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Secretaires For Sale
Paolo Buffa Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paolo Buffa, Secretary, Italy c. 1948, Brass Intarsia by Giovanni Gariboldi, Manufactured by Marelli e Colico, Cantù.
An exquisite and collectible Mid-Century secretary by esteemed ...
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Louis Seize Secretaire à abattant, End of 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Secretaire with fluted pilasters and two-door bottom part and white marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with green leather there are more drawers and compa...
Category
Late 18th Century European Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Secretary With Four Drawers In Mahogany With Intarsia
Flame Structure
Located in Lejre, DK
Antique chiffonier from the 1840s. Mahogany with inlay, flame structure and 4 drawers. H: 150 cm, W: 101 cm, D: 52 cm. Classic joinery.
— Origin: Europe (presumably Denmark)
— Perio...
Category
1840s Danish Mid-Century Modern Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Cylinder Roll Top Desk with drawers
By Biedermeier
Located in Pasadena, TX
A fine example of a classic Biedermeier design desk. Clad in fine mahogany veneer and sophisticatedly book matched, the roll top is just the beginning. The interior is done in a beau...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$3,920 Sale Price
20% Off
Sophie Gallardo and Georges Casssan, "Australian Desk", Unic and Stamped Piece
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Full height : 133 cm including 2 cm marble
Length : 90 cm
Depth : 44 cm
Table top : 82.5 x 70 cm
Inner dimensions « lower part »
Length : 76 cm
Depth : 44 cm
Made from an Italian desk from the late 1940s.
Birch bark marquetry and mineral inlays : stone, labradorite (inside outside), amethyst, crystals. The inside is enriched with straw marquetry and patinated silver foils.
The two doors present marquetry on both sides with an inner mirror to provide light and reflect the top marquetry. Rock crystal handles, Rain forest green marble from Rajahstan.
Sophie Gallardo has studied interior design before learning wood painting restoration...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Other Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Travel Secretary Rococo
Located in New York, NY
A travel secretary with position. Made in Sweden during the Rococo period 1750-1775. Made from oak. Three drawers, a writing disc and compartements. Later painted and later fittings.
Category
Mid-18th Century Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$7,500
Late 18th Century Louis XVI Cylinder Desk with central lock and beautiful patina
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Late 18th Century Cylinder Desk with beautiful Patina,
1800, France
Cylinder desk with straight sides, closed in the upper part with a semi-circular flap, with two drawers. The whol...
Category
1790s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Burl Walnut Bombe Secretary Bookcase with Etched Glass Doors
Located in Savannah, GA
Italian Bombe secretaire with a distinct burl walnut grain. Highlights include the original wrought iron hinges, a hand carved decorative crown and etched mirrored panels featuring a...
Category
1920s Italian Louis XV Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Walnut, Burl, Mirror
$4,250 Sale Price
43% Off
Crotch Mahogany Individual Glass Pains Door Drop Front Secretary Breakfront MINT
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Crotch Mahogany Individual Glass Pains Door Drop Front Secretary Breakfront MINT!
Category
20th Century American Federal Secretaires
Materials
Brass
A Rare and Fine Early 19th Century William IV Irish Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Dublin, IE
A rare and fine early 19th Century William IV Irish flame mahogany secretaire bookcase, beautifully hand carved with a rich patina. The pediment with a stunning centred scallop shel...
Category
Early 19th Century Irish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
French Secretary Desk, Jean-Georges SCHLICHTIG, Master from 1765
Located in Wien, AT
Louis XVI period, c. 1780, oakwood body, veneered with rosewood and amaranth, and with various, with marquetry panels, ornamental motifs and lattice pattern with partly dyed precious...
Category
1780s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century Biedermeier Bureau Secretary Desk
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This early 19th century mahogany Biedermeier secretary bureau was made in two sections, circa 1830. The top section has a superstructure with a straight cornice over a pair of serpen...
Category
19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Superb George III Style Inlaid Marquetry Secretaire Cabinet
By Mayhew
Ince
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Magnificent antique English Secretaire cabinet with satinwood, hare wood, tulipwood, and kingwood marquetry, of monumental form, in two parts. The upper section with molded cresting ...
Category
19th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
Fine George III Diminutive Mahogany and Satinwood Secretaire
Located in Essex, MA
With rectangular cornice over a pair of gothic mullioned doors enclosing a fitted interior, the base with drawer enclosing a fitted desk interior all over three drawers ending on spl...
Category
1790s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Northern Europe, circa 1860.
Very good condition, after professional renovation, a piece of furniture finished in polish.
Wood: mahogany
dimensions: height:...
Category
1860s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Charles X Writing Desk with secret compartment
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Charles X Writing Desk with secret compartment. Gorgeous piece. Age appropriate wear on wood and red leather top, see detailed pics.
Category
Early 19th Century French Charles X Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th C. English Georgian Secretaire
Located in Atlanta, GA
An elegant 19th-century English Georgian mahogany secretaire, combining refined form with practical function. The upper cabinet features original glazed mullioned doors with geometri...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
Grey marble top above a single long drawer, two columns with gilded detailing on either side of fall-front desk enclosing six small drawers surrounding one larger drawer and original...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut, Giltwood
Swedish Secretary Bureau
Located in South Salem, NY
A late 19th century Swedish secretary bureau with a drop front writing surface. Two over three drawers sits atop ogee bracket feet. Later paint.
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$4,400
17th Century Spanish Vargueno with Decoupage Exterior on Baroque Style Base
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional Spanish vargueno or collector cabinet with a sophisticated assemblage of decorated drawers and cabinets on the interior with columnar accents. The exterior with except...
Category
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wrought Iron
17th Bargueño Bargas with a Polychrome Wooden Locker
Located in Marbella, ES
Impressive set consisting of a wooden bargueño (barga) on a matching chest. The chest features ornamental wrought iron fittings decorated in red, contrasting with the warmth of the w...
Category
17th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Large cylinder desk in mahogany and flamed mahogany veneer in the Empire style. This secretary with semi-cylindrical flap has eight drawers with pa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Swedish Rocco Style Secratery Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Rocco Style Secratery Hutch . its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Category
1970s Swedish Rococo Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Pine
MCM Jack Van Der Molen Secretary Desk and Dresser for Vanleigh
Located in Medina, OH
MCM Jack Van Der Molen Secretary Desk and Dresser for Vanleigh. The first drawer pulls out as a writing desk, the second drawer is also narrow but is a regular drawer. There are also...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Oak
$2,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Mahogany Secretary Desk, Sweden, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
Impressive secretary from the mid-19th century in Biedermeier style. Antique furniture with a more beautiful form will add elegance to any interior. A representative piece of furnitu...
Category
Mid-19th Century Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
1940
s, Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A petite, two part, hand-painted, lacquered, fully finished, drop front Chinoiserie bureau secrétaire from Spain. The interior of the two-door top is wallpapered in faux bamboo fretw...
Category
1940s Spanish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Rosewood Secretaire by Erling Torvits for Klim Mobelfabrik, 1960s
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design
Danish rosewood secretary designed by Erling Torvits for Klim Møbelfabrik. This secretary has a hinged leaf that drops down and becomes a sturdy desktop. Behind this le...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Edward J Wormley for Dunbar / Janus Japanese Wood Block, Walnut, and Rosewood
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-Century two-section china cabinet / hutch with an upper walnut case with four rosewood cabinet fronts featuring inset Japanese wood blocks depicting pastoral scenes with adjacent...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Rosewood
Pochette Hanging Container Designed by Barbara Schweizer
By Barbara Schweizer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pochette Is a multifunctional container that can hold small objects such as keys, glasses, phones. It can also be used as vertical garden to place vases and small plants. It is compo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Secretaires
Materials
Iron
French Mahogany Louis Philippe Secretary, Late 19th Century
Located in South Salem, NY
French late 19th century Louis Philippe secretary with a mahogany veneer. The top drawer front folds down and pulls out to reveal a leather wr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Venetian Trumeau Green Lacquered Hand Decorated Secretary with Writing Desk 1976
Located in Prato, IT
Venezia, Italy, handcrafted production from 1976
In Venetian style Louis XV
Painted and decorated in gold
Upper part with two doors with two beveled mirrors depicting a Lady and a...
Category
20th Century Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood
French Transition Period secretary c. 1760 Jean-Francois Dubut
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary à battant - Jean-Francois Dubut
Elaborately crafted bureau à battant, Paris circa 1760, Transition, Jean-Francois Dubut
rosewood, amaranth, violet and ebony veneered on o...
Category
1760s French Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
$16,899 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
This beautiful and unique 19th century Swedish Gustavian writing desk is perfect for any room or hallway. The colors are amazing with th...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Pine, Paint
$2,396 Sale Price
20% Off
Gillows Antique English George III Mahogany Secretaire Low Press Cupboard
Located in Glasgow, GB
circa 1790. With a rectangular top over a concealed long drawer with sloping front, mahogany crossbanding and parquetry and box stringing which continues across the top of the sides...
Category
Late 18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Regency Mahogany Fall Front Secretary w/ Bookcase on Splay Feet, C. 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency Mahogany fall front secretary bookcase with carved molded edge cornice, flanking hinged diamond mullion glass doors revealing six interior adjustable shelves, interio...
Category
Early 1800s English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
vintage secretary cabinet 1960s Swedish
Located in Lemmer, NL
Vintage secretary cabinet 1960s Sweden
period 1960s
design unknown Sweden
condition good minor signs of wear missing flap lock;
size 96 x 90 x 46 cm (H x W x D)
details ...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
19th Century Country French Louis XVI Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Country French Louis XVI secretary is a truly astonishing work of the cabinetmaker's art! Hand-crafted from solid old-growth in...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Cylinder Secretary Desk in Lucite Late 1980s Style Louis XVI
By Comatec
Located in Brussels, BE
Amazing very rare limited edition cylinder secretary desk in Lucite late 1980s
This is the best secretary kept in town: A fine art, exquisite...
Category
1980s Louis XVI Vintage Secretaires
Country French Walnut Baker Secretary with Drop Desk Mini Bar and Lattice Doors
Located in Asheville, NC
Marvelous walnut cabinets with dental moulding, rose floral trim, metal lattice doors, leather top drop desk with Baker key, brass hinges and handles. Mirror...
Category
Mid-20th Century English French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Fruitwood
$14,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Midcentury Danish Rosewood Secrétaire, 1960s
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Easy does it: a writing desk when you want it to be one! This writing desk has it all is made in rosewood veneer and has a pull out desk. Could beauty up your living room and transform into a working...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
George III Mahogany Astral Glazed Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
An early 19th century astral glazed bureau bookcase of large proportions. Displaying a pair of astral glazed doors. The base houses four long drawers, on...
Category
Early 19th Century British George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century, Anglo Indian Heavily Carved Rosewood Campaign Secretary Bookcase
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 19th-century Anglo-Indian campaign secretary bookcase (in 3-parts) is an extraordinary example of colonial-era craftsmanship, rendered in richly grained rosewood and heavily ado...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Anglo-Indian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$9,600 Sale Price
20% Off
18th C. Venetian Secretary Hutch with a Beautiful Hand-Painted Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Venetian tall secretary cabinet from the 18th century. This antique 7.75 feet tall (approximate) cabinet from Venice, Italy, boasts a...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Louis XV Secretary Desk, France 18th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
This original 18th century Louis XVI Secretaire has a stunning veneer and marquetry. The elegant unique slant-top desk or "secretaire en pente" combines different walnut veneer grains with maple and bird's-eye maple as well as satinwood. The secretaire has three drawers on the outside. The inside of the writing compartment has six small drawers, several open compartments and a secret compartment. This gorgeous and remarkable desk is in very good original condition and has its original patina.
It ships from Europe...
Category
1750s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Maple, Walnut
Italian Mid-Century Sideboard with Secretaire attributed to Paolo Buffa, 1950s
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This so amazing cabinet with Secretaire of the 1950s is attributable to the design of Paolo Buffa.
The external structure is refinished with glass dividers and parchment feet.
Its ae...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Glass, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Secretary Desk, Italy, 1970s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern wooden secretary desk, Italy, 1970s.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite French Louis XV style secrétaire with straight front adorned with beautiful flower marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with fou...
Category
1890s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Art Deco Secretaire Cabinet with Exquisite Inlay and Quality
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
An Art Deco fall front secretaire cabinet. Veneered satinwood and macassar ebony on solid oak with intricate inlay detail to both exterior and interior. Three well proportioned lower...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood, Walnut
Antique Pine Roll Top Desk Bureau from Sweden circa 1840
Located in Round Top, TX
Lovely pine roll top desk or bureau from Sweden from the 1800's.
The age of this secretary is revealed in the warmth of the deep patina in the pine which only happens through genera...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Secretary by Marcel Gascoin edited by Arhec
Located in PARIS, FR
This oak desk from 1949 is an emblematic piece of Marcel Gascoin's work and of the Reconstruction period in French housing.
Marcel Gascoin, born August 24, 1907 in Le Havre and died...
Category
1950s French Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Cartonnier / Secretaire by Antoine Krieger
Located in Long Island City, NY
A rare late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted cartonnier or secretaire
By Antoine Krieger
The upper section containing seven deep tooled leather veneer drawers, abov...
Category
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
George II Style Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
A flame mahogany and rosewood banded Bureau cabinet, with an architectural cornice centred by a gilt crest, above two glazed doors enclosing 45 drawers and 19 pigeon holes above two ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George II Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$50,025 / item
English Georgian Style Secretary Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary cabinet.
Category
19th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Continental Gustavian Painted Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Gustavian-style (Possibly Swedish/ Danish 18th Century) off-white painted secretary with carved column sides and carved simple swag and t...
Category
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early George III Period Bureau Bookcase with Swan Neck Pediment
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early George III period bureau bookcase with fretwork swan neck pediment, 30-paned bookcase, slant front enclosed leather writing surface, fitted...
Category
1760s English George III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Belgian Oak Slant-Front Secretary, circa 1850
Located in Evergreen, CO
This substantial, mid-19th century secretary features solid oak construction with a beautiful patina. A molded arched cornice with a swan neck p...
Category
Mid-19th Century Belgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
Louis XVI Secretary Bookcase, South German 1780, Cherry
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI secretary bookcase, South German 1780.
Elegant and unique secretary bookcase with beautiful cherry veneer and Louis XVI style geometric ...
Category
1780s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
George II Walnut Bureau Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
With broken arch pediment and inset mirror over a pair of arched mirror doors opening to shelves and drawers, the base with a slant lid hinged w...
Category
1720s English George I Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut, Burl
Secretary, Danish Teak desk model 37 by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik
Located in JOINVILLE-LE-PONT, FR
Very pretty secretary, scriban, Scandinavian.
3 large drawers on the lower part (the top drawer locks with keys) a folding door which serves as a desk and locks with a key, it opens...
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$32,536 Sale Price
40% Off
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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