
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood, Walnut
Italian 18th Century Rococo Secretary with Mirrored Doors and Lacca Povera Décor
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An Italian Rococo period lacca povera tall secretary from the 18th century, with bonnet top, mirrored-doors and slant-front desk over drawers. This exquisite 18th century Italian Roc...
Category
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Paper
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
French, 19th Century, Transitional Style Tulipwood and Kingwood Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Transitional st. Kingwood, Tulipwood, ormolu, and Rouge Royale marble Secretary. The one door seven drawer secretary is raised by fine cabriole leg...
Category
Secretaires
French Transitional 19th Century Ladies Writing Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming French 19th century Transitional style tulipwood, ormolu, and white Carrara marble secretary desk. The secretary is raised by fine cabriole legs with elegant foliate ormol...
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Neo-Gothic Small Desk Secretary in Solid Oak, 1900
Located in Lüdinghausen, DE
Small desk restored neo-Gothic around 1900 solid oak secretary
Features:
Small model with two drawers
Very high quality processing
Drawers pronged
Very elaborate carved decora...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Secretary by Emiel Veranneman, 1950s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Secretary by Emiel Veranneman, 1950s
Neon system not in working condition
Category
1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Late 18th Century Italian Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
This Italian secretary dates back to the 1780s. Item features a dozen hidden compartments as featured in the video. Origin; Italy.
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Extremely Decorative Secretary Empire Style with Dummies Books
Located in Berlin, DE
Noble veneer on solid softwood. Rectangular body on chiseled bronze claw feet. Architecturally structured front with dummy and brass framed brass frames. Slightly conical pilasters o...
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Sevres Mounted Secretaire Abattant Cabinet
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality 19th century French ebonized secretaire abattant, having its original brocatelle marble-top, classical gilded ormolu mounts of swag, ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Biedermeier Secretaire Napolean Style
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire Napolean Style with fall front writing surface, interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
$11,500 Sale Price
64% Off
Museum Essay / Tabernacle Around 1810, Walnut
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum essay/tabernacle around 1810, walnut.
Extremely rare and high-quality tabernacle with very elaborate and rich inlaid marquetry in walnut/root veneer on fir wood.
High construction consisting of 3 elements. The tabernacle has many drawers...
Category
Early 19th Century Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Fir
Escritorio de madera de nogal tallado a mano con cajones años 1950
Located in Marbella, ES
Escritorio de madera de nogal tallado a mano con cajones años 1950.
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
vintage secretary cupboard 1950s Blomstermala
Located in Lemmer, NL
vintage secretary cupboard 1950s Blomstermala
period 1950s
design Blomstermalá Sweden
condition good light signs of use
size 149 x 103 x 42 (hxwxd)
details teak; brass; t...
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Verni Martin secrétaire abattant , circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Louis XVI style secretaries abbattant, having bombe shaped sides, gilded rococo style scrolling ormolu mounts. Wonderful hand painted Ver...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Revival Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Revival Secretaire made of blond burl with ebonized columns. Upper section with exterior drawers and cubby hole. Lower section with fall fron...
Category
Early 20th Century Secretaires
$7,200 Sale Price
67% Off
Italian Secretaire, circa 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian secretaire circa 1930s, featuring beautiful walnut and maple inlaid.
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Maple, Walnut
Fine Sevres Style Porcelain Mounted Secrétaire, 19th Century, After Henry Dasson
By Henry Dasson
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th century French side cabinet with a marble top, a fall front secrétaire, having wonderful hand painted Sevres...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Porcelain, Mahogany
Georgian Mahogany Tallboy
Located in Norwich, GB
Georgian flame mahogany Tallboy with canted, fluted corners, secrétaire break front with beautifully fitted interior, standing on bracket feet with br...
Category
1760s British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Russian Empire Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Russian Empire Secretaire made of solid birch blond-wood and veneer. Elegant and compact design with weight bearing dolphins and arrows. Lower section ...
Category
19th Century Russian Antique Secretaires
$19,500 Sale Price
58% Off
Early 18th Century French Petite Secretaire or Bureau with Projecting Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 18th-century French dark wood secretary or fall-front bureau cabinet with charming proportions. Featuring a carved projecting cornice and arched front, original glass mirr...
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Fine Antique Georgian circa 1780 Oyster Venner Bureau Bookcase Chest of Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine and important Georgian circa 1780 Oyster veneer Bureau bookcase with original candle holders
A highly decorative and important bu...
Category
1780s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Secretary with Flap, 1950
Located in Marseille, FR
Secretary shelves 1950 with crosspiece, with an indoor lamp of dimension height 186 cm for a width of 130 cm and a depth of 50 cm.
Style: Scandinavian.
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebony with a fall front writing surface, interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
$11,500 Sale Price
60% Off
Blue Painted Swedish Secretaire
Located in Washington, DC
A blue painted Swedish Drop Front Secretaire with decorative painting inside the doors.
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Walnut Secretary in Louis XVI Style
Located in Vulpellac, Girona
18th century secretary in Louis XVI style in walnut. It features three large drawers on the bottom and on the top the secretary opens to five s...
Category
18th Century Spanish Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$7,565 Sale Price
20% Off
1980s Spanish Bamboo Six-Drawer Chest
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish bamboo six-drawer chest.
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Bamboo
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire with fall front writing surface, interior drawers and hidden compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
$11,000 Sale Price
62% Off
Amazing Secretary "À Abattant" Napoleon III French, 19th Century VIDEO
Located in Madrid, ES
AMAZING SECRETARY "À ABATTANT" NAPOLEON III
French, 19th century
in painted and gilded wood with bronze applications, interior with six drawers, l...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
$6,431 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid-Century Modern Secretary, Memphis Style
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Secretary, Memphis Style
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Bureau Secretaire, Biedermeier. Walnut, birdseye, rootwood, intarsia, secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
$11,500 Sale Price
57% Off
Louis XV Period Secretary At Doucine by Denis Louis Ancellet - 18th Century
By Denis-Louis Ancellet
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Oven secretary in walnut and other european woods, opening with two leaves a flap and a drawer. The decor is composed of three medallions containing inlaid floral arrangements. Open...
Category
1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebony with a fall front writing surface, inside drawers and mirrored cubby hole.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ebony
$12,600 Sale Price
47% Off
Copf Style Cherry Inlay Secretaire Cabinet, ca. 1800
Located in Budapest, HU
Early 19th century hutch, (combination of a writing secretaire and a glass cabinet) in Copf-Style. The pine corpus has a cherry veneer, and has fine...
Category
Early 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Pine
Privé" secrétaire by Jürgen Lange for Rosenthal Germany 1987
Located in Renens, CH
"Privé" writing desk or secrétaire by Jürgen Lange for Rosenthal Germany 1987.
This is an extremely well thought and crafted desk. While standing on a small footprint it offers amaz...
Category
1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Fruitwood
Swiss Early 19th Century Empire Bureau Cabinet, Signed Hirschgartner
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
This fine Empire drop-front secretary (secrétaire a'abattant or secrétaire en armoire) with a writing and standing desk is signed M. Hirschgartner. Hans Martin Hirschgartner (1766-18...
Category
19th Century Swiss Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
20th Century Pedestal Column in the Ancient Antique Louis XVI Style Rosewood
Located in Berlin, DE
Different rosewoods on solid conifers mirrored veneer. Sides with paneled parquet decorated with grid-shaped, perforated wide measuring strips.
Cover plate with stepped veined marble...
Category
20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Empire Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Empire Secretaire made of walnut and root wood with brass capitals and hardware. Three exterior drawers. Fall front writing surface w/five interior drawers and mirrored cubby hole. ...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Secretaires
$18,000 Sale Price
54% Off
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Cartonnier / Secretaire by Antoine Krieger
Located in Long Island City, NY
A rare late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted cartonnier or secretaire
By Antoine Krieger
The upper section containing seven deep tooled leather veneer drawers, abov...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebonized wood with fall-front writing surface, interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$9,500 Sale Price
67% Off
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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Louis Philippe Secretary
Italian Drop Front Desk
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Queen Anne Bureau
Rosewood Mid Century Secretary
Mahogany Secretaire A Abattant
Roll Top Secretary
Louis Xvi Secretaire A Abattant
Narrow Secretary
Japanese Secretary
Queen Anne Secretary
Side By Side Secretary Bookcase
Venetian Secretary