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Italian Art Deco Maple Briar, Gold Leaf and Black Lacquered Secretaire, 1940s
Located in Meda, MB
maple briar, with black lacquered and gold leafed details. In particular, some of the profiles, the
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pair of Black Lacquered Midcentury Secretaires by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in London, GB
A pair of Italian midcentury Neo-Classical black lacquered secretaires by Paolo Buffa. Each with
Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Beech

Chinoiserie Gilt Lacquer Table Secretaire
Located in Chicago, IL
This charming tabletop secretaire is decorated in gold and black in the Chinoiserie style. The
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Chinoiserie Gilt Lacquer Table Secretaire
Chinoiserie Gilt Lacquer Table Secretaire
H 10.5 in W 23.25 in D 13.75 in
Demi Lune Bureau Art Deco Style Secretaire Desk in Black Lacquer with Cannelure
Located in Ulm, DE
Fluted, semicircular secretary with drawers Piano lacquer in high-gloss black Interior in
Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Birdseye Maple, Lacquer

Oak and matte black lacquered French secrétaire, designed by Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
made of French oak. You are free to choose another lacquer other than the presented matte black that we
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Wood, Lacquer

Black Lacquer Art Deco Secretaire Desk With Etched Mirror On Very Elegant Legs
Located in Ulm, DE
Writing furniture / bar furniture Piano lacquer in black high gloss Original Art Deco, France
Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Mirror

Alias 80N Layout Secrétaire w Lid in Oak Top and Black Lacquered Aluminum Frame
By Michele de Lucchi, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 80N Layout Secrétaire w Lid in Oak Top and Black Lacquered Aluminum Frame by Michele De Lucch
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Secretaires

Materials

Aluminum

18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaire in Lacquer by Jacques Dubois (1694-1763)
By Jacques Dubois
Located in NICE, FR
front and sides of the secrétaire are each veneered with a single panel of red Asian lacquer, the panel
Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

Fine Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A black lacquer chinoiserie secretary in two parts. The upper cabinet with two doors that open to
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Midcentury French Style Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk / Cabinet
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a midcentury French style hand painted chinoiserie secretary with a unique bombe form base and glass top. It works so well for both display and functional desk. It is unmarke...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Leather, Glass, Lacquer

19th Century English Black Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely 19th century English black lacquered Chinoiserie secretary. Beautiful painted Asian designs
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian Art Deco Aquamarine Shagreen Secretaire, Attr. to Borsani, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Meda, MB
. It is completely in an exotic wood with a black lacquered top and base. The central folding door is
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Fine and Rare 18th C Georgian Black Lacquered and Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine and rare 18th century Georgian black lacquered and Chinoiserie decorated elaborate secretary.
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Narrow Raised Lacquer Black Chinoiserie Slatfront Secretary Desk circa 1950
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Rare Golden Lacquer and Brass Maison Jansen Secretary Cabinet 1970s
By Maison Jansen
Located in Paris, IDF
cabinet is made from solid mahogany, lacquered in a rich dark brown and bronze–golden finish. The
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Chinoiserie Decorated Ebonized, Gilt, & Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Located in Big Flats, NY
A Chinoiserie decorated secretary offers black lacquered wood construction with upper having a
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Chinese Export Lacquer Bureau on Stand and Toilet Glass Dressing Table
Located in London, by appointment only
A Chinese export lacquer bureau on stand decorated with an unusual polychrome flower design This
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Chinese Export Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
By Rose Tarlow
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk. It features the most
Category

1990s American Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Giltwood, Lacquer

English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English black lacquer secretary bookcase from the 19th century, with glass doors, drop-front
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Napoleon III Marquetry Secretary Vitrine Bonheur Du Jour
Located in Lisbon, PT
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

19th Century English Queen Anne Chinoiserie Chest on Stand
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is an elegant English black lacquered English Queen Anne cabinet chest on Stand decorated
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century Hand Painted Secretary with Hidden Drawers and Floral Decorations
Located in Sofia, BG
Secretary with "lacquered" decoration in the style of Coromandel lacquers decorated with
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Pair of Louis XVI Style Dutch Chinoiserie Secretary and High Chest
Located in Greven, DE
furniture pair are the "goût chinois" panels with fine gold-polychrome lacquer painting on a black
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Secretaires

Materials

Satinwood

Jack Cartwright for Founders Secretary with Drawers
By Jack Cartwright, Founders Furniture Company
Located in Chicago, IL
age with a black lacquered frame base.
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Louis XV Style Minton Spidell Drop-Front Hand Painted Secretary Cabinet
By Minton-Spidell
Located in Chicago, IL
Minton-Spidell Louis XV Style Drop-Front Secretary Cabinet is hand-painted with distressed black lacquer
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th c. Georgian Style Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
England: Georgian style black lacquered Chinese export small secretary with gilt figural scenes
Category

Antique 19th Century English Secretaires

Materials

Giltwood, Wood

19th c. Georgian Style Secretary
19th c. Georgian Style Secretary
H 64 in W 27 in D 27 in
Intarsia Secretary
Located in New York, NY
drawers stained in a variety of complimentary colors with lines resemblant of Mondrian. Black lacquer
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Birch

Intarsia Secretary
Intarsia Secretary
H 42 in W 45.5 in D 17 in
Edwardian, Tall Secretaire, Black Lacquer, Bronze, Abalone Inlay, Marble, 1880s
Located in Stamford, CT
This spectacular Edwardian Bouille inlaid And bronze-mounted Abattant chest desk has been meticulously refinished and hand rubbed French polished to its original form. Having wonderf...
Category

Early 20th Century Edwardian Desks

Materials

Wood

Michel Pigneres Brass Chrome Black Cabinet Secretaire, 1970s
By Michel Pigneres
Located in Paris, IDF
, chrome and black lacquer is just stunning. This is a very rare piece with a top notch construction and
Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Cabinets

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Japanese Export Lacquer Mother-of-Pearl Secretaire for the American Market
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Japanese export lacquered secretaire for the American market Circa 1800-1830, Colonial
Category

Antique 1810s Japanese Edo Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

18th Century Gilt Black Lacquer Chinese Ladies Dressing Chest
Located in Brea, CA
A 18th century Chinese export lacquered George III style black and gilt ladies dressing chest, in
Category

Antique Early 18th Century Chinese Qing Antiquities

Materials

Lacquer

Antique Regency Black Lacquer Cabinet with Marble Top and Mirrored Doors
Located in London, GB
features, such as the use of cedar linings for the secretaire fittings, is relevant to the practice of
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Cabinets

Materials

Marble, Brass

Charles Spooner Arts & Crafts Oak secretaire Cabinet with Serpentine Stretchers
By Charles Spooner
Located in London, GB
Charles Sydney Spooner, probably made by J H Brandt. A rare oak secretaire cabinet on stand, with
Category

Vintage 1920s English Arts and Crafts Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Contemporary Art Writing Desk Amanuense Nero Black by Adolfo Natalini
By Mirabili, Adolfo Natalini
Located in Pistoia, IT
thoughts into figures, alphabets, ideograms, cosmology... Writing desk / Sécretaire in cherry wood, black
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Desks

Materials

Bronze

Art Deco Italian black and white couple of Cabinets -Secretaries Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind pair of cabinet-secretaire in black lacquer wood and parchement attibuted to
Category

Vintage 1940s European Art Deco Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Parchment Paper

American Art Deco Skyscraper Drop-Front Veneer and Black Lacquer Bar/Secretaire.
By Paul Frankl
Located in Port Hope, ON
exotic wood veneers. The black top features stepped layers beneath that are also lacquered in black. The
Category

Vintage 1930s American Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

Magnificent William and Mary Red Lacquer and Gilt Secretaire on Chest
By Peter Miller
Located in London, Middlesex
this design is known. For other examples see a black chinoiserie secretaire illustrated in The Present
Category

Antique Late 17th Century English William and Mary Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

Early 18th Century English Queen Anne Chinoiserie Japanned Secretaire
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare and early 18th century Queen Anne secretaire in chinoiserie or Japanned black and gold lacquer
Category

Antique Early 18th Century British Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer, Wood

Art Deco Secretary on Long Feet in Black High Gloss Piano Lacquer with Drawers
Located in Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg
A puristic secretary in black piano lacquer High quality restoration. Hand-polished inside. Two
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Metal

18th Century small Lacquer Bureau Bookcase
Located in Salisbury Wiltshire, GB
A small early 18th century lacquer bureau bookcase. This is an extremely rare example of a bureau
Category

Antique Early 18th Century British George I Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Rare 18th Century Northern Italian Lacquer Bureau Bookcase
Located in Sydney, NSW
Rare 18th century Northern Italian Lacquer Bureau Bookcase With Original Finish Decorated With
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

18th Century English Red Lacquer Double-Domed Bureau Bookcase
Located in Millbrook, NY
Fine English 18th century red lacquer double-domed bureau bookcase with chinoiserie decoration. The
Category

Antique 1720s British Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

18th Century Venetian Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
Exceptional 18th century lacquered secretary bookcase with mirrored doors. The lacquer features
Category

Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires

Prouve Style Metal Desk with Drawers in Happy Colors, Vd Meeren Style
By Jean Prouvé
Located in LA Arnhem, NL
Prouve style metal desk. A metal desk from Holland. The legs are of black metal. The drawers have a
Category

Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Secretaires

Materials

Metal

Gaisbauer Biedermeier Secretary Cabinet
By Gaisbauer
Located in Westport, CT
feet. Decorative bookmatch veneering in walnut on all visible parts. Glossy lacquered and buffed, with
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Blackout Desk / Secretaire in oak wood, exotic leather and black iron structure
By Cristina Jorge de Carvalho
Located in Lisboa, PT
The sophistication and elegance of the embossed leather conquers a new dimension with the black out
Category

2010s Portuguese Desks

Materials

Iron

1970s Elegant Secrétaire or Bar In Black Lacquer
By Maison Jansen
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
1970s sécrétaire-bar in black lacquer with ivory lacquer strips, attributed to Maison Jansen. Two
Category

Vintage 1970s French Secretaires

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Black Lacquer with Gold Detailing Chinoiserie Secretaire
Located in London, GB
A delightful 19th century French chinoiserie secretaire in black lacquer and gilded raised gold
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

Large Art Deco Secretaire Cabinet, Black Lacquer, Oak, France circa 1930
Located in Regensburg, DE
Big fully restored original Art Deco Secretaire or Writing Cabinet in excellent Black Piano Lacquer
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Secretaires

Materials

Stainless Steel, Chrome

Black Laquered Asian Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk and Chair
Located in West Hartford, CT
Black and gold chinoiserie vintage Asian secretary desk that comes with matching chair. Spectacular
Category

Vintage 1970s Chinese Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Chinese Black Lacquer Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful black lacquered secretary with gilt paint decorative paintings. Made in 2 parts. Has a
Category

Antique 19th Century Chinese Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Chinese Black Lacquer Secretary
Chinese Black Lacquer Secretary
H 39 in W 23.5 in D 14 in
Black Lacquered Italian Chinoiserie Petite Secretary
By Fornasetti, Baker Furniture Company
Located in Houston, TX
A beautiful black lacquered Italian chinoiserie secretary. Intricately painted detail of Chinese
Category

20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

18th Century Chinese Export Black Lacquer Bureau
Located in London, GB
A late 18th century black lacquer bureau on stand, the top, sides, and slope with gilded decoration
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Chinese Secretaires

19th c English Chinoisserie black lacquered secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
19th c English finely decorated black lacquered slant front secretary
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Chinese Chippendale Secretaires

Fine George 111 Period Japanned Black Lacquered Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine period George 111 Japanned and lacquered drop front secretary. Highly decorated red
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish Gustavian Style Two-Part Secretaire Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Remarkable two-part secretaire bookcase featuring a slant drop front desk. Made in the Swedish
Category

20th Century American Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Drexel Heritage Et Cetera Asian Chinoiserie Black Lacquer Secretary Desk
By Drexel
Located in Charlotte, NC
. Solid wood with black lacquer, hand painted Chinoiserie scene accents, double bonnet arched top, brass
Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Brass

1939 Antonin Gazelle Parchment Secretaire
By Antonin Gazelle
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
sycomore, the sides are in black lacquered maple. Additional photo from the the book dedicated two the
Category

Vintage 1930s French Secretaires

Materials

Bronze

1939 Antonin Gazelle Parchment Secretaire
1939 Antonin Gazelle Parchment Secretaire
H 66.93 in W 27.56 in D 15.36 in
Secrétaire à Abattant by Molitor
By Christian Dell
Located in New Orleans, LA
, decorated with black and gold Chinese lacquer (Paris, Louvre). Molitor continued to produce work throughout
Category

Antique 18th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Secrétaire à Abattant by Molitor
Secrétaire à Abattant by Molitor
H 57 in W 40.25 in D 18 in
French Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Locust Valley, NY
French lacquered chinoiserie secretary with bronze mountings.
Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

French Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
French Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
H 53 in W 31 in D 14.25 in
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Black Lacquer Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the black lacquer secretaire you’re looking for. Each black lacquer secretaire for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, metal and lacquer. Find 162 options for an antique or vintage black lacquer secretaire now, or shop our selection of 5 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. There are many kinds of the black lacquer secretaire you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Each black lacquer secretaire bearing mid-century modern, Art Deco or Georgian hallmarks is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one black lacquer secretaire that is appealing in its simplicity, but Alfred Hendrickx, Cees Braakman and Fornasetti produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Black Lacquer Secretaire?

Prices for a black lacquer secretaire start at $638 and top out at $557,462 with the average selling for $7,214.

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.

Questions About Black Lacquer Secretaire
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Chinese black lacquer is a resin sourced from the Toxicodendron vernicifluum (formerly Rhus verniciflua) tree that grows throughout East Asia. Artisans produce decorative objects entirely from the substance or use it as a finish for wood and other materials. Find a selection of Chinese black lacquer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Japanese lacquerware items are finished with a sap that comes from the lacquer tree. This finish is prone to degradation, especially if exposed to sun and water, and age will take its toll as well. To clean lacquerware items, wet a lint-free cloth and wring as much water out as you can, then wipe the item. Finish by drying it with a soft lint-free cloth. Shop a range of antique and vintage Japanese lacquerware on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    To shine lacquer furniture, spray a tiny amount of solvent-based furniture cleaner and then wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Ensure that you choose a product specifically labeled as safe for lacquered finishes. Shop a collection of lacquer furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To fix Japanese black lacquer, take it to a furniture repair shop that has previously worked with the material. Lacquer is very delicate. Attempting to fix a piece on your own could cause further damage. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Japanese black lacquer.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    Though you can't exactly refinish black lacquer furniture, you can repaint it. As long as you prep the furniture with a primer, you should easily be able to repaint.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    Whether you can use furniture polish on black lacquer furniture depends on the formulation. Heavier polishes may cause streaks and damage the finish. For best results, read the labels carefully and only choose products intended for lacquer. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of lacquer furniture.

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