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Secretaires For Sale
Color:  Gray
Light Gray 18th Century Period Swedish Two Part Secretary with Carved Pediment
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
18th century period two part wood secretary with a decorative carved pediment. Two carved front doors open to storage, and beneath a fall front door ...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Wood Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish mid-19th century painted wood Gustavian style slant-front desk or secretary with three lower drawers standing on short tapered feet. Here are the measurements: 48" W x 2...
Category

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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

Blue Painted Swedish Secretaire
Located in Washington, DC
A blue painted Swedish Drop Front Secretaire with decorative painting inside the doors.
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Related Items
Original Paint Swedish Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
An unusual Swedish Secretary from Jamtland with a three door design on the top section. A folding front desk opens to drawers and storage space, benea...
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19th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Original Paint Swedish Secretary
Original Paint Swedish Secretary
H 88.19 in W 50.4 in D 21.66 in
19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk with Folding Front Part
Located in Sofia, BG
French mahogany writing desk with folding front part and hidden drawers in the upper part. There are also three big drawers in the lower p...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Secretaires

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Mahogany

18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaire
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century Swedish late Baroque secretaire in original gorgeous blue/green patinated color with slant front desk with a fitted interior over the two long and two smaller drawer bas...
Category

Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaire
18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaire
H 39.25 in W 40.75 in D 24 in
JASPER "Generations" Inlaid Mahogany Chippendale Style Secretary Desk
Located in Charlotte, NC
A Chippendale style secretary desk by Jasper Cabinet Company, their "Generations" model. Inlaid mahogany, brass hardware, pediment top with inla...
Category

Late 20th Century American Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century Mahogany Secretary
Located in Eindhoven, NL
18th century mahogany secretary in beautiful original condition. Nice sleek interior, warm weathered color. Super quality and beautiful mahogany....
Category

1770s Antique Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Mahogany Secretary
18th Century Mahogany Secretary
H 42.52 in W 38.98 in D 36.23 in
Early 19th Century Blue Painted Swedish Gustavian Period Slant-Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish late Gustavian period painted wood slant-front secretary from the early 19th century with light blue painted finish and carved bracket feet. This exquisite Swedish late Gustavian period painted wood slant-front secretary, dating back to the early 19th century, exudes grace and understated elegance. Painted in a serene light...
Category

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A late 18th century ‘secrétaire à abattant’, or drop-leaf desk, in fruit wood. This lovely piece of upright furniture benefits from a wealth of useful storage compartments, both internal and external. The front flap lowers down to become a writing surface, revealing three spacious open shelves and a range of slim drawers suitable for documents or trinkets. Four further external drawers, wide and shallow, and a white marble top, complete the design. The side edges are fluted, with glorious brass, rounded detailing at the top, while the legs are tapering, ending in ‘toupie’ style feet. The ‘secretaire’ was an extremely popular choice in its time, being economical in space and perfectly suited to intellectual activities and letter writing...
Category

18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
Louis XVI Period Secretary 18th Century
No Reserve
H 57.88 in W 37.41 in D 16.15 in
Biedermeier Writing Desk Chiffonier Secrétaire Cabinet Swedish Ormolu Detail
Located in LONDON, GB
Swedish antique Biedermeier writing desk chiffonier secrétaire cabinet in highly quilted golden birch veneers and finished in the Classic light h...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Birch

19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...
Category

Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
H 55.75 in W 40.5 in D 18.25 in
Blue painted Biedermeier Secretaire, around 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier secretary with three-drawer chest of drawers and two-door glazed top and sloping writing flap. The light blue painting is set off in white at the edges and the interior i...
Category

1820s German Biedermeier Antique Secretaires

Materials

Softwood

Blue painted Biedermeier Secretaire, around 1820
Blue painted Biedermeier Secretaire, around 1820
H 64.97 in W 40.16 in D 20.67 in
Painted Baroque Secretaire, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque slanted-flap bureau with curved front and three drawers. The bureau rests on pressed ball feet. The compartments inside consist of six drawers and a shelf. The white painting...
Category

18th Century German Baroque Antique Secretaires

Materials

Softwood

Painted Baroque Secretaire, 18th Century
Painted Baroque Secretaire, 18th Century
H 41.34 in W 42.92 in D 21.66 in
1800s Gustavian Period Swedish Cream Grey Painted Slant-Front Desk with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Gustavian period Swedish cream/grey painted slant-front desk from circa 1800 with three drawers and tapered feet. Emanating timeless Swedish elegance, this Gustavian period slant-f...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Vintage Colonial Style Faux Bamboo Writing Desk
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Faux bamboo writing desk in colonial style with leather inset top A British Colonial style writing desk with decorative rattan and bamboo ...
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Secretaires

Materials

Rattan, Wicker

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
This is an exquisite Swedish Gustavian style painted secretary with library from Jämtland, Sweden, circa 1830. The patina is a chalky, soft gray on the exterior and a light blue - green on the interior. The upper section has three shelves, the top two slotted for spoons. The lower section has a slant front with six drawers and a small pigeon hole all behind the writing surface. There is a small desk...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Materials

Paint

Andre Cordemeijer 5600 Secretary Cabinets Gispen Culemborg the Netherlands, 1962
Located in Etten-Leur, NL
Very nice secretary cabinets from the famous 5600 modular series designed by Andre Cordemeijer and manufactured by Gispen Culemborg, The Netherlands, 1962. These cabinets are one of ...
Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

18th Century Swedish Rococo Period Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish Rococo period slant-front secretary from the 18th century in two parts with original bronze hardware. The slant-front opens to reveal 9 small drawers and a centre pigeon ho...
Category

18th Century Swedish Rococo Antique Secretaires

Materials

Paint

Italian Baroque Style Painted Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Mid-20th century Italian Baroque style painted secretary with display cabinet, pull-out desk and three drawers. Decorative items inside cabinet are not included.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Paint

A.R. Cordemeijer/L. Holleman Model 5600 For Gispen Industrial Cabinet, Secretary
Located in The Hague, NL
This colorful industrial cabinet was designed in 1962 by Dutch designers A.R. Cordemeijer& L. Holleman for Gispen, The Netherlands. The cabinet consist with 10 drawers, storage spac...
Category

1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Metal

'Libri' Trumeau by Fornasetti
Located in London, GB
Hand applied transfer printed design on wood. Black decoration on ivory ground, lacquer finish. The upper portion with curved niche illuminated from behind, the lower portion with ...
Category

2010s Italian Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

'Libri' Trumeau by Fornasetti
'Libri' Trumeau by Fornasetti
H 86.23 in W 31.89 in D 15.36 in
18th Century Painted Gustavian Swedish Bureaux Glazed Bookcase - White
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
A late 18th century Swedish bureaux bookcase, displaying a pair of glazed doors, above a fall front desk which opens to seven drawers and secret compartments. With two split and thre...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Secretaires

Materials

Paint

British Government Steel Filing Drawers, circa 1930s
Located in Gloucester, GB
British government steel filing drawers, circa 1930s - Price is per cabinet (7 available) - Made from sheet steel - Brass handles - Double card holder...
Category

1930s English Industrial Vintage Secretaires

Materials

Steel

1790s Fine Gustavian Secretary, Made by Stockholm Master
Located in Aalsgaarde, DK
Fine Gustavian secretary, with finely painted decorations, made by Stockholm master, circa 1790 H. 134 H-open. 75 W. 112 D. 52 D-open. 89 cm H. 52.7 H...
Category

1790s Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Early 19th Century Gustavian Slanted Writing Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Swedish slanted front desk writing desk with a refreshed painted finish. The desk has conical legs and the interiors is fitted with...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Secretaires

Charming Early 20th Century Italian Provincial Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This fetching two part grey painted secretary desk features an upper cabinet crowned by shaped pediments above two-panel doors opening up to a shelved and paper lined interior. The l...
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Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Secretaires

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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