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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
Graceful Swedish Antique Secretary with White Chalk Paint
Located in Round Top, TX
paint finish on this lovely Louis XIV style secretary. The close up photos #6-9 will help you appreciate
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
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
Antique White Painted Swedish Country Secretary Bureau, circa 1820-40
Located in Round Top, TX
exterior and blue interior painted finish bring new life to this lovely "bureau" or secretary desk.
Upper
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Wood Drop-Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood drop-front secretary from the 19th century, with dentil
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Swedish Gustavian Style 1850s Blue Gray Painted Slant Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style slant front secretary from circa 1850 with blue gray painted finish and
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Antique Swedish Secretary Bureau Painted Blue
Located in Round Top, TX
The graceful lines of this oak secretary or "bureau" reveal its Swedish country heritage. The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
An exquisite orange / red (or red / orange) with gilt chinoiserie pattern design secretary, two
Category
20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$13,750
18th Century Swedish Baroque Period Secretary with Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish Baroque period slant-front secretary from the 18th century in two parts with arched
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
Swedish Gustavian Style Gray Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Fluted Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
, carved fluted motifs and gray painted finish. This Swedish Gustavian-style secretary, crafted during the
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Blue Painted Swedish Gustavian Period Slant-Front Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish late Gustavian period painted wood slant-front secretary from the early 19th century with
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
1790s Swedish Period Gustavian Painted Drop-Front Secretary with Lower Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian period painted wood drop-front secretary with original hardware from the late
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Venetian Painted and Gold Leaf Bombe Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Make a statement in your home with this beautifully painted antique secretary from Italy, circa
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Stained Glass, Wood
Unusual Swedish Antique Tall Country Secretary Desk in Painted Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare Swedish secretary desk dated 1847 and monogrammed. The secretary desk is made in painted pine
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Secretaires
Materials
Pine
20th Century Painted and Gilt Chinoiserie Decorated Two-Part Secretary Desk
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This charming Italian neoclassical style chinoiserie decorated secretary desk features an arched
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Red Chinoiserie Paint Decorated John Widdicomb Tombstone Mirrored Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful red chinoiserie paint decorated secretary desk by John Widdicomb. The desk
Category
Vintage 1950s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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 Louis XV Cabinets
Materials
Walnut
Swedish 1890s Rococo Style Painted Wood Tall Secretary with Glass Doors Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style light grey / blue painted tall secretary with glass doors cabinet from the
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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 executed Louis XVI motif carvings of bows, drapes, and ivy circling Directoire arrows. Th...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century French Directoire Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Bronze
Venetian Secretary
Located in Pomona, CA
Hand-painted Venetian secretary with silver leaf accents. Two doors on top opens in two a mirror
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wool
$2,900
Black Lacquer Hand Painted Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Secretary Writing Desk
By Edward Wormley, James Mont
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This incomparable slant-front chinoiserie black lacquer secretary desk depicts a serene
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine Adams Paint Decorated Slantlid Secretary Desk in Satinwood, Circa 1900
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
There are secretary desks and then there are masterpiece level secretary desks! This is one of
Category
Antique Early 1900s English Adam Style Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Satinwood
Asian Chinoiserie Black Lacquer and Gold Secretary Desk Hand Painted Secretaire
Located in West Hartford, CT
Stunning, one of a kind, vintage Asian black and gold lacquer chinoiserie secretary desk. What
Category
Vintage 1920s Chinese Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rare Bright Green Italian Venetian Painted Rococo Secretary Desk Circa 1940
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb green and yellow splash of elegance and color disguised as a secretary desk. The
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Swedish Gustavian Secretary Hutch
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Swedish Gustavian secretary hutch. It has been restored and repainted with "Milk Paint
Category
Vintage 1930s Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Birch
Antique Venetian Secretary Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
In all-over pale salmon paint having floral details. Drop-front desk reveals four small drawers and
Category
Antique 19th Century European French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Queen Anne Japanned Secretary
Located in Essex, MA
over three drawers raised on bracket feet. Decorated overall with gilded and painted chinoiserie
Category
Antique 1720s Dutch Queen Anne Bookcases
Materials
Oak, Paint
A Spectacular English Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
This impressive and grand Chinoiserie Secretary having an intricate detailed decoration both on
Category
Antique Late 19th Century British Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint
Queen Anne Style Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This elegant chinoiserie oxblood Queen Anne style secretary is richly decorated with gilt embossed
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Queen Anne Bookcases
Materials
Wood, Paint
Lovely Chinoiserie Style Secretary
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Black and gold hand-painted chinoiserie style secretary having aged paned mirror front on single
Category
Vintage 1950s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary
Located in Kramfors, SE
Dry scraped to original paint. Original lock and hardware.
The clock comes with the original
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Gustavian or Swedish Secretary Chest
Located in Pasadena, CA
multitude of small drawers with painted faux grained fronts. The tambour section is original, as the painted
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
Baroque Bureau /Secretary Denmark c 1750
Located in Kastrup, DK
Baroque secretary /bureau in two parts.
Upper cabinet with curved top, pair of doors with marked
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Oak
1960s Jasper Jr Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in Hartville, OH
The sweetest Jr Secretary by Jasper Cabinet Co. is 60s chinoiserie in design and nearly perfect in
Category
Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Rosewood Ladies Secretary
Located in Opole, PL
hand painted porcelain miniature.
The whole secretary is supported on thin, bent legs.
Inside, there
Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
Italian Venetian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
painted with floral decoration and overall parcel gilt.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Other Cabinets
Materials
Wood
18th Century Danish Rococo Period Secretary Cabinet
Located in Kastrup, DK
18th Century Danish Rococo period secretary cabinet in two parts. Oak painted in a beautiful blue
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Oak
19th Century English Red Lacquer Secretary
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
The whole having a lacquer decoration in the chinoiserie style with a top section of 2 glass paned doors and a shelved interior, over a fall front revealing a fitted interior, over 2...
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
Secretary Gustavian Cinnabar Red , Swedish c. 1800
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary painted in an elegant cinnabar red and a black-painted top with a profiled edge
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Slant Front Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
lower section of the secretary showcases three drawers. The desk is painted in a soft color typical of
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Tulipwood, Paint
Country French Cabinet / Secretary by Baker
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Painted Country French secretary desk / cabinet with chicken wire doors by Baker.
Category
20th Century American Country Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th c. Swedish Early Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish early Gustavian period secretary with library from the 18th century with shaped cornice
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Antique Georgian Style English Secretary Bookcases
Located in Morristown, NJ
A handsome pair of 19th c., English Georgian secretary bookcases. Arched dentil molded cornice over
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Venetian Italian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Embrace the timeless charm of this Classic Venetian Style Italian Polychrome Lacquered Hand-Painted
Category
Antique 1820s Italian Louis XVI Cabinets
Materials
Brass
19th Century Venetian Italian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This is a Classic Venetian style Italian polychrome lacquered bookcase with hand painted floral
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Swedish Rococo Period Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
A Swedish Rococo period slant-front secretary from the 18th century in two parts with original
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Paint
Chinoiserie Breakfront China Hutch Drop Front Secretary Bookcase Black Lacquer
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous vintage Chinoiserie breakfront China hutch cabinet or drop front secretary bookcase
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Steel
Queen Anne Style Red Japanned Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet
Located in Cypress, CA
Fine Queen Anne style red Japanned chinoiserie secretary cabinet. The double domed top with three
Category
20th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English George III Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive Italian chinoiserie lacquered secretary bookcase crafted in the English George III
Category
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Impressive 18th Century Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Drop Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
An impressive 18th century English chinoiserie red lacquered drop front secretary. Fine quality
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Harewood
Italian Regency Florentine Trompe l
oeil Secretary Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Florence. The case features beautifully hand-painted whimsical motifs that decorate the case. The drop
Category
20th Century Italian Regency Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Rococo Chinoiserie Secretary, Swedish, 18th Century, Origin Sweden, circa 1750
Located in New York, NY
Rococo 18th century secretary in two parts, 19th century chinoiserie painting with the original
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Paint
English Chinoiserie Black and Gold Tall Secretary / Slant Front Desk
Located in Tarry Town, NY
English hand decorated and painted Japanned secretary from the 1930s with black , red and gold
Category
Vintage 1930s English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Gold, Brass
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Painted Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the painted secretary you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, paint and metal, every painted secretary was constructed with great care. If you’re shopping for a painted secretary, we have 254 options in-stock, while there are 1 modern editions to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect painted secretary — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. A painted secretary is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one painted secretary that is appealing in its simplicity, but Dorothy Draper, Henredon and Maitland Smith produced versions that are worth a look.
How Much is a Painted Secretary?
The average selling price for a painted secretary at 1stDibs is $7,294, while they’re typically $750 on the low end and $78,500 for the highest priced.
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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