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Secretaires For Sale
Oak Bureau/Vanity w/ Storage
Located in Puslinch, ON
Condition: Pre-Restored
Dimensions: 35.5” L x 17.5” D x 43.75” H (29.75” Desk, H 25.5” H LR)
Description: A vintage oak bureau/vanity with storage under the desk surface. Freshly i...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
18th Century, Louis XIV Carved Walnut Wood Drop-Leaf Cabinet
Located in IT
This elegant drop-leaf cabinet was made in the early eighteenth century in walnut wood finely carved with rocaille motifs. It has a particular patina of the carvings, slightly darker...
Category
Early 18th Century European Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Mahogany Inlaid Slope Front Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century mahogany inlaid slope front secretaire bookcase with astragal glazing below a dentil cornice, four graduating drawers with marquis...
Category
Early 19th Century Irish 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
Cube Cabinet by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede
Located in Geneve, CH
Cube cabinet by Jean-Baptiste Van den Heede
Signed and numbered
Dimensions: L 30 x W 30 x H 90 cm
Materials: Natural oakwood, nordic pine base
Cube cabinet, auxiliary furniture for bedside table, house entrance, bar cabinet or jewel cabinet...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Fine 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
Early 19th Century Dutch Floral Marquetry Bureau Display Cabinet
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The moulded cornice above two shaped glass panelled doors opening to shelves, the lower part with a hinged sloping fall front opening to reveal a fitted interior with a central door ...
Category
19th Century Dutch Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
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
Restored Art Deco Secretary Sideboard, Macassar, Maple, Czech, 1930s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This exceptional piece of furniture is a perfect example of Czech Functionalism in all its glory.
The secretary includes two integrated nesting tables, which are fitted with black a...
Category
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood, Lacquer, Ebony, Maple
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Mid. Hammered 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
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
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
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
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Smooth Brass by Paul Mathieu for S. Odegard
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
Louise Semainier Secretaires in Smooth Copper by Paul Mathieu by S Odegard
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
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut and rootwood with brass hardware. Fall front writing surface with interior drawers above three large exterior drawers.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Art Deco Cabinet Secrétaire Attributed to Jules Leleu, Bronze Ornaments, French
By Jules Leleu
Located in London, GB
Presenting a meticulously crafted, remarkable piece of Art Deco craftsmanship, this 1930s exceptional cabinet secretaire attributed to Jules Leleu (1883-1961), captures the essence o...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Early 19th C. Swedish Empire Style Secretaire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Mahogany, architectural upper section with demi-lune drawer, dentil frieze below and full drawer, drop-front fitted interior with marquetry drawers and doors, two side column...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Hardwood
ANTIQUE SHERATON REVIVAL BUREA BOOKCASE LEATHER TOP HARDWOOD WALNUT & SATiNWOOD
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite Sheraton Revival Walnut, Mahogany & Satinwood Bureau bookcase...
Category
20th Century English Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Hardwood, Satinwood, Walnut
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
Georgian-Inspired Miniature Italian Walnut Secretaire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This stunning Miniature Italian walnut Secretaire is not only a remarkable piece of furniture but also a tribute to the iconic era of King George I. Inspired by the pieces built during this period, this Secretaire exudes the grandeur and elegance of the Georgian era.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Secretaire features exquisite crossbanding of mahogany and Italian walnut that was popular during the Georgian period. The four center drawers and the slant top desk with locks and keys further reflect the practicality and functionality that were hallmarks of furniture built during the time of King George I.
French polished in the traditional style, this Secretaire boasts a gleaming finish that brings out the natural beauty of the Italian walnut wood. The slant top desk also reveals four small drawers on top with a center compartment, which is a characteristic feature of Georgian furniture.
This miniature Italian Walnut Secretaire is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the Georgian era, making it a valuable addition to any collection of antique or vintage furniture...
Category
Early 2000s Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Mahogany
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
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
Beautiful Sloping Flap Secretary / Roll-Up Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful sloping flap secretary / roll-up secretary, 20th century
Wood veneered with tulip wood and partially inlaid. High-quality workmanship on short square legs, straight four...
Category
20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Tulipwood
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
National Trust John Locke Secretaire
Located in Asheville, NC
This very rare Kindel reproduction is part of The National for Historic Preservation Collection, The Cliveden desk and bookcase is truly a masterpiece. An outstanding example of the Rococo style, the Cliveden desk and bookcase is English, circa 1750, and part of the collection on display at Cliveden Mansion in Germantown, PA. Kindel Furniture Company was selected as licensee to the National Trust to make a faithful reproduction of this secretary desk. This reproduction has all of the outstanding qualities of the original. Made of select mahogany, the bookcase has a "broken molded pediment" with decorative frieze and a superb hand-carved bust of John Locke...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Secretaires
Circa 1880 Solid Oak & Brass Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Secrataire Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine, highly collectable solid oak with over sized brass fittings Military Campaign chest of drawers with mahogany lined & brown leather ...
Category
1880s English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Italian Bureau Bookcase, Two Doors over Slant Front Fitted Desk
Located in Buchanan, MI
Italian bureau bookcase, two doors over slant front fitted desk.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Contemporary Art Writing Desk Amanuense Dark Cherry Wood 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-Sécretaire, the symbolic hand and the stick) or dynamic elements; (the folding lid, closed/open) is a contraption of the symbolic time of the memory and of the intimate, of the intensity and of the intellectual and “spiritual” concentration, of the transcription of thoughts into figures, alphabets, ideograms, cosmology.
Writing desk or secretary in dark cherry wood...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
1980s Spanish Bamboo Six-Drawer Chest
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish bamboo six-drawer chest.
Category
Late 20th Century Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Bamboo
George III Mahogany Standing Bureau, Great Library Accent Piece, Good Color.
Located in Buchanan, MI
A George III mahogany standing bureau, great library accent piece.
Category
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
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
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
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
Louis XV Gold and Bronze Desk, 1950s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Small desk with drawers. Finely decorated with gold and fake turtle, Boulle style. handles and details in gilded bronze.
Packaging with bubble...
Category
1950s Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire
French, late 19th Century
Height 132.5cm, width 91cm, depth 66cm
This elegant secretaire, or writing desk, is a fine piece of nin...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
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
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
Secretaire / Scriban Art Deco in Maple Veneer, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Secretaire / scriban art deco in maple veneer, circa 1950
Medium condition, small lack of wood, veneer, varnish to redo.
Category
1950s European Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Maple
Important Early 19th Century Danish Neoclassical Secretaire NIcolai Abildgaard
By Nicolai Abildgaard
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The slender secretaire on an unusual high stand with four curved legs dived into quarters, the frame with a central inlaid palmette motif. The fall down writing flap, enclosing a fitted interior with numerous drawers, above and below are two doors enclosing one shelf. The top of the secretaire in form of a classical triangular pediment, the center of which is decorated with an inlaid stylized anthemion. The entire front is very plain and geometrical, divided into six panels inlaid with rectangular fields in light wood.
The design of this mahogany secretaire is based on classical Roman and Greek models, in this case the bookcases that were portrayed on frescoes, reliefs and Roman gold glass. As secretaires were not known in Antiquity, Abildgaard designed his secretaire as a cupboard though in such a way, that the two centre doors are actually a fall front writing top. The carved turned underframe is inspired by Etruscan footstools, which were known especially from reliefs and had been reproduced in contemporary prints. Abildgaard designed this piece of furniture far more in accordance with ancient tradition than did the other furniture designer of the day. The most important (and avantgarde) piece of the furniture Abildgaard designed in the first decade of the 19th century, is this secretaire, which marks a real renewal in relation to the secretaires that constituted the master's test for the members of the guild of cabinetmakers at this time. Compared with these, this secretaire is a very light piece of furniture that does not follow the contemporary fashion towards classical architectural decorations such as columns, pillars, architraves, etc. which often endow such pieces.
Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard (11 September 1743 – 4 June 1809) was a leading Danish Neoclassical painter who also designed (mostly for his own use) elegant Grecian furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Maple
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
1940s French Abatant with Original Vellum Drop Front
Located in Dallas, TX
1940s French abatant with original vellum drop front facing. Faux volumes of books create a decorative door facing with key lock. Bronze scroll detail on base. Beautiful chevron vene...
Category
1940s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
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
English Regency Period Secrétaire Cabinet with Egyptian Motifs
By George Oakley
Located in London, GB
A secrétaire cabinet of the Regency period
Firmly attributed to George Oakley.
Constructed in a finely faded and patinated goncalo alvez, having holly and purple heart stringing;...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Purpleheart, Satinwood, Holly
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
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
French 19th Century Transitional St. Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine 19th century French transitional cabinet/ secretaire. The whole is raised on cabriole legs with ormolu sabots below two quarter veneered tu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
18th Century Walnut Scriban Secretary
Located in Marseille, FR
Secretary scriban walnut 18th century Provençal work in used condition.
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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
Antique Napoleon III Desk and Bookcase, circa 1860-1870
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique Napoleon III desk and bookcase, circa 1860-1870. This museum quality antique has fine briarwood and wonderful ormolu throughout.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
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
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
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
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.