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English Chippendale Kingwood Military Campaign Chest with Secretary, Circa 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale Kingwood Military Campaign graduated chest with an upper drawer fitted with a
Category
Antique 1780s English Campaign Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Mid Century English Regency Mahogany Drop Leaf Sofa Table Secretary
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid Century Mid Size English Regency Mahogany Drop Leaf Sofa Table or Writing Desk. Single item
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
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 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
Antique English Adams Style Hand Painted Double Bonnet Bookcase Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Adams Style Hand Painted Double Bonnet Top Bookcase Secretary Desk. Item features a
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Other Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English George III Mahogany Secretary Desk with Bookcase circa 1780
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK WITH GLAZED UPPER BOOKCASE
England, circa 1780 formerly with
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
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
Fine English George III Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk circa 1780
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Of exceedingly good quality, this fine George III secretaire features a molded cornice projecting over glazed doors, each composed of sixteen individual panes of glass divided by int...
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 18th Century English George I Burled Walnut Secretary Bookcase / Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 18th Century English George I Burled Walnut Secretary Bookcase / Chest on Chest with Fitted
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
George III Mahogany Desk or Secretary Attributed to Gillows, English 1790
By Gillows of Lancaster
London
Located in Rome, IT
George III amazing cabinet desk or secretary in mahogany wood, brass and leather with a drawers
Category
Antique 1780s British George III Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique English Sheraton Satinwood Inlaid Secretary w/ Rosewood Banding Ca. 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Sheraton Satinwood Inlaid Secretary with Rosewood Banding, Circa 1880.
This is a
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood, Satinwood
English Chinese Chippendale Style Bamboo Secretary with Slanted Lift-Top Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Chinese Chippendale style tall bamboo secretary from the 19th century, with slanted lift
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Bamboo, Wood
English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
English Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, Circa 1800
Located in North Miami, FL
This piece just took our breath away - all the carved wood details and medallions are master craftsman quality. See all detail images to truly appreciate what an excellent antique pi...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English British Colonial Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and elaborated 19th century Chinoiserie red lacquered slant front secretary. Hand
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Fine Tall Inlaid Dark Mahogany English Carlton House Two-Piece Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine tall inlaid dark mahogany English Carlton House two-piece secretary desk is an
Category
Antique Early 1900s English Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
$3,996 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Mid Century English Pine Farmhouse Slant Top Standing Desk Dresser Secretary 59"
Located in Dayton, OH
Charming mid 20th century slant top desk, dresser or secretary. A fun cross between an old
Category
Mid-20th Century Rustic Secretaires
Materials
Pine
$2,450 Sale Price
30% Off
Mahogany Bookcase With Secretary - 18th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb English mahogany bookcase from the end of the 18th century circa 1780 with a secretary
Very
Category
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
George III Double Secretary Bookcase of Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English double secretary bookcase of mahogany from the late Georgian era, c.1780, featuring
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Metal
Antique Georgian Mahogany Bookcase Secretary Collectors Doctors Cabinet 1790
Located in Portland, OR
A very rare antique George III English Mahogany secretary bookcase, with a fitted collector's or
Category
Antique 1790s English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Early 19th Century George III Chinese Chippendale Mirrored Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
A ca. 1810 English two part mahogany secretary, the top section with a carved swan's neck pediment
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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
Late 19th Century Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Secretary, Victorian, 1890
Located in Greven, DE
:
Exceptional English ship's or captain's secretary with interesting opening mechanism.
Strictly cubistic
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I large secretary bureau escritoire - or scriptor - of patinated
Category
Antique 18th Century English George I Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
English Satinwood Painted Bureau Bookcase
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century English Satinwood secretary/bookcase. Two astragal glazed doors above open to reveal
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Georgian English Mahogany Commode Secretaire, 1816
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Important English commode secretary from the Georgian period with three large drawers. The upper
Category
Antique 1810s English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$2,326 Sale Price
20% Off
Large antique 18th-century English oak chest of drawers / desk / chest with secr
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This antique English oak secretary features a beautiful stepped interior and dates from the 18th
Category
Antique 18th Century Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Antique 19th century warm brown English Oak Regency Slant-Front Desk
Located in Casteren, NL
Elegant English slant front secretary desk from the Regency period, crafted around 1820. Made from
Category
Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Desks
Materials
Brass
$4,889 Sale Price
20% Off
1800
s Antique Carved, Oak, Georgian, English, Slant Drop, Secretaire, Desk!
Located in Austin, TX
space.
Early 19th century oak English drop front secretary with carvings of acanthus leaves and urns
Category
Antique 19th Century Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Antique 18th century English light warm brown oak Georgian slant front desk
Located in Casteren, NL
This English slant-front secretary, dating from around 1760–1780, is a fine example of Georgian
Category
Antique Late 18th Century George II Desks
Materials
Brass
$6,180 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique 19th century warm brown English Oak Georgian Slant-Front Desk
Located in Casteren, NL
This English slant-front secretary desk, crafted around 1800, is a fine example of late Georgian
Category
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Desks
Materials
Brass
$4,671 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Swedish Drop-Leaf Secretaire Writing Desk c. 1950
Located in Atlanta, GA
” (secretary in English). The top leaf folds down to reveal a smart workspace with cubbyholes and drawers, all
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desks
Materials
Birch, Elm, Mahogany
RICAUT [Rycaut]. History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire. 5TH ED 1682
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Empire. Rycaut was a British diplomat and traveler who served as the secretary to the English ambassador
Category
Antique 1680s American Books
Materials
Leather
![RICAUT [Rycaut]. History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire. 5TH ED 1682](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/ricaut-rycaut-history-of-the-present-state-of-the-ottoman-empire-5th-ed-1682-for-sale/1121189/f_458744821752593506202/45874482_datamatics.jpg?width=240 "RICAUT [Rycaut]. History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire. 5TH ED 1682")
Rare Near Pair of Regency Bookcases
Located in Stamford, CT
A rare near pair of English Regency period secretary or bookcases with rosewood, ebony, mahogany
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood
$84,000 / set
English Sheraton Mahogany Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
English Sheraton style (19th century) mahogany inlaid secretary with 2 lattice doors.
Category
Antique 19th Century Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
English Georgian Style Secretary Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English Secretary Bookcase
Located in Athens, GA
English secretary bookcase in mahogany, 18th century, made in 3 parts, original shaped feet, period
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Important English Secretary, 19th Century
By English School
Located in Madrid , ES
English secretary with elevation
English, from the 19th century.
In mahogany wood.
Upper body
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
18th c. English Secretary Bookcase
Located in Savannah, GA
Exceptional late 18th century mahogany bookcase with mortise and tenon construction and satinwood inlay.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Secretaires
English Secretary Bookcase in Mahogany with Greek Key Inlay and Original Brasses
Located in Athens, GA
English Regency secretary bookcase, circa 1820, mahogany with Greek Key inlay on the fall front
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
English Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20th century hand-painted lady's desk, purchased from a prominent antique dealer in Los Angeles, Paul Ferrante in the late 1950s. The piece has been in my family since.
Category
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
English Butler Secretary
Located in Nashville, TN
Beautiful, all original glass, Mahogany with Maple interior.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$8,900
Antique English Traveling Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
19th century English traveling secretary in calamander wood with birch wood interior.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Birch
English Burl Walnut Secretary
Located in Morristown, NJ
Secretary bookcase with leather paneled slope front desk
Category
20th Century English Secretaires
English Style Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite red chinoiserie piece was made in Italy circa 1920s. It is two-pieces. A bureau of three drawers sits below the drop front writing surface, revealing nine small draw...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
English Pine Copboard / Secretary
Located in So. Egremont, MA
Pine cupboard with drop leaf shelf revealing cubby holes and
drawers. Storage above and below. Interior in salmon paint.
Original backboards
drawers. Storage above and below. Interior in salmon paint.
Original backboards
Category
Antique 19th Century English Cupboards
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Charleston, SC
English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase with slant front desk and leather writing surface and fitted
Category
Early 20th Century British Bookcases
English Mahogany cabinet, Corner Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English Mahogany Corner Cabinet
British Mahogany corner cabinet with glazed cupboard doors and
Category
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Corner Cupboards
Materials
Mahogany
English Walnut Bureau Bookcase or Secretary
Located in Lawrenceburg, TN
interior on bracket feet. This secretary has three long drawers for storage beneath a desktop that is
Category
Vintage 1980s Bookcases
Antique English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1790
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
The image displays an English George III mahogany two-piece secretary cabinet, a fine example of
Category
Antique 1790s British George III Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
English William IV Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A ca. 1830 William IV period piece with arched tracery in the glass doors of the top cabinet, and a cabinet below fitted with linen slides. A fitted fall front desk is concealed wit...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century William IV Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
English Mahogany Secretary Bookcase on Desk, 19th Century
Located in Seattle, WA
Secretary bookcase on desk. Drawer pulls out and front drops down to reveal fitted desk interior
Category
Antique 1850s British Early Victorian Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century English Mahogany Two-Part Secretary Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
English mahogany two-part secretary bookcase; the upper section with a molded cornice over two long
Category
Antique 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
Early 19th Century English Hepplewhite Regency Secretary Bookcase and Cabinet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Exquisite, singularly unique Hepplewhite secretary bookcase in mahogany, satinwood, and boxwood
Category
Antique Early 1800s English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
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English Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic English secretary available at 1stDibs. Each English secretary for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and metal. If you’re shopping for an English secretary, we have 224 options in-stock, while there are 1 modern editions to choose from as well. Your living room may not be complete without an English secretary — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. An English secretary is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Georgian, Regency and Victorian styles are sought with frequency. A well-made English secretary has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Bevan Funnell Ltd. and Nathan Furniture are consistently popular.
How Much is an English Secretary?
Prices for an English secretary start at $970 and top out at $88,500 with the average selling for $8,050.
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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