Secretaires
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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1910s
Regency Rosewood Secretaire Side Cabinet/Chiffoneer
Located in Folkestone, GB
A superior quality and unusual Regency rosewood Side Cabinet, the top drawer with fold-down, leather-lined front, fully fitted with drawers and pigeon holes. below are a pair of silk...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Swedish antique rustic Gustavian Secretary with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
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 ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
English Regency Style Mahogany and Satinwood Inlaid Carlton House Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
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...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Writing Bureau or Secretaire
Located in Kramfors, SE
Painted writing bureau or secretaire from Sweden made during the early 1800s, 1810 to 1820. The bureau is a folk art furniture from the area Hälsingland in Sweden and is made in gustavian style. The bureau is a prime example of the Swedish gustavian period with clean, elegant lines and a timeless expression. A fun detail is the secret compartment hidden in the middle of the interior, see picture. This bureau is a solid antique furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Antique Moroccan Desk or Escritoire
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Important 19th century Moroccan escritoire or desk crafted in mahogany with strong aesthetics movement influences. Featuring Moorish architectural references, floral and geometric bone inlays...
Category
Late 19th Century Moroccan Moorish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary in mahogany veneer with two-door bottom part as well as dark marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with brown leather there are more drawers and co...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secr...
Category
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century French Empire desk Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful upright secrétaire from the French Empire period. The desk is made of oak with burr walnut veneer, decorated with bronze ormolu elements. These are typical of the French Em...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Swedish Secretary Bureau
Located in South Salem, NY
A late 19th century Swedish secretary bureau with a drop front writing surface. Two over three drawers sits atop ogee bracket feet. Later paint.
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique 19thC English Victorian Hobbs Kneehole Cylinder Roll Writing Bureau Desk
By Hobbs & Co.
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th Century Hobbs & Co London kneehole cylider writing desk. Made of oak featuring seven drawers with roll top that opens to multiple compartments and cubbies, three more dr...
Category
19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Oak
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 French Louis Philippe Period Pine Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Handcrafted during the 19th century, this French Louis Philippe period pine secretary is ideal for the casual decor with its clean lines and sublime functionality. The tailored lines...
Category
1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary represents the essence of efficiency with a flair for style! Hand-crafted from solid oak, i...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique English Secretaire / Sideboard, 19th Century
Located in Ely, GB
A beautiful English antique secretaire cabinet or sideboard. circa 1820 - 1880.
Made from mahogany and of high quality, the cabinet has g...
Category
1820s British Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Ebony and Thuya Wood Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a 19th century amboyna and ebony cabinet, with three quarter balustrade gallery, above two panelled doors set with Paris porcelain portrait ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Amboyna
Fine George III Flame-Figured Mahogany Secretaire Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
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 ...
Category
Early 1800s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique French Renaissance Revival Hunt Desk / Secretaire Barley Twist Oak 19th
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous French antique 19th century Renaissance revival / Hunt style Writing desk in carved oak.
Marvelous decorated hunt style desk with fox head drawers & barley twisted columns...
Category
1870s French Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Davenport Desk in Walnut, 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb Davenport in walnut and burl walnut from England from the 19th century V
ery elegant small travel desk in walnut and burl walnut which has a very elegant base
The right side...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Swedish Country Empire Pine Secretaire
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusual country secretaire from the empire period Northern Sweden, 1820 to 1840. Painted with the original faux paint and in original condition. The secretaire is made in Swedish pin...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Secretary Made In Mahogany WQith Inlaid Wood From 1840s
Located in Lejre, DK
This exquisite secretary, crafted from rich mahogany with intricate inlaid wood details, showcases the elegance and craftsmanship of the 1840s. With its timeless design and impeccabl...
Category
1840s Danish Other Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Secretary, Cabinet with Mahogany Glass Top, circa 1850, Victorian
Located in Berlin, DE
High rectangular carcass, two doors. over it extendable writing board provided with several drawers and shelves. Rear-mounted glass top with rung glazing. Extremely rare in this vers...
Category
1840s English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
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, Ormolu
Antique High Gloss Secretary Desk, Scandinavia, circa 1950s, Restored
Located in Chorzów, PL
ANTIQUE-UNIQUE. Impressive secretary from the mid-19th century in Biedermeier style. Antique furniture with a more beautiful form will add elegance to any interior. A representative ...
Category
1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Anglo Indian Rosewood Secrétaire Bookcase
Located in EDENSOR PARK, NSW
Top glass cabinet had two shelves with two drawers, the trimming around the glass is copper. Middle drawer opens up to a desk with six small drawer, there is a centre section the doo...
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Copper
Biedermeier Secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
Secretary Biedermeier, Northern Europe, circa 1850.
Currently under renovation.
Wood: Mahogany
Dimensions: height 214 cm width 123 cm depth 57 cm.
Category
1850s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Walnut Directory Secretary
Located in Madison, MS
This directory secretary was crafted in 1810, yet the condition of this desk seems practically new. The dark wood color is a beautiful stained walnut. There are two big lower drawers...
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This elegant and truly exceptional walnut Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1825.
The Secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design an...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Secretary Simulated Chiffonier, Napoleon III Period
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Antique 19th century secretary simulated chiffonier, Napoleon III period
A magnificent secretary simulated chiffonier. It is created with gre...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Rare English Secretary Navy from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Rare English secretary navy.
from the 19th century,
in camphor wood, yellow metal hardware, top covered in leather.
Dim.: 80 x 135 x 76 cm
good conditions.
Category
19th Century English Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Drop-Front Marquetry Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, Spain circa 1900. The outside with fall front and one low door with compartment, beautiful marquetry oakwood. The wood inside opens to a central compartment fl...
Category
Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
European 1800s Two-Part Painted Wood Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall European painted wood two-part secretary from the early 19th century, with molded cornice, dentil molding, slanted front desk and graduated drawers. Created in Europe during the early years of the 19th century, this tall painted wood secretary...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South West German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South west German, 1820.
This beautiful drop front desk has three drawers in the lower part, they are embellish...
Category
1810s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Early 19th Century George l Vitrine Secretary
Located in Miami, FL
This is a charming George l style walnut diminutive secretary. The domed cornice over a conforming vitrine cabinet . The bottom section contains a drop-front opening to reveal a leat...
Category
Late 19th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib. 19th Century Restored
Located in Madrid, ES
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib.
Amazing Italian Secretaire
19th Century.
Perfect condition.
RESTORED
Wood, precious stones
Measures: 170cm x 104cm...
Category
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Precious Stone, Wood
Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Biedermeier Drop Front Secretary Desk from G
Located in Round Top, TX
Rich dark wood and stately lines define this handsome Biedermeier drop front secretary from Germany. Note the concave curve of the upper cabinet door and beautiful mahogany grain pat...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Italian Renaissance Dressing Table 19th Century Hand Painted by Müller Morten
By P. E. Guerin
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & stunning! This Italian renaissance Dressing table hand painted on all sides by Müller Morten circa 1860s.
A true work of art this dressing table, the paintings are on a...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Louis Philippe Secretary Desk
Located in Opole, PL
We present you a Louis Philippe secretaire from the mid-19th century.
There are three bottom drawers, a removable board flush with the rest, and a narrow drawer with a concave-conve...
Category
1850s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Antique Gustavian Secretary Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Antique Gustavian drop-front secretary cabinet, hand-crafted in the early 19th Century in Sweden. It has a warm, light gray painted exterior with hi...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Georgian Bleached Pine Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
Wonderfully presented Georgian bleached pine breakfront bookcase. George II carved egg and dart in upper and middle moldings. Raw pine and finish may be original with cleaning over t...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Neoclassiacal Mahogany Secretaire with Clock, Probably Berlin around 1800
Located in Greding, DE
Secretaire with three drawers veneered in mahogany with enameled clock face in the tympanum field of the pedimented top with dentil frieze and brass moldings. Interior division consi...
Category
Early 1800s German Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century Wooden Secretary with Brass Fittings and Decorations
Located in Sofia, BG
Chest in natural wood made in late 19th century and lately transformed into a secretary with red interior. The gilded brass fittings depicting stylized butterflies, finely chiseled w...
Category
Late 19th Century Asian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Small French Travel Secretary Napoleon III in Rosewood and Boxwood Veneer 1860s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Small French travel secretary Napoleon III in rosewood and boxwood veneer.
Rare and extremely decorative antique furniture due to its size and finish....
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Boxwood, Rosewood
Antique Walnut Slant Front Queen Anne Style Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Late 19th century English Queen Anne style slant front desk with three drawers & inner compartments.
Category
19th Century English Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French Mahogany Louis Philippe Secretary, Late 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
French late 19th century Louis Philippe secretary with a mahogany veneer. The top drawer front folds down and pulls out to reveal a leather wr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1820-25.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This elegant and truly exceptional early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1820-25.
The Secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design ...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid oak . Rectangular body on pointed legs. Provided with three drawers . Straight writing tablet, behind it architectur...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Italian 1850s Rococo Style Tall Secretary with Slanted Desk and Original Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Rococo style two-part secretary from the mid-19th century, with slanted desk, mirrored doors and original paint. How not to fall head over heels in love with this Rococo s...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Belgian Oak Slant-Front Secretary, circa 1850
Located in Evergreen, CO
This substantial, mid-19th century secretary features solid oak construction with a beautiful patina. A molded arched cornice with a swan neck p...
Category
Mid-19th Century Belgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Style Cabinet with Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant Italian Louis XV Style cabinet with desk 1910s. This cabinet is characterized by a refined veneer in fine rosewood. The veneer is laid using the grain of the wood as a decora...
Category
1910s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
English Secretary, Cabinet with Mahogany Glass Top, circa 1850, Victorian
Located in Berlin, DE
High rectangular carcass, two doors. over it extendable writing board provided with several drawers and shelves. Rear-mounted glass top with rung glazing. Extremely rare in this vers...
Category
1840s English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Georgian Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, England, circa 1800
Located in Miami, FL
Early 19th century oak English fall-front secretary with carvings of acanthus leaves and urns.
Note: Relaxed, antique condition. Drawers are working well and original brasses are com...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th Century French Marble-Top Secretaire in Blackened Wood Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
Lady's secretaire of blackened wood and nets decorated with rosettes and scrolls in gilded brass. It opens on the front with a drawer and a flap discovering niches and small drawers ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Secretaire Cupboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Swedish 19th Century painted secretaire cupboard in the Gustavian style.
This cupboard dates from the late 19th Century and consists of two cupboard doors below the secretaire fal...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
English Dressoir from the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries
Located in Opole, PL
English Dressoir from the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries
We present you this type of a sideboard from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in the form of a cabinet.
The whol...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Flemish Louis XIV Secretary or Bookcase with Embossed Brass
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Flemish Louis XIV secretary or bookcase with embossed brass combines the talents of a master furniture crafter with the artistry of a metal sculptor! Fashioned with a cl...
Category
Mid-19th Century Belgian Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Impressive Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted secrétaire à Abattant, In The Manner Of André Charles Boulle.
This drop-front writing cabinet or secrétaire à abattant is finishe...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Henri 2 Cabinet or Secretaire in Sculpted Oak Renaissance Style, 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Rare cabinet desk Henri II style in carved oak. The base is made up of two boxes each with a drawer and a door carved and framed by columns. On the wooden top rests the cabinet treat...
Category
1870s French Renaissance Revival Antique 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.
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