Extraordinary Mahogany Sécrétaire À Abattant, Circa 1810
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Secrétaire à abattant with arched bonnet and a fall front elaborately decorated with brass and copper inlay along with a scarab form drop pull. The arched door drop down to reveal co...
Brass, Copper
French Louis XVI Style Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant, Circa 1890-1900
Located in Winter Park, FL
A late 19th century French Louis XVI style secrétaire à abattant, or drop front secretary desk, crafted with intricate inlaid veneers of mahogany and various exotic woods.
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Classical Charles X Burled Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
A dramatic Charles X fall front secretary in astounding burled mahogany veneer. The original fossilized marble top is supported by an elliptical molding. The main body contains one u...
Mahogany
$4,520Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Classical Charles X Burled Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Miami, FL
A dramatic Charles X fall front secretary in astounding burled mahogany veneer. The original fossilized marble top is supported by an elliptical molding. The main body contains one u...
Mahogany
19th Century French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant, Mahogany & Marble
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately 19th century mahogany secretaire a abattant from France, circa 1810.
Marble, Brass
$13,705Sale Price|20% Off
French 18th century J.F. LELEU stamped secretaire à abattant
By Jean-François Leleu
Located in AALSMEER, NL
Exceptionally high quality furniture from an estate of a private collector Louis XVI Mahogany secretaire à abattant By J.F Leleu with its original ‘Bianca Carrara’ marble top with r...
Brass
$12,369Sale Price|30% Off
*An Exquisite 19th Century French Flame Mahogany Fitted Secretaire
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th-century French flame mahogany secretaire à abattant, or drop-front secretary desk.
Brass, Steel
French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant, Mahogany & Marble, 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
A handsome 19th-century French Empire style secrétaire à abattant crafted in richly figured mahogany and surmounted by its original black fossil marble top.
Marble
Antique Burled Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall cabinet with carved cavetto cornice, over a slim curved frieze drawer and one upper and two lower long drawers. The middle faux drawers drop down to the secretary. The fitted ...
Brass
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Early 19th century French mahogany wood Empire style drop front secretary with a removable black marble top. The secretary features two front side columns with bronze mounts detail w...
Brass
$3,289Sale Price|44% Off
19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this elegant antique Italian Secretaire dating back to the early 19th century, Empire period. An extremely refined Secretaire. Made of fine solid mahogany wood (accompani...
Marble
Antique French Charles X Secretary/Secrétaire à Abattant in Mahogany, c. 1825
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A Charles X secrétaire à abattant in mahogany, France, circa 1825.
Leather, Mahogany
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1815 French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant. Mahogany with mahogany & oak secondary wood.
Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Rococo Revival Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
Dating from around 1850, this is a wonderful antique French Rococo Revival Secretaire a Abattant featuring ormolu mounted mahogany, gonzalo alves and marquetry.
Marble, Ormolu
Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Secrétaire À Abattant
By André-Charles Boulle
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An Impressive Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted secrétaire à Abattant, In The Manner Of André Charles Boulle. This drop-front writing cabinet or secrétaire à abattant is finishe...
Ormolu
French Empire Secrétaire à Abattant, Walnut & Marble, Circa 1810
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century French Empire secrétaire à abattant made of richly figured, bookmatched walnut. This desk has a black fossil marble top resting above a hidden drawer, free o...
Marble, Brass
French 19th C. Second Empire Secrétaire À Abattant with Gold Ormolu Mounts
Located in Savannah, GA
This extraordinary French Second Empire period secre´taire a' abattan features flame mahogany, gilt brass-mounts and retains its original dark grey speckled granite top. Decorated th...
Granite, Brass, Ormolu
Circa 1790 Swedish Gustavian Marble Top Mahogany Desk Commode Chest
Located in Shippensburg, PA
GUSTAVIAN MAHOGANY SECRÉTAIRE À ABATTANT WITH MARBLE TOP Sweden, circa 1790 34 3/16" H x 17 3/4" D x 36 1/8" W Writing area: 13 1/4" D x 30" W x 26 3/8" from floor to underside of w...
Marble, Brass
$6,320Sale Price|20% Off
French Empire Mahogany Drop Front Secretary "Secrétaire à Abattant"
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A 19th century French Empire drop front secretary with black as a marble top and side columns with bronze mounts, three drawers below and one drawer above. Double brass locking syste...
Mahogany
Unavailable
H 60 in W 38 in D 18 in
Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant, 19th century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Empire Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Secretaire having a marble top over a single frieze drawer, with a fall front enclosure concealing a fitted interior over two long drawers, flanked by ...
Ormolu
Unavailable
H 59.06 in W 34.65 in D 18.9 in
Gilt Bronze-Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a` Abattant in French Empire Style, 1820
Located in Napoli, IT
The superstructure with a white marble top flanked by volute scrolls above a frieze drawer and recessed fall flap enclosing a fitted interior with mirror within columns over a flush ...
Unavailable
H 61.03 in W 39.77 in D 18.9 in
A Dutch Secretaire à Abattant with Fall-Front with Black Leather Inlay
Located in Oisterwijk, NL
A Dutch mahogany secretaire à abattant with fall front to reveal beautiful fitted interior with nice ormolu details and lots of hidden drawers.
Mahogany
18th Century Dutch Mahogany Inlaid Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Werkendam, NL
This fine mahogany Louis XVI secrétaire (circa 1780) from the second half of the 18th century is a wonderful practical piece of furniture offering a substantial writing / working sur...
Mahogany, Oak
Unavailable
H 56.5 in W 38 in D 15.75 in
French Empire Secretaire a Abattant with Cuban Acajou Mahogany
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This secretaire a abattant is the in French Empire style and is veneered in Cuban acajou mahogany, with bronze doré mounts and a gray Saint Anne marble top.
Marble, Bronze
Unavailable
H 61.42 in W 39.38 in D 17.72 in
19th Century Charles X Inlaid French Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Tricase, Italia
Rare secrétaire à abattant Carlo X, in flamed mahogany wood, finely inlaid in light wood with palmette and lyre motifs in the typical taste of Carlo X style.
Mahogany
Unavailable
H 61.03 in W 43.31 in D 18.51 in
Early 19th Century Louis Phillipe Mahogany Secretary a Abattant with Marble Top
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Antique Louis Phillipe Secretary with drop front desk opening to writing desk. Interior is eye maple veneered in the background there are six drawers with small handles. Flames mahog...
Marble, Bronze
Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in New York, NY
Surmounted by a Spanish brocatelle marble top, the frieze is centered by a foliate-ornamented urn flanked by two flaming lamps in front and stylized rosettes on either side. Bordere...
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Charles X French Secretaire with Marble
Located in Wolverhampton, GB
A 19th century French Charles X mahogany and sycamore line inlaid secretaire à àbattant The rounded rectangular St Anne marble top above a cavetto drawer and a fall front enclosing a...
Mahogany
Flame Mahogany Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
A fine early 19th century flame mahogany secretaire a abattant with ormolu mounts, the upper body with satinwood interior, original red leather and gilt tooled writing surface, and a...
Mahogany
Fine Early 19th Century Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in London, GB
A fine early 19th century figured mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant.
French Empire Flamed Mahogany Secretaire a'Abattant Desk ca. 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LOUIS PHILIPPE FLAMED MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A'ABATTANT France, circa 1830 Item # 407TCJ10P This positively stunning secretary desk from the second quarter of the 19th century features...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
French 19th Century Empire Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stunning 19th century Empire secretary, in mahogany, from France. The desk has a black, fossil marble top with finished edge, that is in spectacular antique condition. The front of...
Brass
19th Century Louis Philippe Flame Mahogany Secrétaire a Abattant
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful and wonderfully preserved fall front secretary exhibits striking amber and nut colored grain. The piece also retains its original blue gray fossilized stone top as wel...
Marble
French 19th Century Mahogany Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A dignified 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France . This desk has an exceptional black, Belgian Granite top with fossil inclusions resting above a single drawer d...
Stone, Granite, Metal, Brass
French Empire Flamed Mahogany Secretaire a'Abattant Desk ca. 1830
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LOUIS PHILIPPE FLAMED MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A'ABATTANT France, circa 1830 Item # 407TCJ10P This positively stunning secretary desk from the second quarter of the 19th century features...
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Antique French Louis XVI Style Inlaid Mahogany Secretaire à Abattant
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful petite antique French Louis XVI style drop front secretary desk France, Circa Late 19th century Mahogany with inlaid satinwood banding and marquetry, brass hardware...
Brass
Regency Mahogany Gillows Secretaire à Abattant
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Regency fiddleback mahogany secretaire à abattant in the manor of Gillows, with a black slate top.
Marble
French Louis Philippe Mahogany Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome French 19th century bookmatched mahogany secretaire á abattant with a black marble top.
Mahogany
French 19th Century Mahogany Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A divine 19th century mahogany secrétaire à abattant from France, circa 1810.
Marble, Brass
Italian Empire Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Dallas, TX
Late 18th / Early 19th century Italian Empire secretaire a abattant decorated with ivory inlay, marquetry and penwork having floral designs and scenes with figures, columns at sides ...
Marble
Secrétaire à Abattant by Molitor
By Christian Dell
Located in New Orleans, LA
This most extraordinary secrétaire à abattant by Bernard Molitor displays superb proportion and balance.
Marble, Ormolu
Sold
H 45 in W 41 in D 12 in
Exceptional French Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant Desk
By Martin Carlin
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A very fine and exceptional quality French ormolu/bronze mounted lacquered, mahogany and marquetry Secretaire a Abattant. In the manner of Martin Carlin.
Ormolu
19th C. French Mahogany Fall-Front Desk Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Chicago, IL
19th century French mahogany Secre´taire a` Abattant / fall-front desk with marble top. There is a single slim drawer at the top with a decorative escutcheon. The front of the desk f...
Marble
French Secretaire Abattant
Located in San Francisco, CA
Empire Mahogany, Top Section of a Secretaire Abattant. Richly figured mahogany secretaire writing surface flanked by pair of caratyd topped pilasters.
19th Century Louis Philippe Secrétaire a Abattant
Located in New Orleans, LA
Both practical and eye-catching, this handsome Louis Philippe secrétaire à abattant is beautifully crafted of the finest materials.
Carrara Marble
French 19th Century Transitional Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This unique secretary desk is made of beautiful mahogany with a white marble top and offers plenty of storage. It is a transitional piece with Directoire and Louis XVI influences. Al...
Mahogany
Fine Mahogany French Empire Period Secretaire a' Abattant, France Circa 1815
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The richly figured mahogany case showing a black marble top over a single flush mounted drawer, the drop-down panel fronting an interior compartment housing small drawers and a gilt ...
Marble
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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