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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
19th Century Biedermeier Chest of Drawers/ Writing Commode, Austria, ca. 1830
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable 19th century nutwood chest of drawers/ writing commode from the early Biedermeier era in Austria around 1830. Impressing with an absolute outstanding looking grain which r...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage Danish Teak Secretary by Børge Mogensen for Søborg
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Danish modern secretary desk. Fold down table with office storage and four dresser drawers. Classic Danish modern design by Bø...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak, Wood, Hardwood
Charles Spooner Arts & Crafts Oak secretaire Cabinet with Serpentine Stretchers
Located in London, GB
Charles Sydney Spooner, probably made by J H Brandt.
A rare oak secretaire cabinet on stand, with quarter veneered panels to the doors and drawers with black and green diamond shaped handles. The doors open to reveal adjustable shelves. The sides and lower stand are all made from solid quarter sawn oak with beautiful figuring. The slightly graduated mouldings to the waist frame the tidy little writing area. Standing on squashed ball feet, united with serpentine entwined stretchers.
This is an oak variation of the cabinet Charles Spooner exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1910. One can see that both cabinets are essentially the same design, one with drawers one with a pull down writing area. Both have quartered veneered panels to the doors, the Mahogany one with applied moulded decoration to the doors.
See : illustration below from : Arts and Crafts Furniture by John Andrews.
See also : Charles Spooner Arts and Crafts Architect, page 209 illustration 10:28.
: Fine Art Society for a Coromandel variation and Puritan Values : Important Furniture Page 1, for a larger four door lacquered panelled variation.
Charles Spooner is noted as one of the most influential people and also credited as one of the fathers of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Born at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington (London), Spooner was the second of 5 children of Charles Spooner and Sarah Frances Trinder, who lived at Brook Green, Hammersmith. Spooner became an architect and an instructor of furniture design at the London County Council's Central School of Arts and Crafts. He was a pupil and then assistant of Sir A W Blomfield and in 1890 won the RIBA’s Soane Medallion (Proc RIBA). He specialised in smaller churches and houses turning out some beautiful and complete buildings. He was influenced by E W Godwin and contemporary American architects such as H H Richardson. He was a member of the Society and Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Art Workers Guild, he worked in the tradition of William Morris, teaching...
Category
1920s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
A W N Pugin Attri, Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with Linenfold & Floral Carving
Located in London, GB
A W N Pugin attributed,
A Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with finely executed carved gallery to the top and a sloping writing area opening to reveal storage...
Category
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Georgian Oak Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Very handsome Georgian lowland oak secretary with walnut trim.
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Walnut
19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Ebony, in good condition. The b...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and elaborated 19th century Chinoiserie red lacquered slant front secretary. Hand painted and raised decoration. The interior with pigeon holes and drawers and a writing ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Secretary Cabinet 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk with open book shelves above the fall front desk and bottom cabinet doors. The desk section has multiple sma...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Fine Hand-Painted Venetian 19th Century Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Outstanding example of a Venetian bureau bookcase, or secretaire, having a serpentine cornice surmounted by foliate carving, over double cupboard doors inset with arched mirrors, fal...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
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
Antique French Louis XVI Secretary Desk Chest Mahogany, Carrara Marble & Bronze
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Antique French Louis XVI mahogany secretary chest of drawers topped with a white Carrara marble, fluted legs finished with golden bronze clogs and thorough dressed in bronze and bras...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Rare Northern Swedish Antique Pine Secretary Clock Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare Swedish antique clock secretary desk made around 1820 to 1840 in northern Sweden. The desk and body of the clock are made by hand in solid ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
20th Century Painted Wood Venetian Bureau Desk, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian bureau from the second half of the 20th century. Beautifully designed furniture, pleasantly lacquered and hand painted with floral decorations. High leg bureau equipped with...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Pine Secretaire with Fall-Front Desk Top
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 19th Century Swedish secretaire with fall-front desk top.
This style of desk was very popular in the 18th and 19th century in Sweden.
It offers an ingenious array of storage pos...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
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
Ormolu, Brass, Bronze
A fine pair of Japanese export lacquer secretaires owned by Sir Stamford Raffles
Located in Amsterdam, NL
'The Stamford Raffles Secretaires.'
A pair of Japanese Kyoto-Nagasaki style export lacquer secretaires by ‘Lakwerker Sasaya’ each with the name ‘Ol...
Category
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Secretaires
Materials
Gold, Brass
19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary Circa 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exceptional 19th-century Swedish clock secretary, circa 1820, combines functionality with timeless Gustavian elegance. Crafted from pine, this impressive piece features a beauti...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
Italian Art Deco Goatskin Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Art Deco Goatskin Secretary.
This outstanding Italian Art Deco secretary desk covered in goatskin and trimmed in walnut with an upper ...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Goatskin, Wood
19th Century Dutch Renaissance Drop-Front Secretary Desk in Stripped Oak
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Dutch Renaissance Drop-Front Secretary Desk in Stripped Oak adds both timeless style and whimsy in one piece! Shallower than most, it is ideal for efficient floor plans...
Category
Mid-19th Century Dutch Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique French Charles X Secretary/Secrétaire à Abattant in Mahogany, c. 1825
Located in Miami, FL
A Charles X secrétaire à abattant in mahogany, France, circa 1825. Fall-front has original counter weight for ease in lowering and closing. Dark green tooled leather on desk top appe...
Category
1820s French Charles X Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th-Century Biedermeier Secretary
Date of Origin: 1825–1830, (Germany, Berlin)
Material: Pyramid Mahogany
This extraordinary 19th-century Secretary with an upper cabinet, crafted ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Secretary Desk, France 19th century
Located in Belmont, MA
French Empire Secretary Desk, 19th Century – Mahogany Veneer, Marble Top, Bronze Details
This stunning 19th-century French Empire secretary desk...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Fine Paint Decorated Baroque Style Armoire Secretary/ Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall custom Venetian baroque shaped frame, the double doors with inset beveled antiqued mirrors open to two shelves. The slant front opens to drawers and a cubby hole. The lower ca...
Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Large and practical antique 19th century English wooden bookcase/secretary
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This extremely charming and practical cabinet is a great addition to almost any interior. Because let’s face it, no interior is complete without at least one antique piece, right? Th...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Mid-century Torbjorn Afdal Danish Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish secretary desk designed by Torbjørn Afdal for Nesjestranda Møbelfabrik, Norway, 1965. Crafted from Brazilian rosewood, the secretary desk ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Exceptional Mahogany Bureau Bookcase from Baltimore Maryland, circa 1830
By Circle of John Needles
Located in New York, NY
Mahogany bureau bookcase from Baltimore, Maryland of exceptional quality. Design is most like examples from shop of John Needles while tapering columnar supports and finely carved el...
Category
Early 19th Century American American Classical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Painted Swedish Secretary, 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
This 19th-century Swedish secretary is a captivating example of timeless design. Its cream-painted exterior exudes classic charm, while the writing surface features the popular faux ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts England
Located in Atlanta, GA
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts, England, circa 1830.
Category
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Midcentury Danish vintage Secretary /Make up by Dyrlund, 1960s
By Dyrlund
Located in Gaggenau, DE
Midcentury Danish vintage Secretary by Dyrlund, 1960s
Secretary of Dyrlund in teak. 4 drawers. Pulling out the first drawer opens the writing desk. Under the writing tablet is a mi...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
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
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining
We present you this piece of furniture with three drawers at the bottom, a drop front, and a narrow drawer und...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Baize, Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite French Louis XV style secrétaire with wave shaped front adorned with beautiful flower marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with ...
Category
1870s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
It is the aged and scraped patina of the original brown painted finish that draws one to this pine secretary with graceful Swedish country charm.
Desktop rests on two extended arms. ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
Antique Secretary Chest In The Style Of Michael Allison for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
For Restoration: A handsome Antique Chest with pull-out desk having drawers with original brass knobs oval brass drawer pulls and cubbies. The case with highly figured Mahogany with ...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage Rosewood Secretary Desk by Dyrlund Denmark
By Dyrlund
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Discover a tranquil workspace with this elegant mid-century Danish Modern secretary desk produced by Dyrlund of Denmark. Constructed with stunning and generous rosewood veneer, this ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Hardwood, Rosewood
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Slant-Top Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A stunning, petite French slant-top desk or "bureau de pente" in the Louis XV style, turquoise and gold polychromed with Chinoiserie detailing, and red under-body. Desk opens to rev...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Secretary, desk, Danish in Teak by Borge Mogensen for Soborg Mobelfabrik 1960.
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Superb large Scandinavian secretary. 4 large drawers on the lower part. A lockable shelf folds out to provide a large work space. Inside 2 drawers, 2 horizontal compartments and 3 ve...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
French 19th Century Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful walnut secre´taire a` abattant was constructed in the style of Louis XVI during the 19th century. Topped with a great piece of black and white marble. A single, slim d...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
Very Fine Olive Burl Wood 83" Tall Secretary Desk Cabinet Chest of Drawers MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very Fine Compact Burl Wood Queen Ann Secretary Desk Bookcase Dresser Drawers MINT!
Category
20th Century Italian Federal Secretaires
Materials
Brass
1950 Compact Home Office Desk in walnut and Blond Wood
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1950 compact home office desk in walnut and blond wood.
Original lamp.
Interesting desk storage.
114 x 82 x 53 cm closed.
114 x 164 x 50 cm open.
Category
1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Sycamore, 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
Antique Elm Wood Secretary from 1840
Located in Opole, PL
Antique Elm Wood Secretary from 1840
This exquisite antique roll-top secretary desk exudes timeless elegance with its rich, warm wood grain and intricate craftsmanship. The piece fe...
Category
1840s European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Elm
Elegant Mahogany Empire Secretary Desk with Satinwood Intarsia
Located in Kastrup, DK
This small charming Empire secretary desk, crafted in Copenhagen around 1810, consists of three sections.
The upper section has three doors: a l...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Leather, Mahogany, Maple, Satinwood
Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary bookcase, Circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black marble top. The secretary features two front side columns with bronze mounts detail w...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI French Ebonized Scriban Secretary, 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Scriban or secretary chest in the Louis XVI style from France. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany. It has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous Fr...
Category
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
20th Century Burl Walnut Bombe Secretary Bookcase with Etched Glass Doors
Located in Savannah, GA
Italian Bombe secretaire with a distinct burl walnut grain. Highlights include the original wrought iron hinges, a hand carved decorative crown and etched mirrored panels featuring a...
Category
1920s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Burl, Mirror
Chest of Drawers / Secretary in Dutch Style Marquetry Holland Design
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Chest of drawers in Dutch style from the beginning of the century.
Entirely inlaid with floral decoration, with brass handles and a lion paw shaped base.
The upper part consists of...
Category
1910s Dutch Dutch Colonial Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century American Empire Secretary Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
A remarkable, and strong early 19th century American Empire secretary bookcase of grand architectural scale with an incredible arched pedimen...
Category
1830s American American Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1860, after Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
We present you another incredible piece of furniture in our collection -- this elegant and highly exquisite Biedermeier secretary desk circa 1860.
The secretary desk was manufactu...
Category
1860s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
60s 70s Teak Secretary Dresser Danish Modern Desk Design Denmark 60s 70s
Located in Neuenkirchen, NI
60s 70s teak secretary dresser Danish Modern Desk Design Denmark 60s 70s
Object: secretary
Manufacturer:
Condition: good
Age: around 1960-1970
...
Category
1970s Danish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
1970s Hand Carved Chinoserie Trunk Secretaires Desk
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning desk you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the best, it being...
Category
1970s Asian Chinoiserie Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Teak Bureau
Located in Puslinch, ON
Condition: Restored
Dimensions: 34.5” L x 16.5” D x 44.25” H (28” Desk Height)
Description: A vintage teak vanity/desk with drawers. Lock works and comes with key. Freshly imported...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century
Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk.
Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80.5"...
Category
19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Inlaid Wood Lombard Trumeau Desk, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Elegant mid-20th century Lombard trumeau. Double body cabinet in Baroque style carved in walnut, ebonized wood and fruitwood. Trumeau for living room or study equipped with three dra...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Oak Secretary Desk Attributed to Robert Guillerme, France 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
A 1960s French secretary desk constructed of beautifully grained solid oak in a warm, honey hue. This piece features eight lower drawers adorned with aqua-toned metal pulls and a spa...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
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.