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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1930s
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

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

19th Century French Grand Louis XVI Cylinder Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French grand Louis XVI cylinder desk is the perfect answer to all your modern office needs! Designed on a larger scale than is typ...
Category

1890s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Swedish Karl Johan Biedermeier Chest of Drawers with Pull Out Secretary in Birch
Located in Miami, FL
A very handsome birch Karl Johan Biedermeier chest of drawers with a drawer front fold down secretary. The drawer-front opens to an ample and beautiful ebonized and faux mahogany interior offering two letter drawers...
Category

1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

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

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

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

Chinese Export Secretaire Chest
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Tall Chinese secretaire chest, similar to a campaign chest. With a wonderful drop front, this chest would have been made for Chinese export and still retains its original brass dr...
Category

19th Century English Country Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A W N Pugin Attri, Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with Linenfold & Floral Carving
Located in London, GB
A W N Pugin attributed, A Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with finely executed carved gallery to the top and a sloping writing area opening to reveal storage...
Category

1860s English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

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

Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the h...
Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Other

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

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

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

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 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

French 19th Century Brass and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau
Located in Berlin, DE
French 19th Century Brass Inlaid and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau A 19th century mahogany cylinder bureau with the rectangular top surrounded by a pierced brass gallery, above two mirrored panelled doors, the roll-top opening to reveal a sliding leather writing surface surmounted by three drawers and a shelf, above two frieze drawers, on fluted circular tapering legs headed by asperges and terminated by cast sabot. The mirrored paneled doors, and the roll top are distinguished by its brass inlays that beautifully frame and outline the design of the item. Together with the brass handles, the brass gallery and the brass toupie feet this cylinder bureau displays...
Category

19th Century French Directoire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

19th Century Biedermeier Birchwood Sweden Secretaire and Armoires , 1830s
Located in Roma, RM
Rare Biedermeier furniture, seeing it looks like a small cabinet, opening the doors we are on the right side a small, elegant, Secretaire, while on the left side a small wardrobe. Sm...
Category

1830s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

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

Early 19th Century American Sheraton 2 Part Secretary of Mahogany & Tiger Maple
Located in Stamford, CT
Early 19th century American Sheraton two part secretary of mahogany and tiger maple from coastal new England. Brasses replaced and a few age appropriate cracks. Most panels are origi...
Category

Early 19th Century American Sheraton Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

André Sornay Secretaire, circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Andre´ Sornay secretaire, circa 1930 Signed. Restored. Certificate of authenticity from Thierry Roche, French expert for Andre´ Sornay.
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Early 19th century French Louis XVI secretary was fashioned from hand-selected indigenous oak to emulate the styles set forth by the most re...
Category

Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

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

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

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

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

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

Italian Renaissance Dressing Table 19th Century Hand Painted by Müller Morten
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 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

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 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

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

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

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

Copf Style Cherry Inlay Secretaire Cabinet, ca. 1800
Located in Budapest, HU
Early 19th century hutch, (combination of a writing secretaire and a glass cabinet) in Copf-Style. The pine corpus has a cherry veneer, and has fine...
Category

Early 19th Century European Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry, Pine

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

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

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

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

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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