Painted Italian Secretary Bookcase
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely, decorative Italian secretary, painted overall with floral sprays against a pale yellow ground with light blue demarcations.
Wood
19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic Italian Venetian Painted secretary/cabinet. This piece has a wonderful color palette but I believe that was done in the early 20th century.
Wood
Mid-Century Italian Venetian Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely mid-century Italian chinoiserie secretary desk. The coral and gilt interior makes such a vibrant statement.
Poplar
Superb Period 1780s era Italian Tombstone Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Add timeless Italian flair to your space with this exquisite painted secretary.
Walnut
Bright and Beautiful Italian-Made Rococo Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Italian-made Rococo secretary desk is a bright and beautiful example of 20th-century craftsmanship inspired by 18th-century elegance.
Walnut
Italian Venetian Style Distressed Paint Decorated Secretary Desk C. 1950's
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 78 1/4 in W: 35 1/2 in D: 16 1/4 in Capture the enchanting spirit of classic Europe with this Italian Venetian style distressed paint-decorated secretary desk, craf...
Metal
Mid-Century Italian Venetian Coral Gilt Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century hand painted Italian secretary desk with elaborate hand painted chinoiserie scenes.
Glass, Wood, Poplar
Italian Venetian Rococo-Style Painted Secretary Cabinet-Mirrored Doors, c. 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking two-piece Venetian secretary desk, beautifully hand-painted in classic red lacquer with gilt and floral detailing, dating to the early 20th century. The bombé (bombay) sha...
Wood
$1,800Sale Price|61% Off
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 example of hand-crafted artistry and old-world European charm.
Walnut
Hand-Painted Louis XV Style Secretary Display Cabinet
Located in BŘECLAV, CZ
Elegant Louis XV style secretary cabinet featuring a refined combination of display and writing functionality. The upper section is designed with two glazed doors, opening to reveal ...
Fabric, Glass, Wood
19th Century Venetian Lacquer Painted Secretary Bookcase Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
An elegant and imposing late 19th century two-part Italian secretary bookcase cabinet or desk crafted in the Venetian and Rococo Revival period styles.
Wood, Lacquer, Paint, Glass
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 two parts Bookcase, a piece of furniture that exudes both artistry and history. Th...
Wood, Paint
Antique Venetian Rococo Bombe Secretary Desk, Hand Painted Floral Bureau
Located in BŘECLAV, CZ
An elegant antique Venetian bombe secretary desk crafted in the Rococo revival style, featuring a gracefully curved silhouette and richly decorated surfaces. The piece is finished in...
Bronze
18th Century Hand Painted Venetian Style Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Capsule Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our brand new Electric Blue Pesaro Secretary with palms decor in gold-leaf. In collaboration with Damonte & Lacar...
Wood
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 hand-painted parrots and foliage, slant top reveling a fitted interior desk, three l...
Brass
$3,000Sale Price|38% Off
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 statement piece that captures the artistry and elegance of 19th to early 20th century...
Walnut
Outstanding Red and Yellow Ornate Large Venetian Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This outstanding Venetian painted secretary desk is a true statement piece, showcasing the artistry and craftsmanship of Italy’s finest furniture traditions.
Walnut
18th Century Hand-Painted Venetian Style Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with roses
By Porte Italia
Located in Ronchi dei Legionari, IT
From our Hand-Painted Furniture Collection, we are pleased to introduce you to our Parma Blue Pesaro Secretary with Roses. We love how the choice of sweet curves and pastello colors ...
Wood
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.
Wood
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 dramatic Chinoiserie motifs.
Brass
$14,000Sale Price|22% Off
Venetian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Lacquered by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fantastic late 19th century Italian secretaire cabinet or bookcase made in the Venetian Rococo taste.
Brass
Baker Furniture Style Georgian Burl Wood Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch Top
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding Georgian, Chippendale, or Neoclassical style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top In the manner of Baker Furniture Italy, Circa 1980s Gorgeo...
Brass
Italian Painted Secretary Bookcase
Located in Miami, FL
Italian painted and parcel silver-gilt two-part secretary bookcase (desk); the upper section having a shaped cornice above a single cabinet door; the lower section with a slant front...
Paint, Wood
Italian Decoupage Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Italian painted secretary with decoupage scenes.
Unavailable
H 98.43 in W 50.01 in D 21.66 in
18th Century Louis XIV Italian Secretary Cabinet Walnut Painted Doors
Located in PALERMO, IT
Important Sicilian Trumeau cabinet, with front flap, two upper doors and three drawers, veneered in walnut and briar walnut. Particular processing of the upper doors, inside painted ...
Walnut, Paint
Unavailable
H 38.59 in W 35.04 in D 18.12 in
Italian Gilded and Hand Painted Wood Writing Desk Secretary, 1950s
By Fornasetti
Located in Brussels, Ixelles
Rare midcentury Italian secretary set : hand decorated foldable writing desk with green lacquering and gold leaf covered wooden corpus. Matching a period full brass chair.
Brass
A 19th Century Painted and Decoupage Secretary
Located in New York, NY
A 19th Century Painted and Decoupage Secretary Italian Polychrome and Decoupage Bureau, the drop-front opening to a variety of drawers and cubbyholes, over two long drawers, raised ...
18th century Italian Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
Painted and gilded Italian Secretary, drop leaf desk over 3 drawers with 2door upper cabinet
Sold
H 66.5 in W 29 in L 66.5 in
Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Italian Painted Secretary in Celadon Blue-Green
Located in Dallas, TX
A late 19th century Italian painted secretary in a powder celadon blue green.
Wood
Italian Painted Secretary
Located in North Miami, FL
A paint decorated secretary from the 1960's. This piece is in the venetian style. Great color combination as well as hand painted scene genre. Drawers are lined with Jordan marsh pap...
Paint, Wood
Italian Painted Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis XV style vintage faux marble and silver leaf decorated Italian secretary, mid 20th century.
Wood, Paint
Italian Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful hand painted Chippendale style chinoiserie painted Secretary. Worn paint to be expected from years of use.
Wood
Italian Painted Secretary Bookcase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
2 Corp Cabinet Painted Chinoiserie figure raised on the wood.
Fitted with 2 glass shelves in the Bookcase part.
4 Small drawers in the the Secretary and 3 deep drawers ...
19th Century Italian Painted Secretary
Located in Hixson, TN
A fine painted Italian secretary with slant front revealing a fitted interior and complimentary decoration.
Antique Italian Painted Secretary Desk Bookcase
Located in West Hartford, CT
An Italian paint decorated secretary desk in antique white and orange with gold gilt detail.
Wood, Paint
Italian Painted Secretary and Display Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 20th century Italian Secretary painted in cream with accents of parcel gilt.
Glass, Paint, Wood
Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
A fine paint decorated secretary desk, Italian. The double bookcase top over a drop front with an interior desk.
Wood
Italian Venetian Style Painted Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Attractive Venetian style painted secretary, circa 1960s, overall light green painted with beautiful painted floral decoration, the top with gilded bow crest, raised on bracket feet.
Wood
Italian Early 1900s Baroque Painted Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
This intriguing desk is a testament to the ingenuity and stylistic flair of Italian artisans and boasts its original painted finish! circa 1900-1910. Measures: 39 H x 36.5 W x 16 D...
Hand Painted Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand painted and silver gilt secretary with inset original glass mirrored doors and fitted interior.
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Italian Louis XV Style Painted Bombe Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Italian Louis XV style painted bombe secretary, circa 1960's.
Metal, Brass
Antique Italian Baroque Hand-Painted Bombe Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A masterpiece of hand-painted artistry that also just happens to be an incredibly functional desk, this Antique Italian Baroque bombe secretary features original artwork on all three...
Italian Venetian Hand-Painted Secretary, Early 20th Century
Located in Hamburg, PA
A beautiful Italian Venetian hand-painted secretary with French style feet and accents.
Paint, Wood
Sold
H 40 in W 35 in D 17.25 in
Creme Paint Decorated Rococo Italian Venetian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superbly painted and aged Italian Rococo style secretary desk.
Walnut
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Style Painted Secretary Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical 19th century Italian secretaire bookcase featuring a slant-front or drop front desk. The two-part case is painted in the neoclassical taste decorated with scrolling vines, ...
Brass
Sold
H 84.5 in W 35.5 in D 16.25 in
Charming Early 20th Century Italian Provincial Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This fetching two part grey painted secretary desk features an upper cabinet crowned by shaped pediments above two-panel doors opening up to a shelved and paper lined interior. The l...
Chinoiserie and Cream-Painted Italian Queen Anne Style Secretary
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This Queen Anne style cream-painted bureau cabinet is decorated overall with pastel chinoiserie. The boldly scalloped cornice is above a pair of arched doors above a slant drop front...
Wood
Sold
H 94 in W 45.5 in D 25 in
18th Century Italian Hand Painted Secretary Bookcase with Chinoiserie Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Add charm and color to your office or master bedroom with this splendid antique "secretaire a abattant". Crafted and hand painted with chinoiserie and floral motif in northern Italy,...
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 83.75 in W 35.75 in D 17.5 in
Mid-Century Italian Pink / Green Painted French Style Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a lovely mid-century hand painted Italian Secretary with French styling. The top is 8”W.
Metal
Italian Venetian Chinoiserie and Creme Paint Decorated Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Italian Venetian secretary desk is a striking example of decorative artistry, blending chinoiserie motifs with crème paint decoration to create a piece both functional and highl...
Walnut
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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