Antique Secretaire
19th Century Austrian Antique Secretaire
Ebony, Walnut
19th Century Antique Secretaire
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Ebony, Walnut
19th Century Antique Secretaire
19th Century French Antique Secretaire
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Wood
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Wood
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Ebony
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Ebony, Mahogany
19th Century Antique Secretaire
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Cherry, Walnut
19th Century Austrian Antique Secretaire
1850s Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaire
Ash
19th Century French Antique Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaire
Wood, Paint
1790s English Antique Secretaire
Brass
Early 20th Century Antique Secretaire
Early 1800s English Antique Secretaire
Brass
19th Century Russian Antique Secretaire
1810s Scandinavian Biedermeier Antique Secretaire
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaire
Birch, Fir
19th Century Antique Secretaire
19th Century Austrian Antique Secretaire
18th Century and Earlier Austrian Antique Secretaire
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Secretaire
Wood
18th Century Antique Secretaire
Kingwood
Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Secretaire
Marble
1880s Swedish Victorian Antique Secretaire
Walnut
Mid-19th Century English Regency Antique Secretaire
Rosewood
Mid-17th Century Italian Antique Secretaire
Walnut
Early 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Antique Secretaire
Ormolu
Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Secretaire
Birdseye Maple, Pine, Cherry
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaire
Wood, Paint
19th Century Antique Secretaire
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
19th Century American Victorian Antique Secretaire
Mahogany, Maple
18th Century and Earlier Austrian Antique Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century English Country Antique Secretaire
Wood
1820s Baltic Biedermeier Antique Secretaire
Pewter
19th Century English Other Antique Secretaire
Brass
18th Century English Chippendale Antique Secretaire
Brass
Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaire
Brass
19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaire
Marble, Brass
1770s French Louis XV Antique Secretaire
Kingwood
19th Century English Georgian Antique Secretaire
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Antique Secretaire
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaire
Oak
19th Century English Victorian Antique Secretaire
Wood
19th Century Dutch Antique Secretaire
Oak
18th Century European Baroque Antique Secretaire
Walnut
19th Century French Charles X Antique Secretaire
Marble
Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaire
Bronze
1770s French Louis XV Antique Secretaire
Kingwood, Satinwood, Walnut
19th Century French Antique Secretaire
Brass
19th Century French Antique Secretaire
Bronze
19th Century Hungarian Biedermeier Antique Secretaire
Walnut, Burl
1810s Austrian Empire Antique Secretaire
Bronze
1830s English William IV Antique Secretaire
Mahogany
18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaire
Softwood
Mid-18th Century Swiss Baroque Antique Secretaire
Oak, Yew
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Antique Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Antique 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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