18th Century and Earlier Secretaires

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...

Ca. 1780. A fine figured mahogany classic Georgian secretary bookcase with the broken bonnet in openwork foliate scrolls flanking a fluted short pedestal (it appears that it never ha...

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...

This original Louis XVI Secretary Desk dates back to 1780 and comes form the southern part of Germany. It is a real beauty! The lower part has...

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...

18th century, Italian walnut wood chest of drawers with secrétaire The elegant small chest of drawers with secrétaire was built in th...

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

This is a very good example of a late 18th century Louis XVI Secretaire a Abattant. The secretaire is crafted of solid walnut and is a ...

Beautiful and in fully original condition Swedish pine secretaire features rounded corners with a curved drawer on top and beneath a key-locked fall front, which opens to reveal a wr...

Louis XVI bureau / Secretaire in 3 parts. Upper part with three doors. Middle part door with fluted over a la grecque away, flanked by pair of side doors with oval fillings. Exteriors of doors with fluted flat profiles. With 2 fold-down writing boards: Top writing board with leather for standing working position. Behind the writing board a small drawer front with additional small drawers. Middle part with sloping writing flap for a sitting working position. Behind the writing board are numerous drawers in Thuja wood...

Elegant Louis XVI bureau / Secretaire in 3 parts. Top with tooth cut under profiled top list. Pair of doors with fillings, sides with profiled quartz columns. Bottom part with slopi...

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 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 ...

This elegant drop-leaf cabinet was made in the early eighteenth century in walnut wood finely carved with rocaille motifs. It has a particular patina of the carvings, slightly darker...

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...

18th Century German burr elm and walnut secretary, adorned with ebonized trim and inlaid decorations and patterns. A pair of paneled doors over three small cupboards with beautiful details, over a pull-out writing surface with fitted interior, the base with three small drawers over two sets of three drawers. High quality and incredible hand-carving, one of the most expensive...

Secretaire with fluted pilasters and two-door bottom part and white marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with green leather there are more drawers and compa...

Antique 18th century Dutch Burled walnut secretary bookcase with fitted interior and antique mirror.

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 quality. Measures: 42" wide (107 cm) 23" deep 58.5 cm) 95" high (241 cm) - without cartouche. A related antique bureau cabinet...

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, ...

Sn4699 in quality William IV secretaire chiffonier, having oblong top and secretaire section with pigeon holes, small drawers and leather writing surface above cupboard door with ple...

18th century Italian scriban from Tuscany. Wax polished, walnut wood finish on the interior and a black lacquer patina with gilded highlights on t...

Elegant Louis XVI bureau in solid mahogany. In 3 parts. Top with tooth cut profiled top list. Pair of doors with fillings, sides with profiled quartz columns. Bottom part with slant-front desk behind which numerous small drawers with knobs in bone. Sides with fluted columns. All keyholes with brass...

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...

18th Century Country French neoclassical secretary is a splendid example of the genre, dating to the reign of Louis XVI himself! The period saw ...

Slightly arched top that may have held a bust at some point, over a middle section with drawers with reverse painted panels with scenes of ancient towns and ruins with a central mirr...

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, ...

George II mahogany mirror door secretary, the broken arch pediment with dentil molding above the two original mirror doors, interior with two...

Louis XV secretaire, France, 1770. Beautiful walnut veneer with plum, satinwood and kingwood marquetry. Exquisite figural marquetry on the outside of the writing top. The writing ...

This exquisite early 18th century bureau bookcase is finely crafted in the Queen Anne style with dramatic form and burled walnut veneered ...

18th century Georgian walnut secretary bookcase. Blind paneled doors, bracket feet.

A small late 18th century secretaire bookcase / cabinet. George III period, circa 1790. Of very good rich color. Inlaid and crossbanded throughout. Only 2'5" wide. Mounts are corre...

This gorgeous Louis XV Secretary desk dates back to around 1750-60 and was made in France. The secretaire de dame has a kingwood veneer and a v...

An Italian bureau with flap dating back to the second half of 18th century. A slightly curved front, three deep drawers and a fall-front opening to reveal an interior with two small drawers, compartments one small door and hiding secrets, see pictures below. This antique secrétaire is fully decorated with veneered and warm flame burl walnut, decorated by cherry inlays...

The top interior of this English Chippendale secretary has three adjustable shelves and five drawers. The interior has a center prospect ...

Baroque secretary desk, Switzerland, 1750. This gorgeous baroque secretary desk stands out for its very pretty walnut veneer. The writing flap opens...

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...

Exquisite and Rare antique American Chippendale Period secretary writing desk or Escritoire. Made from maple featuring a flip top that ope...

48" Victorian secretary desk writer’s Bureau Crafted from solid cherry, this multi-function piece can serve as a desk as well as a bookcas...

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...

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 stipo, little Italian cabinet made of walnut and walnut burl, is a remarkable example of Mannerism applied to decorative arts during the late 16th century. While the Manneris...

Veronese drop-leaf secretaire date back to mid-18th century. Walnut burl slab veneered fir with marple and cypress treadings. Three crossbow-shaped drawers surmounted by a folding d...

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...

Fantastic painted Italian secretary with original designs, paint and interior silk fabric.

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...

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

The top of this secretary has shaped raised panels. It has the original four lever lock and key. The top is fully fitted out with drawers and cubby holes. T...

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...

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...

An exceptional Italian Genoese walnut veneered and inlaid fall front bureau secretaire desk, dating back to the third quarter of 18th century, of Genoese origin. The fall opening to a fitted interior of six small drawers, pigeon holes and one central small door with an engraving. The waving, curved front of this antique Italian drop front bureau shows two short, small and convex drawers above two long and deep drawers; the scalloped lower front, the shaped apron is part of the lower drawer. Sides in solid walnut. The whole raised on curved cabriolet feet. The veneer is placed obliquely, in a herringbone pattern, within jutting frames and makes this antique Italian bureau...

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

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 ...

19th century folding secretary in walnut veneer and flamed mahogany opening to a drawer in the upper part and three drawers in the lower part, the fluted uprights resting on small sp...

Fantastic example of cabinet-making in Verona, we are faced with a work of art, a piece of furniture sinuous in shape, completely original in the wooden part; the handles alas have been replaced but it is permissible on a 270 years old piece of furniture! Made of precious walnut wood, this flap has a herringbone wooden game, surrounded by maple wood inlays that in addition to embellish it highlight the wooden games...

This Italian secretary dates back to the 1780s. Item features a dozen hidden compartments as featured in the video. Origin; Italy.

A 18th - 19th Century, antique Russian two part bureau made of hand crafted painted Oakwood, designed and produced by an unknown carpenter from St. Petersburg, in good condition. The vintage secretaire...