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French Maple
Leather Top Bureau De Dame Ladies Secretary Writing Desk Library
Located in Dayton, OH
A magnificent 20th century French Provincial Bureau De Dame. Burea de Dame translates to ladies
Category
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Maple
Swedish Style Painted Drop Leaf Secretary or Desk
Located in New York, NY
Antique painted, drop leaf petite secretary or desk with just the perfect patina. Cabriole legs
Category
Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Carved Cherry Grand Scale French Louis XV Auffray Style Secretary Desk
By Auffray Furniture
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Auffray of New York or perhaps Don Ruseau but isn't marked. It's a large two piece secretary and all
Category
Vintage 1950s American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wire
Rare Napoleon III Marquetry Secretary Desk Cabinet, France, 1860
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Louis XV Style and Boulle Marquetry style big secretary cabinet desk in ebony veneer and Brass ball
Category
Antique 1860s French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Rare Louis XV Desk Secretary Boulle Cabinet, France, 1865
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Rare Louis XV style desk secretary cylinder model with a higher part with 2 glass doors.
Boulle
Category
Antique 1860s French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Exceptional women
s secretary, France, ca. 1910.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Exceptional women's secretary, France, ca. 1910.
Very good condition.
Wood: rosewood
Dimensions
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Baker Furniture French Provincial Cherrywood Secretary Desk with Bookcase Hutch
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style secretary desk with bookcase hutch
By Baker
Category
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique French Louis XVI Satinwood, Kingwood
Rosewood Lady’s Secretary Desk
Located in Big Flats, NY
French Louis XVI Satinwood, Kingwood and Rosewood Lady’s Secretary Desk with Figural Ormolu 19thC
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Kingwood, Rosewood, Satinwood
Mid-Century Italian Pink / Green Painted French Style Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely mid-century hand painted Italian Secretary with French styling. The top is 8”W
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Desks
Materials
Metal
French 19th Century Burl Mahogany Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This is a beautiful, French 19th century burl mahogany secretary. There is a cornice over the top
Category
Antique 19th Century French Other Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Burl
Antique French Mahogany Commode with hidden Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Charles X Mahogany Commode with Hidden Drop Front Secretary Satinwood inlay with
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
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
Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Secretary Desk, 1960s
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and lighted
Category
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
18th Century French Secretary
Located in Wichita, KS
A gorgeous French secretary or chest with a slant front in solid bleached oak and a shapely double
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Desks
Stunning Louis XV Boulle Marquetry Secretary Desk Cabinet France, 19th Century
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning and really large Louis XV style secretary desk cabinet in Boulle style Marquetry, cylinder
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Stunning Louis XV Boulle Marquetry Secretary Desk Cabinet France, 19th Century
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Paris, FR
Stunning and really large Louis XV style secretary desk cabinet in Boulle style Marquetry, cylinder
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in the manner of Louis XVI by an able rural artisan, this antique country French
Category
Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Authentic 19th Century Paint Decorated French Louis XV Provincial Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is the epitome of charm. This gorgeous antique 1850s era French-made and original paint
Category
Antique 1850s French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Walnut
Lovely Vintage French Secretary
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handpainted feminine and funtional desk with interior storage, 4 drawers and good surface area for
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks
Materials
Wood
Louis XV Painted Drop Leaf Secretary Desk
Located in New York, NY
Absolutely breathtaking, this Louis XV drop leaf secretary has gorgeous carvings and original
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
20th Century French Carved Oak Desk Secretary Bureau Bookcase Louis XV Style
Located in Shreveport, LA
Direct from France, a lovely vintage French carved “drop front” secretary, absolutely loaded with
Category
Vintage 1940s French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Oak
Vintage Custom Painted Italian French Regency Style Tall Secretary Desk
Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful hand-painted vintage, two-piece secretary desk with matching chair. The pieces are
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Cane, Wood
Antique French Carved Oak Secretary Desk Bureau Drop Front Louis XV Style
Located in Shreveport, LA
~ Direct from France
~ A lovely antique French carved “drop front” secretary/desk with
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Oak
Rare Wedgwood Porcelain Napoleon III Desk Secretary Cabinet Belle de Jour
By André-Charles Boulle, Enoch Wedgwood
Located in Paris, FR
Rare "Bonheur du Jour" desk writing table in boule marquetry in brass with geometric ornamentations
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
18th Century Regency Provincial Walnut Secretary desk
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
. Lovely provincial work
. Walnut
. 18th century
. Regency style
. 2 drawers in the front and 4 interiors.
. Gilded bronze handles and locks
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Regency Desks
Materials
Bronze
French Carved Tiger Oak Secretary Desk Bureau Drop Front Table Louis XV Style
Located in Shreveport, LA
Direct from France, a lovely antique French carved “drop front” secretary/desk with quintessential
Category
Vintage 1910s French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Oak
Louis XVI -Style Asian Chinoiserie Desk/Secretary with Verni Martin Decorating
Located in Houston, TX
This piece is in the manner of Jacques Dubois , the shaped, rectangular top
Has a pierced three quarter pierced brass gallery above a slant front opening
To a storage well and draw...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Drop Front Solid Wood Secretary and Chest
Located in Houston, TX
Writing desk from France, circa 1870. Features six larger drawers on the bottom and six small
Category
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Louis XVI Napoleon III French Black Gold Bronze Desk Secretary Cabinet 19th Cent
By Napoléon III
Located in Paris, FR
Gorgeous black desk cabinet with a writing table, composed by two parts. The lower part is a desk
Category
Antique 1860s French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Brass, Bronze
French Louis XVI-Style Marquetry Secretary
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
French Louis XVI marble-top secretary, the surface veneered entirely with kingwood parquetry, with
Category
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Marble, Brass
Antique French Fruitwood Secretary, 19th Century
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Antique French fruitwood secretary with inlaid interior, circa 1850. This is an exceptional piece
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Desks
Materials
Leather, Fruitwood
Louis XV Style Secretary
Located in Pomona, CA
Louis XV style secretary with three drawers and ormolu accents. Comes with a key.
Category
Vintage 1950s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
$1,600
French Louis XV Style Carved Oak Drop Front Secretary Bureau, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Louis XV Style carved oak drop front secretary or bureau or writing desk, France, 1930s.
Opened it
Category
Vintage 1930s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass, Bronze
French 19th Century Slant Front Walnut Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This amazing French 19th century walnut desk has a slanted front that drops to reveal an interior
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Antique French Ladies Writing Desk Vanity
Located in West Hartford, CT
Antique French ladies kingwood secretary desk with parquetry pattern all around. Front drops down
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
French Bird
s-Eye Maple and Ebony Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An adorable Louis Philippe drop front secretary! Bird's-eye maple wood with ebony detailing all
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks
Rare 18th Century Directoire Era French Writing Table with Secretary Drawer
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This Directoire period walnut writing table features bronze banding and a black marble top. Its single drawer opens to reveal a beautifully aged green leather top writing surface tha...
Category
Antique 1790s French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
Italian Burled Olivewood Secretary Desk with Bookcase Top, circa 1820s Era
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Antique Italian olivewood secretary desk with burled accents. 2 doors containing 2 shelves over a
Category
Antique 1820s Italian French Provincial Desks
Materials
Olive
Art Deco French secretary
Music Cabinet as well
Located in Miami, FL
amaizing and elegant 4 doors music cabinet and writting desk ( the hight part left door goes down
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Desks
Small and Elegant Louis XV Style Secretary Desk in Chinese Lacquer
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
. Louis XV style
. Black lacquered with Asian decor
. Gilt bronze
. Curved on each side
. Circa 1950
Category
Vintage 1950s French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Late 19th C. Louis XV Style French Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
Late 19th C. Louis XV Style French Secretary Bookcase with the upper section having segmented glass
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
French Louis XV Style Mahogany Drop-Front Secretary with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Louis XV style drop-front secretary desk. The desk features beautiful mahogany wood
Category
Early 20th Century Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, 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
19th Century Louis Philippe Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Secretary Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Louis Philippe period French bureau à cylindre, or roll top secretaire with bookcase
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks
Materials
Brass
Napoleon III Period Marquetry Secretary Vitrine Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This exquisite French Bonheur Du Jour, or ‘daytime delight’ is impeccably inlaid with mahogany
Category
Antique 1860s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Bleached Oak Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
19th century bleached oak drop front secretary. A pair of drawers aligned neatly beneath a drop
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Materials
Brass
Oak secretary cabinet by Guillerme
Chambron
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare oak secretary cabinet by Guillerme & Chambron. Great craftsmanship.
Category
Vintage 1950s French Desks
Materials
Oak
Trade Furniture Forming a Miniature Secretary Writing Table, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century miniature secretary-miniature writing desk, 2 drawers in belt
Measures: H 34cm, W
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis Philippe Paperweights
Materials
Wood
Secretary Mural in the Style of Rene Prou
Located in Danville, CA
Secretary Mural in Palissander of Rio outside and Sycamore inside with Leather Desk
Category
Vintage 1940s French Desks
French Provincial Secretary Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French provincial secretary desk with an angled arched cornice above two paneled doors enclosing
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$9,270 / item
French Provincial Secretary Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French provincial secretary desk with an angled arched cornice above two paneled doors enclosing
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Wood
1920s French Oak Secretary Desk
Located in High Point, NC
Enchanting sylvan carving makes this oak secretary desk a captivating find. Made in 1920s France
Category
Vintage 1920s French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Louis XV Secretary in the Style of Jacques Dubois, Rosewood and Ormolu
By Jacques Dubois
Located in Miami, FL
on every side, which make this secretary perfect to be settled in the middle of a room.
The depth
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Louis XV Style Mahogany Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
Extraordinary French mahogany secretary/desk with fine quality chased gilt bronze mounts. In
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Materials
Mahogany
1860s French Bleached Oak Secretary Desk
Located in High Point, NC
This bleached oak secretary desk was made in France, circa 1860. It features geometric paneling and
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, France, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This Biedermeier secretary comes from France and was constructed in 19th century. It is made of oak
Category
Antique 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Gothic Revival Secretary Desk, Walnut, France
Located in Vulpellac, Girona
Gothic Revival walnut secretary desk, France.
This piece is designed after "Viollet le Duc" style
Category
Antique 19th Century French Gothic Revival Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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French Secretary Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal French secretary desk for your home. Frequently made of wood, metal and brass, every French secretary desk was constructed with great care. Find 154 options for an antique or vintage French secretary desk now, or shop our selection of 6 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. There are many kinds of the French secretary desk you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A French secretary desk, designed in the Louis XV, Louis XVI or Art Deco style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. You’ll likely find more than one French secretary desk that is appealing in its simplicity, but Baker Furniture Company, André-Charles Boulle and Galerie Møbler produced versions that are worth a look.
How Much is a French Secretary Desk?
Prices for a French secretary desk start at $1,078 and top out at $90,000 with the average selling for $4,595.
Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets for You
Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.
Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.
Questions About French Secretary Desk
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023A secretary desk is called by its name because of its original function. When the desks first emerged in 19th-century France, the secretaries of estates used them to conduct business. Once they finished paying bills and reconciling accounts, they could raise the hinged writing surface and close the desk. Secretary desks are the workstations of choice in many busy households, especially those with spaces pulling double duty as offices by day and living rooms, dining rooms or bedrooms at night. On 1stDibs, shop an array of secretary desks.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Secretary desks originated in the early 18th century. They were typically used by secretaries and clerks and featured plenty of compacted drawers for stationary storage. On 1stDibs, find a collection of secretary desks from some of the world’s top sellers.
- How does a secretary desk work?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A secretary desk works with the help of hinges that secure the writing surface to the rest of the piece. To use one, you simply pull down on the wooden door to open the hinge and lower the writing surface. Return the desk to its closed position by lifting the writing surface up. You'll find a selection of secretary desks on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. 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, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.
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