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19th Century Danish Biedermeier Bleached Mahogany Secretary
Located in Viterbo, VT
Biedermeier Secretary chest of drawers hand-made in Denmark in the early 1800s using mahogany. The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Venetian Italian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Embrace the timeless charm of this Classic Venetian Style Italian Polychrome Lacquered Hand-Painted two parts Bookcase, a piece of furniture that exudes both artistry and history. Th...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
English Regency Sheraton-Style Secretary and Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
English Regency period mahogany and satinwood two-piece secretary cabinet. Pine secondary wood. Top
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Belgian Oak Slant-Front Secretary, circa 1850
Located in Evergreen, CO
This substantial, mid-19th century secretary features solid oak construction with a beautiful
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Belgian Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Italian Florentine Giltwood Bureau Secretary Butlers Desk Chest
Located in Forney, TX
A Florentine carved cream painted parcel gilt slant-top desk bureau with nicely aged dark warm
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century George l Style Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a charming George l style walnut diminutive secretary. The domed cornice over a conforming
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XVI secretary is a truly astonishing work of the cabinetmaker's
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French 19th Century Directoire Roll Top Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately French Directoire roll top secretary. This massive desk is over six feet long and four
Category
Antique 19th Century French Directoire Desks
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Swedish Pine Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
19th-century Swedish pine secretary featuring traditional carved fluted diamonds on the upper doors
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Pine
New England birch secretary / slant front desk, 18th century
Located in Houston, TX
This is an exceptionally handsome piece of early American craftsmanship. This 18th-century slant-front desk, crafted from warm birchwood, showcases the robust elegance and functional...
Category
Antique 18th Century Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Secretary made of Oak
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A provincial Louis XVI secretary or ‘secrétaire à abattant’. Classicism, late 18th century. West
Category
Antique Late 18th Century European Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Louis XVI Style Secretary Stamped Quignon in Paris
By Frederic Gustave Quignon
Located in BARSAC, FR
Gustave-Frédéric Quignon
Superb Louis XVI style piece of furniture in very finely carved solid
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Mahogany Secretary With Mirrored Bookcase. Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany secretary with mirrored bookcase. Secretary has a upper case broken pediment top
Category
Antique 1780s English George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Secretary - Antique Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretary made of hand crafted painted
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal
1930s Rockford Furniture Jacobean Style Handcrafted Secretary Desk
By Rockford National Furniture Company 1
Located in Germantown, MD
timeless design.
This stunning slant front secretary showcases the impeccable attention to detail and
Category
Early 20th Century Jacobean Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Cherrywood Secretaire - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
detailed secretary is composed with two doors that open to two interior shelves. The cabinet is standing on
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th c. Swedish Bureau Desk / Secretary in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish bureau secretary with a scalloped base in original paint. Circa 1870. Behind the drop
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
George III English Antique Mahogany Bookcase Secretary Desk circa 1780
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of this distinguished George III Secretary Bookcase, a
Category
Antique 1790s English George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Mahogany Secretary W/ Mirror
Located in Astoria, NY
An exquisite early 19th century French Empire secretary, meticulously restored and sourced from
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century Louis Philippe Fall-Front Secretary in Cherrywood
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautiful craftsmanship Louis Philippe abattant secretary desk in a walnut cherry wood with
Category
Antique 1860s European Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Veneered Mahogany Cabinet - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, in good condition. The bottom part of the secretary is
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Cabinets
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Eastlake Incised Walnut and Burl Slant Front Secretary, circa 1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Eastlake secretary offers paneled walnut construction with upper having shaped crest
Category
Antique 19th Century American Eastlake Desks
Materials
Burl, Walnut
$1,800 Sale Price
20% Off
English Chippendale Mahogany Breakfront With Secretary, Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale mahogany breakfront with carved molded cornice, four upper case glass doors
Category
Antique 1790s English George III Bookcases
Materials
Brass
18th Century French Louis XV Walnut Secretary Bookcase from Bordeaux
Located in Dallas, TX
shell cartouche, above two serpentine doors finely carved with floral and foliate motifs. The doors are
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Federal Period Massachusetts Mahogany Secretary Desk with Cylinder Tambour
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a Federal mahogany two part secretary desk, with a dentil molded cornice
Category
Antique Late 18th Century American Federal Desks
Materials
Brass
20th-Century Tiger Oak Fall-Front Secretary Desk on Barley Twist Legs
Located in Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Revival style, this tiger oak fall-front secretary desk reflects early twentieth-century England’s
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Jacobean Furniture
Materials
Oak
19th Century Russian Antique Veneered Mahogany Secretary by Heinrich Gambs
By Heinrich Daniel Gambs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Russian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
English Chippendale Kingwood Military Campaign Chest with Secretary, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
hinged fall front secretary revealing a central prospect door with a secret interior drawer, flanking
Category
Antique 1780s English Campaign Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Painted Slant Front Secretary with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood secretary from the late 18th century, with slant front desk
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk
Located in Essex, MA
the century, a French provincial secretary/desk came out of a New York City Park Avenue apartment
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood, Paint
European 1800s Two-Part Painted Wood Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th century, this tall painted wood secretary features a molded cornice topped with a carved dentil
Category
Antique Early 19th Century European Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century German Biedermeier Two Part Pine Bureau - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique German Biedermeier two part bureau, secretary with a two door glass display made of hand
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Pine
18th C. Louis XV Bureau Scriban Bibliothèque Secretary Cabinet Mahogany Antique
Located in West Hollywood, CA
18th C. Louis XV Bureau Scriban Bibliothèque Secretary Cabinet Mahogany Antique . A very important
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron, Metallic Thread
$96,000 Sale Price
20% Off
English Chippendale Mahogany Blind Door Secretary With Bookcase, Circa 1775
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale mahogany blind door secretary with bookcase. Upper case has a carved cornice
Category
Antique 1770s English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Chinese Chippendale Style Lattice Design Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
English Chinese Chippendale style (19th century) carved mahogany lattice design secretary with gilt
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Giltwood
Exceptional Two Part George I English Secretary Desk in Walnut
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional example of a late George I English secretary desk in walnut, its upper case with a
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Large Walnut Victorian Secretary Bureau Cabinet Letter Shelves Bottom Storage
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Large Walnut Victorian Secretary Bureau cabinet lots of letter shelves bottom storage MINT!.
Category
20th Century American Victorian Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Venetian Hand-Painted Blind Door Secretary with Bookcase, Circa 1900
Located in Charleston, SC
Venetian blind door secretary with a carved scrolled decorative cornice, upper case bookcase with
Category
Antique Early 1900s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique mid 19th century Dutch honey color oak Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Located in Casteren, NL
Offered here is a stunning Dutch secretary desk in the Biedermeier style, crafted in the mid-19th
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Bone
19th Century Swedish antique rustic Gustavian Secretary with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
A Swedish antique rustic Gustavian slant front secretary from early 19th century that is perfect
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Antique Neoclassical Renaissance Revival Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Neoclassical Renaissance Revival Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk With Carved Pulls
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Rare Highboy Secretary by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co., John Widdicomb
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elevate your home office or study with this monumental secretary cabinet conceived by iconic
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
18th Century Dutch Burl Walnut Secretary Cabinet Scriban Desk Library Antique LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
18th Century Dutch Burl Walnut Secretary Cabinet Scriban Desk Library Antique LA . An important and
Category
Antique 18th Century Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
$216,000 Sale Price
20% Off
19th c. Swedish Secretary with Vitrine Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A charming Swedish vitrine bureau secreatry made in two parts from the 19th century. Original paint on the exterior and later interior paint. The glass was replaced some time ago. Th...
Category
Antique 19th Century Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Fine Early 18th Century Queen Anne Burl Walnut Secretary Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
Fine Early 18th Century Queen Anne Burl Walnut Secretary Bookcase
English Queen Anne Period Burl
Category
Antique 18th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th c American Mahogany Dome Top Secretary with Compass Star Inlay
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful form two part American mahogany dome top secretary, its upper case with a molded
Category
Antique 18th Century American Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Chippendale Mahogany Secretary / Bookcase with Interior Drawers, C. 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale mahogany slant front architects secretary / bookcase with a carved dentil
Category
Antique 1770s English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mahogany Chippendale Style Block Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase Top
Located in Milford, NH
A spectacular example of a two part mahogany secretary desk with bookcase top in the Chippendale
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Chippendale Desks
Materials
Brass
Paolo Buffa Pair of Cabinets, Dry-Bar Cabinet and Secretary, circa 1950
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
panels, rectangular top and dentil carved moldings. One, a dry-bar cabinet and the other a secretary
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style tall secretary from circa 1820 with gray painted finish, chapeau de gendarme
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$9,560 Sale Price
20% Off
Danish 1810s Beige Gray Painted Two-Part Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Danish painted wood two-part secretary from circa 1810 with beige / light gray painted finish
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique French Abattant Desk Fall Front Secretary Chest Drawers Renaissance Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
with Fall Front Secretary Top~~Leather Writing Surface~~Upper and Lower Drawers
~~c. 1880s
With so
Category
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
French Louis XV Period 18th Century Walnut Slant Front Secretary and Buffet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV period walnut slant front secretary from the 18th century with buffet in the
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
English Chippendale Mahogany
Satinwood Fall Front Secretary w/ Bookcase C 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale mahogany and satinwood fall front secretary / bookcase with a molded edge
Category
Antique 1780s English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish 1770s Baroque Period Light Gray Painted Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Baroque tall secretary from circa 1770, with slant front desk, light Gustavian gray
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
$9,560 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century Black Swedish Gustavian One Part Pine Bureau - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
large drawers and one small one. The upper part of the secretary consist nine storage spaces, enhanced
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Bronze
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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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