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Painted Secretary Desks

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French Provincial Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Provincial distress painted Secretary desk with an angled arched cornice above two paneled
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European French Provincial Desks

Materials

Wood

Charming Early 20th Century Italian Provincial Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This fetching two part grey painted secretary desk features an upper cabinet crowned by shaped
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Louis XV Secretaires

Italian Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful hand painted Chippendale style chinoiserie painted Secretary. Worn paint to be expected
Category

Vintage 1930s English Chippendale Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Italian Painted Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in West Hartford, CT
An Italian paint decorated secretary desk in antique white and orange with gold gilt detail. It
Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique French Painted Secretary Desk Display Cabinet
Located in West Hartford, CT
Exquisite antique French hand-painted 2 part drop front secretary desk display cabinet. Features
Category

Early 20th Century French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

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

Custom Hand-Painted Secretary Desk with Mirrored Doors
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This white-painted secretary bureau bookcase is custom and has been artfully hand painted with soft
Category

20th Century American Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Wood

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

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
Category

Late 20th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century Swedish Rococo Black and Blue Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Kastrup, DK
Swedish Rococo bureau, black and blue painted with charming and decorative patina. Elegant
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Best Venetian Paint Decorated Antique Rococo Secretary Desk Circa 1890s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a very sophisticated and beautifully painted secretary desk. The painted scenery shows
Category

Antique 1890s Italian Rococo Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Beech

Lo Studiolo di Ponziani Florentine Chinoiserie HandPainted Secretary Desk Italy
By Ponziani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
secretary desk Ponziani Firenze. Painted brilliant lemon yellow, beautiful and substantial wooden piece of
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Style Painted Drop Leaf Secretary or Desk
Located in New York, NY
Antique painted, drop leaf petite secretary or desk with just the perfect patina. Cabriole legs
Category

Early 20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Antique Jacobean Spanish Revival Walnut Hand Painted Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century Jacobean / Spanish Revival secretary desk. Made from walnut with hand carved and
Category

20th Century Jacobean Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut, Paint

Antique William Mary Spanish Revival Walnut Painted Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
20th Century Jacobean / Spanish Revival secretary desk. Made from walnut with hand carved and
Category

Early 20th Century William and Mary Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut, Paint

Chinese Hand Painted/Black Lacquered and Brass Secretary Desk
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Lacquered and Brass Secretary Desk. Featuring intricate hand-painted scenes on a rich black lacquer finish
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Louis XV Painted Drop Leaf Secretary Desk
Located in New York, NY
Absolutely breathtaking, this Louis XV drop leaf secretary has gorgeous carvings and original
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

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

Outstanding Italian Venetian Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk Circa 1920
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Italian secretary desk. The desk is in good original condition and has incredible curves. The desk
Category

Vintage 1920s Italian Rococo Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Creme Paint Decorated Rococo Italian Venetian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superbly painted and aged Italian Rococo style secretary desk. The desk features a great
Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Rococo Revival Desks

Materials

Walnut

Heckman Furniture Painted Slant Front Secretary Desk - Late 20th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, US
Heckman Furniture Painted Slant Front Secretary Desk - Late 20th Century This charming Heckman
Category

Late 20th Century American Adam Style Desks

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

Mid-Century Italian Pink / Green Painted French Style Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely mid-century hand painted Italian Secretary with French styling. The top is 8”W
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Desks

Materials

Metal

Antique White Painted Secretary Bureau from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak secretary or "bureau" reflects the grace and class of Swedish styling from the early 1800
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak, Paint

Vintage Custom Painted Italian French Regency Style Tall Secretary Desk Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful hand-painted vintage, two-piece secretary desk with matching chair. The pieces are
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Cane, Wood

Early Venetian Neo-Classical Style Painted Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a wonderful piece. It is an early Venetian neo-classical style secretary desk with original
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desks

Materials

Poplar

Late 20th Century Vintage Coastal Rattan Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic vintage Coastal secretary desk. A chic rattan frame with inset black lacquered panels
Category

Late 20th Century Philippine Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rattan, Paint

Antique Black Painted Oak Secretary Bureau from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
hardware. This secretary has been restored, all drawers fuction, desk top is solid and ready to be used and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak, Paint

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

Authentic 19th Century Paint Decorated French Louis XV Provincial Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is the epitome of charm. This gorgeous antique 1850s era French-made and original paint
Category

Antique 1850s French Louis XV Desks

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Lambert Hitchcock Black Harvest Stenciled Secretary Writing Desk Console
By Lambert Hitchcock
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 20th Century Lambert Hitchcock Black Forest stenciled ladies' secretary writing desk or console
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Maple, Paint

Antique Black Painted Secretary from Sweden with Hidden Storage
Located in Round Top, TX
entire secretary was given a (recent) black painted finish, which has been gently rubbed off along edges
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Tall Blue Painted Swedish Secretary Bureau, circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
. The entire secretary has been given a professional custom layered blue painted finish which has been
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian 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

Antique Adam Style Painted Decorated Mahogany Drop-Front Secretary, 20th Century
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Adam style mahogany drop-front secretary features bookmatched panels with hand-painted
Category

20th Century English Adam Style Desks

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century George III Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A beautiful secretary decorated in the chinoiserie style. Lots of storage.
Category

Antique 18th Century British Desks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Manhasset, NY
A fine paint decorated secretary desk, Italian. The double bookcase top over a drop front with an
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Hollywood Regency Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish paint decorated secretary / desk.
Located in Manhasset, NY
Bonnet top secretary desk with two doors over a four drawer base. Both top and bottom having hidden
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Brass

18th Century Gustavian Secretary Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
18th-century secretary desk in gustavian style with a drop-front desk and 3 drawers. Painted in a
Category

Antique 1780s Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Painted Venetian Secretary or Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
Venetian secretary with original hand painted finish and lovely floral design. Opening to 26" deep.
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires

Antique German Painted Pine Secretary Desk/Dresser
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning, 19th Century German pine secretary desk/chest of drawers with original hand painted
Category

Antique 1890s Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine, Paint

Hand-Painted Baroque Secretary Desk, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Magnificent 18th-century Baroque secretary desk with an impressive architectural structure. The
Category

Antique 18th Century European Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Original Painted 18th Century Writing Desk Secretary, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A second part of the 18th Century Baroque Period Scandinavian original Painted Writing Desk
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Black Painted Pine Secretary Desk, Sweden circa 1800-40
Located in Round Top, TX
perfectly to fit the age of this attractive secretary. Total Open Depth: 32” Floor to Desk Height: 28.5
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Pine, Paint

1930s Georgian Style Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk with Bookcase
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1930s Georgian style painted chinoiserie secretary desk with open bookcase top. It is
Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Georgian Red Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk With Hutch
Located in Rochester, NY
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch
Category

20th Century Unknown Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Venetian Chinoiserie and Creme Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Italian Venetian secretary desk is a striking example of decorative artistry, blending
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Emerald Green Lacquer Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk China Cabinet
Located in West Hartford, CT
Magnificent emerald green lacquer Chinoiserie secretary two part desk features a pagoda top and
Category

Vintage 1940s Chinese Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Wood, Paint

Italian Venetian Style Blue-Painted Trompe l Oeil Secretary Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
VENETIAN STYLE BLUE-PAINTED TROMPE L'OEIL SECRETARY DESK Circa early 20th century with later
Category

20th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Paint

Swedish Painted Pine Secretary Cabinet or Desk, 19th century
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Swedish Painted Pine Secretary, 19th century, bonnet top over two shaped cabinet doors, that open
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Early Painted Swedish Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
Early painted Swedish secretary desk (circa 1810-1830: drop-front reveals sixteen small
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Bone, Pine

Swedish Gustavian Style 1820s Grey Blue Painted Slant Front Desk Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood secretary circa 1820 with slant front desk, carved fluted
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Mora Clock/Secretary Desk
Located in Houston, TX
Swedish Mora clock/secretary desk, circa 1800.  
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Victorian Painted Grain Dragon Griffon Secretary Library Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Early 20th Century Victorian style secretary writing desk featuring painted grain finish
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Antique Genuine Swedish Escritoire, Original Faux Paint Country Secretary Desk
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine antique Swedish escritoire from the early 1800s. This escritoire, or secretary desk, is a
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Country Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Rare English Adams Paint Decorated Satinwood Secretary Desk circa 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb Adams style antique secretary desk with fantastic wood quality of the satinwood
Category

Antique Early 1900s English Adam Style Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Satinwood

Superb Shallow Depth French Country Painted Mesh Door Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous distressed-painted SHALLOW DEPTH secretary desk with slide out leather writing
Category

Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Brass, Wire

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Save "Painted Secretary Desks", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Painted Secretary Desks For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of painted secretary desks available for sale. The range of distinct painted secretary desks — often made from wood, paint and metal — can elevate any home. There are 201 antique and vintage painted secretary desks for sale at 1stDibs, while we also have 8 modern editions to choose from as well. There are all kinds of painted secretary desks available, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Rococo, louis xv and Baroque painted secretary desks are consistently popular styles. Éric Gizard, Jasper Furniture Company and Maitland Smith each produced beautiful painted secretary desks that are worth considering.

How Much are Painted Secretary Desks?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $5,744, while they’re typically $353 on the low end and $225,000 highest priced.

Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

Questions About Painted Secretary Desks
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A secretary desk works with the help of hinges that secure the writing surface to the rest of the piece. To use one, you simply pull down on the wooden door to open the hinge and lower the writing surface. Return the desk to its closed position by lifting the writing surface up. You'll find a selection of secretary desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Secretary desks originated in the early 18th century. They were typically used by secretaries and clerks and featured plenty of compacted drawers for stationary storage. On 1stDibs, find a collection of secretary desks from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    A secretary desk is called by its name because of its original function. When the desks first emerged in 19th-century France, the secretaries of estates used them to conduct business. Once they finished paying bills and reconciling accounts, they could raise the hinged writing surface and close the desk. Secretary desks are the workstations of choice in many busy households, especially those with spaces pulling double duty as offices by day and living rooms, dining rooms or bedrooms at night. On 1stDibs, shop an array of secretary desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021
    Yes, you can paint a leather desk top. You can transform an old leather desk top and add visual appeal with easy-to-use leather paint. If you don’t feel confident in trying this by yourself, get in touch with a furniture restorer or related professional for help. Find a variety of leather desk tops on 1stDibs.

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