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Vintage Asian Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The Vintage Asian Chinoiserie Secretary Desk blends American style with Eastern elegance, featuring
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks
Materials
Upholstery, Glass, Wood
Early 19th century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in Charlottesville, VA
An early 19th C. English red lacquer and gilt-decorated Chinoiserie secretary bookcase. The upper
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English George III Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Lacquer
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
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
Red Queen Anne Style Burton-Ching Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Red Queen Anne Style Burton-Ching Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase.
Category
2010s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
$11,960 Sale Price
20% Off
George II Style Black & Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
George II Style Black & Gold Lacquer Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase.
Category
2010s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
$13,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Queen Anne Style Burton-Ching Black Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Queen Anne Style Burton-Ching Black Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Bookcase
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
$11,960 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Glass, Lacquer
Mid-Century Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Chinese red Georgian style chinoiserie secretary. It is a mid-century find that is
Category
Mid-20th Century American George III 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
George II-Style Chinoiserie Secretary / Collector's Cabinet by Antonio's SF
By Antonio's
Located in Dallas, TX
a George II-style black lacquer secretary / desk with Collector's Cabinet above, gilt Chinoiserie
Category
20th Century American George II Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Pair of Louis XVI Style Dutch Chinoiserie Secretary and High Chest
Located in Greven, DE
Pair of chinoiserie furniture - secretary and chiffonier
The Netherlands
Satinwood and others
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Secretaires
Materials
Satinwood
A fine late 18th c to early 19th c William and Mary black Chinoiserie secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine late 18th century William and Mary black lacquered secretary. Fine Chinoiserie hand
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English William and Mary Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Chinoiserie Lacquer Secretaire Bookcase
By Maitland Smith
Located in Bradenton, FL
This Chinoiserie secretary is an elegant and intricately designed piece of furniture that combines
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
$3,900 Sale Price
25% Off
Large Red Jappaned Bureau Cabinet
Located in Dubai, AE
Fine Queen Anne style red Japanned Chinoiserie secretary cabinet. The triple domed top with eight
Category
Antique 18th Century European Cabinets
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
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
Black Painted Chinoiserie Drop Front Secretary Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique chinoiserie painted writing desk with red interior.
early-19th century
Category
Antique 19th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Materials
Wood
Georgian Style Red & Gold Chinoiserie Decorated Burton-Ching Secretary Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Georgian Style Red & Gold Chinoiserie Decorated Burton-Ching Secretary Desk.
Category
2010s Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$11,600 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
Category
Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Fine Red Chinoiserie Gold Leaf Italian-Made Rococo Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine red Chinoiserie gold leaf Italian-made Rococo Venetian secretary desk is an extraordinary
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A very fine and elaborated 19th century Chinoiserie red lacquered slant front secretary. Hand
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English 19th Century Black and Gold Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
desk and gold Chinoiserie décor. Created in England during the 19th century, this secretary bookcase
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood
Late 18th-Early 19th C. French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 18th-early 19th Century French Style Chinoiserie 2-piece Secretary/Cabinet
Single glass door
Category
Antique Late 18th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Glass
English Chinoiserie Georgian Style Japanned Scarlet Vermillion Cabinet Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Vintage bureau cabinet secretary in the English chinoiserie style with elements of Queen Anne and
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Queen Anne Cabinets
Materials
Wood
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
Louis XV style lady’s secretary with red and gold chinoiserie decoration
Located in Wien, AT
Louis XV style, France, end of the 19th century. Various hardwoods and softwoods, veneered, primed in red, decorated in lacquer technique in the form of landscape scenes on the rever...
Category
Antique 1870s French Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wood
18th C Style George I Red Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk by Burton-Ching
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
18th C Style George I Red Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary Desk by Burton-Ching.
Category
2010s American Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
$12,780 Sale Price
20% Off
Continental Dutch Satinwood Secretary
Located in Queens, NY
chinoiserie decorated lacquered panels and brass gallery
Category
Antique Late 18th Century European Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
English Georgian Style Secretary Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
English Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20th century hand-painted lady's desk, purchased from a prominent antique dealer in Los Angeles, Paul Ferrante in the late 1950s. The piece has been in my family since.
Category
Early 20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Queen Anne Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Lawrenceburg, TN
Red and gold hand-painted chinoiserie lacquered secretary/bookcase with a fitted interior for
Category
Antique 1860s English Secretaires
English Style Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite red chinoiserie piece was made in Italy circa 1920s. It is two-pieces. A bureau of
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
A George I style lacquered Bureau Bookcase
Located in San Francisco, CA
A George I style parcel gilt scarlet lacquered secretary bookcase; overall Chinoiserie decorated w
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Country English Sheraton Style Chair, Eisenhour
By Isenhour Furniture
Located in Milton, DE
around a breakfast table. I have used this chair at a secretary(chinoiserie). I have used this chair when
Category
Early 2000s Italian Sheraton Chairs
Materials
Wood, Bog Wood
French Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Locust Valley, NY
French lacquered chinoiserie secretary with bronze mountings.
Category
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
19th c., English, Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand-carved and embellished, English, Chinoiserie secretary with mirrored doors.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Rose Tarlow Queen Anne Chinoiserie Secretary
By Rose Tarlow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Chinoiserie Secretary. A stunning, hand made, hand painted
Category
20th Century Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
19th Century Petite English Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorative 19th century petite red Chinoiserie secretary from England. Very nice hand painted Asian
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Burton-Ching 18th C Style Georgian Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase Desk
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Burton-Ching 18th C Style Georgian Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase Desk.
Category
2010s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer
Rose Tarlow Queen Anne Style Chinoiserie Secretary
By Rose Tarlow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Style Anne chinoiserie secretary. A stunning, handmade, hand
Category
20th Century American Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Lacquer
1970s Vintage Karges Chinoiserie Secretary
By Karges Furniture
Located in Hartville, OH
Spectacular hand painted Karges Chinoiserie Secretary finished in the most sophisticated salmon
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
1930s Georgian Style Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk with Bookcase
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 1930s Georgian style painted chinoiserie secretary desk with open bookcase top. It is
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Georgian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
18th Century English Green Chinoiserie Secretary with Red Interior
Located in Richmond, VA
Very impressive 18th century English chinoiserie secretary with red interior on ogee bracket feet
Category
Antique 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Lacquer
Emerald Green Lacquer Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk China Cabinet
Located in West Hartford, CT
Magnificent emerald green lacquer Chinoiserie secretary two part desk features a pagoda top and
Category
Vintage 1940s Chinese Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Leather, Wood, Paint
Georgian Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Montreal, QC
An 18th century English Chinoiserie Bureau Bookcase, profusely lacquered with exotic birds in a
Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Oak, Pine
Red chinoiserie secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George II style red chinoiserie decorated secretary, made in Italy, mid 20th century.
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian George II Secretaires
Materials
Brass
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
19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Fantastic 19th century English black lacquered chinoiserie five-drawer secretary. Having wonderful
Category
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires
20th Century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality chinoiserie 20th century secretery bookcase with pediment top and
Category
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Furniture
Materials
Wood
18th Century George III Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A beautiful secretary decorated in the chinoiserie style. Lots of storage.
Category
Antique 18th Century British Desks
Materials
Wood, Paint
English Chinoiserie Secretary with Mirrored Doors
Located in Dallas, TX
chinoiserie. Adorning the facade of the secretary are intricate painted scenes of Chinese pastoral life. The
Category
Early 20th Century English Queen Anne Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood
19th c. Red Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
an English secretary desk with Chinoiserie decoration, a cabinet with glass doors / small bookcase
Category
Antique 19th Century English Secretaires
Materials
Brass
John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk
By John Widdicomb
Located in West Hartford, CT
Rare signed John Widdicomb red chinoiserie midcentury secretary desk that comes in two pieces, a
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk
By John Widdicomb
Located in West Hartford, CT
Rare signed John Widdicomb red chinoiserie midcentury secretary desk that comes in two pieces, a
Category
Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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Chinoiserie Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs
At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal chinoiserie secretary for your home. A chinoiserie secretary — often made from wood, lacquer and metal — can elevate any home. There are many kinds of the chinoiserie secretary you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Each chinoiserie secretary bearing Georgian, Rococo or Mid-Century Modern hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made chinoiserie secretary over the years, but those crafted by Baker Furniture Company, John Widdicomb and Karges Furniture are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Chinoiserie Secretary?
Prices for a chinoiserie secretary start at $1,080 and top out at $50,000 with the average selling for $8,500.
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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