Rococo Secretaires
ROCOCO STYLE
Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
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Style: Rococo
Recognized Seller Listings
Italian Rococo Oyster Burl Secretary Cabinet / Desk
Located in New York, NY
Italian Rococo secretary desk / cabinet with an upper door that folds down to reveal a writing surface and 5 small interior drawers, over three drawers with serpentine fronts and orn...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
18th Century Louis XV Provincial Walnut Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Of unusually large scale; the upper section with arched cornice over a pair of wire-inset doors opening to fabric lined interior fitted with shelves; the lower section with a slant f...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Italian Venetian Secretary, 18th Century
Located in CH
An early 18th century Italian Venetian walnut and burl walnut veneered secretary with serpentine base and mirrored upper door.
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
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.
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Late 18th Century English George III Mahogany Bureau Bookcase ‘Secretaire’
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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...
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Swedish Rococo Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
Desk 32 inches high, 43 inches open
Upper cabinet 12 inches deep, bottom 25 inches deep.
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Swedish 18th Century Rococo Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th century Rococo cabinet.
With a decorative carved pediment and two doors opening to storage. Below sits a fall front desk, opening to useful writing or computer space.
With two further small storage drawers...
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Extraordinary Colorful Rococo Style Painted Secretary Cabinet with Chair
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Custom painted in a striking blue exterior with an electric and contrasting green interior and having a strong form, ornate gilt hinges and pulls, escutcheons (with keys) and Top fin...
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1940s Vintage Rococo Secretaires
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H 94 in W 38.75 in D 19.5 in
19th Century Glazed Secretaire Bookcase in Walnut, England
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Glazed secretaire bookcase in walnut from the second part of the 19th century of very good quality from England
Very beautiful secretary of small ...
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Danish Modern Teak Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Danish modern, teak, secretary desk cabinet features a lockable, pull-down desk ledge at 26 inches height with 2 drawers and a flap level right ...
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Mid-20th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
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Secretary Cabinet, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
This cabinet dates from circa 1920, produced in Germany. With 12 drawers and a door with a shelf behind it in the lower part. In the upper part a display case and a flap. The cabinet...
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1920s German Vintage Rococo Secretaires
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18th C. Venetian Tall Secretary Cabinet with Beautiful Hand-Painted Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Venetian tall secretary cabinet from the 18th century. This antique 7.75 feet tall (approximate) cabinet from Venice, Italy boasts a ...
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Biedermeier Burl Wood Secretary Cabinet
By Biedermeier
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A shaped cabinet with a scrolled bonnet, a centre compartment with door opening to two shaped shelves, flanked by curved side compartments (one shelf inside at the left). Below is a ...
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Previously Available Items
18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaire
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Magnificent Swedish 18th century Rococo secretaire veneered in walnut with an great patinated finish. Five exterior drawers and eleven drawers to the interior. Ca 1760 Stockholm, Swe...
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18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Secretary Swedish Black Rococo, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
A secretary made during the Rococo period in Sweden, 1750-1775. Painted in our Laserow Black. Beautiful brass hardware and casters. Interior with compartments and drawers.
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Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Secretaires
Rococo Chinoiserie Secretary, Swedish, 18th Century, Origin Sweden, circa 1750
Located in New York, NY
Rococo 18th century secretary in two parts, 19th century chinoiserie painting with the original, 18th century paint found underneath, origin Swe...
Category
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Materials
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H 79.34 in W 42.13 in D 20.48 in
An 18th Century Italian Venetian Rococo Walnut Slant Front Desk Bureau Bookcase
Located in CH
An 18th century Italian Venetian Rococo walnut slant front desk bureau bookcase. The arched moulded cornice above a pair of mirror doors enclosin...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
H 92.25 in W 44.25 in D 24.25 in
Secretary in Root
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful secretary in root made during the 19th Century in Rococo style. Depth when open: 17.5 in.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Rococo Secretaires
Important German Walnut Bureau Cabinet
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A superb North German figured walnut, giltwood and gilt-gesso bureau cabinet, the moulded cornice above a mirror panelled door enclosing a fitted interior, above a hinged fall front enclosing various drawers, above three graduating long drawers with gilt-bronze handles, the stand with an elaborate bow-knot-tied pierced apron, the sides with applied parcel-gilt foliate cartouches.
Furniture of this design incorporating walnut and scrolling pierced giltwood elements is generally associated with Altona, one of the leading centres of furniture production in 18th century Northern Europe. The small giltwood scrolls applied to the edges of both upper and lower parts are very characteristic of the work of Altona cabinet-makers; also characteristic of their production is a pierced giltwood stand such as on the offered piece. Related examples are illustrated, Annette-Isabell Kratz, Altonaer Möbel des Rokoko und Klassizismus, Hamburg, 1988.
The present writing cabinet is a masterpiece of the transition from Rococo to Neoclassicism from the Altona workshop of the celebrated ébénist Johann Friedrich Köster, 1747-1812. Such representative and costly pieces were commissioned by the North German and Danish aristocracy not only to furnish the palaces in Schleswig-Holstein, but also as a symbol of status. The type of a mirrored bureau...
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18th Century and Earlier German Antique Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Rococo secretaires for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Rococo secretaires for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 18th Century and Earlier, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage secretaires created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Rococo secretaires made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for secretaires differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $18,000 and tops out at $60,000 while the average work can sell for $39,000.
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