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Painted Secretary Desks

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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

Vintage Country French Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant tall French country secretary desk with molding and wire mesh doors with a lovely faux
Category

Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Paint

Two Piece Quality Floral Paint Decorated Venetian Italian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful paint decorated desk with elaborate and well done painted flowers and floral
Category

Vintage 1920s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Swedish 18th Century Painted Secretary with Glass Doors and Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish painted wood tall secretary from the 18th century, with glass doors and slanted front
Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Scandinavian Two-Part Painted Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian two-part painted secretary from the 18th century, with carved crest, slant-front
Category

Antique 18th Century Scandinavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian 1800s Painted Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood tall secretary from the early 19th century, with diamond
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Rococo Period 1790s Painted Two-Part Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted wood two-piece tall secretary from the late 18th century, with
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian 1850s Rococo Style Tall Secretary with Slanted Desk and Original Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Rococo style two-part secretary from the mid-19th century, with slanted desk, mirrored
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Swedish 1790s Gustavian Period Two-Part Painted Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
, creamy white painted finish and multiple inner drawers inside the slant-front desk. Discover the
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretary Bureau Desk with Original Red Paint
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique secretary desk from Sweden dated 1897, with original paint and floral decorations made in
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Antique Swedish Secretary Desk Sideboard, Genuine Pine Light Paint with Patina
Located in Kramfors, SE
secretary desk with a painted interior. The green paint contrast nicely with the lighter exterior and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Country Sideboards

Materials

Pine

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

Fabulous 19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk
Located in Wainscott, NY
Exceptional Swedish secretary desk found in the Kebnekaise mountain region. This secretary was
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Metal

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
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Paint

Venetian Rococo Green Japanned Secretary Desk
Located in Essex, MA
With shaped arched cornice over a pair of doors enclosing a red painted interior with shelves over
Category

Antique 1760s Italian Rococo 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

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

English Queen Anne Style Secretary Desk
Located in New York, NY
An English Queen Anne style painted fall front two-part secretary desk. The upper section having
Category

Antique 19th Century British Secretaires

Materials

Mirror

Rare Monterey Furniture Secretary Desk, circa 1930s
By Monterey Furniture
Located in Fulton, CA
A scarce Monterey Furniture drop-front secretary desk in green with hand painted floral design
Category

20th Century American Rancho Monterey Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Tall Writing Desk Secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Tall writing desk secretary Swedish Black 19th Century Sweden. A writing desk made during the 19th
Category

Antique 19th Century European Gustavian 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

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

Gustavian 18th Century Scandinavian Tall Slanted Desk Secretary with Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Scandinavian Gustavian painted wood tall secretary from the 18th century, with reeded accents
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Vintage French Provincial Hand Carved White Secretary Desk and Display Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Provincial Hand Carved White Secretary Desk and Display Cabinet This hand carved
Category

Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

Baroque Style 1840s Swedish Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk and Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish painted wood Baroque style secretary with bonnet top, upper cabinet, slant-front desk
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Rococo 18th Century Tall Secretary with Bonnet Top and Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted wood two-part secretary from the 18th century, with bonnet top
Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Wood

European 18th Century Tall Secretary with Slant Front Desk and Old Glass Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European two-part tall secretary from the 18th century with gray / cream painted finish, old
Category

Antique 18th Century European Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Swedish 19h Century Painted Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A charming painted secretary style desk from 19th century, Sweden. The Swedes will often paint
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Pine

19th Century Louis XVI Style Antique French Red Chinoiserie Fall-Front Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
LOUIS XVI STYLE CHINOISERIE DECORATED RED-PAINTED FALL-FRONT SECRETARY DESK France, ca. last
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Brass

Venetian Chinoiserie Decorated Ladies Secretaire
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Country pale yellow painted secretary cabinet desk with light pink Chinese toile style decorations
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Cabinets

Italian Trompe l Oeil Painted Secretary Desk
Located in New York, NY
Italian Trompe l'Oeil Painted Secretary Desk.
Category

20th Century Desks

Chinoiserie Black and Gold Hand Painted Secretary Desk
Located in West Hartford, CT
Magnificent Chinoiserie decorated black secretary desk with exquisite hand painted landscape
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Ny Galleries Asian Inspired Secretary Desk
By New York Galleries
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
NY Galleries Asian inspired destressed painted secretary desk with 2 doors containing 2 shelves
Category

20th Century American Japonisme Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Venetian Floral Paint Decorated Antique Distressed Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular distressed-painted Italian-painted secretary desk from Italy. The desk is
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Regency Hand Painted Trompe L’oiel Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional vintage Regency secretary desk. Incredible hand painted Trompe L’oiel design. A real
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Paint

Directoire Period Hand Carved Painted Bureau De Pente or Secretary Desk
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This exceptional rare Directoire period bureau de pente or writing desk features intricately
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Antique White Painted Secretary Bureau from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
lovely secretary desk. One key included. Total depth is 37.75" when opened With over 37 years of
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Oak, Paint

Antique Late 18th Century Gustavian Period Swedish Pine Secretary Desk
Located in Peabody, MA
A fine late 18th century Gustavian period Swedish pine secretary desk in original ox blood, yellow
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine, Paint

Swedish Mid-20th Century Drop-Leaf Secretary Writing Desk with Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish drop-leaf secretary from the mid-20th century. This Swedish slant-top writing desk, with
Category

20th Century Swedish Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Early 19th Century Venetian Hand Painted Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Early 19th century Venetian hand painted secretary with a floral design. Has nice workable area and
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Desks

Materials

Wood

Antique Swedish Blue Painted Oak Rococo Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
the incredible painted finish distressed perfectly to fit the age of this attractive secretary
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Desks

Materials

Wood, Oak, Paint

18th c. Swedish Gustavian Period Painted Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
This is an exceptional Swedish Gustavian period secretary with library, circa 1780. This secretary
Category

Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Continental Hand-Painted Venetian Gilt Drop Front Secretary
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique continental Venetian gilt secretary desk or bookcase features hand-painted exterior and
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Hand Painted Venetian Bombay Form Secretary
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1960s hand painted Venetian bombay form secretary. It is a wonderful shade of green with
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Rococo Desks

Materials

Brass

Late 20th Century Vintage Asian Black Lacquered Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular vintage Asian secretary desk. A chic black lacquered cabinet with hand painted gilt
Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks

Materials

Metal

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
This is an exquisite Swedish Gustavian period painted secretary with library. Brass hardware and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks

Materials

Wood

Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
Magnificent decorated black with raised gilt chinoiserie broken arch bonnet top secretary desk with
Category

Mid-20th Century Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Exceptional 18thc Painted Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic painted Italian secretary with original designs, paint and interior silk fabric.
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer, Wood

19th Century Painted Venetian Secretary or Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century Baroque style Venetian polychrome painted pine tall secretary, in two parts
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Pine

Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk by Maitland Smith
By Maitland Smith
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Fabulous lacquered chinoiserie secretary made for Maitland Smith. The interior has many individual
Category

Vintage 1980s Asian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Antique Black Painted Secretary Rolltop Desk, Denmark circa 1840
Located in Round Top, TX
This lovely antique Danish secretary has been given a new black painted finish. The roll top desk
Category

Antique 19th Century Danish Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Antique White Painted Gustavian Secretary Desk Bureau, Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
Stately and elegant, this tall white Gustavian pine secretary shows off with the distinctive shape
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Gray Painted Gustavian Secretary Desk Bureau, Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
Stately and elegant, this tall dove gray gustavian pine secretary shows off with the distinctive
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Style Secretary / Writing Desk - Painted
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Swedish Gustavian Secretary / Writing Desk from early 19th century A rectangular top sitting above
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary, 18th Century Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Period Danish Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary. Refinished in painted black
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Monumental Distressed White Paint Decorated French Provincial Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous French provincial two piece secretary that is 105 inches
Category

Vintage 1950s French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Walnut

English Satinwood Paint Decorated Adams Style Secretary Desk with Bookcase top
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Adams style paint decorated secretary desk with 4 doors containing 3 shelves with a drop desk.
Category

Early 20th Century Adam Style Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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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
    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 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 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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