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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
Antique French Louis XVI Inlaid Rosewood Secretaire Abattant Desk Dresser, 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A good quality antique French inlaid marquetry Rosewood secretaire abattant, circa 1880. Made from the finest rosewood and of serpentine or bombe shape, with a Carrara marble top, th...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Antique Genuine Swedish Escritoire, Original Faux Paint Country Secretary Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish escritoire from the early 1800s. This escritoire, or secretary desk, is a genuine country furniture from northern Sweden made around 1820 to 1840. Made by han...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts
Located in Savannah, GA
This extraordinary French Second Empire period secre´taire a' abattan features flame mahogany, gilt brass-mounts and retains its original dark grey speckled granite top. Decorated th...
Category

1850s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Granite, Brass, Ormolu

Scandinavian Modern Teak Secretary by Gunnar Falsig 1960s
Located in Asaa, DK
Scandinavian Modern teak secretaire by Gunnar Falsig 1960s. Mid-century Modern Danish secretaire with curved front. Very elegant and versatile, both a writing desk and a chest of dr...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

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

1930s Rockford Furniture Jacobean Style Handcrafted Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
A Jacobean-style slant front Hancrafted and handcarved by the renowned Rockford Chair and Furniture Company. Founded in 1876 by Swedish settlers, the company has a rich heritage of f...
Category

Early 20th Century Jacobean Secretaires

Materials

Brass

A rare wall-mounted secretary desk - 1950s French Reconstruction Style
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A rare 1950s wall-mounted secretary desk in the French Reconstruction style. Crafted from solid oak and oak veneer, this piece combines elegance and functionality. Its drop-down fron...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Oak

French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A statley 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron. Just below the top drawer, the front of the desk folds forward to reveal a work area inset with vibrant red leather detailed with gold tooling. The leather is in great antique condition making this a comfortable place to work. When open, you can see the theatre is equipped with five drawers and a large, arched top cubby flanked with column forms. With the desk down the maximum depth is 32”; the writing surface is 28-½” heigh. The desk front...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

French Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant / Secretary desk, circa 1800
Located in Lucenec, SK
The secrétaire à abbatant or fall front desk is nearly identical to the desk 5th President James Monroe brought back from France in 1797. These desks are ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent high quality flame mahogany adorned with bronze doré mounts and its original gray mar...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

French Art Deco Secretaire Desk
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
French Art Deco Secretaire Desk A very elegant secretire with three drawers and lockable fall down front, ideal for a hallway the cabinet stands on external legs and is figured walnu...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Midcentury Secretaire or Cabinet by František Mezulánik for UP Závody, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare mid-century secretaire/cabinet, made by František Mezulánik for UP Závody, in the 1960's. Made of wood. Cleaned, applied reviving oil, shows signs of age, overall in great shape.
Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Tall Cabinet in Solid Patinated Pine Designed by Martin Nyrop for Rud Rasmussen
Located in Lejre, DK
Tall cabinet in patinated solid pine. Designed by MAA. Martin Nyrop as interior for Copenhagen town hall in 1905. Made in Denmark by Cabinetmaker Rud Rasmussen cabinetmakers. Great o...
Category

Early 1900s Danish Scandinavian Modern Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

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

1970s Walnut Executive Campaign Waterfall Desk And Cabinet, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, Mid Century desk and cabinet set you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, t...
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Swedish Secretary with Marquetry
Located in New York, NY
A masterpiece of symmetry, the cantilevered sides of the body meet the rectangular working surface, creating a setback for the upper writing surface. Crafted of Nordic birch and fir,...
Category

1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Birch

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

Large English 19thC Ebonised Mahogany Glazed Bookcase Secretaire
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1870. Large English 19thC Ebonised Mahogany Glazed Bookcase Secretaire with 4 glazed cabinet doors above a pull out mid section leather writing slide. With 2 large dovetailed d...
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style tall secretary from circa 1820 with gray painted finish, chapeau de gendarme bonnet top, two doors, slant-front desk and four d...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Hollywood Swank Faux Gator Highboy Secretary Desk Combination by Michael Amini
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Elevate your workspace with the Hollywood Swank Faux Gator Highboy Secretary Desk by Michael Amini. This luxurious piece combines faux gator skin tex...
Category

1990s Chinese Modern Secretaires

Materials

Chrome

Early 19th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary, Germany, 1815 Mahogany Biedermeier secretary made of mahogany around 1815. A unique piece of furniture with antique charm. The secretary ha...
Category

1810s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century French Bureau de Dame Napoleon III Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Milano, MI
A late 19th century Napoleon III bronze-mounted mahogany bureau à cylinder, an elegant French Bureau de Dame or Bonheur du Jour, a ladies writing desk with cartonnier which opens up ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Georgian Burl Secretary Bookcase Italy
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful Georgian drop front secretary. Made for Bibi Furniture, Italy. appointed burled fruitwood with brass accent pulls. Ample storage with bottom case drawers, double door upper...
Category

20th Century Italian Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Diminutive Renaissance Revival Walnut & Burl Cylinder Secretary, c1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Renaissance Revival diminutive cylinder desk offers walnut and burl construction with upper case having carved cartouche over double glass door bookcase...
Category

Late 19th Century European Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Glass

Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Title: Secretaire "a Abbatant" Date/Period: 19th century Dimension: 147cm x 105cm x 51cm. Material: Mahogany wood Additional Information: Secretaire "a Abbatant" French, Empire Style...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Early American 19th Century Pine Plantation Desk
Located in Forney, TX
An early American 19th century pine plantation desk with nicely aged patina. Born in the Mid-Atlantic region / Southern United States, circa 1800s, hand-crafted of solid pine wood with mellow warm tone and rich grain patterns, one-piece construction, having a stepped molded cornice above a tall pair of paneled cabinet doors, opening to reveal an interior fitted with shelves and divided slots for documents, plank boarded back with old metal patch, over a lift-top writing slope with spacious storage underneath, the apron adorned with simple decorative pilasters...
Category

19th Century American Rustic Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

French Empire Flamed Mahogany Secretaire a'Abattant Desk ca. 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LOUIS PHILIPPE FLAMED MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A'ABATTANT France, circa 1830 Item # 407TCJ10P This positively stunning secretary desk from the second quarter of the 19th century features...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Steel

Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paolo Buffa, Secretary, Italy c. 1948, Brass Intarsia by Giovanni Gariboldi, Manufactured by Marelli e Colico, Cantù. An exquisite and collectible Mid-Century secretary by esteemed ...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Inlaid Walnut Louis Philippe Fall Front Secretary
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Elegant and functional French 19th Century secretaire desk with stunning inlaid walnut marquetry. The fold down writing surface has the original embossed leather writing surface in ...
Category

19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Solid Oak Cabinet and Desk by Guillerme et Chambron, France, 1960's
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and rare "dos d'âne" style desk and cabinet by French designers Guillerme and Chambron featuring leather straps holding the desk tray. Chest of 4 drawers In overall good vint...
Category

1960s French Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Laminate, Oak

Large English Regency Mahogany Glazed Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1820 Large English Regency mahogany glazed secretaire bookcase sku 1140 Together W142 x D52 x H226 cm Base W137 x D52 x H101 cm Top W142 x...
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century Swedish Secretary from Skåne
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
An early 19th Century Gustavian secretary from Skåne, Sweden. With decorative carved pediment and decorated doors opening to storage. Below, a fall front desk opening to workspace an...
Category

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates back to the early phase of the Biedermeie...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Elm, Walnut

All Oak "Secrétaire" Desk by Pierre Cruège, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
French reconstruction designer Pierre Cruège's forme libre masterpiece bureau with abattant. Rare natural oak version Brass details Inside the desk compartment, a letter rack and ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Bombe Marquetry Secrétaire à Abattant, Marble Top and Bronze Mounts
Located in Miami, FL
19th century bombe marquetry secrétaire à abattant, marble top and bronze mounts. Offered for sale is a late 19th century Louis XV styl...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk
Located in Portland, OR
A rare & unusual antique Bohemian inlaid marquetry Elm tabernacle cabinet and desk, Austria, circa 1820. The cabinet in two sections, the top with an arched pediment, the sides of th...
Category

1820s Austrian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Elm, Fruitwood, Ebony

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

Gillows of Lancaster Bonheur Du Jour.
Located in Batley, GB
An early 19th century Gillows Ladies writing desk or Bonheur de Jour. Raised on 4 reeded legs and waterfall open shelves to the upper with faux bamboo supports. The single drawer ret...
Category

Early 19th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Mid Century Modern Walnut, Chrome & Cane Modular Secretary by Founders 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote*** A Mid Century Modern secretary offers chrome frame with walnut modular units including caned do...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Chrome

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

Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Ebonized, Brass, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Straightened early Biedermeier Secretaire or Drop-Front Secretary / Writing Desk in Cherry Veneer from South Germany around 1820. Neoclas...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Iron

19th Century Swedish antique rustic Gustavian Secretary with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
A Swedish antique rustic Gustavian slant front secretary from early 19th century that is perfect for any home. This originalpainted features a slanted top that pulls down to make a ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

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

Gustavian, Swedish Secretaire Desk, White Paint, Pinewood, Sweden, 1900s
Located in Manhasset, NY
Gustavian, Swedish Painted Secretaire Desk, White Paint, Pinewood, Sweden, 1900s Gustavian secretaire desk or storage cabinet designed and produced in Sweden in the early part of the 20th century. This example features a white paint distressed finish. The top portion of the cabinet flips down to reveal a light green paint distressed writing desk...
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Paint

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

1940's French Art Deco Exotic Rosewood Secretary Cabinet
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1940's French Art Deco Exotic Rosewood Secretary Cabinet. Top glass enclosed display area. Interior with special sections for desk needs. Rare form.
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

French Art Déco Secretaire Black High Gloss Lacquer Nickel Plated Fittings 1925
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

Biedermeier Secretaire, Walnut, Maple, Paw Feet, Austria circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
High-quality early Biedermeier Secretaire, Drop-Front or Secretary Desk from Austria around 1820. Walnut veneered on hardwood (walnut and mahogany). Partly ebonized and details ven...
Category

1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

19th Century French Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Writing Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine and well-proportioned 19th century French Louis XV style ladies desk. The case is veneered with marquetry decoration and embelli...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk. With a grey marble top over three drawers, the fall enclosing a sliding tan lea...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Shapland & Petter, Arts & Crafts Mahogany Desk with a Pierced Heart to the Top
Located in London, GB
Shapland & Petter. A wonderful Arts & Crafts mahogany writing desk with a pierced heart to the top, shaped back and sides, with upper three quarter shelf and a stylized floral leaded glass back below. A period style leather writing area with hand tooled gilt decoration to the edges. A bow fronted drawer with stylized copper heart...
Category

Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

A drop-front secretary desk - 1950 - France.
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A secretary desk from the 1950s, French craftsmanship. Solid elm wood with a beautiful patina. Height with the drop-down leaf open: 75 cm. Dimensions of the drop-down leaf: 45 cm ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Elm

Dutch Marquetry Burl Walnut Bombay Figural and Foliage Inlaid Desk, Circa 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
Dutch Marquetry burl walnut Bombay figural and foliage desk with exotic exterior inlays, fitted interior, three lower case drawers, original urn brasses, carved scalloped skirt, and ...
Category

1850s Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century American Federal Secretary, Seymour School, Boston
By John & Thomas Seymour
Located in Essex, MA
Important American Federal Period Secretary. School of John and Thomas Seymour, Boston, circa 1820. Mahogany and Mahogany Veneered Case on Pine Secondary Wood. Two Gothic Fenestra...
Category

Early 19th Century American Federal Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front & Birch Interior
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely Louis Philippe fall-front secretary in pine with a light Gustavian-grey/white painted finish, and original French-polished birch wood interior. Features a carved bonnet...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Yew Wood Leather Top Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Brass Hardware MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Yew Wood Leather Top Drop Front Secretary Desk 3 Drawers Brass Hardware MINT!
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Louis Philippe Style Fall Front Secretary Chest
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship Louis Philippe style secretary chest cabinet desk in a satin / burl wood with exterior front inlay musical instruments and flowers marquetry scene details. Th...
Category

1810s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, 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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