Secretaires
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George III Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wood, Paint
Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1780s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Glass, Wood, Paint
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Brass
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Hardwood
Early 18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Satinwood
Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
1840s English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century European George III Antique Secretaires
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
1970s Swedish Rococo Vintage Secretaires
Pine
Early 1800s George III Antique Secretaires
Wood
1760s English George III Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Oak, Paint
Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wrought Iron
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wood
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Brass
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Brass
Late 18th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Wood
1770s French Rococo Antique Secretaires
Brass
1780s Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wood
Mid-18th Century Irish George III Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
1750s English George III Antique Secretaires
Leather, Oak
Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Brass
1740s English George II Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Walnut
20th Century English George I Secretaires
Leather, Walnut
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Iron
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Brass
1930s English Georgian Vintage Secretaires
Mirror, Satinwood, Walnut
18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Oak
18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Oak
1790s British George III Antique Secretaires
Mahogany
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Georgian Secretaires
Brass
Early 19th Century English George IV Antique Secretaires
Brass
18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Georgian Secretaires
Brass
18th Century English George II Antique Secretaires
Brass
19th Century European Georgian Antique Secretaires
Brass
1780s English George III Antique Secretaires
Oak
Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Wood
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Early 2000s Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany, Walnut
Early 19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Mahogany, Maple
Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires
Wood
1930s Italian Georgian Vintage Secretaires
Wood, Paint
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Brass
1770s English George III Antique Secretaires
Oak, Pine, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century American George III Antique Secretaires
Glass, Walnut
Early 18th Century English George II Antique Secretaires
Walnut, Yew
Late 20th Century Georgian Secretaires
Mahogany
Late 18th Century Irish Georgian Antique Secretaires
Satinwood, Mahogany
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.