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Secretaires For Sale
Antique Victorian Eastlake Cherry Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk 61"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian drop front secretary or library writing desk. Made of cherry featuring Eastlake styling with upper brass gallery and six apothe...
Category
Late 19th Century Eastlake Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
$2,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Mid Century Maurice Villency Danish Teak Drop Down Desk
Located in New York, NY
Mid Century Maurice Villency Danish Teak Drop Down Desk. In good vintage condition. A few minor issues. A new key has been fabricated for locking mechanism and works but is finicky. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern 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
Late 18th Century Swedish Secretary Cabinet with Historic Paint
Located in South Salem, NY
Splendid early antique Gustavian style secretary cabinet, made in Sweden, circa late 19th century. This rustic cabinet retains its historic p...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare Antique English Regency Rosewood Davenport with Spring-Loaded Pen Drawer
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
This wonderful early 19th century Antique English Rosewood and ebonized Davenport or Ship Captain's Desk is one of the finest we've had in recent years. Davenports or Ship Captain's Desks are so-named originally for a Captain Davenport...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
$5,738 Sale Price
24% Off
Italian Biedermeier Style Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Style Walnut Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet.
Veyr light weight. Measures 24" in width, 17" in depth and stands 75" tall.
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut, Wood
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
Antique English Oak Secretary / Chest of Drawers
Located in Harderwijk, NL
Offered is this timeless and charming antique English oak secretary / chest of drawers with a beautiful interior.
With this versatile piece, yo...
Category
19th Century Classical Roman Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Oak
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
$9,218 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique French Mahogany Drop Front Brass Gallery Secretary Writing Desk 40"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique French Victorian secretary / library writing desk. Made of mahogany featuring drop front door inlaid with floral mother of pearl and shield motif, which opens to writing surf...
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
$1,400 Sale Price
20% Off
John Widdicomb Walnut Aged Mirrored Tombstone Style Georgian Secretary
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful piece by the John Widdicomb of Michigan. The secretary is made of walnut and designed in the Georgian "Tombstone" style with the mirrored glass. The mirrors are a...
Category
1940s American Georgian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Arne Vodder Scandinavian Danish Modern Teak Desk Vanity Table Top Organizer
By Arne Vodder
Located in Wayne, NJ
Wonderful aged teak three-drawer organizer. Beautifully crafted, finished on all sides. This can also be for multiple purposes such as used as a desktop organizer , jewelry , Makeup...
Category
1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
$1,440 Sale Price
20% Off
George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
$17,682 / item
19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this elegant antique Italian Secretaire dating back to the early 19th century, Empire period. An extremely refined Secretaire.
Made of fine solid mahogany wood (accompani...
Category
19th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
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
$3,231 Sale Price
20% Off
Secretary Made In Teak, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
This secretary, designed and produced in Denmark around the 1960s, is a beautiful example of Danish furniture art from this era. Made of teak wood, the secretary exudes a warm and na...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Charak Ball & Claw Mahogany 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Dresser MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Charak Ball & Claw Mahogany 4 Drawers Drop Front Secretary Dresser MINT
Category
20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
George III 19th C Style Burl Walnut Double Bonnet Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
An incredible stately burl walnut George III 19th Century style secretary by Burton Chiang.
The doors open to this grand piece to reveal a slew of secret cubby pigeon holes, secret d...
Category
Late 20th Century American George III Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Vintage Beacon Hill Old Colony Federal Mahogany Tambour Door Secretary Desk
By Beacon Hill
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Beacon Hill Old Colony Federal Mahogany Tambour Door Secretary Desk. Item features a 3 part construction, working lock and key, flip top...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Federal Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Secretary, Victorian, 1890
Located in Greven, DE
Antique ship's or captain's secretary, so-called Military Campaign Chest of Drawers
England
Mahogany, brass
Victorian around 1890
Dimensions: H x W x D: 135 x 92 x 52 cm
D...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique French Napoleon III Inlaid Ormolu Marble Top Secretaire Desk Chest 1860
Located in Portland, OR
An exceptional French antique Napoleon III inlaid ebonized & ormolu mounted marble top secretaire chest, circa 1860.
This superb antique French secretaire abattant has a black & white veined marble top, with a reverse breakfront gilded bronze frieze below, the front of the secretaire is very finely inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl & gilt bronze 'rope twist' decoration. The chest has eight drawer fronts with gilded cast bronze garland decorated lock escutcheons, three of the drawers are dummy & form the fall front for the pull down secretary, which has the original blue velvet writing surface and engraved lock-plate. The interior is made of the finest flame grained satinwood and has two drawers with lozenge shaped inlay, the top of the chest with a pair of very finely cast gilt bronze caryatid brackets, the base with a corresponding pair of gilt bronze acanthus shaped brackets. The secretaire is raised on turned bun feet with gilt bronze mounts and a shaped skirt also with a gilt bronze mount, the sides of the chest with inlaid bronze stringing.
Condition is excellent, this exceptional French antique secretary chest...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
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
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 Two-part Secretaire
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Gustavian writing desk from the early 19th century is a stunning two-piece piece that combines practicality with classic Swedish elegance. Crafted from pine, it features a soft,...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
George III Mahogany Desk or Secretary Attributed to Gillows, English 1790
Located in Rome, IT
George III amazing cabinet desk or secretary in mahogany wood, brass and leather with a drawers attributed to Gillows of Lancaster, circa 1780.
The secretary in the photo was exhib...
Category
1780s British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
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
18th Century Italian Walnut Parquetry Important Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux
Located in Rome, IT
An Italian walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage,
The upper section with a shaped carved cresting, a shaped doors opening to reveal three shelves,...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$52,271 Sale Price
20% Off
Outstanding Red and Yellow Ornate Large Venetian Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a masterpiece of paint decoration and design. The design, scale, the colors and amazing paint-work is absolutely remarkable and the piece is in two separate pieces. The desk ...
Category
1920s Italian Neoclassical Revival Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Dutch Secretary Desk, Around 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Dutch secretary desk, Netherlands, around 1800.
This elegantly curved secretary desk has three spacious drawers in the lower part. The writing flap ...
Category
1790s Dutch Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
$5,530 Sale Price
30% Off
18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Capsule Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our brand new Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary with palms decor in gold-leaf.
In collaboration with Damonte & Lacarrieu...
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
18th Century European Painted Bureau Bookcase with Glazed Doors, circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant late 18th-century European bureau bookcase, crafted circa 1790 and retaining its original understated sophistication. This two-part piece features a glazed upper cabinet w...
Category
18th Century European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Pine
Antique Austrian Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk Tabernacle Cabinet 1820
Located in Portland, OR
A fine, elegant, antique Austrian mahogany Biedermeier secretary desk cabinet, circa 1820.
The cabinet in two sections, the top with a curved architectural pediment, below is a curved door tabernacle cupboard, flanked by a pair of columns with gilt bronze bases and capitals. The base with a series of four graduated drawers with shield shaped lock-plate escutcheons inlaid with bone, to the center is a fall front writing surface enclosing a fitted interior with a series of drawers, pigeon holes and a central locking door, the doors and drawers are inlaid with satinwood stringing. All the locks are fully operational and keys are present.
The cabinet is raised upon a plinth base, the secretary cabinet is made from the finest figured Cuban mahogany, condition is very good, no condition issues or restoration. This very elegant Biedermeier secretary cabinet...
Category
1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century 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 German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Secretary With Impressive Marquetry
Located in Greven, DE
18th Century Louis XVI Secretary With Marquetry
The Netherlands
Amaranth, satinwood and others
Louis XVI around 1790
Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 89 x 46 cm
Description:
Elaborate...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Baker Furniture Stately Home Circassian Walnut George III Style Secretary Desk
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Baker Furniture Stately Home Circassian Walnut George III Style Secretary Desk
Dimensions : 102" Tall X 41.5" wide X 25" Deep
This gorgeous secretary desk was made by Baker furnitu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American George III Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ash, Burl
Late 19th Century Spanish Walnut Bureau Bookcase ‘Secretaire’
Located in Miami, FL
A late 19th century Spanish Walnut Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of doors, slant front enclosed writing...
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Oak Bureau with Ceramic Handles by Guillerme & Chambron, France, 1960s
Located in Rosendahl, DE
Guillerme et Chambron, 1960 secertary cabinet with ceramic handles by Boleslaw Danikowski. Votre Maison Edition.
We can organize fast shipping fo...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Ceramic, Oak
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
$695 Sale Price
61% Off
1960's Mid Century Modern Obelisk Form Secretary/ Display Case/ Cabinet
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Rare Form 1960's Mid Century Modern Obelisk Display Case/ Secretary/ Cabinet. This is the first time I have seen one like this. There is a writing area, storage cabinets and upper gl...
Category
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$2,580 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Raymond Lowey for Mengel Mid Century Secretary Desk c.1950’s
Located in Lutz, FL
Mid Century Modern Mengel drop front secretary desk by designed by Raymond Loewy c.1950’s. Original two tone finish in cerused oak with charcoal gray drawer fronts, and black iron ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Iron
18th Century Swedish Rococo Period Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A period 18th Century Swedish Rococo secretary.
With decorative carved pediment with clock, below two carved doors opening to storage, further below a fall front desk opening to a wo...
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique 19th century English oak secretary / bureau
Located in SON EN BREUGEL, NL
A very fine antique secretary/ bureau.
With writing desk, 2 large and 2 small drawers and hidden secret letter compartments.
Decorated with original brass ornaments and handles.
Two ...
Category
19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique fruitwood "Secretaire a Abattant" was crafted in France, circa 1840; the tall secretary with classical straight lines features a shaped top over a frieze drawer. The fall front opens and reveals a fully outfitted inside theater decorated with turned columns on the sides, six functioning drawers, and a wide open niche for books and letters...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Antique English George III Slant-Front Secretary w/ Bookcase in Cuban Mahogany
Located in Miami, FL
A fine 18th century George III English bureau bookcase secretary in solid West Indies/ Cuban mahogany. The bonnet features a swan neck, broken-scroll pediment with carved rosettes an...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Louis XVI Secretary Desk, France, 1780-1800
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite Louis XVI Secretary Desk – France, c. 1780-1800
This stunning Louis XVI secretary desk, crafted in France between 1780 and 1800, is a masterpiece of 18th-century craftsman...
Category
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Rosewood
Antique Ebonised Boulle Ormolu Desk Cabinet Bonheur du Jour Kunst Mobel Denmark
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique Napoleon III French style ebonzied Boulle & ormolu Bonheur du Jour by Nordisk Kunst & Mobel-Etablissement, Copenhagen Denmark, 1903. In remarkable condition.
Thi...
Category
Early 1900s Danish Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Ormolu
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
Louis XVI Style Secretary by H. Dasson, France, Circa 1880
By Henry Dasson
Located in PARIS, FR
A very fine Louis XVI style upright secretary, executed in veneered wood, finely decorated with painted medallions representing mythological scenes. Fine chiseled and gilded bronze m...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
$64,150 Sale Price
38% Off
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
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
$9,800
Fine Antique French Louis XV Marquetry Rosewood Ormolu Secretaire Abattant 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality antique French Louis XV rosewood, marquetry, ormolu and marble topped secretaire abattant, circa 1880.
The serpentine shaped secretary is modeled as a semainier (...
Category
1880s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Edwards and Roberts Antique Inlaid Secretary Desk, 1860-1875, London
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Stately Mahogany inlaid leather top secretary desk, London England 1860-1875 by Cabinetmakers Edwards and Roberts. Moulded cornice over arched glazed panel doors with green fabric lined interior above a rolled front inlaid fan, shell and scroll decoration.
Pull out embossed green leather writing surface above graduated drawers on narrow feet: stamped "Edwards and Roberts" on top drawers edge. Famous cabinetry makers.
The firm Edwards and Roberts were among the best English antique furniture cabinet makers of the second half of the nineteenth century. The company was founded in 1845 and by 1854 was trading as ‘Edwards and Roberts’, 21 Wardour Street, ‘Antique and Modern Cabinet...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
19th Century Rustic Swedish Painted Pine Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
This secretary is a special find due to the original brick red painted finish, gently scraped to reveal the natural pine below.
The interior desk holds multiple drawers with central ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Rustic Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary / Writing Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Swedish Gustavian Secretary / Writing Desk from early 19th century
A rectangular top sitting above a slant front desk opening to reveal a gray painted interior and multiple smal draw...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Exceptional and Exquisite Queen Anne Mulberry and Walnut Scriptor c. 1700
Located in Heathfield, GB
A very small and finely made Queen Anne English Escritoire (an English Scriptor) 1690-1710
Petite, demonstrating masterful skill and attention to detail, each element made with extra...
Category
18th Century Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing area and three graduated drawers. This Swedish Gustavian style drop-front secretary, ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Cees Braakman for Pastoe "P5" Jacaranda Wood Secretaire
By Pastoe, Cees Braakman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cees Braakman for Pastoe Jacaranda wood secretaire with drop down desk or dry bar and light with original wiring. Lightly refinished exterior ...
Category
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Metal
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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Maple Secretary
Mahogany Secretary Desk Bookcase
Maple Bureau
Italian Painted Secretary
Mahogany Biedermeier Secretaire
Louis Philippe Secretary
Italian Drop Front Desk
Mahogany Georgian Secretary
Queen Anne Bureau
Rosewood Mid Century Secretary
Mahogany Secretaire A Abattant
Roll Top Secretary
Louis Xvi Secretaire A Abattant
Narrow Secretary
Japanese Secretary
Queen Anne Secretary
Side By Side Secretary Bookcase
Venetian Secretary