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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
Antique French Louis XVI Style Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Sheridan, CO
French Louis XVI style fall front desk, early 20th c. This Secretaire desk features a single drawer over fall front panel, opening to fitted interior gallery, inset leather writing s...
Category

1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Danish Teak Secretary Desk by Kai Kristiansen for HJN Mobler 1960.
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Superb Scandinavian secretary with straight shapes. A clever tray that opens by sliding onto 3 small drawers and 2 small interior shelves. On the lower part 3 large drawers. High-en...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Secretaire à la Bourgogne, Transformation Table, Louis XV Style, 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Very rare antique desk or secretary, so-called bureau à transformation "à la Bourgogne" in Louis XV style. France Walnut 19th century Dimensions: H...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century French Wooden Secretary
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden desk created in early 20th century France. A crest of musical instruments and vines is proudly engraved into the center of this illustrious desk, framed in by a series of fl...
Category

Early 20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Brass

1780s Gustavian Period Swedish Grey Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period grey painted drop-front secretary from circa 1780 with multiple inner drawers and four drawers on the façade. Discover the sublime craftsmanship of this Sw...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Italian Venetian Olive Burl Serpentine Secretary Slant Desk Bureau Chest
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive antique Italian Venetian drop front secretary desk. Made from olive burl with a downswept lid and serpentine frame. Each panel shows off exquisite burl and shapely cro...
Category

Early 20th Century Neoclassical Secretaires

Materials

Olive, Burl

Pair Antique Country French Walnut Petite Secretaries
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique Country French Walnut Petite Secretaries are truly an amazing and unique find! The design is unusually tall, shallow and narrow all at...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

19th Century French Louis Philippe Pine Secretary ~ Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis Philippe Pine Secretary ~ Bookcase is an unusual combination of tailored elegance melded with a casual impression providing both storage and a work surface,...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk by Falsig Mobler
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful scandinavian modern secretary desk in rosewood manufactured by Falsig Mobler in Denmark in the 1960's. This special case piece, recently imported from Europe to C...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary
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

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Secretary Desk
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful scandinavian modern teak secretary desk manufactured in Denmark inn the 1960's that was recently imported from Europe to California before its restoration. This ...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

1940's Traditional Burl Wood Secretary/ Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Beautiful Grand Scale 1940's Traditional style Burl Wood Secretary/ Writing Desk. This secretary is in very good condition. Miami Beach acquisition.
Category

1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Country French Secretary ~ Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Secretary ~ Desk is a wonderful example of the combination of fine craftsmanship with an efficient, space-saving design. Perfect for providing a convenient wo...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk Having a writing section along with a two door commode for mail secretary need...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

18th Century Baroque Secretary, Tabernacle, Walnut, Plum, Maple, Austria c. 1750
Located in Greven, DE
Baroque tabernacle secretary with figural marquetry Austria Walnut, plum, maple Baroque around 1750 Dimensions: 192 x 133 x 75 cm Description: Magnificent and exceptionally beauti...
Category

Mid-18th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Walnut

Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paolo Buffa, Secretary, Italy c. 1948, Brass Intarsia by Giovanni Gariboldi, Manufactured by Marelli e Colico, Cantù. An exquisite and collectible Mid-Century secretary by esteemed ...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Danish Teak Secretaire by Nils Jonsson - Kai Kristiansen for HJN Mobler
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted dark teak wood secretaire with pull down door front that slides back to make an adjustable desk top . Inside there is great storage with two floating letter holde...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

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

18th Century Swiss Made Secretaire
Located in Greven, DE
Antique secretary or chest of drawers Switzerland Yew, oak second half of 18th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 105 x 116 x 61 cm Description: Antique sloping flap chest of drawers ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Swiss Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Yew

Kai Winding for Brdr. C & W Andersen Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Norwalk, CT
Delve deep into the world of Danish craftsmanship with this elegant secretary desk, a masterpiece from the esteemed Kai Winding for Brdr. C & W Andersen. Every detail of this desk re...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

French Secretary by Pierre Balmain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
W35.5 D17.5 H49.5 KC25 Vintage 1980s drop down desk in a dark walnut finish. Item features brass inlay joinery, original textured hardware and comes with original key. Item shows in...
Category

1960s Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Mid century Vintage small TV cabinet by František Jirák, 1960´s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
Mid century Vintage small cabinet or TV table from the 1960´s. It was designed by František Jirák and was manufactured by Tatra nábytok company in the former Czechoslovakia. Walnut v...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Walnut, Plywood

Antique Biedermeier-Style Drop-Front Mahogany Secretary Chest
Located in Milano, IT
This marvelous Biedermeier-style drop-front secretary chest, dating back to around 1830 and crafted in Austria, is a true work of art. Made from precious mahogany wood, it features b...
Category

Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Baroque Tabernacle Secretaire, Mid-18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque Tabernacle Secretaire in three parts, boasting a three-drawer lower chest set on graceful compressed ball feet. The gently curved...
Category

Mid-18th Century Baroque 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

Napoleon III Marquetry Secretary Vitrine Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique 19th century Napoleon III desk Bonheur Du Jour in walnut and mahogany. Upper part showcase with three shelves and lower part with a couple of drawers and extendable top and...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Rustic A. Brandt Ranch Oak Secretary Style Drop Front Student Desk with Bookcase
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome Late 20th Century Rustic or Western secretary style drop front lighted student desk with bookcase by A. Brandt Ranch Oak. Comprised of solid medium or honey oak finish, drop...
Category

Late 20th Century American Rustic Secretaires

Materials

Metal

vintage secretary | wall cupboard | 60s | Sweden
Located in GRONINGEN, NL
vintage secretary | wall cupboard | 60s | Sweden period | 60's design | unknown | Sweden condition | good | light signs of use | veneer traces on the back size | 186 x 95 x 42 (hxwx...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Gianfranco Frattini 804 Rolltop desk for Bernini, 1962
Located in Misinto, IT
The 804 secretaire is one of the most significant pieces of Gianfranco Frattini's creativity. Designed in 1962 for Bernini, it highlights Frattini's exceptional design prowess and th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Aluminum

Mid Century Modern Vintage Freestanding Wall Unit Desk in Walnut, circa 1960s
Located in Troy, MI
Vintage Mid Century Modern Freestanding Wall Unit Desk Great modernist secretary wall unit circa 1960s Freestanding with adjustable upper drop fr...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Birch Karl Johan Secretary Bureau from Sweden, circa 1840-60
By Karl Johan
Located in Round Top, TX
Stunning Karl Johan Swedish birch secretary or "bureau" with twelve inner drawers surrounding a 3-part central cubie area. Exterior has one upp...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Antique Victorian Painted Grain Dragon Griffon Secretary Library Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Early 20th Century Victorian style secretary writing desk featuring painted grain finish and dragon / serpent / griffon carving. The desk opens to large writing surface with...
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Secretary Cabinet by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann
Located in New York, NY
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

Antique Oak Secretary Desk, Sweden, circa 1920
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the beginning of the 20th century. Made of oak wood. Very good condition. Dimensions: Height 111 cm / width 88 cm / depth. 52 cm.
Category

1920s Swedish Chippendale Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Oak

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

French Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This late 19th-century French secretary exudes timeless elegance with its creamy painted finish. Its writing surface boasts a faux marble pattern, a lovely feature of French furnitur...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

European 18th Century Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Old Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European two-part tall secretary from the 18th century with gray / cream painted finish, old glass doors, slant front desk and five graduated drawers....
Category

18th Century European Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique British Colonial Campaign Chest Secretary
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 19th century campaign chest secretary handcrafted in mahogany in a two-piece construction featuring a pull-out leather top secretary ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Black Lacquer Art Deco Secretaire Desk With Etched Mirror On Very Elegant Legs
Located in Ulm, DE
Writing furniture / bar furniture Piano lacquer in black high gloss Original Art Deco, France 1930s Dimensions: Width: 103 cm height: 117 cm Depth: 37 cm
Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Mirror

Napoleon III Secretaire Abattant, 19th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique secretaire abattant cabinet with drop down writing panel with interior carved wooden rails in a yellow color wood finish. The fall front has...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Russian Antique Veneered Mahogany Secretary by Heinrich Gambs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, designed and produced by Heinrich G...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

Secretary Cabinet, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
This cabinet dates from circa 1920, produced in Germany. With 12 drawers and a door with a shelf behind it in the lower part. In the upper part a display case and a flap. The cabinet...
Category

1920s German Industrial Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Oak, Pine, Plywood

English 19th Century Walnut Campaign Butler's Desk with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English walnut Campaign butler's desk from the 19th century with writing area, three drawers, bracket feet and brass hardware. This 19th-century English walnut Campaign butler's d...
Category

19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Art Deco Maple Briar, Gold Leaf and Black Lacquered Secretaire, 1940s
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco secrétaire was produced in Italy in the 1940s. It is completely made of an elegant maple briar, with black lacquered and gold leafed details. In particular, some of t...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Gold Leaf

Antique Country French Secretary Desk ~ Secretaire
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Secretary Desk ~ Secretaire represents the understated elegance of the genre, with stately lines accentuated with subtle m...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Country Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Secretary With Drawer by Mylene Niedzialkowski
Located in Geneve, CH
Secretary With Drawer by Mylene Niedzialkowski Dimensions: W 59 x H 160. Materials: Solid oak and solid steel. A rotating secretary with engaged curves on a solid steel axis. Combin...
Category

2010s French Modern Secretaires

Materials

Steel

Georgian Mahogany Blind Door Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early Georgian Mahogany blind door bookcase secretary desk 1740-50. This is a great looking piece that retains an old and possibly original surface with a great mellow color and patina to the aged Mahogany. Three adjustable shelves in the top section. The bottom piece with two over two drawers and the fitted interior with a sliding lid that opens to a well area. All hardware is original to the piece and all of the locks are working with a key to the bookcase top and desk lid...
Category

1740s English George II Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaire in Lacquer by Jacques Dubois (1694-1763)
Located in NICE, FR
A brown-red low secretary in lacquer adorned with chinoiserie motifs by the great French cabinetmaker Jacques Dubois (1694-1763). This exquisite piece of...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Campaign Chest Secretary of Brass-Bound Mahogany for British Military Officer
Located in Austin, TX
A fine British military officer’s Campaign ware secretary or secretaire from the 19th century, fashioned as a chest of drawers, featuring a patinated mahogany exterior, showing two s...
Category

19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
An antique early 20th century ladies' secretary desk. Made from walnut with a maple writing surface. Features a drop front with neoclassical brass hardware over large central drawer ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

French Louis Philippe Drop Front Secretary, late 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
Experience the timeless allure of a Louis Philippe secretary, resplendent in mahogany veneer and a black stone top. This exquisite piece of 19th-century craftsmanship boasts a drop f...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Henredon Solid Oak Olive Finish Wide Open Bookcase Secretary Desk Country French
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Henredon Solid Oak or Chestnut Olive Finish Wide Open Bookcase Secretary Desk Country French MINT!
Category

20th Century American Country Secretaires

Materials

Chestnut, Oak

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

High quality teak art deco secretaire by Gerson’s furniture store, Bangkok 1930s
Located in Appeltern, Gelderland
Solid high quality teak art deco secretaire by Gerson’s furniture store, produced in Bangkok, 1930s. Beautiful marquetry and all-in solid wood. When the deks opens there is another b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Thai Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Bone, Teak

Louis XVI Style Cerused Oak Secretary Bookcase Writing Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fabulous French secretaire bookcase featuring a pull-out leather writing table or petite desk. Mid-century 2 part case crafted from oak. The chest is fronted by two large storage drawers with patinated brass ring pulls with a ribbon and bow motif. The top of the commode has a pull-out leather writing surface with embossed leather and gilt borders. The leather has a lovely aged patina with craquelure. The case has fluted corners supported by square legs that taper ending with brass sabot feet. The bookcase has two large doors with gilt wire mesh inset opening to a three shelf case. Below the book storage...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Bronze

18th Century Baroque Secretaire Walnut
Located in Münster, DE
Sloping flap secretary Baroque, Brunswick, around 1750, walnut and walnut root wood, plum and maple veneered on softwood corpus, 3 drawers, double curved corpus on ball feet, slant...
Category

1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Softwood

Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
Located in Handewitt, DE
Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany, Birch and elmwood veneer. Inlays in different woods. Original fittings in bronze and...
Category

1810s German Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

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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