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Secretaires For Sale
Style: Georgian
Style: Empire
Georgian 18th Century Mahogany Secretaire Cupboard
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A superb quality late 18th century Georgian mahogany
secretaire cupboard having well figured and banded
top over one secretaire drawer to frieze, enclosing
attractive satinwood in...
Category
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
19th Century Scandinavian Birch Empire Bureau Secretary with Bookcase, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine Scandinavian Empire/Biedermeier secretary in beautiful birch wood with mahogany interior, Denmark, circa 1820. The highly sculptural form makes this piece an outstanding ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch
18th Century Walnut Bureau
Located in Faversham, GB
A splendid and well proportioned 18th century and later walnut bureau of exceptional craftsmanship.
The top is finished with a galleried edge upon turned vase finials. The fall open...
Category
Mid-18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
18th century Georgian bureau bookcase
Located in Chelmsford, GB
A very hansom early Georgian mahogany bureau bookcase .
The top has 6 fully adjustable shelves and quality glazed doors .
The bureau has a wonderful fitted interior with serpentine d...
Category
1780s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
English Georgian Two Part Mahogany Secretary circa 1780
Located in Milford, NH
A two part English Georgian secretary, its upper case featuring a cornice with dentil and fluted molding, accented with three satinwood oval paterae, surmounting two glass doors, ope...
Category
1780s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
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
Late 1700's English George III Mahogany Secretary / Bookcase w/ Pull Out Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 1700's English George III Mahogany Secretary / Bookcase w/ Pull Out Desk with an overhanging cornice above a pair of doors dissected with mahogany lattice panels infilled with ...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Georgian Style English Desk Bureau Bookcase with Banded Drawers, Leather Top
Located in Toronto, CA
A stunning vintage Georgian style English secretary desk with bookcase top. Crafted in mahogany with flamed mahogany drawer faces and satinwood accent woods and banding
The top drawer drops down to reveal a desk area with a green leather writing surface with gold tooling. Eight small drawers and ten pigeon holes allow for the charm of this piece to flourish. Satinwood drawer faces contrast with the mahogany with an elegant balance.
Three larger drawers below provide additional storage and the locking doors with brass accent, banding and individual hand cut glass provide a beautiful frame for your treasures. The shelves are adjustable.
This is a special piece!
A brief history of the secretary desk.
The Georgian secretary desk...
Category
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
A fine late George III satinwood and snakewood secretaire cabinet
By George Simson
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A fine late George III satinwood and snakewood secretaire cabinet, attributed to George Simson of London, of rectangular form, the upper section with a pair of glazed doors with fine...
Category
Early 18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
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
Antique English Georgian Mahogany Bureau Desk
Located in Sheridan, CO
Antique English Georgian mahogany secretary, early 19th c.. This piece features an oak secondary, slant front opening to inset leather writing surface, fitted interior gallery with arcaded niches, small drawers, a center cabinet door with marquetry urn, flanked by concealed compartments...
Category
1840s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
Exceptional Pair Of George III Style Mahogany Secretary Bookcases
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A superb Pair of Secretary Bookcases having side shelving, inlaid doors, pull-out desk, drawers, ring pulls, handsome geometric glass doors and em...
Category
19th Century European George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Antique High-Quality Mahogany Housekeeper's Cupboard with Secretaire, circa 1800
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique Georgian housekeeper's cupboard secretaire bookcase chest crafted during the George III era around 1800. Also known as an estate cupboard, this rare period piece showcases ex...
Category
Early 1800s George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
18th Century English George III Mahogany Inlaid Secretaire Chest of Drawers 1700
Located in Roma, RM
English secretaire with mahogany chest of drawers and finely inlaid in fruitwood and satinwood in the manner of Thomas Sheraton, on the sides also two columns with gilt bronze capita...
Category
1760s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
English George III Mahogany Secretary Desk and Bookcase, 18th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK AND BOOKCASE
England, circa last quarter of the 18th century
Item # 305PKI25A
An incredibly beautiful George III mahogany fall-front secretary de...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
19th Century Georgian Mahogany Secretaire
Located in Richmond, Surrey
19th Century Georgian Mahogany Secretaire has a fitted desk drawer over three long drawers with brass oval handles. The fitted desk drawer interior has a writing surface with 7 strun...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Fine English George III Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk circa 1780
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A VERY FINE GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE WITH A GLAZED BOOKSHELF ABOVE A CHEST OF DRAWERS
England, circa 1780 Three drawers signed "William Jones"
...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Glazed Secretary From The 18th Century In Mahogany-england
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Mahogany glazed secretary from the end of the 18th century of very good quality
Very beautiful secretary composed of 4 drawers as well as a theater in the lower part and an upper gl...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
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
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
Georgian Mahogany Blind Door Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice early Georgian Mahogany blind door bookcase secretary desk 1740-50. This is a great looking piece that retains an old and possibly original surface with a great mellow color and patina to the aged Mahogany. Three adjustable shelves in the top section. The bottom piece with two over two drawers and the fitted interior with a sliding lid that opens to a well area. All hardware is original to the piece and all of the locks are working with a key to the bookcase top and desk lid...
Category
1740s English George II 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
Monumental Irish George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, c. 1780
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Large Irish George III mahogany secretary bookcase, the upper portion with an elaborate cornice carved with trailing shells, dentils and foliate moldings. The glazed doors with engaged fluted pilasters open to three fixed shelves. The desk portion has a figured fall-board opening to a tooled leather surface and interior fitted with pigeon holes and small drawers, centered by a quarter-matched prospect door and two document slots with brick-work inlay. The lower portion has an unusual drawer configuration of four long graduated drawers flanked by short drawers, each with replaced shell hardware, all on a carved molding raised on three bracket feet.
60" wide
64" wide at the cornice
20" deep, closed
36.5" deep, open
95" high
This monumental secretary...
Category
Mid-18th Century Irish George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Seaweed Inlaid Walnut Mirrored Tombstone Georgian Secretary Desk Bookcase Top
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 delivery needs! They offer a reasonable flat-rate fee for delivery and set up to the ground floor of your home. They deliver to the vast majority of the lower 48 states. They offer a flat rate for most of our items with exclusions for the largest or most complex items such as breakfronts or crystal chandeliers or other items of greater complexity. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase as these rates are different from our stated pricing. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase. Most deliveries to the East Coast will be 295.00, to the mid-west and Southern mid-west 395.00. To the areas west of Kansas 495.00 and the farthest points to the West coast will be 595.00. Again, some areas we can't cover, however we can deliver to most of the lower 48 states so please inquire to be sure! Delivery times range from as fast as 1-4 weeks for the east coast to 5-9 weeks to the farthest areas of the west coast, sometimes longer and sometimes even shorter. If it is a time sensitive purchase, we may be able to accommodate you for a higher price. It is our goal to please each and every one of our customers with the highest standard of service possible. You must realize and accept that we are shipping antique, vintage and quality used furnishings to your home. We cannot control traffic, weather, and acts of God. There will be times when additional patience will be necessary.
This is a beautiful and unique seaweed inlaid walnut and mirror secretary...
Category
1930s English Georgian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Satinwood, Walnut
George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I secretary bureau escritoire or scriptor of figured patinated walnut from the 18th century featuring original s...
Category
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
George III Scarlet Japanned Secretary Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
The case 18th century with later scarlet Japanned decoration. With shaped arched pediment over a pair of arched doors with beveled glass. Opening to a...
Category
1750s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Oak
Antique Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary with Bookcase in Burled Ash
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional Empire secretary bookcase in fine burl ash wood. Denmark or North Germany, circa 1800. The bookcase features a tiered bonnet w...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Ash, Burl
Early 19th Century French Mahogany, Oak & Marble Secretaire with Ormolu Mounts
Located in Middleburg, VA
Important Secretaire a Abattant, Paris, Empire, circa 1805. Mahogany on oak, marble top, ormolu mounts. Caryatides, trophy weapons, fasces, antique Roman and Egyptian ornamentation a...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Slant Front Desk or Secretary
Located in Casteren, NL
This classic slant front desk or bureau was made in England in the early 19th century.
It was made in the finest quality watered European oak. The secretary is elevated on bracket feet. It features four drawers fitted with the original brass ajour cut bat-wing period swing grip handles. The bureau has a beautiful and elegant interior that features 6 small drawers, six pigeonholes, and a compartment with a small door. The door has crossband inlay panels...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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 English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1790
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
The image displays an English George III mahogany two-piece secretary cabinet, a fine example of 18th-century craftsmanship. The cabinet is constructed from rich mahogany, a wood cho...
Category
1790s British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts England
Located in Atlanta, GA
George IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts, England, circa 1830.
Category
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A George I Style Burl Walnut Secretary Desk, England
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A beautifully detailed and well appointed Georgian style secretary desk, made in England. The dovetailed drawers with brass hardware with a l...
Category
20th Century English George I Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Unusual 18th-19th Century Continental Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Figured wood veneer, the top with a carved cornice over double doors. They open to two shelves over drawers and cubby holes. A middle frieze with three drawers (lacking a key) over t...
Category
19th Century European Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, C. 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
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Secretary In Walnut 18 ° Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
a fine Secretary in walnut and burr walnut from the 18th century
Very good quality and small English model
secretary composed of 3 drawers as well as a...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
George III Glazed Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Batley, GB
A Georgian mahogany beurau bookcase with 4 long drawers raised on bracket feet. The desk fitted with a delicate interior retaining all its original drawers and keys. The astral glaze...
Category
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Double Dome Secretaire
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Glazed secretary in oak from the first part of the 18th century of very good quality with double dome
Double dome secretaries are the rarest and ...
Category
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
1930s Georgian Style Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk with Bookcase
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1930s Georgian style painted chinoiserie secretary desk with open bookcase top. It is predomently gold and red. It does include th...
Category
1930s Italian Georgian Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Empire desk Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful upright secrétaire from the French Empire period. The desk is made of oak with burr walnut veneer, decorated with bronze ormolu elements. These are typical of the French Em...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Painted Bureau
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 18th century English painted oak bureau with fitted interior. 1790.
Height to desk is 34".
Reference: 7880
Dimensions
41.5 inches (105 cms) Wide
20.5 inches (52 cms) ...
Category
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black marble top. The secretary features two front side columns with bronze mounts detail w...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Vintage Thomasville Georgian Flame Mahogany Blockfront Secretary Desk
By Thomasville
Located in Germantown, MD
This Georgian style traditional block front secretary desk is matched flame grain mahogany is signed Thomasville
Original finish in fine c...
Category
Late 20th Century Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Empire Secretary, Germany, Prussia, C. 1815
Located in Greven, DE
North Germany / Prussia
Birch
Biedermeier / Empire around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 102 x 55 cm
Description:
Very exclusive secretary from the Prussian North German Biedermeier period around 1815.
Piece of furniture standing on pointed legs with two drawers at the bottom, the writing flap above, another drawer above and a hidden head drawer at the very top.
The piece of furniture is veneered in exciting grained birch wood. Due to the different color hangings within the wood and the interplay of hues associated with it, we also refer to it as "flamed" birch.
The beautiful wood is complemented by blackened moldings and beautiful fire-gilded bronze hardware in beautiful quality.
The interior of the writing compartment is veneered in apple tree.
We see a stair-like rise to a central door flanked by pilasters. Drawers of different sizes and two large compartments with dividers for letters and papers complete the secretary part.
Looking at the piece of furniture from above, we see an old shipping label. According to it, the secretary was loaded onto the train at the station "Odertor" in Wroclaw. The destination was probably Berin. Corresponding mmarkings we find on the back panel.
Piece of furniture made in wonderful quality craftsmanship. A true testament to the high quality of Prussian furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Fruitwood
Empire Style Walnut Dressing Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
Empire Style Walnut Dressing Table
Empire style dressing table in burl walnut with 2 drawers. Venetian glass pulls. The flap reveals a large origina...
Category
Late 19th Century Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Secretary, Scandinavia, Around 1870, After Renovation
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the end of the 19th century.
Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 210 cm ...
Category
1870s Norwegian Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Stunning circa 1780 Jacobean Hand Carved Bureau Desk with Hunting Scene
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable, ornately carved, circa 1780 Jacobean revival, Antique Library Bureau
What a piece! Hand carved from ever...
Category
1780s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
18th Century George II Miniature Campaign Bureau Chest on Later Chest Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A GORGEOUS and beautifully proportioned Mid-18th Century George II Miniature Campaign Bureau Chest on later Chest/Stand.
Mid-18th century, made in Britain, circa 1760-1770.
The bureau chest sits on a later stand/chest, that we estimate is late 19th century, circa 1860-1880. It is also British.
We believe that the primary wood in this piece is either Elm or Sycamore with mahogany elements.
Classic Campaign style miniature Bureau Chest, with its ORIGINAL George II brass hardware, including handles on the sides for easy carriage, which is what proves to us, that this chest was made for campaign purposes.
The brasses are GORGEOUS and are classically George II in style, design and construction.
The quality, thickness and patina to the brasses, is what ‘initially’ tells us, that this is a ‘period’ piece and not a reproduction.
Likewise, the dovetailing detail to the drawers, tells us that this was a hand crafted piece and certainly NOT machine made.
The secondary woods appear to be a combination of oak and pine, exactly as one would expect.
The central keyhole escutcheons are FANTASTIC and are in the form of a pair of opposing ‘lyres’.
We have never seen anything like them!
Beautiful natural patina!
The ‘brasses’ look like they have been polished a ‘little too often and vigorously’, over the piece’s 250+ years history … BUT … the bonus of this cleaning is the creation of a rather appealing, '2 Tone effect’, on the patina of the wood around the brasses.
The Bureau has a flat gallery...
Category
18th Century English George II Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H.E. SHAW Antique Early 20th Century Mahogany Georgian Secretary Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
A Georgian style secretary desk by H.E. Shaw Furniture. Mahogany with brass hardware, wood drawer knobs, scroll pediment top with three finials, an e...
Category
Early 20th Century American Georgian 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.
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