Empire Secretary
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Empire Secretary Attibuted to Georges Jacob
By Jacob Frères
Located in Antibes, FR
EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY Secretary BY GEORGES AND FRANCOIS-HONORE-GEORGES JACOB, CIRCA 1805
Category
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Rare North German Altona Empire Secretary, circa 1810-1815
Located in Handewitt, DE
Beautiful and rare original North German "Altona" Secretary, circa 1810-1820. Fine cuba-mahogany
Category
Antique 1810s German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Empire / Biedermeier Secretary, Top Quality, Walnut, Mainz, Around 1820
Located in Volkach, BY
This unique Empire / Biedermeier secretary was created in Mainz around 1820 and is veneered in
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Oak, Walnut
1820-1830 German Empire-Biedermeier Secretary in Mahogany and Gilded Bronze
Located in Handewitt, DE
A 1820-1830 German Empire-Biedermeier secretary in mahogany and gilded bronze. Orignial shellac
Category
Antique 1820s German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Lyra Secretary with a Black Cross
Located in Homburg, DE
Schellack poliert mit sichtbaren Gebrauchsspuren shellac polished with visible traces of use
Keys and locks completely and functionally
Flap is slightly damaged! (restoration ...
Category
Antique 19th Century Empire More Folk Art
Materials
Fruitwood, Wenge, Palisander, Walnut
English Style Secretary Made of Walnut and with Secret Compartments
Located in Senden, NRW
Wonderful secretary in English style made out of walnut veneer which features a large drawer under
Category
20th Century German Empire Desks
Materials
Walnut
Neoclassical Mahogany Pedestal Base Secretary or Desk by Stephen Smith, Boston
By Stephen Smith
Located in Andover, MA
This unique mahogany pedestal base secretary or desk was described in an ad by Smith as “bank and
Category
Antique 1830s American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Ash, Baize, Mahogany, Poplar
Antique Ebonized Silver Empire Secretary an Abattant from France, 19th Century
Located in Vienna, AT
An original antique Empire secretary from the early 19th century from France. The secretary is
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Walnut Empire Secretary with Marble Top
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$11,600
Empire Secretary Cabinet, 1920
s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
This Empire secretary dates from circa 1925, produced in Germany. With four large drawers on the
Category
Vintage 1920s German Empire Revival Cabinets
Materials
Pine
Early 19th Century Mahogany Empire Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
This Empire secretary was made in Germany, circa 1810. It is mahogany veneer on oak.
The inside
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Mahogany
Unique Empire Secretary, circa 1820, Northern Europe
Located in Chorzów, PL
A unique Empire secretary, circa 1820, Northern Europe
Very good condition, after professional
Category
Antique 1820s Swedish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Secretary Napoleon III 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Empire Secretary Napoleon III 19th Century
opening with a flap and two leaves
Amounts in the shape
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Exceptional 19th Century Swedish Empire Secretary
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional architecturally designed 19th century Swedish Empire secretary in flame birch with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Early 19th Century Mahogany American Empire Secretary with Bookcase
Located in Nashville, TN
Early 19th century American Empire secretary with bookcase Circa 1840
Highly polished flamed
Category
Antique 1840s American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Secretary à abattant, France early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
French Empire secretary à abattant with a two-door base, two wide drawers and a flat writing flap
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany, Maple
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
19th Century Napoleon III Empire Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
bronze caryatides. Finely chiselled, fire-gilded fittings.
According to the heir, the secretary came
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire Secretary, Germany, Early 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This is a beautiful Secretary from the Biedermeier era from Germany. The piece comes from around
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Birch, Ebony, Maple, Oak, Poplar
Antique 1900
s Rosewood Empire Secretary Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
28” x 15.5” x 38.5”H; desk height 28”
Gorgeous Empire-style rosewood secretary desk from the turn
Category
Antique Early 1900s American American Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Early 19th Century French Empire Secretary, Mahogany and Ormolu Fittings, c 1820
Located in Greven, DE
19th Century Empire Secretary
France
Mahogany
Empire around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 143 x 97
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
German Biedermeier or Empire Secretary, Burlwood, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Secretary with Pilaster Herms
Southern Germany (Munich)
Burl wood, maple
Biedermeier circa
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Burl
Super Rare 19th Century Transforming Ladies Desk, Empire Secretary, Mahogany
Located in Greven, DE
Convertible antique writing desk
France
Mahogany
Empire, 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper having arched
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk With Leaded Glass c1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper having arched
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Mahogany Secretary
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
French Empire secretary having a fall-front desk opening to fitted drawers and with leather writing
Category
Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Mid 20th Century French Empire Secretaire Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Vintage French empire secretary of unusually small proportions. Constructed with flame mahogany
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Flame Mahogany Empire Drop-Front Secretary, circa 1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique flame mahogany Empire secretary features bookmatched facing with drop front writing surface
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Empire Flame Mahogany Dropfront Secretary Desk, circa 1840
By Anthony Quervelle
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire secretary offers deeply striated flame mahogany construction with upper
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Metal
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stunning 19th century Empire secretary, in mahogany, from France. The desk has a black, fossil
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Classical American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk c1850
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Classical Greco American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique American Empire Carved Flame Mahogany and Bronze Secretary Bookcase
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique American Empire secretary features flame mahogany construction with three long drawers in
Category
Antique Early 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique American Empire Classical Flame Mahogany Secretary, c1840
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper bookcase having
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century American American Empire Desks
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
Antique Greco America Empire Flame Mahogany Quervelle School Secretary 19th C
By Anthony Gabriel Quervelle
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique American Empire secretary in the manner of Quervelle offers deeply striated flame
Category
Antique 19th Century American American Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
Swedish Empire Cylinder-Top Secretary in Birch
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very handsome Swedish Empire secretary in birch with cylinder top opening to a desk featuring
Category
Antique 1810s Swedish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch
North German Empire Secretaire, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large Empire Secretary with a very beautiful flamed mahogany veneer. The body has three drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Secretaire, Northern Germany 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large Empire secretary with a very beautiful flamed mahogany veneer. The body has three drawers
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Unique Austrian Empire Cylinder Secretary/Writing Desk, Material Cherry, Wien
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Shipping to any US port only for $290 USD
Empire Secretary/Writing desk - (Cylinder)
Material
Category
Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Cherry, Lacquer
Empire Secretaire à abattant, Vienna circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Empire secretary adorned with flanking caryatids around the flat writing flap, top drawer, and a
Category
Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Empire Mahogany Bureau Secretary with Bookcase
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very fine empire secretary in West Indies mahogany, also known as Cuban mahogany, considered to
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Small Early 19th Century Empire secretaire, Mahogany, France circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Empire secretary
France
Mahogany
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 136 x 69
Category
Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
Early 19th Century Empire Secretaire, Walnut, France, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Empire Secretary
France
Walnut
Empire around 1820
Dimensions: H x W x D: 143 x 98 x 49 cm
Category
Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Very Small Antique Secretaire, Mahogany, Empire, France, circa 1810
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique Empire secretary with fire-gilt fittings
France
Mahogany
Empire around 1810
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Style Secretary
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary, French, in the Empire style and made of Cuban flamed Mahogany, finished in a Museum
Category
Vintage 1920s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Russian Empire Commode Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exceptional Russian Empire fruitwood and ebonized 4 drawer chest/secretary. The top drawer
Category
Antique 1850s European Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Marble, Carrara Marble, Brass
Empire Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bradenton, FL
A superb two piece 19th century Empire Mahogany and Cherry blind door bookcase secretary
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Empire Style Mahogany Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Empire style mahogany secretary is the perfect companion for any room, especially a guest
Category
Mid-20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Secretary Desk, Empire Style, circa 1820
Located in Chorzów, PL
The unique, birch secretary was created circa 1820 in Scandinavia. Empire style furniture has
Category
Antique 1820s Swedish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Early 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Paris, FR
Large mahogany and mahogany veneer secretary desk with gilt bronze decoration. Two columns set in
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Empire Style French Secretary “Retour d’Egypte”
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary from France in the Empire style. This piece is made of mahogany that has been ebonized
Category
Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Empire style Crotch Mahogany Secretary
Located in Bronx, NY
very nice secretary/cabinet with fold down desk, drawers and storage shelving below w/intricate
Category
Antique 19th Century American Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Colonial Mahogany Secretary in Oval Shape
Located in Vulpellac, Girona
French Empire colonial mahogany secretary in oval shape.
The secretary comprises lots of store
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Secretary in Mahogany with Inlaid Fruitwood, Empire, 1810s
Located in Lejre, DK
Secretary in mahogany with inlaid fruitwood, in the style of Empire from the 1810s. The secretary
Category
Antique 1810s Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Fruitwood
Dutch 19th Century Second Empire Linen Press/Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This elegant 19th century linen press/secretary is from the Netherlands, circa 1860s and offers
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Empire Linen Presses
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Mahogany French Empire Style Fall Front Secretary
Located in Westfield, MA
A stunning French Empire-style fall-front secretary, crafted from rich mahogany with striking grain
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Empire Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Mahogany Secretary Desk Empire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Mahogany secretary desk with sculpted and gilt bronze accents and Saint Anne marble top. The facade
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
French 19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An extraordinarily handsome French Empire walnut secretary made in the middle of the 19th century
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
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Empire Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the empire secretary you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each empire secretary for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and metal. There are many kinds of the empire secretary you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Each empire secretary bearing Empire hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made empire secretary over the years, but those crafted by Baker Furniture Company, Jean Joseph Chapuis and Johan Högman are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Empire Secretary?
An empire secretary can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $6,562, while the lowest priced sells for $1,200 and the highest can go for as much as $155,000.
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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