Skip to main content

Secretaires

1
204
to
57
129
74
204
204
204
174
118
109
93
79
69
56
30
28
26
25
14
9
4
4
1
1
7
175
22
1
2
1
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
201
70
53
46
39
185
59
42
37
26
3
1
1
1
1
Secretaires For Sale
Style: Empire
Style: Biedermeier
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

Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the h...
Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Other

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

Mahogany Architects Table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis, 1810
Located in Hellouw, NL
Beautiful Empire mahogany architects table by Jean-Joseph Chapuis (1765-1864). Jean-Joseph Chapuis (born in Brussels) was a famous furniture maker. He obtained a master craftsman ti...
Category

Early 1800s Belgian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Swedish Golden Ash Biedermeier Secretary Chest Dresser Desk inlaid 1820
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine antique Swedish Biedermeier golden ash secretary chest, circa 1820. The chest is made of the finest gold ash; a beautiful blond wood with figured graining. To the top of ...
Category

1820s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ash, Ebony

Antique secretary desk from around 1870, Northern Europe. After renovation.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary desk from the second half of the 19th century, Northern Europe. The furniture is in very good condition, after professional renovation. Dimensions: height 113 cm ...
Category

1870s Norwegian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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 Danish Louis Philippe Empire Style Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Danish Louis Philippe Empire Style Mahogany Secretary Desk This exquisite 19th-century secretary desk beautifully combines the influence of the Louis Philippe and Danish Emp...
Category

Late 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal

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

Empire Style Secretary Made In Mahogany & Intarsia From 1820s
Located in Lejre, DK
This impressive Empire style secretary from the year 1820 is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty. Hand-polished mahogany wood gives the secretary an elegant and ...
Category

1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Title: Secretaire "a Abbatant" Date/Period: 19th century Dimension: 147cm x 105cm x 51cm. Material: Mahogany wood Additional Information: Secretaire "a Abbatant" French, Empire Style...
Category

Early 19th Century European Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Baker Furniture French Empire Burl Wood Secrétaire á Abattant With Brass Ormolu
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding French Empire or Neoclassical style drop front secretary desk By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Gorgeous burl wood, with ebonized columns, and original brass hard...
Category

1980s American Empire Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

A fine 19th c Biedermeier birch secretary. Ebonized details and gilt bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine Biedermeier period drop front secretary. Fine Empire gilt bronze details . Ebonized details . Beautiful walnut and birch woods
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Inlaid Carved Wood Austrian Biedermeier Style Secretaire Desk, 1960s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Austrian secretaire from the 20th century. Biedermeier style furniture elegantly inlaid, veneered and carved in walnut, maple, beech and fruitwood. Secretaire built in a single body,...
Category

1960s Austrian Biedermeier Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Blue painted Biedermeier Secretaire, around 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier secretary with three-drawer chest of drawers and two-door glazed top and sloping writing flap. The light blue painting is set off in white at the edges and the interior i...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Softwood

Early 19th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early XIX Century Mahogany Secretary Germany, 1800 Mahogany This classicist cylinder bureau made of mahogany dates from 1810 and is an original from the Empire & Biedermeier era. Th...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Burlwood Drop-Front Secretary, One of Four Produced; Båstad, Sweden, c. 1880
Located in Norwalk, CT
Dating from around 1880, this exceptional "secrétaire à abattant" is one of four identical chests, produced by a master Swedish cabinetmaker in the city of Båstad, commissioned as wedding gifts for the four daughters of a prominent local family. This remarkable piece was sourced by Atypical Find...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Burl

A Biedermeier Chest with Secretaire Circa 1850
Located in Flower Mound, TX
A magnificent mid 19th century Biedermeier chest with figured mahogany secretaire cabinet, with a raised serpentine single drawer, a frieze drawer over paneled fall front, and the in...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary, Birchwood
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary, Germany, 1820 Birchwood Antique Biedermeier secretary made of birch wood, handmad...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Empire Secretaire à abattant, Vienna circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Empire secretary adorned with flanking caryatids around the flat writing flap, top drawer, and a two-door base cabinet. The caryatids are elegantly ebonized and gold-patinated, compl...
Category

1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Secretary Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very handsome late American Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk. Very good condition overall with an old refinished surface exhibiting a beautiful color and patina to the figured Mahoga...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Biedermeier Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Biedermeier Secretary, Germany, Ca.1820 Walnut Original secretary veneered in walnut, impressive veneer pattern, stepped pedestal, gable, underneath drawer with push bu...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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

French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century Empire secrétaire à abattant made of rich bookmatched and figured walnut. This desk has a black fossil marble top resting above a drawer, accessible with a hidden pull. Below is a fold front door revealing a fitted interior with a functional writing surface, inset with worn green leather with gold tooling. The interior has an open storage shelf flanked with empirical styled columns over a set of six drawers of varying sizes. The writing surface is supported with rounded brass hinges. Below are three easy to use drawers...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Conical Shape Secretary, Germany, 1820 This fine Biedermeier secretary made of mahogany is a real gem for every lover of antique furniture. With a height of 194 cm, a width of 106 cm and a length of 52 cm, it offers plenty of storage space with its five spacious drawers. The elegant mahogany finish and conical shape make it a real eye-catcher in any room. This 1820 original is free standing and in excellent condition. Carefully restored and hand-polished with shellac. A real highlight for anyone looking for antique furniture.Frame dimensions at top 95 cm, bottom 103 cm.The attachment with gable, underneath a hidden compartment, is opened with a compression spring. Very nice cabinet with 10 drawers...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Secretaire, Ebonized Wood, Maple, Ink Painting, Vienna circa 1815
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine neoclassical Empire Secretaire or writing cabinet from Austria, Vienna around 1810/15. Ebonized hardwood body, veneered on oak. Pilaster columns with gilded capitals. All g...
Category

1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Iron, Gold Leaf

Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1860, after Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
We present you another incredible piece of furniture in our collection -- this elegant and highly exquisite Biedermeier secretary desk circa 1860. The secretary desk was manufactu...
Category

1860s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Empire Secretary à abattant, France early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
French Empire secretary à abattant with a two-door base, two wide drawers and a flat writing flap surrounded by smooth full columns with fire-gilt bronze capitals and bases. The bure...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Mahogany, Maple

IMPORTANT GERMAN STATIONERY/SECRETAYRE 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
IMPORTANT GERMAN STATIONERY 18th Century plated in fruit wood with inlays representing gallant scenes and floral motifs. Wavy box with three drawers, showing factory interior with d...
Category

18th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century German Biedermeier Cherrywood Secretaire - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Cherrywood and Burlwood, in good condition. The ...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany
Located in Opole, PL
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany Furniture in the Biedermeier style, made of soft wood veneered with mahogany, dated around 1840. The monumental shape...
Category

1840s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Birch Secretary Bureau from Germany, circa 1840-60
Located in Round Top, TX
Rich birch and stately lines define this handsome Biedermeier drop front secretary. Refer to close up photos to appreciate the stunning grain pattern of the flame birch veneer. Multi...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Early 19th Century Neoclassical Karelian Birch Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
An extraordinary early 19th Century Neoclassical style Karelian birch secretary. This wonderful cabinet features four ebonized columns supporting giltwood caryatids, two gothic arched cabinet...
Category

Early 19th Century Baltic Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ormolu

Biedermeier Secretaire in Ashwood, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Spacious secretary featuring a two-door cabinet top and a three-tier chest of drawers base. The secretary is veneered with ash and meticulously hand-polis...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Ash

19th Century Biedermeier Column Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on pine tree. Architecturally arranged front. High-right body on padfoot feet. Fitted with three drawers of different sizes, the base drawer is curved. Straight writing...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary. Opens to reveal lovely storage space. There are nooks, shelves, a pull out writing surface. There are gilt bronze adornments and there a...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Biedermeier Style Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Style Walnut Mixed Fruitwood Two-Part Secretary Bookcase Cabinet. Veyr light weight. Measures 24" in width, 17" in depth and stands 75" tall.
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood, Walnut, Wood

19th Century Russian Antique Veneered Mahogany Secretary by Heinrich Gambs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, designed and produced by Heinrich G...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique Biedermeier-Style Drop-Front Mahogany Secretary Chest
Located in Milano, IT
This marvelous Biedermeier-style drop-front secretary chest, dating back to around 1830 and crafted in Austria, is a true work of art. Made from precious mahogany wood, it features b...
Category

Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Biedermeier secretary, Western Europe, circa 1840.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Western Europe, circa 1840. Obacie is undergoing renovation. Wood: mahogany dimensions: height 169 cm width 106 cm depth 59 cm
Category

1840s French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
Located in Handewitt, DE
Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany, Birch and elmwood veneer. Inlays in different woods. Original fittings in bronze and...
Category

1810s German Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and rare early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna c. 1825. The secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design and excellent craft...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

20th Century Biedermeier Style Napoleon Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood. Gilded chimeras. Finely engraved bronze fixtures. (L-Sam-252).
Category

20th Century Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

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

19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and truly exceptional early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1825. Viennese Biedermeier is distinguished by their sophisticated proportio...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Maple, Walnut

19th Century Antique Swedish Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Skandinavian secretary with beautiful and functional secretary desk made of solid pine wood. The contrasting center of the secretary is made of walnut with a wonderful grain. The co...
Category

1830s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine, Wood

Circa 1810 Empire Period Secretaire à Abatant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Empire period, c.1810, Secretaire à Abatant, French. Walnut. Demi-columns with bronze dore mounts. Bronze dore pulls & escutcheons. Chic black marble top with white-grey figure. Grea...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Antique 19th Century Walnut Austrian Biedermeier Abatante Secretary Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
An antique Biedermeier style abatante secretary desk, unbranded. Walnut with walnut & other wood veneers, decorative overhang to top, wood keyhole escutcheons to doors with brass key...
Category

19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Wood, Walnut

19th Century German Biedermeier Veneered Mahogany Cabinet - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, antique German Biedermeier two-part cabinet with a writing flap made of handcrafted veneered Mahogany, in good condition. The bottom part of the shellac polished secretary is composed with two large drawers, standing on four wide wooden legs. The inside consists five drawers and two compartments, particularized by polished brass hardware, columns. The top part of the buffet is composed with one large drawer and two small drawers, the center is consisting a storage compartment with an arched...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

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

19th Century Biedermeier Secretary, Walnut, Austria, circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier Secretary Austria Walnut Biedermeier around 1820 Dimensions: H x W x D: 158 x 108 x 49 cm Description: Strictly cubist secretary standing on square feet. The furniture front and also the sides have a beautiful and carefully selected walnut veneer. The symmetrical laying of the grain makes the piece of furniture look incredibly calm and coherent. The furniture view begins with three drawers at the bottom, the writing flap above and another wide drawer at the very top. The top is finished off with a surrounding profile moulding. The interior consists of eight drawers arranged around a central open compartment. Ornamental marquetry decorates the top and bottom drawers. The lower drawer opens by a secret mechanism...
Category

1820s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Unique Mahogany Antique Secretary Desk, Northern Europe, circa 1870
Located in Chorzów, PL
Historic secretary from the second half of the 19th century. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: Mahogany Dimensions: he...
Category

1870s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century German Secretary, Birch, Cherry, Walnut, Biedermeier, c. 1835
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier birch and cherry secretaire Central Germany birch, cherry, burr walnut Biedermeier around 1835 Dimensions: H x W x D: 168 x 105 x 51 cm Description: Simple and...
Category

1830s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Cherry, Walnut

Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Mahogany, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant early Biedermeier / neoclassical secretaire from south Germany around 1820, early 19th century. Cherry wood book-matched veneered on softwood and cherry solid wood, partly ebonized. Inside in mahogany veneer with drawers and three open compartments. Above one long drawer under the cornice. Below two long drawers with old box locks. Fully restored and hand-polished with shellac. Dimensions: * Metric: H 150 cm x W 96...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry, Softwood

Antique Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Early 19 Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Early 19C Biedermeier Secretary Desk Extended depth is 31". Additional information: Materials: Ebony Color: Light Yellow Per...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ebony

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

Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860. Wood: Mahogany dimensions : h. 130 cm w. 112 cm d. 62 cm
Category

1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

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

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