secretaries

Buy antique, Biedermeier, and vintage writing desks

A writing desk is the writing furniture for people who find a desk too austere: open the flap, work, close the flap, and the living room looks tidy again. At Hauptstadt Möblerei, you will find one of Germany's largest selections of refurbished writing desks in Germany: from the Biedermeier writing desk made of cherry wood to the Wilhelminian-era bureau and the slim mid-century teak writing desk. Every piece is an original, inspected in our Berlin workshop and immediately available.

Which writing desk is right for you?

The design determines how you can use the writing desk:

• Drop-front writing desk: The slanted front folds forward and becomes the writing surface. Small compartments and drawers are located behind it. The classic form from the Baroque, Biedermeier, and Wilhelminian eras.
• Top-section writing desk: Chest of drawers with a writing flap and a top section with doors or a display cabinet. Ample storage space, a showpiece for period apartments.
• Roll-top writing desk: A roll-top made of wooden slats closes off the workspace. Popular around 1900 and in the 1930s, ideal for a home office because everything can simply remain in place.
• Writing chest: Chest of drawers with a pull-out writing surface or flap, shallower than a top-section writing desk and also suitable for small rooms.
• Cylinder bureau and wall-mounted writing desk: Less common, but regularly available: the cylinder bureau with a curved roll-top and the space-saving wall-mounted writing desk.

Antique, Biedermeier, or vintage writing desk: the periods

An antique writing desk from the 19th century can be recognized by hand-cut dovetail joints, walnut or mahogany veneers, and a patina that cannot be replicated. Biedermeier writing desks (1815–1848) are simple and light-colored, usually made of cherry or birch, with clean surfaces and little ornamentation. Wilhelminian-era writing desks (1870–1900) are darker, often made of oak or walnut, with columns, carvings, and a top section. Art Nouveau introduces flowing lines, Art Deco glossy veneers and geometric shapes. The mid-century writing desk from the 1950s to the 1970s is lightweight, often made of teak or rosewood, and stands on slender legs. Discover more in our collection Mid-Century and among the antiques.

What sets our secretaire desks apart from antique dealers and classified ads

Every secretaire desk passes through our workshop in Berlin-Lichtenberg. We inspect flaps, hinges, and drawer runners, treat surfaces, and replace missing fittings. You do not receive a project, but a finished piece of furniture: with photos from all sides, precise measurements, and an honest condition description. More than 24,000 customers have bought from us, rating us 4.9 stars on Google and Trustpilot.

View a secretaire desk in Berlin or have it delivered anywhere in Germany

In our showroom in Berlin-Lichtenberg there are usually several dozen secretaire desks side by side across 4,000 m². Open the flaps, sit down, and compare them. Open Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., no appointment necessary. If you do not live in Berlin, order online: We deliver throughout Germany, securely packaged and insured.

Frequently asked questions about secretaire desks

What is the difference between a secretaire desk and a writing desk?

A Writing desk has an open, fixed worktop. A secretaire desk closes the workspace with a flap, roll-top, or pull-out and provides compartments behind it for mail, pens, and documents. When closed, it looks like a chest of drawers or a cabinet.

Can I use an antique secretaire desk as a home office?

Yes, this is the most popular use. A laptop fits on every flap, and roll-top desks often even accommodate a monitor and keyboard. The unfolded writing surface is generally at normal desk height. You can find the exact dimensions for each piece.

How can I tell whether a secretaire desk is genuinely old?

By the hand-cut dovetail joints in the drawers, veneers with lively grain, old fittings, and an even patina. For each piece, we state the period and condition as precisely as the available evidence allows.

How is the secretaire desk delivered?

Securely packaged and insured throughout Germany. In Berlin, you can also collect your secretaire desk directly from the showroom.