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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
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
Empire Secretaire, Vienna, circa 1810/15
Located in Greding, DE
An elegant Empire secretary featuring a two-door lower cabinet, a smooth writing flap, and a top drawer. The piece is adorned with fine inlays depicting stars, lyres, and palmettes, ...
Category
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Diminutive Antique Directoire Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A finely constructed bookcase secretary with a chest. The tall cabinet has a pierced brass 3/4 gallery around the marble top with cookie corners. The bookcase has a frieze drawer ove...
Category
19th Century Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Patent Secretaire, France, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Patent secretaire with mahogany veneered frame and columns with bronze capitals and bases.
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco Secrétaire
Located in New York, NY
A practical desk which leaves no aesthetic compromise with its lovely bookmatched mahogany veneer adorning both the inside and outside of the case. Internal drawers are adorned with ...
Category
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Secretary, Birch and Birch burl veneered
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Secretary Desk, circa 1820, Braunschweig
An exceptional secretary desk from around 1820, crafted in Braunschweig. This elegant piece is made of birch and birch burl, veneered with f...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Swedish Two-Piece Teak Cabinet or Secretary Desk by Børge Mogensen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This Swedish two-piece teak cabinet, designed by Børge Mogensen and manufactured by Karl Andersson in the 1960s, is a stunning piece of furniture. The top compartment features a drop-down door that cleverly converts into a secretary desk, along with two adjustable shelves and three drawers. Meanwhile, the lower compartment boasts two sliding doors with beautifully handcrafted handles, concealing two more adjustable shelves. This professionally refinished cabinet...
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Mahogany Estate Office Lockers, c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique late-19th Century English mahogany, multi-doored, large set of lockers, primarily would have been used as an estate cupboard, as the description...
Category
19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
19th Century Louis XV Style French Marquetry and Bronze Ladies Secretaire Chest
Located in Darmstadt, DE
"Secrétaire à abattant" - a so called ladies secretaire from the time around 1870-1890 in the style of Louis XV. Fruitwooad and nutwood as well as pr...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Italian Venetian Chinoiserie and Creme Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a rare form of Louis XV style Italian-made secretary desk with chinoiserie painted cranes and various scenes in gold raised detail. The desk is in good condition and will sho...
Category
1950s Italian Louis XV Vintage 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
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
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
Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Vintage French Louis XVI Style Cherry Abbatant Secretary Desk for Bloomingdales
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Louis XVI Style Cherry Wood Abbatant Secretary Desk for Bloomingdale's. Item features 2 dovetailed drawers with lined interior, working locks and key, green tooled leather top writing surface, original label which reads "Made expressly for Bloomingdale...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Early Swedish 19th Century Rococo Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Early 19th Century Rococo secretary.
With a decorative carved pediment with two doors opening to storage. With a fall front desk opening to writing space.
With drawers below two sh...
Category
19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Swedish Pine Secretary, circa 1860-80
Located in Round Top, TX
Pine secretary or "bureau" from Sweden from the latter 1800's.
Standing 4' tall, this secretary has 3 traditional large lower drawers with brass pulls and upper desk section.
The des...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
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
Original Painted Pine Secretary Bureau from Sweden, dated 1847
Located in Round Top, TX
This unusual secretary is a special find. The remarkable folk art painted finish is all original, with a traditional faux wood motif in brown and brick red trimmed in a carved and pa...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Pine, Paint
French Secretaire à Abattant, First Empire Period
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel drop front secretary desk by Raymond Loewy. Comprised of an oak case, cerused oak drawer fronts, and blac...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Metal
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
Directoire Bureau a Cylindre - France, circa 1800, Mahogany Secretaire or Desk
Located in Greven, DE
Desk with mirror attachment - Bureau à cylindre
France
Mahogany
Directoire circa 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 97 x 50 cm
Description:
Top-mounted desk standing on tapered rou...
Category
Early 1800s French Directoire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Secretaire in Thuja Root Veneer, probably France, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary desk with a white marble top and thuja root veneer. The front of the desk is designed as a highboy, with the top three drawers forming a door. Below, there are three additi...
Category
1830s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Louis XV Style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
French 19th century Louis XV style Burlwood Ormolu Mounted Lady’s Desk.
Elegant French burlwood and ormolu mounted Lady’s cylinder desk. The single door cabinet is raised by slend...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Painted Baroque Style Secretary Commode from Southern Germany
Located in Dallas, TX
This wonderful Baroque-style secretary commode features a wavy serpentine chest of drawers surmounted by a slant-top desk. Hand-carved in Southern Germany during the 1800s, the secre...
Category
19th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Rosewood Secretaire by Erling Torvits for Klim Mobelfabrik, 1960s
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design
Danish rosewood secretary designed by Erling Torvits for Klim Møbelfabrik. This secretary has a hinged leaf that drops down and becomes a sturdy desktop. Behind this le...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Biedermeier Roll-Top Desk, Cherry Veneer, Brass, Ink, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
High-quality early Biedermeier Roll-top or Cylinder Secretaire or Writing Cabinet from South Germany around 1820.
Very thick cherrywood saw veneer on softwood and solid cherrywood. E...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Gustavian Style Walnut Secretaire Avatant
Located in Madrid, ES
A Swedish writing desk, made of walnut wood, also decorated with gilded lateral grooves in the late Gustavian style. The writing desk is divided into two parts, each of which has bro...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Louis Philippe Fall-Front Secretary in Cherrywood
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship Louis Philippe abattant secretary desk in a walnut cherry wood with exterior front inlay with farmscapes, castle and flowers marquetry details. The secretary ...
Category
1860s European Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Stunning Poul Hundevad Rosewood Secretary Cabinet , Denmark
Located in Buffalo, NY
Danish modern, two piece, book matched rosewood, bookcase secretary cabinet by Poul Hundevad ... Birch wood interior,,, features a 26 inch height bottom cabinet with sliding doors, a...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Rosewood
Italian 18th Century Style Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Ebonized and burl walnut 18th century style secretary with panel doors that are mirrored inside and out so can display open or closed. The upper cabinet has been lined with fabric wh...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Chinoiserie Gilt Lacquer Table Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
This charming tabletop secretaire is decorated in gold and black in the Chinoiserie style. The exterior is finished with black lacquer and painted with scenic mountain landscapes, br...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Antique Country French Regence Style Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Regence style Secretary was hand-crafted from solid oak, and features a traditional slant-front d...
Category
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Chippendale Style Mahogany Secretary Desk and Chair by Baker
Located in Pasadena, TX
Chippendale style mahogany secretary desk by Milling Street Baker
10 drawers with brass pulls.
Desk has ample storage space, featuring 10 drawers. Mi...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Burl
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany
Solid wood, manufactured to a high quality. The display cabinet has a pull-out function and can be used as a secretary than...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, 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
Meuble secrétaire vintage en rotin et bois clair des années 60
Located in BESANÇON, FR
Meuble secrétaire vintage des années 60, en rotin et bois de hêtre clair. Beaucoup de rangements : 1 niche ouverte, 1 partie secrétaire/bureau, 2 portes en partie basse avec une étag...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rattan, Wood
Danish Modern Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This elegant secretary desk is made from Cuban mahogany, which tends to have a honey colored appearance compared to more ubiquitous forms of the wood. It would be well placed in an ...
Category
20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
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
Louis Phillipe North German Fall-Front Secretary in Flame Mahogany, circa 1855
Located in Miami, FL
A captivating one of a kind Louis Phillip secretary in book-matched, flame mahogany with shaped, curvi-linear drawer fronts and faux drawer fronts on the fall-front and the sides. Of...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Louis XV Style Oak Secretary Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Louis XV style oak secretary desk with intricate and highly detailed carvings on front, top and sides. The scalloped door, with a working key, drops...
Category
19th Century Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Meuble secrétaire vintage Guillerme et Chambron en chêne massif des années 50 60
Located in BESANÇON, FR
Meuble de rangement secrétaire vintage des années 50 60, de Robert Guillerme et Jacques Chambron pour l’éditeur Votre Maison, superbes conception et design, en bois de chêne clair ma...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Chinese Two-Pieces Furniture with Table and Cupboard with Doors and Drawers
Located in Marbella, ES
Chinese Two-Pieces Furniture with Table and Cupboard with Doors and Drawers
Category
Late 20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Antique English Mahogany Glass Front Bureau Bookcase, circa 1830
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English mahogany glass front Bureau bookcase with Fitted Interior, circa 1830.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
Spectacular masterspiece ladies writing secretary desk Napoleon III, 1860 France
Located in Wien, AT
A masterpiece of French craftsmanship - a Napoleon III era ladies writing secretary desk, circa 1860.
The piece of furniture has a slender, high structure, with a richly decorated f...
Category
1860s French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
Mid-Century Desk by Silvio Cavatorta in Mahogany on Steel Tubes, Italy 1960s
Located in Ulm, DE
This exquisite mid-century modern desk, designed by renowned Italian designer Silvio Cavatorta in the 1960s, epitomizes elegance and functionality. Crafted from rich mahogany, the de...
Category
1930s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Steel
Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Inlays, Brass, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Large, original Biedermeier Secretaire from South Germany around 1840.
Cherry veneered on softwood and solid cherry. Solid cherry solid columns with carved Corinthian capitals.
Pro...
Category
1830s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron, Tin
Rare Baker Furniture Co. Italian Rococo Style Walnut Mirrored Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a very authentic looking Italian Rococo secretary desk with a bookcase top by Baker furniture company. The piece is made of gorgeous warm walnut and features mirrored doors o...
Category
1970s American Rococo Revival Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Secretary Cabinet by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A Macassar ebony secretaire side cabinet with a rectangular stepped top above an open recess and a fall front enclosing a fitted interior, flan...
Category
Early 20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Macassar
19th Century Swedish Small Gustavian Fall Front Desk with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Gustavian fall front desk from Burtrask Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden.
Scraped by hand to its original color.
Small cute model in child size.
Fits so nicely i...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
1930s French Art Deco Mahogany Secretary Desk in Geometric Lines on Tapered Legs
Located in Ulm, DE
Elegant Art Deco Secretary Desk – French, 1930s
Step into the timeless sophistication of the 1930s with this meticulously restored French Art Deco secretary desk. Featuring a bold, ...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Louis XV Style Folding Desk with One Drawer, 1950
Located in Miami, FL
Louis XV style folding desk with one drawer. An exceptional Louis XV style desk, made of early Italian antique oak wood.
This piece screams high quality. Beautiful grain and patina....
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Swedish 1856 Two-part Painted Secretary with Four Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish 19th century two-part painted wood secretary circa 1856 with slant front desk, four doors and bracket feet. of Scandinavian taste for light palettes. Enrich your space with a...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Secretary Made In Rosewood, Danish Design From 1960s
Located in Lejre, DK
Secretary made of rosewood, of Danish design from the 1960s.
Measurements: H:121cm W:104cm D:46cm
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Georgian English Mahogany Commode Secretaire, 1816
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Important English commode secretary from the Georgian period with three large drawers. The upper part simulating two drawers is made of a flap which forms the work table covered with...
Category
1810s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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.