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French Black Secretary Desk, 2010s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Really nice French secretary desk called "L'astucieux" means "the clever".
Swivel Writing part with a wooden base which hold it. The base can be tidy up on the right side of the sec...
Category
2010s French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Black Lacquered Italian Chinoiserie Petite Secretary
By Fornasetti, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Houston, TX
A beautiful black lacquered Italian chinoiserie secretary. Intricately painted detail of Chinese
Category
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Antique Black Painted Secretary Bureau, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
been given a black painted finish, which has been gently rubbed off along edges to reveal an accent
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th c English Chinoisserie black lacquered secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th c English finely decorated black lacquered slant front secretary
Category
Antique Late 19th Century European Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Black Painted Oak Secretary, Denmark circa 1920
Located in Round Top, TX
custom painted with a layered black painted exterior complimented by a blue interior, updating the look
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Paint
Chinese Black Lacquer Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful black lacquered secretary with gilt paint decorative paintings. Made in 2 parts. Has a
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Black Painted Oak Secretary Bureau from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
recently been given a black painted finish, updating the look and is accented with brass hardware. This
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Art Deco Secretary Cabinet in Black Lacquer with Mirrored Interior, France 1930s
Located in Ulm, DE
example of the era’s refined glamour and design ingenuity. Finished in a luxurious high-gloss black
Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer, Mirror, Beech
Black Biedermeier Secretary in High Gloss, Germany, circa 1830s
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This is a beautiful Secretary from the Biedermeier era. It is made of walnut wood finished in black
Category
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Swedish Rococo Black Painted Secretary Bureau Dated 1778
Located in Round Top, TX
organize.
Later professionally custom painted with a layered black painted exterior complimented by a blue
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Gustavian Style Swedish Painted Black Secretary Chest
Located in Round Top, TX
Adorable black painted chest that has a drop front top drawer to become a secretary with gold brass
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Tall Writing Desk Secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Tall writing desk secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden. A writing desk made during the 19th
Category
Antique 19th Century European Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Black Painted Baroque Swedish Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous black painted secretary made during the baroque period 1650-1750 in Sweden. Cabinet top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Baroque Secretaires
19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk in Black with Turquoise Interior
Located in Atlanta, GA
, finished in a matte black exterior with worn edges that reveal traces of the wood beneath, subtle signs of
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
18th Century Black Painted Pine Secretary Bureau from Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
exceptional black painted exterior complimented by a soft blue interior (with red undertones; see drawer close
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th C Style George I Black Lacquered Secretary Bookcase Cabonet
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Burton-Ching 18th C Style George I Black Lacquered Secretary Bookcase Cabinet
Category
2010s American George I Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
Rare Louis Philippe Period French Secretary with Black Marble Top
Located in Fayetteville, AR
black marble top. Its drop down writing surface reveals a gold tooled, red leather top, and an unusual
Category
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
Baroque Secretary with Black Exterior and Blue Interior, Circa 1760
Located in Atlanta, GA
historically repainted, featuring a black exterior contrasted by a distinctive blue-painted interior, a
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Baroque Period 1760s Black Painted Slant-Front Secretary with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Baroque period slanted front black-painted secretary from the mid-18th century, with
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Fine and Rare 18th C Georgian Black Lacquered and Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and rare 18th century Georgian black lacquered and Chinoiserie decorated elaborate secretary.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Queen Anne Black Japanned Bureau Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
A beautiful piece reputedly purchased by the previous owner from Kentshire Antiques in New York for 185,000 in the 1980s. With flat top over a pair of beveled mirror doors enclosing ...
Category
Antique 1710s English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
Boulle Marquetry Style French Black Secretary Bonheur du Jour Napoleon III
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
"Bonheur Du Jour In Boulle Marquetry Napoleon III Period - Gradin Desk - Two Bodies - Showcase" This gorgeous piece of furniture is at the end of restoration and will be finished at ...
Category
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Black Ebonized French Empire Secretary with Silver-Plated Fitting and Marble Top
Located in Vienna, AT
Antique ebonized Empire secretary with silver-plated bronze fittings and original black marble top
Category
Antique 1850s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Silver, Bronze
French Black Lacquered Art Deco Secretary by Maurice Jallot, Signed Front Plaque
Located in Salzburg, AT
skulptor
Eugène-Baptiste Doumenc.
Solid Sycomore wood refurbished with black piano lacquer on the outside
Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century English Black Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th c English black lacquered slant front secretary.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage English Red and Black Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine vintage English red and black Chinoiserie decorated secretary. Beautiful hand painted
Category
20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Napoleon III Antique French Secretary in Black Lacquer and Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Antique French Napoleon III Secretary in black lacquer with mother of pearl inlay and highlighted
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl
A Chinese Export Black Lacquer Two-Part Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A Chinese export black lacquer two-part secretary with fold out writing surface having inset toile
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Black French Secretary Napoleon III and Boulle Brass Gilt Bronze 19th Century
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Small Secretary In Boulle Marquetry, Napoleon III Period Napoleon 3"
Beautiful and elegant little lady's secretary in brass boule marquetry on an ebony veneer background. Marquetry o...
Category
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass, Bronze
Late 18th Century Swedish Black Painted Pine Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
original black painted finish has been scraped, revealing the warm aged pine patina below, creating a
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
Black Lacquer Secretary Bookcase Cabinet by EJ Victor
Located in North York, ON
Custom finished in a contemporary black lacquer along with hand-applied antiqued silver leafing
Category
20th Century American Secretaires
Piero Fornasetti Architettura Trumeau White Black Secretary Armoire
By Fornasetti, Piero Fornasetti
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Fornasetti's Architettura Trumeau illuminated cabinet is one of the most desirable examples of Fornasetti-Ponti furniture. A stunning hybrid of a drop-front desk, bar and credenza. T...
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Fine George 111 Period Japanned Black Lacquered Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine period George 111 Japanned and lacquered drop front secretary. Highly decorated red lacquered upper interior. Glass doors. Circa 1790.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Black Painted Pine Secretary Desk, Sweden circa 1800-40
Located in Round Top, TX
was later professionally painted with an exceptional black painted exterior complimented by a blue
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
Black Painted Rococo Secretary from Denmark circa 1760-1800
Located in Round Top, TX
.
Later professionally custom painted with an exceptional black painted exterior complimented by a soft
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wrought Iron
18th Century Swedish Rococo Black and Blue Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Kastrup, DK
Swedish Rococo bureau, black and blue painted with charming and decorative patina.
Elegant
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Maitland Smith Black Lacquer
Hermes Orange Interior Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in West Hartford, CT
Maitland Smith 20th Century black lacquer two-piece secretary with coveted Hermes orange interior
Category
Vintage 1980s Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Black Painted Oak Secretary or Bureau from Sweden, circa 1800
Located in Round Top, TX
given a professional custom layered black painted finish which has been gently distressed to reveal the
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Country Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black
Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Rose Tarlow
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk. It features the most
Category
1990s American Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Swedish Rococo Period Slant Front Desk Painted in Black with Distressed Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period two-part slant-front desk from the 18th century, repainted in black with a
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Handsome Swedish Modernist Elm Secretarie
Located in Atlanta, GA
a secretaire desk housing an open cubby surrounded by 5 small drawers and mail sorting area. In
Category
Vintage 1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires
French Abattant Secretary Carved Desk Cabinet Renaissance Louis XIII
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from France~
~Lovely 19th century French “secrétaire à abattant”, so elegant and classic
Category
Antique 19th Century French Black Forest Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Regence Walnut Roll-Top Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Regence walnut roll-top secretary is a very unusual example of the genre, with graceful cabriole legs supporting the top section which is barely 30 inches wide! T...
Category
Antique 1880s French Régence Secretaires
English Late 19th Century Bamboo Secretary with Hand Painted Panels, C.1890
Located in Charleston, SC
English late 19th century bamboo secretary with hand painted panels c.1890.
Category
Antique 1890s English Secretaires
Materials
Bamboo
Metal Warming Cupboard with Later Bottom Shelves
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A metal warming cupboard with later bottom shelves, originating in France, circa 1900.
Category
Antique Early 1900s French Secretaires
Materials
Metal
English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with Glass Doors, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
English mahogany secretary bookcase with glass doors over a pull out desk and four drawers, 19th century. It features a molded rectangular cornice surmounting an ebony inlaid plinth,...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Vintage Secretary
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Gorgeous chestnut wood secretary with gallery at top, original bronze hardware and ball and claw feet.
Category
Vintage 1940s Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$2,150
19th Century Country French Neoclassical Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in the manner of Louis XVI by an able rural artisan, this antique Country French secretary was fashioned from solid oak to last for generations! A single drawer on the ou...
Category
Antique 1880s French Neoclassical Secretaires
French Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Locust Valley, NY
French lacquered chinoiserie secretary with bronze mountings.
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century French "Bonheur Du Jour" Lady
s Writing Desk with Mother-of-Pearl
Located in Dallas, TX
lady's writing desk is delicate and decorative throughout. The secretaire is black lacquer with a mother
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Northern French or Dutch Ebonized Secretary Cabinet, 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Of two-piece construction, the upper section with locking doors and concealing a folding middle section, the lower cabinet with a folding writing surface and drawers over four drawer...
Category
Antique 1770s French Louis XV Secretaires
Swedish Baroque Period Secretary in Oak
Located in New York, NY
A secretary made in oak during the Rococo period 1750-1775 in Sweden. Original hardware in brass. Interior with compartments and drawers. Beautifully made in its original finish and ...
Category
Antique Mid-17th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Early 19th Century One Of A KInd Chinoiserie Secretary with Heavy Bronze Mounts
Located in Manhasset, NY
A spectacular one of a kind Continental walnut secretary bookcase in the chinoiserie taste, late 18th or early 19th century, the molded and domed cornice decorated by a bronze patera...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
18th Century Italian Silver
Ebonized Wood Bargueño Desk
Chest of Drawers
Located in Marbella, ES
18th century Italian silver and ebonized wood barqueño desk and chest of drawers.
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Silver
Rose Tarlow Queen Anne Chinoiserie Secretary
By Rose Tarlow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Chinoiserie Secretary. A stunning, hand made, hand painted secretary. The finish is a stunning crackle finish made by renowned Artisans at Rose T...
Category
20th Century Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
George II Green Japanned Secretary Desk
Located in Essex, MA
In two sections with double arched cornice over a pair of etched, beveled mirror doors enclosing shelves and cubbies, the base with hinged fold down writing lid with a fitted interio...
Category
Antique 1740s English George II Secretaires
Late 18th Century French Oak Bureau
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th century French oak bureau in later decoration.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Oak
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Black Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the black secretaire you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A black secretaire — often made from wood, metal and brass — can elevate any home. Find 126 options for an antique or vintage black secretaire now, or shop our selection of 6 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer black secretaire, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Each black secretaire bearing Georgian, Baroque or Art Deco hallmarks is very popular. T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Baker Furniture Company and Barbara Schweizer each produced at least one beautiful black secretaire that is worth considering.
How Much is a Black Secretaire?
The average selling price for a black secretaire at 1stDibs is $5,949, while they’re typically $608 on the low end and $346,832 for the highest priced.
Finding the Right Secretaires for You
Your antique, new or vintage secretary desk has become the (chic) saving grace of the "new normal" at home.
Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments — pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers — are revealed.
Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts — a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top. Taking its name from the French word for the piece, secrétaire, the secretary desk dates back to the 18th century, when Paris-based cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben, known for his exquisite marquetry and clever mechanical desks, is thought to have invented the secrétaire à abbattant, or drop-leaf desk.
While the defining drop-down feature of the secretary desk has remained constant, the materials used, as well as its configuration, size and style have evolved over time.
At first, secretaries were typically made from exotic woods, like rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood; later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common. The desks also became lighter, with space carved out of the lower half for the writer’s feet or with drawers replaced by legs — making them more table-like.
When open, the secretary is a dynamic, versatile Wunderkammer. When closed, it’s a sophisticated, space-saving piece of furniture.
“A fine secretary with a good provenance adds stature and credence to its owner — it is a cornerstone piece,” says antiques dealer Stanley Weiss, who specializes in 18th- and 19th-century English and American furniture. “In this disposable world, fine furniture is always passed on and speaks to who its owner is.”
No matter what style or period you choose, and no matter how you decide to use it, the timeless, flexible secretary desk is bound to become an indispensable part of your daily routine.
Browse a range of antique and vintage secretary desks on 1stDibs, including mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others.
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