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1930s German Brass Art Deco "Secretary" Helo Leuchten Desk Adjustable Lamp
By Helo Leuchten
Located in London, England
1930s German Art Deco "Secretary" Helo Leuchten polished brass desk lamp in excellent vintage
Category
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Table Lamps
Materials
Brass, Wire
Biedermeier Secretary
By Biedermeier
Located in New York, NY
Biedermeier secretary. The piece shows fine scratches and minor cosmetic wear but is in good
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$5,000
19th Century German Biedermeier Secretary, Light And Warm Maple Wood, Circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Extraordinary top secretary
Northern Germany
Maple
Biedermeier around 1815
Dimensions: H x W x D
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Maple
19th Century Biedermeier Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Biedermeier Secretary, 1820 Germany
The secretary body with straight lines, standing on four
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
North German/Danish Ash Wood Empire Secretary with Inlay Silhouettes, circa 1810
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
From the Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany, once part of Denmark, a handsome Empire
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Oak, Ash, Kingwood
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Biedermeier Birch Secretary with solid Columns,
Germany, Thuringia 1825
Beautiful Secretary with
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
19th Century Biedermeier Cylinder Secretary
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
19th Century Cylinder Secretary
North Germany, Ca.1825
Mahogany
A rare and impressive 19th
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Secretary Walnut
Located in Darmstadt, DE
A beautiful secretary made of walnut veneer on a pine wood body, from the time of the Biedermeier
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Walnut
Historicism Secretary circa 1880 Walnut
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful secretary original from the Historicism Period 1880 walnut
a flap to open
inside are
Category
Antique 19th Century German Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Early 19th Century Mahogany Empire Secretary
Located in Berlin, DE
This Empire Secretary was made in Germany, circa 1810. It is mahogany veneer on oak. The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Oak
Original Biedermeier Secretary circa 1835 Walnut
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful walnut root veneer.
Above a drawer,
Below the plate 3 drawers.
Behind the writing area are also several drawers.
The writing surface was blackened.
The upper shelf was also...
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Mahogany Secretary in the Biedermeier Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Exotic mahogany, partly blackened, on solid softwood. Rectangular body on flat printed ball feet. Five drawers of different sizes in the front. Straight writing surface, behind it an...
Category
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Fine 19th Century Period Biedermeier Birch and Ebonized Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century German Biedermeier birch secretary with ebonized accents.
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Art Deco Secretary Desk Cabinet Cerused Oak, circa 1930
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco secretary desk cabinet cerused oak, circa 1930. We have acquired this rare piece in Berlin
Category
Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Antique Biedermeier Folding Secretary, circa 1825, Ash
Located in Berlin, DE
Drei-Schübiger Korpus, Esche Holz. Im Innenleben befinden sich 8 Schubladen sowie im Zentrum eine große Ablagefläche. Biedermeier um, 1825.
(L-135).
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Antique Ashwood Biedermeier Drop Front Abattant Secretary Desk, circa 1850
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Bierdermeier abattant secretary features ashwood construction with drop front desk
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Bronze
German Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry, Beautiful Patina, circa 1820
Located in Greven, DE
Antique cherry wood secretary
South Germany
Cherry wood
Biedermeier around 1820
Dimensions
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
Biedermeier Secretaire, Light Birch Wood, Secret Compartement, Circa 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Bright Biedermeier secretary
North-East Germany
Birch
Biedermeier around 1830
Dimensions: H
Category
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Neoclassical Roll Top Painted Antique German Secretary, circa 1830
Located in Houston, TX
and see them first!
This unusual painted roll top antique German desk circa 1830 is notable for its
Category
Antique 1830s German Neoclassical Secretaires
German Biedermeier Secretary
Located in New York, NY
This German Biedermeier secretary has a rectangular variegated gray marble top above two cupboard
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$14,000
Louis XVI Secretary, Germany, 1790s
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Louis XVI secretary, Germany, 1790s. Made of cherrywood and other fine woods.
Turned feet
Category
Antique 1790s German Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
German biedermeier High Writing Secretary
Located in Sarasota, FL
Early German Empire Biedermeier mahogany tall secretay writing desk. Simple box form with flanking
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
South German Biedermeier Secretary Cherrywood 1820
Located in Senden, NRW
German Biedermeier secretary
- Secretary, Cherry
- Veneered, Biedermeier
- South German
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
German Rococo Style Inlaid Walnut Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This intricately inlaid walnut two piece secretary has multiple drawers and a drop-leaf center
Category
20th Century German Secretaires
Makassar Folding Writing Secretary- Germany 1950
By Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau
Located in Vienna, Vienna
macassar writing sekretary,
manufacter Deutsche Werkstätte,
Germany 1950.
folding door,
inside
Category
Vintage 1950s German Secretaires
Baroque Secretary, Dresden, Germany, circa 1745
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Baroque Secretary, Dresden, Germany, circa 1745. Of courtly provenance.
Made of walnut and plum
Category
Antique 1740s German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
Empire Secretary from Schleswig, Northern Germany, 1820s
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Empire secretary from the city of Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein state, northern Germany, 1820s
Category
Antique 1820s German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Mahogany
Baroque Secretary from Baden-Württemberg, Germany ‘Tabernakelsekretär’, 1720s
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Baroque secretary from Baden-Württemberg, Germany (so-called "Tabernakelsekretär"), 1720s. Made of
Category
Antique 1720s German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
Representative Biedermeier Secretary, Northern Germany, circa 1820-1825
Located in Muenster, NRW
Ash veneered, parts ebonized.
Three drawers in bottom, cylinder fastener.
Extendable writing plate as well as puttable up writing surface.
Nice architectural inner life with numer...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Biedermeier Period Secretary, circa 1820-1830, Germany, Cherrywood Veneered
Located in Muenster, NRW
19th century Biedermeier period secretary, cherrywood veneer, circa 1820-1830, Germany, three
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
19th Century German Biedermeier Secretary Cherrywood Veneer
Located in Muenster, NRW
Biedermeier secretary with a symmetrically running cherrywood veneer from Germany, circa 1820. The
Category
Antique 1820s Biedermeier Secretaires
Beautiful Biedermeier Period Secretary, Southern Germany, circa 1820, Cherrywood
Located in Muenster, NRW
• Southern Germany, circa 1820.
• Cherrywood.
• Decorative inner life.
• Three large drawers in
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
1925 Art Deco Macassar Secretary from Germany, High Gloss Finish
Located in Senden, NRW
On offer is a stunning Art Deco secretary or writing cabinet build by the "Möbelfabrik zum
Category
Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Macassar, Walnut
Early 19th Century Cylinder Secretary, North Germany, circa 1800-1810, Mahogany
Located in Muenster, NRW
North Germany, circa 1800-1810
Mahogany veneered
Extendable writing record with leather covered
Category
Antique Early 1800s German Empire Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Secretary Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
A handsome satin birch German Biedermeier secretary chest with ebonized accents.(KB)
Category
Antique 19th Century German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
$15,000
Antique Biedermeier secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
German Biedermeier fruitwood secretary. Ebony banded. Circa 1830.
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
Biedermeier style secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Diminutive German Beidermeier style secretary with a door above and three drawers below the pull
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Oak
Continental Miniature Secretary
Located in Norwalk, CT
Great example of a Bombe' and serpentine miniature secretary
veneered with parquetry and
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Models and Miniatures
Materials
Walnut, Kingwood
Biedermeier Fall Front Secretary
Located in Seattle, WA
This Biedermeier secretary desk has a square cupboard at the top with two half-moon side shapes
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood, Leather
Beautiful Biedermeier Cylinder Secretary 1820
Located in Senden, NRW
Biedermeier cylinder secretary,
- Walnut veneer,
- Biedermeier, southern Germany
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Biedermeier Secretary, Brandenburg, Birchwood, circa 1825
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Biedermeier Secretary, Brandenburg, Germany, circa 1825. Made of birchwood, mahogany, and other
Category
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Mahogany
Early 19th Century Pyramidal Mahogany Biedermeier Secretary
Located in Vienna, AT
Pyramidal secretary in mahogany from the Biedermeier time, circa 1830. On conical body with three
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Bronze
A Magnificent Mahogany Biedermeier Fall Front Secretary
Located in New York, NY
The top case having one cupboard flanked by Corinthian columns above a central drop front case revealing a similar smaller cupboard and columns flanked by six stacked drawers each, t...
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps, Palatinate Region, 1730s
Located in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
Courtly Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps ("consisting of three separate parts"), Palatinate Region
Category
Antique 1730s German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Cherry, Walnut
Neo-Classical Secretary Abbatant in the Biedermeier Taste
Located in San Francisco, CA
the book-matched Burl Walnut drop front
above three drawers with original brass escutcheons
with black ebonized columns terminating
above three drawers with original brass escutcheons
with black ebonized columns terminating
Category
Antique 19th Century German Secretaires
Biedermeier Secretary In Cherry Wood Veneer With A Beautiful Image
Located in Senden, NRW
Biedermeier secretary
- Secretary, veneered in cherry
- Biedermeier, southern
Category
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
1960s Secretary Desk by Arne Wahl Iversen, Vinde Møbelfabrik
By Arne Wahl Iversen
Located in Munster, NRW
Beautifully designed desk by Arne Wahl Iversen executed with well crafted details. The desk is in very good condition with one small burn to the tabletop.
Category
Mid-20th Century German Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Secretary, Cherry Tree Veneered, Shingle Roof
Located in Muenster, NRW
Biedermeier secretary, circa 1820-1825.
Cherry tree veneered.
Rare shingle roof.
One head push
Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
18th Century Baroque Secretary, Walnut-Tree and Nut Root Wood Veneered
Located in Muenster, NRW
Baroque secretary, circa 1750-1760.
Walnut-tree and nut root wood veneered.
Very fine veneer
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Nutwood, Walnut
18th Century Writing Cupboard, Secretary, Made in Saxony “Glauchau”, circa 1750
Located in Muenster, NRW
Walnut-tree and walnut-tree root on softwood body.
Several times curved drag.
Six drawers behind the writing record.
Bulged out upper top with two doors and 12 small drawers and s...
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Biedermeier Period Secretary, circa 1830, North Germany, Mahogany Veneered
Located in Muenster, NRW
Secretary, circa 1830, North Germany
Nice reflected mahogany veneered
Architectural inner life
Category
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Mahogany
Biedermeier Birch Secretary
Located in Millbrook, NY
Nice Biedermeier birch and burl-birch secretary. The removable superstructure with one cabinet door
Category
Antique 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Burl
$12,500
Fläpps Wall Desk / Secretary 100x60-1, White
Second Choice
Located in Berlin, BE
is done. That's why we now have the large Fläpps Secretary (100x60-1). After work, this fully-grown
Category
2010s German Minimalist Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
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German Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
Find many varieties of an authentic German secretary available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, hardwood and walnut, every German secretary was constructed with great care. There are 231 variations of the antique or vintage German secretary you’re looking for, while we also have 34 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer German secretary, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. A German secretary is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in modern, Baroque and Empire styles are sought with frequency. GMD Berlin, Biedermeier and Martin Mestmacher each produced at least one beautiful German secretary that is worth considering.
How Much is a German Secretary?
Prices for a German secretary start at $42 and top out at $1,492,810 with the average selling for $8,054.
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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