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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
Period: 20th Century
Period: 19th Century
French Transitional 19th Century Ladies Writing Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming French 19th century Transitional style tulipwood, ormolu, and white Carrara marble secretary desk. The secretary is raised by fine cabriole legs with elegant foliate ormol...
Category

19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

Very Fine Amboyna Italian Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Seaford, GB
A superb piece of 19th Century Furniture, made in Italy predominantly from Amboyna wood but also Ebony. The 2 urns on top are bronze as are the mounts. The 2 top doors doors are fitted with plate glass and open to reveal 3 fully adjustable shelves, under this is the bureau section with drop down flap and leather writing surface, small drawers and pigeon holes. In the base a 2 door storage...
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Amboyna

Mid century Danish Modern Magic Box Desk in Teak by Mummenthaler & Meier
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid century teak closable locking teak writing desk called the "Magic Box", designed by Swiss Mummenthaler and Meier. The piece closes completely and can be key-locked to protect all...
Category

Mid-20th Century Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

20th Century Pedestal Column in the Ancient Antique Louis XVI Style Rosewood
Located in Berlin, DE
Different rosewoods on solid conifers mirrored veneer. Sides with paneled parquet decorated with grid-shaped, perforated wide measuring strips. Cover plate with stepped veined marble...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th C Style Minton Spidell French Country Buffet à Deux-Corps Secretary
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
18th C Style Minton Spidell French Country Buffet à Deux-Corps Secretary
Category

1990s French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an extraordinary secretary desk in the Venetian style. The interior is done in faux marble paint decoration and the exterior is done in a floral and green combination. The de...
Category

Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Chinese Two-Pieces Furniture with Table and Cupboard with Doors and Drawers
Located in Marbella, ES
Chinese Two-Pieces Furniture with Table and Cupboard with Doors and Drawers
Category

Late 20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Antique Country French Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Secretary is the perfect answer to an efficient floor plan or a cozy room! Combining storage in the spacious pair of fu...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XIV Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

Antique Genuine Swedish Escritoire, Original Faux Paint Country Secretary Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish escritoire from the early 1800s. This escritoire, or secretary desk, is a genuine country furniture from northern Sweden made around 1820 to 1840. Made by han...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Antique Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Sèvres Porcelain Mounted Secretaire
Located in London, GB
Antique Louis XVI style ormolu and Sèvres porcelain mounted secretaire French, c. 1840 Height 127cm, width 76cm, depth 37cm This magnificent secretaire was crafted around 1840 from ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ormolu

Gustavian, Swedish Secretaire Desk, White Paint, Pinewood, Sweden, 1900s
Located in Stamford, CT
Gustavian, Swedish Painted Secretaire Desk, White Paint, Pinewood, Sweden, 1900s Gustavian secretaire desk or storage cabinet designed and produced in Sweden in the early part of the 20th century. This example features a white paint distressed finish. The top portion of the cabinet flips down to reveal a light green paint distressed writing desk...
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Paint

Rosewood Circassian Walnut Inlaid Beveled Glass French Louis XV Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
From Slatoff Estate. Rosewood with exotic veneer. Vitrine top with marble top. Rouge marble gallery. Beveled glass doors. Brass accents and foot caps. 58" h x 32 1/2" w x 19 5/8" d. ...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Antique secretary's office, Northern Europe, circa 1870. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from around 1870, Northern Europe. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: height 131 cm / width 109 cm / depth 75 cm
Category

1870s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Antique Italian Renaissance Revival Walnut Figural Carved Writing Desk 52"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Neo-Renaissance Revival writing desk. Made of walnut featuring Neoclassical styling with high relief figural carvings of cherubs / puttis, Northwind faces, and acanthus / fl...
Category

Late 19th Century Renaissance Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Teak Bokkcasevand Secretary Unit
Located in Frederick, MD
This pair of teak office pieces include a Bookshelf with lower cabinet and the second unit has storage area plus a tilt-down desk which would also work well as a bar. This set was p...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Venetian painted cabinet/secretary 19 th century
Located in Houston, TX
The exceptional painting on this piece makes it a real Showpiece. The pale mint green and silver gilt accents Are of the best quality. The doors open wide for a diplay The front drop...
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood, Paint

Pair of Louis XVI Style Dutch Chinoiserie Secretary and High Chest
Located in Greven, DE
Pair of chinoiserie furniture - secretary and chiffonier The Netherlands Satinwood and others, lacquered panels around 1890 Dimensions: H x W x D: 130 x 63 x 39 cm Description: Ve...
Category

Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood

Exceptional Consulate Period Mahogany Secretary 1800s -1X42
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Step into the grandeur of the Consulate era with this exceptional mahogany secretary, crafted towards the end of the 18th century. Rich in history and elegance, this piece embodies t...
Category

Early 1800s Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Fantastic American Centennial Solid Walnut Philadelphia Carved Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
From Slatoff Estate. Walnut. 2piece. Top has 2 glass doors containing 2 shelves. Bottom has 5 dovetail drawers and drop down door with fitted interior. 98 3/4" h x 41 7/8" w x 22 1/2...
Category

1870s American Federal Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Tall Walnut Cabinet with a Bureau Desk Compartment
Located in Dubai, AE
Tall walnut desk cabinet in Baroque style with gilded brass ornamentation. The upper glazed part reveals seven drawers, a leaf, and fifteen lockers, the flap revealing six drawers, s...
Category

19th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique English Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers Secretary Desk Bureau
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers Secretary Desk Bureau. Item features a fall front top drawer with green tooled leather writing surface and fitted interior, hand d...
Category

19th Century Edwardian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

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

19th Century Empire / Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
A beautiful small secretary made of walnut veneer and solid walnut from the Biedermeier / Empire period at the beginning of the 19th century. The secretary is covered on the outside ...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique 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

Writing desk by Guillerme and Chambron for votre Maison, 1960
Located in JASSANS-RIOTTIER, FR
Cabinet designed by Robert Guillerme and Jacques Chambron in the 60s Edited by Votre Maison Entirely made of oak Nice patina of the time Ceramic handles by Boleslow Danikowski Patina...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Ceramic, Leather, Oak

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Austria, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This beautiful Secretary comes from Austria and was made in 19th century. The piece is made of oak wood, veneered with mahogany veneer. When opening the main section the doors transf...
Category

19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Oak

Napoleon III Secretary In Blackened Pear Wood - Brass Marquetry
Located in Brussels, BE
Napoleon III Secretary In Blackened Pear Wood - Brass Marquetry
Category

19th Century Napoleon III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

20th Century French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet
Located in San Francisco, CA
20th Century French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet Single glass door upper display cabinet 3 drawer bombe form base & secretary Beautifully hand painted 32"W x 1...
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Ebonized Antique Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, drop front desk, from France, of Mahogany in the Louis XVI style. This cabinet is finished in a lustrous museum quality ebonized French polish. There are two lower doors w...
Category

1910s French Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Sheraton Secretary desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very fine Sheraton Secretary Desk 1810-1820 in a old refinish with an excellent color and patina. Decorative cross banded veneers and inlay work ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Sheraton Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Louis Philippe Period Secretary, Mid 19th Century, Burl Walnut
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
Secretary period Louis Philippe, mid 19th century, is in walnut bramble. A video of this piece of furniture is available on Instagram. Join me at: antiquites_guideau. Walnut brambl...
Category

1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Mid-Century English Pine Chinese Chippendale Style Carved Pine Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century Chinese Chippendale style carved pine secretary. It is purported to be English, and it has glass shelves. The drawers do have dovetail construction, and it is t...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Chinese Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Secretary Period Louis Philippe, Mid 19th Century, In Walnut Bramble
Located in SAINT-CLÉMENT-DE-LA-PLACE, FR
Secretary period Louis Philippe, mid 19th century, is in walnut bramble. Walnut brambles are flamed because they have many aesthetic designs. These drawings have complex, highly con...
Category

1840s French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Antique English Adams Decorated Satinwood Drop-Front Desk, 18th-19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English Adam decorated drop-front desk offers satinwood construction with slant front having neoclassical reserve of woman and cherub in co...
Category

19th Century English Adam Style Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Satinwood

FiNE THEODORE ALEXANDER FAUX BOOK BROWN LEATHER CHEST OF DRAWERS WRITING BUREAU
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare, custom made to order Theodore Alexander Faux book chest of d...
Category

20th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Wood

19th Century American Chippendale Maple Slant Front Secretary / Desk
Located in Houston, TX
The 19th Century American Chippendale Maple Slant Front Secretary/Desk is a testament to the meticulous artistry and timeless allure of traditional craftsmanship. Painstakingly craft...
Category

19th Century American Chippendale Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Maple

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

Secretary/davenport In Bamboo And Lacquer With Asian Decor - 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
superb and unique secretary called davenport in bamboo and Chinese lacquer with Asian decoration from the 19th century from England Very beautiful little secretary, the first we ha...
Category

19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bamboo

Vintage teak Secretary by Erling Torvits for Klim Mobelfabrik, 1960s
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish teak secretary designed by Erling Torvits for Klim Møbelfabrik. This secretary has a hinged leaf that drops down and becomes a sturdy desktop. Behind this leaf are three drawe...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique Victorian Walnut & Burl Barrel Roll Top Secretary Bookcase & Desk C1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Reliable Professional Service & Fully Insured*** Antique Victorian Walnut & Burl Barrel Roll Top Secretary, Double Glass Door Bookcase ...
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Glass

Modernist Roller blind cabinet, 1930s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
Roller blind cabinet made in the 1930s in the former Czechoslovakia. The cabinet has a rolling opening mechanism. It is suitable for the office, as well as for your apartment to stor...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Beech, Plywood

Roller blind cabinet by Interier Paraha, 1950s, Czechoslovakia
Located in Prague 8, CZ
Roller blind cabinet made in the 1950s in the former Czechoslovakia. More precisely, in 1955 by the furniture company Interiér Praha. It is made of beech wood and plywood. The cabine...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Beech, Plywood

Stunning Louis XV Marquetry Secretary, circa 1850 -1X22
Located in Bordeaux, FR
Elevate your interior with the timeless elegance of this stunning Louis XV marquetry secretary, crafted around 1850. Imbued with the opulence and refinement of the French Rococo peri...
Category

1850s Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Vintage Danish Mid Century Modern Teak Secretary Desk
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful Scandinavian modern secretary desk in teak wood manufactured in Denmark in the 1960's. This exquisite piece, recently imported from Europe to California before it...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Style Secretaire after Johann Härle
By Johann Härle
Located in Berlin, DE
Aristocratic secretaire of Vienna Biedermeier after Johann Härle, 1813. Highly valuable bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood, partially ebonized, crested with classicist m...
Category

20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Pine, Wood, Birdseye Maple

Italian Baroque Style Burl Walnut Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine Italian baroque burl walnut secretary desk with a cartouche form mirrored panel beneath a deep scrolled pediment top and above two mirrored doors. The doors with a interior wo...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Midcentury Secretary - Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
High lacquered secretary - cabinet
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Secretary desk / Bar 1960s
Located in Brussels , BE
Extremely practical secretaire with beautiful details. The height of the "desk" is 76cm.
Category

1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Handpainted Secretary / Desk in Chinoiserie Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Italian handpainted secretary / desk in chinoiserie design, top features molded shape cornice with two doors revealing three shelves and two small ...
Category

20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wool

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

Secretary, desk, Danish in Rio rosewood by Dyrlund 1960.
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Magnificent Scandinavian Secretary/Desk composed of 3 large drawers on the lower part and a hinged door which opens onto storage lockers. Modernist square base. Sober and elegant des...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Danish Modern Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Minneapolis, MN
This elegant secretary desk is made from Cuban mahogany, which tends to have a honey colored appearance compared to more ubiquitous forms of the wood. It would be well placed in an ...
Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Johannes Sorth Bookcase / Secretary Desk In Rosewood
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Johannes Sorth Manufacturer: Nexø / Bornholms Era: 1960s Materials: Rosewood Measurements: 39.5″ wide x 17″ deep x 69.5″ tall Condition: In excellent origi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Roll top secretary in teak by Egon Ostergaard, Sweden, 1960s
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Roll top secretary designed by Egon Ostergaard for MSI, Sweden during the 1960’s. Solid teak and teak veneer. The upper rolltop opens on three small drawers and neat compartments abo...
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique 19th Century Flame Mahogany Rope Twist Abatante Secretary Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique Biedermeier style abatante secretary desk, unbranded. Mahogany with flame mahogany veneers, decorative overhang to top, later added white marble top, brass keyhole escutch...
Category

19th Century European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

1950's Brazilian Rosewood Danish Secretary Desk
Located in Oakland, CA
High-quality Brazilian rosewood secretary desk, 1955, Denmark. The secretary desk is finely crafted of stunning Brazilian Rosewood with dark grains and dynamic book-matched patterns ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Antique French Empire Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Imported French Empire Flame Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary Desk This 19th-century French Empire-style secretary desk is a true work of art. Craf...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, 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.

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