Secretary Marquetry
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Oak
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks
Brass
Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Secretaires
Breccia Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Desks
Brass
Mid-20th Century European Secretaires
Satinwood, Walnut, Burl
Mid-20th Century French Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Belle Époque Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Kingwood, Palisander
Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Secretaires
Ash
Antique 1790s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Satinwood, Walnut, Yew
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century Danish Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique 1780s English Georgian Desks
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century Dutch Secretaires
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Desks
Marble
Vintage 1930s Belgian Art Deco Secretaires
Antique 19th Century Austrian Secretaires
Vintage 1940s Italian Desks
Antique 19th Century Dutch Charles X Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Wood, Mirror
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Secretaires
Walnut, Fruitwood, Satinwood, Sycamore
Vintage 1930s Hungarian Art Deco Secretaires
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Antique 1790s Dutch Louis XVI Secretaires
Walnut, Maple
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Secretaires
Antique 1730s German Baroque Secretaires
Cherry, Walnut
Vintage 1950s Italian Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1780s Swiss Louis XVI Secretaires
Maple, Walnut
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Walnut, Tulipwood, Leather
Antique Mid-18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Nutwood, Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century European Louis Philippe Secretaires
Rosewood, Fruitwood, Mahogany
Antique 1880s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Marble, Brass
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Secretary Marquetry For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Secretary Marquetry?
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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