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Antique English Teak Campaign Secretary with Brass Inlay c. Mid 19th Century
Located in Westfield, MA
This exceptional Antique English Teak Campaign Secretary, dating to the mid-19th century, showcases
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
English George III Style Drop Front Secretary Desk with Bookcase, circa 1870
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous 19th century English George III style secretary desk with bookcase. The desk features
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Cherry, Mahogany
English Queen Anne Style Oak Antique Secretary Desk with Bookcase, 18th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
While usually a piece that is composed of older elements does not interest us, this is such a rich and interesting form that was so well executed that it is difficult not to carry it...
Category
Antique 18th Century English Queen Anne Desks
Materials
Brass
English Mahogany Two-Part Mirrored Secretary with Elaborate Upper Case c 1750-60
Located in Milford, NH
A spectacular English mahogany two part secretary, its upper case with shaped cornice surmounting
Category
Antique 1750s English Queen Anne Desks
Materials
Brass
18th Century English Queen Anne Walnut and Burl Secretary with 7 Mirrored Doors
Located in Dallas, TX
Created in England circa 1720, and made of walnut and burl, this elegant antique secretary is built
Category
Antique Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mercury Glass, Walnut, Burl
19th Century Bamboo Secretary
Located in Pomona, CA
19th century English bamboo writing table, secretary.
Category
Antique 1880s English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bamboo
19th Century Georgian Secretary
Located in San Marino, CA
A 19th English Georgian mahogany secretary with a green leather desk top. Comes with original keys
Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Chippendale Style Mahogany Secretary
Located in Manhasset, NY
Handsome English Chippendale style mahogany secretary, the shelving-top with glass door, atop a
Category
20th Century American Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Glass
Queen Anne Lacquer Secretary
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Queen Anne style burnt sienna lacquer decorated double-dome secretary with three urn
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Queen Anne Secretaires
$32,500
Queen Anne Burl Walnut Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
examples of English cabinetmaking. This secretary is of the most outstanding caliber, boasting desirable
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Secretaires
Materials
Burl, Walnut
$168,500
Campaign Ware Secretary (Chest) of Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
An English military officer’s Campaign Ware secretary, c.1825, fashioned as a chest of drawers
Category
English Secretaires
Materials
Brass
George III Double Secretary Bookcase of Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English double secretary bookcase of mahogany from the Georgian era, featuring a moulded top
Category
Antique 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Regency Mahogany Butler
s Desk or Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fine 19th century English regency butler's desk or secretary. Constructed from mahogany featuring a
Category
Antique 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
George III Secretary Bookcase in Mahogany
Satinwood with Swan Neck Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th century English George III inlaid secretary bookcase in mahogany and satinwood with two
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique George III Hepplewhite Inlaid Mahogany Roll Top Secretary Desk, C1820
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English George III Hepplewhite secretary offers mahogany construction with architectural
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Hepplewhite Desks
Materials
Mahogany, Glass
Antique Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Slant Front Secretary in the Queen Anne Style
Located in Houston, TX
Very Fine English made slant front chinoiserie secretary. Red lacquered and
Hand-painted on all
Category
Early 20th Century English Desks
Materials
Wood
George I Secretary Bureau or Escritoire of Figured Walnut from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period George I secretary bureau escritoire or scriptor of figured patinated walnut
Category
Antique 18th Century English George I Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
English Antique George III Mahogany Bookcase
Located in Austin, TX
Beautiful English antique George III secretary in flamed mahogany, original French polish, original
Category
Antique 19th Century English Vitrines
Materials
Glass
Antique English Georgian Mahogany Bureau Desk
Located in Sheridan, CO
Antique English Georgian mahogany secretary, early 19th c.. This piece features an oak secondary
Category
Antique 1840s English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century English Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
A English mahogany secretary bookcase with arched cornice, boxwood inlay, secretary drawer with
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique English Mahogany Hepplewhite Tambour Desk Circa 1820
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English Hepplewhite secretary offers upper with tambour doors opening to storage
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Hepplewhite Desks
Materials
Mahogany, Satinwood
English Officer
s Campaign Chest Secretaire of Teak and Brass
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English military officer’s Campaign ware secretary, fashioned as a chest of drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century English Campaign Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Rare William
Mary circa 1690 English Oak Barley Twist Bureau Desk on Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
were often referred to in Old English as scriptors, écritoires, secretaries, skrewtores or scrutoires
Category
Antique 1690s English William and Mary Desks
Materials
Oak
Chinoiserie Painted Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1900s English cabinet with opened secretary. Available in our 238 East 60th St Showroom 212
Category
Early 20th Century English Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Very Fine George III Style Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine English George III style secretary breakfront bookcase in highly figured mahogany, the
Category
Antique 19th Century English George III Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany, Oak, Glass
Rembrandt Bugatti "Serpentaire mâle, une aile deployée" Bronze Sculpture
By Rembrandt Bugatti
Located in New York, NY
Macklowe Gallery Curator's Notes:
The secretary bird’s English name was once thought to come from the 1800s
Category
Early 20th Century Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Small 17th Century Burr Walnut Marquetry Bureau on Stand
Located in Lymington, GB
and write. These early bureaux were often referred to in Old English as scriptors, écritoires
Category
Antique 1690s British Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Chinoiserie Hand-Painted English Secretary
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1930's hand-painted chinoiserie English Secretary out of a Park Avenue Estate in New York City
Category
Vintage 1930s English Secretaires
Antique English Secretary Bookcase, circa 1820
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine George III mahogany English secretary or bookcase with ebony inlay and a nicely-fitted
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Bookcases
19th Century Mahogany English Secretary, Bookcase by Thomas Wilson (1799–1854)
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Mahogany English secretary by bookcase by Thomas Wilson (1799–1854) was beautifully
Category
Antique 1850s English Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
George III English Secretary Desk
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A small-scale three-drawer secretary with a pull-out desk top revealing small drawers and
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Antique Georgian Style English Secretary Bookcases
Located in Morristown, NJ
A handsome pair of 19th c., English Georgian secretary bookcases. Arched dentil molded cornice over
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Bronze
English Secretary Bureau Bookcase of Mahogany from the Georgian Era
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English bureau bookcase or secretary (secretaire) of mahogany from the Georgian era.
The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
English mahogany secretary with fitted interior early 19th century
Located in Charleston, SC
English secretary with fitted interior fall front desk early 19th century
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique English Queen Anne Mahogany Secretary, Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
The essence of tailored functionality, this stately Antique English Secretary ~ Bookcase was hand
Category
Early 20th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A Very Fine Georgian Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A 19th Century English Secretary with fine craftsmanship throughout including dove-tail drawer
Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Georgian Style English Desk Bureau Bookcase with Banded Drawers, Leather Top
By George Hepplewhite
Located in Toronto, CA
A stunning vintage Georgian style English secretary desk with bookcase top. Crafted in mahogany
Category
20th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Neoclassical English Mahogany Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
Neoclassical English mahogany secretary, circa 1820-1840, with roll-top and ebonized inlay
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A Spectacular English Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
This impressive and grand Chinoiserie Secretary having an intricate detailed decoration both on
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint
English 19th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome secretary from the 1800’s is made of mahogany with inlay details. The top cabinet has
Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Mahogany Georgian Style Secretary / Bookcase
By Bevan Funnell Ltd.
Located in Tarry Town, NY
English mahogany wood Georgian style secretary /bookcase cabinet by Bevan Funnell with classical
Category
Vintage 1980s English Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass
English Adams Style Painted Satinwood Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a fine example of an English Adams style painted satinwood secretary painted overall with
Category
Antique Early 1900s English Adam Style Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century English Renaissance Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
This exceptional 18th century English Renaissance secretary bookcase displays wonderful rural
Category
Antique 1790s English Renaissance Revival Secretaires
Materials
Oak
English 19th Century Sheraton Bookcase Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This elegant period Sheraton bookcase secretary, circa 1820s, is from England and features a three
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Sheraton Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century English Oak Secretary ~ Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century English Oak Secretary ~ Bookcase was designed for a very efficient floor plan, indeed
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Chippendale Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Antique English Arts
Crafts Secretary Desk
Located in Pasadena, TX
Antique English Arts & Crafts desk
Quarter sawn oak construction with Art Nouveau appliques
Category
Antique Early 19th Century North American Arts and Crafts Desks
Materials
Oak
19th Century English Red Lacquer Secretary
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
The whole having a lacquer decoration in the chinoiserie style with a top section of 2 glass paned doors and a shelved interior, over a fall front revealing a fitted interior, over 2...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
English Georgian Black Lacquer with Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
English Georgian black lacquer and chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary cabinet on bracket
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Oak
English Bureau Bookcase Secretary of Burr Walnut
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English bureau bookcase secretary of burr walnut from the Georgian era, circa 1780
Category
Antique 1780s English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century English Pine Fall Front Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand 19th century English pine secretary featuring a fall front or drop front writing surface. The
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Metal
English Chinoiserie Style Lacquered Parcel-Gilt Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand English Georgian style lacquered secretaire featuring a parcel gilt decoration in the
Category
20th Century Italian Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Rustic English Chippendale Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century rustic english chippendale secretary desk is the ultimate answer to the age-old
Category
Antique 1870s English Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Regency Mahogany
Ebony Secretary Desk
Bookcase
Located in Milford, NH
A beautiful example of a two part Regency mahogany & ebony secretary desk and bookcase, with two
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century English Red Lacquer chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Essex, MA
A William and Mary Chinoiserie decorated secretary 18th century, the superstructure with two
Category
Antique 18th Century Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Lacquer
English Georgian Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Brilliant English George III style secretaire bookcase featuring a polychrome parcel gilt lacquer
Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Mahogany
Walnut Breakfront Bookcase Secretary Chippendale Georgian
Located in Dayton, OH
English mahogany & walnut breakfront bookcase secretary Chippendale Georgian
Custom made English
Category
Late 20th Century Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Antique English Georgian Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, circa 1830
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique English Georgian secretary features mahogany construction with three long drawers beneath
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Desks
Materials
Bronze
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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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