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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1930s
Empire Drop Front Desk, Kopenhagen, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Empire drop front desk, Copenhagen 1810-20.
This unique Danish secretary desk is embellished with mahogany veneer. The lower part has three cur...
Category
1810s Danish Empire 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
19th Century French Louis XV Style Floral Marquetry and Gilt Bronze Writing Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine and well-proportioned 19th century French Louis XV style ladies desk. The case is veneered with marquetry decoration and embelli...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique Walnut Gentlemen's Secretaire Chest, Scotland 1830, H125
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Walnut gentlemen's secretaire chest, Scotland 1830, H125
Scotland, 1830
Solid Walnut and satinwood
Original finish
Rectangular moulded top
Figured Walnut drawer underneath
Opening to a secretaire interior with a variety of satinwood drawers, pigeon holes
Hidden compartment in the center when opened and pushed back into the cabinet reveals two small satinwood drawers
Has an original green felt writing surface
A further three full graduating drawers
With replacement hardware...
Category
1830s Scottish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Rustic 19th Century Country French Secretary, Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Rustic 19th century Country French secretary ~ Cabinet is the perfect choice for the casual decor! The design centers around efficiency, with hand-forged iron hinges and latchworks t...
Category
Late 19th Century French Rustic Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron
19th Century William IV Period Irish Cylinder Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Dublin, IE
A stunning Irish William IV mahogany secretaire bookcase, the glazed doors enclosing shelves above the cylinder fall enclosing an arrangement of drawers and pigeonholes, and with cup...
Category
19th Century English William IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Rhode Island Empire Butler's Chest of Drawers with Desk in Mahogany, circa 1825
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful example of an early American Empire chest with full-column front and stand-up butlers desk. Provides ample storage as a chest of drawers, and doubles as a secretary with ...
Category
1820s American American Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Neoclassical Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine, neoclassical early Biedermeier Secretaire from South Germany around 1820.
Beautiful classicist design with gable cornice, well ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron, Brass
Biedermeier Fall Top Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Classic Biedermeier fall top desk, South German, 1820, walnut veneer on the outside and mahogany veneer on the inside. It has a beautiful veneer grain. T...
Category
1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Walnut
Georgian Oak Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Very handsome Georgian lowland oak secretary with walnut trim.
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Gordon Russell Bureau Desk, 1938, Stunning Original and Unique Piece
Located in London, GB
Gordon Russell, c. 1938
Bureau (desk, secretaire)
Walnut with brass and chrome fittings.
Original metal label to rear.
This is a rare item and a superb example of the best of B...
Category
1930s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Wood
Renaissance Revival Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Design details indicate that this secretary was made at the end of the Biedermeier period as interest in historical periods bloomed. The uppermost drawer is curved in the classic Biedermeier/Louis Philippe design, favored between 1830-1860, as does the raised display platform resting on the top surface of the piece. The choice of carefully selected French walnut veneers...
Category
1850s Swedish Renaissance Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XV Style Bombe Secretary Inlaid Marquetry, Ormolu Mounted, Signed
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Louis XV style bombe secretary inlaid marquetry, Ormolu Mounted. Signed.
This 19th century bombe tulipwood secretary is built with superior craftsmanship and intricate marquetry. ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
English Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, Circa 1800
Located in East Hampton, NY
This piece just took our breath away - all the carved wood details and medallions are master craftsman quality. See all detail images to truly appreciate what an excellent antique pi...
Category
Early 19th Century English British Colonial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Gothic Walnut Secretary, Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Gothic walnut secretary ~ Cabinet is a superlative example of the mastery of furniture making during the middle to late 1800s ...
Category
1870s French Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Fine Sevres Style Porcelain Mounted Secrétaire, 19th Century, After Henry Dasson
By Henry Dasson
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality late 19th century French side cabinet with a marble top, a fall front secrétaire, having wonderful hand painted Sevres...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Porcelain, Mahogany
Pair of French Early 19th Century Louis XVI St. Mahogany Bonheurs Du Jours
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI St. Bonheurs du Jours, which literally means, the joy of the day. A type of writing desk introduced in Paris by renowned int...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
Dressing Table Ladies France Napoleon III in Bronze and Wood, 19th Century
By Napoléon III
Located in Milano, IT
Amazing Napoleon III style women's grooming of circa 1800. French toilet with original ormolu holders and working lock and key. The upper part rises up t...
Category
Early 1800s French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
19th Century English Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century English ladies writing desk with finely painted satinwood. The desk has two drawers and two doors. The handles are sterling ...
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Louis Quatorze Napoleon III Boulle Meuble Secretary Bronzed
Located in Berlin, DE
Gilt bronze are distinctive and of exceptionally good quality. Ebonized solid oakwood with brass inlays Boulle technique. The top are two wide doors with an ...
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Dutch Walnut Miniature Secretaire Bookcase, 18th Century
Located in Southall, GB
An 19th century Dutch walnut secretaire bookcase with undeniably striking colours. Several shelves open up to various platforms to provide a beautiful interior with a lock and key me...
Category
19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Large Empire Bureau Of Hand Polished Mahogany With Inlaid Wood from 1820s
Located in Lejre, DK
This grand Empire bureau is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the 1820s, crafted from hand-polished mahogany adorned with intricate inlaid wood detailing. Its imposing pr...
Category
1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk.
With a grey marble top over three drawers, the fall enclosing a sliding tan lea...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Regency Mahogany Gillows Secretaire à Abattant
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Regency fiddleback mahogany secretaire à abattant in the manor of Gillows, with a black slate top. A cantilevered fall front, having typ...
Category
19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Empire Secretary from Countess of Schulenburg-Wolfsburg
Located in Berlin, DE
French Empire secretary 1815 from Countess of Schulenburg-Wolfsburg.
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid oak. Fire gilded, finely chiselled fi...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Rare Victorian Flamed Hardwood Library Bookcase Secretaire Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Victorian flamed mahogany library bookcase with built in secrataire desk and chest of drawers
A good looking and multifunctional pie...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Mahogany Two-Door Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Cheshire, GB
Victorian mahogany secretaire - bookcase, the ogee cornice above a pair of arched glazed doors, enclosing four adjustable shelves, the pr...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Empire Dutch Mahogany Secretaire Bureau Inlay 1800
Located in Roma, RM
Dutch mobile for the American market, Empire period, we are faced with the great Dutch market that adapted its furniture for every nation that requested it, styling in the best way f...
Category
Early 1800s Dutch Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Hepplewhite Secretaire
Located in Wilson, NC
The top of this English Hepplewhite secretaire has two drawer fronts that drop down to reveal the secretary interior. There are six small and two l...
Category
Early 1800s English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Louis XV Style French Marquetry and Bronze Ladies Secretaire Chest
Located in Darmstadt, DE
"Secrétaire à abattant" - a so called ladies secretaire from the time around 1870-1890 in the style of Louis XV. Fruitwooad and nutwood as well as pr...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI St. Secrétaire in Arbalette Shape
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. tulipwood Secretaire. The secretaire has a fine quarter veneered tulipwood marquetry on the front and sides, ornamented with pierced ormolu mo...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Biedermeier Style Cuba-Mahogany Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Classicist secretary, circa 1800-1810.
Cuba mahogany on solid softwood partly ebonized. High-right, architecturally designed body on conical legs. In the front three drawers. Straig...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Softwood, Wood, Mahogany
19th Century Venetian Secretary Bookcase with Painted Scenes and Floral Sprays
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely painted green and yellow Italian fall-front secretary bookcase in the Venetian Baroque style with arched doors painted with 18th century-style scenes with figures in a garden landscape amid Roman ruins. Gold relief-work with acanthus leaves and rocaille create cartouches throughout the piece that are embellished with floral swags, as on the arched bonnet, the fall-front, the bottom drawers and the sides. The desk top opens...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Paint
Aesthetic Movement Bonheur du Jour Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
Bonheur du Jour secretary desk cabinet,
circa late 1880s.
Dark walnut with finial accents and turned legs. The hinged writing surface opens...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Aesthetic Movement Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Louis XV Style Dore Bronze Mounted Boulle Marquetry Secretary Desk or Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous Louis XV style French dore bronze mounted Boulle Marquetry secretary desk or cabinet. With a cylindrical form in ebonized veneer a...
Category
1830s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Transitional St. Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine 19th century French transitional cabinet/ secretaire. The whole is raised on cabriole legs with ormolu sabots below two quarter veneered tu...
Category
19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Regency Brass-Inlaid Rosewood Secretaire Cabinet
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Regency brass-inlaid rosewood secretaire cabinet, the rectangular top with a pierced galleried shelf with trellis work on the sides, above a secretaire drawer, banded with brass pa...
Category
1810s English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century Flamed Mahogany Secretaire
Located in Bronx, NY
Late 19th century flamed mahogany secretaire.
Category
19th Century American Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Georgian Mahogany Secretary
Located in New York, NY
English Georgian mahogany secretary cabinet with a bottom section with drawers and an upper section with 2 lattice glass doors.
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Italian Louis XV Style Inlaid Walnut Cabinet with Writing Desk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant cabinet in precious inlaid walnut 1930s. This cabinet is characterized by a refined inlay work with neoclassical decorations. The inlay is made using many different precious ...
Category
1930s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Early 19th Century George l Style Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a charming George l style walnut diminutive secretary. The domed cornice over a conforming cabinet door has a mirror plate. The bottom section contains a drop-front opening t...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
English Sheraton Mahogany Secretary
Located in New York, NY
English Sheraton style (19th century) mahogany inlaid secretary with 2 lattice doors.
Category
19th Century Sheraton Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Louis Phillipe North German Fall-Front Secretary in Flame Mahogany, circa 1855
Located in Miami, FL
A captivating one of a kind Louis Phillip secretary in book-matched, flame mahogany with shaped, curvi-linear drawer fronts and faux drawer fronts on the fall-front and the sides. Of...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful Empire clapper secretaire is made of burr walnut. It has very elegant detached columns with Fine chiseled bronze elements on top and bottom of each column. Inside of the secretaire there is leather desk and several drawers including a secret drawer...
Category
1850s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry Bureau a Cylindre
Located in New York, 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 ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco Bar Trolley in Style of Jacques Adnet with Original Mirror France 1930s
Located in Ulm, DE
Art Deco bar trolley in style of Jacques Adnet
Real wood veneer
Handles and wheels in copper
To open on one side with double doors
Tabletop with old mirror (blind spots)
New m...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Copper
Rare Cabinet Chest of Drawers with Marble in the antique Biedermeier Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Maple root on solid conifers. Single-door cabinet in cylindrical shape. Corpus on corresponding frame. Gering marble top surface with light-grey grain. Partially ebonised. Interior s...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple
19th Century English Mahogany Glazed Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Staffordshire, GB
19th century English mahogany glazed secretaire bookcase
circa 1870.
19th century mahogany glazed secretaire bookcase with 4 glazed cabinet doors ab...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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, topped with a Chippendale...
Category
Late 19th Century Queen Anne Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Lion Secretary Empire Berlin
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on solid oak and softwood partly ebonized. High-rise, architecturally designed corpus. In the front three drawers of different sizes. Straight writing board, behind it ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A lovely architectural form secretary with marquetry inlay doors.
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Birch Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Constructed of solid birch and fir and veneered with hand-cut Nordic birch veneers, the secretary features an upper locking drawer which rests upon a fitted desk area hiding behind a...
Category
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Fir
French Napoleon III Ebonized Secrétaire with Inlaid Brass, circa 1860
Located in Staffordshire, GB
French Napoleon III ebonized secrétaire with inlaid brass, circa 1860
Brass trim supports the grey marble top and features throughout as a delicate ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Boulle Escritoire
Located in Wilson, NC
This French Boulle escritoire has profuse brass inlays with arabesques and brass ornamental mounts throughout. The wooden background is ebonized. The dra...
Category
1890s French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Regency Brass Mounted Mahogany Two-Part Secrétaire Military Campaign Chest
Located in Charleston, SC
This mid-19th century brass-mounted mahogany two-part Campaign chest has a removable mahogany panel covering the satinwood. Fitted interior of the secrétaire drawer with usual foldin...
Category
Mid-19th Century English British Colonial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Solid Oak Biedermeier Secretary in Honey Color
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful secretaire abbatant or standing secretary.
Made in the finest European oak, this secretary was made in The Netherlands circa 1840. It stands on turned feet and features 3 drawers at the lower part. The writing plate has a recessed panel with the typical Dutch Biedermeier...
Category
Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th Century French Standing Secrétaire / Dry Bar with Tambour Doors, Marble Top
Located in Madrid, ES
A 19th century, French secrétaire with beautiful feathered woodwork, eucalyptus fillet inlay with Louis XVI style detailing. The wood grain veneer is artfully arranged in geometric p...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century Charles X Dutch Mahogany Secretaire, 1830s
Located in Roma, RM
Fantastic Dutch secretaire in mahogany veneer. Rich decoration of inlays with motifs of urns, flower loops and horse carpets. Front with fold-down writing...
Category
Mid-19th Century Dutch Charles X Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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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