Secretaires
Mid-18th Century Austrian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Maple, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Glass, Wood
Early 1800s Belgian Empire Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Late 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Metal
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Fruitwood, Maple, Walnut
1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Oak
Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires
Wood
1980s American Empire Vintage Secretaires
Brass
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood
18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Softwood
Mid-18th Century Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood
19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Mid-19th Century American Empire Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Glass, Wood
Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires
Brass, Iron, Gold Leaf
18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Nutwood, Walnut, Pine
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Leather, Mahogany, Maple
Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Bronze
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Wood
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Swiss Baroque Antique Secretaires
Oak, Yew
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Mid-18th Century Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Brass
1810s German Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood
20th Century Empire Secretaires
Bronze
1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Softwood
Late 18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Secretaires
Nutwood
1760s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood, Nutwood
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Marble
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Oak
18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Pine
Late 19th Century Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1870s Norwegian Empire Antique Secretaires
Walnut
1730s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Birch, Fruitwood
Late 18th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires
Wood, Walnut
Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Antique Secretaires
Ash, Burl
Late 18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Brass
Early 18th Century Baroque Antique Secretaires
Maple, Olive
Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Bone, Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
1790s Dutch Baroque Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1870s Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood
Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Wood, Walnut
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
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.