![]() 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.īrowse a range of antique and vintage secretary desks on 1stDibs, including mid-century modern secretaires, Georgian secretaires and others. “In this disposable world, fine furniture is always passed on and speaks to who its owner is.” “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. ![]() When closed, it’s a sophisticated, space-saving piece of furniture. When open, the secretary is a dynamic, versatile Wunderkammer. 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. 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.Īt first, secretaries were typically made from exotic woods, like rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood later, hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and mahogany were more common. 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. Traditionally, a secretary is composed of two parts - a chest of drawers on the bottom and a cabinet with shelves on the top. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments - pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers - are revealed. Antique furniture with hidden compartments have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th. Frequently made of wood, walnut and hardwood, all antique furniture with hidden compartments available were constructed with great care. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. An assortment of antique furniture with hidden compartments is available at 1stDibs. Your antique, new or vintage secretary desk has become the (chic) saving grace of the "new normal" at home.
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