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19th Century French Marquetry Inlaid Secretaire Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
French secretaire abattant with magnificent marquetry inlay depicting Portico Ruins in a landscape
Category
Antique 19th Century French Beaux Arts Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
An early 19th C. secretaire a abattant. With classical columns and a mottled off white marble top
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
$6,450
19th Century Third Republic Secretaire Abattant, French
Located in Sydney, NSW
A 19th century secretaire abattant in the Empire taste. Bookmatched feathered mahogany, the
Category
Antique 1870s French Empire Revival Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
Ormolu-mounted secrétaire à abattant of tulipwood with marquetry inlay, with original marble top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Tulipwood
Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in New York, NY
Surmounted by a Spanish brocatelle marble top, the frieze is centered by a foliate-ornamented urn flanked by two flaming lamps in front and stylized rosettes on either side. Bordere...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
$300,000
19th Century Charles X Inlaid French Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Tricase, Italia
Rare secrétaire à abattant Carlo X, in flamed mahogany wood, finely inlaid in light wood with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Charles X Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant with Cuban Acajou Mahogany
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This secretaire a abattant is the in French Empire style and is veneered in Cuban acajou mahogany
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Louis XVI Period Cherrywood Secretaire a Abattant, circa 1780
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
This is a rather stylish French country neoclassical Louis XVI period cherrywood late 18th century
Category
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis XV "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare Louis XV ormolu-mounted and Chinese lacquer "secrétaire à abattant".
The Portor marble top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XV Secretaires
French Tulipwood Amaranth and Marquetry Louis XVI Secretaire À Abattant
Located in Nice, Cote d
Azur
Moulded marble top, above a frieze drawer, a drop-front enclosing pigeon holes flanked by six drawers, the double doors with shelve and coffer, on short cabriole legs with ormolu sab...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louis XV Vernis Martin Bureau Abattant
Located in Nice, Cote d
Azur
A Louis XV desk opening by an abattant, red lacquer interior, on four cabriole legs, Vernis Martin
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Lacquer
18th Century Secretaire Abattant by Letellier
By Jacques-Pierre Letellier
Located in Paris, FR
-Pierre Letellier, reçu maître in 1767, France.
It is very likely that Letellier worked with Andre
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Gilt Bronze-Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a` Abattant in French Empire Style, 1820
Located in Napoli, IT
The superstructure with a white marble top flanked by volute scrolls above a frieze drawer and recessed fall flap enclosing a fitted interior with mirror within columns over a flush ...
Category
Antique 1720s French Empire Secretaires
Louis XV Secretaire à abattant Stamped Genty
By Denis Genty
Located in Nice, Cote d
Azur
A Louis XV ormolu-mounted tulipwood and amaranth Secretaire,
Brèche marble top above a drop front enclosing pigeon hole flanked
by four short drawers, above a gilt-tooled red le...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wood
A famous rosewood and amaranth marquetry
secrétaire à abattant
By H. Kickert
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
.
Please compare with a similar 'secrétaire à abattant' by Latz in the former collection of Olivier de
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant, 19th century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire having a marble top over a single frieze drawer, with a fall front enclosure concealing a fitted interior over two long drawers, flanked by ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
An Important 18th C. Secretaire Abattant By Andre Gilbert
By Andre Gilbert
Located in London, GB
.
White marble top. Stamped " A. L. Gilbert JME" by Andre Louis Gilbert c.1780, France.
An almost
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Charles X Walnut and Marble Secrétaire à Abattant circa 1820
Located in Louisville, KY
featuring a freize drawer over a fall front revealing a fitted interior, over cabinet doors and raised on carved and ebonized animal paw feet.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Transition Louis XV to Louis XVI Bois de Rose Secétaire à Abattant
Located in Nice, Cote d
Azur
Surmounted by a moulded marble top, fitted with a frieze drawer and fallfront enclosing four drawers, all above two doors, on short cabriole feet, with pierced sabots.
Category
Antique 1770s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Tulipwood
Early 19th Century Louis Phillipe Mahogany Secretary a Abattant with Marble Top
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Antique Louis Phillipe Secretary with drop front desk opening to writing desk. Interior is eye maple veneered in the background there are six drawers with small handles. Flames mahog...
Category
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Louis XVI Mahogany Secretaire Bureau, circa 1780
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
An exceptional French Louis XVI mahogany secretaire abattant (or two-cupboard desk bureau) with a
Category
Antique 1780s French Louis XIV Secretaires
Materials
Marble
French Louis XVI Secretaire Signed by "Jean-Baptiste Vassou"
By Jean-Baptiste Vassou
Located in Long Island City, NY
Magnificently detailed important French Louis XVI secretaire a abattant. Signed by Jean - Baptiste
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Converted Dresser Cabinet 3-Way Mirror Inside Louis XVI Secretary, Reduced
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French vanity 3 drawer' cabinet converted from a Louis XVI drop front French secretaire D'Abattant
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
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
French Abattant Secretary Carved Desk Cabinet Renaissance Louis XIII
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from France~
~Lovely 19th century French “secrétaire à abattant”, so elegant and classic
Category
Antique 19th Century French Black Forest Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Antique French Abattant Desk Fall Front Secretary Chest Drawers Renaissance Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
Exquisite 19th Century Antique French Oak Renaissance Revival Abattant Chest of Drawers and Desk
Category
Antique 1880s French Renaissance Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century French Marble-Top Abattant Secretaire with Brass Hardware
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Lovely French abattant secretaire with beautiful inlays. Original brass hardware and working
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Secretaire Abattant
Located in San Francisco, CA
Empire Mahogany, Top Section of a Secretaire Abattant. Richly figured mahogany secretaire writing
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
French Walnut Secretaire A Abattant
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite secretaire abattant in solid walnut with clean, rectilinear lines, fluted columns
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Secretaires
French Louis Philippe Mahogany Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome French 19th century bookmatched mahogany secretaire á abattant with a black marble top
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Winter Park, FL
Made of solid cherry retaining its original condition this secretaire has nice classical lines and interesting architectural elements in the interior colonnade. Leather writing surfa...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
19th Century French Louis Philippe Abattant
Located in Nashville, TN
Handsome Louis Philippe Abattant in burl walnut. Topped with grained black marble. Interior is
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks
Materials
Walnut
French Kingwood and Rosewood Secretaire Abattant
Located in Cheshire, GB
French kingwood and rosewood secretaire abattant in the Louis XVI style, the raised three quarter
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French petite Louis Philippe secrétaire à abattant. Made of a beautifully figured bookmatched
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Kingwood Secretaire Abattant c.1880
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Secretaire a Abattant, C 1880 in Louis XV style.
This piece
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Rosewood
French Ebonized
Brass Inlay Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A wonderful French 19th century ebonized and brass inlay Secretaire a Abattant. A single drawer can
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ebony
French 19th Century Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Stunning French Louis Philippe walnut Secretaire a' Abattant in walnut. Beautiful details grace
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Abattant Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Louis Philippe style burled cherry wood, locking with ivory escutcheon plate, drop front desk with embossed leather writing surface. The interior is fitted with 7 drawers and a shelf...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
French 18th Century Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful solid walnut secre´taire a` abattant was constructed in the period of Louis XVI
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A dignified 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France . This desk has an
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Materials
Stone, Granite, Metal, Brass
French 19th Century Transitional Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This unique secretary desk is made of beautiful mahogany with a white marble top and offers plenty of storage. It is a transitional piece with Directoire and Louis XVI influences. Al...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Transitional Secrétaire À Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A wonderful mahogany desk with a wood top. The hardware and escutcheons are mixed adding a playful whimsy to this cased piece. A single drawer can be found at the top of the desk tha...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Abattant Secretary
Located in Wilton, CT
Louis Philippe style burled Walnut. Locks with brass escutcheon plate, drop front desk with embossed leather writing surface. The interior is fitted with 7 drawers and a shelf. Below...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
French 19th Century Inlay Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Inlaid details grace many of this 19th century French secretary’s surfaces. Both the exterior doors
Category
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant C 1880
Located in London, GB
A beautiful antique French marquetry Secretaire a Abattant, C 1880 in Louis XV style.
This piece
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Rosewood
French Ormolu-Mounted Marqueterie Secretaire Abattant, Cabinet, 1775
Located in Rome, IT
Important French ormolu-mounted, kingwood, tulipwood and stained sycamore marqueterie and parquetry
Category
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Late 18th Century French Cherrywood Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th-early 19th century French cherrywood secrétaire à abattant with ebonized banding, brass
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Secretaire Abattant Mother of Pearl 1880
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French ebonised and brass inlaid Secretaire a Abattant, C 1880 in Louis
Category
Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
19th Century French Faux Bamboo Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Pasadena, CA
Charming and uncommon late 19th century French Faux Bamboo Secretaire a Abattant or secretary. This
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Aesthetic Movement Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Maple, Pine
17th Century French Country Oak Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
17th century French country oak secrétaire à abattant
This is a lovely and very old piece, the
Category
Antique 17th Century French Country Secretaires
Materials
Oak
French 19th Century Burl Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A wonderful French 19th century burl walnut secretaire a abattant has a Sainte-Anne marble top. A
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other 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
French 19th Century Burl Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A spectacular burl walnut desk from 19th century, France. A drawer can be found at the top of the
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A divine 19th century mahogany secrétaire à abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Buffets
Materials
Marble, Brass
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
French 19th Century Empire-Style Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A beautiful 19th century mahogany secretary, c. 1820. This desk has a black, fossil marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron. Just below the top drawer, the ...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Louis XVI Style Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Sheridan, CO
French Louis XVI style fall front desk, early 20th c. This Secretaire desk features a single drawer
Category
Vintage 1910s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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French Abattant For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the French abattant you’re looking for at 1stDibs. A French abattant — often made from wood, metal and mahogany — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a French abattant — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A French abattant, designed in the Louis XVI, Empire or Louis XV style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. A well-made French abattant has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by A. Leclaire, B. Butte and Christian Dell are consistently popular.
How Much is a French Abattant?
Prices for a French abattant can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $850 and can go as high as $398,500, while the average can fetch as much as $5,250.
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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