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Fine English Georgian Mahogany Secretary Circa 1780-90
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An English Georgian mahogany secretary in three parts. The base opens to a hinged desk revealing a
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Late 19th Century Antique English Mahogany Secretary Desk
Located in Plainview, NY
A gorgeous late 19th century English mahogany antique secretary desk. The desk features amazing
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Chippendale Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Late 19th Century English Faux Bamboo Secretary Chest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Brighton style secretary cabinet with pleasing Amber tone in very good, House Ready condition. One
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Rustic Secretaires

Materials

Pine

English Georgian Two Part Mahogany Secretary circa 1780
Located in Milford, NH
A two part English Georgian secretary, its upper case featuring a cornice with dentil and fluted
Category

Antique 1780s English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English George III Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive Italian chinoiserie lacquered secretary bookcase crafted in the English George III
Category

20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English Georgian Sheraton Style Flame Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Surface Desktop, Original Glass This English Georgian Sheraton style secretary bookcase, crafted circa
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Sheraton Bookcases

Materials

Brass

English George III Style Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning Italian Chinoiserie secretary bookcase crafted in the English George III taste
Category

20th Century Italian George III Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English George III Style Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
By Lewis Mittman
Located in Sheffield, MA
, double arched top and molded trim. The stunning bookcase crafted in the English George III style is
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

English George III Style Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning Italian chinoiserie decorated secretaire bookcase crafted in the English George III taste
Category

20th Century Italian George III Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century English George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a fine quality George III mahogany secretaire bookcase, having a glazed top above a secretaire below, opening to a fitted interior above a further three drawers. The book...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English George III Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

English George III Mahogany Secretary with Satin Wood Inlay
Located in Dallas, TX
An English George III mahogany secretary with satin wood inlay.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century English Lacquer and Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
A good quality English 18th century George II lacquer and gilt chinoiserie secretary bookcase
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English George II Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century Classical English Regency Bookcase Secretary Desk
Located in Tarry Town, NY
English Regency inlaid mahogany secretary Upper hinged glass bookcase with three interior shelves
Category

Antique 1820s English Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Antique English Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase and secretary; 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
Three section English mahogany breakfront that is 19 th century. Shelves are glass and are movable
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Antique Gustavian Style Limed Oak Secretary, English, 18th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great limed oak Georgian secretary or bureau in Gustavian style. Limed oak and mahogany
Category

Antique 1790s English Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Oak

English Victorian late 19th Display-Bookcase Secretary Breakfront Cabinet
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning antique English Victorian St great quality four doors bookcase display writing desk
Category

Antique 1850s English Victorian Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

English George III Secretary Bowfront Bureau Bookcase, circa 1810
Located in Bradenton, FL
A fine and rare example of an antique English George III mahogany secretaire bookcase. What makes
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English George III Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

Antique English George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, Circa 1790-1820
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English George III mahogany secretary bookcase, Circa 1790-1820. Handsome piece with a
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

A fine 19th century English Chinoiserie designed slant front secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century English Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary . Fine raised detail with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century English Mahogany Chest on Chest with Secretary Desk
Located in Richmond, VA
Great quality 18th century English mahogany chest on chest with a secretary desk in the top drawer
Category

Antique 18th Century English Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

English Mahogany Tambour Graduated Hinged Secretary with Bookcase, Circa 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany secretary with a carved molded dental cornice, two hinged upper case doors
Category

Antique Early 1800s English George III Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique English Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers Secretary Desk Bureau
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Edwardian Mahogany Chest of Drawers Secretary Desk Bureau. Item features a fall
Category

Antique 19th Century Edwardian Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

English Chinoiserie Black and Gold Tall Secretary / Slant Front Desk
Located in Tarry Town, NY
English hand decorated and painted Japanned secretary from the 1930s with black , red and gold
Category

Vintage 1930s English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Gold, Brass

English Regency Mahogany Satinwood Inlaid Secretary with Bookcase, Circa 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency mahogany secretary bookcase with an arched pediment, centered inlaid sun medallion
Category

Antique Early 1800s English Regency Bookcases

Materials

Brass

Secretary Desk, English, Bookcase Top, Hand Glazed Doors, with Drawers
By Bevan Funnell Ltd.
Located in Toronto, CA
A Classic secretary desk with bookcase top, the individual hand glazed doors give the proper
Category

20th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century English Lacquered Gilt Chinoisoire Bookcase Secretary or Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
This is a lacquered gilt chinoiserie bookcase secretary or desk made in England, circa 1830. There
Category

Antique 1830s English George IV Secretaires

Materials

Giltwood

Chinese Chippendale Style English Bamboo Slanted Lift-Top Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning Hand Crafted English Chinese Chippendale Bamboo Secretary. This handsome and special
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Maple, Wood, Bamboo

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Slant Front Desk or Secretary
Located in Casteren, NL
made in the finest quality watered European oak. The secretary is elevated on bracket feet. It features
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century English George III Period Secretary Desk with Bookcase
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A practical and restrained example from the George III period, this fine secretary desk is a tidy
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks

Materials

Glass, Mahogany, Oak, Pine

18th Century English George III Lacquer and Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a fine quality 18th century chinoiserie Bureau. The exterior of the bureau is profusely decorated with oriental scenes. The fall front opens to reveal a fully fitted inte...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Desks

Materials

Oak

English Georgian Antique Butler’s Secretary Desk with Bookcase, 19th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A finely crafted secretaire situated as a bookcase over a chest of drawers, the upper drawer is "Butler" in form, withdrawing and the drawer facade dropping down over hooped brass sl...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Desks

Materials

Brass

English Georgian Styling Bookcase with Secretary Desk Mahogany with Fitted Desk
By Bevan Funnell Ltd.
Located in Toronto, CA
English bookcase with secretary desk in mahogany, Georgian styling, with flamed mahogany and brass
Category

20th Century English Georgian Bookcases

Materials

Mahogany

Narrow Inlaid English-Made Georgian Walnut Secretary Desk with Leather Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous English narrow secretary desk, circa 1950. The desk can fit anywhere! I mean
Category

Vintage 1950s English Georgian Desks

Materials

Walnut

English George III Style Inlaid flame Mahogany Bookcase Secretary, circa 1810
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique English George III secretary offers flame mahogany construction with upper bookcase
Category

Antique 19th Century English George III Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Neo-Gothic Early 19th Century Classical English Regency Bookcase Secretary Desk
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Make sure when you see sale price to take advantage of it, it will not be extended. English
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks

Materials

Brass

English Satinwood Paint Decorated Adams Style Secretary Desk with Bookcase top
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Adams style paint decorated secretary desk with 4 doors containing 3 shelves with a drop desk.
Category

Early 20th Century Adam Style Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Tall Narrow English Turn of Century Mahogany Georgian Secretary Beveled Glass
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Turn of the century mahogany Georgian two part secretary leather top desk writing table with
Category

20th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Fine Quality 18th Century English Burled Walnut Yewood Georgian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular bruled walnut and yew wood two piece secretary desk from the late 1780-90s
Category

Antique 1790s English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut, Yew

English Chinoiserie 1920s Black and Gold Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English tall Japanned secretary from the early 20th century with black and gold chinoiserie
Category

Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Burled Walnut Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English burled walnut secretary, circa 1890s.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

English Arts and Crafts Secretary with Hutch and Leaded Glass Doors
Located in Evergreen, CO
Fold down the writing surface to extend the supports, revealing nine cubby holes and two small drawers and underneath two larger drawers for storage. Lovely arts and crafts cut-glass...
Category

Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Ash

Antique 19th century English George III warm oak Slant front secretary desk
Located in Casteren, NL
Presented here is a stunning antique slant-front secretary desk crafted in oak wood in England in
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British George III Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique 19th Century English Georgian Solid Oak Slant Front Desk or Secretary
Located in Casteren, NL
in the finest quality watered European oak. The secretary is elevated on bracket feet. It features
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English George I Style Burl-Walnut Antique Bookcase Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
George I style burl walnut secretary desk with bookcase England, circa late 19th century with
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English George I Bookcases

Materials

Brass, Iron

English Queen Anne Style Double Domed Two Part Walnut Secretary Desk, 20th C
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
An English burled walnut Queen Anne style two part secretary desk with a double domed top and
Category

Mid-20th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English Regency Burl Walnut Blind Door Secretary Bookcase with Bun Feet, C. 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency burl walnut arched dome pediment slant front secretary bookcase with three carved
Category

Antique 1810s English Regency Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Queen Anne Secretary Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
English Queen Anne two part double dome yew wood secretary desk with mirrored arched doors, bun
Category

Antique Late 18th Century British Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century English George III Chest on Chest in Oak with Pull Out Secretary
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
swan-neck bail handles. The bottom drawer of top opens to a stand up pull-out, fall-front secretary
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

George II Figured Walnut Secretary Bookcase with Mirrored Doors
Located in San Francisco, CA
An English George II inlaid walnut secretary cabinet with mirrored doors, the upper stage with 2
Category

Antique 1720s English George II Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Walnut

George III Bookcase or Secretary Bureau of Mahogany from England
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome English bureau bookcase or secretary from the George III period, featuring a canopy top
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

Art Deco Burled Walnut Secretary Stool by Merryweather Holloway London
By Merryweather and Sons 1
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 20th Century fine quality English Art Deco Period Secretary by renowned cabinetmakers
Category

Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Georgian Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, England, circa 1800
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Early 19th century oak English fall-front secretary with carvings of acanthus leaves and urns. Note
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Antique English Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Pomona, CA
A 19th century English secretaire (secretary) bookcase in mahogany. Top drawer opens down to the
Category

Antique 1890s English Georgian Desks

Materials

Mahogany

English George III Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretaire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Late 19th century English chinoiserie secretary bookcase made in the George III taste. Two part
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English Late Victorian / Edwardian Inlaid Mahogany Sectretary Bookcase Desk
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
English Edwardian inlaid mahogany secretary bookcase with an unusual mechanical roll-top / drop
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

English Black and Gilt Japanned Drop Front Secretary
Located in Larkspur, CA
Mid 20th Century English Black and Gilt Japanned Drop Front Secretary. The Double Doors with Arched
Category

20th Century Secretaires

English Secretary
Located in Seattle, WA
English Secretary.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Secretaires

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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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