Painted Secretary
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Painted Italian Secretary
Located in Seattle, WA
A Charming small scale painted Italian secretary with gilt details and brass screen insert.
Category
20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Painted Bookcase Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
18th century painted Swedish bookcase secretary. Having a Louis XVI style pierced pediment and
Category
Antique 1780s Swedish Louis XVI Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Black Painted Swedish Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Baroque Swedish secretary, circa 1770, in black paint. Top section has three shelves behind two
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Black Painted Swedish Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Baroque Swedish secretary, circa 1770, in black paint. Top section has three shelves behind two
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Antique Painted Monterey Secretary
Located in Pasadena, CA
Circa 1930's signed Monterey secretary. Mason Monterey was generally made from Oregon alder. This
Category
Vintage 1930s American Rancho Monterey Secretaires
Elaborate Painted Italian Secretary
Located in Pasadena, CA
We were stunned to find a group of high grade early 20th century Italian painted furniture in a
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
Swedish Secretary in White Paint
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two-part secretary, Sweden circa 1840, with paneled doors top and bottom and matching panels on the
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Painted Fall Front Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
Italian Painted Fall Front Secretary.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Hand-Painted English Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Exceptional hand-painted English red chinoiserie secretary with mirrored doors and multiple hidden
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Mirror
Danish Painted and Parcel Gilt Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
A redecorated 18th century secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Paint
Painted 19th century Swedish Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Painted fallfront Swedish secretary. Pleated panel doors. Original hardware
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Cupboards
Painted Oak Gustavian Secretary Cabinet
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
Beautiful and unusual secretary cabinet in oak with milk paint finish.
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Painted Gustavian Secretary, circa 1800
Located in Washington, DC
Swedish slant front secretary with fitted interior, raised panel doors on top and three drawers on
Category
Antique Early 1800s Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Mid Century Painted Wood Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Jaunty Painted Wood Cabinet with Secretary Desk drawer.Decorative Green Trim. Three Top Shelves
Category
20th Century Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Grain painted Swedish Gustavian secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Grain painted Swedish Gustavian secretary with 13 drawers and 2 doors with diamond pattern.
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Materials
Pine
Gustavian Secretary in White Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two-part period Gustavian slant-front secretary, circa 1820. Arched pediment over reeded doors and
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Gustavian Secretary in White Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1800, in original condition, no repairs, and later white
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Late Gustavian Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part Swedish secretary, circa 1800, in black paint. The upper section has a pair of raised
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Late Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1820. The upper section has two doors with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Desks
Materials
Wood
An Exceptional George III Painted Satinwood Secretary
Located in Woodbury, CT
A George III paint decorated satinwood secretary bookcase in the manner of Thomas Sheraton. The
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood, Paint
Swedish Louis XVI Painted Bookcase Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
Swedish Louis XVI secretary bookcase with pierced crest rail. Paint is later addition.
Category
Antique 18th Century Swedish Louis XVI Secretaires
Swedish Painted Pine Brown/Red Secretary
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Stunning 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Brown/Red Secretary. With original pain, dated 1846.
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Period Swedish Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Baroque Swedish secretary, circa 1770, in black paint. Top section has three shelves behind two
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Period Gustavian Secretary with Original Painted Surface
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Beautiful Gustavian two-part secretary, Sweden circa 1780, in original blue paint. The library
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish Secretary in White Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two part secretary from the north of Sweden, circa 1760, with library top and fitted interior
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Early Swedish Secretary in Blue Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Two-part secretary with library, Sweden circa 1800. The upper section has three shelves and two box
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Danish Rococo Secretary in Black Paint
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period rococo secretary, Denmark circa 1820, in solid oak with black exterior and sky blue interior
Category
Antique 19th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
White Painted Gustavian Secretary Circa 1810
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1810, with fine carved detail. The base has three drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Petite Painted Satinwood Ladies Secretary Signed Gillows
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Very classy little secretary with a removable top section. Hand painted scrolls, flowers and a
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Rosewood
TWO PIECE FAUX PAINTED ITALIAN SECRETARY DESK
Located in York, ME
and cubby holes,all above two doors faux painted as drawers
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Early 20th Century Painted Green Gustavian Style Secretary, Bookcase
Located in Stamford, CT
Early 20th century painted green Gustavian style secretary, bookcase. Opens up to 36" in depth. The
Category
Early 20th Century Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
A Blue Painted and Parcel Gilt Secretary
Located in New York, NY
The parcel gilt broken scrolled pediment having an armorial plaque above glass doors opening to reveal three shelves. The slant front lower case decorated with a garland opening to ...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Swedish Painted Drop-Front Secretary, Circa 1860-90
Located in Nashville, TN
Painted Swedish Drop Front Secretary With Two Lower Drawers. Inside drawers has weathered charcoal
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Neoclassical Roll Top Painted Antique German Secretary, circa 1830
Located in Houston, TX
and see them first!
This unusual painted roll top antique German desk circa 1830 is notable for its
Category
Antique 1830s German Neoclassical Secretaires
18th Century Period Antique Swedish Painted Baroque Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Swedish Baroque Secretary 18th Century
Two part Secretary with library, Sweden circa 1780. The
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Antique Swedish Painted Baroque Secretary of the period
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Description: An exceptional two parted Antique Swedish Painted Baroque Secretary circa 1780 in a
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Antique Swedish Blue Painted Baroque Secretary 18th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Two-part secretary with library, Sweden circa 1780. The upper section has three shelves behind
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th c Paint and Parcel Gilt Mirrored Door Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
18th c. Paint and Parcel Gilt Etched Mirror Door Secretary Bookcase with family crest.
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood
Hand Painted Asian Chinoiserie Secretary Desk and Chair
Located in Jacksonville, FL
Asian chinoiserie faux bamboo desk with hutch and matching chair features hand painted tropical
Category
Vintage 1970s Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Faux Bamboo, Wood
An unusual painted slant front secretary from Austria c. 1820
Located in Houston, TX
An unusual slant front secretary from Austria c. 1820 having a pair of cabinet doors below the
Category
Antique 19th Century Austrian Secretaires
Venetian Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
Elegant and petite Venetian silver gilt and faux marble secretary cabinet. This piece was
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
$9,500
Venetian Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fantastic and charming 19th Century Venetain secretary with original painted decoration. This
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
$17,500
Swedish Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Drop front Swedish Secretary with drawers inside and out in whitewash paint with brass hardware
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Brass
$5,800
19thC Swedish Painted Drop Down Secretary over 3 drawers
Located in Stamford, CT
Offered here is a late 19th century painted drop-front secretary over 3 drawers. Great storage for
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Materials
Pine
Antique Period Painted Swedish Baroque Secretary circa 1760-80
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful Antique Period curved Painted Swedish Baroque Secretary with original looks, hinges and
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Baroque Secretaires
Beautiful 19th Century Venetian Painted Two-Part Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful 19th century Venetian painted two-part slant front secretary desk; the upper section with
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish 18th Century Painted Cabinet with Secretary Original Patina
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful details and marvellous patina.
Offers many drawers in th top part and the bottom part has 3 large drawers.
The patina is between ochre, light green and beige colors , wit...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Cabinets
Materials
Wood
Secretary/bookcase
Located in New Orleans, LA
Painted Swedish secretary/bookcase in original pale grey paint.
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Bookcases
Materials
Wood
$15,000
Antique Painted Swedish Secretary with Curved Front Early 19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Swedish curved antique Secretary with several drawers inside including one secret drawer and
Category
20th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Secretary bookcase
Located in New Orleans, LA
Painted Swedish secretary. late 19th/early 19th century. Original finish.
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Desks
Materials
Wood
$12,500
Gustavian Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Large painted dropfront secretary with elaborate interior, bracket base and bonnet top
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$8,500
Lacca Povera Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
A. 19th Century Italian lacca povera secretary. Great small scale!
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint, Glass
$6,950
Venetian Secretary
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large and impressive late 19th century painted Venetian Secretary. Painted in light celadon and
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Canvas, Gesso
$12,500
Period Norwegian Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part Norwegian secretary, circa 1820, in gray paint with the original locks and brass hardware
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Norwegian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Norwegian Rococo Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Rare compact secretary, Norway, circa 1760, in blue paint. The upper section has a graceful arched
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Norwegian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Exceptional Swedish Secretary
Located in Bridgehampton, NY
A Swedish Rococo period secretary desk dating from the middle of the 18th century with with
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Desks
Materials
Hardwood
Period Gustavian Secretary
Located in Sheffield, MA
Early Swedish two-part secretary, circa 1820, with a squared cornice with keystone detail over a
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
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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