Wood Secretaires

An eccentric and highly unusual Classic Sheraton style mahogany and satinwood inlay slant front secretary with Chinese Chippendale style fine tracery (open-work) decoration. An impre...

This is a charming George l style walnut diminutive secretary. The domed cornice over a conforming vitrine cabinet . The bottom section contains a drop-front opening to reveal a leat...

This exceptional George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase with Glazed Doors, has wonderful flame & crotch grain Mahogany. Comprised of a large central cabinet, flanked by 2 sma...

With architectural broken pediment cornice over a pair of mirror doors opening to a fitted interior, the base with hinged slant lid with red leather surface opening to a fitted inter...

With double arch top over a pair of mirror doors opening to an elaborately fitted interior, the base with two candle slides and hinged slant lid writing ...

With broken arch pediment and inset mirror over a pair of arched mirror doors opening to shelves and drawers, the base with a slant lid hinged w...

Wonderfully presented Georgian bleached pine breakfront bookcase. George II carved egg and dart in upper and middle moldings. Raw pine and finish may be original with cleaning over t...

A George II style flame mahogany bureau, the sloping fall enclosing a fitted interior of faux book and hidden drawers and cabinets, the staircase gallery interior, above a short frie...

We are delighted to offer absolutely stunning hand made in England George III circa 1760-1780 Bureau bookcase with Thomas Chippendale carvings This is a true piece of classic Engl...

Early 19th century oak English fall-front secretary with carvings of acanthus leaves and urns. Note: Relaxed, antique condition. Drawers are working well and original brasses are com...

We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine Burr Walnut & Brass George II circa 1740 Library Bureau Bookcase with campaign handles A very good looking and well made piece, ...

A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of patinated mahogany, c.1770 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compartments, ...

A fine 18th century George III English bureau bookcase secretary in solid West Indies/ Cuban mahogany. The bonnet features a swan neck, broken-scroll pediment with carved rosettes an...

Important English commode secretary from the Georgian period with three large drawers. The upper part simulating two drawers is made of a flap which forms the work table covered with...

This highly important secrétaire-cabinet was crafted for and specially ordered by King George I for the British Ambassador to Russia. From its craftsmanship and materials to its exceptional artistry, it is a work of royal and historic significance that exudes power in each and every detail. The broken pediment at its apex features the simplified royal coat of arms bearing the king’s crown, while the interior is adorned by portraits of the British Royal Family. Placed within the ambassador’s St. Petersburg home, this entirely unique piece of furniture would have been a potent reminder of England's grandeur and political importance. Relations between England and Russia during this period were at an all-time high. Peter the Great had traveled to England in 1698 as part of his widely known “Grand Embassy” tour, wherein he attempted to gain foreign support against the Ottoman Empire. He spent a period of nearly four months there, meeting with King William III and his court on numerous occasions. Noted academic Arthur MacGregor wrote concerning the impact of the trip, “For two decades following Peter's visit, British influence in Russia reached a peak. It manifested itself in social custom, in craft practice and in ships and naval organization... it reached a significant sector of the population before relations cooled once again and the two nations pulled back from this era of unprecedented cordiality.” First and foremost, however, it is a reminder of British might and influence. By the reign of King George I, England had come into its own as a world power. Unique in its design, this cabinet is a reflection of the country’s might. It is crafted from the highest-quality solid walnut and burr walnut adorned by gilded lock plates and engraved hinges. The presence of ormolu at its apex and lining the doors was a rarity for this period, and its addition makes manifest the importance of the design. The outer doors open to reveal multiple interiors, including fifteen separate drawers around a central cupboard; the cupboard doors each bear mezzotint portraits of George I and his father, Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover. An etching after the portrait of George I dating to circa 1716 is in London’s Royal Academy. A second, inner pair of doors are adorned by mezzotints of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Queen Caroline and George II), which are both after portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller dated 1716 in the Royal Collection. A final portrait is revealed on the very interior of the cabinet, where a mezzotint of Frederick, Anne, Amelia and Caroline, children of the Prince of Wales, resides. An etching (circa 1715-1720) after this portrait can be found in the National Portrait Gallery (London). Apart from its abundance of royal portraiture, the cabinet features stunning painted decoration, including floral designs as well as clouds, birds and trees in a bucolic motif reminiscent of Eden. Its lower portion is a study in both form and function, featuring a fitted secrétaire-drawer above three additional drawers for storage. The cabinet appears in The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture by R. Edwards from 1964, a text that is regarded as the bible of British furniture design. Edwards describes it as a “writing cabinet...given by George I to the British Ambassador at the Russian court.” The cabinet was likely made for the 18th-century German diplomat and writer Friedrich Christian Weber, who represented English interests at the Russian court from 1714 until 1719. Although Weber’s tenure as ambassador was relatively short, while in St. Petersburg, he authored his account entitled Das veraenderte Russland (The Present State of Russia), which was published in three volumes in 1721, 1739 and 1740. It may, however, also have been made for George Douglas, 2nd Earl of Dumbarton, who served as ambassador alongside Weber in 1716. Diplomatic relations ceased between the two countries in 1721. In 1928, the cabinet appeared for sale at the International Exhibition of Antiques & Works of Art in Olympia. It had previously been in the collection of the Woltner family of Bordeaux, the celebrated vintners who owned the estate Château Laville Haut-Brion and produced wine of the same name. According to the family, Monsieur Woltner was given the cabinet as a gift from an aunt who lived in Russia for many years. After leaving the Woltner collection, the cabinet was acquired by William Berry...

A flame mahogany and rosewood banded Bureau cabinet, with an architectural cornice centred by a gilt crest, above two glazed doors enclosing 45 drawers and 19 pigeon holes above two ...

An exceptional English Sheraton period satinwood secretaire cabinet. Attributed to Gillows. Late-18th century, George III, ca 1790. Measures: H 59 1/2’’ (151 cm) W 30’’ (76 cm) D 19’’ (49 cm). This small, beautifully-proportioned, and sophisticated antique writing cabinet...

Very good inlaid Georgian secretary with a falconer pediment, probably by Gillows. The secretary features glazed doors surrounded by inlaid stop flu...

A fine and rare early 18th-century compact George I figured walnut bachelors chest The quarter veneered feather and crossbanded top opens on original hinges to reveal a veneered int...

The top section of this secretary has three adjustable shelves and has two candlestick pullouts. The interior has a raised panel prospect door flanked by two carved fluted pilaster p...

rare small secretary in walnut from the 18th century of very good quality with its dome English piece of furniture which stands out by its period, fro...

A very fine antique George II figured and inlaid walnut bureau bookcase/secretary, circa 1750. The bookcase secretary in two secrions, the upper bookcase having a stepped crown with twin arched mirrored doors below, the mirror to the right side having a reversed engraved flower and the doors enclosing three adjustable shelves. The base having a fall front with a fitted writing surface, the interior is extravagantly fitted with eight pigeonholes, six drawers with a central carved arched door flanked with ribbed columns. The door having a secret switch to the inside allowing the whole 'box' to be withdrawn, therefore providing access to two secret drawers to the verso. The base having twin pull-out lopers to support the fall front, below are four long and two short drawers, the cabinet is raised on bracket feet. The bookcase secretary is made from the finest figured walnut which is crossbanded & inlaid with satinwood stringing, the cabinet has all the original brass handles, lockplates/escutcheons. This is a very fine quality early Georgian bookcase secretary...

A fine English George I-period burr (burl) walnut secretaire cabinet. Early-18th century, ca 1720. The top section separates from the base and opens to reveal numerous fitted drawers, behind doors with original bevelled arched mirror plates. The base contains a fall-front fitted secretaire with small drawers, two of which have secret drawers. Engraved mounts are contemporary if not original. All locks and cross-grained mouldings are original. Beautiful colour throughout with superb matched burr veneers within herringbone lines. Bun feet are original. Lined throughout in best quality English oak. The well-patinated green, gilt-tooled liner in the writing surface appears original. Very much in the style of John Old & William Ody. One of the most original early-18th century pieces of English walnut cabinet...

Very handsome Georgian lowland oak secretary with walnut trim.

Exceptional condition for this English secretaire/chest/desk of George I period. The finish in figured burl walnut adds aesthetic beauty to the history of this piece acquired by Cosu...

Georgian flame mahogany Tallboy with canted, fluted corners, secrétaire break front with beautifully fitted interior, standing on bracket feet with br...

This is a charming George l style walnut diminutive secretary. The domed cornice over a conforming cabinet door has a mirror plate. The bottom section contains a drop-front opening t...

English Georgian mahogany secretary cabinet with a bottom section with drawers and an upper section with 2 lattice glass doors.

For sale is a fine quality 18th century George II Irish mahogany secretaire cabinet in the manner of Giles Grendy. The shaped mirror panels doors opening ...

Presenting a stunningly gorgeous and outstanding early 18th century English George I Secretary. This is one of the finest old English Secretary’s...

This is a secretary / bureau/ desk made in England, circa 1780. The top and the fall have a rosewood banding with a string inlay of satinwood and Satin Mahogany in the interior of th...

Fine antique 18th century rosewood bureau bookcase having a magnificent top section with a shaped moulded swan neck pediment, two shaped doors both wi...

PRESENTING a STUNNING 19C Irish Georgian Style Secretary Bookcase. From circa 1850-60 and most definitely, “IRISH”. Made of gorgeous flamed Cuban mahogany which would have been imported from the British Colonies at the end of the 18th Century and early 19th Century. This piece of is of IMPRESSIVE PROPORTIONS ….. it is a real STATEMENT piece and EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY ! It has a very ‘Regency Style’ pelmet or crown with egg and dart moldings under a very straight line crown. The top section consists of a 4 door bookcase, each with 3 shelving areas. It appears to retain it’s original glass, but it could likewise have been replaced at some time during it’s long life, as it is very rare to find pieces that have not suffered breakages over 150+ years. Each bookcase door still retains the original moldings to the front with a star shape above and below a central circular viewing panel. Each section is separated by a carved and fluted roman column/pillar. The bookcase section rests on top of the base, which consists of a beautiful central secretaire desk accessed by drop down front with working lock and key and rests on 2 pull out rests on either side. The secretary portion has a central tabernacle, with an inlaid oval satinwood medallion above another scallop shell drawer. It has 6 smaller drawers and 8 cubbies. The 2 pillars on either side of the central tabernacle are secret drawers and pull out. The curved crowns above the cubbies on either side are likewise secret drawers and pull out. Either side of the secretary there are 2 drawers (4 total) with a press or cupboard underneath. Under the secretary there are 4 large central drawers. The brasses and hardware are all original to the piece (save 2 extra hinges that have been attached to the drop down secretary to give it more support and stability. Again, each section is separated by a turned and fluted column/pillar which replicates the 2 side pillars to the central tabernacle of the secretary. The piece sits on 8 curved feet. This was an extremely high quality piece when made. This is also supported by the fact that the secondary woods are also mahogany and not pine or oak for slightly lesser quality pieces of the era. This piece is specifically identifiable as an Irish Georgian Style piece by virtue of the scallop shell moldings on the base side presses (see photos). Irish Georgian furniture...

18th century Irish mahogany Georgian secretary with mirrored doors, broken arch pediment and fitted interior. The pediment has Irish eye su...

George II walnut and walnut burl slant front bureau bookcase / secretary with original hand beveled mirrored doors on bracket feet. Upper cabinet with candle slides conceals book she...

Fine and unusual 18th century Irish mahogany bureau bookcase, the pierced gallery top with Gothic details, the pilasters and door with rich and crisply carved shell and foliate desig...

This is a slant front secretary or bureau made in England circa 1780. It is made of Kashmir walnut (the finest cut of burr walnut) and walnut. The top, ...

Very handsome Georgian lowland oak secretary with walnut trim.

English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary cabinet.

Proportioned in a smaller scale than most, this slant front bureau / desk in walnut has parallel strings of satinwood surrounding the herringbone crossbanding that is used throughout...

Early 19th century Georgian style walnut and burr secretary desk, vanity or chest with four drawers and two interior drawers in the desk.

This is a bookcase / secretary or Bureau bookcase, made in England, circa 1825. There is a Pagoda Shaped layered crown molding to the top of the piece (very unusual). There is a pair...

English mahogany secretary with mirrored bookcase. Secretary has a upper case broken pediment top with dental molding, original mirrored doors, c...

With rectangular cornice over a pair of gothic mullioned doors enclosing a fitted interior, the base with drawer enclosing a fitted desk interior all over three drawers ending on spl...

George II Palladian mahogany breakfront bookcase, 18th century The broken swan's-neck pediment with gadroon- and dentil-carved bands terminating in a foliate roundel, above a like-carved frieze over two central doors, each inset with a shaped mirrored panel, flanked to either side by a single door, featuring a finely carved floral festoon, centered by fluted Corinthian pilasters, opening to a shelved interior, the lower section fitted with a drop-front secretary drawer opening to an inset leather writing surface and a variety of drawers and cubbyholes, flanked to either side by two small drawers, over two paneled cupboard doors, the side sections each fitted with four graduated drawers, raised on a plinth base. This design is similar to those found in William Salmon's, "Palladio Londinensis." Reference this exact piece in "The Antiques Directory Furniture," General Editors, Judith and Martin Miller, Portland House, New York, 1985, page 118 Breakfront (C Price Classification: "An Early George III mahogany breakfront secretaire bookcase, with shaped bevelled glazed cupboard doors, flanked by outer doors carved with Corinthian pilasters, lower section with secretaire drawer") Provenance: Williams Antiques...

A delightful early 18th century solid walnut bureau bookcase having attractive double domed top with replacement mirror plates to panelled doors enclosing well fitted interior abov...

A good quality George II period antique bureau in well figured walnut, standing on bracket feet and with replaced handles and escutcheons. It has a fall front with a loper support at each end and is set above four long finely graduated drawers. The beautiful fitted interior has six fretted pigeon holes, six drawers, secret book drawers and a central opening door, flanked by decorative carved pilasters. This bureau is made of so-called “Virginia walnut...

Magnificent antique English Secretaire cabinet with satinwood, hare wood, tulipwood, and kingwood marquetry, of monumental form, in two parts. The upper section with molded cresting ...

An early George III period bureau bookcase with fretwork swan neck pediment, 30-paned bookcase, slant front enclosed leather writing surface, fitted...

A George III mahogany standing bureau, great library accent piece.

Truly a spectacular example of its kind, this grand secretary grabs your attention with its broken arch pediment and doesn't let go until you admire the original bracket feet. In bet...