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Period Gustavian Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Black Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1810. The upper section has a guilloche
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Period Gustavian Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part Gustavian secretary, Sweden, circa 1780, with old lock and keys. The upper section has a
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$12,500
Swedish Baroque Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Early Swedish secretary, circa 1800, in two parts. The upper section has a bold cornice with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Slant-front secretary in two parts, Sweden circa 1790. The upper section has an arched cornice and
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$6,800
18th Century Swedish Drop Front Secretary with Faux Marble Painted Interior
Located in Nashville, TN
18th century Swedish drop front secretary with faux marble painted interior. Beautiful original
Category
Antique 1870s Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Sassy Italian Secretary
Located in Montecito, CA
An amusing one piece Italian cabinet with bombe front, three drawers and a pullout writing surface. The open recess on the upper portion measures 4" deep and can be fitted for shelve...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
$2,800
Red chinoiserie secretary
Located in Santa Monica, CA
decorative piece of furniture with patina - decoration in relief
Category
Early 20th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Gold Leaf
Large swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
Large and unusual Swedish drop front secretary. Crown with diamond molding ,above pair of doors
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Venetian Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
Original painted Venetian slant front secretary bookcase with mirror door and two drawers. Original
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Glass
$18,500
18th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part Swedish secretary, circa 1780, in black paint. The upper section has four shelves, one
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish Baroque Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period two-part Baroque secretary, Sweden circa 1770, in blue paint. The upper section has a bold
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish Baroque Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period two-part Baroque secretary, Sweden circa 1770, in blue paint. The upper section has a bold
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Decorative Leopard Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Painted Leopard Mid Century Secretary. Black Interior.Drop down desk shelf with fitted storage. Top
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Queen Anne Secretary
Located in Lawrenceburg, TN
Queen Anne crimson and gold double bonnet top bureau bookcase or secretary with hand-painted
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
$59,995
Antique Venetian Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique hand-painted Venetian secretary. Two pieces. Original hand-painted condition with gold gilt
Category
20th Century Italian Romantic Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Mirror, Wood
Gustavian Secretary Cum Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden circa 1800. The upper library section has a bold
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Polychromed Venetian Secretary
Located in Oaks, PA
Polychromed Venetian Secretary Painted with Florals , With two Blind doors above a lower case with
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Baroque Period Swedish Secretary
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Baroque secretary, Sweden, circa 1800, in two parts. The library section has an arched
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Bombe
Italian Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
19th c. Venetian Red Chinoiserie Secretary. Very exagerated Bombe' form. Wonderful interior.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique, 19th Century Spanish Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
This magnificent secretary has a hand-painted leather top, hand-painted front panels and a hand
Category
20th Century Spanish Medieval Cabinets
Materials
Leather, Wood
Francis Elkins English Japanned Secretary
Located in Lake Forest, IL
A late 18th Century Lacquered Slant Front Bevelled Mirrored Secretary with later refreshed Japanned
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier English Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Paint
18th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Houston, TX
Stunning 18th c Swedish Gustavian secretary in original paint, intricate details and carving. A
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Gustavian Desks
Drop Front Swedish Secretary
Located in New Preston, CT
A beautiful drop front secretary in oyster paint with 4 outside drawers, all with brass hardware
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Period Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Gustavian secretary in two parts, Sweden, circa 1830. The upper library section has a
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Gustavian Secretary with Carved Detail
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1790, in two parts. The upper section retains its original
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English Style Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Fairhope, AL
Red, gold and black hand-painted chinoiserie lacquered secretary or bookcase with a fitted interior
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Secretaires
Period Neoclassical Secretary Cum Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two-part neoclassical secretary, Sweden, circa 1800, with reeded cornice and central panel with
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Neoclassical Secretary with Glazed Library
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Swedish neoclassical secretary cum library, circa 1860. The upper section has glazed doors under a
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish Secretary with original paint, 18th Century. Doors at top open to four shelves. Center
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Gustavian Secretary with Pierced Cornice
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period Gustavian secretary, Sweden circa 1820, in two parts. The upper, library section has double
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks
Materials
Wood
Early 1900s Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Summerland, CA
Highly decorative early 1900's Chinoiserie desk. Hand painted with exquisite fine details. Hidden
Category
Early 20th Century English Desks
Materials
Wood
Unusually Heavy High Quality Florentine Secretary
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Stunning drop front secretary that is painted on all sides and is heavier than most Florentine
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Vanities
Shaker Style Drop Front Secretary
Located in Culver City, CA
drawers and compartments with the original yellow paint. Below the desk are two doors with a shelf for
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Shaker Desks
Materials
Metal
19th C. Scandinavian Secretary
Book Case
Located in Houston, TX
writing and storage area, as a secretary desk. It is hand painted in light blues and creams.
Category
Antique 19th Century Norwegian Desks
Materials
Wood, Paint, Glass
19th Century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Outstanding quality with an unusual blue hue including a blue leather
writing surface.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Red Chinoiserie Secretary 20th Century Reproduction
Located in Stamford, CT
English red chinoiserie secretary with mirrored doors, circa 1980's
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Swedish Slant Front Secretary
Located in Nashville, TN
Late 18th century antique Swedish slant front secretary in an original beautiful gray blue and
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Period Swedish Secretary with Pierced Cornice
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two part secretary in black paint, Sweden, early 19th century, with original lock and key. The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Swedish Secretary in the Baroque Style
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Two-part Baroque style secretary in black paint, Sweden, circa 1880. The upper section has a bold
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Period Secretary with Clock from Hälsingland
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Period secretary from Hälsingland with integral Mora clock and with original paint, Sweden, circa
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Steel
Early Swedish Secretary with Green Glass
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Rare early Swedish secretary, circa 1760, in two parts which retains its original green glass. The
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Black Swedish Secretary in Two Sections
Located in Sheffield, MA
Period Swedish secretary, circa 1810 having raised panel doors with reeded detail. The lower
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Period Rococo Swedish Blue Secretary
Located in Encinitas, CA
. Painted inside the secretary is a lovely shade of ochre with the exterior scraped to an original soft
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century Painted Swedish Secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Neoclassical Swedish Secretary in Three Parts
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Secretary with breakfront library, Sweden circa 1810. The upper section has a bold cornice with
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Superb 18th Century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fashioned with detailed figures and landscapes, a nicely fitted interior and interior doors painted
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Frances Elkins Pine Secretary Breakfront and Chair
Located in Lake Forest, IL
George III Pine Secretary Breakfront enhanced by Frances Elkins for a David Adler home. This
Category
Vintage 1930s English Secretaires
Materials
Paint
18th Century Antique Swedish Baroque Period Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Swedish Baroque period secretary; 18th century painted in light blue with white interior
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Swedish Period Baroque Secretary, 18th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This Baroque secretary has a lovely distressed painted finish in greenish beige exterior and a
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th Century Antique Swedish Baroque Period Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Swedish Baroque Secretary; 18th century.
Secretary has original locks and hinges and is
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Late Gustavian Secretary Signed and Dated 1838
Located in Sheffield, MA
Beautiful Swedish secretary from the last Gustavian period, in its original paint and signed and
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Period Swedish Baroque Secretary, 18th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Swedish Baroque period secretary; 18th century, in two sections.
The upper section has
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Late 18th Century Antique Swedish Baroque Secretary
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Late 18th century antique Swedish Baroque secretary refreshed in a beautiful blue. The slant desk
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Magnificent Drexel Chinoiserie Japanned Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in Southfield, MI
Signed and dated 1969, this Drexel chinoiserie tall case secretary desk/cabinet was just removed
Category
Vintage 1960s American Secretaires
Materials
Brass
1950s Spanish Midcentury Bureau or Secretary Desk
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Midcentury secretary desk completely restored and renovated with blue-turquoise gradient paint on
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Beech, Paint
Early Two-Part Secretary with Original Hardware
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Swedish slant-front secretary cum library, circa 1740. The upper section has two doors with
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Swedish Antique Baroque Secretary 18th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Swedish Antique baroque Secretary 18th Century circa 1760-80
with the interior in original paint
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Swedish Baroque Secretaires
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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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