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French Empire Secrétaire á Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome 19th century French Empire secrétaire à abattant made of richly figured, bookmatched
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Secretaire "a Abbatant" Napoleon III Empire, 19th Century
By Empire Furniture
Located in Madrid, ES
: Mahogany wood
Additional Information: Secretaire "a Abbatant" French, Empire Style, 19th century.
This
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French Secretaire à Abattant, First Empire Period
Located in Montreal, Quebec
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Empire secretaire à abattant, France around 1810
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary in mahogany veneer with two-door bottom part as well as dark marble shelf and fire-gilded fittings. Behind the writing flap with brown leather there are more drawers and co...
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Secretaire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful classic piece.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Empire Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A statley 19th century mahogany secre´taire a` abattant from France, circa 1810. This desk has an
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Empire desk Secretaire a Abattant
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful upright secrétaire from the French Empire period. The desk is made of oak with burr
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretaire Abattant Secretary Desk. Item features 2
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 61.5 in W 41.25 in D 20.25 in
Circa 1810 Empire Period Secretaire à Abatant
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Empire period, c.1810, Secretaire à Abatant, French. Walnut. Demi-columns with bronze dore mounts
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Steel
19th C. French Empire Style Louis Philippe Period Secretaire Abattant
Located in Forney, TX
detail, and nicely aged mellow patina over the whole. Finished in French Empire taste, having a molded
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Fruitwood
French Walnut Secrétaire á Abbatant
Located in Faversham, GB
A beautiful walnut Secrétaire à Abattant in the Empire style of the 19th century,
The top bears a
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Revival Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Patent Secretaire, France, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Patent secretaire with mahogany veneered frame and columns with bronze capitals and bases.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Burr Walnut Clapper Empire Secretaire with Detached Columns and Secret Drawer
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This beautiful Empire clapper secretaire is made of burr walnut. It has very elegant detached
Category
Antique 1850s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 56.3 in W 31.5 in D 18.12 in
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
Category
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Granite, Brass, Ormolu
c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary. Opens to reveal lovely storage space. There are nooks
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Secretaire in Thuja Root Veneer, probably France, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Secretary desk with a white marble top and thuja root veneer. The front of the desk is designed as a highboy, with the top three drawers forming a door. Below, there are three additi...
Category
Antique 1830s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Empire Style French Secretary “Retour d’Egypte”
Located in Austin, TX
Secretary from France in the Empire style. This piece is made of mahogany that has been ebonized
Category
Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
Empire Fall Top Desk, France, 1810
Located in Belmont, MA
Introducing a remarkable Empire Fall Top Desk, hailing from France during the period of 1800-1810
Category
Antique Early 1800s European Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Empire Secretary à abattant, France early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
French Empire secretary à abattant with a two-door base, two wide drawers and a flat writing flap
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Mahogany, Maple
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk.
With a grey marble top over
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk.
With a grey marble top over
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Mahogany Bureau à Cylindre Writing Table, circa 1810
Located in Rome, IT
A French gilt-metal mounted mahogany bureau à cylindre writing desk.
With a grey marble top over
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Empire Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Imported French Empire Flame Mahogany Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marble-Top Abattant Secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass
H 55.5 in W 38.5 in D 17.5 in
Early 19th c. French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Early 19th c. French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk. Gray black marble top. Bronze
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Empire Flame Mahogany Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Classic antique Early 19th Century French Empire drop front secretary desk made with magnificent
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Black French Empire Polished Ebony Secretary, Antique Birch Cabinet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
secretaire represents the First French Empire time period, era also known as Napoleonic France. Wear
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze
H 61 in W 39.5 in D 21 in
19th Century Empire Walnut Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk in Flame Mahogany Drop Down
Located in Atlanta, GA
This French Empire Abattant Secretary Desk from the late 19th century is a striking piece of
Category
Antique 1890s Empire Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mahogany
H 57 in W 37.5 in D 18.5 in
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 58 in W 41.75 in D 20.25 in
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 58.67 in W 38.98 in D 18.51 in
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 55.71 in W 35.24 in D 14.97 in
18th Century Empire Secretary Veneered with Mahogany
Located in Opole, PL
We present you an antique piece of furniture covered with mahogany veneer with beautiful grain. It is topped with a green marble board.
The whole is dated the turn of the 18th and th...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
19th Century Empire Drop-Front Oak Secretary Desk or Abattant, Chest France
Located in Miami, FL
Secretaire a abattant, France circa 1820, Biedermeier period. The outside with fall front and two
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Biedermeier Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 56.7 in W 38 in D 16.54 in
Antique Empire Style Secretary with Brass and Marble Top mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
-embossed leather inset, behind it richly divided secretaire division. Cover plate of green marble with grey
Category
20th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
H 64.97 in W 27.56 in D 15.75 in
Spectacular Napoleon III Empire Secretaire 19th Century RESTORED
By Empire Furniture
Located in Madrid, ES
Spectacular Napoleon III Empire Secretaire 19th Century
France
in mahogany, mahogany root
rich
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Materials
Mahogany
Mahogany and Gilded Bronze Cylinder Desk, Empire Style, 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Large cylinder desk in mahogany and flamed mahogany veneer in the Empire style. This secretary with
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
H 50.01 in W 56.11 in D 28.35 in
French Transition Period secretary c. 1760 Jean-Francois Dubut
Located in Münster, DE
Secretary à battant - Jean-Francois Dubut
Elaborately crafted bureau à battant, Paris circa 1760, Transition, Jean-Francois Dubut
rosewood, amaranth, violet and ebony veneered on o...
Category
Antique 1760s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
1820s Straight Biedermeier secretary in cherry veneer
By Biedermeier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Austria. The piece is French polished, with some signs of wear but generally in good condition.
A symbol
Category
Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Cherry
19th C. Royal Antique Burl Wood Secretary Desk & Black Leather Drop Leaf Top Hrh
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th century secretary " Secrétaire a' Abattant " desk " Retour D'Egypt " Provenance, Succession
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
H 61 in W 31 in D 18.5 in
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
Category
Antique 1870s French Empire More Carpets
Materials
Mahogany
French First Empire Period, circa 1805, ‘Secretaire Abattant’
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most powerful and of the highest quality French First Empire period, Circa. 1805, "Secretaire
Category
Antique 19th Century French Desks
Materials
Ormolu
Empire style Mahogany secretaire abattant, circa 1840
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th Century French Mahogany marble topped Empire style Secretaire Abattant
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Revival Desks
Materials
Mahogany
1800s Antique French Empire Style, Mahogany, Gilt, Desk, Secretaire a Abattant!!
Located in Austin, TX
Gorgeous antique secretaire a abattant, desk, French Empire style, mahogany, gilt, 1800s, 19th
Category
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble
H 56.5 in W 37.25 in D 22.5 in
19th Century French Empire Walnut Fall-Front Secretaire
Located in Southampton, NY
Grey marble top above a single long drawer, two columns with gilded detailing on either side of fall-front desk enclosing six small drawers surrounding one larger drawer and original...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Walnut, Giltwood
19th Century French Empire Secretaire
Located in Nashville, TN
This 19th century French Empire secretaire features lovely columns with finely cast gilt brass
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble
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
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century Empire Flame Mahogany and Black Marble Secretaire
Located in Toledo, Castilla La Mancha
Wonderful French empire secretaire, early 19th century. Flame mahogany, Belgian black marble
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
H 57.09 in W 42.13 in D 20.87 in
Secrétaire Bonheur du jour Empire
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
a very unusual secretaire Bonheur du jour with black marble top.
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
French Empire Period Painted Oak Secretaire Cabinet, circa 1820
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
This is a really beautiful French Empire period painted oak secretaire cabinet, with well painted
Category
Antique 1820s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Gilt Bronze-Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a` Abattant in French Empire Style, 1820
Located in Napoli, IT
, and the general design, make it an authentic Empire period piece.
Category
Antique 1720s French Empire Secretaires
H 59.06 in W 34.65 in D 18.9 in
19th Century, Empire Secretaire, Mahogany Feather, Gilded Bronze
Located in PALERMO, IT
Empire secretaire, veneered in mahogany feather wood, and adorned with applications in finely
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Napoleonic Empire Period Mahogany Secretaire A Abbattant, circa 1820
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
This is a beautifully made and stylish French early 19th century Napoleonic Empire period
Category
Antique 1820s French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Brass
H 53.1 in W 32.6 in D 14.5 in
19th Century French Mahogany Secrétaire
Located in Milan, IT
French mahogany secrétaire A-vantaux, first quarter of the 19th century. The secretaire has a high
Category
Antique 1810s French Empire Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century Empire Style Secretaire a Abbatant
Located in Los Gatos, CA
Late 19th/Early 20th Century Empire Style Gilt Metal Mounted Mahogany Secretaire a Abbatant
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Third Republic Secretaire Abattant, French
Located in Sydney, NSW
A 19th century secretaire abattant in the Empire taste. Bookmatched feathered mahogany, the
Category
Antique 1870s French Empire Revival Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
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
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Ormolu
Beautiful 19th Century Droptop Secretaire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very elegant 19th century secretaire with drop-top and gallery. Features several drawers and brass
Category
Antique 19th Century French Empire Secretaires
19th Century Third Empire Secretaire a Abbatant in the Louis XVI Taste
Located in Sydney, NSW
This secretaire is of desirable compact size and has recently undergone museum quality
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Brass, Bronze
H 55.52 in W 30.71 in D 16.54 in
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French Empire Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the French empire secretaire you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, mahogany and metal, every French empire secretaire was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a French empire secretaire — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A French empire secretaire is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Empire styles are sought with frequency. Iporito Ceri each produced at least one beautiful French empire secretaire that is worth considering.
How Much is a French Empire Secretaire?
The average selling price for a French empire secretaire at 1stDibs is $6,677, while they’re typically $1,200 on the low end and $90,000 for the highest priced.
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.
Questions About French Empire Secretaire
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The Classical world is primarily what influenced French Empire furniture. Greek and Roman motifs appear on many pieces. In addition, the opulence of Egyptian furniture inspired furniture makers active during the period. On 1stDibs, shop a range of French Empire furniture.
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