$16,750Sale Price|25% Off
19th Century Federal Period Duncan Phyfe Style Flame Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Rare and important antique American early 19th century figured mahogany "Duncan Phyfe" style flap-top secretary bookcase with gorgeous lyre-shaped glazed doors.
Mahogany
Sold
H 82.5 in W 49 in D 24 in
Early 19th Century Duncan Phyfe Grecian Plain Style Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An important piece of American furniture, attributed to the shop of Duncan Phyfe, circa 1840. To quote "Duncan Phyfe: Master Cabinetmaker in New York," 2011 (Kenny, Brown).
Mahogany
Secretary Bookcase
By Duncan Phyfe
Located in New York, NY
Attributed to Duncan Phyfe (1770-1854), New York, about 1820 Mahogany (secondary woods: pine, poplar, and mahogany), with ormolu mounts, glass, brass hinges, steel locks, and leat...
Pine, Poplar, Mahogany, Glass
New York Classical Secretary Attributed To Duncan Phyfe
Located in Norwalk, CT
Superb quality New York city ladies secretary showing the American interpretation of the French Empire style attributed to the shop of Duncan Phyfe
Mahogany, Poplar
Portrait of Lady Caroline Price
By George Romney
Located in Miami, FL
DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be on one of its covers. The e...
Oil, Canvas
$479,778
H 30 in W 57 in D 0.5 in
D-Day Flag, 1940s, one of the first American flags flown on June 6th, 1944.
By United States Navy
Located in London, GB
An original, battle -scarred, 48 -star US flag from the minesweeper USS YMS -381, one of the first boats to start Operation Neptune. This flag is one of the rarest items from D -Day ...
Fabric
$5,414
H 93.31 in W 56.5 in D 84.65 in
ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CIRCA 1860 HAND CARVED BURR WALNUT HALF TESTER CANOPY BEd
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade in England Burr Walnut ornately carved Half Tester Canopy bed A very good looking, extremely comfortable and well-made bed, t...
Hardwood
$3,769
H 35.83 in W 59.85 in D 27.96 in
Antique George III Inlaid Flame Mahogany Sideboard, 18th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique George III inlaid flame mahogany bowfront sideboard, circa 1780 in date. The top is banded in satinwood and the sideboard has three oak lined frieze drawers...
Mahogany
Antique English Regency Flame Mahogany Sideboard 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique English Regency flame mahogany shaped serpentine bowfront sideboard, Circa 1820 in date. It is crossbanded, bordered with ebony lines and fitted with a cent...
Mahogany
$29,000
H 103 in W 62 in D 91 in
Antique Queen-Size Carved Four-Poster American Empire Bed, Philadelphia, c 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An extraordinary American empire four-poster bed in cherry wood from the Philadelphia area that appears in the book, Philadelphia Empire Furniture by Boor. Features an elaborate seri...
Cherry, Poplar
$4,455
H 36.62 in W 72.05 in D 29.14 in
Antique George III Flame Mahogany Serpentine Sideboard, 18th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a superb antique George III inlaid flame mahogany serpentine sideboard, circa 1790 in date. With wood banding and marquetry spandrels, the central frieze drawer flanked by ...
Mahogany
$4,500
H 31.25 in W 80 in D 35 in
Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Mahogany Sofa Reupholstered in White Silk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Duncan Phyfe Style Finely Carved Mahogany Parlor Sofa Reupholstered in Elegant White Patterned Silk Blend Upholstery This exquisite antique Duncan Phyfe style parlor sofa sh...
Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany
George II Style Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
A flame mahogany and rosewood banded Bureau cabinet, with an architectural cornice centred by a gilt crest, above two glazed doors enclosing 45 drawers and 19 pigeon holes above two ...
Wood
$239,889 / set
H 40.56 in W 21.26 in D 21.07 in
Six Imporatant George III 1760 Thomas Chippendale Chinese Pagoda Dining Chairs
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this important suite of museum quality, George III circa 1760-1765, Thomas Chippendale Chinese Pagoda top dining chairs with the original embroidered seat p...
Hardwood
Rare Near Pair of Regency Bookcases
Located in Stamford, CT
A rare near pair of English Regency period secretary or bookcases with rosewood, ebony, mahogany and satinwood inlay. The fitted drawers in the fall front are slightly different in c...
Ebony, Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood
$130,191
H 10.63 in W 18.9 in D 9.45 in
Incredible Pair of George III Period Sterling Silver Wine Coolers, London, 1804
By Joseph Preedy
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1804 by Joseph Preedy, this remarkable pair of Antique Sterling Silver Wine Coolers are richly decorated, featuring a sculptural Bacchanalian frieze depicting...
Sterling Silver
George III Mahogany And Satinwood Sideboard
Located in New Orleans, LA
This magnificent demi-lune Georgian sideboard displays the pinnacle of the era’s refined craftsmanship and boasts a distinguished provenance. Crafted of the finest mahogany, the era'...
Brass
$16,400
H 51.58 in W 52.76 in D 25.2 in
French 18th Century Large Louis XVI Marquetry Desk or Bureau à Cylindre
By Jean Kisling
Located in Berlin, DE
French 18th century large Louis XVI marquetry desk or bureau à Cylindre An exceptional marquetry secrétaire in the form of a bureau with a cylinder front and on a stand with four ...
Bronze
18th Century Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase China Cabinet
Located in Lymington, GB
A fine English mid-18th century mahogany secretaire / secretary / bookcase / china cabinet. Of lovely, deep, rich color, patina and quality. George III-period, circa 1760. The bold...
Mahogany
$20,561
H 87.01 in W 63.39 in D 22.45 in
OUTSTANDING 18TH CENTURY ANTIQUE 1760 THOMAS CHIPPENDALE WARDROBE LiNEN PRESS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this outstanding Georgian circa 1760 Flamed Mahogany Wardrobe or Linen press made during the lifetime of the...
Hardwood, Oak
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.