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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
Style: Art Deco
Style: Biedermeier
Early 20th Century Art Deco Otto Schulz Boet Secretary
Located in Kramfors, SE
Otto Schulz Art Deco secretary for Boet, Gothenburg. The secretary is a modern classic from the 1930s and plays well into the classical elements of the Art Deco era. The sharp geomet...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Sweden, circa 1880
Located in Chorzów, PL
An antique secretary from the end of the 19th century. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation. Finished in gloss polish. Unique restored piece by our renovat...
Category

1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Swedish Karl Johan Biedermeier Chest of Drawers with Pull Out Secretary in Birch
Located in Miami, FL
A very handsome birch Karl Johan Biedermeier chest of drawers with a drawer front fold down secretary. The drawer-front opens to an ample and beautiful ebonized and faux mahogany interior offering two letter drawers...
Category

1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Biedermeier Birchwood Sweden Secretaire and Armoires , 1830s
Located in Roma, RM
Rare Biedermeier furniture, seeing it looks like a small cabinet, opening the doors we are on the right side a small, elegant, Secretaire, while on the left side a small wardrobe. Sm...
Category

1830s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, circa 1820. Cylinder top opens to a pull-out desk which offers an adjustable baize-lined lectern or writing surface flanked by sliding storage compartments, as well as a series of small interior drawers around a central cabinet. Above the desk, are three cupboards with bowed doors, the central one featuring a pediment top. Below the pull-out desk drawer, there are three long storage...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

W015 Italian Secretaire in Wood & Inlay w/ Hand Carved Legs in Gold by Zanaboni
Located in MEDA, IT
Elegant and exclusive secretaire with legs in solid wood finely hand carved and finished in antique gold, W015 is worked with ancient techniques of traditional craftsmanship and pres...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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

20th Century Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century Biedermeier style secretaire Delicate secretaire in Biedermeier style. Tulip veneer, partially blackened, on solid pinewood....
Category

20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Pine

19th Century Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1835
Located in Berlin, DE
Pyramids mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged inner life. Not long ago, the secretary was grounded. Several drawers from inside as well as from outside. With secret compar...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Delicate secretaire in Biedermeier style. Maple roots on solid pinewood. Natrual leather covered and gold-embossing. (L-Mhs-42).
Category

20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Wood, Maple

Art Deco Secretaire Cabinet by Jules Deroubaix
Located in North York, ON
This Jules Deroubaix display cabinet secretaire is timeless, functional, and effortlessly chic. Made of burl sandalwood, it showcases a drop door paneled wit...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Chrome, Brass

W052 Italian Jewel Cabinet Inlaid in Wood and Mother of Pearl by Zanaboni
Located in MEDA, IT
Not just a simple piece of furniture, the W052 is a true work of art, a representation of one of the most fascinating phenomena of life, the metamorphosis. The radical change of form is an extremely powerful phenomenon that has always fascinated and inspired the minds of entire generations; Zanaboni has researched, analyzed and studied it for this new masterpiece. A combination of nature, in which metamorphosis is the process by which a caterpillar becomes a magnificent butterfly, the geometry featured in the tessellation, a top evenly divided by shapes that leave no space unfilled, skilled craftsmanship evident in the use of more than fifteen different kinds of materials and an artistic style that gives a simple instrument a touch of magic. W052 handmade cabinet with silver and bronze engraved bronze base, a Makassar ebony interior fitted with drawers, glass shelves and cigar humidifier...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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

Biedermeier Burl Wood Secretary Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A shaped cabinet with a scrolled bonnet, a centre compartment with door opening to two shaped shelves, flanked by curved side compartments (one shelf inside at the left). Below is a ...
Category

19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Burl

Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Northern Europe, circa 1860
Located in Chorzów, PL
Historic secretary from the second half of the 19th century. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: Mahogany Dimensions: he...
Category

1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

20th Century Biedermeier Style Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Delicate secretaire in Biedermeier style. Maple root on solid pinewood. Interior, blackened full-columns, plastic shown in squared form. (L-Sam-41).
Category

20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Maple, Pine

Neoclassical Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine, neoclassical early Biedermeier Secretaire from South Germany around 1820. Beautiful classicist design with gable cornice, well ...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Iron, Brass

Unique Czech Art Deco Secretary/Writing Desk, Rosewood 1920-1929
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Art Deco sideboard and secretary made out of rosewood Material: Rosewood Completely restored, Shellac polish. Period: 1920-1929 Source: Czechia.  
Category

1920s Czech Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Rosewood, Lacquer

Biedermeier Fall Top Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Classic Biedermeier fall top desk, South German, 1820, walnut veneer on the outside and mahogany veneer on the inside. It has a beautiful veneer grain. T...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Walnut

20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Style Secretaire antique after Johann Härle
Located in Berlin, DE
The highest artist work. Aristocratic secretaire of Vienna Biedermeier after Johann Härle, 1813. Highly valuable bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood, partially ebonized, ...
Category

20th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Birdseye Maple

Art Deco Secretaire by Jacques Adnet
Located in Miami, FL
This secretaire desk was designed by Jacques Adnet, and was made in Tamo Ash Wood. The style of this secretaire features sleek lines, geometric shapes and a ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Ash

André Sornay Secretaire, circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Andre´ Sornay secretaire, circa 1930 Signed. Restored. Certificate of authenticity from Thierry Roche, French expert for Andre´ Sornay.
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Biedermeier Style Cuba-Mahogany Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist secretary, circa 1800-1810. Cuba mahogany on solid softwood partly ebonized. High-right, architecturally designed body on conical legs. In the front three drawers. Straig...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Softwood, Wood, Mahogany

Art Deco Modernist Partners Desk, circa 1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this superbly stylish 1930s Partners desk. The base wood is Mahogany and veneered in a Bombay Walnut veneers which has a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Chrome

Gilbert Rohde Paldao Secretary Display Case for Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bookcase with drop-front secretary desk and storage drawers in paldao wood. Glass dividers separate storage compartments, and cork-lined back. Retains Herman Miller tag. Great origin...
Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Paldao

Art Deco Bar Trolley in Style of Jacques Adnet with Original Mirror France 1930s
Located in Ulm, DE
Art Deco bar trolley in style of Jacques Adnet Real wood veneer Handles and wheels in copper To open on one side with double doors Tabletop with old mirror (blind spots) New m...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Copper

Secretaire Writing Cabinet in Antique Biedermeier Style Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High quality rosewood veneer on solid conifers. Conical body on profile frames. Base in the front, between four drawers, straight flap with shield-shaped filling. Behind it is a richly divided compartmental division of a bent temple-shaped central compartment with mirrored full columns, flanked by star-starved drawers. Over cantilevered profile cornice flat gypsum, stepped with oval cover plate. Front. All drawers and backboard made of solid wood. So-called pyramid furniture...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Birch Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Constructed of solid birch and fir and veneered with hand-cut Nordic birch veneers, the secretary features an upper locking drawer which rests upon a fitted desk area hiding behind a...
Category

19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Fir

Antique Solid Oak Biedermeier Secretary in Honey Color
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful secretaire abbatant or standing secretary. Made in the finest European oak, this secretary was made in The Netherlands circa 1840. It stands on turned feet and features 3 drawers at the lower part. The writing plate has a recessed panel with the typical Dutch Biedermeier...
Category

Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Empire or Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1815
Located in Berlin, DE
Very well preserved conical secretary with stepped head Front with multiply mirrored pyramid mahogany entire surface with original shellac hand polish high-quality cabinet part with thread intarsia and leg buttons very elaborate workmanship and rare furniture...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Rare Cabinet Chest of Drawers with Marble in the antique Biedermeier Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Maple root on solid conifers. Single-door cabinet in cylindrical shape. Corpus on corresponding frame. Gering marble top surface with light-grey grain. Partially ebonised. Interior s...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birdseye Maple

19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Small Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful little Secretaire from the time of the late Biedermeier, circa 1840. The Secretaire is covered outside with walnut and root walnut veneer on a pine body. The inner part is...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Pine, Walnut

20th Century French Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one high drawer and one low door with compartment, beautiful marquetry oakwood . The wood inside opens to a c...
Category

Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

German Birchroot Biedermeier Abbatant With Architectural Pediment
Located in Charleston, SC
This monumental Berlin Biedermeier Secretaire is one of the finest examples with its Classical Architecture of Doric Pediments, Columns, and Dental Moldings. The main structure of the Secretaire has a majestic architectural superstructural cabinet resting on top, representing a temple. The Biedermeier Abbatant is veneered in Birchroot with a fall front writing desk...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Burl

Antique Biedermeier Secretary in Cuban Mahogany, Copenhagen, circa 1820
Located in Miami, FL
An exquisite Biedermeier secretary in very fine Cuban/ West Indies mahogany with all of the original appointments which include the hardware, pulls and keys. The cabinet's joinery, a...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Biedermeier Walnut Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Chest, Biedermeier walnut secretary with cabinet below. Desk has four small drawers and a letter shelf. Cab...
Category

19th Century Czech Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Biedermeier Sweden Secretaire, 1870s
Located in Roma, RM
Small Secretaire Biedermeier, Scandinavian origin, of excellent workmanship and in good conservative condition. In elm wood, circa 1870. A few minor d...
Category

1870s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Elm

Museum Biedermeier Secretary Signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum Biedermeier secretary signed by Adolph Friedrich Voigt, circa 1825 Fire-gilt fittings. High quality Cuba mahogany on solid linden wood. Architecturally structured front. Rect...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

French Art Deco Secretary in Mahogany and Parchment
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Tall Art Deco secretary in mahogany with dark stained border. Parchment door with gold leaf criss cross design opens to writing table with interior compartments. Three drawers with o...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Gold Leaf

Frank Brangwyn a Rare Desk Originally Designed for the 1931 Pollard Exhibition
By Frank Brangwyn, E. Pollard & Co
Located in London, GB
Frank Brangwyn. E Pollard and Co. A rare desk originally designed for the 1931 Pollard Exhibition where it can be seen in a room setting in the original photographs from 1931. See ...
Category

1930s English Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Sycamore

Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A strong, elegant piece to keep you perfectly organized! Crafted of hand-hewn fir and ash and veneered with thick hand-cut ash veneers, this chest offers storage for everything. A lo...
Category

1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ash

Biedermeier secretaire, circa 1830
Located in London, GB
A Biedermeier secre´taire a` abattant of unusual tapered form, goncalo alves with ebonized, inlaid and pewter decoration, and an enclosed fitted interior, Russian/Baltic, circa 1830.
Category

1820s Baltic Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pewter

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

Biedermeier Fall Top Secretaire, Berlin 1820 with Exquisite Interior
Located in Belmont, MA
Outstanding Biedermeier fall top secretaire, Berlin 1820, mahogany veneer with ebonized details. The interior has one central compartment surrounded by 8 s...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Unique Symmetrical Art Deco Desk French Style
Located in Oakland, CA
Unique Art Deco desk has truly unusual and lyrical lines. The undulating base opens to reveal secret storage along with the two drawers on both sides. We like those square drawer pul...
Category

1930s Argentine Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Burl

German Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in New York, NY
German Biedermeier (circa 1820) mahogany secretary cabinet with Corinthian columns on top and bottom section and a centered drop front revealing a...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

In the Manner of Jean Pascaud, Art Deco Drop Front Secretary, France, circa 1935
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco drop front secretary in the manner of Jean Pascaud. Made in France, circa 1935. Sycamore with a giltwood base, mahogany interior...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Danish Biedermeier Bureau Secretary Desk
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This early 19th century mahogany Biedermeier secretary bureau was made in two sections, circa 1830. The top section has a superstructure with a straight cornice over a pair of serpen...
Category

19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Charles 'X' Secretaire
Located in Sheffield, MA
Burled elm charles 'X' drop front secretary (secrétaire à abattant) with black marble top with white vains, drop door revealing a leather covered writing table...
Category

19th Century English Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Austrian Biedermeier Cherrywood Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Austrian Biedermeier (Circa 1835) cherry veneer drop front secretary with 2 ebonized and gilt dolphins and birch root interior drawers with inlaid trim.
Category

19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Cherry

19th Century German Biedermeier Style Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Petite secretary Biedermeier style, circa 1790. High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid softwood. High-right body on tapering legs. Supplied with three dr...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany, Softwood

Vintage Swedish Art Deco Intarsia Inlaid Secretaire and Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
Intarsia secretaire of rosewood, flame birch and intarsia (inlay) of various exotic hardwoods with steel and bakelite hardware.
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Donald Deskey Style Art Deco Skyscraper Design Secretary Wall Cabinet or Desk
Located in Westport, CT
In the style of Donald Deskey, Art Deco skyscraper design, cabinet/secretary desk, with draw compartments and desk, book shelf compartment. Functional dark mahogany wood, with nickel...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Nickel

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

Austro-Hungarian Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Woodbury, CT
Wearing a layer of Austrian walnut root veneer, this secrétaire has a unique grain that one does not often see; it swirls and undulates across the surface drawing the eye along in a ...
Category

19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Burl

French Art Deco Secretary Attributed to René Prou
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful French sycamore veneer secretary framed with gilded brass details, the fall front decorated with the original cafe au lait coloured leather, inside is the drawer and elegan...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Sycamore

1920 Walnut Secretaire with 16 Drawers and Leather Desk
Located in Weiningen, CH
1920 walnut secretaire with 16 drawers and leather desk, comes in two parts completely restored with shellac.
Category

1920s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Rene Drouet Attributed, Art Deco walnut and Thuya Burr Cabinet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rene Drouet attributed, Art Deco walnut and thuya burr cabinet. Ivory and interior in sycamore veneer. Secret drawers, original bronzes. Fully restored. F...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

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.

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