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Secretaires For Sale
Style: Arts and Crafts
Style: Rococo
National Trust John Locke Secretaire
Located in Asheville, NC
This very rare Kindel reproduction is part of The National for Historic Preservation Collection, The Cliveden desk and bookcase is truly a masterpiece. An outstanding example of the Rococo style, the Cliveden desk and bookcase is English, circa 1750, and part of the collection on display at Cliveden Mansion in Germantown, PA. Kindel Furniture Company was selected as licensee to the National Trust to make a faithful reproduction of this secretary desk. This reproduction has all of the outstanding qualities of the original. Made of select mahogany, the bookcase has a "broken molded pediment" with decorative frieze and a superb hand-carved bust of John Locke...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Secretaires
Period Danish Rococo Front Slant Secretaire
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Period Danish desk with a slant front that opens to a workspace.
Below are three serpentine drawers for useful storage.
Repainted in soft black, with a green/grey interior.
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th c. Swedish Rococo Secretary with Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A rare, early 19th century Swedish Rococo style slant-front secretary from Fryksdalen in Värmland with arched cornice, circa 1820. The paint has been hand-scraped down to the origina...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
18th C. Swedish Rococo Period Two-Part Painted Secretary with Library
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
Swedish secretary with library from the late Rococo period, circa 1780. The upper section has two library shelves with glass doors. The lower body is shaped to provide slant desk r...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paint
Swedish Rocco Style Secratery Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Rocco Style Secratery Hutch . its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Category
1970s Swedish Rococo Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Arts and Crafts Pine Collectors Cabinet Filing Drawers
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Arts and Crafts Pine Collectors Cabinet Filing Drawers
The Cabinet is made in natural pine and has 12 Long Drawers, some of the drawers have the original dividers others are missing...
Category
1880s Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Antique Arts & Crafts Macey Five Stack Oak Barrister Bookcase & Desk c1920
By Macey Co.
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Shipping Rates - Reliable Service & Fully Insured***
An antique Arts and Crafts barrister bookcase by ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Oak
Charles Spooner Arts & Crafts Oak secretaire Cabinet with Serpentine Stretchers
By Charles Spooner
Located in London, GB
Charles Sydney Spooner, probably made by J H Brandt.
A rare oak secretaire cabinet on stand, with quarter veneered panels to the doors and drawers with black and green diamond shaped handles. The doors open to reveal adjustable shelves. The sides and lower stand are all made from solid quarter sawn oak with beautiful figuring. The slightly graduated mouldings to the waist frame the tidy little writing area. Standing on squashed ball feet, united with serpentine entwined stretchers.
This is an oak variation of the cabinet Charles Spooner exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1910. One can see that both cabinets are essentially the same design, one with drawers one with a pull down writing area. Both have quartered veneered panels to the doors, the Mahogany one with applied moulded decoration to the doors.
See : illustration below from : Arts and Crafts Furniture by John Andrews.
See also : Charles Spooner Arts and Crafts Architect, page 209 illustration 10:28.
: Fine Art Society for a Coromandel variation and Puritan Values : Important Furniture Page 1, for a larger four door lacquered panelled variation.
Charles Spooner is noted as one of the most influential people and also credited as one of the fathers of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Born at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington (London), Spooner was the second of 5 children of Charles Spooner and Sarah Frances Trinder, who lived at Brook Green, Hammersmith. Spooner became an architect and an instructor of furniture design at the London County Council's Central School of Arts and Crafts. He was a pupil and then assistant of Sir A W Blomfield and in 1890 won the RIBA’s Soane Medallion (Proc RIBA). He specialised in smaller churches and houses turning out some beautiful and complete buildings. He was influenced by E W Godwin and contemporary American architects such as H H Richardson. He was a member of the Society and Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Art Workers Guild, he worked in the tradition of William Morris, teaching...
Category
1920s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Yellow Painted Oak Secretary, Denmark circa 1760-80
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak secretary reflects the grace and class of European styling in the early 1800's with four serpentine drawers and curved skirt.
The traditional interior with 12 small drawers ...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Paint
Black Painted Rococo Secretary from Denmark circa 1760-1800
Located in Round Top, TX
This pine rococo secretary reflects the grace and class of Swedish styling in the early 1800's.
The dramatic serpentine drawers with curvaceous front and carved skirt resting on cabr...
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wrought Iron
Antique Arts & Crafts Mahogany Five Stack Barrister Secretary & Bookcase c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
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An antique Arts and Crafts barrister bookcase offers mahogany construction with central...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
English secretary bookcase Arts&Crats 1910
Located in Meulebeke, BE
This English secretary bookcase in arts & crafts style is a beautiful piece of furniture that expresses both elegance and functionality. The secretary bookcase was made around 1910 i...
Category
1910s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Copper
Ernest Gimson A walnut bureau inlaid with holly chequered string inlay.
Located in London, GB
Ernest Gimson attributed. Arts & Crafts Cotswold school walnut bureau inlaid with holly chequered string inlay. The quality of this craftsman handmade bureau is a step above. The fol...
Category
1910s English Arts and Crafts Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style tall secretary from circa 1820 with gray painted finish, chapeau de gendarme bonnet top, two doors, slant-front desk and four d...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Rococo Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
Desk 32 inches high, 43 inches open
Upper cabinet 12 inches deep, bottom 25 inches deep.
Category
1780s Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century French Lady's Secretaire Rosewood Veneer
Located in Münster, DE
Ornamental lady's secretary, France around 1770, rosewood veneered, leather overlay, brass edging and metal appliques, 3 drawers, shellac-wax polish
height: 75 cm, width: 94,5 cm, d...
Category
1770s French Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Stunning Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is a stunning early 19th century Swedish Gustavian secretary. This secretary features a newer, professionally applied white and gray e...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th C. Swedish Rococo Period Writing Desk in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A period Rococo writing desk from the 18th century in original painted alder wood with period key hole fittings, circa 1760. There are two smaller drawers behind the writing surface ...
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Venetian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Lacquered by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic late 19th century Italian secretaire cabinet or bookcase made in the Venetian Rococo taste. Crafted from walnut the two-part case features a speckled lacquer finish centered by a cartouche shaped window with a painted bust by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The bureau cabinet has a bombe shaped dresser base with a drop front diminutive writing table. The drop front has two storage drawers and a small pigeon hole storage above. Below the desk are two small drawers and two large storage drawers with rocaille patinated brass pulls. The dresser is supported by small cabriole legs with scrolled feet. The dresser is surmounted by a bookcase with a painted door depicting a nobleman holding a chicken. The painting is painted on board titled "Venezia" and signed by Yeager with a fictitious date of 1725. The door opens to a three-shelf bookcase. The case is topped with a pediment having a cartouche shaped window and corniced top. The entire secretary is speckled with a mustard yellow tone over a taupe background. This whimsical cabinet...
Category
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Italian Rococo Oyster Burl Secretary Cabinet / Desk
Located in New York, NY
Italian Rococo secretary desk / cabinet with an upper door that folds down to reveal a writing surface and 5 small interior drawers, over three drawers with serpentine fronts and orn...
Category
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Swedish 18th Century Rococo Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th century Rococo cabinet.
With a decorative carved pediment and two doors opening to storage. Below sits a fall front desk, opening to useful writing or computer space.
With two further small storage drawers...
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Exceptional 18thc Painted Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic painted Italian secretary with original designs, paint and interior silk fabric.
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer, Wood
Italian 1850s Rococo Style Tall Secretary with Slanted Desk and Original Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Rococo style two-part secretary from the mid-19th century, with slanted desk, mirrored doors and original paint. How not to fall head over heels in love with this Rococo s...
Category
Mid-19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Swedish Rococo Period 1790s Painted Two-Part Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted wood two-piece tall secretary from the late 18th century, with bonnet top, two doors, slanted front desk and drawers on bracket feet. Created in Swede...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Impressive 18th Century Italian Venetian Walnut Secretaire
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive and unusually tall Venetian black walnut and burled walnut secretary. The mirrored top cabinet doors opening to reveal a multi dr...
Category
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
English Arts & Crafts Handmade Dark Stained Solid Oak Desk with Side Shelves
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Solid oak English Arts & Crafts desk with built in side shelves and removable top for ease of movement make this a practical gem. Original hardware perfectly intact and united by str...
Category
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
20th Century Inlaid Wood Lombard Trumeau Desk, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Lombard trumeau from the mid-20th century. Moved and rounded furniture in Rococo style richly inlaid in walnut, burl, maple, beech and fruitwood. Double body trumeau equipped with th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Shapland & Petter, Arts & Crafts Mahogany Desk with a Pierced Heart to the Top
Located in London, GB
Shapland & Petter. A wonderful Arts & Crafts mahogany writing desk with a pierced heart to the top, shaped back and sides, with upper three quarter shelf and a stylized floral leaded glass back below. A period style leather writing area with hand tooled gilt decoration to the edges. A bow fronted drawer with stylized copper heart...
Category
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
George Walton Style of a Small Arts & Crafts Oak Sideboard with Floral Carvings
Located in London, GB
A small Arts & Crafts oak sideboard in the style of George Walton.
With flaring cornice, four small upper cupboards the central pair with arched doors and a small work area in front...
Category
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique Italian or Dutch Small Rococo Bombe Secretary Desk w/ Marquetry, c 1870
Located in Miami, FL
An exquisite 19th century Rococo secretary in mahogany with bombe front & sides, with floral & foliate inlays in tulipwood, kingwood & satinwood on the top, front panels of the drawe...
Category
Mid-18th Century Dutch Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Tulipwood, Satinwood, Mahogany
Turn of the 18th -19th C. Swedish Rococo Style Slant Front Secretary w/ Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A late 18th century-early 19th century Rococo style slant front painted fir Swedish secretary with bonnet top, two doors and multiple drawers. The doors open up on inner shelves, inc...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Fir
Italian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Cypress, CA
Attractive Italian Rococo style walnut veneer secretary cabinet, early 20th century.
The top part of the cabinet over slant-front desk with w...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Louis XV Provincial Walnut Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Of unusually large scale; the upper section with arched cornice over a pair of wire-inset doors opening to fabric lined interior fitted with shelves; the lower section with a slant f...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Italian 18th Century Rococo Secretary with Mirrored Doors and Lacca Povera Décor
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An Italian Rococo period lacca povera tall secretary from the 18th century, with bonnet top, mirrored-doors and slant-front desk over drawers. This exquisite 18th century Italian Roc...
Category
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Paper, Mirror, Wood
Italian Venetian Secretary, 18th Century
Located in CH
An early 18th century Italian Venetian walnut and burl walnut veneered secretary with serpentine base and mirrored upper door.
Category
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Swedish Rococo Period Slant Front Desk Painted in Black with Distressed Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period two-part slant-front desk from the 18th century, repainted in black with a blue interior and later iron hardware. Created in Sweden during the Rococo period, ...
Category
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron
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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