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19th Century Hand-Painted Satin Wood Secretary Dresser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This exquisite 19th-century antique hand-painted satin wood cabinet is a true work of art
Category
Antique 19th Century Georgian Dressers
Materials
Satinwood
18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
Secretary with palms decor in gold-leaf.
In collaboration with Damonte & Lacarrieu, our Capsule Collection
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Danish Blue Painted Pine Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 19th-century Danish pine secretary with newer professionally applied layered blue painted
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Pine
19th c. Swedish Secretary with Vitrine Library in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A charming Swedish vitrine bureau secreatry made in two parts from the 19th century. Original paint
Category
Antique 19th Century Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Venetian Hand-Painted Blind Door Secretary with Bookcase, Circa 1900
Located in Charleston, SC
Venetian blind door secretary with a carved scrolled decorative cornice, upper case bookcase with
Category
Antique Early 1900s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Antique Swedish Red Painted Baroque Secretary
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A two-tiered wooden cabinet from the 18th century Swedish Gustavian period. The top door opens to reveal a decorative top shelf and three other shelves. The top of the bottom shelf c...
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Cupboards
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Italian Venetian Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful piece. This is a lovely mid-century Italian chinoiserie secretary desk. The
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Poplar
Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fantastic paint decorated Venetian secretary desk with faux marble interior is a remarkable
Category
Antique Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$3,000 Sale Price
38% Off
Bureau / Secretary Gustavian in Blue Painted In Pine. 18th Ctr. Swedish
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary crafted in pine, finished in a charming blue tone with an elegant patina.
The
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
European 1800s Two-Part Painted Wood Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall European painted wood two-part secretary from the early 19th century, with molded cornice
Category
Antique Early 19th Century European Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Gustavian Style 1840s Gray Painted Drop Front Secretary with Graduated Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style drop front secretary from circa 1840 with gray painted finish, writing
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Berkey
Gay Painted Decorated Petit Secretary Display Cabinet with Shelves Burl
By William A. Berkey Furniture Co.
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Berkey & Gay Painted Decorated Petit Secretary Display Cabinet with Shelves Burl MINT!
Category
20th Century American Adam Style Vitrines
Materials
Burl
Italian Venetian Style Distressed Paint Decorated Secretary Desk C. 1950
s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Europe with this Italian Venetian style distressed paint-decorated secretary desk, crafted circa the
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Country Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Black Lacquer Hand Painted Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Secretary Writing Desk
By James Mont, Edward Wormley
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This incomparable slant-front chinoiserie black lacquer secretary desk depicts a serene
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Danish Blue Painted Rococo Secretary Desk in the Manner of Mathias Ortmann
Located in Kastrup, DK
gilded bronze mounts that form a refined contrast to the painted surface.
The secretary is constructed
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Swedish Rococo Style Chapeau de Gendarme 1820s Gray Painted Tall Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style tall secretary from circa 1820 with gray painted finish, chapeau de gendarme
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$9,560 Sale Price
20% Off
Oak Secretary Bureau With Painted Finish from Sweden circa 1760-1800
Located in Round Top, TX
fascinating painted finish distressed perfectly to fit the age and grace of this attractive oak secretary
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
pattern.
Like everyone of the pieces from our Collections, this Pesaro Secretary is entirely hand-painted
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
charming paint decoration, this secretary is both functional and highly decorative. The creamy ivory finish
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly
Bird Custom Painted Tall Secretary Desk
Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinoiserie Butterfly & Bird Custom Painted 2 Piece Tall Secretary Desk & Chair. Item
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Regency Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Cane, Wood
Fantastic English Adams Paint Decorated Satinwood Slant Lid Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This English Adams paint decorated satinwood slant lid secretary desk is a stunning example of
Category
Antique Early 1900s English Adam Style Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
Georgian Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Hand-Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Georgian Hollywood Regency Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk
Category
Vintage 1980s American Chinoiserie Bookcases
Materials
Brass
19th-C. American Federal Ebonized
Gilt Painted Drop Front Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 19th century American federal style drop front secretary desk. This was considering
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Federal Desks
Materials
Oak
Antique Painted Gustavian Grey/White Secretary with Fall-Front
Birch Interior
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very lovely Louis Philippe fall-front secretary in pine with a light Gustavian-grey/white painted
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century German Louis Philippe Secretaires
Materials
Brass
18th century Georgian secretary in hand painted blue wedge wood swirl finish
Located in Richmond, VA
Wonderful 18th century Georgian mahogany secretary with hand painted wedgewood swirl finish by “The
Category
Antique 18th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
18th C. Venetian Secretary Hutch with a Beautiful Hand-Painted Finish
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Venetian tall secretary cabinet from the 18th century. This antique 7.75 feet tall
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
19th Century Swedish antique rustic Gustavian Secretary with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
A Swedish antique rustic Gustavian slant front secretary from early 19th century that is perfect
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Black Secretary Cabinet
By Minton-Spidell
Located in Plainview, NY
an exquisite vintage Louis XV style Minton-Spidell secretary desk. The secretary desk embodies
Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$3,300 Sale Price
40% Off
Antique Swedish Secretary Desk, Hand-Made Country Furniture with Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish secretary desk from the mid 1800s. This country house furniture is made in northern
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Danish 1810s Beige Gray Painted Two-Part Tall Secretary with Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Danish painted wood two-part secretary from circa 1810 with beige / light gray painted finish
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Danish Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique English Adams Style Hand Painted Double Bonnet Bookcase Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique English Adams Style Hand Painted Double Bonnet Top Bookcase Secretary Desk. Item features a
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Other Secretaires
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage French Provincial Blue Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby
By Danby
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Blue Distress Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby. Item
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown French Provincial Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Antique Genuine Folk Art Secretary Desk, Original Blue and Mahogany Faux Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk art secretary desk with a painted date, 1840, and initials. This genuine folk art furniture
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Secretaires
Materials
Pine
Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Venetian Italian paint decorated secretary desk with bookcase, circa 1890s, is a remarkable
Category
Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
$1,800 Sale Price
61% Off
Secretary Swedish Rococo. Black
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Swedish Rococo Secretary Desk in Black-Painted Pine.
Executed in a beautiful and
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Iron
Early 19th Century Swedish Secretary in Black with Painted Interior, circa 1810
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautifully patinated Swedish secretary desk dating from circa 1810–1830, crafted in solid pine
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires
Materials
Pine
18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in Huntington, NY
A two part Swedish Gustavian secretary. The bonnet top consists of an impressive overhanging arched
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Brass, Iron
Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Two Piece
Located in Bradenton, FL
Spanish Chinoiserie Secretary Desk, two parts. Desk features a lower chest with four storage
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
1940
s, Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A petite, two part, hand-painted, lacquered, fully finished, drop front Chinoiserie bureau
Category
Vintage 1940s Spanish Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Dark Gray Baroque Secretary, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Baroque secretary cabinet featuring a two-door glazed display hutch above and a lower section with
Category
Antique 18th Century French Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood, Softwood
Baroque Secretary in Provençal Style, 18th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Hand-painted baroque secretary, featuring a three-drawer commode base, slant-front writing flap
Category
Antique 18th Century German Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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
Early 20th Century Italian Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Swedish Secretary Cabinet 19th Century
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century Swedish Secretary Desk with open book shelves above the fall front desk and bottom
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Late 18th Century Swedish Oak Secretary Bureau
Located in Round Top, TX
This elegant Swedish oak secretary shows off with a distinctive carved top bonnet or crown and
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Country Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Paint
Early 19th Century Stunning Swedish Gustavian Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
Here is a stunning early 19th century Swedish Gustavian secretary. This secretary features a newer
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Venetian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Parcel Gilt Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic 20th century Italian lacquered secretary bookcase decorated in the Venetian taste with
Category
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Swedish Clock Secretary Circa 1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exceptional 19th-century Swedish clock secretary, circa 1820, combines functionality with
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Pine, Paint
English Regency Sheraton-Style Secretary and Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
English Regency period mahogany and satinwood two-piece secretary cabinet. Pine secondary wood. Top
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Regency Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Italian Florentine Giltwood Bureau Secretary Butlers Desk Chest
Located in Forney, TX
A Florentine carved cream painted parcel gilt slant-top desk bureau with nicely aged dark warm
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Brass
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Writing Desk Secretary
Located in San Angelo, TX
may have been performed, hardware, paint, and drawers may have been repaired, replaced, or touched up
Category
Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Pine, Paint
$2,396 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century Danish Baroque Secretary Desk in Faux-Marble
Located in Kastrup, DK
Impressive Danish Baroque secretary desk in grey-blue faux-marble decoration. The piece is
Category
Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Swedish Gustavian Pinewood Secretary - Antique Scandinavian Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique Swedish Gustavian one part bureau, secretary made of hand crafted painted
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires
Materials
Metal
Napoleon III Marquetry Secretary Vitrine Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Lisbon, PT
A unique 19th century Napoleon III table desk Bonheur Du Jour.
Upper part showcase with three shelves and lower part with a couple of drawers and extendable top and legs with black...
Category
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Secretaires
Materials
Metal
$4,691 Sale Price
20% Off
Late 18th Century Black Oak Secretary Bureau from Denmark
Located in Round Top, TX
This oak rococo secretary reflects the timeless Scandinavian styling from the late 1700's.
The
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Flemish Style Bombe Secretary Bookcase by Marge Carson
By Marge Carson
Located in Bridgeport, CT
an intentionally distressed finish there is some sporadic minor gilt/paint loss , nicks and rubs with
Category
Early 2000s American Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
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
German Biedermeier Olivewood Inlaid and Parcel Gilt Secretary / Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
German Biedermeier (18th Century) olivewood secretary / bookcase in shaped rectangular with the top
Category
Antique 18th Century German Biedermeier 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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