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Secretaires For Sale
Style: Victorian
Style: Biedermeier
Intarsia Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Handcrafted, this piece has been obviously been designed and created with love. Elegant intarsia inlays adorn the outside of this case piece. Inside hides a whimsical array of storag...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch
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
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
Rare Victorian Flamed Hardwood Library Bookcase Secretaire Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Victorian flamed mahogany library bookcase with built in secrataire desk and chest of drawers
A good looking and multifunctional pie...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
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
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
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
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
Light Hardwood Library Bookcase Secrétaire Desk Brown Leather Surface
Located in GB
We are delighted to this stunning circa 1880 light mahogany library bookcase with secrétaire desk
A well made and collectable library bookcase. The top s...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
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
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
American Victorian Walnut Drop Front Secretary
Located in New York, NY
American Victorian walnut drop front secretary with two glass doors.
Category
20th Century American Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
Victorian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase
Located in New York, NY
American Victorian (2nd Quarter 19th Century) plum-pudding mahogany secretaire-bookcase with arched pediment above grilled doors and a maple veneere...
Category
19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Maple
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
German Biedermeier Slant-Front Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
A very good German slant front desk with a lower case of drawers. The writing surface very nicely finished veneers with interior drawers having inlay ...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Roll Top, Walnut Marquetry, Germany, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This beautiful Secretary comes from Germany from the beginning of 19th century. The piece is made of coniferous wood, veneered with extraordinary walnut veneer, with very detailed ma...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Golden Oak Secretary / Desk, Carvings, Mirror, Drawer, American, ca. 1900
Located in Petaluma, CA
This dazzling golden oak secretary/desk is feast for the eyes. The leaf drops down for use, and opens up displaying a little drawer and a bunch of cubby holes. Above the desk area is a shelf w/carved sides and, a curvy beveled mirror, w/carving as well. Below the desk is a drawer w/ original brass handles, and a door w/ fancy applied carvings. The legs are reeded, a nice look for this style. The drop leaf is very stabile to write on, and the if you partially pull out the drawer, the leaf will rest on it for extra support. All that being said, the best part of this is the rich color and the aesthetic appeal of this piece of furniture.
One of the nicest examples of turn of the century American oak...
Category
Early 1900s American Late Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Small Biedermeier Secretary, Walnut, Austria, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Biedermeier secretary
Austria
Walnut
Biedermeier around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 146 x 84 x 45 cm
Description:
Piece of furniture standing on pointed feet set ove...
Category
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut
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 cherrywood. It has undergone a professional renovation proces...
Category
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretary, Cherry, circa 1820-1830
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier secretary
South Germany
Cherry tree
Biedermeier around 1820-1830
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 153 x 99 x 50 cm
Description:
Writing desk standing on block feet.
Che...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Biedermeier Secretary Desk in Cherry Wood Veneer, Germany, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This beautiful Secretary comes from Germany and was made in 19th century. The piece is made of pine wood, veneered with cherry wood veneer. When opening the main section the doors tr...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Pine
19th Century German Biedermeier Secretary with Columns, circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Writing cabinet with portico structure.
South Germany
Pear tree
Biedermeier around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 95 x 49 cm
Description:
Strictly cubist piece of furn...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Pearwood
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
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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