Secretaires
16
1,602
89
6
to
293
904
751
1,697
1,624
1,650
173
109
108
86
77
72
68
57
28
28
26
24
13
9
4
3
1
1
367
678
556
95
101
305
68
20
6
16
26
33
53
92
25
13
5
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1,620
487
378
337
328
1,386
394
282
251
213
21
13
13
10
9
Secretaires For Sale
Faux Bamboo Rattan Enamel and Decorated Slant Top Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
An Exquisite hand-crafted Faux Bamboo Rattan, hand enamed and Decorated Slant Top Secretary Desk with open bottom lower tier and high knee cle...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Modern Secretaires
Materials
Enamel
Henredon Solid Oak Olive Finish Wide Open Bookcase Secretary Desk Country French
By Henredon
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
Secretaire with Flap in Sycamore. French work. Circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This unusual secretaire desk in sycamore with bronze handles is composed of a small sloping desk with flap closing on four drawers and forming a chest of drawers with three drawers i...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Sycamore
Cherrywood Secretary From The 19th Century -france
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant cherry wood secretary from the 19th century
It is unusual to find a secretaire in cherry wood
The secretary is in superb condition. It has all its keys and we have placed a ...
Category
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Antique Chippendale Serpentine Oxbow Mahogany Secretary Library Writing Desk 40"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early 20th century Chippendale style secretary or writing desk. Made of mahogany featuring serpentine form with drop front writing surface that opens to multiple drawers and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Arne Wahl Iversen Model 68 Teak Secretary Desk for Vinde Mobelfabrik
Located in Winnipeg, MB
Stunning Model 68 teak drop-front secretary desk designed by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik, Denmark. This beautiful piece features solid construction, a drop-down writing s...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
Early 19th Century Blue Painted Swedish Gustavian Period Slant-Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish late Gustavian period painted wood slant-front secretary from the early 19th century with light blue painted finish and carved bracket feet. This exquisite Swedish late Gustavian period painted wood slant-front secretary, dating back to the early 19th century, exudes grace and understated elegance. Painted in a serene light...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This elegant and rare early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna c. 1825.
The secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design and excellent craft...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A black lacquer chinoiserie secretary in two parts. The upper cabinet with two doors that open to reveal 2 shelves, 4 pigeon holes ...
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Walnut and plum Baroque Secretary à deux corps around 1760
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary à deux corps
Baroque around 1760
Walnut and plum veneered on softwood, lower part with concave corrus and three drawers,
two-door top with symmetrically arranged compart...
Category
1760s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Nutwood
Monumental Irish George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, c. 1780
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Large Irish George III mahogany secretary bookcase, the upper portion with an elaborate cornice carved with trailing shells, dentils and foliate moldings. The glazed doors with engaged fluted pilasters open to three fixed shelves. The desk portion has a figured fall-board opening to a tooled leather surface and interior fitted with pigeon holes and small drawers, centered by a quarter-matched prospect door and two document slots with brick-work inlay. The lower portion has an unusual drawer configuration of four long graduated drawers flanked by short drawers, each with replaced shell hardware, all on a carved molding raised on three bracket feet.
60" wide
64" wide at the cornice
20" deep, closed
36.5" deep, open
95" high
This monumental secretary...
Category
Mid-18th Century Irish George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
1820s Swedish Wooden Desk
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden cabinet created in 1820s Sweden. Tall, slender, and painted in an inviting reddish ochre, this cabinet presents an air of familiarity and amicable function. This discreet se...
Category
1820s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Extremely Rare, 20th Century Arthur Conan Doyle Goyard Desk Trunk
By Goyard
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Extremely rare, Goyard Desk Trunk
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a British doctor and writer famous the world over for his Sherlock Holmes series of...
Category
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Biedermeier Column Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged front. High-right body on padfoot feet. Fitted with three drawers of different sizes, the base drawer is curved. Straight writing...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
Teak Secretary Desk, Danish Design, 1960s, Renovated
Located in Chorzów, PL
Teak writing desk, Danish design,
Very good condition, after professional renovation.
Wood: Teak
Dimensions: Height 95 cm, width 89 cm, depth 42 cm.
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
18th Century English Chippendale Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
Step into the grace and sophistication of the 18th century with our exquisite English oak secretaire, an embodiment of Georgian Chippendale-style craftsmanship. Elegantly merging for...
Category
18th Century English Chippendale Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
1800s Scandinavian Light Painted Slant-Front Secretary with Multiple Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian slant-front secretary from circa 1800 with carved panel, four drawers, light gray / cream painted finish and carved bracket feet. Steeped in history and elegance, this...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Lovely Vintage Secretary with 3 Drawers and Shelves on Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pretty vintage American secretary cabinet having slant front desk that opens to a 29.5 d surface and cubbies with one little drawer. The top has gl...
Category
1950s American Country Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century English Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 19th century English black lacquered Chinoiserie secretary. Beautiful painted Asian designs and many compartments. A true w...
Category
19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I secretary bureau escritoire or scriptor of figured patinated walnut from the 18th century featuring original s...
Category
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
English Glass Front William IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Free Union, VA
A stylish English mahogany William IV period piece, (ca. 1830), with a strikingly arched cornice terminating in half palmettes. Arched tracery distinguishes the glass doors of the to...
Category
1830s English William IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English mahogany secretary with fitted interior early 19th century
Located in Charleston, SC
English secretary with fitted interior fall front desk early 19th century
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
1930's Art Deco Secretaire Desk with hidden locking mechanism
Located in Ulm, DE
Secretary
wooden body, shellac hand polished
probably stained ash
One drawer can be locked/unlocked by a hidden locking mechanism.
Original Art Deco, France 1930s
Dimensions:
Widt...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage French Provincial Corner Cabinet Writing Desk Bookcase Hutch 80"
Located in Dayton, OH
Intriguing French Provincial Corner unit or writing desk, circa 1970s. Base features a central dovetailed drawer and work surface with upper light. The hutch has a central dovetail...
Category
1970s French Provincial Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
French 19th Century Secretaire
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This Louis-Philippe Secretaire Desk is made of blond flamed mahogany with a Sainte-Anne marble top with a lot of drawers.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Verni Martin secrétaire abattant , circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French Louis XVI style secretaries abbattant, having bombe shaped sides, gilded rococo style scrolling ormolu mounts. Wonderful hand painted Ver...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Midcentury Danish Brazilian Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Oakland, CA
Brazilian Rosewood secretary desk with locking drop-front desk over three drawers with carved pulls, raised on tapered legs. Designed by William Jensen for Skrillinge Mobelfabrik, mo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Midcentury Danish Modern Magic Box Desk in Teak by Mummenthaler & Meier
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Midcentury teak closable locking teak writing desk called the "Magic Box", designed by Swiss Mummenthaler and Meier. The piece closes completely and can be key-locked to protect all ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Desk/Secretary by Maurice Pre and Janette Laverrière, 1958
Located in Brussels, BE
Dimensions D: 40 cm (15.75") H: 317 ( MAXIMAL HEIGHT) cm W: 80 cm (31.50")
Category
1950s French Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Gunnar Nielsen for Tibergaard bureau, secretary, 1960s
Located in Neuss, NW
Classic secretary from the 1960s by Gunnar Nielsen for Tibergaard. High-quality corpus in teak veneer with a hinged work surface, four interior drawers, one compartments, three drawe...
Category
1960s Danish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
English George III Mahogany Secretary Desk and Bookcase, 18th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK AND BOOKCASE
England, circa last quarter of the 18th century
Item # 305PKI25A
An incredibly beautiful George III mahogany fall-front secretary de...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique 19th Century Walnut Austrian Biedermeier Abatante Secretary Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique Biedermeier style abatante secretary desk, unbranded. Walnut with walnut & other wood veneers, decorative overhang to top, wood keyhole escutcheons to doors with brass key...
Category
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Walnut
Trumeau, secretaire Luigi XV originale settecentesco
Located in Torino, IT
Trumeau, secretaire
Luigi XV / Transizione
in legno lastronato con
motivo a lisca di pesce.
Doppia anta superiore,
piano a ribalta
e tre cassetti.
PERIODO
Originale del Settecento
...
Category
18th Century European Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Narrow Raised Lacquer Black Chinoiserie Slatfront Secretary Desk circa 1950
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
1950s Unknown Chinoiserie Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
1790s Scandinavian Slant Front Desk with Carved Panel and Four Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian light/medium grey painted slant-front desk from circa 1790 with carved panel and four drawers. Emanating the quiet elegance of Scandinavian design, this circa 1790 lig...
Category
Late 18th Century Scandinavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Mahogany, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant early Biedermeier / neoclassical secretaire from south Germany around 1820, early 19th century. Cherry wood book-matched veneered on softwood and cherry solid wood, partly ebonized. Inside in mahogany veneer with drawers and three open compartments. Above one long drawer under the cornice. Below two long drawers with old box locks. Fully restored and hand-polished with shellac.
Dimensions:
* Metric: H 150 cm x W 96...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Softwood
Fine English George III Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk circa 1780
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A VERY FINE GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE WITH A GLAZED BOOKSHELF ABOVE A CHEST OF DRAWERS
England, circa 1780 Three drawers signed "William Jones"
...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Swedish Pine Secretary Sideboard
Located in Kramfors, SE
Sideboard with a secretary desk made during the early 1800s, 1820 to 1830, in northern Sweden from pine. The sideboard is a large, well-made quality furniture of very nice quality. It measures a meter and half in width, 151 cm to be precise, and 61 cm deep. That results in a heavy and solid furniture with a strong presence and dependable character. The side doors are curved which are an unusual feature in furniture of this time and style...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
ANTIQUE ViCTORIAN 1860 WALNUT SCRIBAN BUREAU BOOKCASE MUST SEE PICTURES
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning circa 1860-1880 Walnut framed Scriban bureau bookcase
Please note the delivery fe...
Category
1860s English High Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Circa 1810 Empire Period Secretaire à Abatant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Empire period, c.1810, Secretaire à Abatant, French. Walnut. Demi-columns with bronze dore mounts. Bronze dore pulls & escutcheons. Chic black marble top with white-grey figure. Grea...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Danish Secretary by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik. 1960's Denmark.
Located in תל אביב - יפו, IL
A stunning mcm rosewood Danish Secretary designed by Arne Wahl Iversen, Model 37 for Vinde Mobelfabrik and dating from the 1960s.
The rosewood grain patterns are stunning on every s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Semi Antique Mahogany Secretary On Chinese Chippendale Style Stand
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Provenance: Sotheby's NY. The secretary with a drop front in the form of three drawers but opening to drawers and cubby holes. With a black tooled writing surface. The stand with two...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century French Mahogany, Oak & Marble Secretaire with Ormolu Mounts
Located in Middleburg, VA
Important Secretaire a Abattant, Paris, Empire, circa 1805. Mahogany on oak, marble top, ormolu mounts. Caryatides, trophy weapons, fasces, antique Roman and Egyptian ornamentation a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860.
Wood: Mahogany
dimensions :
h. 130 cm w. 112 cm d. 62 cm
Category
1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
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
Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
The Mahogany Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture. This reproduction slant front writing desk has all the outstanding qualities of an antique origina...
Category
2010s Renaissance Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Antique Traditional Secretary Wood Desk with Shelf, FR-1062
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Antique Traditional Secretary Wood Desk with Shelf
The secretary desk with shelf originates from France. The wood desk has a warm, worn black fi...
Category
Early 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Midcentury modern secretary in teakwood, 1960s Denmark.
Located in תל אביב - יפו, IL
Lovely Midcentury modern secretary in teakwood, 1960s Denmark.
This exquisite piece features a vibrant wood grain, a set of three small dra...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th Century French Rosewood Inlaid Louis XVI Ladies Desk Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century French Rosewood Inlaid Louis XVI Ladies Desk Bonheur Du Jour
Dimensions : 30" Wide X 19" Deep X 52.75" Tall
This stunning ladies ...
Category
1870s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood, Satinwood
STUNNiNG ANTIQUE CIRCA 1840 SHERATON REVIVAL LIBRARY BUREAU BOOKCASE ON DRAWERS
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England, Sheraton Revival, Library Bureau bookcase circa 1840
Please note the deli...
Category
1840s English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
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
Mid-Century Modern Secretary Desk in the John Stuart's Janus Collection Style
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Mid-Century Modern secretary/ wall unit cabinet in the John Stuart's Janus Collection Style. Circa 1960s
Features a pull-out writing shelve surface hidden by a false front d...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk with Folding Front Part
Located in Sofia, BG
French mahogany writing desk with folding front part and hidden drawers in the upper part. There are also three big drawers in the lower p...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Maple Drop Front Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very attractive early 19th century Maple and Ebony German Biedermeier drop front secretary. Nice deep rich color and patina to the Maple surfac...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple
Vintage Mahogany Secretary with Flip Down Desk and Storage
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Vintage wood tall secretary having pretty flat front with carved wood decoration and urn shape in the center. Lovely grain and particularly narrow depth. Turned legs have a lower tie...
Category
1940s American Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Swedish Rococo Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
Desk 32 inches high, 43 inches open
Upper cabinet 12 inches deep, bottom 25 inches deep.
Category
1780s Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Secretary Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Secretary Cabinet
This Vintage Minton-Spidell Louis XV Style Drop-Front Secretary Cabinet...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Gold Leaf
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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