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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
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

George III Scarlet Japanned Secretary Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
The case 18th century with later scarlet Japanned decoration. With shaped arched pediment over a pair of arched doors with beveled glass. Opening to a...
Category

1750s English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Oak

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

Midcentury modern danish teakwood secretary/vanity, 1960s Denmark.
Located in תל אביב - יפו, IL
Midcentury modern danish teakwood secretary/vanity, 1960s Denmark. Features a vibrant wood grain, a set of six small drawers, mail slots and slide out...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Mid-Century Modern Teak Rolltop Desk Bureau, 1960s
Located in Harlingen, TX
A vintage 1960's Swedish modern teak roll-top desk/bureau. Featuring a roll-up top, extendable desk surface, five storage cubbies, three upper drawers and four lower drawers with scu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Erling Torvits Brazilian Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Erling Torvits Manufacturer: Klim Møbelfabrik Era: 1960s Materials: Rosewood Measurements: 41″ wide x 18.75″ deep x 47.75″ tall Condition: In excellent ori...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Antique Pine Roll Top Desk Bureau from Sweden circa 1840
Located in Round Top, TX
Lovely pine roll top desk or bureau from Sweden from the 1800's. The age of this secretary is revealed in the warmth of the deep patina in the pine which only happens through genera...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk in Beautiful Graining We present you this piece of furniture with three drawers at the bottom, a drop front, and a narrow drawer und...
Category

Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Baize

ANTIQUE SHERATON REVIVAL BUREA BOOKCASE LEATHER TOP HARDWOOD WALNUT & SATiNWOOD
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite Sheraton Revival Walnut, Mahogany & Satinwood Bureau bookcase...
Category

20th Century English Sheraton Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Hardwood, Satinwood, Walnut

Antique Burr Walnut Biedermeier Secretaire Desk Drop Front Secretaire Drawers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this super quality, antique Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire desk with 35 drawers Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers w...
Category

1880s Swedish Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Cresent Queen Anne Style Cherry Secretary Writing Desk Bookcase Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Beautiful Queen Anne style secretary desk and bookcase by Cresent Manufacturing Company, circa 1970s. Made from cherry with a natural distre...
Category

1970s Queen Anne Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Cherry

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
This Mahogany Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture has all the outstanding qualities of an antique original. Made of select mahogany solids and maho...
Category

2010s Renaissance Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Desk Cabinet in Teak, 1960s
Located in HEILOO, NL
Teak wooden cabinet with fold-out desk, produced in Germany in the 1960s. The cabinet has 2 doors with lock and stands on adjustable metal legs. The top of the cabinet folds fo...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Danish Mid Century Modern teak secretary dresser, made in the 1960s.
Located in תל אביב - יפו, IL
Stunning Danish Mid Century Modern teak secretary dresser, made in the 1960s. Features six smaller drawers on top, three storage drawers on the botto...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

A fine Biedermeier period walnut and inlayed roll top secretary. Circa 1830
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and rare Biedermeier walnut roll top secretary . Fine satinwood inlay . French polished and ready to place. Several drawers and compartments for storage .
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood, Walnut

Georgian Mahogany Blind Door Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early Georgian Mahogany blind door bookcase secretary desk 1740-50. This is a great looking piece that retains an old and possibly original surface with a great mellow color and patina to the aged Mahogany. Three adjustable shelves in the top section. The bottom piece with two over two drawers and the fitted interior with a sliding lid that opens to a well area. All hardware is original to the piece and all of the locks are working with a key to the bookcase top and desk lid...
Category

1740s English George II Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Birch Karl Johan Secretary Bureau from Sweden, circa 1840-60
By Karl Johan
Located in Round Top, TX
Stunning Karl Johan Swedish birch secretary or "bureau" with twelve inner drawers surrounding a 3-part central cubie area. Exterior has one upp...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Karges Ebonized, Gilt & Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
A tall secretary by Karges offers ebonized wood construction with upper having carved shell form crest over single door case having internal bookcase; lower ...
Category

20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet. The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...
Category

18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Hand-Painted Furniture Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with Roses. We love how the choice of sweet curves and pastello colors ...
Category

2010s Italian Other Secretaires

Materials

Wood

1930s Art Deco Secretary Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, TX
1930s Art Deco secretary cabinet. Exquisite Art Deco display cabinet in walnut with glass front doors featuring fretwork design. The center features a...
Category

1940s European Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Early 18th C Italian Baroque Figured Walnut Secretary w/ Architectural Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Figured Walnut Secretary with Architectural Pediment, Arched Mirror Cabinet Door
Category

Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Antique Venetian Paint Decorated Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall cabinet made in two parts in blue paint with polychrome painted floral and gilt figural decoration. With a serpentine baroque crest with a gilt landscape in the center cartouc...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Arne Vodder Rosewood Vanity Dresser
Located in Oakland, CA
circa 1955 Brazilian rosewood vanity with flip-top mirror and lights. Crafted of stunning Brazilian Rosewood with dark grains and dynamic book-matched patterns across the front of dr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

19th Century Dutch Bleached Oak Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The secretary made of Dutch oak from the 19th century rich in decorations consists of an upper and lower part. The upper part is hinged to the front. The flap sits on two pullouts th...
Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Swedish Gustavian Style 1820s Grey Blue Painted Slant Front Desk Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood secretary circa 1820 with slant front desk, carved fluted motifs, three drawers and carved feet. Transport yourself to the elegant Swedish Gust...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

A George I Style Burl Walnut Secretary Desk, England
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A beautifully detailed and well appointed Georgian style secretary desk, made in England. The dovetailed drawers with brass hardware with a l...
Category

20th Century English George I Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Vintage Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers with White Marble Top, France, 1900s
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
France, 1900 Faux bamboo chest of drawers with white marble top. H 144 x W 87 x D 40 cm
Category

Early 20th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Vintage Thomasville Cherry Blockfront Secretary Bookcase Cabinet Dry Bar Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
Traditional Thomasville blockfront secretary bookcase or dry bar, circa last quarter 20th century. Made from cherry with an illuminated laminate drop front work surface over three lo...
Category

Late 20th Century Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

Burled Secretary Desk
Located in Annville, PA
This Burled Secretary Desk from Niagara Furniture has all the outstanding qualities of an antique original. Made of select mahogany solids and beauti...
Category

2010s Renaissance Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Napoleon III Period Secretary from the 19th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
" Napoleon III period secretary from the 19th century. " 19th century gilt bronze and marquetry secretary, Napoleon III period, circa 1880. h: 132cm, l:92cm, p: 38cm
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

JASPER "Generations" Inlaid Mahogany Chippendale Style Secretary Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
A Chippendale style secretary desk by Jasper Cabinet Company, their "Generations" model. Inlaid mahogany, brass hardware, pediment top with inla...
Category

Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Spanish Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, Spain, circa 1950
Located in Miami, FL
Mid 20th century walnut Spanish front cabinet with molded carvings and two compartments, the hight compartment has a sliding door that can be hidden easily to open the space and the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Secretaires

Materials

Oak

French Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This stunning Mid-19th-century French Painted Secretary Desk has a captivating fall-front design. This piece showcases an elegant white exteri...
Category

Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Greco America Empire Flame Mahogany Quervelle School Secretary 19th C
By Anthony Gabriel Quervelle
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire secretary in the manner of Quervelle offers deeply striated flame mahogany construction with Greco-Roman features having upper bookcase with double glass doors with arch...
Category

19th Century American American Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Glass

19th Century French Louis XV Marble Top Carved Walnut Marquetry Secretary Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an office or bedroom with this elegant antique "Secretaire a Abattant". Crafted in Paris circa 1870, the fruitwood secretary stands on cabriole legs ending with bronze sabot...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Swedish Secretaire with Secret Compartement, Light Birch Wood
Located in Greven, DE
Antique secretary with secret compartment Swedish birch second half 19th century Dimensions: H x W x D: 135 x 112 x 52 cm Description Piece of furniture standing on block feet with three drawers at the bottom, a writing flap above and another drawer at the very top. There is a small secret compartment in one of the front feet, which is clearly visible in one of the photos. The side runners of the top drawer are removable and also contain a secret compartment in each. Discreet flanking half columns of solid birch wood extend almost the entire height of the furniture front. In combination with the hollowed headboard, they give the furniture its special character. The grain of the flamed birch is reflected on the front, sides and cover plate. The discreet brass keyhole surrounds keep a low profile. The interior of the secretary consists of a central door, an open compartment underneath, and a total of 15 drawers of varying sizes. The compartment under the door is ideal for sliding in a laptop when work is done and closing the flap. The door itself is another highlight of the furniture with its rosewood edge, fine thread inlays and field of mirror ash. Behind the door is another small drawer. On the back wall of the secretary are old shipping labels from the port...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Biedermeier Secretaire, South German, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier secretaire in cherry veneer with a two-door lower part, a flat writing flap and a wide top drawer. The edges are set off with a strip of burl veneer. The escutcheons are ...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

19th Century Biedermeier Swedish Mahogany Secretaire Chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Biedermeier period swedish mahogany secretaire chest of drawers, circa 1810. Stunning secretaire chest in rich mahogany. 4 drawer chest with architectural elements to the bottom d...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

French Provincial Style Floral Painted White Oak Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
French Provincial Style painted white oak secretaire with chicken wire cabinet top and leather desktop. Floral design painted on front and sides; interior ...
Category

1990s American French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Wire

Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and elaborated 19th century Chinoiserie red lacquered slant front secretary. Hand painted and raised decoration. The interior with pigeon holes and drawers and a writing ...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th C. Swedish Baroque Secretary with Library in Original Gray Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish slant-front secretary from the 18th century in two parts with arched cornice and bracket base. Found in Kronoberg in southern Sweden, an area known for crystal and furnitur...
Category

18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry, Maple, Inlays, Brass, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Stately large Biedermeier secretaire from south Germany around 1830. Cherry veneered on softwood and solid cherry. Solid cherry solid columns with carved Corinthian capitals. Protrud...
Category

1830s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Iron, Tin

18th c. Swedish Early Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish early Gustavian period secretary with library from the 18th century with shaped cornice, scalped apron, and original bronze hardware. The upp...
Category

18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Secretary In Walnut 18 ° Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
a fine Secretary in walnut and burr walnut from the 18th century Very good quality and small English model secretary composed of 3 drawers as well as a...
Category

18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

1950s Guillerme et Chambron Design Oak Wooden Chest of Drawers And Secretary
Located in Tourcoing, FR
1950s - 1960s French Guillerme et Chambron design oak chest of drawers and secretary "dos d'âne" model composed of a oak wood structure with 3 large drawers back and an hidden secret...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Bookcase, Cylinder Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Bookcase ~ Cylinder Secretary is a stately reminder of a bygone era! Hand-crafted by talented cabinetmakers from a mixture of in...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

Modernist Secretary Cabinet, Lacquered Wood, Chrome-Plated Metal, Customizable
Located in Berlin, DE
German modernism free-standing secretary cabinet designed and manufactured by GMD Berlin. Wood lacquering in various colors and finish. Available on request in different amounts.
Category

2010s German Modern Secretaires

Materials

Steel

French 18th C. Louis XV/XVI Transitional Ormolu Mounted Secretaire by RVLC
Located in PARIS, FR
A Louis XV/XVI transitional ormolu mounted tulipwood secretaire by RVLC Rare and elegant secretary of elliptical shape, veneered on all sides of rosewood with herringbone decoration...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Midcentury French Style Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk / Cabinet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a midcentury French style hand painted chinoiserie secretary with a unique bombe form base and glass top. It works so well for both display and functional desk. It is unmarke...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Glass, Lacquer

Italian 17th Century Secretaire
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning 17th century Secretaire from Bologna, Italy. Wonderfully constructed from beautiful walnut with the upper section having a fall front secretary. Once opened to expose a se...
Category

Mid-17th Century Italian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

American Hepplewhite Mahogany Inlaid Fall Front Secretary with Bookcase, C. 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Hepplewhite mahogany satinwood string inlaid secretary bookcase with a hinged fall front leather writing surface, central arched tulip wood inlaid cornice with original bras...
Category

1790s American Hepplewhite Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French Mahogany Secretary Matching Marble Top From The 1890
Located in Lejre, DK
French secretary in mahogany with many intarsia and drawers with matching marble top from around 1890. A super high quality secretary. Measurements in cm: H:159 W:102 D:43
Category

1890s French Louis XIV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble

European 1790s Two-Part Tall Secretary with Glass Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European painted wood tall two-part secretary circa 1790 with glass doors, carved dentil molding, slant-front desk and four graduating drawers. Enhance your home decor with this ex...
Category

Late 18th Century European Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique Early American 19th Century Pine Plantation Desk
Located in Forney, TX
An early American 19th century pine plantation desk with nicely aged patina. Born in the Mid-Atlantic region / Southern United States, circa 1800s, hand-crafted of solid pine wood with mellow warm tone and rich grain patterns, primitive one-piece construction, having a stepped molded cornice above a tall pair of paneled cabinet doors, opening to reveal an interior fitted with shelves and divided slots for documents, plank boarded back with old metal patch, over a lift-top writing slope with spacious storage underneath, the apron adorned with simple decorative pilasters...
Category

19th Century American Primitive Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Biedermeier Secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1850. Very good condition. Wood: mahogany dimensions: height 205 cm width 109 cm depth 59 cm.
Category

1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Antique, New and Vintage Secretaires

Your antique, new or vintage secretary desk has become the (chic) saving grace of the "new normal" at home.

Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments — pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers — are revealed.

Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts — a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top. Taking its name from the French word for the piece, secrétaire, the secretary desk dates back to the 18th century, when Paris-based cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben, known for his exquisite marquetry and clever mechanical desks, is thought to have invented the secrétaire à abbattant, or drop-leaf desk.

While the defining drop-down feature of the secretary desk has remained constant, the materials used, as well as its configuration, size and style have evolved over time.

At first, secretaries were typically made from exotic woods, like rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood; later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common. The desks also became lighter, with space carved out of the lower half for the writer’s feet or with drawers replaced by legs — making them more table-like.

When open, the secretary is a dynamic, versatile Wunderkammer. When closed, it’s a sophisticated, space-saving piece of furniture.

“A fine secretary with a good provenance adds stature and credence to its owner — it is a cornerstone piece,” says antiques dealer Stanley Weiss, who specializes in 18th- and 19th-century English and American furniture. “In this disposable world, fine furniture is always passed on and speaks to who its owner is.”

No matter what style or period you choose, and no matter how you decide to use it, the timeless, flexible secretary desk is bound to become an indispensable part of your daily routine.

Browse a range of antique and vintage secretary desks on 1stDibs, including mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others.

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