Chinoiserie Secretary
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1970s Vintage Chinoiserie Secretary From Jasper Cabinet Co
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in Hartville, OH
Beautiful piece. Pristine original condition. Very rare leather writing surface inset. Artist hand-painted scenes from the orient.
Condition Disclosure:
Please understand nearly ...
Category
Vintage 1970s North American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
Black Laquered Asian Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk and Chair
Located in West Hartford, CT
Black and gold chinoiserie vintage Asian secretary desk that comes with matching chair. Spectacular
Category
Vintage 1970s Chinese Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Fine English Canary Yellow Chinoiserie Secretary Desk, circa 1930
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a handmade secretary desk that is one of the most beautiful we have ever had, in terms of
Category
Vintage 1930s English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Italian Rococo Style Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase Cabinet, 19th Century
Located in Cypress, CA
Elegant 19th century Italian chinoiserie Rococo style gilt and red decorated with gesso secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood
Maitland Smith Black Lacquer
Hermes Orange Interior Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Maitland Smith
Located in West Hartford, CT
Maitland Smith 20th Century black lacquer two-piece secretary with coveted Hermes orange interior
Category
Vintage 1980s Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Fine and Rare 18th C Georgian Black Lacquered and Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and rare 18th century Georgian black lacquered and Chinoiserie decorated elaborate secretary.
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Very Fine George 11 Style 19th C Grand Tortoise and Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A magnificent 19th century large George11 faux tortoise and Chinoiserie decorated secretary. Hand
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English George II Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century One Of A KInd Chinoiserie Secretary with Heavy Bronze Mounts
Located in Manhasset, NY
A spectacular one of a kind Continental walnut secretary bookcase in the chinoiserie taste, late
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Black Lacquered Italian Chinoiserie Petite Secretary
By Baker Furniture Company, Fornasetti
Located in Houston, TX
A beautiful black lacquered Italian chinoiserie secretary. Intricately painted detail of Chinese
Category
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Antique Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Slant Front Secretary in the Queen Anne Style
Located in Houston, TX
Very Fine English made slant front chinoiserie secretary. Red lacquered and
Hand-painted on all
Category
Early 20th Century English Desks
Materials
Wood
Early Georgian Style Chinoiserie Cabinet / Secretary Desk W/ Carved Pagoda Base
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early 20th century Georgian style chinoiserie secretary cabinet on a heavily carved
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Ornate Carved Elm Wood and Brass Inlay Chinoiserie Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous ornate carved elm wood Chinoiserie secretary desk. The desk features beautiful carved
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Queen Anne-Style Chinese Red Chinoiserie Desk and Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
a Queen Anne-style Chinese red (vermillion) chinoiserie secretary / desk and bookcase with all over
Category
Mid-20th Century English Queen Anne Bookcases
Materials
Wood
George I Style, Chinoiserie, Green-Japanned Desk, Bookcase, Parcel-Gilt, 1920s
Located in Manhasset, NY
Chinoiserie, Secretary Desk with Bookcase in the George I Style, Green Lacquer, Giltwood, China
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese George I Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Italian Venetian Chinoiserie and Creme Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
in a refined living space, this Venetian chinoiserie secretary desk embodies elegance and
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Chinoiserie Motif Hand Painted Drexel Black Lacquer Console Table with Drawer
By James Mont, Henredon, Drexel
Located in Chattanooga, TN
pairing this piece with our Maddox black lacquer Chinoiserie secretary desk (sold separately). Drexel logo
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Console Tables
Materials
Mahogany, Lacquer, Paint
Painted Chinoiserie Style Secretary
Located in Manhasset, NY
A very chic, blue and white hand painted secretary cabinet, in the Chinoiserie style. Fine custom
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Yellow Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Exqusite 19th century English Chinoiserie decorated yellow secretary. Beautiful handpainted Asian
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Handpainted Secretary / Desk in Chinoiserie Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Italian handpainted secretary / desk in chinoiserie design, top features molded shape cornice with
Category
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wool
Pair of Chinoiserie Style Ebonized Secretary Bookcases
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of charming ebonized bookcases in the Chinoiserie taste, circa 1950s, each ebonized and parcel
Category
Vintage 1950s English Chinoiserie Bookcases
Materials
Wood
18th Century English Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary Cabinet
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand 18th century English lacquered secretary cabinet made in the George III style and decorated
Category
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Asian Chinese Chinoiserie Carved Writing Desk Secretary
Located in West Hartford, CT
Unusual dark Chinese secretary desk, circa early 20th century, features intricately carved detail
Category
Antique Early 1900s Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Silver Leaf Chinoiserie Cabinet/Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
Chinoiserie painted cabinet with drop desk. Vanilla white with silver leaf panels, the interior is
Category
20th Century Cabinets
Vintage English Red and Black Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine vintage English red and black Chinoiserie decorated secretary. Beautiful hand painted
Category
20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Yellow Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine English secretary cabinet with hand painted Chinoiserie design. Such pretty decorative
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Chinoiserie Decorated Chippendale Style Ebonized Drop Front Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
A vintage Chippendale style secretary offers chinoiserie decorated ebonized finish with landscape
Category
20th Century European Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Metal
Georgian Style, Chinoiserie, Beige Secretary Desk, Bureau Cabinet, Japanned
Located in Manhasset, NY
Japanned, Georgian Style Chinoiserie, Beige Secretary Desk, Bureau Cabinet
This is a highly
Category
1990s Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Wood
18th Century Chinoiserie Italian Two-Piece Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in Manhasset, NY
18th century chinoiserie Italian two piece secretary desk / bookcase. This spectacular one of a
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century English Secretary Bookcase with Later Chinoiserie Decoration
Located in Charlottesville, VA
An 18th century English secretary bookcase with later Chinoiserie decoration in gilt and polychrome
Category
Antique 18th Century British Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Vintage Regency Chinoiserie Mirrored Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning vintage Regency Secretary desk. Beautiful hand painted Chinoiserie detail on a saffron
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Mirror, Wood
19th Century Italian Lacquered Secretary with Raised Chinoiserie Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Extraordinary rare 19th century Italian lacquered red secretary with raised chinoiserie design
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Karges Ebonized, Gilt
Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk 20th Century
By Karges Furniture
Located in Big Flats, NY
A tall secretary by Karges offers ebonized wood construction with upper having carved shell form
Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Union National Lacquered Chinoiserie Breakfront China Display Secretary Cabinet
By Union National
Located in Dayton, OH
Chinoiserie landscape designs were then hand painted on each door with birds, butterflys, flowers, figures
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Cupboards
Materials
Glass, Hardwood, Lacquer, Paint
Fine 18th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine late 18th century English George 11 black lacquered and Chinoiserie decorated secretary. Red
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Lo Studiolo di Ponziani Florentine Chinoiserie HandPainted Secretary Desk Italy
By Ponziani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chinoiserie hand-painted secretary, Lo Studiolo di Ponziani, Florence, Italy. Chinoiserie painted
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English Georgian Chinoiserie-Decorated Secretary Desk / Cabinet
Located in Tarry Town, NY
English Georgian-style black / gilt secretary desk / cabinet painted in traditional gold
Category
20th Century English Georgian Cabinets
Materials
Gold, Brass
Georgian Chinoiserie Cream Lacquered Hand Painted Secretary Desk With Bookcase
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Brass
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and lighted bookcase
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Brass
Georgian Style Slant Drop Front Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic English George III style slant drop front secretary chest featuring a lacquered case
Category
20th Century Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century 3-Piece Diminutive Lacquer Secretary Desk with Nice Chinoiserie
Located in Milford, NH
A fine three-piece diminutive black lacquer secretary desk with extensive chinoiserie or japanned
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Breakfront Sideboard China Cabinet Secretary
By Union National
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant and sought after two piece chinoiserie black lacquered breakfront by Union National, NY
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Materials
Glass, Wood, Lacquer
Varnished Secretary Desk with Chinoiserie Décor, England, 1730
Located in Greding, DE
The lacquered Secretary Desk stands on four feet and is decorated with polychrome Chinese sceneries
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century English Secretaires
Jasper Midcentury Chinoiserie Hand Painted Secretary Desk Display Cabinet
Located in West Hartford, CT
Iconic Jasper Furniture signed two-piece secretary cabinet which becomes multi-purpose piece when
Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood, Mahogany
English Chinoiserie / Georgian Style Red and Black Secretary Desk
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian-style contemporary black and red faux lacquer Chinoiserie two-piece secretary desk
Category
20th Century Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Baker Furniture Style Georgian Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk
In the manner of
Category
Vintage 1960s American Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Italian 20th Cent Painted and Gilt Chinoiserie Decorated Two-Part Secretary Desk
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The upper part with an arched cornice features two doors opening up to a Venetian red painted interior. The lower part has a fall front opening up to a Venetian red and gilt decorate...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Chinoiserie and Cream-Painted Italian Queen Anne Style Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This Queen Anne style cream-painted bureau cabinet is decorated overall with pastel chinoiserie
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Wonderful Maitland Smith Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk Queen Anne Style
By Maitland Smith
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Wonderful Maitland Smith Chinoiserie decorated secretary desk. Leather top writing surface that
Category
Late 20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French Hand-Painted Secretary Desk, 20th Century Chinoiserie Cabinet
Located in West Hartford, CT
20th century hand-painted lighter green with golds, blue and white floral accents painted on front, sides and legs. Not an antique, looks to be later 20th century.
Category
Late 20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Wood
French Chinoiserie Style Faux Bamboo Secretary Desk Writing Table Secretaire
Located in West Hartford, CT
Statement making French chinoiserie style secretary desk features a drop down black leather writing
Category
Mid-20th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Faux Bamboo, Wood
English George III Polychrome Decorated Secretary in the Chinoiserie Taste
Located in Dallas, TX
An English George III polychrome decorated secretary executed in the Chinoiserie taste, late 18th
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English George III Bookcases
Materials
Wood
18th Century English Tall Secretary with Original chinoiserie
Inside Too!
Located in Atlanta, GA
A English George III tall secretary, with its original chinoiserie painted exterior and interior
Category
Antique 18th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Italian Hand Painted Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
abattant". Crafted and hand painted with chinoiserie and floral motif in northern Italy, circa 1780, the
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Georgian Style Chinoiserie Painted Narrow Bookcase Secretary Desk circa 1920
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
piece painted bookcase or secretary desk. The piece dates to teh 1920s era and is in good condition with
Category
Vintage 1920s English Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Italian Painted Secretary in Celadon Blue-Green
Located in Dallas, TX
piece secretary is painted in a beautiful chinoiserie style depicting classical scenes and flowers.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Fine early 1800s Era English Georgian Chinoiserie Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a rare and unique form of Chinese Chippendale two piece secretary desk. The desk was made
Category
Antique 1820s English Chinese Chippendale Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Late 19th-Early 20th Century George II Style Chinoiserie Drop Front Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 19th-early 20th century George II style chinoiserie drop front secretary, circa 1900
An
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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Chinoiserie Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal chinoiserie secretary for your home. A chinoiserie secretary — often made from wood, lacquer and metal — can elevate any home. There are many kinds of the chinoiserie secretary you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Each chinoiserie secretary bearing Georgian, Rococo or Mid-Century Modern hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made chinoiserie secretary over the years, but those crafted by Baker Furniture Company, John Widdicomb and Karges Furniture are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Chinoiserie Secretary?
Prices for a chinoiserie secretary start at $1,080 and top out at $50,000 with the average selling for $8,500.
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.
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