Lyre Secretaire
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
20th Century Biedermeier Secretaires
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century English Regency Secretaires
Rosewood
Recent Sales
20th Century Austrian Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables
Birdseye Maple
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Mahogany
People Also Browsed
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Ethiopian Natural Specimens
Opal
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Antique Late 19th Century German Neoclassical Revival Shelves and Wall C...
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Vitrines
Glass, Walnut
Antique 19th Century English Chinese Chippendale Vitrines
Glass, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century German Neoclassical Revival Shelves and Wall C...
Wood, Oak
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Cabinets
Brass, Bronze
Antique 17th Century French Panelling
Softwood
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Stairs
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Floor Mirrors and Full-Length Mir...
Copper
Antique Early 1800s English Georgian Beds and Bed Frames
Upholstery, Mahogany
Antique 1840s French Renaissance Cabinets
Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Cabinets
Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century European Art Nouveau Architectural Elements
Brass
Lyre Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Lyre Secretaire?
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.