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Secretaires For Sale
English 19th Century Mahogany Secretary with Dental Moulded Flat Cornince
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 19th Century Mahogany Secretary with Dental Moulded Flat Cornince and Splayed Feet
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Swedish Secretaire from 1857 with Trick Lock and Secret Compartements
Located in Greven, DE
19th Century Secretary with Trick Lock and Secret Compartments
Sweden
Birch, mahogany
Historicism - dated 1857
Dimensions: H x W x D: 126 x 109 x 55 cm
Description:
Unusual piece ...
Category
1850s Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Fine Red Chinoiserie Gold Leaf Italian-Made Rococo Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic, versatile and luminous Chinoiserie red and gold paint decorated secretary desk with a bookcase top. The desk is two pieces and does come apart and has a fantasti...
Category
1930s Italian Chinoiserie Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
1820’s Biedermeier Fall Top Desk, Cherry
Located in Belmont, MA
1820’s Biedermeier Fall Top Desk in Cherry Veneer
The 1820’s Biedermeier fall top desk features stunning book-matched cherry veneer, adding warmth and sophistication. Its lower secti...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Birch, Cherry
European 18th Century Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Old Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European two-part tall secretary from the 18th century with gray / cream painted finish, old glass doors, slant front desk and five graduated drawers. Discover elegance and functio...
Category
18th Century European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
18th Century Baroque Bureau In Walnut With Inlays
Located in Kastrup, DK
A very beautiful Baroque bureau. Thick walnut veneer with inlays.
Hidden "secret" locking system for the drawers in the upper section.
Grate quality Ni...
Category
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Iron
18th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th Century Swedish secretary with a decorative carved pediment.
Composed below doors opening to storage with below fall front desk opening to the drawer. Storage and workspace, be...
Category
18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Exquisite Biedermeier Secretaire, Germany, c. 1825–1830
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Exquisite Biedermeier Secretaire, Germany, c. 1825–1830
This exceptional Biedermeier secretaire, crafted in Germany between 1825 and 1830, embodies the elegance and refinement of th...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Extraordinary Italian Parquetry Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux Rome, 1740
Located in Rome, IT
Outstanding Italian 18' century walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage,
The upper section with a shaped carved cresting centered by a cartouche-sha...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Walnut
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
Vintage French Provincial Blue Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby
By Danby
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Blue Distress Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby. Item features shell carved accents, working lock and key, solid wood construction, great style ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English 19th Century Mahogany Secretary with Broken Pediment, Ebonized Inlay
Located in Atlanta, GA
English 19th Century Mahogany Secretary with Broken Pediment, Ebonized Inlay and Splayed Feet
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Louis Philippe Orange Lacquered Wood Italian Secretaire
Located in Catania, Sicilia
This Orange and brown Lacquered Italian Secretaire serves as both a functional and aesthetically pleasing piece, showcasing the design sensibilities of its era with a bold and distin...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood, Lacquer
Burled Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This Burled Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture has all the features of an antique original. Made of high quality mahogany solids and burled veneers...
Category
2010s Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
$3,905 / item
19th Century English Walnut Bookcase or Secretary
Located in Savannah, GA
This is a bookcase / secretary or Bureau bookcase, made in England, circa 1825. There is a Pagoda Shaped layered crown molding to the top of the piece (very unusual). There is a pair...
Category
1820s English George IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
The Mahogany Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture. This reproduction slant front writing desk has all the outstanding qualities of an antique origina...
Category
2010s Renaissance Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
$3,905 / item
Black Painted Baroque Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau, circa 1780-1810
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with a curved bonnet. Note the heavily carved panel doors and the large curvaceous lower three serpentine drawers.
T...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Italian Renaissance Revival Walnut Figural Carved Writing Desk 52"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Neo-Renaissance Revival writing desk. Made of walnut featuring Neoclassical styling with high relief figural carvings of cher...
Category
Late 19th Century Renaissance Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$3,760 Sale Price
20% Off
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining
We present you this piece of furniture with three drawers at the bottom, a drop front, and a narrow drawer und...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Baize, Mahogany
$7,106 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century German Biedermeier Veneered Mahogany Cabinet - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier two-part cabinet with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, in good condition. The bottom part of the secretary is composed with two large drawers, standing on four wide wooden legs. The inside consists five drawers and two compartments, particularized by polished brass hardware, columns. The top part of the buffet is composed with one large drawer and two small drawers, the center is consisting a storage compartment with an arched...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Empire Style French Secretary “Retour d’Egypte”
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary from France in the Empire style. This piece is made of mahogany that has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum quality. The cabinet boasts two ...
Category
1820s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Grande Biedermeier Secrétaire
Located in New York, NY
A perfect example of the wealthy, elegant Biedermeier period, this impressive, secretary is veneered in flame mahogany and birch intarsia, with bone escutcheons, secret compartments,...
Category
1810s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secr...
Category
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
French Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This late 19th-century French secretary exudes timeless elegance with its creamy painted finish. Its writing surface boasts a faux marble pattern, a lovely feature of French furnitur...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Swedish Two-part Secretaire Circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning 19th-century Swedish two-part secretaire, crafted circa 1810, exemplifies the timeless elegance of Gustavian design. Featuring a beautifully aged painted finish in soft...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Adams Style Mahogany Half Cylinder Secretary Writing Desk Hutch Curio 92"
Located in Dayton, OH
A very large and impressive vintage Adams style half cylinder secretary desk / hutch featuring a mahogany finish with upper bookcase curio cabinet with fretwork doors supported by a ...
Category
Late 20th Century Adam Style Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
$2,400 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th-Century Biedermeier Secretary
Date of Origin: 1825–1830, (Germany, Berlin)
Material: Pyramid Mahogany
This extraordinary 19th-century Secretary with an upper cabinet, crafted ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This Mahogany Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture has all the outstanding qualities of an antique original. Made of select mahogany solids and maho...
Category
2010s Renaissance Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
$2,920 / item
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Scandinavian 18th Century Mahogany Secretary Bureau Cabinet
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Impressive Louis XVI style bureau secretary with quality rich in age, charm, and character with its elegant design. This secretary has two secret drawers features parquerty design, g...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Scandinavian Modern Teak Sideboard
By Bodafors
Located in New York, NY
A multifunctional piece, this piece was primarily used to hold the traditional and festive Smörgåsbord, the centerpiece of every holiday, as well as storing the dishes, table linens ...
Category
1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Antique English Jacobean Carved Burl & Mixed Wood Drop Down Secretary
Located in Southampton, NJ
An early 20th C. Jacobean style bar cabinet Secretary with drop down front & three drawers.
Lovingly restored, our refinishers removed 4 layers o...
Category
Early 20th Century American Jacobean Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Conical Shape Secretary,
Germany, 1820
This fine Biedermeier secretary made of mahogany is a real gem for every lover of antique furniture. With a height of 194 cm, a width of 106 cm and a length of 52 cm, it offers plenty of storage space with its five spacious drawers. The elegant mahogany finish and conical shape make it a real eye-catcher in any room. This 1820 original is free standing and in excellent condition. Carefully restored and hand-polished with shellac. A real highlight for anyone looking for antique furniture.Frame dimensions at top 95 cm, bottom 103 cm.The attachment with gable, underneath a hidden compartment, is opened with a compression spring. Very nice cabinet with 10 drawers...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
$9,190 Sale Price
20% Off
Dorothy Draper Lacquered Viennese Secretary Desk for Henredon, circa 1963
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Everyone can have a taste of iconic Dorothy Draper Hollywood Regency style with this perfectly sized and oh so elegant Viennese Collection Secretaries Desk Breakfront. Regal. Whimsical and gregarious flair. The scroll cornice of the cabinet recalls some of the mill work Dorothy designated in her iconic hotel design work. A more petite version of Dorothy Draper's Viennese China...
Category
1960s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Biedermeier secretary, Western Europe, around 1840.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Western Europe, around 1840.
Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Wood: mahogany
dimensions height 169 cm width 106 cm depth 59 cm
Category
1840s Unknown Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Barbarella Writing Desk / Secretary by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1966/1985
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ettore Sottsass Barbarella cabinet for Poltronova, Italy. Designed in 1966, produced in 1985. The cabinet features three drawers over a drop-front ...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
White secretary desk - design Eric Gizard Paris - PEFC certified wood
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This Secretary desk in solid and veneer ash wood is designed by famous parisian Designer Eric Gizard
The Kube itself (without the feet height) is Width 90 cm / 35.4'' x Height 90 cm / 35.4'' x Depth 46 cm / 18;11''
Measures: Height of the feet is 35 cm / 13.8''
Useful Height behind the lower hinged doors is 37 cm / 14.6''
Overall width of each compartment behind the hinged doors is 42 cm / 16.5'' and useful width is 38 cm / 15.0'' due to the hinges.
The vertical interior divider can be moved during the manufacture process to allow the installation of printers with a width> 42 cm / 16.5''.
The upper working part is fitted with a flap door on a "push-loose" opening for an efficient work with your laptop and smartphone. The storage space inside the cube and behind the flap is for your screen or to store your paperwork in the removable shelves. The 2 horizontal shelves and the 2 vertical storage...
Category
2010s French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Ash, Wood, Lacquer
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
French Art Déco Secretaire Black High Gloss Lacquer Nickel Plated Fittings 1925
By René Prou
Located in Salzburg, AT
French Art Deco secretary Sycomore wood, black high-gloss lacquer nickel-plated fittings.
Elegant secretaire made of solid sycamore wood with a high-quality finish.
The secretaire s...
Category
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
20th Century Inlaid Rosewood Maple Walnut Cherry Wood French Bureau Desk, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French bureau from the mid-20th century. Moved and rounded inlaid furniture with floral decorations in rosewood, maple, walnut, cherry and fruitwood. Bureau equipped with two externa...
Category
1960s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Maple, Nutwood
Art Deco English Compact Walnut Writing Desk, 1930s
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this lovely and totally original walnut desk dating from the 1930s. Compact in size this little desk is perfect if the space available is limited and of con...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Inlaid Wood French Bureau Desk, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French bureau with high leg from the 20th century. Furniture finished for the center veneered in walnut, rosewood, mahogany and fruitwood adorned with floral inlay. Bureau equipped w...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Tesselated Black Marble Stone and Brass Inlay Secretaire by Maitland-Smith
Located in Casteren, NL
A monumental secretaire made by Maitland-Smith in the late 20th century. The whole piece was decorated with tessellated black marble and solid brass inlaid Greek key pattern. The low...
Category
1980s Philippine Greek Revival Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
$16,581 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 19th Century German or Danish Secretaire, Mahogany, Biedermeier, c. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Biedermeier secretary
Schleswig-Holstein
Mahogany and others
Biedermeier around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D: 137 x 88 x 45 cm
Description:
Piece of furniture standing...
Category
1810s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Mahogany, Maple
19C Large Irish Georgian Style Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING a STUNNING 19C Large Irish Georgian Style Secretary Bookcase.
From circa 1850-60 and most definitely, “IRISH”.
Made of gorgeous flamed Cuban mahogany which would have been imported from the British Colonies at the end of the 18th Century and early 19th Century.
This piece of is of IMPRESSIVE PROPORTIONS.
It is a real STATEMENT piece and of EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY.
It has a very ‘Regency Style’ pelmet or crown with egg and dart moldings under a very straight line crown.
The top section consists of a 4 door bookcase, each with 3 shelving areas. It appears to retain it’s original glass, but it could likewise have been replaced at some time during it’s long life, as it is very rare to find pieces that have not suffered breakages over 150+ years.
Each bookcase door still retains the original moldings to the front with a star shape above and below a central circular viewing panel.
Each section is separated by a carved and fluted roman column/pillar.
The bookcase section rests on top of the base, which consists of a beautiful central secretaire desk accessed by drop down front with working lock and key and rests on 2 pull out rests on either side. The secretary portion has a central tabernacle, with an inlaid oval satinwood medallion above another scallop shell drawer. It has 6 smaller drawers and 8 cubbies. The 2 pillars on either side of the central tabernacle are secret drawers and pull out. The curved crowns above the cubbies on either side are likewise secret drawers and pull out.
Either side of the secretary there are 2 drawers (4 total) with a press or cupboard underneath.
Under the secretary there are 4 large central drawers.
The brasses and hardware are all original to the piece (save 2 extra hinges that have been attached to the drop down secretary to give it more support and stability.
Again, each section is separated by a turned and fluted column/pillar which replicates the 2 side pillars to the central tabernacle of the secretary.
The piece sits on 8 curved feet.
This was an extremely high quality piece when made. This is also supported by the fact that the secondary woods are also mahogany and not pine or oak for slightly lesser quality pieces of the era.
This piece is specifically identifiable as an Irish Georgian Style piece by virtue of the scallop shell moldings on the base side presses (see photos).
Irish Georgian furniture...
Category
Mid-19th Century Irish George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany, Satinwood
Superb Period 1780s era Italian Tombstone Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb, absolutely stunning antique Italian Rococo secretary desk that's from the 1780s-1810s era. The piece is elaborately painted and has wonderful lines. The piece needs...
Category
1780s Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Swedish Gustavian One Part Pinewood Bureau - Antique Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 18th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian secretaire table, desk is composed with a wr...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
18th Century Austrian Baroque Secretaire/ Bureau Cabinet, Nutwood, AT ca. 1770
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable 18th Century baroque secrétaire/ bureau cabinet elaborately handcrafted in the period around 1770 in Austria. As former part of the inventory of an old Upperaustrian castl...
Category
Late 18th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Swedish Small Gustavian Fall Front Desk with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian fall front desk from Burtrask Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden.
Scraped by hand to its original color.
Small cute model in child size.
Fits so nicely i...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Queen Anne Bureau Bookcase in Inlaid Walnut, c. 1710
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine Bureau Bookcase of the Queen Anne period. The frame constructed in walnut, with inlaid elm designs.
The slanted fall-front opens to reveal a herringbone-inlaid arrangem...
Category
Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
20th Century Inlaid Wood Lombard Trumeau Desk, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Elegant mid-20th century Lombard trumeau. Double body cabinet in Baroque style carved in walnut, ebonized wood and fruitwood. Trumeau for living room or study equipped with three dra...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an extraordinary secretary desk in the Venetian style. The interior is done in faux marble paint decoration and the exterior is done in a floral and green combination. The de...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$3,000 Sale Price
38% Off
Venetian rococo 19 th century bureau/secretaire hand painted
Located in Houston, TX
This fine quality Venetian secretary is beautifully carved and finely
Painted in pale teal and rose hues. The bottom is carved in a bombe
Shape and has four drawers that slide easil...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Biedermeier Secretary, Austria, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This Biedermeier secretary comes from Austria and was made in 19th century. It is made of coniferous wood, veneered with maple wood. It has undergone a professional renovation proces...
Category
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple
$4,548 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Hand-Painted Furniture Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with Roses.
We love how the choice of sweet curves and pastello colors ...
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Oak Roll Top Secretary Desk with Drawers
Located in Madrid, ES
Oak secretary / writing desk from circa 1900's. Featuring a roll-up flap with underlying writing board, shelf interior and two drawers. Below the writing desk there are two pull-out ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$3,221 Sale Price
20% Off
Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful Empire clapper secretaire is made of burr walnut. It has very elegant detached columns with Fine chiseled bronze elements on top and bottom of each column. Inside of the secretaire there is leather desk and several drawers including a secret drawer...
Category
1850s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique British Colonial Campaign Chest Secretary
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 19th century campaign chest secretary handcrafted in mahogany in a two-piece construction featuring a pull-out leather top secretary ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage Mid Century Swedish Rosewood Rolltop Secretary Desk
Located in Detroit, MI
This mid-century Swedish modern Egon Ostergaard rosewood cylinder rolltop secretary desk cabinet was made in Sweden circa 1960. The classic Scandinavian modern design has clean, mini...
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Black Swedish Oak Bureau - Antique Drop Front Secretary
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Fold-down flap with hidden drawers, secret compartment and writing interior
Four larger drawers on the lower part of the front.
Beautiful brass fittings, working lock and keys inc...
Category
Late 18th Century Rococo Antique 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.