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George III Style Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
A George III style chinoiserie red lacquered bureau bookcase, the broken dentil cornice with gilt rosettes, over panel doors decorated with a pavilion and figures, opening to reveal ...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Sideboards
Materials
Oak, Lacquer
Swedish 18th Century Slant, Front Secretary with Multiple Inner Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish 18th century secretary. This Swedish slant-front secretary from circa 1720 features
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Italian Venetian Style Off White Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase Trumeau
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful Venetian style secretary desk, circa 1970s. Features classic Italian form with an off
Category
20th Century French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
1790s Fine Gustavian Secretary, Made by Stockholm Master
Located in Aalsgaarde, DK
Fine Gustavian secretary, with finely painted decorations, made by Stockholm master, circa 1790
H
Category
Antique 1790s Swedish Gustavian Desks
A fine 19th century English Chinoiserie designed slant front secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century English Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary . Fine raised detail with
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Slant Front Desk Secretary over Three Drawers with Inner Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish 19th century secretary. This Swedish secretary features a slant-front desk over three
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Swedish Late Gustavian Period 1820s Two-Part Secretary with Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Late Gustavian period two-part painted wood secretary from the early 19th century, with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Scandinavian Tall Secretary with State of Denmark Provenance Plaque
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Danish 18th century tall secretary with provenance plaque indicating 'The State of Denmark'. This
Category
Antique 18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Swedish 18th Century Two-Part Secretary with Glass Doors and Slanted Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
graduated drawers sit below, while the ensemble is raised on bracket feet. The secretary is painted in a
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Wood
European 1790s Two-Part Tall Secretary with Glass Doors and Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A European painted wood tall two-part secretary circa 1790 with glass doors, carved dentil molding
Category
Antique Late 18th Century European Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
French Mid-20th Century Secretary Curio Cabinet with Drop Front Writing Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
installation. This French painted wood midcentury secretary is ornate with lovely hardware, and has a pale wash
Category
Mid-20th Century French Cabinets
Materials
Glass, Wood
18th c. Swedish Gustavian Painted Fall-Front Desk with Brass Hardware
Located in Wichita, KS
A beautiful 18th century Swedish painted fall-front secretary chest from the Gustavian period with
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Danish Rococo 18th Century Secretray
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Danish Rococo period painted wood two-part secretary from the 18th century. Exterior painted in
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Iron
Painted Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Painted secretary with four lower drawers and fitted interior
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
$8,500
Italian Painted Secretary
Located in New York, NY
An 18th Century Luigi XVI Red Painted Secretary with Drop Front Writing Surface and Two Drawers
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Hand Painted Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fantastic hand painted secretary, depicting Aztec artifacts and basket weave pattern. Secret
Category
Vintage 1960s American Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$4,500
English painted secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
English painted secretary from the 19th C. Top and bottom doors open to shelves, middle desk
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
$10,600
Venetian Painted Secretary
Located in Alexandria, VA
Light grey painted secretary with with gold trim & off-white panels. Hand-painted armorial neo
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
$12,000
Swedish Gustavian Painted Secretary
Located in Bedford, NY
A SWEDISH GUSTAVIAN PAINTED SECRETARY WITH CARVED DIAMOND SHAPED DESIGN ON THE UPPER DOORS. THE
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
ITALIAN FLORAL PAINTED SECRETARY
Located in Essex, MA
A celadon green painted secretary, decorated overall with parcel gilt, hand painted birds, flowers
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
Italian Double Bonnet Painted Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
Late 19th century double bonnet top painted secretary bookcase
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Secretary with Glass Top
Located in Richmond, VA
Early 19th Century Swedish Painted Secretary with Glass Top
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Beautiful Venetian Chinoisere Yellow Painted Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Beautiful Venetian Chinoisere yellow painted secretary, wonderful light yellow with silver leaf and
Category
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Silver Leaf
Gustavian Style Cream Painted Secretary with Brass Hardware
Located in Memphis, TN
Cream painted secretary with the fluted legs and graceful lines quintessential of the Gustavian
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Superb Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Hand-Painted Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Superb late 19th century chinoiserie hand-painted secretary desk with fitted top and featuring both
Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Wood
Fine French Louis Philippe Period Painted Secretary, circa 1890s
Located in Hialeah, FL
Beautiful 19th century French Louis Philippe walnut period painted secretary. With a gorgeous
Category
Vintage 1940s French Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Swedish Gustavian Painted Secretary with Glass Doors, 19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Swedish Gustavian painted secretary, 19th century Swedish cream-white color. Upper section
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Swedish Painted Secretary
Located in Bethesda, MD
Swedish Rococo painted tall secretaire in two parts. Upper piece has arched cornice, pair of raised
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique French Blue Painted Secretary
Commode De Scriban
Located in Round Top, TX
Purchased in L'Isle sur la Sorgue, France this blue painted secretary boasts it's original finish
Category
Antique 18th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Painted Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An 18th Century Painted Italian Secretary with Chinoiserie Decoration on a Light Green Ground and
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$35,000
Painted Secretary Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Painted drop-front secretary cabinet with shaped bonnet, fitted interior and four lower drawers on
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
$15,000
Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Woodbury, CT
A Fabulous Paint decorated Secretary Desk in a Delicious shade of Apple Green with a whimsical
Category
Antique 19th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$4,600
Painted Secretary/Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Large painted cabinet with two upper doors, two lower doors, a narrow drawer and drop-front
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
$15,000
Blue Painted Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Swedish secretary, circa 1820, in blue paint. Bonnet top over a pair of glass doors in the upper
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$9,800
Chinoiserie Painted Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Appealing small size, etched mirror doors, five drawers.
Category
Vintage 1940s Unknown Secretaires
Antique Swedish Gustavian Style Painted Secretary-Bookcase, Mid-19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Swedish Gustavian style painted secretary-bookcase mid-19th century
Painted in Swedish
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Venetian Painted Secretary / Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
A very decorative 19th Century Venetian secretary with original paint decoration (ldd9455/10)
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Desks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Italian Venetian Painted Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
An attractive painted Venetian Secretary cabinet made in the 1920's with the intention that it
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Gesso, Paint
Painted Secretary/ Clock Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Painted clock cabinet with upper doors, six lower drawers and fitted drop-front secretary
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Cabinets
Materials
Brass
Swedish Painted Secretary Abattant
Located in Hudson, NY
Swedish Yellow-painted pine secretary abattant, the fall-front opening to a desk with central
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Venetian Painted Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
Late 19th century pained Venetian secretary bookcase with bronze grill doors and three drawers.
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Walnut and Pine Painted Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Painted walnut and pine secretary with fitted interior and three drawers on short, tapered legs
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut, Pine, Paint
Neo-Classical Hand Painted Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Secretary with Drop Front, Original Paint, some earlier paint restoration
Category
Early 20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th C. Spanish Painted Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
18th C. Spanish Secretary painted to have the appearance of cordovan leather. Faux Marble interior.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century France Painted Secretary
Located in New Preston, CT
Drop-front secretary, 19th century, France, with later paint in a neutral geometric design
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Italian Giltwood and Painted Secretary
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Great looking vintage well made Italian secretary with frop front writing surface that opens up to
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood
18thc. George III Black-Painted Secretary Chest of Drawers
Located in San Francisco, CA
The rectangular top with slanted fall front opening to reveal a red-painted interior of fitted
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Desks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Painted Secretary Desk With Grill Top, Mid 20th Century
Located in Lake Forest, IL
Painted secretaire with grille top, 20th century.
With writing surface open, the depth is 28.5
Category
20th Century French Secretaires
Venetian Painted Bombe Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
19th c. Painted secretary bookcase. Wonderfully shaped bombe base wtih a shaped top with 2 glass
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Vintage Secretary
Located in Chicago, IL
Newly painted secretary with original leather writing surface. Unique cabinet wire front as well as
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$1,795
Gustavian Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
Gustavian style painted secretary with four large drawers below (one with carved relief detail) and
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
$8,750
Louis XV Style Secretary (GMD#2766)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century French Louis XV Style Carved & Painted Secretary w/Bronze Pulls, Locks & Keys
Category
Antique 19th Century French Secretaires
Materials
Metal
19th Century French Polychrome Secretaire
Located in New Orleans, LA
19th century French painted secretary with cabriole legs and a drop front desk and two drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Painted Italian Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
Painted Italian secretary bookcase
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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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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