$3,996Sale Price|20% Off
Fine Tall Inlaid Dark Mahogany English Carlton House Two-Piece Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine tall inlaid dark mahogany English Carlton House two-piece secretary desk is an outstanding example of refined Georgian-inspired craftsmanship.
Mahogany
Danish 1810s Beige Gray Painted Two-Part Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Danish painted wood two-part secretary from circa 1810 with beige / light gray painted finish, slanted desk, four doors and carved reeded panels. A testament to timeless Danish cra...
Wood
18th C. Venetian Secretary Hutch with a Beautiful Hand-Painted Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 18th century Venetian tall bookcase with secretary desk will be an eye-catching room-maker--perfect for an entry foyer, living-room, or bedroom.
Wood
Sold
H 80 in W 32 in L 80 in
Antique Mahogany Chippendale Style Bow Front Ball and Claw Tall Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique mahogany Chippendale style bow front ball and claw tall secretary desk bookcase. Item features beautiful wood grain, 2 swing doors, no key, but unlocked, 4 dovetailed drawers...
Glass, Mahogany
Tall Blue Painted Swedish Secretary Bureau, circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
This striking oak secretary is an elegant statement piece crowned with an elaborate carved pediment. The entire secretary has been given a professional custom layered blue painted fi...
Brass
Tall Writing Desk Secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Tall writing desk secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden.
Wood
Sold
H 81.75 in W 37.25 in D 21.5 in
Gustavian 18th Century Scandinavian Tall Slanted Desk Secretary with Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian Gustavian painted wood tall secretary from the 18th century, with reeded accents, slanted desk and glass doors.
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 79.25 in W 47.25 in L 79.25 in
Swedish Gustavian 1800s Painted Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood tall secretary from the early 19th century, with diamond and reeded motifs, slanted front desk and weathered patina.
Wood
Sold
H 84.25 in W 46.75 in D 20.25 in
Scandinavian Two-Part Painted Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian two-part painted secretary from the 18th century, with carved crest, slant-front desk, diamond motifs and lateral handles.
Wood
Sold
H 95 in W 37 in D 21 in
Italian 1850s Rococo Style Tall Secretary with Slanted Desk and Original Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Rococo style two-part secretary from the mid-19th century, with slanted desk, mirrored doors and original paint.
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 86 in W 52.5 in D 18 in
Baroque Style 1840s Swedish Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish painted wood Baroque style secretary with bonnet top, upper cabinet, slant-front desk, and lower drawers from the mid 19th century.
Wood
Sold
H 86.25 in W 50 in D 23 in
Swedish Rococo 18th Century Tall Secretary with Bonnet Top and Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted wood two-part secretary from the 18th century, with bonnet top, slant-front desk and lateral handles.
Wood
Sold
H 86 in W 46 in D 22 in
European 18th Century Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Old Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European two-part tall secretary from the 18th century with gray / cream painted finish, old glass doors, slant front desk and five graduated drawers.
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 46.46 in W 44.49 in D 17.33 in
Unusual Swedish Antique Tall Country Secretary Desk in Painted Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare Swedish secretary desk dated 1847 and monogrammed. The secretary desk is made in painted pine and has the original finish. Original paint with an unusual marbled top. Interior w...
Pine
Sold
H 81.75 in W 45.5 in D 20.5 in
Swedish Gustavian Late 18th Century Tall Painted Secretary with Slanted Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period tall secretary from the late 18th century, with distressed painted finish, two doors and slanted desk.
Wood
Sold
H 94 in W 37.75 in D 20 in
English Chinoiserie 1920s Black and Gold Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English tall Japanned secretary from the early 20th century with black and gold chinoiserie décor, slant front desk, broken arch pediment and multiple drawers.
Wood
Sold
H 50.5 in W 32 in D 23 in
Chinese Chippendale Style Faux-Bamboo Tall Secretary with Slanted Lift-Top Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Chinese Chippendale style tall faux-bamboo secretary from the early 20th century with slanted lift-top writing table, doors and drawers.
Faux Bamboo
Sold
H 91.5 in W 48.5 in D 21 in
European 1790s Two-Part Tall Secretary with Glass Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European painted wood tall two-part secretary circa 1790 with glass doors, carved dentil molding, slant-front desk and four graduating drawers.
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 86 in W 47 in D 22 in
Swedish 18th Century Two-Part Secretary with Glass Doors and Slanted Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish 18th century two-part tall secretary with slanted desk, glass doors and leather desktop.
Leather, Glass, Wood
Sold
H 82 in W 48 in D 19 in
Swedish 1870s Birch Inlaid Secretary with Inlaid Motifs and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish 1870s birch inlaid two part tall secretary with slant front desk, two doors, four drawers and inlaid star motifs.
Brass
Sold
H 84 in W 72 in D 36 in
Important Regency Rosewood Cylinder Desk with Brass Details, English, circa 1815
Located in New York, NY
See similar examples of tall cabinets, secretaries, desks and bookcases on our website.
Rosewood
Stately George I Burl Walnut Slope Front Desk. English Circa 1720
Located in New York, NY
English, Circa 1720 See similar examples of secretaries, tall desks and cabinets on our web site florianpapp.com Florian Papp, fine antiques in our New York gallery since 1900.
Walnut
Japanese Carved and Lacquered Shibayama Cabinet, Meiji Period
Located in San Francisco, CA
An elaborate and finely detailed carved wood, and gold lacquered Shibayama cabinet (Chigaidansu). Having beautifully applied semi-precious stone and mother of pearl decoration of flo...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Stockholm, Gustavian Style Armchair
Located in Allerum, SE
Limited edition reproductions by D. Larsson, inspired by the finest 18th - 19th-century Swedish furniture. STOCKHOLM, This Gustavian style armchair is inspired by one of the finest ...
Beech
Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H. Clearance: 27"
Wood
$2,000 / item
H 8.5 in Dm 17.5 in
Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Fluted Farmhouse Porcelain Pendant Light
By DBO Home
Located in Sharon, CT
Classic, elegant, with a perfectly imperfect touch. We just love our new porcelain Parasol Fluted Pendants. Inspired by a vintage pie cover, we designed them to hang over our kitchen...
Brass
French Metal Canopy Bed, King
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Metal Canopy Bed, King Size, with a bronze finish metal canopy frame with a padded upholstered headboard in a neutral linen fabric. The frame with finials, square posts, and r...
Metal
$4,900 / item
H 34 in W 86 in D 42 in
Custom Made Modern English Arm Sofa in Performance Linen Velvet - 86"
By Bloom Home Inc
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
This beautiful english arm sofa has a modern twist, with its single bench cushion, and beautiful curved apron sides. It’s upholstered in a Linen Velvet Performance fabric. Shown in...
Linen, Velvet
Library of Antique Leatherbound Books
Located in Brønshøj, DK
This collection consists of 400 antique decorative books, mainly dating from 1850–1950, with most published before 1920. The books are bound in leather, many with fine gold leaf embo...
Gold Leaf
French Inspired Upholstered Linen Bergère Chairs
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
French inspired upholstered linen bergère chairs These French inspired chair are based on an original Napoleon III style pair of chairs. Napoleon III was the nephew of the Napoleon t...
Linen
$2,900Sale Price|20% Off
H 63 in W 41.74 in D 21.26 in
Biedermeier Mahogany Secretary Desk, circa 1860, after Renovation
Located in Opole, PL
We present you another incredible piece of furniture in our collection -- this elegant and highly exquisite Biedermeier secretary desk circa 1860. The secretary desk was manufactu...
Mahogany
$2,100 / set
H 33.25 in W 35 in D 18.25 in
Pair of Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish Gustavian Style Blue Painted Chest of Drawers Commodes, A Pair Classic Pair Swedish Style Painted Chest of Drawers. Two drawer chests based on an 18th Century Gustavian anti...
Brass, Bronze
Sagoma Wall Mirror
By Specchi Veneziani
Located in Milan, IT
Classic shaped Venetian mirror, made in the most rigorous Murano tradition. Finely hand-engraved on all elements, it is assembled with numerous floral elements in crystal and gold ha...
Glass
18th Century Antique Swedish Red Painted Baroque Secretary
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A two-tiered wooden cabinet from the 18th century Swedish Gustavian period. The top door opens to reveal a decorative top shelf and three other shelves. The top of the bottom shelf c...
Wood
$4,500
H 32 in W 32.75 in D 17.5 in
Swedish Gustavian-Style Blue Chest of Drawers with Faux Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined Swedish Gustavian-style chest of drawers. Crafted in pine, this piece is painted in a soft blue tone, a color popular beginning with late 19th-century Scandinavian interpre...
Wood
$7,603
H 80.32 in W 55.91 in D 19.69 in
Genuine Swedish Rococo Cabinet from the Late 1700s, Made by Hand in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine Swedish rococo cabinet from the late 1700s. The cabinet is made in two parts and very well crafted from solid pine around 1770 to 1780. Healthy and stable frame with old hard...
Pine
French Pine Buffet a Deux Corps, C. 1800
Located in Doylestown, PA
A nicely carved French buffet a deux corps in pine, from the Normandy region circa 1800, carved with floral motifs, wire grill doors in the upper cabinet and the interior lined with ...
Pine
Mahogany Neoclassical Bed Frame, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
"Boat" bed in carved mahogany wood, 19th century. Head and feet of the same height, are decorated with a circular molding, while the rear, by harmony, follows the lines of the front...
Wood, Mahogany
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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