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18th Century Grey Swedish Gustavian Two Part Pine Secretary - Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
secretary represents the Neoclassical Greek style with the original brass hardware and key. Minor fading
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
1930s Art Déco Veneered Wood Secretary Cabinet in Jacques Adnet Style, France
By Jacques Adnet
Located in North Miami, FL
1930s Art Déco veneered wood secretary cabinet with multiple compartments in Jacques Adnet Style
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Maddox Refinished Red Mahogany Block / Slant Front Secretary Desk with Key
By Maddox Furniture
Located in Germantown, MD
A refinished Maddox Red Mahogany Chippendale Block front, Slant Front Secratary Desk with Key
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Desks
Materials
Mahogany
French Buffet Deux Corps with Desk, European Two Part Secretary with Slant Desk
Located in Miami, FL
French Buffet Deux Corps with Desk, European Two Part Secretary with Slant Desk
This exquisite
Category
20th Century French French Provincial Buffets
Materials
Walnut
English Regency Mahogany Fall Front Secretary w/ Bookcase on Splay Feet, C. 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency Mahogany fall front secretary bookcase with carved molded edge cornice, flanking
Category
Antique Early 1800s English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Edwardian Bureau Secretary 4 Drawers Chest with Original Mirror, circa 1920s
Located in Germantown, MD
C. 1920s American Oak 4 drawers bureau secretary Chest of drawers with original mirror. Mirror
Category
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Maple, Oak
Italian Neoclassical Walnut Hinged Secretary / Bookcase on Fluted Legs, C. 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian Neoclassical Walnut hinged slant front secretary / bookcase with molded edge cornice
Category
Antique 1780s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
English Chippendale Mahogany Inlaid Fall Front Secretary with Bookcase, C.1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale mahogany fall front secretary with carved molded edge finial cornice, flanking
Category
Antique 1780s English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Italian Baroque Inlaid Walnut Drop-Front Secretary Desk / Commode
Located in Miami, FL
18th Century Italian Baroque Inlaid Walnut Drop-Front Secretary Desk / Commode,
Antique Italian
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass
1920s Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut
Burl Veneer, Threaded Maple
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Early 20th Century Lombard Secretary Desk Commode in Walnut & burl Veneer, Threaded of Maple
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Burl
18th Century German Burr Elm and Walnut Secretary, with Ebonized Trim and Inlaid
Located in North Miami, FL
18th Century German burr elm and walnut secretary, adorned with ebonized trim and inlaid
Category
Antique 18th Century German Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Burl
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk
Black Leather Drop Leaf Top Hrh
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk
Black Leather Drop Leaf Top HRH . Very Rare
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
$72,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Swedish 1856 Two-part Painted Secretary with Four Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish 19th century two-part painted wood secretary circa 1856 with slant front desk, four doors
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Antique Spanish Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Spanish Walnut Burl and Rosewood Claw Foot Drop Front Secretary Desk
This beautiful
Category
Antique Early 1900s Spanish Spanish Colonial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Louis XV Style Dore Bronze Mounted Boulle Marquetry Secretary Desk or Cabinet
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous Louis XV style French dore bronze mounted Boulle Marquetry secretary desk or cabinet
Category
Antique 1830s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
$59,600 Sale Price
20% Off
American Hepplewhite Mahogany Inlaid Fall Front Secretary with Bookcase, C. 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
American Hepplewhite mahogany satinwood string inlaid secretary bookcase with a hinged fall front
Category
Antique 1790s American Hepplewhite Secretaires
Materials
Brass
20th Century French Louis XV Walnut Marquetry Secretary Chest with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
circa 1920, the tall fruitwood secretary stands on cabriole legs ending with bronze sabots feet over a
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Oakwood Secretary Cabinet - Baroque Revival, Austria ca. 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary hand-carved oakwood secretary cabinet from the Baroque revival period in Austria. A
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Baroque Revival Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Empire Table with Palmettes, possibly Berlin / Gotha, circa 1820/25
Located in Greding, DE
fall-front secretary featuring carved palm motifs (cf. Luthmer-Schmidt, Empire und Biedermeier Möbel).
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Center Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Venetian rococo 19 th century bureau/secretaire hand painted
Located in Houston, TX
This fine quality Venetian secretary is beautifully carved and finely
Painted in pale teal and rose
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Swedish Baroque Secretary Desk with Built-In, Signed Mora Clock, circa 1760
Located in Carmel, CA
carved.
Secretary -desk is in two sections. The upper and lower sections both have shelves behind the
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Spanish Hand Carved Walnut Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Offered is this antique Spanish, hand carved walnut secretary with twisted legs on barrel feet. The
Category
Antique 19th Century European Spanish Colonial Secretaires
Materials
Wood
American Carved Faux Bamboo Secretary Desk
Located in Seattle, WA
Fantastic late 19th century bird's eye maple secretary desk with faux bamboo details and lift top
Category
Antique 19th Century American Desks
Materials
Wood, Leather
Vintage Reclaimed Italian Walnut Secretary with Carved Details, circa 1950
Located in Dallas, TX
Fantastic Italian walnut secretary made from reclaimed wood, featuring raised carved details on
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Chippendale Secretary/Desk
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in New Haven, CT
George III period mahogany Chinese Chippendale secretary bookcase, England, circa 1790. The
Category
Antique 1790s English Chippendale Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Swedish Neoclassical Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Spectacular period neoclassical secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1810. The upper section has
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Secretary Made in Milan, 1940
Located in New York, NY
Mahogany secretary, bookcase or vitrine.
Two drawers below front pull down door. Which has
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Period Swedish Secretary from Ångermanland
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderful rural interpretation of the late Gustavian style in a two part secretary from
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine New York City Classical Secretary
Located in Millerton, NY
Fine New York classical secretary in the manner of Duncan Phyfe workshop. Finely carved solid
Category
Antique 1810s American American Classical Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Period Secretary with Clock from Hälsingland
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period secretary from Hälsingland with integral Mora clock and with original paint, Sweden, circa
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Rococo Revival Secretary Desk
Located in Liverpool, GB
rarity, additionally confirming the individual character and class of this secretary - are also carved
Category
20th Century Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Baltimore Federal Sideboard with
Butler
s Secretary
Located in Woodbury, CT
butler's secretary drawer. Exceptionally vibrant crotch and flame mahogany veneers and bandings; the
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American Federal Sideboards
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Mahogany
Maryland Federal Hepplewhite Manner Secretary Bookcase
Located in Woodbury, CT
A Federal period pale mahogany Hepplewhite manner secretary bookcase with very fine rope and string
Category
Antique 1780s American Federal Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Pine
Mario Quarti Rosewood Secretary Made in Italy
By Mario Quarti
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Mario Quarti art deco rosewood secretary made in 1930 in Italy. Four drawers, one of which
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
Rhode Island Chippendale - Goddard School Secretary Bookcase
By Daniel Spencer
Located in Woodbury, CT
A cherrywood slant-front secretary on ogee bracket feet, with a complex blocked and fan carved
Category
Antique 1770s American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Gustavian Two-Part Secretary with Pierced Cornice
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1770. The upper section has double doors
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Secretary, Dutch Art Nouveau by Theo Nieuwenhuis, circa 1912
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Secretary, oak and Macassar, carving and sculpturing, on the top front doors vellum with floral
Category
Vintage 1910s Dutch Art Nouveau Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Black
Gold Hitchcock Style Secretary Desk
Chair - 2pc Set
By Lambert Hitchcock
Located in Middletown, MD
A stunning vintage two-piece set painted in rich black with gold accents featuring the classic Harvest stenciling. Beautiful brass/porcelain drawer pulls depicting a painted scene o...
Category
20th Century American American Classical Desks
Materials
Maple
The Walton Hall Queen Anne Burl Walnut Secretary Bookcase, English, circa 1705
Located in New York, NY
A Rare and Important Queen Anne Burl Walnut Bureau Bookcase, in three sections. The upper section having a molded broken arched pedimen with gilt finials, above a pair of arched beve...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Mercury Glass, Walnut, Burl
Antique French Carved Secretary Petite Desk Barley Twist Walnut Bookcase
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French Carved Secretary Petite Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII.
Direct from
Category
Antique 1890s French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Unusual 1960s Mexican Hand Carved Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
. Similar to the artisan output of Artes de Mexico, it's dark finish is beautifully carved. A perfect
Category
Vintage 1960s Mexican Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rustic Tramp Art Notch Carved Secretary Desk
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Tramp Art secretary desk with two drawers, a low back and side gallery, and notch-carved
Category
20th Century Folk Art Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Antique Victorian Quartersawn Oak Gothic Carved Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Jacobean secretary desk. Made of oak, featuring Gothic style carvings with iron hardware
Category
Antique 19th Century Jacobean Secretaires
Materials
Iron
Antique White Painted Oak Carved Secretary Bureau from France
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak secretary reflects the grace and class of French styling in the early 1800's. The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Oak, Paint
Antique Kittinger Jacobean Spanish Revival American Walnut Carved Secretary Desk
By Kittinger
Located in Dayton, OH
Extremely early Kittinger Jacobean Revival fall front secretary writing desk. Made from American
Category
Early 20th Century Jacobean Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Walnut
Asian Hand Carved Wooden Secretary Desk
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Add artisanal craftsmanship to your workspace with this Asian Hand Carved Secretary Desk. Featuring
Category
Vintage 1970s Unknown Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Vintage French Provincial Hand Carved White Secretary Desk and Display Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Provincial Hand Carved White Secretary Desk and Display Cabinet
This hand carved
Category
Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paint
American Victorian Carved Oak Secretary Desk Circa 1890s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful solid oak carved secretary desk with the best features of the era. The piece is
Category
Antique 1890s American Late Victorian Desks
Materials
Oak
Stately Carved Wood Secretary
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Two piece secretary; top has leaded glass and interior shelves with a gorgeous carved pediment at
Category
Early 20th Century American Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Danish Carved Oak Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
19th-century Danish oak secretary featuring exceptional hand-carved details and a deep aged patina
Category
Antique 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Irish Carved Pine Secretary Bookcase.
Located in Buchanan, MI
IRISH 18TH CENTURY CARVED PINE SECRETARY BOOKCASE. FULLY LINED WITH LINEN FABRIC EXCEPTIONAL
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Asian Chinese Chinoiserie Carved Writing Desk Secretary
Located in West Hartford, CT
Unusual dark Chinese secretary desk, circa early 20th century, features intricately carved detail
Category
Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
French Style Whitewashed Carved Oak Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine quality French style whitewashed oak secretary. Beautifully carved crest on the top of
Category
Mid-20th Century American Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Hand Carved Stripped Oak Secretary
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A French secretary from the 1st half of the 19th century. Made of solid oak and elaborately carved
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Pink Carved Mirror Secretary or Bar
Located in Stamford, CT
Fabulous pinky-salmon colored mirrored bar with carved and etched images and decorations
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Dry Bars
French Abattant Secretary Carved Desk Cabinet Renaissance Louis XIII
Located in Shreveport, LA
, and having over-the-top hand carved details!~
~Very slender size makes this a fabulous cabinet for
Category
Antique 19th Century French Black Forest Secretaires
Materials
Marble
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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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