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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1950s
19th Century Biedermeier Secretary Mahogany, 1835
Located in Berlin, DE
Pyramids mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged inner life. Not long ago, the secretary was grounded. Several drawers from inside as well as from outside. With secret compar...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
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
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
Early 19th Century Regency Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
Period Regency mahogany secretary bookcase. Carved neoclassical elements. Pediment with carving and carved hairy pay feet. Drop down interior to reveal original compartments in satin...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
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
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique fruitwood "Secretaire a Abattant" was crafted in France, circa 1840; the tall secretary with classical straight lines features a shaped top over a frieze drawer. The fall front opens and reveals a fully outfitted inside theater decorated with turned columns on the sides, six functioning drawers, and a wide open niche for books and letters...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
19thc French Painted Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful 19thc Robin’s egg blue secretary/fall front desk.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rustic Old Hickory Hutch
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Old Hickory hutch with natural log legs, a slatted table top & shelf, one drawer, decorative cutouts & rope trim (SIGNED with brand: Old Hicko...
Category
19th Century American Rustic Antique Secretaires
Materials
Slate
Japanese Export Lacquer Mother-of-Pearl Secretaire for the American Market
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Japanese export lacquered secretaire for the American market
Circa 1800-1830, Colonial
Overall densely decorated with flower sprays and landscapes, minutely inlaid with ...
Category
1810s Japanese Edo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Commode Secretary with Bronze
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century French Louis XVI style commode secretary features fluted bronze columns at the corners with striated bronze plaques above and below. Additional bronze ban...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Venetian Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A painted Venetian secretaire with shelves and drawers on bottom portion of body.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Antique German Mahogany Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
Outstanding early 19th century German Biedermeier secretary desk, circa 1830, with exceptional book matched mahogany drawer and desk front. ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Dutch 19th Century Oak Secretaire
Located in Delft, NL
A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire
A Dutch 19th century oak secretaire and a wooden balcony rack.
The secretaire consists of various drawers between 2 columns and a hidden draw...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
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
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 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
1950 Compact Home Office Desk in Mahogany and Blond Wood
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1950 compact home office desk in mahogany and blond wood.
Original lamp.
Interesting desk storage.
114 x 82 x 53 cm closed.
114 x 164 x 50 cm open.
Category
1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Sycamore
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
19th Century Empire St. Mahogany, Ormolu, Bronze & Fruitwood Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most handsome Continental mid 19th century Empire st. mahogany, ormolu, patinated bronze and ebonized fruitwood drop front secretary. The secretary is raised by four square tapered...
Category
19th Century Unknown Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
Introducing a remarkable Empire Fall Top Desk, hailing from France during the period of 1800-1810. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this magn...
Category
Early 1800s European Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Louis XV Style Kingwood Bureau de Dame by Alphonse Giroux et Cie
Located in Montreal, QC
This parquetry desk has the attributes one would expect when bearing the name to one of Paris leading retailers of objet deluxe. It is bombe...gently swelling and raised on cabriole legs. It is applied with oval porcelain panels which we have not dismounted but are to Sevres standard. It extensively mounted with bronze chutes sabots and moldings of various sorts. Including a bronze pierced plaque with the monogram of the owner. It is in a small way, highly evocative of 19th century Paris at its best.
This company flourished between the consulate and 1867 when it closed. It enjoyed Royal patronage and was certainly a leading supplier of luxury goods of the highest quality.
Maison Giroux, the famous curiosity and luxury goods shop, was situated at No. 7 rue du Coq-Saint-Honoré and in business from the time of the Consulate until the end of the Second Empire. The business was founded in 1799 by Francis Simon Alphonse Giroux, cabinetmaker and official restorer of Notre Dame. “Maison Alphonse Giroux” also known as “Giroux & Cie” specialized in producing ornate objects d’art and technically sophisticated furniture. Patronized by various members of the French Royal Family, including Louis XVIII, Charles X, Henri...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Indonesian 19th Century Handmade Slant-Front Desk with Raised Panels and Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
An Indonesian antique handmade slant-front desk from the 19th century, with raised panels and inner drawers. Created in Indonesia during the 19th century, this secretaire features a ...
Category
19th Century Indonesian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Beautiful French 19th Century Hand-Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful French 19th century hand-painted secretary desk, the patina is so much beautiful in person, it has a little repair on one side, see...
Category
1880s French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
English Satinwood Adams Inlaid Secretary Desk Vitrine Top with Inkwells
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 delivery needs! They offer a reasonable flat-rate fee for delivery and set up to the ground floor of your home. They deliver to the vast majority of the lower 48 states. They offer a flat rate for most of our items with exclusions for the largest or most complex items such as breakfronts or crystal chandeliers or other items of greater complexity. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase as these rates are different from our stated pricing. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase. Most deliveries to the East Coast will be 295.00, to the mid-west and Southern mid-west 395.00. To the areas west of Kansas 495.00 and the farthest points to the West coast will be 595.00. Again, some areas we can't cover, however we can deliver to most of the lower 48 states so please inquire to be sure! Delivery times range from as fast as 1-4 weeks for the east coast to 5-9 weeks to the farthest areas of the west coast, sometimes longer and sometimes even shorter. If it is a time sensitive purchase, we may be able to accommodate you for a higher price. It is our goal to please each and every one of our customers with the highest standard of service possible. You must realize and accept that we are shipping antique, vintage and quality used furnishings to your home. We cannot control traffic, weather, and acts of God. There will be times when additional patience will be necessary.
This fantastic English satinwood desk is in very good antique condition with fantastic beveled glass, superb satinwood, mixed woods inlay and a great antique denim...
Category
1890s English Adam Style Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Georgian English Mahogany Commode Secretaire, 1816
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Important English commode secretary from the Georgian period with three large drawers. The upper part simulating two drawers is made of a flap which forms the work table covered with...
Category
1810s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Hollywood Regency Secretary Desk Secretaire Bookcase w/ Chinese Motif
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Hollywood Regency secretary desk secretaire bookcase with hand-painted Chinese motif featuring a breakfront cabinet with a small secretary ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Northern Italian Walnut Two-Part Secretary
Located in Newport Beach, CA
Stunning, c. 1820, solid walnut, two-tier, fall-front scriviana from the Piedmont district of Northern Italy. The paneled doors in the upper cabinet bordered by relief carved acanthu...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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
Kai Winding Bureau / Secretaire Produced by Cabinetmaker P. Jeppesen in Denmark
By Kai Winding
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare bureau / secretaire designed by Kai Winding. Produced by cabinetmaker P. Jeppesen in Denmark.
Dimensions (W x D x H): 100 x 46.5 (83) x 104 (68) cm.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Secretaire Sideboard
Located in Suffolk, GB
Rare Antique Regency quality mahogany secretaire sideboard having a pleasing shaped gallery back with a quality mahogany drop well bow fronted top. The fall ...
Category
19th Century European Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Other
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
French 19th Century Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
This secretary desk opens up and offers a beautiful writing space, along with areas to store your writing material. The secretary has bronze mounts, a marble top and Venis Martin...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Wood Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish mid-19th century painted wood Gustavian style slant-front desk or secretary with three lower drawers standing on short tapered feet.
Here are the measurements: 48" W x 2...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
Paolo Buffa from Cav. Arrighi Serafino Mobili d'Arte Cantu Bookcase, 1950s Italy
By Cantu, Paolo Buffa
Located in Lucca, IT
Bookcase Trumeau by Paolo Buffa from Cav. Arrighi Serafino Mobili d'Arte Cantu, 1950s, Italy.
Rosewood and legs and handle in original brass. It bears the mark of origin in brass ins...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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 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
Louis XVI-Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Secretaire Abbatant, Early 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Louis XVI-Style Mahogany and Marble-Top Secretaire Abbatant, Early 19th Century. The inset variegated white marble top with a three-quarter pierced brass gallery and turreted corne...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
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
Antique Danish Late Empire Mahogany Secretary Bureau
Located in Kastrup, DK
Late empire secretary bureau in mahogany veneered oak with beautiful grain.
In 2 parts.
Desk top offers three bowed doors. A concave door in the mid...
Category
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Mahogany
Gillows of Lancaster attri., Gothic Revival Oak Architect's Desk
Located in London, GB
Attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. A rare Gothic Revival architect's folding desk. The top has opposing slides opening to reveal a compartment for storing drawing utensils etc. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Gothic Revival Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Early 19th Century Duncan Phyfe Grecian Plain Style Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An important piece of American furniture, attributed to the shop of Duncan Phyfe, circa 1840.
To quote "Duncan Phyfe: Master Cabinetmaker in New York," 2011 (Kenny, Brown). "At its best, Phyfe's Grecian plain style furniture captures, the strength, simplicity and noble repose that characterize the best Greek Revival architecture. Phyfe achieved this effect by using the classical orders, often in abstracted form, and a quiet yet radiant palette of warm-toned rosewood and mahogany veneers, meticulously selected and applied in architectural manner."
This secretary employs the finest available mahogany and follows in the strict adherence to proportion and form that made this expression of Phyfe's later career so powerful. The piece exactly matches a description of a piece sold at auction dissolving the Phyfe showroom and warehouse in 1844. The "Grecian standard" or scroll leg with the molded pedestal base and convex disc are all hallmarks of Phyfe's iconic work from 1834-1841. The cornice is supported on either side by scroll brackets which have lambs tongue details below, features linking it to another Phyfe secretary bookcase sold through Northeast Auctions...
Category
1830s American American Classical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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 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
Antique Biedermeier Secretary in Cuban Mahogany, Copenhagen, circa 1820
Located in Miami, FL
An exquisite Biedermeier secretary in very fine Cuban/ West Indies mahogany with all of the original appointments which include the hardware, pulls and keys. The cabinet's joinery, a...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Dutch Floral Marquetry Bureau Display Cabinet
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The moulded cornice above two shaped glass panelled doors opening to shelves, the lower part with a hinged sloping fall front opening to reveal a fitted interior with a central door ...
Category
19th Century Dutch Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant with Cuban Acajou Mahogany
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This secretaire a abattant is the in French Empire style and is veneered in Cuban acajou mahogany, with bronze doré mounts and a gray Saint Anne marble top.
Dimensions Closed:
Height: 56.5 in. (143.51 cm)
Width: 38 in. (96.52 cm)
Depth: 15.75 in. (40.01 cm)
Overall Cabinet Depth with the slant-front opened is 33.75".
The desk top/slant opened is 21.38" deep.
The piece has three lower drawers which are lockable (key included) and the single hidden drawer at the top. The interior has five document and accessory storage drawers. The fall-front (which locks) retains its original tooled leather border (with a Greek-Key pattern) and a later replacement dark green felt.
The bronze doré mounts on the drawers are cornucopias which symbolize bounty. The fall-front has a mount with scrolling roses and foliage. There are two mounts with a male and female profile. The male has a baby owl on his helmet which symbolizes wisdom. And hanging from the females hair-band is a peacock which symbolizes the ability to see all.
The fall front desk can be considered the cousin of the secretary desk. Both have a main working surface or desktop which does double duty as a cover to seal up papers and other items located in small shelves or small drawers placed one on top of the other in front of the user. Thus, all working papers, documents and other items have to be stored before the desk is closed.
Unlike the secretary desk, the fall front desk's desktop panel is in a perfectly vertical position when in its closed position. Often, there are no additional shelves or drawers above the section which is enclosed by the desktop. Thus, the fall front desk is identical in shape to a Barguen~o desk which would have been placed on a Stand of drawers, or more precisely to the form known as Desk on a chest or as "chest-on chest".
The fall front desk is also called a drop front desk or drop-front desk, and sometimes also a drop lid desk...
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Secretaire Writing Cabinet in Antique Biedermeier Style Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High quality rosewood veneer on solid conifers. Conical body on profile frames. Base in the front, between four drawers, straight flap with shield-shaped filling. Behind it is a richly divided compartmental division of a bent temple-shaped central compartment with mirrored full columns, flanked by star-starved drawers. Over cantilevered profile cornice flat gypsum, stepped with oval cover plate. Front. All drawers and backboard made of solid wood. So-called pyramid furniture...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Napoleon III Marquetry Inlaid Secrétaires Abbatant
By Henry Dasson
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A pair of Napoleon III gilt-bronze mounted, Marquetry Inlaid Secrétaires Abbatants, by Henry Dasson, After the Model by Jean-Francois Dubut.
Stamped to the reverse of the bronze ...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
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
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
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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