Secretaires

A Florentine carved cream painted parcel gilt slant-top desk bureau with nicely aged dark warm distressed patina over the whole! Crafted in Florence, Italy, circa pre-1940, executed...

This incomparable slant-front chinoiserie black lacquer secretary desk depicts a serene, traditional Asian motif from head to toe. The gold and greens appear as mystical and radiant...

A Japanese style carved wood cabinet, with a painted decor imitating Japanese lacquer, ornamented with flowers, birds and butterflies. Opening onto two drawers and a paper filer, the upright-secretary door is also fitted with red velvet. Surmounted by a drawer and asymmetrical shelves, composed in the Japanese « zen » spirit, the cabinet stands on four legs joined by an engraved stretcher. The great influence of the Far-East, through China and Japan, in the second half of the 19th century French art could be found first in painting and soon after in decorative arts and furniture as well. Following the Franco-English military campaign led in 1860 against the Imperial army in China, the French troops of Napoleon III brought back from the Summer Palace, a part of the Chinese Imperial court treasure, which will make up the famous Chinese Museum of Empress Eugénie at the Fontainebleau Palace. The French artists won’t be long to take inspiration from those exotic and sumptuous objects for their creations, as they used to do in the 18th century, when the best French cabinet-makers adapted the Chinese lacquers on the luxurious royal chests. But the influence of Japan, at the Meiji period (1868-1912), came also very quickly to France, thanks to the opening of the country in the middle of the 19th century, as well as the development of traveling and the amazing Universal Exhibitions, in which Japan participated for the first time in 1867 in Paris. Then many Japanese objects and prints were imported to France and to all Europe, and for which some collectors spent already fortunes. With Manet and Impressionists generation, the passion for Japanese art, more than a simple taste for an exotic style, was still in fashion until the turn of the 19th century. It provoked not only a craze among the French aristocratic families as well as the wealthy Paris high society, wishing renew their mansion inner decoration, but turned also to a real revolutionary movement among the “avant-garde” artists. Those artists, whoever they were, painters, cabinet-makers or designers of ceramic, bronze and crystal objects, adapted then those techniques and naturalistic motifs unknown until this time. Christofle, very famous since 1867 as a silversmith, was also one of the leaders among the inventors of Japanism. He knew how to use Japanese elements to his own splendid works made in silver or “cloisonné” enameled bronze. During the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, Christofle presented with great success his life-sized bronze Japanese ladies torcheres, executed by the renowned sculptor Guillemin. Another famous company to be mentioned, is “L’Escalier de Cristal”, producing art objects and furniture, all of high standard quality and innovating much with their Japanese decor. Highly remarked during the Universal Exhibitions, “L’Escalier de Cristal” collaborated with the greatest artists, such Gallé and Rousseau for glass- and ceramic wares, and the cabinet-makers Lièvre and Viardot, whom made furniture including sometimes authentic Japanese elements. In 1872, Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert opened in Paris, at 33 rue du Quatre-Septembre a store that offered “natural bamboo furniture and cane seats” and all kinds of textile fittings for furniture. This furniture used for winter gardens and terraces of mansions knew then a resounding success. They developed their business around 1884 with their Japanese style furniture, very close to that executed by Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906). In 1886, the company appearing in the category of “Chinoiserie and Japoneries” offered, in addition to furniture and seating creation, works of art and inlaid furniture directly imported from the Far East ; an activity that expanded rapidly. Their exotic fantasy furniture presented at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889 and 1900, rewarded them two silver medals. In 1894, the company was listed under the name “Perret et Vibert”, headed by the son of Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert. The same year, they redesigned their store on rue du Quatre-Septembre, creating ten new show-rooms, showing complete furniture sets of Japanese and Chinese style inspiration. It was not until 1895, that the company was finally named “La Maison des Bambous” and organized then in their shops an “exhibition of country furniture and seats for castles and villas”, which was visited by Empress Eugenie to furnish her villa Cyrnos at Cap Martin. She actually was a regular customer of the “Maison des Bambous” as she bought repeatedly furniture. In October of the same year, the king of Greece...

Antique cabinet secretary from the biedermeier period around 1845. Body in cherry, parts of the front and the wreath veneered in walnut. Handles and fittings made of brass in the sh...

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...

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...

This Secretary desk is a handmade modernized interpretation of the French Directoire style at the end of the 18th century. This period design is remarkable with its straight, classic...

Mid 20th century walnut Spanish fall-front secretary with molded carvings in drawers and doors. Measures: Height from the floor to the open leaf: 32.40in.

German modernism free-standing secretary cabinet designed and manufactured by GMD Berlin. Wood lacquering in various colors and finish. Available on request in different amounts.

A secretary desk from the 1950s, French craftsmanship. Solid elm wood with a beautiful patina. Height with the drop-down leaf open: 75 cm. Dimensions of the drop-down leaf: 45 cm ...

Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...

This is a sophisticated and stately Danish secretary bookcase. The partially pierced cornice and a secondary tiered; a shaped cornice over tw...

This small charming Empire secretary desk, crafted in Copenhagen around 1810, consists of three sections. The upper section has three doors: a l...

Secretary made of rosewood, of Danish design from the 1960s. Measurements: H:121cm W:104cm D:46cm

Fine 18th century Danish late Baroque secretaire in its original finish with three drawers in the bottom half. The desk compartment features four drawers ...

This is a classic piece! It is a Chinese Chippendale style mahogany secretary by Biggs Furniture. It is very good condition with ball and claw feet and brass hardware.

An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...

An Indonesian antique handmade slant-front desk from the 19th century, with raised panels and inner drawers. Created in Indonesia during the 19th century, this secretaire features a ...

Italian segretaire chest of drawers desk model 804 designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini in 1962, emphasizes Gianfranco Frattini's great design skills and the skilful cabinet-m...

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...

Gustavian Painted Secretary Cabinet Bookcase, Sweden Antique Swedish secretary cabinet in Gustavian Style. The cabinet is a well crafted pie...

This gorgeous Louis XV Secretary desk dates back to around 1750-60 and was made in France. The secretaire de dame has a kingwood veneer and a v...

American Tiger maple and Cherry fall front chest of drawers with fitted interior desk, flanking turned bulbous columns, lower graduated drawers, o...

English Regency style mahogany and satinwood inlaid Carlton house desk. Circa 1880 rare Carlton House desk, typical for the Regency period, is a beautiful piece of furniture. It i...

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...

Early 19th century Georgian mahogany chest on chest circa 1800. Fine quality English chest on chest which we rescued on our travels around Sweden. Comprising of 2 parts.  Top secti...

A Louis XVI secretary desk in mahogany with satinwood inlays. Offers a cylinder top that opens to reveal a series of small drawers surrounding...

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...

19th Century Louis XVI Country French Secretary Desk is the epitome of efficiency with style! Artfully hand-crafted from dense, old-growth oak, it features a slant front design wher...

Late 17th Century Louis XIV Italian walnut secretary cabinet, termed a Scrittorio con Scarabattolo, with thick burled walnut drawer fronts and striking carved fruitwood inlay. Fine R...

Outstanding Italian walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage, The upper section with a shaped carved cresting centere...

The best English Queen Anne / George I burl walnut secretary bureau bookcase in two sections. The upper arched top portion with a molded and domed cornice inset with mirrored glass a...

A 18th century, dark-grey antique Swedish Gustavian three part bureau, secretaire made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The arched upper section of the Scandinavi...

This Louis-Philippe Secretaire Desk is made of blond flamed mahogany with a Sainte-Anne marble top with a lot of drawers.

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...

A Swedish antique rustic Gustavian slant front secretary from early 19th century that is perfect for any home. This originalpainted features a slanted top that pulls down to make a ...

From the Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany, once part of Denmark, a very handsome Empire secretary with bookcase in ash with inlays and marquetry silhouettes of neoclassical Roman images. Cylinder top opens to a pull-out desk which offers a felt-lined lectern or writing surface flanked by sliding storage compartments, as well as a series of small drawers and a central cabinet. Above desk, are three cupboards and below, there are three long drawers. Northern Germany or from the Danish Jutland region, circa 1815. Note: Green baize on writing surface can be replaced with leather. Measures: 46" wide x 21" deep x 83" high (With desk top open...

Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary bookcase, Circa 1890.

English Chippendale mahogany broken pediment breakfront with carved floral medallions, candle light molding, four upper case glass doors with adjus...

A fine large sized flat desk otherwise referred to as a "bureau de ministre" or ministers flat desk. In mahogany and mahogany veneer flamed on all sides, beautiful ornamentation of...

Splendid early 19th century Biedermeier secretaire/ secretary desk from the renowed period in Vienna/ Austria around 1820/25. A spectacular, early example of a Biedermeier secretary which has been venereed with finest mirror-matched nutwood, showing an extraordinary grain - just see how elegantly the grain pattern runs down from the top to the base without any visible interuption. This perfect sized Biedermeier secretaire impresses with its cambered worked doors, a drawer on the top and a fold-down writing surface. Influenced by the previous empire epoch, this superb, antique secretary is adorned by two beautifully worked full columns. When you fold down the lockable writing surface, the amazing designed interior opens up to the viewer´s eye: 9 small drawers and another large one on top, architecturally structured with ebonized column decoration and the still original mirror (unfortunately cracked - see picture#18) in the back. Artfully worked brass applications with lion heads finalize the spectacular look. Traditionally hand polished with ruby shellac, which gives the surface this lovely slight red brown tone, this breathtaking early Biedermeier secretary...

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...

A rare and stunning fine quality French Transitional Tulipwood, Kingwood, ormolu, Brocatelle Violette secrétaire bookcase by renowned Parisian cabinetmaker Maison Gouffé. circa 1925 ...

Pair of antique Sèvres style porcelain and ormolu mounted secretaires French,19th Century Height 126cm, width 55cm, depth 33cm This stunning pair of 19th century French secretai...

French Art Deco Secretaire Desk A very elegant secretire with three drawers and lockable fall down front, ideal for a hallway the cabinet stands on external legs and is figured walnu...

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...

Austrian secretaire from the 20th century. Biedermeier style furniture elegantly inlaid, veneered and carved in walnut, maple, beech and fr...

Amazing very rare limited edition cylinder secretary desk in Lucite late 1980s This is the best secretary kept in town: A fine art, exquisite...

an exquisite vintage Louis XV style Minton-Spidell secretary desk. The secretary desk embodies timeless elegance and sophisticated craftsmanship. The upper portion features two doors...

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...

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 ...

An Exquisite hand-crafted Faux Bamboo Rattan, hand enamed and Decorated Slant Top Secretary Desk with open bottom lower tier and high knee cle...

This beautiful antique English secretaire is not only a stunning decorative piece but also highly practical and versatile. You can use it as a writing desk, or it can serve excellent...

The arched pediment centered by paneled roundel, over two glazed doors with pointed astragals opening to a chartreuse silk-lined interior with shelves; the lower part with a pullout ...

Danish secretary desk designed by Torbjørn Afdal for Nesjestranda Møbelfabrik, Norway, 1965. Crafted from Brazilian rosewood, the secretary desk ...

This secretaire desk was designed by Jacques Adnet, and was made in Tamo Ash Wood. The style of this secretaire features sleek lines, geometric shapes and a ...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1900 Burr & Burl Walnut drop front bureau A good looking and well-made piece, you don't come across many in Burr walnut, it i...

This is a Mid-Century Modern secretary desk in teak veneer from the 1960s. In the lower part, two doors open onto a shelf and a panel drops to reveal a desk space. The upper part ope...

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...

A late 18th century English George III mahogany Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of glazed doors, slant fr...

18th Century Dutch Burl Walnut Secretary Cabinet Scriban Desk Library Antique LA . An important and Rare 18th century Dutch burl walnut secretaire cabinet...

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,...

Antique Louis-Philippe Secretary Desk in Burl Walnut, Circa 1845 – From the Loire Valley This extraordinary Louis-Philippe secretary originates from a historic château nestled in a ...

An exceptional vintage Hepplewhite-style secretary by Maddox, circa 1930s. This beautiful specimen is made from mahogany with an upper bookcase having double mullioned glass doors ov...

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...

A good quality antique French inlaid marquetry Rosewood secretaire abattant, circa 1880. Made from the finest rosewood and of serpentine or bombe shape, with a Carrara marble top, th...

This is a fantastic, versatile and luminous Chinoiserie red and gold paint decorated secretary desk with a bookcase top. The desk is two pieces and does come apart and has a fantasti...

A fine English mid-18th century mahogany secretaire / secretary / bookcase / china cabinet. Of lovely, deep, rich color, patina and quality. George III-period, circa 1760. The bold, detachable, swan-neck pediment carved with 'Gothic' open fretwork, spiral rosettes and a dentil cornice. The pediment is centred by a small platform below which is a fluted panel. The bookcase / china cabinet section with two, thirteen-pane glazed doors, with three original adjustable shelves with applied beadings for the display of china etc. The base with a pull-out writing section fitted with small drawers, two of which have secret releases. These secret drawers are faced with blind-fret 'Gothic' tracery, and centred by a carved, shaped arch. The base with three cock-beaded drawers, and raised on its original bracket feet which are faced with blind fret. This fine, sophisticated and well-proportioned example of a secretaire / secretary / cabinet / desk / bookcase is remarkable for having survived in its original state including all swan-neck handles and locks. Of superb quality, color, patination, and well figured throughout. With mahogany drawer linings: further confirmation of its superlative quality. Measures: 42" wide (107 cm) 23" deep 58.5 cm) 95" high (241 cm) - without cartouche. A related antique bureau cabinet...

Rare and important antique American early 19th century figured mahogany "Duncan Phyfe" style flap-top secretary bookcase with gorgeous lyre-shaped glazed doors. Color of mahogany has...

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...

Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim

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...

PRESENTING a STUNNING 19C Irish Georgian Style Secretary Bookcase. From circa 1850-60 and most definitely, “IRISH”. Made of gorgeous flamed Cuban mahogany which would have been imported from the British Colonies at the end of the 18th Century and early 19th Century. This piece of is of IMPRESSIVE PROPORTIONS ….. it is a real STATEMENT piece and EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY ! It has a very ‘Regency Style’ pelmet or crown with egg and dart moldings under a very straight line crown. The top section consists of a 4 door bookcase, each with 3 shelving areas. It appears to retain it’s original glass, but it could likewise have been replaced at some time during it’s long life, as it is very rare to find pieces that have not suffered breakages over 150+ years. Each bookcase door still retains the original moldings to the front with a star shape above and below a central circular viewing panel. Each section is separated by a carved and fluted roman column/pillar. The bookcase section rests on top of the base, which consists of a beautiful central secretaire desk accessed by drop down front with working lock and key and rests on 2 pull out rests on either side. The secretary portion has a central tabernacle, with an inlaid oval satinwood medallion above another scallop shell drawer. It has 6 smaller drawers and 8 cubbies. The 2 pillars on either side of the central tabernacle are secret drawers and pull out. The curved crowns above the cubbies on either side are likewise secret drawers and pull out. Either side of the secretary there are 2 drawers (4 total) with a press or cupboard underneath. Under the secretary there are 4 large central drawers. The brasses and hardware are all original to the piece (save 2 extra hinges that have been attached to the drop down secretary to give it more support and stability. Again, each section is separated by a turned and fluted column/pillar which replicates the 2 side pillars to the central tabernacle of the secretary. The piece sits on 8 curved feet. This was an extremely high quality piece when made. This is also supported by the fact that the secondary woods are also mahogany and not pine or oak for slightly lesser quality pieces of the era. This piece is specifically identifiable as an Irish Georgian Style piece by virtue of the scallop shell moldings on the base side presses (see photos). Irish Georgian furniture...