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Secretaires

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Secretaires For Sale
Color:  Orange
Scandinavian Modern Teak Sideboard
Located in New York, NY
A multifunctional piece, this piece was primarily used to hold the traditional and festive Smörgåsbord, the centerpiece of every holiday, as well as storing the dishes, table linens ...
Category

1950s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Rare Jay Spectre "Perceptive" Drop Front Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Primavera and brushed stainless steel drop front secretary has four drawers with brushed steel Art Deco inspired pulls, plus additional shelf storage. Origami angularity turns this e...
Category

Late 20th Century American Secretaires

Materials

Steel

English Regency Metamorphic Book Case -Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
This finely made English regency period metamorphic bookcase-desk is also of an interesting and useful small scale. The mahogany construction is done in a clean simple straight-grain...
Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Writing Desk Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very fine late 19th century French writing desk secretary with dore bronze mountings and Marble. It is made of a variety of woods - f...
Category

19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

American Tiger Maple and Cherry Fall Front Chest
By A. Belokopytoff
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Tiger maple and Cherry fall front chest with interior fitted desk, turned bulbous columns, graduated drawers, original wooden knobs, and ...
Category

19th Century American Antique Secretaires

French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire
Located in London, GB
French gilt bronze and marquetry writing secretaire French, late 19th Century Height 132.5cm, width 91cm, depth 66cm This elegant secretaire, or writing desk, is a fine piece of nin...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ormolu

Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier Secretaire made of walnut, mahogany, ebony, intarsia. There are 2 doors, 2 drawers, 2 glazed doors, shelves with secret compartments.
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ebony, Mahogany

Petit 19th c. Walnut Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Lovely Walnut Six Drawer Chest with Desk
Category

19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in Pompano Beach, FL
Biedermeier secretaire made of walnut, root wood and ebony with a fall front writing surface, interior drawers and secret compartments.
Category

19th Century Antique Secretaires

Elegant Louis XVI Cherrywood Secrétaire Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Louis XVI cherrywood secrétaire cabinet.
Category

18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry, Leather

Related Items
CRAFTIQUE Solid Mahogany Chippendale Secretary Desk w/ Bookcase
Located in Charlotte, NC
A stunning secretary desk with bookcase by top-quality furniture maker Craftique, in the style of early American John Hancock desks. Solid mahogany with their Old Wood finish, brass ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk with Folding Front Part
Located in Sofia, BG
French mahogany writing desk with folding front part and hidden drawers in the upper part. There are also three big drawers in the lower p...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

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

Arne Vodder Scandinavian Danish Modern Teak Desk Vanity Table Top Organizer
Located in Wayne, NJ
Wonderful aged teak three-drawer organizer. Beautifully crafted, finished on all sides. This can also be for multiple purposes such as used as jewelry , Makeup , flatware chest , Re...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Vintage Scandinavian Modern Teak Drop Front Desk Secretary in a Box, 1960-2000
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome MCM (a.k.a. Mid-Century Modern) vintage Scandinavian Modern drop front desk or secretary in a box. It is in wonderful vintage condition. There...
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front & Birch Interior
Located in Miami, FL
A very lovely Louis Philippe fall-front secretary in pine with a light Gustavian-grey/white painted finish, and original French-polished birch wood interior. Features a carved bonnet...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk. Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80....
Category

19th Century British Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Swedish Rococo Period Slant Front Desk Painted in Black with Distressed Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period two-part slant-front desk from the 18th century, repainted in black with a blue interior and later iron hardware. Created in Sweden during the Rococo period, ...
Category

18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Teak Rolltop Desk Bureau, 1960s
Located in Harlingen, TX
A vintage 1960's Swedish modern teak roll-top desk/bureau. Featuring a roll-up top, extendable desk surface, five storage cubbies, three upper drawers and four lower drawers with scu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Inlay Lady’s Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This is a darling petite lady’s writing desk from France circa 1850. Sleek and uncluttered design, typical of its Louis XVI style. A wonderful white marble top is encircled by an ele...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass

French 19th Century Inlay Lady’s Desk
French 19th Century Inlay Lady’s Desk
H 52.13 in W 31.5 in D 17.25 in
Vintage Danish Mid-Century Modern Teak Secretary Desk
Located in San Marcos, CA
Here is a beautiful scandinavian modern secretary desk in teak wood manufactured in Denmark in the 1960's. This lovely piece, recently imported from Europe to California before its ...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Previously Available Items
Chinese Chippendale Style Faux-Bamboo Tall Secretary with Slanted Lift-Top Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese Chippendale style tall faux-bamboo secretary from the early 20th century with slanted lift-top writing table, doors and drawers. Born during the second decade of the 20th c...
Category

Early 20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Faux Bamboo

Biedermeier Birch Secretaire Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
A Biedermeier birch veneered chest of drawers, the top drawer revealing a secretaire, fully fitted with 14 drawers adorned with bone knobs Sweden, circa 1840.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Biedermeier Birch Secretaire Chest of Drawers
Biedermeier Birch Secretaire Chest of Drawers
H 41.34 in W 44.1 in D 18.9 in
Antique 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Bureau Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
This early 19th century Biedermeier bureau was made in two sections, circa 1810-1830. The casework is birch with painted black accents and a pair of...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

"Funkis" Secretary
Located in New York, NY
"Funkis", short for Functionalism, was an early 20th century Swedish design which sought to create products which were practical, rather than merely decorative. Functionalism crept i...
Category

1940s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Fir

"Funkis" Secretary
"Funkis" Secretary
H 37.5 in W 30.75 in D 16.5 in
Biedermeier Secretaire Abattant
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Biedermeier feathered birch secretaire abattant with bone escutcheons and finely inlaid interior, circa 1840.
Category

1840s European Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch, Bone

Biedermeier Secretaire Abattant
Biedermeier Secretaire Abattant
H 64 in W 40.5 in D 21.25 in
Artes De Mexico Walnut and Oyster Burl Fall Front Bureau
Located in Chicago, IL
Oyster burl and walnut inlaid Venetian Baroque style fall front bureau or secretary desk by Artes De Mexico Internacionales Inc. The serpentine front...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Poul Volther Teak Secretary Desk
Located in Berkeley, CA
This lovely drop front Mid-Century secretary desk in teak was designed by Poul Volther in the 1960s. This desk not only offers exceptional storage, but a workspace that is easily acc...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Poul Volther Teak Secretary Desk
Poul Volther Teak Secretary Desk
H 46 in W 31 in D 17 in
Arthur Umanoff Miniature Chest of Drawers
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Wonderful Arthur Umanoff chest. Original finish with excellent patina. Other sets are available.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Arthur Umanoff Miniature Chest of Drawers
Arthur Umanoff Miniature Chest of Drawers
H 15 in W 17.75 in D 14.75 in
Teak Secretary by Børge Mogensen for Søborg
Located in Dorchester, MA
Børge Mogensen designed this secretary in 1953 and it was later manufactured by Søborg. It features three large drawers below the drop-front desk, which when open reveals two small d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Teak

Swedish Drop-Front Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A long and lean piece which has graciously stood the test of time, at least 250 years! Hand-hewn of golden European oak and Nordic fir and inlaid with mahogany and birch, the Classic...
Category

Mid-18th Century Swedish Renaissance Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Swedish Drop-Front Secretary
Swedish Drop-Front Secretary
H 80 in W 48 in D 19.5 in
American Blind Door Secretary Walnut, circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
American walnut secretary with fitted secretary and fitted top behind blind doors New Jersey c.1780
Category

1780s American Antique Secretaires

Arne Vodder for Sibast of Denmark Teak Desk Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Features doored cabinet space and opposite open space. Made from beautifully selected teak and leather desk surface. This piece is in excellent condition.
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Teak

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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