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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
Style: Louis XV
Style: Empire
Fine Carved Walnut French Louis XV Secretary Desk Abatant Basket of Flowers
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb carved walnut secretary abatant that's perfect for narrow hallways or shallow areas in a bedroom. The desk is repleat with a tulipwo...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Tulipwood, Walnut

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

Fine Antique French Louis XV Marquetry Rosewood Ormolu Secretaire Abattant 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality antique French Louis XV rosewood, marquetry, ormolu and marble topped secretaire abattant, circa 1880. The serpentine shaped secretary is modeled as a semainier (...
Category

1880s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

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

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

French Louis XV Period 18th Century Walnut Slant Front Secretary and Buffet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV period walnut slant front secretary from the 18th century with buffet in the lower section. Step into the world of regal elegance with this French Louis XV period w...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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

Louis XV Period Secretary At Doucine by Denis Louis Ancellet - 18th Century
By Denis-Louis Ancellet
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Oven secretary in walnut and other european woods, opening with two leaves a flap and a drawer. The decor is composed of three medallions containing inlaid floral arrangements. Open...
Category

1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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

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

Italian Louis XV Style Painted Bombe Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Italian Louis XV style painted bombe secretary, circa 1960's. The top section with double serpentine shaped top and two doors with birdcage wire and two shelves, the bottom section o...
Category

1960s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

Pair Antique Country French Walnut Petite Secretaries
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair Antique Country French Walnut Petite Secretaries are truly an amazing and unique find! The design is unusually tall, shallow and narrow all at...
Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

Secretaire à la Bourgogne, Transformation Table, Louis XV Style, 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Very rare antique desk or secretary, so-called bureau à transformation "à la Bourgogne" in Louis XV style. France Walnut 19th century Dimensions: H...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk Having a writing section along with a two door commode for mail secretary need...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Ormolu

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

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

18th Century French Louis XV Kingwood Secretaire 1780 Signed P. Plée JME
By Pierre Plée
Located in Roma, RM
Louis XVI secretaire in ebony - France, c. 1770-1780, signed P. PLÉE In purple ebony wood with geometric inlays, signed by French cabinetmaker Pierre Plée: Pierre Plée (1742-1810) was a leading Mâitre of the Louis Xv, Transition and Louis XVI periods; this secretaire is stamped on the backrest P. Plée and JME. (the monogram JME, an abbreviation referring to the association "Jurande de Maître Ébénistes," which grouped the best cabinetmakers of the time and was placed on furniture that was considered excellence ). Height x width x depth: 126 x 65.5 x 35.5 cm. Conservation status: ***** excellent. (Ref. "Le mobilier français du XVIII siècle" Pierre Kjellberg...
Category

1780s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Louis XV Secretary Desk, 1760
Located in Belmont, MA
Step back in time with our exquisite 18th-century Louis XV Secretary Desk, a true masterpiece of French craftsmanship. This elegant piece of history...
Category

1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaire in Lacquer by Jacques Dubois (1694-1763)
Located in NICE, FR
A brown-red low secretary in lacquer adorned with chinoiserie motifs by the great French cabinetmaker Jacques Dubois (1694-1763). This exquisite piece of...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Viennese Biedermeier Style Lyre Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Ebonize, partially bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid Pinewood. Moulded Lions Masks with grisp rings. This so called lyre secretaire is the crowning...
Category

20th Century Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Mid 19th Century Walnut Wood Italian Desk Dresser, 1850
Located in Rome, IT
Italian chest of drawers of 1850, with a door that opens up to form a desk. All veneered in walnut wood, with upper door that acts as a desk. Externally closed it appears with a fl...
Category

1850s Italian Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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

Trumeau, secretaire Luigi XV originale settecentesco
Located in Torino, IT
Trumeau, secretaire Luigi XV / Transizione in legno lastronato con motivo a lisca di pesce. Doppia anta superiore, piano a ribalta e tre cassetti. PERIODO Originale del Settecento ...
Category

18th Century European Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

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

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

Vintage Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Secretary Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Secretary Cabinet This Vintage Minton-Spidell Louis XV Style Drop-Front Secretary Cabinet...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century French Louis XV Marble Top Carved Walnut Marquetry Secretary Chest
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an office or bedroom with this elegant antique "Secretaire a Abattant". Crafted in Paris circa 1870, the fruitwood secretary stands on cabriole legs ending with bronze sabot...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Louis XV Style Bureau Plat with Ormolu Mounts French Flat Desk
Located in Miami, FL
A very fine large sized flat desk otherwise referred to as a "Bureau de Ministre", Bureau Plat or Ministers Flat Desk. Extremely finely chiseled bronze. Slightly protruding, profiled...
Category

20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

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

French 18th C. Louis XV/XVI Transitional Ormolu Mounted Secretaire by RVLC
Located in PARIS, FR
A Louis XV/XVI transitional ormolu mounted tulipwood secretaire by RVLC Rare and elegant secretary of elliptical shape, veneered on all sides of rosewood with herringbone decoration...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Flemish Louis XV Secretary Chest of Drawers in Oak
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A 18th century Flemish Louis XV slanted-flap secretary. Solidly made of oak. Half-high lateral coffered corpus with 2 large drawers and a slightly recessed superstructure with sla...
Category

18th Century Belgian Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

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

19th Century Louis Philippe Style Fall Front Secretary Chest
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship Louis XV style secretary chest cabinet desk in a satin / burl wood with exterior front inlay decoration. The secretary features lot of storage drawers above f...
Category

Early 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

Louis XV Style Carved Oak Drop Front Two Drawers Secretary Bureau, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Louis XV Style carved oak drop front secretary or bureau or writing desk, two drawers with shaped bronze handles, made in France in the 1920s....
Category

1920s French Louis XV Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century, Country French Louis XV Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XV secretary is a classic slant-front design, originally conceived as a compact writing desk that c...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century French Louis XV Carved Walnut Bombe Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Bordeaux, France, circa 1760, the antique "secretaire a abattant" with upper display shelving is built in two sections. The top part features a curved bonnet cornice with ...
Category

Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Royal Writing Desk/ Bureau Plat in Empire Style After J. Desmalter, Maple Root
Located in Berlin, DE
Writing table/ bureau plat in Empire style after Jacob Desmalter Maple Roots with thread intarsia on solid Pinewood, partially carved and handpainted. Cutted out pedestal on profile...
Category

20th Century French Empire Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Louis XV Style Secretary Marquetry in Satinwood, circa 1900
Located in Lüdinghausen, DE
Secretary restored Louis XV style circa 1900 satinwood marquetry Features: Model with upright writing flap and three drawers inside and outside Very high quality processing Ori...
Category

19th Century Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Exuberantly Carved Oak French Louis XV Secretary Desk Circa 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic and unbelievably exuberantly carved solid oak secretary desk with frolicking cherubs and incredible carving for an oak desk. Usually this kind of crisp carving is...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

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

19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique fruitwood "Secretaire a Abattant" was crafted in France, circa 1850. The tall secretary with classical straight lines stands on bracket feet and features round columns on both sides, dressed with a discrete top invisible drawer at the top. The surface is dressed with the original variegated grey marble top. The bottom has double doors with inside shelving for additional storage. The fall front opens and reveals a fully outfitted inside theater decorated with turned columns on the sides, six functioning drawers (a large top drawer across the front and 5 smaller drawers at the bottom), and a wide open niche for books and letters...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble

Beautiful French Bureau/ Secretaire 19th/20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Beautiful French Bureau 19th/20th Century with three drawers, four curved legs, border and top on all sides, hard wood body with rose wood veneer and rich floral intarsias in diff...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Fruitwood

Empire Secretaire with Writing Desk, Richly Inlaid Wood. Italy Late 18th Century
Located in Torino, IT
"Empire" cylinder writing desk, secretaire with pull-out top, internal drawers and four external drawers. Origin Italy Period Late eighteenth century Model Cylinder writing des...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Walnut

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

Antique French Marble Top Bombe Secretaire Chest
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique bombe shaped French secretaire chest with an original rouge marble top and pull down writing surface. This was made in France and dates from around the 1890-1900 p...
Category

1890s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

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

Danish Late Empire Bureau / Secretair
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rare Danish early 19th century secretary or slant front bureau. Exquisitely crafted from mahogany with fabulous marquetry decoration in black n...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bone, Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut

18th Century French Louis XV Period Walnut Chateau Bonheur Du Jour or Secretary
Located in Birmingham, AL
A rare 18th century French Louis XV period chateau bonheur du jour or secrétaire handcrafted of walnut by very talented artisans in Lyon for a wealthy chateau owner near Villeurbanne, circa 1750s. This impressive antique French secretary features a chapeau de gendarme crown above a pair of carved serpentine doors with brass mesh grilles and beautiful green and gold damask fabric backings that open to reveal a painted interior with two display shelves. Three carved drawers are below. The lower section features a flat serpentine shaped writing surface that lifts opens to reveal plenty of storage above a carved, scalloped apron with C-scrolls and a center carved shell motif. Raised on four elegant cabriole legs ending in scrolled French toes. This grand Lyonnaise French library desk...
Category

1750s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Iron

Museum Essay / Tabernacle Around 1810, Walnut
Located in Berlin, DE
Museum essay/tabernacle around 1810, walnut. Extremely rare and high-quality tabernacle with very elaborate and rich inlaid marquetry in walnut/root veneer on fir wood. High construction consisting of 3 elements. The tabernacle has many drawers...
Category

Early 19th Century Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Fir

French Empire Brass Mounted, Light Walnut, & Ebonized Secretary, 1stq 19th Cen.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Having a rectangular top above a conforming case housing three drawers, one faux drawer, and a fall front desk with a leather writing surface and interior shelving and secret drawers...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Secretary with Height, French, Louis XV Style, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Secretary with height French, Louis XV style, 19th Century Different woods with bronze applications. Signs of use. Dim.: 151 x 81 x 55 cm Good conditions.
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Transforming Table, Ladies Desk, Secretaire, Walnut, France ca 1860
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique secretary, lady's desk France Walnut around 1860 Dimensions: H x W x D: 90 x 59 x 53 cm Description: Quite extraordinary small piece of transforming furniture...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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

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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