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Early Swedish Baroque Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period two-part Baroque secretary, Sweden circa 1770, in blue paint. The upper section has a bold
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish Baroque Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period two-part Baroque secretary, Sweden circa 1770, in blue paint. The upper section has a bold
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Baroque Walnut Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An extraordinary Italian Writing Desk is beautifully crafted out of solid wood finished with walnut marquetry veneers. The desk features magnificent walnut marquetry, inlaid veneers ...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$3,475
18th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part Swedish secretary, circa 1780, in black paint. The upper section has four shelves, one
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Baroque Period Swedish Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Baroque secretary, Sweden, circa 1800, in two parts. The library section has an arched
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Secretary with Clock
Located in Sheffield, MA
Swedish chatol, circa 1820, with slant front and integral Mora clock. Upper section has shelves on either side of the clock, the top two shaped and with slots for spoons. The lower s...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$12,500
Gustavian Secretary Cum Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden circa 1800. The upper library section has a bold
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Giltwood and Painted Secretary
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Great looking vintage well made Italian secretary with frop front writing surface that opens up to
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood
Gustavian Secretary with Original Hardware
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Gustavian secretary with library, Sweden circa 1820. The upper library section has two
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Secretary with Folk Carving
Located in Sheffield, MA
Rare and unusual Swedish secretary, circa 1800, in two parts. Carved detail suggests a primitive
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Louis XV Period Walnut Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Louis XV period carved walnut secretary, slant front, sur pieds, unique Chapeau de Gendarme cornice
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Antique Oak Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
Dazzling oak secretary with hand-carved botanical details. All drawers and pull out storage
Category
Antique 19th Century Belgian Secretaires
$3,295
Period Hälsingland Secretary with Clock
Located in Sheffield, MA
Rare secretary from Hälsingland, Sweden, circa 1820, with integral clock. On the right side of the
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Interesting Swedish Secretary from Småland
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two part secretary from the historical province of Småland, Sweden circa 1810. The upper section
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Interesting Swedish Secretary from Småland
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two part secretary from the historical province of Småland, Sweden circa 1810. The upper section
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Interesting Swedish Secretary from Småland
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two part secretary from the historical province of Småland, Sweden circa 1810. The upper section
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early Swedish Secretary from Värmland
Located in Sheffield, MA
Secretary from the western province of Värmland, Sweden circa 1800. The upper section has dentil
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rare Swedish Secretary with Clock
Located in Sheffield, MA
Swedish secretary, circa 1820, with a Mora clock in the upper section. Raised panel doors open on
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Steel
18th Century English Mahogany Secretary
Located in Wilson, NC
18th century English mahogany Secretary, with the frieze having blind fretwork. The cornice has
Category
Antique 1780s English Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique, 19th Century Spanish Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
This magnificent secretary has a hand-painted leather top, hand-painted front panels and a hand
Category
20th Century Spanish Medieval Cabinets
Materials
Leather, Wood
Gustavian Secretary in White Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1800, in original condition, no repairs, and later white
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Period Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1830. The upper library section has a
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Period Neoclassical Secretary Cum Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two-part neoclassical secretary, Sweden, circa 1800, with reeded cornice and central panel with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Secretary in White Paint
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two-part secretary, Sweden circa 1840, with paneled doors top and bottom and matching panels on the
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Gustavian Secretary with Pierced Cornice
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1820, in two parts. The upper, library section has double
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks
Materials
Wood
Neoclassical Secretary with Glazed Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Swedish neoclassical secretary cum library, circa 1860. The upper section has glazed doors under a
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Unusually Heavy High Quality Florentine Secretary
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Stunning drop front secretary that is painted on all sides and is heavier than most Florentine
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Vanities
Period Gustavian Secretary in Two Sections
Located in Sheffield, MA
Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1790, with original hardware and secondary white paint. Top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Värmland Secretary in Two Parts
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period secretary, circa 1790, from Värmland Province in the west of Sweden. The top section has a
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
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
Early Swedish Secretary in Blue Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two-part secretary with library, Sweden circa 1800. The upper section has three shelves and two box
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rare Swedish Secretary with Mora Clock
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Swedish Baroque secretary, circa 1780, with integral Mora clock. Built-in two sections, the
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century, French Secretary
Located in Norwalk, CT
Carved French drop front secretary with three-drawer chest.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Period Swedish Secretary with Pierced Cornice
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part secretary in black paint, Sweden, early 19th century, with original lock and key. The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Gustavian Secretary with Glass Front Library
Located in Sheffield, MA
Gustavian two-part secretary, Sweden circa 1800, with original glass in the upper section. The top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Period Gustavian Secretary with Pierced Cornice
Located in Sheffield, MA
Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1780, with exubernt form. Exaggerated pierced cornice with dentil
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Exceptional Baroque Secretary with Fitted Interior
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period baroque secretary in two parts with elaborately fitted interior, Sweden circa 1750.The upper
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
George III Butler
s Secretary
Located in Woodbury, CT
Very fine George III carved and figured mahogany butler's secretary, with cornice molded top above
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Oak, Glass
Anglo-Raj Rosewood Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Detailed, carved rosewood secretary. Two doored cabinet with six panels of beveled glass in each
Category
Vintage 1940s Indian Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Swedish Gustavian Painted Secretary
Located in Bedford, NY
A SWEDISH GUSTAVIAN PAINTED SECRETARY WITH CARVED DIAMOND SHAPED DESIGN ON THE UPPER DOORS. THE
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Addison Mizner Vargueno Secretary
By Addison Mizner
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Hand carved Spanish Revival Secretary desk attributed to Addison Mizner. Reduced from $2,800.00
Category
Early 20th Century American Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Black Swedish Secretary in Two Sections
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Swedish secretary, circa 1810 having raised panel doors with reeded detail. The lower
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
Neoclassical Swedish Secretary in Three Parts
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Secretary with breakfront library, Sweden circa 1810. The upper section has a bold cornice with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Late Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1820. The upper section has two doors with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Desks
Materials
Wood
Period Secretary with Clock from Hälsingland
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period secretary from Hälsingland with integral Mora clock and with original paint, Sweden, circa
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Steel
Period Gustavian Secretary with Fitted Interior
Located in Sheffield, MA
Exceptional Gustavian secretaire with library, Sweden circa 1760, in blue paint. The library has two shelves and two drawers behind a pair of raised panel doors, all under an arched ...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Late Gustavian Secretary Signed and Dated 1838
Located in Sheffield, MA
Beautiful Swedish secretary from the last Gustavian period, in its original paint and signed and
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
An unusually small and elegant late 18th century carved mahogany secretary bookcase. The
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Period Gustavian Secretary with Original Painted Surface
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Beautiful Gustavian two-part secretary, Sweden circa 1780, in original blue paint. The library
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Two-Part Secretary with Original Hardware
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Swedish slant-front secretary cum library, circa 1740. The upper section has two doors with
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Two Part Baroque Secretary with Original Hardware
Located in Great Barrington, MA
that the secretary may be even older than the panel itself. The carved tulips and roses, symbols of
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Macedonian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Period Secretary Bureau
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An exceptional, grand scale 18th century Gustavian period secretaire bureau with very fine carvings to the exterior and a wonderful pale blue interior featuring a multitude of drawer...
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th C. Spanish Secretary (GMD#2230)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century Spanish Colonial Carved Walnut Secretary. Top hinged and flips up and over flat, then
Category
Antique 19th Century Spanish Secretaires
Louis XV Style Secretary (GMD#2766)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Louis XV Style Carved & Painted Secretary w/Bronze Pulls, Locks & Keys
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Metal
A Secretary by Paolo Buffa with inlays by Giovanni Gariboldi
By Giovanni Garibaldi, Paolo Buffa
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
A small secretary by Paolo Buffa with a floral inlay on the flap front by Giovanni Gariboldi
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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Carved Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic carved secretary available at 1stDibs. A carved secretary — often made from wood, metal and oak — can elevate any home. There are 216 variations of the antique or vintage carved secretary you’re looking for, while we also have 1 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. There are many kinds of the carved secretary you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right carved secretary, those designed in Louis XV, Georgian and Baroque styles are of considerable interest. A well-made carved secretary has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Axel Heizmann, Baker Furniture Company and Chamberts Möbelfabrik are consistently popular.
How Much is a Carved Secretary?
Prices for a carved secretary can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $1,104 and can go as high as $125,000, while the average can fetch as much as $6,400.
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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