Skip to main content

Secretaires

1
84
to
11
43
40
84
84
84
42
8
3
3
1
1
1
1
375
701
575
96
101
316
73
21
6
16
27
98
27
14
5
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
77
35
24
18
15
64
30
15
14
13
5
5
3
2
2
Secretaires For Sale
Period: 1950s
Period: 1940s
20th Century Dutch Trumeau Walnut with Maple Wood Inlays, Netherlands, 1950
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Dutch Trumeau from the mid-20th century. Furniture of exceptional quality, richly inlaid in walnut and maple wood, the interior is covered in mahogany an...
Category

1950s Dutch Dutch Colonial Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Walnut, Fir

1940's French Art Deco Exotic Rosewood Secretary Cabinet
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1940's French Art Deco Exotic Rosewood Secretary Cabinet. Top glass enclosed display area. Interior with special sections for desk needs. Rare form.
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Directoire Style Mahogany and Brass secretary Aabatant Leather Desk Surface
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Marble top. One dovetailed drawer on top. One drop down door containing leather and fitted interior. Two doors on bottom containing one shelf. Brass or bronze hardware and accents. ...
Category

1950s French Directoire Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Superb Shallow Depth French Country Painted Mesh Door Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous distressed-painted SHALLOW DEPTH secretary desk with slide out leather writing surface with embossed edges. The finish is entirely original including signs of use ...
Category

1940s French French Provincial Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Wire

Mid-Century Modern Wooden Secretary by Emiel Veranneman, 1950s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Secretary by Emiel Veranneman, 1950s Neon system not in working condition
Category

1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

20th Century Veneered Wood Italian Trumeau Secrétaire Desk, 1950s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian trumeau from the mid-20th century. Moved furniture and veneered in walnut, burl, cherry and beech of excellent quality. Double body trumeau equipped with three external draw...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

20th Century Walnut Burl and Beech Wood Italian Trumeau Desk Secrétaire, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Lombard trumeau of the mid-twentieth century. Moved and rounded, double body, richly carved in walnut, burl and beech woods of beautiful lines and pleasant decor. Trumeau with a work...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Small Queen Anne style burr walnut bureau secretary
Located in Chelmsford, GB
A good quality Queen Anne style walnut bureau . A very well proportioned small size with a well fitted interior below there are three drawers ,the whole standing on turned legs unite...
Category

1950s English Queen Anne Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Italian Mid-Century Secretary Palisander Wood with Inlays by Paolo Buffa 1940s
Located in Salzburg, AT
Exceptional secretary by Paolo Buffa from the late 1940s in Italy. The object is a real gem due to its distinctive size as well as the fineness of its execution. The look is clea...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Burl, Bog Wood, Oak, Maple, Boxwood, Birch, Glass, Palisander

Cees Braakman CB07 Secretaire in Birch red / blue plywood for Pastoe Netherlands
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stylish Secretaire Model CB07 designed by Cees Braakman and manufactured by Pastoe in the 1950s, the Netherlands. This Secretaire was part of the 'Birch Series' of Pastoe and inspire...
Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Italian Secretary Desk in Birch and Walnut, 1950s
Located in Chicago, IL
A stunning 1950s Italian secretary desk constructed with birch and walnut. This piece features a sculptural profile with a channeled trim detail and angled, tapered legs. A uniquely ...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

20th Century Lacquered and Painted Wood Venetian Trumeau Desk Secrétaire, 1950s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian trumeau from the mid-20th century. Double body cabinet in lacquered and hand painted wood with very pleasant chinoiserie decorations. Trumeau in beautiful patina, finely dec...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Art Deco Aquamarine Shagreen Secretaire, Attr. to Borsani, 1940s
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco secretaire was produced in Italy in the 1940s and is attributable to Osvaldo Borsani. It is completely in an exotic wood with a black lacquered top and base. The centra...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Bruno Mathsson reading stand, Karl Mathsson 40's Sweden modernist collector
Located in Forest, BE
Table de lecture en bois et acier nickelé. Daté du début des années 1940. La tablette en bois a été restaurée mais la patine du piétement reste non touché et dans son état le plus proche de l'origine. Ajustable en hauteu. Il y à de beaux détails en laiton. Produite dans les ateliers de son père Karl Mathsson...
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Conant Ball Gallery Drawer Box Modern Mates Leslie Diamond Rare
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for efficient shipping to your location. Gallery box with three drawers. Solid Flame Birch construction. Designed by Leslie Diamond for the famed Mode...
Category

1950s American Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Birch

A drop-front secretary desk - 1950 - France.
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A secretary desk from the 1950s, French craftsmanship. Solid elm wood with a beautiful patina. Height with the drop-down leaf open: 75 cm. Dimensions of the drop-down leaf: 45 cm ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Elm

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

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

Mobile archivio italiano, legno di noce e dettagli in ottone, modernariato 1940
Located in MIlano, IT
Mobile archivio da ufficio in legno di noce con doppia colonna di cassetti con dettagli in ottone. 1940 ca. Buone condizioni. Misure in cm 91,5x40x184h Favoloso mobile archivio inter...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

1940's Traditional Burl Wood Secretary/ Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Beautiful Grand Scale 1940's Traditional style Burl Wood Secretary/ Writing Desk. This secretary is in very good condition. Miami Beach acquisition.
Category

1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paolo Buffa, Secretary, Italy c. 1948, Brass Intarsia by Giovanni Gariboldi, Manufactured by Marelli e Colico, Cantù. An exquisite and collectible Mid-Century secretary by esteemed ...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Art Deco Maple Briar, Gold Leaf and Black Lacquered Secretaire, 1940s
Located in Meda, MB
This Art Deco secrétaire was produced in Italy in the 1940s. It is completely made of an elegant maple briar, with black lacquered and gold leafed details. In particular, some of t...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Gold Leaf

Italian Mahogany Secretaire Cabinet, 1950s
Located in Meda, MB
Precious cabinet secretaire produced in Italy in the 1950s, The whole cabinet is veneered in mahogany with a fine solid wood carving in the center of the two doors representing two b...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

Extraordinary Colorful Rococo Style Painted Secretary Cabinet with Chair
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Custom painted in a striking blue exterior with an electric and contrasting green interior and having a strong form, ornate gilt hinges and pulls, escutcheons (with keys) and Top fin...
Category

1940s Rococo Revival Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

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

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

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...
Category

1940s European Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Mid Century Modern Chest of Drawers/Secretary by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Mid Century Modern Chest of Drawers/Secretary by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, a stunning piece of furniture that's sure to elevate any space,this dresser boasts a sleek and sophisticated design that perfectly captures the essence of mid-century modern style. Featuring five spacious drawers, this chest of drawers is perfect for storing all your essentials. Whether you are looking to organize your clothing, accessories, or other personal items, this dresser has ample space to accommodate it all. But what really sets this piece apart is its unique secretary...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Pair of Black Lacquered Midcentury Secretaires by Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A pair of Italian midcentury Neo-Classical black lacquered secretaires by Paolo Buffa. Each with three drawers and a fall front desk compartme...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Beech

Wooden Mid-Century Modern Drop off Wall Secretaire Attributed to Marcel Gascoin
Located in Varese, Lombardia
Wooden wall secretaire with drop-off top desk, made in the 1950s. The design and workmanship of this secretaire is very reminiscent of the works of Marcel Gascoin made between 1949 ...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Secretary Desk Attributed to Gio Ponti
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Wonderful Italian pear wood secretary featuring a reverse painted glass top supported by compass like legs ending in heavy brass sabots. Above the desk are book shelves and an off c...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Kai Kristiansen for Torring / HJN Mobler Model 63 Danish Modern Teak Secretary
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Beautiful sculptural Danish modern secretary. Design by Kai Kristiansen for Torring / HJN Mobler. Model 63 in teakwood. A beautiful minimalistic sculptural secretary in excellent design and craftmanship. It was build without using keys. The desk surface drops down to expose three small drawers and paper dividers. Pullout desk...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Edmondo Palutari Teak Highboard, Made by Dassi Mobili Iterni, 1960s
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This sideboard is made of teak and finished with brass details. It can also be used as a secretary through the door on the right side of the closet. The versatile sideboard offers pl...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Designer, Desk, Teak, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A teak and brass desk or secretaire designed and produced by an Italian Designer, Italy, 1940s.
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Cabinet Secretaire by Cees Braakman for Pastoe, 1950s
Located in amstelveen, NL
A wonderful piece from the Birch - series with distinctive laced legs. Designed by Cees Braakman for Pastoe in the early 1950s. Bookcase with 2 shelves an...
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Vintage Walnut Bookshelf and Secretaire by Claudio Salocchi for Sormani, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s - 1960s. This bookshelf and secretaire features a walnut frame with nickel-plated brass handles and black varnished metal feet, which are not original. As a matt...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass, Nickel

Midcentury Studio Craft Small Dresser Top Jewelry Box 6-Drawer Walnut Brass
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid century studio craft small chest of drawers in solid walnut construction with wide detailed joinery. Very high quality construction with brass pulls. Custom made for top of dress...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Set of Two Cees Braakman Cu07 Cabinets
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Set of two cabinets designed by the Dutch designer Cees Braakman in 1958 for Pastoe. This pair of the Japanese series is made of teak wood , a blac...
Category

1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Peter & Molgaard Hvidt Rosewood Secretary
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Handsome, masculine 6-drawer dresser with recessed pulls, topped with drop-front desk fitted with drawer and storage cubicles. On enameled metal legs with rosewood block feet. Retain...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Steel

Louis XV Gold and Bronze Desk, 1950s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Small desk with drawers. Finely decorated with gold and fake turtle, Boulle style. handles and details in gilded bronze. Packaging with bubble...
Category

1950s Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Mid Century Bentwood Desk by Paul Goldman for Plymold 1946
Located in Oakland, CA
Streamlined midcentury desk of Bentwood construction by designer Paul Goldman for Plymold. This unique and beautiful treatment of wood furniture was developed by Goldman, a master bo...
Category

1940s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Bentwood

Fine Quality French Mahogany Bronze Mounted Secretary Desk Bookcase Top
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an absolutely gorgeous and superb quality diminutive secretary desk from France. The desk features a bookcase top with adjustable shelf and a marble top and trimmed in bronze...
Category

1940s French Directoire Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

1940's, Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Newport Beach, CA
A petite, two part, hand-painted, lacquered, fully finished, drop front Chinoiserie bureau secrétaire from Spain. The interior of the two-door top is wallpapered in faux bamboo fretw...
Category

1940s Spanish Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Secretaire in Rosewood Art Nouveau Style, 1940s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Furniture made of rosewood inlaid with precious briarwood and maple. The furniture is of high bourgeois taste. The contrast of the rigid geometric lines of the body of the furniture that enclose art-nouveau inlays...
Category

1940s Italian Art Nouveau Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Rosewood, Burl

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

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Steel

Gilbert Rohde 'Paldao Group' Modular Bookcase System
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rare 3-piece storage system, one of the earliest modular furniture designs, veneered in exotic Paldao burl door-fronts and figured Paldao sides. The dark stain finish is original and beautiful, with a rich rosewood color. The drop-down secretary door is set with an elegantly cast brass knob, and opens to a hidden desk...
Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Gilbert Rohde Paldao Secretary Display Case for Herman Miller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bookcase with drop-front secretary desk and storage drawers in paldao wood. Glass dividers separate storage compartments, and cork-lined back. Retains Herman Miller tag. Great origin...
Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Paldao

All Oak "Secrétaire" Desk by Pierre Cruège, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
French reconstruction designer Pierre Cruège's forme libre masterpiece bureau with abattant. Rare natural oak version Brass details Inside the desk compartment, a letter rack and ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

1940s Osvaldo Borsani Secretaire
Located in Hanover, MA
Rare and very unusual piece of Italian modern design. Vintage 1940s Italian bow-fronted secretary in walnut with seven drawers with brass ring pulls, attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. T...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Goatskin

1940's Italian Secretaire with Reverse Painted Glass
Located in Hanover, MA
Golden birch veneered drop front secretary desk with three drawers and reverse painted glass panel of stylized Egyptian women and a chariot...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Birch

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

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

Kai Winding Bureau / Secretaire Produced by Cabinetmaker P. Jeppesen in Denmark
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

Paolo Buffa from Cav. Arrighi Serafino Mobili d'Arte Cantu Bookcase, 1950s Italy
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

Italian Olive Burl Wood Bombe Secretary Vanity with Display Top & Matching Chair
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous Italian bombe drop front secretary cabinet in olive wood with the matching chair. Bookcase top with Two drawers with brass hardware and exquisite cabriole legs. Expert craft...
Category

1940s Italian Baroque Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

1950 Compact Home Office Desk in Oak and Blond Wood
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1950 compact home office desk in oak and blond wood Interesting desk storage. Measures: 115 x 87 x 54 cm closed. 115 x 175 x 70 cm open.
Category

1950s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Sycamore

Antonino Gorgone Midcentury Secretaire / Desk Cabinet, Italy, circa 1950
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Italian midcentury writing desk / secretaire in Italian cherry. It has an extractable writing leaf. Designer: Stabilimenti Napoli Manufacturer: Antonino Gorgone...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

Vintage Birch Secrétaire with Three Drawers and Brass Details, Italy
By Massimo Campigli
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s. This is a stunning birch secretaire that features brass hands and durmast interiors. The flap has an oil painting in the style of Massimo Campigli, that is in a...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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.

Recently Viewed

View All