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Secretaires For Sale
Antique Quartersawn Oak Side by Side Secretary Desk Bookcase Curio Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique American Victorian side by side / secretary desk / bookcase / display case. Made of quartersawn oak featuring Art Nouveau styling with curio cabinet next to a drop front secr...
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Gustavian Secretary Desk in Black-Painted Pine – Sweden, c. 1790
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary desk crafted in black-painted pine with brass fittings. The upper section features a broken, architecturally structured pediment with a boldly profiled cornice, ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

English Chippendale Style Painted Goddard Chest Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique circa 1930s Goddard chest / writing desk featuring a drop front door that opens to multiple cubbies, three drawers and paw / claw feet. Yellowin...
Category

Early 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

South German Biedermeier Secretary in Walnut, circa 1825
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This South German Biedermeier secretary from around 1825 displays a particularly striking walnut veneer with strong, mirrored patterns across the entire front. The warm, expressive g...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaire Desk with Secret Compartment
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Berlin Biedermeier secretary in mahogany Berlin Mahogany a.o. around 1825 Dimensions: H x W x D: 169 x 101 x 53 cm Description: When closed, this piece of furniture presen...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

18th Century High Adjustable Secretaire Desk with integrated Hidden Chair, 1780
Located in Greven, DE
Antique desk as transformable furniture with standing desk and integrated chair Southern Germany Cherry around 1780 Dimensions: H x W x D: 115 x 107 x 69 cm Description: Exception...
Category

1780s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

Antique Swedish Secretary Desk, Hand-Made Country Furniture with Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish secretary desk from the mid 1800s. This country house furniture is made in northern Sweden around 1850, there is a dating on the back “1848” and a goods label from a ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Jasper Early American Colonial Style Petite Maple Secretary Desk Bookcase 72"
Located in Dayton, OH
A Petite Secretary Desk & Bookcase by Jasper Cabinet Company of Indiana. Circa 1980s. Features a maple case crafted in colonial styling with an...
Category

1980s American American Colonial Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Maple

Antique Late 18th Century George III Mahogany Bureau Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 18th Century George III Period Secretary Desk & Bookcase. Made from mahogany with a hooded pediment showcasing dentil molding over a glass covered display portion with beautifu...
Category

Late 18th Century George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Gustavian Light Gray Painted Bureau / Secretary 1780 - 80
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant and architectural Gustavian bureau / secrétaire in oak with light gray paint. Interior writing flap and drawers painted in blue. The Bureau / secrétaire is in two parts: an ...
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Iron

Mid-Century Georgian Style Red Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Chinese red Georgian style chinoiserie secretary. It is a mid-century find that is heavily painted with pastoral scenes and go,t accents. It is most likely American and is ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American George III Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany Secretary ~ Commode with Carrara Marble
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Louis XVI Mahogany Secretary ~ Commode with Carrara Marble exudes an elegance that cannot be denied. Although it appears to be a wonderful example of the timeless Fre...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble, Brass

Danish Modern, Unique Handcrafted Oak Secretary Cabinet, Mid 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
An elegant rare Danish oak secretary cabinet in Baroque style, crafted in the 1930s by a skilled Danish Cabinetmaker. The piece features a drop-front writing surface that opens to re...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Chinoiserie Breakfront China Hutch Drop Front Secretary Bookcase Black Lacquer
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous vintage Chinoiserie breakfront China hutch cabinet or drop front secretary bookcase composed of 2 pieces, each with black lacquered wood frames with an all-over intentional ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Steel

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary / Writing Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Swedish Gustavian Secretary / Writing Desk from early 19th century A rectangular top sitting above a slant front desk opening to reveal a gray painted interior and multiple smal draw...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique Genuine Folk Art Secretary Desk, Original Blue and Mahogany Faux Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk art secretary desk with a painted date, 1840, and initials. This genuine folk art furniture was made in northern Sweden during the 1800s. The front has four working drawers, a w...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Baroque Bureau / secretary In Walnut from Northern Germany
Located in Kastrup, DK
An elegant and architecturally refined 18th-century Baroque secretary desk crafted in oak and beautifully veneered with mirror-cut walnut in a classic and distinctive Baroque design....
Category

Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Category

18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretary in Original Paint
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Early 19th Century Swedish folk art secretary in original paint. With a curved pediment, below two doors opening to storage. Below fall front desk opening to drawers and pigeon halls...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th - 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Bureau - Scandinavian Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A late 18th-century, antique Swedish Gustavian two-part bureau, meticulously handcrafted in painted pinewood, in good condition. This elegant light-grey secretaire embodies the refin...
Category

Late 18th Century Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Biedermeier Drawers Writing Desk Secrétaire Cabinet Swedish Ormolu Detail 1800s
Located in Lewes, England
Exceptional Swedish antique Biedermeier writing desk chiffonier secrétaire cabinet in highly quilted golden birch veneers and finished in the Classic light honey color French polish....
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Georgian Style Red Gold Chinoiserie Decorated Burton-Ching Secretary Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Georgian Style Red & Gold Chinoiserie Decorated Burton-Ching Secretary Desk.
Category

2010s Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

George II Style Black Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
George II Style Black & Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase.
Category

2010s American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer

Antique Georgian Flame Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Writing Desk Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Exquisite antique early 19th century secretary writing storage desk. Made of flame mahogany featuring Georgian styling with three large dovetailed drawers and a drop front that open...
Category

19th Century American American Colonial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Mahogany

Midcentury Danish Modern Teak Wood Secretary Desk, Chest of Drawers, 1960s
Located in The Hague, NL
This midcentury Danish modern teak secretary desk was made in Denmark, circa 1960. The Classic Scandinavian Modern design has clean Minimalist lines and elegant curves. The upper cab...
Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique French Secretaire / Bureau in Mahogany
Located in Leicester, GB
Beautiful Antique French flame Mahogany secretaire/bureau/cabinet. The inside is lined with maple and finished with ebonized black details. The cabinet has got lots of charm and char...
Category

1890s French French Provincial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Louis XVI Folding Secretary Made of Marquetry Topped with a Carrara Marble
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful marquetry drop-leaf secretary is made of an oak frame, opening with a drawer, a drop-leaf door and two lower leaves with a Carrara marble slab on top. This is a Fren...
Category

Early 1800s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Carrara Marble

19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretary, Cherry and Hungarian Ash, c. 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier secretary in cherry Austria Cherry and others Biedermeier around 1830 Dimensions: H x W x D: 167 x 94 x 51 cm Description: Very well proportioned secretary fro...
Category

1830s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ash, Cherry

Antique Gentleman s Bureau, English, Walnut, Writing Desk, Secretaire, Georgian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique gentleman's bureau. A fine English, walnut writing desk or secretaire, dating to the Georgian period, circa 1760. Wonderful Georgian example, with a delightful v...
Category

Mid-18th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Retro Mid Century Teak Secretaire Bureau
Located in Leicester, GB
We can ship directly to you - please contact us with your country & postcode for an accurate delivery price. A cute retro teak bureau desk with thr...
Category

1970s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Bureau / Secretary Gustavian in Blue Painted In Pine. 18th Ctr. Swedish
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary crafted in pine, finished in a charming blue tone with an elegant patina. The piece is composed of two sections with refined detailing throughout. The upper cabi...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825
Located in Vienna, AT
Exceptional and Rare Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire – Vienna, circa 1825 A Masterpiece of Design, Craftsmanship, and Timeless Elegance We are proud to present this elegant and rare...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This stunning Biedermeier secretary desk is an authentic antique piece crafted from walnut wood, both inside and out. Dating back to the early 19th century, this masterpiece showcase...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine, Walnut

French Provincial Style Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key
Located in Soquel, CA
French Provincial Style Walnut Secretary Desk with Marquetry Inlays and Key. Original Finish.
Category

1860s Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century French Empire secrétaire à abattant made of richly figured, bookmatched walnut. This desk has a black fossil marble top resting above a hidden drawer, free of hardware and opening by a shallow groove on the bottom of the drawer front. Below is a fold-front door revealing a fitted interior with a functional writing surface, inset with worn green leather with gold tooling. The interior has an open storage shelf flanked by Empire style columns over a set of six drawers of varying sizes. The writing surface is supported with rounded brass hinges. Below are three easy to use drawers...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top In the manner of Jasper Furniture Company USA, Late 20th Century Black lacquered...
Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

A George I Mulberry Secretaire Bureau Attributed to Coxed Woster
By Coxed and Woster
Located in London, GB
England, circa 1710. An important George I secretaire bureau in finely veneered ‘mulberry wood’ attributed to Coxed & Woster, with satinwood crossbanding, rosewood mouldings and pew...
Category

Early 18th Century English George I Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pewter

19th Century Swedish Mahogany Chiffonje, Writing Agency - Cabinet by Karl Johan
By Karl Johan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Biedermeier writing agency, secretary table made of hand crafted polished, partly veneered Mahogany with a writing flap, designed by Karl-Johan in goo...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

French Art Deco Secretary Cabinet by André Arbus
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Andre Arbus Sloping mahogany secreter with two drawers and a drop-leaf door. Sycamore maple interior with six small drawers and a central niche lined with parchment; gilt bronze knob...
Category

1940s French Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Federal Style Flame Mahogany Secretary Desk / Display Cabinet Brass Eagle
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful inlaid flame mahogany Federal style secretary desk with tambour doors. It has two glass shelves. The body has several areas with inlaid satinwood designs. It date...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Federal Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

19th Century German Biedermeier Cherrywood Secretaire - Antique Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Cherrywood and Burlwood, in good condition. The ...
Category

Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

English Regency Style Mahogany and Satinwood Inlaid Carlton House Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
English Regency style mahogany and satinwood inlaid Carlton house desk. Circa 1880 rare Carlton House desk, typical for the Regency period, is a beautiful piece of furniture. It i...
Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Danish Modern Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Fulton, CA
A Danish Modern drop-front or secretary desk with 3 drawers and writing surface. Beautiful rosewood grain with a deep and rich patina. Desk retains its original finish and is in exce...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

Secretaire scandinavo con specchio nascosto, anni ’60
Located in Brescia, IT
Linee slanciate e geometriche, tre cassetti e ribalta. Interno attrezzato con portacarte in ottone, piccoli cassetti e vano con specchio. Gambe affusolate. Elegante secretaire in te...
Category

1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique 19th century English oak secretary / bureau
Located in Eindhoven, NL
A very fine antique secretary/ bureau. With writing desk, 2 large and 2 small drawers and hidden secret letter compartments. Decorated with original brass ornaments and handles. Two ...
Category

19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Ebonized Inlay Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This French Louis XVI style drop front secretary from the 1800s has impressive etched brass inlay on its exterior, which is made even more dramatic by the deep ebonized finish. The t...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

George Nelson Thin Edge Secretary Desk Cabinet for Herman Miller
Located in Lake Worth, FL
1950s original Thin Edge secretary desk cabinet designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller. This early version features the rare black enamel stainless large pulls and tapered wood feet. Cabinet on the right includes an adjustable shelf and 2 drawers. Pull down desk is covered with black leather and features 5 drawers on the left side with original small white porcelain George Nelson drawer pulls...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Baroque Secretary with Upper Cabinet in Walnut, 18th/19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque fall-front secretary veneered in walnut, featuring a commode base with three drawers and a slightly convex front. The upper cabinet has two doors and a shaped cornice, fitted...
Category

18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

19th Century George III Mahogany Servants Secretary
Located in Solebury, PA
An exquisite George III mahogany servants’ secretary, crafted in two parts, comprises an upper bookcase section and a lower secretaire chest. These components are united by a harmoni...
Category

Early 19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Baroque Bureau / Secretary in Walnut
Located in Kastrup, DK
Beautiful baroque secretary desk with finely mirror-cut oak veneer and walnut root veneer. The desk is in two parts: the lower section has three drawers with a straight break-front a...
Category

Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Baroque Bureau / Secretary in Walnut
Baroque Bureau / Secretary in Walnut
$8,124 Sale Price
35% Off
Antique 18th Century American Chippendale Maple Secretary Desk Writing Bureau
Located in Dayton, OH
Exquisite and Rare antique American Chippendale Period secretary writing desk or Escritoire. Made from maple featuring a flip top that ope...
Category

18th Century American Chippendale Antique Secretaires

Materials

Maple

George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase
Located in Huntington, NY
This exceptional George III Mahogany Breakfront Bureau Bookcase with Glazed Doors, has wonderful flame & crotch grain Mahogany. Comprised of a large central cabinet, flanked by 2 sma...
Category

18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique English Fall Front Secretary Desk in Oak
Located in Meer, VAN
Antique Fall Front Secretary Desk in solid oak, England, late 18th to early 19th Century. This is a wonderful English antique fall front secretary desk in solid oak with brass fitti...
Category

Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately 19th century mahogany secretaire a abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an exceptional charcoal St. Anne marble top resting above a single drawer disguised into the apron. Just below the top drawer, the front of the desk folds forward to reveal a work area inset with vibrant red leather detailed with gold tooling. The leather is in great antique condition making this a comfortable place to work. When open, you can see the theatre is equipped with five drawers and a large, arched top cubby flanked with column forms. With the desk down the maximum depth is 32”; the writing surface is 28-½” above the floor. The desk front...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

Biedermeier Secretaire With Hidden Compartements And Rare Mechanism, circa 1815
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier secretary with rare mechanism Middle German Cherry Biedermeier circa 1815 Dimensions: H x W x D: 180 x 128 x 63 cm Description: Antique cylinder secretary in m...
Category

1810s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Secretary - Antique Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretary made of hand crafted painted Pinewood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk is composed with a...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal

19th Century Russian Antique Veneered Mahogany Secretary by Heinrich Gambs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Russian secretary with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, designed and produced by Heinrich G...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

18th Century Dutch Burr Walnut Floral Marquetry Bureau
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful antique late 18th century Dutch burr walnut and marquetry bombe' bureau. It has been accomplished in burr walnut, with exquisite hand cut floral marquetry typica...
Category

1780s Dutch Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Secrétaire Desk in Shagreen and Palmwood by R&Y Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Shagreen Stingray, Palmwood

Late 18th Century Oak Secretary Bureau Painted Black, Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak rococo secretary reflects the style and functionality of the late 1700's in Sweden. The traditional interior with 8 unique, small drawers and central “cubbie” (with addition...
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Paint

Antique, New and Vintage Secretaires

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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