Secretaires
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood, Pine, Paint
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Glass, Mahogany
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Ormolu
Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Pine
19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Glass, Wood
1860s French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany, Satinwood
1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires
Oak
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1870s Eastlake Antique Secretaires
Glass, Walnut
1880s French Japonisme Antique Secretaires
Wood
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Pine
19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Hardwood
1880s European High Victorian Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Fir
1830s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Mid-19th Century American George III Antique Secretaires
Glass, Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Leather, Oak
19th Century German Black Forest Antique Secretaires
Pine
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Glass, Walnut
1880s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Birch
1890s English Moorish Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1890s Italian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Brass
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Elm, Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1870s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Brass
1870s Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Oak
Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Brass, Other
19th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Leather, Wood
19th Century American Eastlake Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Wood
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Brass
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1910s Dutch Dutch Colonial Vintage Secretaires
Wood
19th Century English Country Antique Secretaires
Wood
Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1890s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 19th Century Irish Antique Secretaires
Glass, Mahogany
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.