Black Secretaire
to
29
193
100
282
11
7
22
17
15
14
14
13
6
5
5
5
5
4
2
1
1
67
109
106
18
13
53
21
4
2
10
14
14
5
11
4
1
198
93
56
41
29
222
69
60
43
41
300
289
298
3
3
2
2
2
Sort By
19th Century Mahogany English Secretary, Bookcase by Thomas Wilson (1799–1854)
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Mahogany English secretary by bookcase by Thomas Wilson (1799–1854) was beautifully handcrafted from exotic imported mahogany which creates the primary visual impact of...
Category
Antique 1850s English Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Secretary by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Secretary in mahogany wood with dark finish by designed Robsjohn-Gibbings. Drop-leaf door reveals writing surface and enclosed drawers and shelving. Parsons base with brass pulls.
R...
Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Maddox Chinoiserie Style Black Lacquer Secretaire Desk with Drop-Front
By Maddox Furniture
Located in Astoria, NY
A vintage secretaire desk in black lacquer by Maddox Furniture, designed in the chinoiserie mode
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Wood
1980s Desk, Secretaire, Chest, Glossy Black Lacquer
Mirrors by Sormani, Italy
By Sormani, Luigi Sormani
Located in Arosio, IT
A multifunctional container, this elegant glossy black lacquered piece works:
- As a commode (with
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Teak Swedish Double Bookcase And Secretaire with Black Stands, 1950s
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful double cabinet made of teak with black stands and made in Sweden.
The cabinet contains
Category
Vintage 1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
19th Century Dutch Miniature Secretaire Cabinet
Located in Casteren, NL
19th century miniature secretaire cabinet made from Oakwood.
Decorative object, can be used as
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Models and Miniatures
Materials
Oak
Antique French Napoleon III / Boulle Secretaire by Alphonse Giroux et Cie. Paris
By Alphonse Giroux et Cie
Located in Vilnius, LT
19th century French antique secretaire in black polished wood and verneer by Alphonse Giroux et Cie
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
English Black and Gilt Japanned Drop Front Secretary
Located in Larkspur, CA
Mid 20th Century English Black and Gilt Japanned Drop Front Secretary. The Double Doors with Arched
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Small Black Secretaire by Jansen
Located in Hoboken, NJ
Small black lacquer with bronze appointments,and marble-topped secretaire with three drawers
Category
Vintage 1940s French Secretaires
Biedermeier Black Lacquered Secretaire à Abattant
Located in Dallas, TX
Biedermeier black lacquered secretaire a' abattant, rectangular top over a frieze drawer with lion
Category
20th Century Unknown Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
A Louis XV Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A 19th century French chinoiserie lacquered drop front secretaire with fitted interior and red
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Venetian Chinoiserie Secretaire
Located in Tacoma, WA
Venetian black lacquer and gilt chinoiserie secretaire. Original paper label on back.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint, Lacquer
French Art Deco Secretaire
Located in Senden, NRW
glass, french feet and an all around high gloss black finish. The interior features small storage
Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Milk Glass, Mirror, Lacquer
Secretaire Happiness of the Day Small Black Desk Napoleon III french antiquity
Located in Boulogne-sur-Mer, FR
Pretty little happiness of the day with step, carved molded wood, black lacquer, gold color
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French Antique Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Chicago, IL
This Directoire style antique walnut secrétaire à abattant from France has a black marble top
Category
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
George III Chinoiserie Secretaire/Bureau
Located in Tacoma, WA
A superb George III chinoiserie black lacquer fall front secretaire/bureau with red lacquer
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Secretaire Danish Design Teak Vintage
Located in Szczecin, Zachodniopomorskie
furniture is finished with teak veneer, the top in black. The secretaire has three large and three small
Category
Vintage 1970s Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Teak
French Empire Mahogany Secretaire Abattant
Located in Brooklyn, NY
French Empire mahogany secretaire abattant with black marble top. Piece consists of a fall front
Category
20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Midcentury Jo Colombo Office Organiser Secretaire
By Joe Colombo
Located in London, GB
Midcentury 'Joe Colombo' Mobile Office Organiser B33
Italy, circa 1971
Measure: H 74cm, W 43cm, D 41cm.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Acrylic
Chic and Very Functional Mid-Century Modern Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Secretaire a- abattant in mahogany with chrome base.
Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Rare George II Carved Mahogany Four-Door Breakfront Secretaire Bookcase
By William Hallett
Located in Bradford on Avon, GB
The secretaire bookcase has an exceptional carved breakfront pediment which sits above astragal
Category
Antique 1740s English George II Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
A Large German Architectural Biedermeier Secretaire, 1830
s
Located in London, GB
A Large German Biedermeier Secretaire with two black polished columns flank the three drawered body
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Early 19th Century French Empire Period "Secretaire a Abattant", circa 1810
By Jacob Freres (French)
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
mahogany, and gilt bronze-mounted “secretaire a abattant” with French polish retaining its original dark
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of French Mahogany Semainier Chests One with Drop Down Secretaire
Located in London, GB
Pair of French mahogany Semainier chests one with drop down secretaire with black leather insert
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Black Swedish Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Black secretary in two sections. The upper section has pilaster carving on the two doors, three
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$8,600
Late Gustavian Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part Swedish secretary, circa 1800, in black paint. The upper section has a pair of raised
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Chinese Export Black Lacquer Bureau
Located in London, GB
A late 18th century black lacquer bureau on stand, the top, sides, and slope with gilded decoration
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Chinese Secretaires
Early Writing Desk in Black Paint
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Very early Scandinavian writing desk, circa 1790, with three full-width drawers under a slant front with recessed panel, all on a shaped bracket base. The fitted interior has scrollw...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Black Painted Swedish Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Baroque Swedish secretary, circa 1770, in black paint. Top section has three shelves behind two
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Black Painted Swedish Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Baroque Swedish secretary, circa 1770, in black paint. Top section has three shelves behind two
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Baker 21st Century Contemporary Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
Contemporary black lacquer chinoiserie Queen Anne style secretary by Baker has double doors, slant
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
George III Black Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Offered here is a true George III black lacquer chinoiserie three drawer secretary with bun feet
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Secretaires
Early 19th Century Swedish Black Secretary
Located in Richmond, VA
Early 19th Century Swedish Black Secretary. Top has glass doors and the interior of desk is red
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Period Swedish Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Baroque Swedish secretary, circa 1770, in black paint. Top section has three shelves behind two
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Danish Rococo Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period rococo secretary, Denmark circa 1820, in solid oak with black exterior and sky blue interior
Category
Antique 19th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Continental Black Slant-top Desk
Located in Port Chester, NY
good rich black, and rubbed back a bit for a little pine show-thru. Nice vertical reeding on the sides
Category
Antique 19th Century Austrian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Drexel Heritage Et Cetera Asian Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Secretary Desk
By Drexel
Located in Charlotte, NC
. Solid wood with black lacquer, hand painted Chinoiserie scene accents, double bonnet arched top, brass
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Black Swedish Secretary in Two Sections
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Swedish secretary, circa 1810 having raised panel doors with reeded detail. The lower section has a fitted interior with disguised drawers and a locking compartment, all-over ...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
High Class Secretary, Writing Desk in Black Lacquer and Brass, 1970s
Located in Frankfurt / Dreieich, DE
Very high quality secretary in black glossy lacquered wood and brass. Lots of brass. Very many very
Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Black Lacquer Secretary, Bar with Central Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Black Lacqure Secretary/Bar With Central Mirror panel -DeCoene- Belgian, 1950's.
Category
Vintage 1950s Belgian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood
BOULLE
M. OF PEARL INLAID BLACK LACQUERED SECRETARY
Located in Stamford, CT
IN TWO PARTS, THE TOP HAVING A PIERCED GALLERY ABOVE TWO CABINET DOORS,W/ SHELVES INSIDE,THE BOTTOM HALF WITH ROLL BACK CYLINDER,OPENING TO REVEAL AN INTERIOR FITTED WITH3 DRAWERS,& ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
17th Century Spanish Vargueno Enamel Drawer Fronts
Located in Montecito, CA
An excellent Spanish vargueno with enabled drawer fronts. Original iron work throughout. Heavily carved top and base.
Category
Antique 17th Century Secretaires
English Mahogany Bureau Glazed Bookcase
Located in Fairhope, AL
This bookcase with drop front secretary drawer is nicely proportioned and the mahogany has gained a rich patina over the years. The slant-front drops down to reveal a surprisingly sp...
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Secretary, 1940
Located in Southampton, NY
cabinet. Black painted frame with gold painted detail, folding green lacquer top.
Category
Vintage 1940s French Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Unusual Burl Walnut S Curved Secretary
Located in Woodbury, CT
Burr walnut solids and veneers cover the entire secretary. The S shaped drop front is very unusual and it rests flat on accommodating pull out sleepers or supports. The interior w...
Category
Antique 19th Century Unknown Rococo Secretaires
Neoclassical Roll Top Painted Antique German Secretary, circa 1830
Located in Houston, TX
each with a black background. The contrast between the mellow color of the secretary and the deep color
Category
Antique 1830s German Neoclassical Secretaires
Sunburst Carved Rosewood Indian Colonial Secretary, circa 1840
Located in Providence, RI
This secretary is crafted from rich, dense rosewood exhibiting the fluted sunburst motif and gadrooned edging. A chest of this grouping was offered recently by a local dealer. The ca...
Category
Antique 1840s American Colonial Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
18th Century Bureau Desk
Located in Santander, ES
18th century figured walnut German bureau desk of small dimensions and of intricate serpentine shape, parquetry fronted with original gilt brass pulls and matching escutcheons. The f...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
$5,600
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Petite Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Early 20th century Chinoiserie petite secretary of ebonized wood with gold detail featuring birds and botanical elements.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Secretaires
Mid-Century Modern "Chinoiserie" Style Secretary, circa 1950s
Located in Hialeah, FL
A Mid-Century Modern Chinese style secretary, circa 1950s. Highly ornate, hand-painted details.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
18th Century Large Iron Safe
Located in Badia Polesine, Rovigo
"Large 19th Century Iron Safe"
Large antique wrought iron safe from the 18th century complete with original lock functioning with its original key.
Provenance: Italy, Milano
Pe...
Category
Antique 1810s Italian Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Iron
English Georgian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
English Georgian style chinoiserie decorated slant front desk with interior writing surface and decorated interior.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Art Deco Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
attractive, brilliant, and extremely versatile.
acting as a desk, with five drawers, six concealed shelves for storage and a sliding glass display area,all storage dilemmas' instant...
Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$4,900
CHINOISERIE CABINETS / SECRETAIRES
Located in St.amford, CT
Black, painted Chinoiserie cabinet/ secretaire. Cabinet is in two sections, with top section
Category
20th Century Unknown Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Elegant Victorian Black and Red Desk, Writing Table, Secretaire
Located in Schagen, NL
Beautiful Ebonized desk, with deep red velvet like writing area. The piece features in total six drawers, four in the lower part and three small hidden in the upper part of the desk....
Category
20th Century European Victorian Desks
Materials
Wood
Walnut French Commode or Secretaire - COM1
Located in Wrexham, GB
An impressive French commode or secretaire with marble top and bevelled mirror pediment. The top
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
French Restoration Chest with Secretaire
Located in Kirkland, WA
which is re-leathered in tooled black leather. This secretaire compartment features blonde burl mable
Category
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany, Leather
- 1
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Black Secretaire", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.
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.
Read More
37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.
More Ways To Browse
Hermes Key
Japanned Cabinet 17th
Mid Century Tall Boy
American Biedermeier
Black Lacquer Mother Of Pearl Wall Art
Commode Arbalete
Drop Leaf Secretary
Gothic Reliquary
Petite Secretary
Spanish 18th Century Vargueno Cabinet
Antique Chinese Dressing Table
Jasper Cabinet Company
Red Japanese Chest
Serpentine Secretary
William And Mary Marquetry Chest
Antique Swedish Rococo Secretary
Cubist Cabinet
Drop Leaf Secretary Desk