$3,995 / item
H 86 in W 41 in D 20.75 in
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
Wood
$11,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 90 in W 40 in D 23 in
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.
Wood
$11,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 98.5 in W 36.5 in D 21.5 in
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.
Wood, Lacquer
$3,895
H 71.75 in W 29 in D 16 in
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
Walnut
$29,500
H 89 in W 45 in D 22 in
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
Wood
$8,941
H 36.62 in W 35.44 in D 22.05 in
Louis XV style lady’s secretary with red and gold chinoiserie decoration
Located in Wien, AT
in red, decorated in lacquer technique in the form of landscape scenes on the reverse side, raised
Wood
$12,780Sale Price|20% Off
H 103 in W 44 in D 24 in
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.
Wood
Large Red Jappaned Bureau Cabinet
Located in Dubai, AE
Fine Queen Anne style red Japanned Chinoiserie secretary cabinet. The triple domed top with eight
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
English Georgian Style Secretary Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary
Wood
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
Wood
Red chinoiserie secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George II style red chinoiserie decorated secretary, made in Italy, mid 20th century.
Brass
Sold
H 109 in W 50 in D 29 in
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
Giltwood, Lacquer
19th c. Red Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
an English secretary desk with Chinoiserie decoration, a cabinet with glass doors / small bookcase
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
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
Wood
Vintage English Red and Black Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine vintage English red and black Chinoiserie decorated secretary. Beautiful hand painted
Wood
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
Mirror, Wood, 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
Wood
English Chinoiserie / Georgian Style Red and Black Secretary Desk
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian-style contemporary black and red faux lacquer Chinoiserie two-piece secretary desk
Wood
Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Experience the allure of the Red Lacquered Chinese Secretary Desk. Meticulously crafted with
Lacquer
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
Mirror, Wood, Lacquer
19th Century Italian Lacquered Secretary with Raised Chinoiserie Design
Located in Dallas, TX
Extraordinary rare 19th century Italian lacquered red secretary with raised chinoiserie design
Wood
Sold
H 89 in W 38 in D 21 in
Antique Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Slant Front Secretary in the Queen Anne Style
Located in Houston, TX
Very Fine English made slant front chinoiserie secretary. Red lacquered and Hand-painted on all
Wood
Fine 18th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine late 18th century English George 11 black lacquered and Chinoiserie decorated secretary. Red
Wood
Queen Anne-Style Chinese Red Chinoiserie Desk and Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
a Queen Anne-style Chinese red (vermillion) chinoiserie secretary / desk and bookcase with all over
Wood
Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1990s red chinoiserie secretary. Eight feet high. Hand painted. From a celebrity’s Southampton, NY
Wood
Red Chinoiserie Secretary/Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Striking chinoiserie secretary with exquisite hand-painted surfaces by the Isabel O'Neil Studio.
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
Wood
George III Style Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Essex, MA
A George III style chinoiserie red lacquered bureau bookcase, the broken dentil cornice with gilt
Oak, Lacquer
Impressive 18th Century Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Drop Front Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
An impressive 18th century English chinoiserie red lacquered drop front secretary. Fine quality
Harewood
Sold
H 86 in W 42 in D 21 in
Red Chinoiserie Paint Decorated John Widdicomb Tombstone Mirrored Secretary Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful red chinoiserie paint decorated secretary desk by John Widdicomb. The desk
Walnut
Sold
H 80 in W 40.75 in D 19.75 in
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
Wood
18th Century English Red Lacquer chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Essex, MA
A William and Mary Chinoiserie decorated secretary 18th century, the superstructure with two
Oak, Lacquer
Sold
H 87 in W 42 in D 24 in
Baker Red Chinoiserie Japanned 1593 Venetian Secretary Desk Collectors Edition
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Baker red chinoiserie japanned 1593 Venetian secretary desk - collectors edition. Item features
Wood
Queen Anne Style Red Japanned Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet
Located in Cypress, CA
Fine Queen Anne style red Japanned chinoiserie secretary cabinet. The double domed top with three
Wood
Bombe' Italian Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
19th c. Venetian Red Chinoiserie Secretary. Very exagerated Bombe' form. Wonderful interior.
Wood, Paint
Red Chinoiserie Secretary 20th Century Reproduction
Located in Stamford, CT
English red chinoiserie secretary with mirrored doors, circa 1980's
Wood
Hand-Painted English Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
Exceptional hand-painted English red chinoiserie secretary with mirrored doors and multiple hidden
Mirror
Red chinoiserie secretary
Located in Santa Monica, CA
decorative piece of furniture with patina - decoration in relief
Gold Leaf
18th Century English Red Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
four drawers. Red Chinoiserie Decoration with gilt accents is a later addition on the case. Probably
Chinoiserie secretary
Located in Seattle, WA
Beautiful red chinoiserie secretary with raised gesso painted decoration. Wonderful intricate
Brass
19th Century Red Lacuered Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Stamford, CT
19th Century Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary.
Red Japanned Lacquer Work Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Washington, DC
"Japanned" Chinoiserie Secretary Probably Italian, two-doors over fall-front desk with interior
Wood
Red 18th Century Portuguese Chinoiserie Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century Portuguese Chinoiserie Secretary of Fanciful Design. This secretary of somewhat naive
Wood
Red laquered fallfront secretary with chinoiserie decoration
Located in Stamford, CT
Fallfront secretary with red japaning
Wood
19th Century English Red Chinoiserie Laquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
Late 19th c. English Red Laquered Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase with incised mirrored doors and
English George III Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary
Located in Natchez, MS
English George III Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Secretary
Very Rare English 18th Century Red Lacquer Secretary Bookcase
Located in Antwerp, BE
Very nice secretary bookcase with beautiful scenes of Chinese figures and decorations on red
Lacquer
18th century Venetian red lacquer secretary
Located in New York, NY
Rare early 18th century red chinoiserie decorated secretary bookcase, having a double arched
Wood
Carved Giltwood Chippendale Chinoiserie Mirror
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in Norwood, NJ
Fine quality gilt and carved wood Chinese Chippendale beveled mirror. Chinoiserie style giltwood frame with central Ho Ho bird at top.
Mirror, Wood
$4,032Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 27.56 in W 19.69 in D 15.75 in
Pink Murano Glass & Brass Luxury Bedside Tables: Italian Artistry Modern Bedroom
Located in Guazzora, IT
These luxury bedside tables in pink Murano glass and brass exemplify exquisite Italian craftsmanship and Mid-Century Modern style. Handcrafted in Italy exclusively for Milan Fashio...
Brass
$12,500
H 102.5 in W 99.5 in D 20.25 in
Large French Carved and Painted Wood Display and Storage Cabinet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large French carved and painted wood display and storage cabinet from the mid-20th century. This vintage French buffet à deux-corps (which is the name for a French buffet consistin...
Metal, Wire
$42,500 / set
H 34.25 in W 24 in D 23 in
Four Louis XV Style Gilt-Wood Chinoiserie Bergères, Jansen Attr., 1890
By Maison Jansen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine and Rare Assembled Set of Four French Louis XV Style Gilt-Wood Carved and Japanned-Chinoiserie Lacquer Decorated Bergers Armchairs, attributed to Maison Jansen (House of Janse...
Velvet, Giltwood, Lacquer
Large 19th Century Painted Kitchen Dresser
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Large 19th century English glazed and painted pine kitchen dresser with sliding doors and great storage. 1880. Top shelves are adjustable. Upper shelf depth: 26cm (10-inches) Cod...
Pine
$24,500
H 77 in W 65 in D 1.5 in
1940’s Reverse Japandi Chinoiserie Style Painted Mirrored Panels Screen Divider
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, mirrored paintings you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what is, unequivocally, the best of the...
Art Glass, Mirror, Wood, Paint
$1,788 / item
H 32.29 in W 18.12 in D 9.06 in
Murano Art Glass and Brass Pink Color Wall Light and Sconces, 2020
Located in Roma, Lazio
This charming wall lamp is entirely handmade in Murano. Each single leaf is handcrafted in high quality Murano blown glass; that's why each leaf is slightly different from the other....
Brass
$661 / item
H 9.06 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Antique Pair of Silver Peacock Stand, Decoration Object for Home Decor
Located in Wembley, GB
Pair of Silver-Plated Peacock Figurines Hollywood Regency Style, Vintage Luxury A striking pair of silver-plated peacock sculptures, masterfully handcrafted in the classic Hollywood ...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Slant-Top Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A stunning, petite French slant-top desk or "bureau de pente" in the Louis XV style, turquoise and gold polychromed with Chinoiserie detailing, and red under-body. Desk opens to rev...
Bronze
$2,995
H 76.5 in W 28.63 in D 15.75 in
Georgian Cherry and Burl Wood Drop Front Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding Georgian or Chippendale style bureau with drop front secretary desk and lighted bookcase hutch top In the manner of Baker Furniture By Jasper Cabinet Co. USA, Circa...
Brass
$1,995
H 88.38 in W 43 in D 21 in
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 In the manner of Jasper Furniture Company USA, Late 20th Century Black lacquered...
Brass
Ebonized Chinoiserie Bombe Chest
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A mid 20th Century carved, hand painted and ebonized continental chinoiserie chest. The three drawers with Asian style decoration with gilt highlights. The French form with curved bo...
Hardwood
$923 / set
H 6 in W 5.5 in D 5.5 in
Antique Regency English Crown Derby Pair Urns Vases Pot Pourri Centerpieces 1815
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Wonderful Rare Matched Pair of Early English Regency Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Pot Pourri or Pastile Burners of traditional form. First quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Lavishl...
Ceramic, Porcelain
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
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 reveal 2 shelves, 4 pigeon holes flanked by small drawer with butterfly form hardwar...
Wood
$3,000Sale Price|38% Off
H 81.5 in W 36 in D 21 in
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
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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