British Secretaires

This beautiful antique English secretaire is not only a stunning decorative piece but also highly practical and versatile. You can use it as a writing desk, or it can serve excellent...

The arched pediment centered by paneled roundel, over two glazed doors with pointed astragals opening to a chartreuse silk-lined interior with shelves; the lower part with a pullout ...

A late 18th century English George III mahogany Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of glazed doors, slant fr...

For your consideration is this lovely and totally original walnut desk dating from the 1930s. Compact in size this little desk is perfect if the space available is limited and of con...

English Chippendale mahogany broken pediment breakfront with carved floral medallions, candle light molding, four upper case glass doors with adjus...

Antique English Regency Mahogany Secretary bookcase, Circa 1890.

English Regency rosewood secretaire cabinet with two upper shelves supported by a lyre form over a secretaire drawer fitted with a leather wri...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1900 Burr & Burl Walnut drop front bureau A good looking and well-made piece, you don't come across many in Burr walnut, it i...

A fine English mid-18th century mahogany secretaire / secretary / bookcase / china cabinet. Of lovely, deep, rich color, patina and quality. George III-period, circa 1760. The bold, detachable, swan-neck pediment carved with 'Gothic' open fretwork, spiral rosettes and a dentil cornice. The pediment is centred by a small platform below which is a fluted panel. The bookcase / china cabinet section with two, thirteen-pane glazed doors, with three original adjustable shelves with applied beadings for the display of china etc. The base with a pull-out writing section fitted with small drawers, two of which have secret releases. These secret drawers are faced with blind-fret 'Gothic' tracery, and centred by a carved, shaped arch. The base with three cock-beaded drawers, and raised on its original bracket feet which are faced with blind fret. This fine, sophisticated and well-proportioned example of a secretaire / secretary / cabinet / desk / bookcase is remarkable for having survived in its original state including all swan-neck handles and locks. Of superb quality, color, patination, and well figured throughout. With mahogany drawer linings: further confirmation of its superlative quality. Measures: 42" wide (107 cm) 23" deep 58.5 cm) 95" high (241 cm) - without cartouche. A related antique bureau cabinet...

Lovely 19th century English black lacquered Chinoiserie secretary. Beautiful painted Asian designs and many compartments. A true w...

Shapland & Petter. A wonderful Arts & Crafts mahogany writing desk with a pierced heart to the top, shaped back and sides, with upper three quarter shelf and a stylized floral leaded glass back below. A period style leather writing area with hand tooled gilt decoration to the edges. A bow fronted drawer with stylized copper heart...

Liberty & Co. A Moorish Walnut Desk with Mushrabia turnings to the upper shelf, just below to the turned uprights there are dowel holes which I have shown in the images, they are the...

Antique English mahogany glass front Bureau bookcase with Fitted Interior, circa 1830.

Charles Sydney Spooner, probably made by J H Brandt. A rare oak secretaire cabinet on stand, with quarter veneered panels to the doors and drawers with black and green diamond shaped handles. The doors open to reveal adjustable shelves. The sides and lower stand are all made from solid quarter sawn oak with beautiful figuring. The slightly graduated mouldings to the waist frame the tidy little writing area. Standing on squashed ball feet, united with serpentine entwined stretchers. This is an oak variation of the cabinet Charles Spooner exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1910. One can see that both cabinets are essentially the same design, one with drawers one with a pull down writing area. Both have quartered veneered panels to the doors, the Mahogany one with applied moulded decoration to the doors. See : illustration below from : Arts and Crafts Furniture by John Andrews. See also : Charles Spooner Arts and Crafts Architect, page 209 illustration 10:28. : Fine Art Society for a Coromandel variation and Puritan Values : Important Furniture Page 1, for a larger four door lacquered panelled variation. Charles Spooner is noted as one of the most influential people and also credited as one of the fathers of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Born at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington (London), Spooner was the second of 5 children of Charles Spooner and Sarah Frances Trinder, who lived at Brook Green, Hammersmith. Spooner became an architect and an instructor of furniture design at the London County Council's Central School of Arts and Crafts. He was a pupil and then assistant of Sir A W Blomfield and in 1890 won the RIBA’s Soane Medallion (Proc RIBA). He specialised in smaller churches and houses turning out some beautiful and complete buildings. He was influenced by E W Godwin and contemporary American architects such as H H Richardson. He was a member of the Society and Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Art Workers Guild, he worked in the tradition of William Morris, teaching...

Antique late-19th Century English mahogany, multi-doored, large set of lockers, primarily would have been used as an estate cupboard, as the description...

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...

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, ...

An attractive antique late 18th century, George III period bleached oak with ebony inlay two stage English country house bureau cupboard or bookcase. Circa 1790. Having a moulded cornice with inlay, above two fielded and inlaid panelled doors, opening to reveal a white painted interior with adjustable shelves inside, the inlaid bureau fall opening to reveal a lovely fitted interior with various drawers, compartments and leather surface, with a straight apron running along the top, with two short oak lined drawers and three long oak lined graduated drawers below, with brass plate handles, standing on splayed bracket feet. Great quality. A good piece of Georgian antique furniture. Complete with working locks and key. The dimensions are: Height: 203cm (79.9in) Width: 112cm (44.1in) Depth: 51cm (20.1in) The antique oak bureau bookcase...

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

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning circa 1860-1880 Walnut framed Scriban bureau bookcase Please note the delivery fe...

English secretary with fitted interior fall front desk early 19th century

With double arched top over a pair of arched mirror doors opening to a red interior fitted with drawers and shelves, the base with slant lid des...

Fantastic piece in impeccable condition. Regency exotic hardwood bureau or secretaire desk or cabinet of lovely proportions. From circa 1790. The top portion consists of an open columned pelmet and shelf with a series of drawers underneath. All made of rosewood. The bottom section is a double door cabinet with double shelving inside. The façade of the doors consist of glorious gilded latticework frames with rose shaped connectors and with brown silk blinds...

George III mahogany secretary, late 18th century. Pediment with dental molding, two glass doors with through mullions, two adjustable shelves and four drawers on the bottom, a central single board slant top, interior with central prospect door flanked by 4 letter slots and 7 drawers, below are 4 graduated drawers with cock beaded moldings, all drawers with locks stamped "Sam Hall...

Extraordinary 19th century English ladies secretaire desk or writing table. The two part desk was made in the Chinoiserie revival period of Europe ...

Antique English walnut glass-front secretary bookcase, circa 1880-1890.

19th Century English Satinwood secretary/bookcase. Two astragal glazed doors above open to reveal two adjustable shelves for display, a fall front opening to reveal a fully fitted in...

Marvelous walnut cabinets with dental moulding, rose floral trim, metal lattice doors, leather top drop desk with Baker key, brass hinges and handles. Mirror...

A W N Pugin attributed, A Gothic Revival Oak Davenport with finely executed carved gallery to the top and a sloping writing area opening to reveal storage...

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...

An exceptional example of a late George I English secretary desk in walnut, its upper case with a molded broken arch pediment with urn finials surmounting two arched paneled doors, o...

Superb Davenport in walnut and burl walnut from England from the 19th century V ery elegant small travel desk in walnut and burl walnut which has a very elegant base The right side...

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 ...

An English Chinese Chippendale style tall bamboo secretary from the 19th century, with slanted lift-top writing table, doors and drawers. Created in England during the 19th century, this bamboo secretary charms us with its slender proportions and exquisite Chinese Chippendale influence. The overhanging desk opens...

A very fine Bureau Bookcase of the Queen Anne period. The frame constructed in walnut, with inlaid elm designs. The slanted fall-front opens to reveal a herringbone-inlaid arrangem...

An English walnut Campaign butler's desk from the 19th century with writing area, three drawers, bracket feet and brass hardware. This 19th-century English walnut Campaign butler's d...

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

A beautifully detailed and well appointed Georgian style secretary desk, made in England. The dovetailed drawers with brass hardware with a l...

A fine & rare antique George III Sheraton inlaid mahogany bookcase secretary, circa 1795. A diminutive bureau bookcase In two parts, the top having a stepped cornice with twin doors below, the doors having very unusual astragal decoration of neo-classical urns with swags & surmounted with 'Prince of Wales' fleur des lys finials, the doors enclosing three shelves and three short inlaid drawers. The base having an inlaid fall front & oval floral paterae enclosing a fitted interior with six pigeon holes four drawers and a central locking door with shell inlay, the writing surface having a red 'bull's blood' tooled & gilded leather. Below are three inlaid drawers with the original brass handles, the base having a single 'secret' drawer and the bookcase is raised on tall 'French' bracket feet. This rare and unusual Georgian bookcase secretary...

19th Century Antique English Display Secretaire, Mahogany Solid wood, manufactured to a high quality. The display cabinet has a pull-out function and can be used as a secretary than...

Solid oak English Arts & Crafts desk with built in side shelves and removable top for ease of movement make this a practical gem. Original hardware perfectly intact and united by str...

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...

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...

A small Arts & Crafts oak sideboard in the style of George Walton. With flaring cornice, four small upper cupboards the central pair with arched doors and a small work area in front,...

Fine Georgian period mahogany chest on chest, the dentil molded top with reeded canted corners having three short and three wide drawers over lower section having secretary drawer an...

This English Chippendale secretary has a broken arch cornice with dentil molding and open fretwork in the arch. The upper section has thr...

English secretary with glass door and three glass shelves, leather inlay on desk surface, original glass panels, 19th Century. There is one ...

Fine quality small late 19th century Queen Anne revival walnut bureau . The bureau is a fantastic colour with a good grain . It has a nice fitted interior with four small drawers and...

This piece just took our breath away - all the carved wood details and medallions are master craftsman quality. See all detail images to truly appreciate what an excellent antique pi...

Burled elm charles 'X' drop front secretary (secrétaire à abattant) with black marble top with white vains, drop door revealing a leather covered writing table...

18th century English painted oak writing bureau with a nice fitted interior. 1780. Height to underside of fall front is 29.5" (75cm). Code: 8681 Dimensions: W: 34.5" (87.6 cm) H: ...

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...

English 19th Century Mahogany Secretary with Arched Pediment with Inlay and Crossbanding

English walnut secretary, the top with cove cornice above double ''tombstone''raised panel doors and pull out candle slides; the fitted interior with ...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original English circa 1760 Oak writing bureau with green leather writing surface Please not...

Antique ship's or captain's secretary, so-called Military Campaign Chest of Drawers England Mahogany, brass Victorian around 1890 Dimensions: H x W x D: 135 x 92 x 52 cm D...

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...

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 fantastic English satinwood desk is in very good antique condition with fantastic beveled glass, superb satinwood, mixed woods inlay and a great antique denim...