Secretaires
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Birch
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
1830s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Wood
1920s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Birch
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Pine
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Leather, Wood, Maple
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Chrome, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Wood
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Burl
1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Maple, Pine
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Iron, Brass
1920s Czech Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Wood, Rosewood, Lacquer
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany, Walnut
20th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Birdseye Maple
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Leather, Ash
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Softwood, Wood, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Secretaires
Chrome
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Paldao
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Copper
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch, Fir
Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Oak
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birdseye Maple
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch, Pine, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch, Burl
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century Czech Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1870s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Elm
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Brass, Gold Leaf
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Sycamore
1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Ash
1820s Baltic Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Pewter
1950s European Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Maple
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1930s Argentine Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Burl
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
19th Century English Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Marble
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch, Cherry
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany, Softwood
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Rosewood
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Secretaires
Nickel
1810s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Sycamore
1920s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Walnut
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Bronze
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.