19th Century Secretaires

A very fine 19th century Burr walnut, ebonised , ormolu and porcelain Bonheur du jour, the superstructure with pierced brass galleries above an open compartment with mirrored interio...

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...

Rare Swedish secretary desk dated 1847 and monogrammed. The secretary desk is made in painted pine and has the original finish. Original paint w...

Having a rectangular top above a conforming case housing three drawers, one faux drawer, and a fall front desk with a leather writing surface and interior shelving and secret drawers...

Exceptional & Breathtaking ! This very high quality Gothic Revival writing desk / secretaire marked 1887. Carved from European oak with superb craftsmanship and numerous details ! The 2 doors are decorated with angels & the top also displays 2 angels. There are 2 dragons on the top piece, gothic faces are made as handle grips for the 4 drawers. The desk has carved gothic panels...

A massive towering Victorian era Eastlake secretary writing desk and bookcase, circa 1870s. Made from Walnut with a slant front desk over three draw...

Country home writing bureau in folk art from northern Sweden. The bureau is from around 1820 to 1830 and has a writing desk with interior drawers with brass drawer pulls. Underneath ...

A striking 19th century "Secretaire Abattant" style standing desk with a drop front writing surface. A handsome and functional piece of furniture with copious storage space. It features dramatic wood grain patterns, and fine geometric marquetry fillets of alternating light and darker woods. The interior has ample slots and shelving for display of personal items, and the original leather writing pad...

A Japanese style carved wood cabinet, with a painted decor imitating Japanese lacquer, ornamented with flowers, birds and butterflies. Opening onto two drawers and a paper filer, the upright-secretary door is also fitted with red velvet. Surmounted by a drawer and asymmetrical shelves, composed in the Japanese « zen » spirit, the cabinet stands on four legs joined by an engraved stretcher. The great influence of the Far-East, through China and Japan, in the second half of the 19th century French art could be found first in painting and soon after in decorative arts and furniture as well. Following the Franco-English military campaign led in 1860 against the Imperial army in China, the French troops of Napoleon III brought back from the Summer Palace, a part of the Chinese Imperial court treasure, which will make up the famous Chinese Museum of Empress Eugénie at the Fontainebleau Palace. The French artists won’t be long to take inspiration from those exotic and sumptuous objects for their creations, as they used to do in the 18th century, when the best French cabinet-makers adapted the Chinese lacquers on the luxurious royal chests. But the influence of Japan, at the Meiji period (1868-1912), came also very quickly to France, thanks to the opening of the country in the middle of the 19th century, as well as the development of traveling and the amazing Universal Exhibitions, in which Japan participated for the first time in 1867 in Paris. Then many Japanese objects and prints were imported to France and to all Europe, and for which some collectors spent already fortunes. With Manet and Impressionists generation, the passion for Japanese art, more than a simple taste for an exotic style, was still in fashion until the turn of the 19th century. It provoked not only a craze among the French aristocratic families as well as the wealthy Paris high society, wishing renew their mansion inner decoration, but turned also to a real revolutionary movement among the “avant-garde” artists. Those artists, whoever they were, painters, cabinet-makers or designers of ceramic, bronze and crystal objects, adapted then those techniques and naturalistic motifs unknown until this time. Christofle, very famous since 1867 as a silversmith, was also one of the leaders among the inventors of Japanism. He knew how to use Japanese elements to his own splendid works made in silver or “cloisonné” enameled bronze. During the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, Christofle presented with great success his life-sized bronze Japanese ladies torcheres, executed by the renowned sculptor Guillemin. Another famous company to be mentioned, is “L’Escalier de Cristal”, producing art objects and furniture, all of high standard quality and innovating much with their Japanese decor. Highly remarked during the Universal Exhibitions, “L’Escalier de Cristal” collaborated with the greatest artists, such Gallé and Rousseau for glass- and ceramic wares, and the cabinet-makers Lièvre and Viardot, whom made furniture including sometimes authentic Japanese elements. In 1872, Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert opened in Paris, at 33 rue du Quatre-Septembre a store that offered “natural bamboo furniture and cane seats” and all kinds of textile fittings for furniture. This furniture used for winter gardens and terraces of mansions knew then a resounding success. They developed their business around 1884 with their Japanese style furniture, very close to that executed by Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906). In 1886, the company appearing in the category of “Chinoiserie and Japoneries” offered, in addition to furniture and seating creation, works of art and inlaid furniture directly imported from the Far East ; an activity that expanded rapidly. Their exotic fantasy furniture presented at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889 and 1900, rewarded them two silver medals. In 1894, the company was listed under the name “Perret et Vibert”, headed by the son of Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert. The same year, they redesigned their store on rue du Quatre-Septembre, creating ten new show-rooms, showing complete furniture sets of Japanese and Chinese style inspiration. It was not until 1895, that the company was finally named “La Maison des Bambous” and organized then in their shops an “exhibition of country furniture and seats for castles and villas”, which was visited by Empress Eugenie to furnish her villa Cyrnos at Cap Martin. She actually was a regular customer of the “Maison des Bambous” as she bought repeatedly furniture. In October of the same year, the king of Greece...

Museum essay/tabernacle around 1810, walnut. Extremely rare and high-quality tabernacle with very elaborate and rich inlaid marquetry in walnut/root veneer on fir wood. High construction consisting of 3 elements. The tabernacle has many drawers...

Massive secretaire with flap in marquetry of cubes on the doors and sides and bronzes (partly gilded): the flap covered with leather inside opens on...

Antique fine quality inlaid burr walnut Bonheur de Jour bureau desk writing table 19th Century. Veneer on mahogany construction, very heavy and strong. Drop well...

Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely late Victorian Anglo Indian campaign Camphor wood with brass inlay Military bureau desk This piece really is exquisite. It’s a genui...

We are delighted to offer for sale this charming Victorian solid oak bureau, writing desk. This bureau has exceptional colour and patina. The drawers are carved with green man handle...

Very fine Regency period mahogany bookcase cabinet with secretary drawer, the molded cornice with ebonized ball drops over two astragal glazed doors over satinwood fitted pull out se...

A mid 19th century, fully professionally restored Diminutive George III Walnut And Block Front Slant Front secretary Bureau Bookcase Cabinet in great vintage condition. Restored thro...

Strong Architectural Form, early 19th Century elegant Swedish Biedermeier Secretaire with book matched flame birch veneer, pyramidal top, locking upper storage compartments, barrel roll desk with pull out tilting writing surface with hidden compartments, internal desk compartments...

19th century German black forest chip-carved suite desk with drawer and chair. Impressive and extremely rare Black Forest desk and chair. The rectangul...

19th Century Spanish Wooden Cabinet with Original Foot, Door and Drawers

An antique secretary from the end of the 19th century (circa 1880s) Produced in Scandinavia, in mahogany wood. Furniture in preserved in very good ...

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...

Directoire style desk with cylinder top, France 19th century Mahogany veneer with satinwood inlays. This elegant little desk is perfect for a small working space. The writing top fo...

19th Century Italian painted secretary ~ bookcase is a fanciful and marvelous expression of the unique stylistic flair that originated in Ven...

This desk is composed of a cupboard and an openable drawer. Very nice piece of ironwork in metal trim. This little « Bureau de pente »  is in solid wood. France 19th century.

Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black marble top. The secretary features two front side columns with bronze mounts detail w...

A late 19th century Spanish Walnut Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of doors, slant front enclosed writing...

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

Small antique secretary, lady's desk France Walnut around 1860 Dimensions: H x W x D: 90 x 59 x 53 cm Description: Quite extraordinary small piece of transforming furniture...

A late 19th century Napoleon III bronze-mounted mahogany bureau à cylinder, an elegant French Bureau de Dame or Bonheur du Jour, a ladies writing desk with cartonnier which opens up ...

Historic secretary from the second half of the 19th century. Very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: Mahogany Dimensions: he...

Napoleon III French travel fall front desk in rosewood and boxwood veneer 1860s. With inset leather fall front. Small compartment in top. Cut outs to interior for ink wells & paper organizing...

This is a Swedish Baroque secretary hutch. It was found at an Estate Auction in Uppsala, Sweden.

Remarkable 19th century nutwood chest of drawers/ writing commode from the early Biedermeier era in Austria around 1830. Impressing with an absolute outstanding looking grain which r...

A 19th century Spanish secretary desk, on custom iron base. This antique case piece from Spain has a leather-wrapped exterior which is adorn in ...

French 19th Century Brass Inlaid and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau A 19th century mahogany cylinder bureau with the rectangular top surrounded by a pierced brass gallery, above two mirrored panelled doors, the roll-top opening to reveal a sliding leather writing surface surmounted by three drawers and a shelf, above two frieze drawers, on fluted circular tapering legs headed by asperges and terminated by cast sabot. The mirrored paneled doors, and the roll top are distinguished by its brass inlays that beautifully frame and outline the design of the item. Together with the brass handles, the brass gallery and the brass toupie feet this cylinder bureau displays...

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...

An antique Eastlake secretary offers paneled walnut construction with upper having shaped crest surmounting shelf and slant front opening to writing...

Extraordinary hand-carved oakwood secretary cabinet from the Baroque revival period in Austria. A real unique, perfect sized bureau cabinet/ secretary made of solid oakwood and stain...

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

This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the h...

Tall Chinese secretaire chest, similar to a campaign chest. With a wonderful drop front, this chest would have been made for Chinese export and still retains its original brass dr...

Rare, large and tall notary cardboard boxes cabinet, Napoleon III period around 1870, with rich ornamentation of gilded bronzes such as high and low drops, ingot molds, rosettes, key...

19th Century Country French Louis XVI secretary is a truly astonishing work of the cabinetmaker's art! Hand-crafted from solid old-growth in...

19th century French grand Louis XVI cylinder desk is the perfect answer to all your modern office needs! Designed on a larger scale than is typ...

19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk with open book shelves above the fall front desk and bottom cabinet doors. The desk section has multiple sma...

A rare and fine early 19th Century William IV Irish flame mahogany secretaire bookcase, beautifully hand carved with a rich patina. The pediment with a stunning centred scallop shel...

A superior quality and unusual Regency rosewood Side Cabinet, the top drawer with fold-down, leather-lined front, fully fitted with drawers and pigeon holes. below are a pair of silk...

Rare Biedermeier furniture, seeing it looks like a small cabinet, opening the doors we are on the right side a small, elegant, Secretaire, while on the left side a small wardrobe. Sm...

Important 19th century Moroccan escritoire or desk crafted in mahogany with strong aesthetics movement influences. Featuring Moorish architectural references, floral and geometric bone inlays...

Early 19th century French Louis XVI secretary was fashioned from hand-selected indigenous oak to emulate the styles set forth by the most re...

A Swedish antique rustic Gustavian slant front secretary from early 19th century that is perfect for any home. This originalpainted features a slanted top that pulls down to make a ...

A late 19th century Spanish Walnut Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of doors, slant front enclosed writing...

Painted writing bureau or secretaire from Sweden made during the early 1800s, 1810 to 1820. The bureau is a folk art furniture from the area Hälsingland in Sweden and is made in gustavian style. The bureau is a prime example of the Swedish gustavian period with clean, elegant lines and a timeless expression. A fun detail is the secret compartment hidden in the middle of the interior, see picture. This bureau is a solid antique furniture...

English Regency style mahogany and satinwood inlaid Carlton house desk. Circa 1880 rare Carlton House desk, typical for the Regency period, is a beautiful piece of furniture. It i...

Secretary in mahogany veneer with two-door bottom part as well as dark marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with brown leather there are more drawers and co...

An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secr...

Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates back to the early phase of the Biedermeie...