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Secretaires For Sale
Danish Modern, Unique Handcrafted Oak Secretary Cabinet, Mid 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant rare Danish oak secretary cabinet in Baroque style, crafted in the 1930s by a skilled Danish Cabinetmaker. The piece features a drop-front writing surface that opens to re...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Jasper Early American Colonial Style Petite Maple Secretary Desk & Bookcase 72"
Located in Dayton, OH
A Petite Secretary Desk & Bookcase by Jasper Cabinet Company of Indiana. Circa 1980s. Features a maple case crafted in colonial styling with an...
Category
1980s American American Colonial Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Maple
$1,280 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique 19th century English oak secretary / bureau
Located in SON EN BREUGEL, NL
A very fine antique secretary/ bureau.
With writing desk, 2 large and 2 small drawers and hidden secret letter compartments.
Decorated with original brass ornaments and handles.
Two ...
Category
19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Late 18th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Secretary Desk & Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 18th Century George III Period Secretary Desk & Bookcase. Made from mahogany with a hooded pediment showcasing dentil molding over a glass covered display portion with beautifu...
Category
Late 18th Century George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$6,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid-Century Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Chinese red Georgian style chinoiserie secretary. It is a mid-century find that is heavily painted with pastoral scenes and go,t accents. It is most likely American and is ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American George III Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique New England American Chippendale Curly Maple Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
An exquisite New England Chippendale Drop Front Secretary Desk, circa 1800. Features a curly maple frame with colonial brass bale hardware. The fall front opens to a writing surface,...
Category
Early 19th Century American Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$3,000 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century German Writing Chest, Biedermeier Secretaire, circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier Chest of Drawers / Secretary
Southern Germany (Franconia)
Walnut
Biedermeier around 1825
Dimensions: H x W x D: 98 x 116 x 57 cm
Description:
Three-drawer piec...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
Iconic vintage dutch design CU07 Cabinet by Cees Braakman for Pastoe
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Meulebeke, BE
The Netherlands / CU07 cabinet / Pastoe / Cees Braakman / metal, teak / Vintage / Mid-century
Highboard CU07 designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman in 1958 for Pastoe. This mo...
Category
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Secretary Gustavian in Blue Painted In Pine. 18th Ctr. Swedish
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary crafted in pine, finished in a charming blue tone with an elegant patina.
The piece is composed of two sections with refined detailing throughout.
The upper cabi...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Art Deco Secretary Cabinet by André Arbus
By André Arbus
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Andre Arbus Sloping mahogany secreter with two drawers and a drop-leaf door. Sycamore maple interior with six small drawers and a central niche lined with parchment; gilt bronze knob...
Category
1940s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptional and Rare Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire – Vienna, circa 1825
A Masterpiece of Design, Craftsmanship, and Timeless Elegance
We are proud to present this elegant and rare...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Italian Venetian Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful piece. This is a lovely mid-century Italian chinoiserie secretary desk. The coral and gilt interior makes such a vibrant statement. Each panel of the serpentine f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Poplar
Vintage Maddox Hepplewhite Style Mahogany Tambour Secretary Desk & Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
An exceptional vintage Hepplewhite-style secretary by Maddox, circa 1930s. This beautiful specimen is made from mahogany with an upper bookcase having double mullioned glass doors ov...
Category
1930s American Hepplewhite Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
$2,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Austrian Mahogany Maple Inlaid Biedermeier Secretary Chest Cabinet 1850
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique Austrian flame mahogany & bird's eye maple Biedermeier secretary cabinet, circa 1850.
The secretary cabinet is made of the...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Birdseye Maple, Ebony
20th Century English Secretaire with Oyster Veneer
Located in Chicago, IL
20th Century English secretaire is a classic example of fine craftsmanship. It features a distinctive oyster veneer pattern and includes a secret compartment within the desk. Desk is...
Category
20th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th - 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Bureau - Scandinavian Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 18th-century, antique Swedish Gustavian two-part bureau, meticulously handcrafted in painted pinewood, in good condition. This elegant light-grey secretaire embodies the refin...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A George I Mulberry Secretaire Bureau Attributed to Coxed & Woster
By Coxed and Woster
Located in London, GB
England, circa 1710.
An important George I secretaire bureau in finely veneered ‘mulberry wood’ attributed to Coxed & Woster, with satinwood crossbanding, rosewood mouldings and pew...
Category
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pewter
Antique Georgian Inlaid Mahogany Bureau Bookcase Butler's Secretary Desk 1780
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality antique George III inlaid flame mahogany bookcase secretary, circa 1780.
The bookcase bureau is in two sections, the bookcase top having a stepped crown with band...
Category
1780s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
Georgian Style Red & Gold Chinoiserie Decorated Burton-Ching Secretary Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Georgian Style Red & Gold Chinoiserie Decorated Burton-Ching Secretary Desk.
Category
2010s Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
English 19th Century Sheraton Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A slender mahogany bureau bookcase with secretary desk, made in England, circa 1820. The secretary’s upper body is crowned with a broken pediment–a classic Sheraton feature–above gla...
Category
19th Century English Sheraton Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Style Commode with Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous 19th century French mahogany secretary style desk, designed as a classic Louis Philippe commode incorporating the work surface and storage compartments into the top “drawe...
Category
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Iron
George II Style Black & Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
George II Style Black & Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase.
Category
2010s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
Danish Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Fulton, CA
A Danish Modern drop-front or secretary desk with 3 drawers and writing surface. Beautiful rosewood grain with a deep and rich patina. Desk retains its original finish and is in exce...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Antique French Louis XVI Secretary Chest Commode, Carrara Marble
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Antique French Louis XVI secretary chest of drawers topped with a white Carrara marble, fluted legs finished with golden bronze clogs and thorough dressed in bronze and brass details...
Category
1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This stunning Biedermeier secretary desk is an authentic antique piece crafted from walnut wood, both inside and out. Dating back to the early 19th century, this masterpiece showcase...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Walnut
$6,592 Sale Price
20% Off
English 19th Century Regency Secretary Figured Mahogany
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 19th Century Regency Secretary Figured Mahogany with Flat Moulded Top, Cabinet Doors and Turned Feet
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Gentleman's Bureau, English, Walnut, Writing Desk, Secretaire, Georgian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique gentleman's bureau. A fine English, walnut writing desk or secretaire, dating to the Georgian period, circa 1760.
Wonderful Georgian example, with a delightful v...
Category
Mid-18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Large Swedish Painted Secretary from Värmland, Dated 1854
Located in Atlanta, GA
This impressive mid-19th century Swedish secretary from Värmland, dated 1854, is a striking example of Scandinavian craftsmanship and functional elegance. Monumental in scale and bea...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Pine
1960’s Italian Inlaid Secretaire
Located in Bradenton, FL
An Italian inlaid Venetian-style secretaire, circa 1960. Decorated throughout with walnut veneers, the drop front desk and two serpentine drawers are inlaid with satinwood marquetry ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century French Empire secrétaire à abattant made of richly figured, bookmatched walnut. This desk has a black fossil marble top resting above a hidden drawer, free of hardware and opening by a shallow groove on the bottom of the drawer front. Below is a fold-front door revealing a fitted interior with a functional writing surface, inset with worn green leather with gold tooling. The interior has an open storage shelf flanked by Empire style columns over a set of six drawers of varying sizes. The writing surface is supported with rounded brass hinges. Below are three easy to use drawers...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Late 18th Century Oak Secretary Bureau Painted Black, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak rococo secretary reflects the style and functionality of the late 1700's in Sweden.
The traditional interior with 8 unique, small drawers and central “cubbie” (with addition...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Paint
Retro Mid Century Teak Secretaire Bureau
Located in Leicester, GB
We can ship directly to you - please contact us with your country & postcode for an accurate delivery price.
A cute retro teak bureau desk with thr...
Category
1970s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
$522 Sale Price
30% Off
Antique English Fall Front Secretary Desk in Oak
Located in Meer, VAN
Antique Fall Front Secretary Desk in solid oak, England, late 18th to early 19th Century.
This is a wonderful English antique fall front secretary desk in solid oak with brass fitti...
Category
Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Secretary Swedish Rococo. Black
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Swedish Rococo Secretary Desk in Black-Painted Pine.
Executed in a beautiful and characteristic Rococo style with a wavy body, sides, and back. The slanting writing flap with...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Iron
Antique Danish Biedermeier Pine Secretary Desk With Blue Leather
Located in Centennial, CO
A stately antique circa 1900 Danish Biedermeier style secretary desk crafted out of gorgeous straight grain pine with original brass hardware. From top to bottom the desk has a stora...
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan
By Karl Johan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Biedermeier writing agency, secretary table made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany with a writing flap, designed by Karl-Johan in goo...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Italian Florentine Giltwood Bureau Secretary Butlers Desk Chest
Located in Forney, TX
A Florentine carved cream painted parcel gilt slant-top desk bureau with nicely aged dark warm distressed patina over the whole!
Crafted in Florence, Italy, circa pre-1940, executed...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Secretary Cupboard in Grey with Patina
Located in Atlanta, GA
An exceptional early 19th-century Swedish secretary cupboard, circa 1810–1830, finished in soft grey with a beautifully aged patina. Crafted from oak and pine, the two-part construct...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Secrétaire Desk in Shagreen and Palmwood by R&Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Shagreen Stingray, Palmwood
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
In the manner of Jasper Furniture Company
USA, Late 20th Century
Black lacquered...
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Danish Modern Mummenthaler & Meier Style Teak Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid Century Danish Modern Mummenthaler & Meier Style Teak Secretary Desk Cabinet .
Measures 39.5" in width, 20.5" in depth and 40.25" in height. Knee clearance is 28.5 and pull out...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
French Provincial Style Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key
Located in Soquel, CA
French Provincial Style Walnut Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key. Original Finish.
Category
1860s Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Unique French Style Ebonized Secretary
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Refined French abattant in the Empire style, featuring a striking black finish with elegant gold accents. The piece showcases a structured silhouette a...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Austrian Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk Tabernacle Cabinet 1820
Located in Portland, OR
A fine, elegant, antique Austrian mahogany Biedermeier secretary desk cabinet, circa 1820.
The cabinet in two sections, the top with a curved architectural pediment, below is a curved door tabernacle cupboard, flanked by a pair of columns with gilt bronze bases and capitals. The base with a series of four graduated drawers with shield shaped lock-plate escutcheons inlaid with bone, to the center is a fall front writing surface enclosing a fitted interior with a series of drawers, pigeon holes and a central locking door, the doors and drawers are inlaid with satinwood stringing. All the locks are fully operational and keys are present.
The cabinet is raised upon a plinth base, the secretary cabinet is made from the finest figured Cuban mahogany, condition is very good, no condition issues or restoration. This very elegant Biedermeier secretary cabinet...
Category
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Late 19th Century Charles X Style Letter Storage Desk Cabinet
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A antique desk cabinet for storing letters and cards. Made of wood veneer with foliage wood inlay. Made in France, circa 1870-1880
Note: one of th...
Category
1880s French Charles X Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
Early 19th Century English George III Fiddleback Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century English George III Fiddleback Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Carved Detail, ca. 1800
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Lyra Secretary Desk, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Elaborately crafted Biedermeier Lyra secretary featuring an oval upper section with a narrow drawer and a small profiled pedestal. The piece rests on a ...
Category
1830s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage Cresent Queen Anne Style Cherry Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Beautiful Queen Anne style secretary desk and bookcase by Cresent Manufacturing Company, circa 1970s. Made from cherry with a natural distre...
Category
1970s Queen Anne Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Cherry
$1,440 Sale Price
20% Off
Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps in Walnut, Mid-18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Impressive Baroque secretary in three sections ("à trois corps"), raised on compressed bun feet and veneered in fine walnut. The lower commode section comprises three drawers, with t...
Category
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Federal Style Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk / Display Cabinet & Brass Eagle
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful inlaid flame mahogany Federal style secretary desk with tambour doors. It has two glass shelves. The body has several areas with inlaid satinwood designs. It date...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Federal Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
French 19th Century Ebonized & Inlay Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Louis XVI style drop front secretary from the 1800’s has impressive etched brass inlay on its facade. The top has its repaired original inset white marble top surrounded ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I large secretary bureau escritoire - or scriptor - of patinated walnut from the 18th century.
Featuring burr walnut-fig...
Category
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
18th Century Dutch Burr Walnut Floral Marquetry Bureau
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful antique late 18th century Dutch burr walnut and marquetry bombe' bureau.
It has been accomplished in burr walnut, with exquisite hand cut floral marquetry typica...
Category
1780s Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XVI Period Secrétaire 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet.
The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
George IIII Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest of Mahogany from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of patinated mahogany, c.1770, in the Sheraton style.
An inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and ...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Maple Secretary Desk Writing Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Exquisite and Rare antique American Chippendale Period secretary writing desk or Escritoire. Made from maple featuring a flip top that ope...
Category
18th Century American Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple
$3,856 Sale Price
34% Off
Queen Anne Secretary Desk 19th Century
Located in Fulton, CA
A 19th century Queen Anne secretary desk crafted in solid mahogany with flame mahogany detail. Fitted interior with pigeon hole and drawer storage...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Ebonised Boulle Ormolu Desk Cabinet Bonheur du Jour Kunst Mobel Denmark
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique Napoleon III French style ebonzied Boulle & ormolu Bonheur du Jour by Nordisk Kunst & Mobel-Etablissement, Copenhagen Denmark, 1903. In remarkable condition.
Thi...
Category
Early 1900s Danish Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
Georgian Style Slant Drop Front Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic English George III style slant drop front secretary chest featuring a lacquered case decorated in the chinoiserie taste. The hardwood case has a large drop-front slant door ...
Category
20th Century Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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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