18th Century and Earlier Secretaires

18th Century Swedish bureau. Dry scraped to secondary paint with reeded fall front desk opening to use storage drawers and flat working space. Two short and two long drawers with re...

Exquisite 18th-Century Louis XV Secretary Desk This stunning Louis XV Secretary Desk, dating back to 1770, showcases the elegance of 18th-century Fr...

Exceptional Antique 18th Century English George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Secret Drawer.

Mahogany glazed secretary from the end of the 18th century of very good quality Very beautiful secretary composed of 4 drawers as well as a theater in the lower part and an upper gl...

Large Irish George III mahogany secretary bookcase, the upper portion with an elaborate cornice carved with trailing shells, dentils and foliate moldings. The glazed doors with engaged fluted pilasters open to three fixed shelves. The desk portion has a figured fall-board opening to a tooled leather surface and interior fitted with pigeon holes and small drawers, centered by a quarter-matched prospect door and two document slots with brick-work inlay. The lower portion has an unusual drawer configuration of four long graduated drawers flanked by short drawers, each with replaced shell hardware, all on a carved molding raised on three bracket feet. 60" wide 64" wide at the cornice 20" deep, closed 36.5" deep, open 95" high This monumental secretary...

Desk 32 inches high, 43 inches open Upper cabinet 12 inches deep, bottom 25 inches deep.

18th century mahogany secretary in beautiful original condition. Nice sleek interior, warm weathered color. Super quality and beautiful mahogany....

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 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...

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...

French 18th century large Louis XVI marquetry desk or bureau à Cylindre An exceptional marquetry secrétaire in the form of a bureau with a cylinder front and on a stand with four ...

An exceptional Spanish vargueno or collector cabinet with a sophisticated assemblage of decorated drawers and cabinets on the interior with columnar accents. The exterior with except...

A French Louis XV period Rococo secretary with hidden compartment, circa 1760. This antique French writing desk features a slant-leaf front...

18th century, Italian inlaid wood chest of drawers with secretaire This chest of drawers with secretaire represents the elegant pr...

Federal Mahogany and Birch inlaid secretary/desk with contrasting veneers and bone pulls.

Elegant chest with secretaire of the early 18th century, beautiful from the quality that can only be obtained from workshops of great cabinet-making. The limelight comes in front of drawers moved entirely in solid walnut. Spectacular interior castle...

This interesting two-part piece of furniture is an example of the Spanish dominion over the Americas during the global colonization associated with Empire and trade supremacy. The to...

18th century Baroque cabinet with secretaire, Germany, 1760, walnut veneer. Beautiful piece in excellent condition, professionally rest...

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...

Louis XVI bureau made in Cuban mahogany. Top cabinet as well as the base with fluted quarter columns. Copenhagen Denmark, circa 1780.

Elegant Louis XVI bureau in mahogany Copenhagen, 1780. Behind the writing flap small drawers and a tambour door. Loose top cabinet with original tambo...

Desk with bold serpentine interior, document drawers with turnings and flames, and block-and-shell prospect door with carved tulip. Case with four gra...

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

An American Chippendale
Maple Slant Front Desk
Rhode Island
18th Century

The slant front opens to reveal ...

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

A late 18th century-early 19th century Rococo style slant front painted fir Swedish secretary with bonnet top, two doors and multiple drawers. The doors open up on inner shelves, inc...

We present you an antique piece of furniture covered with mahogany veneer with beautiful grain. It is topped with a green marble board. The whole is dated the turn of the 18th and th...

Elegant Louis XVI cherrywood secrétaire cabinet.

Elegant Louis XVI cherrywood secrétaire cabinet.

English Mahogany George II secretary, has raised serpentine panels. The interior features a prospect door with a geometric inlaid star of ebony and...

18th century Italian silver and ebonized wood barqueño desk and chest of drawers.

Very handsome English walnut giltwood secretary. Myriad drawers, pigeon holes and cupboards fill the well-appointed interior. Very functional as well as beautiful.

Early 18th-century French dark wood secretary or fall-front bureau cabinet with charming proportions. Featuring a carved projecting cornice and arched front, original glass mirror fr...

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...

Continental Gustavian-style (Possibly Swedish/ Danish 18th Century) off-white painted secretary with carved column sides and carved simple swag and t...

Rose veneer on oak. High-rectangular body with finely veneered wood on four feet. Foldable writing board (leather cover missing), a drawer, lower wing door. Gilded bronze mountings. ...

A Swedish Gustavian period slant front desk from the late 18th century, with carved diamond motifs, multiple drawers, original lock and key. Created in Sweden during the last decade ...

An exquisite and rare late 18th century American Federal Sheraton library secretary desk. Made of mahogany featuring velvet drop front writin...

Martin Ohneberg. Paris. Master on July 7, 1773. Splendid secretary in rosewood marquetry in amaranth frames separated by Greek-style fillets in green-tinted wood. Beautiful ornamen...

Impressive Louis XVI style bureau secretary with quality rich in age, charm, and character with its elegant design. This secretary has two secret drawers features parquerty design, g...

18th Century Swedish secretary with a decorative carved pediment. Composed below doors opening to storage with below fall front desk opening to the drawer. Storage and workspace, be...

This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with a curved bonnet. Note the heavily carved panel doors and the large curvaceous lower three serpentine drawers. T...

This is a Swedish Gustavian Secratery. Desk height opened 31" depth of desk opened 36"

18th Century Swedish secretary. Fabulous period shape with a fall front desk opening to a useful workspace with drawers. Below further storage drawers and original hardware througho...

A large three-piece secretary bureau with a lower section consisting of three drawers, an angled flap and a two-door top section with a gallery rail. The bureau is veneered in walnut...

Unusual 18th century Danish painted bureau bookcase with a very good fitted interior. 1780. Height to the underside of desk is 77cm. Code: 8569 Dimensions: W: 44" (111.8 cm) H: 80...

A Swedish Gustavian period grey painted drop-front secretary from circa 1780 with multiple inner drawers and four drawers on the façade. Discover the sublime craftsmanship of this Sw...

This antique 18th-century Swedish Gustavian writing bureau is a rare and handsome piece, crafted from solid pine. It stands on modest bracket feet, showcasing the original brass ring...

The warm patina of the aged elm glows with life in this lovely rococo secretary or bureau with striking inlaid double star pattern along desk front. The interior 7 drawers and one ce...

This Louis XVI walnut slant-front secretary desk is a fine example of 18th-century French craftsmanship and sophistication, ideal for collectors and interior enthusiasts seeking time...

This 18th Century Louis XVI Period Secretaire is a timeless example of French craftsmanship from the Louis XVI era, renowned for its neoclassical design and elegant proportions. Craf...

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...

18th Century Swedish two-piece secretaire. With carved detail and solid oak in beautiful soft patina paint finish.

A very rare cabinet or secretaire with a chest of drawers in solid walnut wood, inlaid with fruitwood in a neoclassical style. The central lid can be folded down, turning into a writ...

Rare et beau secrétaire Louis XV estampillé Popsel, marqueté de bois précieux. Ce meuble de commande, est un modèle unique et hors norme, réalisé spécialement par un des plus grand é...

A fine large English period George I cabinet on chest of patinated walnut from the 18th century. Featuring burr walnut-figured veneers and attractive brass hardware throughout. The...

Exceptionally high quality furniture from an estate of a private collector Louis XVI Mahogany secretaire à abattant By J.F Leleu with its original ‘Bianca Carrara’ marble top with rounded front corners. Brown gilded edge calf leather inlay, Turned tapered legs (from top to bottom ) with cannelures, locks and keys working. Panelled sides, flap and doors. General in good vintage condition as comes with the age. Nice shine, French polish. Stamped J.F Leleu. Jean Francois Leleu...

A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet. The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...