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Secretaires For Sale
Lovely Yew Wood Secretary Campaign Chest
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this lovely yew wood secretary campaign chest made by Kennedy of Ipswich and retailed by Harrods London , this is a ver...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th century Swedish Biedermeier secretaire chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish Biedermeier secretaire chest of drawers circa 1860.
Fine example of a Karl Johan period secretaire which was Sweden's take on the French empire and the German b...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Birch, Pine
Antique Danish Pine Drop-Front Secretary with Upper Cabinet, Mid 19th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A charming Antique Danish drop-front secretary in solid pine, dating to the mid 19th century. The piece features a well-balanced architectural composition with a lower drop-front wri...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Antique Secretaires
Materials
Iron
18th century Louis XVI Walnut Bureau, France
Located in Atlanta, GA
An 18th century French Louis XVI Bureau in Walnut with drop front, inner writing surface and cubby holes.
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
English Scarlet Gilt and Polychrome Japanned Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
A marvelous 18th century scarlet gilt and poly chrome secretary later Japanned. This English secretary has a double domed cornice over a pair of mirrored doors opening to fitted inte...
Category
18th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Baroque Cabinet with Secretaire, Germany 1750
Located in Belmont, MA
Add timeless elegance to your home or office with this original Baroque cabinet featuring a built-in secretary desk, crafted in Germany circa 1750. This exquisite piece originates fr...
Category
1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Danish Oak Secretary Desk
Located in Gardiner, NY
Authentic vintage Danish / Scandinavian Modern oak secretary desk / dresser / chest of drawers.
This piece is in excellent condition with very few signs of age-related wear (see pho...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Country Secretaires
Materials
Oak
19th Century Inlaid Napoleon III Secretary Desk
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Napoleon Desk/Secretary with gilt bronze molding and inlaid details.. It has a beautiful pink marble top. Its sides are in blackened pear and its facade in cedar. It has rosewood fr...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Edwardian Walnut Secretary with Hand Painted Motifs
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely Edwardian walnut Secretary, the top having two glazed doors within Gothic mullions. The bottom section with a slant drop front, contains a hand painted center medal...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Fine Quality French Mahogany Bronze Mounted Secretary Desk Bookcase Top
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine French mahogany bronze mounted secretary desk with bookcase top exemplifies the elegance and craftsmanship of late 19th to early 20th century French furniture. Constructed ...
Category
1940s French Directoire Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
$3,196 Sale Price
20% Off
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib. 19th Century Restored
By Ferdinando Pogliani
Located in Madrid, ES
Ferdinando Pogliani Atrib.
Amazing Italian Secretaire
19th Century.
Perfect condition.
RESTORED
Wood, precious stones
Measures: 170cm x 104cm...
Category
19th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Precious Stone, Wood
Napoleon III Walnut Off White Secretary Vitrine Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique 19th century Napoleon III table desk Bonheur Du Jour in a sleek off white (color reference: #F2F0EF) lacquer high-gloss finish
Upper part showcase with three shelves and low...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$6,959 Sale Price
50% Off
Queen Anne Style Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
The secretary is a commanding example of early 18th-century English design, inspired by an original from around 1710. Finished in light rustic pollard burl oak, the figured veneers l...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$31,966 / item
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretaire with outstanding Marquetry, c 1790
Located in Greven, DE
Classicist top-mounted secretary with elaborate marquetry
Southern Germany
Walnut and others
Classicism around 1790
Dimensions: H x W x D: 213 x 115 x 57 cm
Description:
Exception...
Category
Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Italian Rococo Oyster Burl Secretary Cabinet / Desk
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Rococo secretary desk / cabinet with an upper door that folds down to reveal a writing surface and 5 small interior drawers, over three drawers with serpentine fronts and orn...
Category
18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass
Michel Pigneres Brass Chrome Black Cabinet Secretaire, 1970s
Located in Paris, IDF
Unique French Mid-Century Modern cabinet secrétaire by Michel Pigneres made in the early 1970s. This piece is an exquisite example of refined, highly detailed and very well made furn...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Vintage secretary desk SMI Sweden
Located in Lemmer, NL
Vintage secretary desk SMI Sweden
Period 1960s
Design SMI Sweden
Condition Good Minor signs of wear
Size 97 x 90 x 45 cm (H x W x D)
Details Teak; Brass;
Item number 2995
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
An Art Deco Fall Front Secretaire with Satinwood and Macassar Ebony Inlay
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
1920s Art Deco Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Macassar, Oak, Satinwood
Secretaire by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik, 1960s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Mid century palisander secretaire designed by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik.
It consists of a fold down door and two drawers.
Gorgeous cabinet with eye for details and qu...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Regency Rosewood Secretaire Side Cabinet/Chiffoneer
Located in Folkestone, GB
A superior quality and unusual Regency rosewood Side Cabinet, the top drawer with fold-down, leather-lined front, fully fitted with drawers and pigeon holes. below are a pair of silk...
Category
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
Spanish Late 18th Century Pine Secretaire with Slanted Desk and Geometric Panels
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Spanish pine tall secretaire from the late 18th century, with carved date, slanted desk and geometric panels. Created in Spain during the last quarte...
Category
Late 18th Century Spanish Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
18th Century French Kingwood Bureau De Dame
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
18th Century French kingwood bureau de dame.
With gilt bronze decorative mounts.
Category
18th Century French French Provincial Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Carved and Painted French Oak Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th Century Carved and Painted French Oak Secretary is an antique piece of furniture that features painted oak and nice carvings. This elegant secretary desk showcases the craft...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
18th Century, Louis XIV Carved Walnut Wood Drop-Leaf Cabinet
Located in IT
This elegant drop-leaf cabinet was made in the early eighteenth century in walnut wood finely carved with rocaille motifs. It has a particular patina of the carvings, slightly darker...
Category
Early 18th Century European Louis XIV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
$36,003 Sale Price
20% Off
Secrétaire veneered and inlaid in different woods, France, late 18th century
Located in Milano, IT
Secrétaire panelled in rosewood and inlaid in different woods, France, late 18th century. The body is entirely panelled with herringbone panels within inlaid Greek-style frames. On t...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Secretaire "À Abattant" Signed Hyppolyte-Edme Pretot, Paris, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Secretaire "à abattant". Fine woods, marquetry, interior with drawers in rosewood and textile, gilded bronze and enameled porcelain; on marble. Signed HYPPOLYTE-EDME PRETOT (Paris, 1...
Category
19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Louis XVI Secretaire with Urn Decoration, around 1790
Located in Greding, DE
Louis Seize secretary featuring five drawers and a flat writing flap. Veneered with cherry wood, this secretary is adorned with fire-shaded inlays. The central motif of the laurel wr...
Category
1790s German Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
18th Century 2 Piece Secretary Desk Writer’s Bureau
Located in Pasadena, TX
48" Victorian secretary desk writer’s Bureau
Crafted from solid cherry, this multi-function piece can serve as a desk as well as a bookcase....
Category
Late 18th Century North American Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
$3,120 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century Baroque Secretaire, South German, 1750-1760
Located in Belmont, MA
Unique 18th century Baroque secretaire, South German, probably Lake of Constance region, circa 1750-1760.
Elaborate bombe shaped Baroque secretaire with beautiful walnut, elmwood an...
Category
1750s German Baroque Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Parmesan Louis XV tiffin, mid-18th century
Located in Vicenza, IT
Elegant Emilian limelight of Parma manufacture, datable to the mid-18th century, the middle of the Louis XV period. Carved solid wood cabinet, entirely hand-carved, with rich rocaill...
Category
18th Century European Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
British Colonial Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
A British Colonial secretary, probably Anglo-Indian, in Campaign form with burl wood and ebony and bone inlay.
Category
19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bone, Ebony
$21,000
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Chest, Biedermeier walnut secretary with cabinet below. Desk has four small drawers and a letter shelf. Cab...
Category
19th Century Czech Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$10,500
Antique Burled Secretaire a Abattant for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall cabinet with carved cavetto cornice, over a slim curved frieze drawer and one upper and two lower long drawers. The middle faux drawers drop down to the secretary. The fitted interior with drawers, white porcelain pulls and a center compartment with door housing an inkstand with two glass bottles with silver-plate tops. With patinated brass bat...
Category
19th Century Regency Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
German Biedermeier Olivewood Inlaid and Parcel Gilt Secretary / Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
German Biedermeier (18th Century) olivewood secretary / bookcase in shaped rectangular with the top section having a hinged 2-door shelved cabinet with glass windows bordered by parc...
Category
18th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Neoclassical Walnut Hinged Secretary / Bookcase on Fluted Legs, C. 1780
Located in Charleston, SC
Italian Neoclassical Walnut hinged slant front secretary / bookcase with molded edge cornice, flanking carved incised pinwheels, upper hinged doors with interior shelving, central in...
Category
1780s Italian Neoclassical Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
Slant Front Pine Chest Paint Decorated In White And Green
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The chest in white paint with two short over two long drawers with baroque style bales and escutcheons (lacking a key). The slant front opens to an emerald green painted interior wit...
Category
20th Century Country Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Pine Secretary, Circa 1820-40
Located in Round Top, TX
It is the warm patina of the aged pine that draws one to this secretary with graceful Swedish country charm.
Desktop rests on two extended arms. Desk opens reveals 8 small drawers an...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Antique Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Classic by Carpanelli Iris Secretaire
By Carpanelli
Located in Desio, IT
The structure is solid wood slabs, the curly swirl is plated with briar-wood, the top shaped and enriched by an inlay of leaves and also by the Carpanelli trademark which is hand set. Underneath the top there are its little drawers.
Category
2010s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$7,224 / item
Louis XVI Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Secrétaire en Cabinet by Jean-Francois Leleu
By Jean-François Leleu
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The later breccia marble top over two paneled doors opening to reveal shelves, above a drawer over a fall front with an interior fitted with drawers and compartments, and two further...
Category
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Marble
Early 19th Century George l Style Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a charming George l style walnut diminutive secretary. The domed cornice over a conforming cabinet door has a mirror plate. The bottom section contains a drop-front opening t...
Category
Early 19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Oiled Medium Walnut Mid Century Modern Art Deco Drop Down Desk Secretary Cabinet
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Square shape lines Mid Century Danish modern drop down front secretary desk console table with large Art Deco style Pulls and storage cabinet on the bottom.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Aluminum
Antique Empire Style Secretary with Brass and Marble Top mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany veneer on solid conifers. High-right corpus on chased bronze claw feet. Architecturally articulated front with library dummy and brass rim sockets. On both sides slightly co...
Category
20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Marble-Top Secretaire Bronze Decoration Napoleon III Period
Located in Sofia, BG
French chiffonier forming secretary, inlaid with violet wood and rosewood, flap opening with four drawers with red marble top. Falling cuffs and keyh...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Secretaires
A fine 19th c Biedermeier birch secretary. Ebonized details and gilt bronze
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine Biedermeier period drop front secretary. Fine Empire gilt bronze details . Ebonized details . Beautiful walnut and birch woods
Category
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Antique secretary from around 1880, Northern Europe.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique secretary from the end of the 19th century, Northern Europe.
Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 159 cm / width 112 cm / dep...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Biedermeier Antique Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Kai Winding Bureau / Secretaire Produced by Cabinetmaker P. Jeppesen in Denmark
By Kai Winding
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare bureau / secretaire designed by Kai Winding. Produced by cabinetmaker P. Jeppesen in Denmark.
Dimensions (W x D x H): 100 x 46.5 (83) x 104 (68) cm.
Category
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Unique Antique Cast Brass Double Inkwell from France, Early 1900s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Antique cast brass inkwell features 2 ceramic ink depositories with pen rests, all highly decorated in a Victorian style.
It most likely dates t...
Category
Early 1900s Victorian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Swedish Secretary Cabinet 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk with open book shelves above the fall front desk and bottom cabinet doors. The desk section has multiple sma...
Category
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires
Materials
Wood
National Trust John Locke Secretaire
Located in Asheville, NC
This very rare Kindel reproduction is part of The National for Historic Preservation Collection, The Cliveden desk and bookcase is truly a masterpiece. An outstanding example of the Rococo style, the Cliveden desk and bookcase is English, circa 1750, and part of the collection on display at Cliveden Mansion in Germantown, PA. Kindel Furniture Company was selected as licensee to the National Trust to make a faithful reproduction of this secretary desk. This reproduction has all of the outstanding qualities of the original. Made of select mahogany, the bookcase has a "broken molded pediment" with decorative frieze and a superb hand-carved bust of John Locke...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Rococo Secretaires
19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Hand
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century English Writing Desk with Drawers and Hinged Door and Original Handles
Category
19th Century English Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Unique German Antique Secretaire with Chair Rich Inlay
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Exceptionally beautiful rare antique West Germany secretaire with chair. Early 19 th c, walnut wood with intricate inlay fruitwood. Comes with matching swivel armchair. Right and lef...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Secretaires
Materials
Nutwood
Large Empire Bureau Of Hand Polished Mahogany With Inlaid Wood from 1820s
Located in Lejre, DK
This grand Empire bureau is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of the 1820s, crafted from hand-polished mahogany adorned with intricate inlaid wood detailing. Its imposing pr...
Category
1820s Danish Empire Antique Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century French Louis XV Style Secretaire
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite French Louis XV style secrétaire with wave shaped front adorned with beautiful flower marquetry made of kingwood, rosewood and boxwood veneer, drop front writing desk with ...
Category
1870s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
18th Century French Louis XV Transition Marquetry Gilt Bronze Desk Bureau Plat
Located in Berlin, DE
18th Century French Louis XV Transition Marquetry Gilt Bronze Desk Bureau Plat
An 18th century gilt-bronze mounted double-face desk or bureau plat with herring-bone marquetry. The k...
Category
18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Ancient secretary, Northern Europe, 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
20th-Century Mahogany
Pine Wood Vennered With Mahogany Ladies
Secretary Desk
Located in Opole, PL
20th-Century Mahogany & Pine Wood Vennered With Mahogany Ladies' Secretary Desk
Step into timeless elegance with this stunning antique French-style writing desk and vanity, a rare a...
Category
Early 20th Century European Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Mahogany, Pine
$2,937 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique 1900s Bureau
Located in Neuss, NW
Wonderful bureau from the 1900s. High-quality solid oak wood corpus with a tambour door, eight drawers, four interior drawers and numerous compartments.
Quality Features:
very good...
Category
Early 1900s British Mid-Century Modern Antique Secretaires
Materials
Oak
$3,020
Louis XV Secretaire, France 1770
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite secretaire de dame, France 18th century, beautiful kingwood veneer on front, sides, top, back and the inside. The writing surface is covered with leather. With original bro...
Category
1770s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires
Materials
Kingwood
$9,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Very Fine 19th Century French Louis XVI Marquetry Secretaire Abattant by Diehl.
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine 19th century Louis XVI marquetry inlay secretaire A Abattant by Charles Diehl. Kingwood, satinwood and tulipwood inlay with fine gilt bronze ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Danish Mid-Century Secretaire Writing Cabinet in Teak by Dyrlund, Denmark, 1960s
By Dyrlund
Located in München, Bavaria
Dimensions: 90 x 50 / 34 x 107 cm (WxDxH)
Danish mid century teak rolltop bureau manufactured by Dyrlund Denmark in the 1960's. This distinctive burea...
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires
Materials
Teak
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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