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Painted Secretary Desks

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Beautiful French 19th Century Hand-Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful French 19th century hand-painted secretary desk, the patina is so much beautiful in
Category

Antique 1880s French Desks

Materials

Wood

French Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This stunning Mid-19th-century French Painted Secretary Desk has a captivating fall-front design
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French French Provincial Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century Swedish Neoclassical Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Swedish neoclassical painted secretary desk will make the perfect addition to your
Category

Antique 1790s Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Steel

Elegant Red Chinoiserie Hand Painted Secretary Desk
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Beautiful tall hand painted chinoiserie secretary desk. The red and gold case with front doors that
Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Georgian Chinoiserie Cream Lacquered Hand Painted Secretary Desk With Bookcase
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks

Materials

Brass

Maddox French Provincial Louis XV Painted Secretary Desk With Mirrored Bookcase
By Maddox Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and mirrored
Category

Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Desks

Materials

Brass

French Painted Secretary Desk with Fallfront, Mid 19th century
Located in South Salem, NY
This late 19th-century French secretary exudes timeless elegance with its creamy painted finish
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Lo Studiolo di Ponziani Florentine Chinoiserie HandPainted Secretary Desk Italy
By Ponziani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
secretary desk Ponziani Firenze. Painted brilliant lemon yellow, beautiful and substantial wooden piece of
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
painted secretary desk. Done in the tradition of the Venetian style, this beautifully designed piece is a
Category

Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Chinese Hand Painted/Black Lacquered and Brass Secretary Desk
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Lacquered and Brass Secretary Desk. Featuring intricate hand-painted scenes on a rich black lacquer finish
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Experience the allure of the Red Lacquered Chinese Secretary Desk. Meticulously crafted with
Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Lacquer

Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
H 42 in W 38.5 in D 18.5 in
20th Century English Adams Style Hand Painted Double Bonnet Top Secretary Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Early 20th century English Adams style hand painted double bonnet top secretary desk. Item features
Category

20th Century North American Adam Style Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Paint

Folk Art Secretary Style Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 20th century. Handmade and hand painted. Roof drops down to a desk or storage. Extra storage
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Secretary Style Desk
Folk Art Secretary Style Desk
H 42.25 in W 17.5 in D 40 in
Vintage Custom Painted Italian French Regency Style Tall Secretary Desk & Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautiful hand-painted vintage, two-piece secretary desk with matching chair. The pieces are
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Cane, Wood

19th Century American Mahogany Serpentine Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in Germantown, MD
A late 19th Century American mahogany serpentine slant front secretary bureau desk. Nice quality
Category

Antique 1880s American Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Large Secretary Desk in Ash Wood Made in France
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is designed by the famous parisian Designer Eric Gizard and delivered
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...

Materials

Wood, Ash, Lacquer

Large Secretary Desk in Ash Wood Made in France
Large Secretary Desk in Ash Wood Made in France
H 49.22 in W 47.25 in D 18.12 in
Large Secretary Desk in Ash Design Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is designed by the famous parisian Designer Eric Gizard and delivered
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...

Materials

Wood, Ash, Lacquer

1940s Petite Mahogany Ornate Painted Secretary Bureau with Flip Leather Top
Located in Germantown, MD
Beautifully painted and decorated mahogany Secretary Bureau writing table with Flip green Leather
Category

Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany, Paint

Dark blue secretary desk in wood, scandinavian design by Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
ÉGÉE collection This secretary desk is part of the ÉGÉE collection designed by Eric Gizard in Paris
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Ash

French 19th Century Transitional St. Mahogany And Ormolu Cabinet/Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
/secretary desk. The secretary is raised by most elegant slender cabriole legs with beautiful finely detailed
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Tall Blue Painted Swedish Secretary Bureau, circa 1800-20
Located in Round Top, TX
. The entire secretary has been given a professional custom layered blue painted finish which has been
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks

Materials

Brass

Black & Gold Hitchcock Style Secretary Desk & Chair - 2pc Set
By Lambert Hitchcock
Located in Middletown, MD
home décor. Painted in rich black with gold accents featuring the classic Harvest stenciling, beautiful
Category

20th Century American American Classical Desks

Materials

Maple

Chinoiserie Black Lacquered Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
By Jasper Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian Chinoiserie style bureau with drop front secretary desk and lighted bookcase
Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks

Materials

Brass

Late 20th Century Vintage Regency Chinoiserie Mirrored Secretary Desk
Located in west palm beach, FL
A stunning vintage Regency Secretary desk. Beautiful hand painted Chinoiserie detail on a saffron
Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Late 20th Century Vintage Asian Black Lacquered Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in west palm beach, FL
A spectacular vintage Asian secretary desk. A chic black lacquered cabinet with hand painted gilt
Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Desks

Materials

Metal

19th Century 3-Piece Diminutive Lacquer Secretary Desk with Nice Chinoiserie
Located in Milford, NH
A fine three-piece diminutive black lacquer secretary desk with extensive chinoiserie or japanned
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Desks

Materials

Mahogany

French Tin & Slate Secretary with Chair
Located in Asheville, NC
Romantic French hand painted anodized tin with slate table top and wrought iron chair with
Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Slate, Tin, Iron

Danish Modern Model 68 Secretary Desk in Teak by Arne Wahl Iversen Vinde, 1960's
By Vinde Møbelfabrik, Arne Wahl Iversen
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a freshly restored Model 68 secretary desk designed in the 1960s by the influential
Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Wood, Teak, Paint

Swedish 19th Century Gustavian Style Painted Wood Slant-Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish mid-19th century painted wood Gustavian style slant-front desk or secretary with three
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks

Materials

Wood

Small French Directoire Cherry Secretary, Cherry Stained, Cream Leather Pad
Located in Landivy, FR
This Secretary is a handmade modernized interpretation of the French Directoire style at the end of
Category

2010s French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood, Cherry, Lacquer

19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretary with Library
Located in Wichita, KS
This is an exquisite Swedish Gustavian period painted secretary with library. Brass hardware and
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Desks

Materials

Wood

18th Century French Louis XV Period Walnut Chateau Bonheur Du Jour or Secretary
Located in Birmingham, AL
impressive antique French secretary features a chapeau de gendarme crown above a pair of carved serpentine
Category

Antique 1750s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Iron

Colorful Ash Desk by Thomas Dariel
Located in Geneve, CH
Colorful ash desk by Thomas Dariel, Maison Dada Measures: W 140 * D 75 * H 103 cm Desktop in
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Colorful Ash Desk by Thomas Dariel
Colorful Ash Desk by Thomas Dariel
H 40.56 in W 55.12 in D 29.53 in
Colorful Ash Desk by Thomas Dariel
Located in Geneve, CH
Colorful ash desk by Thomas Dariel, Maison Dada Measures: W 140 x D 75 x H 103 cm Desktop in
Category

2010s French Modern Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Colorful Ash Desk by Thomas Dariel
Colorful Ash Desk by Thomas Dariel
H 40.56 in W 55.12 in D 29.53 in
White Large Secretaire Desk, Design by Eric Gizard, Paris, 11 Colours Available
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is mounted in our French workshops and delivered fully assembled. The
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...

Materials

Wood, Ash, Lacquer

Exceptional 18thc Painted Venetian Secretary Desk
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic painted Italian secretary with original designs, paint and interior silk fabric.
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer, Wood

Original Painted 18th Century Writing Desk Secretary, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A second part of the 18th Century Baroque Period Scandinavian original Painted Writing Desk
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Fine Paint Decorated Baroque Style Armoire Secretary/ Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
long drawers. Overall distressed look green/gray paint with silver gilt trim and brown painted
Category

20th Century American Hollywood Regency Secretaires

Materials

Wood

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

Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk
Located in Essex, MA
the century, a French provincial secretary/desk came out of a New York City Park Avenue apartment
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Paint

Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary, 18th Century Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Period Danish Black Painted Gustavian Style Writing Desk Secretary. Refinished in painted black
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Italian Venetian Style Blue-Painted Trompe l'Oeil Secretary Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
VENETIAN STYLE BLUE-PAINTED TROMPE L'OEIL SECRETARY DESK Circa early 20th century with later
Category

20th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Paint

19thc French Painted Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautiful 19thc Robin’s egg blue secretary/fall front desk.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19thc French Painted Secretary
19thc French Painted Secretary
H 39.25 in W 45.25 in D 23 in
Vintage French Provincial Petit-Bureau de Dame
Located in Forney, TX
A beautiful petit-bureau de dame (also known as bonheur de jour or lady's secretary desk). Born in
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

Swedish Gustavian Style 1820s Grey Blue Painted Slant Front Desk Secretary
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Gustavian style painted wood secretary circa 1820 with slant front desk, carved fluted
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Light Blue Large Secretaire with Storage Designed by Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is designed by the famous parisian Designer Eric Gizard and delivered
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...

Materials

Wood, Ash, Lacquer

Sea Blue Large and Design Secretaire in Ash Wood by Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is mounted in our French workshops and delivered fully assembled. The
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...

Materials

Wood, Ash, Lacquer

Chocolate Gray French large Secrétaire, Eric Gizard, Paris
By Éric Gizard
Located in Landivy, FR
This large secretary desk is mounted in our French workshops and delivered fully assembled. The
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writi...

Materials

Wood, Ash, Lacquer

Unusual Swedish Antique Tall Country Secretary Desk in Painted Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare Swedish secretary desk dated 1847 and monogrammed. The secretary desk is made in painted pine
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Country Secretaires

Materials

Pine

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

Antique Victorian Painted Grain Dragon Griffon Secretary Library Writing Desk
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Early 20th Century Victorian style secretary writing desk featuring painted grain finish
Category

Early 20th Century Victorian Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Original Paint Swedish Secretary
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
An unusual Swedish Secretary from Jamtland with a three door design on the top section. A folding
Category

Antique 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Original Paint Swedish Secretary
Original Paint Swedish Secretary
H 88.19 in W 50.4 in D 21.66 in
19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic Italian Venetian Painted secretary/cabinet. This piece has a wonderful color palette but
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Directoire Cupboards

Materials

Wood

19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary
19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary
H 96.25 in W 53 in D 17 in
Swedish 1770s Baroque Period Light Gray Painted Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Baroque tall secretary from circa 1770, with slant front desk, light Gustavian gray
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Wood

Swedish 1800s Light Gray Painted Secretary from Värmland with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish tall secretary from Värmland circa 1800, with gray painted finish, carved bonnet top
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Swedish 1790s Gustavian Period Two-Part Painted Secretary with Slant Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
, creamy white painted finish and multiple inner drawers inside the slant-front desk. Discover the
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Swedish Rococo Period 1790s Painted Two-Part Secretary with Slanted Front Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo period painted wood two-piece tall secretary from the late 18th century, with
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Italian 1850s Rococo Style Tall Secretary with Slanted Desk and Original Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian Rococo style two-part secretary from the mid-19th century, with slanted desk, mirrored
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Glass

Swedish Gustavian Painted Secretary Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gustavian Painted Secretary Cabinet Bookcase, Sweden Antique Swedish secretary cabinet in
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

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

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Painted Secretary Desks For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of painted secretary desks for sale on 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, paint and glass, all painted secretary desks available were constructed with great care. Painted secretary desks have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Painted secretary desks bearing Louis XV or Rococo hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made painted secretary desks over the years, but those made by Maitland Smith, Monterey Furniture and New York Galleries are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Painted Secretary Desks?

Prices for painted secretary desks start at $1,080 and top out at $16,500 with the average selling for $4,700.

Finding the Right Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items. 

In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior. 

Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time. 

Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room. 

In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.

A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.

Questions About Painted Secretary Desks
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A secretary desk works with the help of hinges that secure the writing surface to the rest of the piece. To use one, you simply pull down on the wooden door to open the hinge and lower the writing surface. Return the desk to its closed position by lifting the writing surface up. You'll find a selection of secretary desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Secretary desks originated in the early 18th century. They were typically used by secretaries and clerks and featured plenty of compacted drawers for stationary storage. On 1stDibs, find a collection of secretary desks from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    A secretary desk is called by its name because of its original function. When the desks first emerged in 19th-century France, the secretaries of estates used them to conduct business. Once they finished paying bills and reconciling accounts, they could raise the hinged writing surface and close the desk. Secretary desks are the workstations of choice in many busy households, especially those with spaces pulling double duty as offices by day and living rooms, dining rooms or bedrooms at night. On 1stDibs, shop an array of secretary desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 24, 2021
    Yes, you can paint a leather desk top. You can transform an old leather desk top and add visual appeal with easy-to-use leather paint. If you don’t feel confident in trying this by yourself, get in touch with a furniture restorer or related professional for help. Find a variety of leather desk tops on 1stDibs.

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