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Arts and Crafts Secretaires

ARTS AND CRAFTS STYLE

Emerging in reaction to industrialization and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement celebrated handcrafted design as a part of daily life. The history of Arts and Crafts furniture has roots in 1860s England with an emphasis on natural motifs and simple flourishes like mosaics and carvings. This work is characterized by plain construction that showcases the hand of the artisan.

The earliest American Arts and Crafts furniture dates back to the start of the 20th century. Designers working in this style in the United States initially looked to ideas put forth by The Craftsman, a magazine published by Wisconsin native Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and founder of the Craftsman style. Stickley’s furniture was practical and largely free of ornament. His Craftsman style drew on French Art Nouveau as well as the work he encountered on his travels in England. There, the leading designers of the Arts and Crafts movement included William Morris, who revived historical techniques such as embroidery and printed fabrics in his furnishings, and Charles Voysey, whose minimal approach was in contrast to the ornamentation favored in the Victorian era.

American Arts and Crafts work would come to involve a range of influences unified by an elevation of traditional craftsmanship. The furniture was often built from sturdy woods like oak and mahogany while featuring details such as inlaid metal, tooled leather and ceramic tiles. The style in the United States was led by Stickley, whose clean-lined chairs and benches showcased the grain of the wood, and furniture maker Charles Rohlfs, who was informed by international influences like East Asian and French Art Nouveau design.

Hubs in America included several utopian communities such as Rose Valley in Pennsylvania and the Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony in New York, where craftspeople made furniture that prioritized function over any decoration. Their work would influence designers and architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built some of the most elegant and iconic structures in the United States and likewise embraced a thoughtful use of materials in his furniture.

Find antique Arts and Crafts chairs, tables, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts Pine Collectors Cabinet Filing Drawers
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Arts and Crafts Pine Collectors Cabinet Filing Drawers The Cabinet is made in natural pine and has 12 Long Drawers, some of the drawers have the original dividers others are missing...
Category

1880s Antique Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Antique Arts & Crafts Macey Five Stack Oak Barrister Bookcase & Desk c1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Reduced In-House Shipping Rates - Reliable Service & Fully Insured*** An antique Arts and Crafts barrister bookcase by ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Oak

English secretary bookcase Arts&Crats 1910
Located in Meulebeke, BE
This English secretary bookcase in arts & crafts style is a beautiful piece of furniture that expresses both elegance and functionality. The secretary bookcase was made around 1910 i...
Category

1910s English Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Copper

Antique Arts & Crafts Mahogany Five Stack Barrister Secretary & Bookcase c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Ask About Discounted In-House Shipping*** An antique Arts and Crafts barrister bookcase offers mahogany construction with central...
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Mahogany

Ernest Gimson A walnut bureau inlaid with holly chequered string inlay.
Located in London, GB
Ernest Gimson attributed. Arts & Crafts Cotswold school walnut bureau inlaid with holly chequered string inlay. The quality of this craftsman handmade bureau is a step above. The fol...
Category

1910s English Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

English Arts & Crafts Handmade Dark Stained Solid Oak Desk with Side Shelves
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Solid oak English Arts & Crafts desk with built in side shelves and removable top for ease of movement make this a practical gem. Original hardware perfectly intact and united by str...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Shapland & Petter, Arts & Crafts Mahogany Desk with a Pierced Heart to the Top
Located in London, GB
Shapland & Petter. A wonderful Arts & Crafts mahogany writing desk with a pierced heart to the top, shaped back and sides, with upper three quarter shelf and a stylized floral leaded glass back below. A period style leather writing area with hand tooled gilt decoration to the edges. A bow fronted drawer with stylized copper heart...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

George Walton Style of a Small Arts & Crafts Oak Sideboard with Floral Carvings
Located in London, GB
A small Arts & Crafts oak sideboard in the style of George Walton. With flaring cornice, four small upper cupboards the central pair with arched doors and a small work area in front...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Charles Spooner Arts & Crafts Oak secretaire Cabinet with Serpentine Stretchers
By Charles Spooner
Located in London, GB
Charles Sydney Spooner, probably made by J H Brandt. A rare oak secretaire cabinet on stand, with quarter veneered panels to the doors and drawers with black and green diamond shaped handles. The doors open to reveal adjustable shelves. The sides and lower stand are all made from solid quarter sawn oak with beautiful figuring. The slightly graduated mouldings to the waist frame the tidy little writing area. Standing on squashed ball feet, united with serpentine entwined stretchers. This is an oak variation of the cabinet Charles Spooner exhibited at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1910. One can see that both cabinets are essentially the same design, one with drawers one with a pull down writing area. Both have quartered veneered panels to the doors, the Mahogany one with applied moulded decoration to the doors. See : illustration below from : Arts and Crafts Furniture by John Andrews. See also : Charles Spooner Arts and Crafts Architect, page 209 illustration 10:28. : Fine Art Society for a Coromandel variation and Puritan Values : Important Furniture Page 1, for a larger four door lacquered panelled variation. Charles Spooner is noted as one of the most influential people and also credited as one of the fathers of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Born at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington (London), Spooner was the second of 5 children of Charles Spooner and Sarah Frances Trinder, who lived at Brook Green, Hammersmith. Spooner became an architect and an instructor of furniture design at the London County Council's Central School of Arts and Crafts. He was a pupil and then assistant of Sir A W Blomfield and in 1890 won the RIBA’s Soane Medallion (Proc RIBA). He specialised in smaller churches and houses turning out some beautiful and complete buildings. He was influenced by E W Godwin and contemporary American architects such as H H Richardson. He was a member of the Society and Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Art Workers Guild, he worked in the tradition of William Morris, teaching...
Category

1920s English Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Oak

Related Items
Vintage Arts & Crafts Mahogany Large Five-Stack Barrister Bookcases, Pair
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of vintage Arts & Crafts large five-stack barrister bookcases In the manner of Globe Wernicke USA, Mid-20th Century Mahogany, with glass front doors and bras...
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Mid-20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Brass

English George III Mahogany Secretary Desk and Bookcase, 18th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GEORGE III MAHOGANY SECRETARY DESK AND BOOKCASE England, circa last quarter of the 18th century Item # 305PKI25A An incredibly beautiful George III mahogany fall-front secretary de...
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18th Century English Antique Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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20th Century Dutch Trumeau Walnut with Maple Wood Inlays, Netherlands, 1950
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Dutch Trumeau from the mid-20th century. Furniture of exceptional quality, richly inlaid in walnut and maple wood, the interior is covered in mahogany an...
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1950s Dutch Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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20th Century Inlaid Wood and Gilt Bronze French Bureau, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
French bureau from 20th century. Furniture with high leg, pleasantly inlaid with floral decorations in rosewood, palisander, mahogany, maple, tulipwood and fruitwood. Bureau finished...
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Antique Arts & Crafts Ebonized Oak Architect's Blueprint Flat File Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare antique Arts & Crafts six-drawer architect's blueprint or map flat file cabinet In the manner of Hamilton Manufacturing Co. USA, Circa 1900 Oak in ebonized finish, with ori...
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Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

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George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
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21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
H 88.5 in W 40.75 in D 22 in
Burled Maple Cabinet Secretary with Drawers / Flat File, USA, 1960's
Located in Austin, TX
Edward Wormley style Mid-Century Modern case piece with drawers at base and drop-down secretary at top. Two toned finish that appears to be rosewood and burled maple. Interior of des...
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1960s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Antique Arts & Crafts Oak 40-Drawer File Cabinet or Chest of Drawers, Circa 1900
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding antique Arts & Crafts 40-drawer file cabinet or chest of drawers By The George A. Williams Co. USA, Circa 1900 Solid quarter-sawn oak, with brass hardware. Measure...
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Antique Oak 24-Drawer Flat File Printer's Cabinet or Collector's Cabinet
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A rare and exceptional antique Arts & Crafts 24-drawer flat file printer's cabinet or collector's cabinet By Hamilton Manufacturing Co. USA, Circa 1900 Oak, with original iron har...
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Antique Arts & Crafts 54-Drawer Card File Cabinet or Industrial Parts Cabinet
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A rare antique Arts & Crafts card file cabinet or industrial parts cabinet By W.C. Heller and Co. USA, Circa 1900 Solid oak, with brass hardware and metal drawer interiors. Measu...
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Antique Arts & Crafts 36-Drawer File Cabinet by American Cabinet Co., Circa 1900
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Antique Globe Wernicke Arts & Crafts Mahogany Five-Stack Barrister Bookcase
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts five-stack barrister bookcase By Globe Wernicke USA, Circa 1900 Mahogany, with glass front doors and brass hardware. Measures: 33.75"W x 11.5"D x...
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Previously Available Items
Unique Dutch Arts & Crafts Oak Partners Desk and Filing Cabinet Into One, 1910s
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and very stylish antique desk from early 1900s Amsterdam. When you don't know much about the history of a unique antique then sometimes you need to look better at it than others have and the answers might come to you that way. When we first saw this piece of furniture, our knowledge about this Style told us it was a typical Dutch Arts and Crafts antique that was hand-crafted around 1915. Apart from the design and the oakwood exterior with the coromandel handles on the drawers it has exactly the kind of patina that ties in with pieces from that era. What makes this piece stand out from any other antique desk that we had ever seen is the design itself. Fully closed this is a relatively small filing...
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Early 20th Century Dutch Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Antique Arts & Crafts Mission Oak & Leaded Glass Drop Front Secretary Desk C1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts and Crafts Mission drop-front secretary offers quarter sawn oak construction with upper bookcase having double leaded glass doors opening to shelved interior over sla...
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Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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40s English Oak Wood Secretaire, Desk, Commode by Aw-Lyn
By Aw-Lyn
Located in Valladolid, ES
Gorgous, refined and practical Arts & Crafts bureau or desk made of oak around the 30s or 40s of the 20th century in the United Kingdom, by Aw-Lyn, a manufacturer of furniture of ext...
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1940s English Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Oak

Artistic and Perfectly Hand Crafted Arts & Crafts Oak Fine Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and practical antique ladies desk from 1890-1910. This fine, Arts & Crafts era ladies desk is another great example of the stylish designs that were hand-crafted and of ...
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Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Brass

Antique Arts & Crafts JM Young Mission Oak Library Table Desk circa 1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts and Crafts Mission library table desk offers quarter sawn oak construction with upper drawer, slat sides and mortice and tenon lo...
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Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Antique Spinet Secretary Desk
Located in New York, NY
Antique Spinet Desk Secretary. This is the perfect small desk having a full lower front drawer with carved fan detail center and scalloped bottom. ...
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1910s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Poplar, Walnut

Antique Spinet Secretary Desk
Antique Spinet Secretary Desk
H 33.5 in W 36 in D 20 in
Arts & Crafts Mission Paneled Oak & Leaded Glass Barrister Secretary, c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts & Crafts mission barrister bookcase secretary offers quarter sawn oak paneled construction with upper having leaded glass door over drop down desk surmounting two gla...
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Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Oak, Glass

Antique Edwardian Arts & Crafts Mahogany Writing Bureau
Located in London, GB
A lovely antique Arts & Crafts period bureau in solid mahogany, dating from around the 1890-1900 period. This is of excellent quality and has a beautiful design. The writing surface...
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19th Century English Antique Arts and Crafts Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Handsome 19th Century Mahogany Butler's Secretary Cabinet
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome 19th century butler's secretary signed and dated by Ja. B. Metz, Norrisville PA 1880. Made in the master craftsman tradition having hand...
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19th Century North American Antique Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Mahogany

Antique Oak Arts & Crafts Stacked Card Catalog Filing Cabinet, Circa 1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts & Crafts library research card catalog filing cabinet offers paneled oak construction with stacked units having an upper with...
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Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Metal, Brass

Unusual Early 20th Century Vintage Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Lafayette, IN
Very unusual Arts & Crafts drop-front secretary desk made in the early 20th century. Desk cabinet features solid quarter-sawn oak construction, dovetailed drawers, uniquely stylized ...
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1910s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Brass

Grand Rapids Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Drop Front Desk by The Cron Kills
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts & Crafts Mission secretary by Cron-Kills Co., Piqua, OH offers oak construction paneled sides with slant drop front desk surmounting ...
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Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Secretaires

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Arts And Crafts secretaires for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Arts and Crafts secretaires for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage secretaires created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, oak and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Arts and Crafts secretaires made in a specific country, there are England, Europe, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original secretaires, popular names associated with this style include Aw-Lyn, Charles Spooner, and Shapland & Petter. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for secretaires differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,200 and tops out at $15,985 while the average work can sell for $4,221.

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