Empire Abattant
Antique 1890s Empire Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Revival Desks
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Leather, Mahogany, Maple
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Empire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 1870s French Empire More Carpets
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Leather, Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Granite, Brass, Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Revival Secretaires
Brass
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1720s French Empire Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 1870s French Empire Revival Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Empire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century European Biedermeier Desks
Bronze
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 1810s Austrian Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century American Empire Desks
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Empire Buffets
Marble, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Desks
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Antique Late 19th Century Secretaires
Granite
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble
Vintage 1980s American Empire Secretaires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks
Stone, Granite, Metal, Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble
Antique Early 19th Century Desks
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Brass
Antique 1850s French Empire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Desks
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Restauration Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 1820s English Empire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Mid-19th Century Secretaires
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble
French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Empire Secretaires
Marble, Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Marble, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Antique Early 1800s French Empire Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Furniture
Mahogany
Antique 1820s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Leather, Wood
People Also Browsed
Antique 18th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Pedestals and Columns
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Beds and Bed Frames
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Center Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Bookcases
Pine
Antique 1860s Scandinavian Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Vitrines
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble
Antique 19th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Brass
Antique 1840s German Biedermeier Secretaires
Mahogany
Antique 19th Century French Empire Buffets
Marble, Brass
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Maple
Antique 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Brass
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires
Wood, Mahogany
Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires
Maple, Oak
Antique Early 19th Century European Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
Empire Abattant For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Empire Abattant?
Finding the Right Secretaires for You
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.
Read More
The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home
Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.
What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?
The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.
This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once
Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.
28 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name
Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.
Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition
Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.
Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way
Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.
Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture
In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.
These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project
From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.