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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
Børge Mogensen Danish Teak Serving Cabinet / China Hutch
Located in Queens, NY
Danish mid-century teak serving cabinet / china hutch with a rectangular lower cabinet with two sliding doors supporting, a two shelf upper china cabinet...
Category

20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Teak, Glass

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

Antique subtle English secretary from the 19th century with a beautiful interior
Located in Harderwijk, NL
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...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Tall Walnut Cabinet with a Bureau Desk Compartment
Located in Dubai, AE
Tall walnut desk cabinet in Baroque style with gilded brass ornamentation. The upper glazed part reveals seven drawers, a leaf, and fifteen lockers, the flap revealing six drawers, s...
Category

19th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

James Mont Cinnabar Lacquered Secretaire
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE Extremely rare, possibly one of a kind, secretary cabinet with bookcase by the godfather of exotic modernism, James Mont, circa 1950. Hand rubbed cinnabar lacquered...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Liberty & Co A Moorish Walnut Desk with Angular Design & 4 Opposite Side Drawers
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. A Moorish Walnut Desk with Mushrabia turnings to the upper shelf, just below to the turned uprights there are dowel holes which I have shown in the images, they are the...
Category

1890s English Moorish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Maison Jansen French Louis XVI Style Ebonized Secretary Desk
Located in Queens, NY
French Louis XVI-style (1940s) ebonized & bronze trim abbatant form desk with a drop front interior above 3 drawers and below a single drawer & a white marble top. (stamped: JANSEN)
Category

1940s French Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Victorian Enameled Waterfall A Abattant Secretary Chest of Drawers
Located in Germantown, MD
Victorian White Enameled Waterfall A Abattant Secretary Chest of Drawers Measures 29.5" in width, 17" in depth and 45.5" tall. Knee clearan...
Category

Early 20th Century American Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century German Black Forest Chip-Carved Suite Desk with Drawer and Chair
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th century German black forest chip-carved suite desk with drawer and chair. Impressive and extremely rare Black Forest desk and chair. The rectangul...
Category

19th Century German Black Forest Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Gianfranco Frattini Mod. 804 Rolltop Desk
Located in Munich, DE
Walnut writing desk model 804 designed in 1961 by Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, Italy. Tambour top that hides small drawers and a pull out leather writing surface. Front side with...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Pennsylvania House Slant Front 4-Drawer Cherry Secretary Desk with Lock
Located in Germantown, MD
Pennsylvania House Slant Front Cherry Secretary Desk with Lock. Features four fully functional drawers with dovetail construction and Chippendale...
Category

Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Late 19th Century Italian Walnut Burl Inlaid Louis XIV Secretary Drop Leaf Desk
Located in Encinitas, CA
Late 19th Century Italian Walnut Burl Inlaid Louis XIV Secretary Drop Leaf Desk. Trim three-drawer bureau chest featuring secretary drop lid with lock and key revealing small drawers and compartments. Beautiful walnut veneers and solids with rosewood inlaid detail. Handsome hardware, hinges and pulls. Lock and key. Due to the curved shape of the desk and components, some measures are a close approximation. Exterior measures of the desk: 39" W x 20.5" D x 40.75" H 99.1 cm W x 52 cm D x 103.5 cm H Opened drop lid desk...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Louis XIV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Early 19th Century American Tigerwood Maple Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
This Early 19th Century American Tigerwood Maple Secretaire. The desk features a drop-front green felted writing surface above a chest of three width-wide drawers below. A pair of h...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Danish Walnut Wood Pull-Out Secretary Desk & Bookcase
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage mid century Danish modern tall walnut wood secretary desk and bookcase is circa 1960 and features a unique format with a lower drawer section that pulls out as a full un...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Desk Walnut Art Nouveau with Brass Fittings, Fitted Interior, with Brass Accents
By Murray-Kay Limited
Located in Toronto, CA
A beautiful drop front desk in walnut with interesting fitted interior. Great Art Nouveau brass fitted hardware and details. Presented to Dr. Anthony Stewart of Palmerston Ontario by appreciative friends in 1911 tags Murray -Kay Ltd which existed between 1910 and 1923. This recently restored desk...
Category

Early 20th Century Canadian Art Nouveau Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Rare and Diminutive British Military Campaign Secretary with Leather Top Fall
Located in Austin, TX
A fine British military officer’s Campaign secretary or secretaire from the early 19th century Georgian Era, of a desirably rare and diminutive scale, fashioned as a chest of drawers...
Category

Early 19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

A fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood birch and ebony secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century Biedermeier satinwood and Birch secretary . Ebony and fine quality inlayed woods .
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Ebony, Satinwood

Elegant French Desk, Circa 1920
Located in Madrid, ES
This elegant French desk from the early 1900s is a fine example of early 20th-century craftsmanship. Constructed from exotic wood and adorned with intricate bronze decorations, this ...
Category

1910s Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood

Chinese Chippendale Style English Bamboo Slanted Lift-Top Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning Hand Crafted English Chinese Chippendale Bamboo Secretary. This handsome and special Secretary has two top facing doors and a Middle "cubby Hole" opening for Books, small decorative pieces, etc., The tilt top Desk...
Category

19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Bamboo, Wood, Maple

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

German Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
German Biedermeier (circa 1820) mahogany secretary cabinet with Corinthian columns on top and bottom section and a centered drop front revealing a...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Fantastic English Adams Paint Decorated Satinwood Slant Lid Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb Adams paint decorated satinwood desk made in England during the 1880s era. The desk wears superbly painted scenes and floral themes and shimmering satinwood. The des...
Category

Early 1900s English Adam Style Antique Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood

Antique 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
This stunning Biedermeier secretary was crafted in Denmark during a peak era known for high quality furniture craftsmanship. Enlarge photos to appreciate the beauty of the wood, note...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, 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

French Art Deco Secretary Attributed to René Prou
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful French sycamore veneer secretary framed with gilded brass details, the fall front decorated with the original cafe au lait coloured leather, inside is the drawer and elegan...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Sycamore

19th Century French Rococo Revival Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
Dating from around 1850, this is a wonderful antique French Rococo Revival Secretaire a Abattant featuring ormolu mounted mahogany, gonzalo alves and marquetry. A Secretaire a abatt...
Category

1850s French Rococo Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Early 19th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Early 19th Century Swedish secretary. Decorative carved pediment with two doors with reeded carving. With a fall front desk opening to a useful workspace and six drawers, below with...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Pair of Impressive Marble, Porcelain, and Ormolu Mounted Victorian Secretaires
Located in London, GB
Pair of impressive marble, porcelain, and ormolu mounted Victorian secretaires English, 19th Century Height 126cm, width 77cm, depth 37cm This stunning pair are a showcase of Engl...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass, Ormolu

Danish Secretary's Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Vitze Secretary's Dresser. Teak wood with oil finish. Drop down desk with key. 3 spacious drawers.
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique Tall Davenport, English, Walnut, Bureau Cabinet, Victorian, Circa 1860
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a fine antique tall Davenport. An English walnut, boxwood and rosewood bureau cabinet, dating to the mid Victorian period, circa 1860. A strikingly decorative and practical w...
Category

1860s British Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Boxwood, Rosewood, Walnut

Mid 19th Century French Louis Philippe Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet, 1890s
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful walnut secretary from the 19th century, it has a top drawer with a key, it also has a central folding door that hides three drawers (2 small and one larger) when opened, and a leather-upholstered desk...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Palatial Early 20th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Parquetry Bureau-François Linke
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Very Special and Palatial Early 20th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Mahogany and Bois Satine Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre By François Linke François Linke – Index Numbe...
Category

Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Secretaires

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century Louis XV Chinoiserie Writing Desk
Located in Charlottesville, VA
This petite desk has the most charming decoration. It is done in chinoiserie.
Category

19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Large cylinder desk in mahogany and flamed mahogany veneer in the Empire style. This secretary with semi-cylindrical flap has eight drawers with pa...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Chapman Italian Neoclassical Burl Wood Patchwork Olivewood Tall Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian Neoclassical Burl Wood Patchwork Olivewood Tall Secretary Desk by Chapman. Item features 2 part construction, lighted interior with dimmer switch, 2 lower cabinet doo...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

19th Century George III Style Mahogany Bureau Secretary Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a sophisticated and stately Danish secretary bookcase. The partially pierced cornice and a secondary tiered; a shaped cornice over tw...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Antique mid 19th century Dutch honey color oak Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Located in Casteren, NL
Offered here is a stunning Dutch secretary desk in the Biedermeier style, crafted in the mid-19th century, around 1840. This exquisite piece is made entirely from the finest quality ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Bone

19th Century Biedermeier Secretary Desk in Maple Burl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A refined 19th-century Biedermeier secretary desk, exquisitely crafted in maple burl and veneers, showcasing the elegance and simplicity characteristic of the Biedermeier period. The...
Category

19th Century German Antique Secretaires

Materials

Maple

20th Century Inlaid Wood Italian in Louis XV Style Trumeau Desk, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Italian trumeau from 20th century. Louis XV style furniture nicely inlaid in walnut, maple and fruitwood. Double body trumeau equipped with two drawers and fall-front in the lower pa...
Category

1960s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Bonheur du Jour, litterally "Happiness of the Day" Desk in Boulle Marquetry
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful Bonheur du Jour, litterally "Happiness of the day" desk is made of a Boulle marquetry. Tiered upper part, opening with two medallion doors and two small drawers. Lower...
Category

1880s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Roll Top Secretary Desk, French Walnut with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Toronto, CA
Elegant Edwardian Cylinder Roll Top Secretary Desk, French Walnut with Marquetry & Parquetry Inlay– English Craftsmanship Step back in time with this exquisite Edwardian cylinder ro...
Category

20th Century English Edwardian Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Petite Queen Anne Style 1880s Walnut Slant-Front Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A late 19th century Queen Anne style small walnut mini slant front desk on stand resting on graceful cabriole legs ending in pad feet. The slant drop front,...
Category

Late 19th Century Queen Anne Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Small Art Deco writing desk – France 1930
Located in Girona, Girona
Small Art Deco writing desk with walnut and burr walnut veneer, three drawers and a flap door opening onto a small desk and storage area in marquetry and light walnut. Very good qual...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

20th Century Inlaid Wood Rococo Style Lombard Trumeau Desk, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Lombard trumeau from the mid-20th century. Moved and rounded furniture in Rococo style richly inlaid in walnut, burl, maple, beech and fruitwood. Doubl...
Category

1960s Italian Rococo Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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

Napoleon III French Travel Fall Front Desk in Rosewood and Boxwood Veneer 1860s
Located in Huntington, NY
Napoleon III French travel fall front desk in rosewood and boxwood veneer 1860s. With inset leather fall front. Small compartment in top. Cut outs to interior for ink wells & paper organizing...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Danish Midcentury Secretary Dresser
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage Danish midcentury teak secretary desk. Danish modern teak secretary desk features a lockable, pull-down work surface opening to 6 drawers and sliding storage. One key is pr...
Category

1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Mid-Cenury Modern Secretary Cabinet, Fully Adjustable, Teak, Zebra Wood - Italy
Located in Girona, Girona
Secretary cabinet with shelves, two solid teak blocks with teak veneer and blackened steel, fully adjustable, zebra wood inside, shellac finishing. Po...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Steel

Antique North German/Danish Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1815
Located in Miami, FL
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...
Category

Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ash

American Victorian Walnut Secretary Glass Front Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
American Victorian two-piece walnut secretary cabinet with a base having a drawer whose front folds down to create a desktop with interior drawers and green felt over two doors with ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood, Walnut

English Chinese Chippendale Style Bamboo Secretary with Slanted Lift-Top Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Chinese Chippendale style tall bamboo secretary from the 19th century, with slanted lift-top writing table, doors and drawers. Created in England during the 19th century, this bamboo secretary charms us with its slender proportions and exquisite Chinese Chippendale influence. The overhanging desk opens...
Category

19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Exquisite 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Exquisite Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry and Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre The stepped rectangular top with pierced three quarter gallery ab...
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Dutch Rococo Style Bombe Burled Walnut Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
Dutch Rococo style burled walnut bombe front secretaire with carved ball and claw feet. Three drawers with cast brass pulls and cast brass detailed key ho...
Category

1940s Dutch Rococo Revival Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

1940s lacquered wood writing desk attributed to René Drouet French art deco
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Rare '40s secrétaire attributed to French designer René Drouet. Structure in lacquered solid wood with attractive floral decoration on the top door (original paint, gilding and lacqu...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to be among the finest mahoganies because of its beautiful grain and color, Denmark, circa 1820. Cylinder top opens to a pull-out desk which offers an adjustable baize-lined lectern or writing surface flanked by sliding storage compartments, as well as a series of small interior drawers around a central cabinet. Above the desk, are three cupboards with bowed doors, the central one featuring a pediment top. Below the pull-out desk drawer, there are three long storage...
Category

Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Teak Secretary Cabinet by Hvidt and Mølgaard-Nielsen, Denmark
Located in Stockholm, Stockholms län
Danish Modern teak secretary cabinet by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen. Manufactured by Søborg Møbelfabrik in Denmark, circa 1950s. Made from solid teak with drop-down surface...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

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

Antique English oak secretaire with stepped interior and working locks
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This antique English oak secretaire from the late 18th/early 19th century is a real eye-catcher. It has oak fronts, a stepped interior, beautiful original details and working locks. ...
Category

Early 19th Century English 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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