19th Century Burl Secretaire
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Metal, Brass
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Burl
Antique 19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Antique 1840s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis XIV Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1810s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Secretaires
Walnut, Glass
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 1790s German Louis XVI Secretaires
Mahogany, Maple
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Secretaires
Ebony, Pearwood, Burl, Kingwood
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Burl
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch, Burl
Antique Early 19th Century Scandinavian Empire Secretaires
Ash, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century Empire Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Bone, Ebony
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks
Marble, Brass
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Antique Mid-19th Century European Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany, Baize
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Oak, Plywood
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Vitrines
Bronze
20th Century Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1820s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Pine, Wood, Birdseye Maple
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Antique 1780s English George III Bookcases
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
Stained Glass, Wood
Antique 1870s Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Wood
Late 20th Century North American Chippendale Secretaires
Burl
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Elm, Walnut
20th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
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Antique Early 19th Century George III Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Wood, Burl
Antique 19th Century American Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century American Secretaires
Antique Late 19th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Burl, Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Other Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Walnut, Yew, Burl
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Birch, Burl
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Walnut, Burl
Antique 1890s English Georgian Secretaires
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 19th Century English Biedermeier Secretaires
Satinwood, Burl
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century British George III Secretaires
Burl, Walnut
Antique 1860s Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 1840s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Ash
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Louis XIV Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Burl
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Marble
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Antique Late 19th Century American Eastlake Secretaires
Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Dutch Colonial Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century German Empire Secretaires
Birch, Ebony, Maple, Mahogany, Oak, Poplar
Antique 1820s French Charles X Secretaires
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Biedermeier Secretaires
Elm
Antique Mid-19th Century American Victorian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Cherry
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 1830s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Maple, Walnut
20th Century English Secretaires
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Secretaires
Burl, Walnut
Antique Early 18th Century English George I Secretaires
Antique 1820s European Biedermeier Secretaires
Walnut
Antique 18th Century and Earlier American Chippendale Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Decorative Boxes
Bone, Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Burl
Antique 19th Century Dutch Other Desks
Brass
Antique 1850s English Victorian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birch
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Wood
Antique 1860s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Faux Leather, Walnut, Burl
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Louis XIV Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Birch
Antique 1810s English Regency Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century American Victorian Secretaires
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century American Eastlake Secretaires
Metal
19th Century Burl Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 19th Century Burl Secretaire?
Finding the Right secretaires for You
Your antique, new or vintage secretary desk has become the (chic) saving grace of the "new normal" at home.
Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments — pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers — are revealed.
Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts — a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top. Taking its name from the French word for the piece, secrétaire, the secretary desk dates back to the 18th century, when Paris-based cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben, known for his exquisite marquetry and clever mechanical desks, is thought to have invented the secrétaire à abbattant, or drop-leaf desk.
While the defining drop-down feature of the secretary desk has remained constant, the materials used, as well as its configuration, size and style have evolved over time.
At first, secretaries were typically made from exotic woods, like rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood; later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common. The desks also became lighter, with space carved out of the lower half for the writer’s feet or with drawers replaced by legs — making them more table-like.
When open, the secretary is a dynamic, versatile Wunderkammer. When closed, it’s a sophisticated, space-saving piece of furniture.
“A fine secretary with a good provenance adds stature and credence to its owner — it is a cornerstone piece,” says antiques dealer Stanley Weiss, who specializes in 18th- and 19th-century English and American furniture. “In this disposable world, fine furniture is always passed on and speaks to who its owner is.”
No matter what style or period you choose, and no matter how you decide to use it, the timeless, flexible secretary desk is bound to become an indispensable part of your daily routine.
Browse a range of antique and vintage secretary desks on 1stDibs, including mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others.
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