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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
Spanish Grain Painted Tall Secretary Bookcase, Second Half of the 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Tall and shallow, this unique cabinet is faux grain painted and is one piece construction, the
Category
Antique 1870s Spanish Neoclassical Revival Secretaires
Gustavian 18th Century Scandinavian Tall Slanted Desk Secretary with Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian Gustavian painted wood tall secretary from the 18th century, with reeded accents
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Swedish 18th Century Painted Secretary with Glass Doors and Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish painted wood tall secretary from the 18th century, with glass doors and slanted front
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Karges Ebonized, Gilt
Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk 20th Century
By Karges Furniture
Located in Big Flats, NY
A tall secretary by Karges offers ebonized wood construction with upper having carved shell form
Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique White Painted Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
The simple yet stately lines add a touch of grace to this lovely tall secretary, also known as a
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish 1790s Tall Slant-Front Secretary with Glass Doors and Carved Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish two-part tall secretary from the late 18th century, with slanted front desk, carved
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish 1790s Gustavian Period Two-Part Painted Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period two-part tall secretary from circa 1790 with elegant carved décor
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Louis Philippe Burl Walnut Secretary Desk with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
beautiful burl walnut decor on the front. Crafted circa 1860, the tall secretary has a black marble top
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Marble
English Early 19th Century Regency Mahogany Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
tall secretary has an upper body that is equipped with three finished and adjustable shelves that are
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Beech, Mahogany
Antique Tall Blue Painted Secretary Bureau from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
This stately tall secretary is an elegant and classic statement piece. The entire secretary has
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
in France, circa 1840, and built of solid walnut, he tall secretary with classical straight lines
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Antique Black Painted Secretary Bureau, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
This stately tall secretary is an elegant and classic statement piece. The entire secretary has
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Empire Marble Top Carved Walnut Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, antique fruitwood "Secretaire a Abattant" was crafted in France, circa 1850. The tall
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Swedish Rococo Period 1790s Painted Two-Part Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted wood two-piece tall secretary from the late 18th century, with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Tall Baroque Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A tall Swedish Baroque Secretary with top of glass doors on a chest of drawer base.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Secretary Tall Swedish Gustavian White, 19th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Secretary Swedish Gustavian white, 19th century, Sweden. A secretary made during the 19th century
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Tall Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau, circa 1780-1800
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with an elaborate carved pediment
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Paint
Paul McCobb Ebonized Tall Chest of Drawers or Secretary
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Ebonized Mid-Century tall chest of drawers/secretary with 6 concealed drawers behind drop down door
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Tall Writing Desk Secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Tall writing desk secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden. A writing desk made during the 19th
Category
Antique 19th Century European Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Sublime Narrow Tall English Antique Secretary with Shell Decoration
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Incredibly pretty tall narrow English secretary having gorgeous bookshelf top with original glass
Category
Antique 1880s English Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Mahogany
Tall Thin Secretary Secretaire Desk Banded Mahogany One-Piece
Located in West Hartford, CT
Great scale and size to thin banded mahogany secretary with veneer, circa mid-1970s and comes in
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Tall Blue Painted Secretary from Sweden, circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with an elaborate latticework
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wrought Iron
Tall Blue Painted Swedish Secretary Bureau, circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with an elaborate carved pediment
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique Tall Pine Secretary Chest of Drawers, Sweden, circa 1880
Located in Round Top, TX
Tall pine secretary or "bureau" from Sweden from the latter 1800's.
Standing over 4' tall, this
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Early 19th Century Original Folk Art Painted Tall Cabinet Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
This highly unusual secretary is a special find. The remarkable folk art painted finish is all
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Paint
Tall Green Painted Oak Secretary Bureau from Sweden, Circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with an elaborate carved pediment
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Pine Secretary Cabinet, circa 1900
Located in Evergreen, CO
Comprised of three sections, this tall, pine secretary has generous storage and practical
Category
Antique Early 1900s European Country Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Vintage Country French Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant tall French country secretary desk with molding and wire mesh doors with a lovely faux
Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Paint
Antique White Painted Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in Round Top, TX
Stately and elegant, this tall white gustavian pine secretary shows off with the distinctive shape
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Danish Modern Teak Secretary Desk and Bookcase
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tall, teak, Danish modern secretary is two pieces consisting of a drop down desk with interior
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
Antique White Painted Gustavian Secretary Bureau, Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
Stately and elegant, this tall white gustavian pine secretary shows off with the distinctive shape
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Best Venetian Paint Decorated Antique Rococo Secretary Desk Circa 1890s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a very sophisticated and beautifully painted secretary desk. The painted scenery shows
Category
Antique 1890s Italian Rococo Revival Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Beech
Hollywood Regency Faux Bamboo Lighted Secretary Desk, American of Martinsville
By American of Martinsville
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall faux bamboo secretary desk in brown with a lighted cabinet, and pull-out desk. This set is
Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desks
Materials
Metal
Johannes Sorth for Nexø Møbelfabrik MCM Danish Teak Bookshelf Secretary Desk
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Mid-Century Danish Modern Tall Teak Bookcase and Secretary Desk by Designer Johannes Sorth. This
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Teak
Mid Century Danish Teak Wood Drop-Down Secretary Desk Wall Unit
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage mid century Danish modern tall teak wood secretary desk and bookcase was made in
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Teak
Swedish Gustavian Period Two-Part Painted Secretary with Glass Doors, circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
winters. With its clean lines and tall proportions, this Swedish Gustavian period two-part secretary circa
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Tall Case Antique Secretaire or Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
A stately Gustavian tall case secretary featuring a refined, neoclassical silhouette with paneled
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks
Materials
Wood
Massive Borge Mogensen Teak Wall Unit
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Oakland, CA
secretary desk, 2- tall bookcase hutches, 2- cabinets with locking door hutches, 2- small open bookcase
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Materials
Teak
$19,800 / set
Fabulous Antique British Colonial Butler
s Desk
With Secret Compartments
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall British Colonial carved-wood secretary with display top from the turn of the 19th and 20th
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Indian British Colonial Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
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
Chinese Chippendale Style Faux-Bamboo Tall Secretary with Slanted Lift-Top Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese Chippendale style tall faux-bamboo secretary from the early 20th century with slanted
Category
Early 20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Faux Bamboo
Swedish 1890s Rococo Style Painted Wood Tall Secretary with Glass Doors Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style light grey / blue painted tall secretary with glass doors cabinet from the
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Scandinavian Tall Secretary with State of Denmark Provenance Plaque
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Danish 18th century tall secretary with provenance plaque indicating 'The State of Denmark'. This
Category
Antique 18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
European 1790s Two-Part Tall Secretary with Glass Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European painted wood tall two-part secretary circa 1790 with glass doors, carved dentil molding
Category
Antique Late 18th Century European Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Swedish Gustavian Late 18th Century Tall Painted Secretary with Slanted Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period tall secretary from the late 18th century, with distressed painted
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish 18th Century Two-Part Secretary with Glass Doors and Slanted Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish 18th century two-part tall secretary with slanted desk, glass doors and leather desktop
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Wood
Swedish 1800s Light Gray Painted Secretary from Värmland with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish tall secretary from Värmland circa 1800, with gray painted finish, carved bonnet top
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Burl Walnut Secretary with Black Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
1840, the tall secretary with black marble top, has classical and straight lines, four large drawers
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Swedish 1790s Gustavian Two-Part Painted Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
wood tall secretary features a carved cornice with intertwining rings and a dentil molding, sitting
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Louis Philippe Walnut Secretary with Grey Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
1840, the tall secretary has a gray marble top and classical, straight lines throughout the design. The
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Italian Neoclassical Tall Secretaire Cabinet Adorn with Oval Inlays, 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Neoclassical tall secretary chest will make an elegant and practical statement piece used within a study
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Painted Venetian Secretary or Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century Baroque style Venetian polychrome painted pine tall secretary, in two parts
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Swedish 1870s Birch Inlaid Secretary with Inlaid Motifs and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish 1870s birch inlaid two part tall secretary with slant front desk, two doors, four drawers
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Late Gustavian Period 1820s Two-Part Secretary with Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Late Gustavian period two-part painted wood secretary from the early 19th century, with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Baker Modern Petite Secretary Tall Bookcase on Slim Legs
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid century modern design Baker secretary with leather pull out desk.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Fruitwood
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Tall Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the tall secretary you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, glass and brass, every tall secretary was constructed with great care. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect tall secretary — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. Each tall secretary bearing Rococo, Baroque or Mid-Century Modern hallmarks is very popular. Baker Furniture Company and Paul McCobb each produced at least one beautiful tall secretary that is worth considering.
How Much is a Tall Secretary?
Prices for a tall secretary can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $695 and can go as high as $22,000, while the average can fetch as much as $6,625.
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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