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Secretaires For Sale
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Mid-19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary desk with exquisite ash veneer and a three-drawer commode base. Behind the leather-covered writing surface lies a spacious arched compartment, complemented by six small dra...
Category

Mid-19th Century Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Late 19th Century Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, Secretary, Victorian, 1890
Located in Greven, DE
Antique ship's or captain's secretary, so-called Military Campaign Chest of Drawers England Mahogany, brass Victorian around 1890 Dimensions: H x W x D: 135 x 92 x 52 cm D...
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South German, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates back to the early phase of the Biedermeie...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Elm, Walnut

Eary 19th Century German Empire Secretaire with Ormolu Bustes, Berlin c. 1811
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier secretary with fire-gilt bronzes Berlin Curly maple and others circa 1810 Dimensions: H x W x D: 141 x 88 x 49 cm Description: Rare and highly refined Berlin w...
Category

Early 19th Century German Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Ormolu

18th Century Italian Walnut Parquetry Important Bureau Cabinet Trumeaux
Located in Rome, IT
An Italian walnut, parquetry bureau cabinet fruitwood inlaid with scrolling foliage, The upper section with a shaped carved cresting, a shaped doors opening to reveal three shelves, ...
Category

Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Hand-Painted Furniture Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with Roses. We love how the choice of sweet curves and pastello colors ...
Category

2010s Italian Other Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique English secretary desk, 18th century
Located in Linkebeek, BE
secretraire - desk - commode Measures : 76x47 cm H : 100 Open Hutch Top : d:80cm H:73cm An elegant antique English drop-front secretary desk, featuring three large drawers and two s...
Category

18th Century English Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Grosfeld House 1940s Secretary by Lorin Jackson
Located in Hanover, MA
Lorin Jackson for Grosfeld House 1940s cabinet bookcase in mahogany featuring a pull-out secretary with writing surface. Distinctive Grosfeld "Glassic" lucite ring pulls with sunburs...
Category

1940s American Hollywood Regency Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Victorian Secretary Desk Circa. 1800 s
Located in Fulton, CA
American Victorian secretary desk made of solid walnut. Circa. 1875. Drop-front desk with birdseye maple detail. Carved walnut pulls with "rac...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Walnut

18th Century Black Swedish Oak Bureau - Antique Drop Front Secretary
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Fold-down flap with hidden drawers, secret compartment and writing interior Four larger drawers on the lower part of the front. Beautiful brass fittings, working lock and keys inc...
Category

Late 18th Century Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century Black Swedish Gustavian Oak Bureau - Antique Drop Front Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Swedish Gustavian bureau made of hand crafted painted Oakwood, in good condition. The Scandinavian writing table, desk features man...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

English 19th Century Walnut Campaign Butler s Desk with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English walnut Campaign butler's desk from the 19th century with writing area, three drawers, bracket feet and brass hardware. This 19th-century English walnut Campaign butler's d...
Category

19th Century English Campaign Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Beautiful Danish Teak Roll Top Secretary Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant Danish secretary desk crafted in teak, featuring a roll-top design with a sleek, streamlined silhouette. The piece offers ample storage with drawers and compartments, combini...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Teak

Antique Georgian Sheraton Neo-Classical Inlaid Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, 1795
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & rare antique George III Sheraton inlaid mahogany bookcase secretary, circa 1795. A diminutive bureau bookcase In two parts, the top having a stepped cornice with twin doors below, the doors having very unusual astragal decoration of neo-classical urns with swags & surmounted with 'Prince of Wales' fleur des lys finials, the doors enclosing three shelves and three short inlaid drawers. The base having an inlaid fall front & oval floral paterae enclosing a fitted interior with six pigeon holes four drawers and a central locking door with shell inlay, the writing surface having a red 'bull's blood' tooled & gilded leather. Below are three inlaid drawers with the original brass handles, the base having a single 'secret' drawer and the bookcase is raised on tall 'French' bracket feet. This rare and unusual Georgian bookcase secretary...
Category

Late 18th Century English Sheraton Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secr...
Category

19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Large Italian Bureau 18th Century Inlayed Walnut Chest of Drawers with Flap
Located in Milano, MI
An Italian monumental sized bureau with flap dating back to the second half of 18th century. Three deep drawers and a fall-front opening to reveal a fitted interior with six small dr...
Category

1770s Italian Directoire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Cherry, Maple, Walnut

Oak Roll Top Secretary Desk with Drawers
Located in Madrid, ES
Oak secretary / writing desk from circa 1900's. Featuring a roll-up flap with underlying writing board, shelf interior and two drawers. Below the writing desk there are two pull-out ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Secretary Swedish Rococo. Black
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Swedish Rococo Secretary Desk in Black-Painted Pine. Executed in a beautiful and characteristic Rococo style with a wavy body, sides, and back. The slanting writing flap with...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Iron

19th Century Gustavian-style Secretary Bookcase
Located in Solebury, PA
A stunning 19th-century Gustavian painted secretary bookcase, adorned with an elegant arched top above two matching glazed doors, each embellished with six delicate mullions and gene...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

French Louis XVI Secretaire Abattant / Secretary desk, circa 1800
Located in Lucenec, SK
The secrétaire à abbatant or fall front desk is nearly identical to the desk 5th President James Monroe brought back from France in 1797. These desks are ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Mid-Century Brass Inlaid Secretary, by Paolo Buffa
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
A fine example of a Mid-Century rosewood secretary by Italian designer, Paola Buffa (1903-1970) and brass intarsia inlay by artist Giovanni Gariboldi (1908-1971). The upper case with...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two drawers flanked by two ebonized columns shows a beautiful oak veneer design. The woo...
Category

Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

1940 s Traditional Burl Wood Secretary/ Desk
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Beautiful Grand Scale 1940's Traditional style Burl Wood Secretary/ Writing Desk. This secretary is in very good condition. Miami Beach acquisition.
Category

1940s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Empire Secrétaire, Vienna, circa 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Exceptional Viennese Empire secrétaire with a classically structured design: two lower doors, a flat drop-front writing surface, and a wide drawer at the top. The piece stands on ebo...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Gold Plate, Brass

French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk. With a grey marble top over three drawers, the fall enclosing a sliding tan leather writing surface, an interior...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

George II Walnut Slant Front Bureau Bookcase / Secretary
Located in Woodbury, CT
George II walnut and walnut burl slant front bureau bookcase / secretary with original hand beveled mirrored doors on bracket feet. Upper cabinet with candle slides conceals book she...
Category

18th Century British George II Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut, Burl

Biedermeier Drawers Writing Desk Secrétaire Cabinet Swedish Ormolu Detail
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish antique Biedermeier writing desk chiffonier secrétaire cabinet in highly quilted golden birch veneers and finished in the Classic light honey color French polish. It has 2 m...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Pair of Louis XVI Style Dutch Chinoiserie Secretary and High Chest
Located in Greven, DE
Pair of chinoiserie furniture - secretary and chiffonier The Netherlands Satinwood and others, lacquered panels around 1890 Dimensions: H x W x D: 130 x 63 x 39 cm Description: Ve...
Category

Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood

Rosewood and Iron Fall Front Secretary or Writing Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Fantastic marriage of styles with this Danish rosewood secretary desk. The top is traditional fall front, a clean lined somewhat dimure Scandinavian piece. It opens to reveal maple c...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Iron

vintage secretary cabinet 1960s Swedish
Located in Lemmer, NL
Vintage bureau cabinet 1960s Sweden Period 1960s Design Unknown Sweden Condition Good Minor signs of wear Size 102 x 88 x 45 cm (H x W x D) Details Teak; Brass; Item num...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Fine English George III Antique Mahogany Secretary Desk circa 1780
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Of exceedingly good quality, this fine George III secretaire features a molded cornice projecting over glazed doors, each composed of sixteen individual panes of glass divided by int...
Category

18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Georgian Mahogany Slant Front Secretary Desk Adam Style Slant-Front Bureau
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a Georgian mahogany slant front secretary desk Adam style slant-front bureau. Dimensions: Cabinet 37.88" H x 35.25" W x 18.88" D. Desk 33.63" W x 22.63" D ...
Category

Late 19th Century British Georgian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and truly exceptional early Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1825. Viennese Biedermeier is distinguished by their sophisticated proportio...
Category

Early 19th Century Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Highly Carved Pine Secretary from Denmark, circa 1890
Located in Round Top, TX
Elaborate carving accentuate the entire surface of this striking pine secretary. Enlarge photos to appreciate the extensive details, including vines, birds, leaves, trees, dentil mol...
Category

Late 19th Century Danish Anglo-Indian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Unique French Style Ebonized Secretary
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Refined French abattant in the Empire style, featuring a striking black finish with elegant gold accents. The piece showcases a structured silhouette a...
Category

Early 20th Century French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Modernist Secretary Showcase, Chrome Plated Steel, Lacquered Wood, Customizable
Located in Berlin, DE
Modernist secretary showcase made of chrome-plated tubular steel, lacquered wood and glass. Customizable, production time: 10-11 weeks.
Category

2010s German Modern Secretaires

Materials

Steel, Chrome

19th Century English Chinoiserie Ladies Secretaire Writing Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Extraordinary 19th century English ladies secretaire desk or writing table. The two part desk was made in the Chinoiserie revival period of Europe ...
Category

19th Century English Chinoiserie Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Late 19th Century Spanish Walnut Bureau Bookcase ‘Secretaire’
Located in Miami, FL
A late 19th century Spanish Walnut Bureau bookcase ‘secretaire’ with fretwork open swan neck pediment, centred by a shaped finial, above a pair of doors, slant front enclosed writing...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Capsule Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our brand new Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary with palms decor in gold-leaf. In collaboration with Damonte & Lacarrieu...
Category

2010s Italian Other Secretaires

Materials

Wood

George III 19th C Style Burl Walnut Double Bonnet Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Jensen Beach, FL
An incredible stately burl walnut George III 19th Century style secretary by Burton Chiang. The doors open to this grand piece to reveal a slew of secret cubby pigeon holes, secret d...
Category

Late 20th Century American George III Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Louis XVI Rolltop Desk, France 1780, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI Rolltop or cylinder desk, France, 1780. This original Louis XVI cylinder desk has an elegant mahogany veneer with satinwood inlays. I...
Category

1780s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

Louis XV Secretary Desk, France 18th century
Located in Belmont, MA
Exquisite 18th-Century Louis XV Secretary Desk This stunning Louis XV Secretary Desk, dating back to 1770, showcases the elegance of 18th-century Fr...
Category

1760s French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Kingwood, Rosewood

Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful Empire clapper secretaire is made of burr walnut. It has very elegant detached columns with Fine chiseled bronze elements on top and bottom of each column. Inside of the secretaire there is leather desk and several drawers including a secret drawer...
Category

1850s French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

French Directoire Style Narrow Secretary Desk in Wood, Orange Gray Lacquered
Located in Landivy, FR
This Secretary is a handmade modernized interpretation of the French Directoire style at the end of the 18th century. This period design is remarkable with its straight, classical an...
Category

2010s French Neoclassical Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer

18th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th Century Swedish secretary with a decorative carved pediment. Composed below doors opening to storage with below fall front desk opening to the drawer. Storage and workspace, be...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel Drop Front Secretary Desk by Raymond Loewy
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome vintage Mid-Century Modern Mengel drop front secretary desk by Raymond Loewy. Comprised of an oak case, cerused oak drawer fronts, and blac...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Hand Painted White Baroque Secretaire, Saxony 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque writing secretaire with slanted flap and curved front and frame. The secretaire has two large drawers and behind the arched writing flap small drawers and a deep compartment....
Category

18th Century German French Provincial Antique Secretaires

Materials

Softwood

Baroque Secretary à Trois Corps in Walnut, Mid-18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Impressive Baroque secretary in three sections ("à trois corps"), raised on compressed bun feet and veneered in fine walnut. The lower commode section comprises three drawers, with t...
Category

Mid-18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Louis XVI style Secrétaire à abattant with marquetry after Roentgen
By David Roentgen
Located in PARIS, FR
Louis XVI style ‘Secrétaire à abattant’ with marquetry after Roentgen. Oak, thuya burl and ebonized pearwood veneer, wood marquetry, gilt bronze, green ‘Campan’ marble. France. ca. 1...
Category

1880s French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

solid pine secretary desk by WASA, Germany 1990s
Located in ECHT, NL
Secretary desk made by German company Wasa in 1992. it is made from solid pine. It has a lid that folds down to function as a work top. Behind the lid there are shelves and drawers....
Category

Late 20th Century German Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Louis XV period marquetry secretary from the mid-18th century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
A very elegant and rare Louis XV period drop-leaf secretary desk, characteristic of Rococo furniture with its sinuous silhouette and refined proportions. The curved front rests on ar...
Category

18th Century French Louis XV Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century Fine Biedermeier Walnut Secretaire. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This elegant and truly exceptional walnut Viennese Biedermeier Secretaire was made in Vienna circa 1825. The Secretaire is an example of beautiful, rare and refined design an...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Maple, Walnut

Biedermeier secretary, Western Europe, around 1840.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier secretary, Western Europe, around 1840. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation. Wood: mahogany dimensions height 169 cm width 106 cm depth 59 cm
Category

1840s Unknown Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Germany, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This beautiful Secretary comes from Germany and was made around 1820–1840. The piece is made of pine wood, veneered with mahogany veneer. Upper Section – the so-called Tabernacle ...
Category

19th Century German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Mid-century Torbjorn Afdal Danish Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Oakland, CA
Danish secretary desk designed by Torbjørn Afdal for Nesjestranda Møbelfabrik, Norway, 1965. Crafted from Brazilian rosewood, the secretary desk ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Rosewood

18th Century George III Mahogany Butler s Secretary
Located in Solebury, PA
A distinguished 18th-century George III mahogany butler’s secretary showcases exquisite and intricate marquetry inlay of satinwood and boxwood, embodying a refined equilibrium betwee...
Category

Late 18th Century English George III Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Boxwood, Mahogany, Satinwood, Silk

Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Black Secretary Cabinet
Located in Plainview, NY
an exquisite vintage Louis XV style Minton-Spidell secretary desk. The secretary desk embodies timeless elegance and sophisticated craftsmanship. The upper portion features two doors...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary North American Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Swedish Teak Rolltop Secretary Desk by Egon Ostergaard
Located in Detroit, MI
This iconic vintage mid-century Swedish modern Egon Ostergaard teak cylinder rolltop secretary desk cabinet was made in Sweden circa 1960. The classic Scandinavian modern design has ...
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Rare Antique Federal American Mahogany Secretary Writing Desk Gothic Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
A fine and impressive Federal Period Mahogany secretary and bookcase, circa 1830s. The bookcase features an eighteen pane gothic arched cabinet fro...
Category

Early 19th Century American Federal Antique Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Erling Torvits Walnut Secretary Desk with Wave Front, Denmark, 1960s
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
This elegant secretary desk was designed by Erling Torvits in Denmark in the 1960s. Crafted in beautiful natural walnut veneer, it features Torvits’ signature sculpted “wave” drawer ...
Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

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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