Skip to main content

Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Vintage Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Vintage Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk

Vintage Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk

Located in Pasadena, CA

This bright secretary was hand painted and produced by Trouvailles Inc in the 1960s. It features a flip top desk and ample storage. Suitable for many interiors.

Category

Vintage 1960s American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Mid-Century Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk

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 heavily painted with pastoral scenes and go,t accents.

Category

Mid-20th Century American George III Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Baker Furniture Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary From Their McMillen Collecti
Baker Furniture Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary From Their McMillen Collecti

Baker Furniture Red Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary From Their McMillen Collecti

By Baker Furniture Company

Located in North Canton, OH

Extraordinary Piece and arguably one of the most sought after Chinoiserie pieces that Baker crafted. Instantly recognizable. Stunning in person. Acquired from the original owner. The...

Category

Vintage 1980s Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Lacquer

Fine Red Chinoiserie Gold Leaf Italian-Made Rococo Venetian Secretary Desk
Fine Red Chinoiserie Gold Leaf Italian-Made Rococo Venetian Secretary Desk

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 piece that blends European craftsmanship with exotic Chinoiserie decoration, creat...

Category

Vintage 1930s Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Walnut

Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary
Fine 19th Century English Chinoiserie and Red Lacquered Slant Front Secretary

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 painted and raised decoration.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

19th Century English George III Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary
19th Century English George III Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary

19th Century English George III Style Chinoiserie Lacquered Secretary

Located in Essex, MA

George III-Style Red-Lacquered Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase 19th century, the upper case with a broken-arch pediment over a pair of arched doors, the base with a slant lid opening ...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Lacquer

Louis XV style lady’s secretary with red and gold chinoiserie decoration
Louis XV style lady’s secretary with red and gold chinoiserie decoration

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

Large Red Jappaned Bureau Cabinet
Large Red Jappaned Bureau Cabinet

Large Red Jappaned Bureau Cabinet

Located in Dubai, AE

Fine Queen Anne style red Japanned Chinoiserie secretary cabinet. The triple domed top with eight urn finials over two doors, opening interior adorned with hand-painted landscape and...

Category

Antique 18th Century European Queen Anne Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Paint

Georgian Style Slant Front Secretary Cabinet in Lacquered Wood, UK
Georgian Style Slant Front Secretary Cabinet in Lacquered Wood, UK

Georgian Style Slant Front Secretary Cabinet in Lacquered Wood, UK

Located in Queens, NY

English Georgian style (19th century) red lacquered Chinoiserie decorated slant front secretary cabinet.

Category

Antique 19th Century British Georgian Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Recent Sales

19th Century Petite English Red Chinoiserie Secretary
19th Century Petite English Red Chinoiserie Secretary

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 images and nice storage inside the desk.

Category

Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Red chinoiserie secretary
Red chinoiserie secretary

Red chinoiserie secretary

Sold

H 90 in W 41 in D 19.5 in

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
Rose Tarlow Melrose House Queen Anne Black & Red Chinoiserie Secretary Desk

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 wonderful hand painted, black and gold chinoiserie painted exterior with an equally ...

Category

1990s American Queen Anne Secretaires

Materials

Giltwood, Lacquer

19th c. Red Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet
19th c. Red Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet

19th c. Red Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet

Sold

H 60.5 in W 37 in D 18.5 in

19th c. Red Chinoiserie Secretary Cabinet

Located in Dallas, TX

an English secretary desk with Chinoiserie decoration, a cabinet with glass doors / small bookcase occupies the top , the single large false drawer pulls out and the hinged front fal...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Secretaires

Materials

Brass

John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk
John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk

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 top and a bottom.

Category

Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk
John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk

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 top and a bottom.

Category

Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Vintage English Red and Black Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary
Vintage English Red and Black Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary

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 designs inside and out.

Category

20th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century English Green Chinoiserie Secretary with Red Interior
18th Century English Green Chinoiserie Secretary with Red Interior

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

Mid-Century Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Mid-Century Georgian Style Red & Gilt Chinoiserie Secretary Desk

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 heavily painted with pastoral scenes and go,t accents.

Category

Mid-20th Century American George III Secretaires

Materials

Wood

English Chinoiserie / Georgian Style Red and Black Secretary Desk
English Chinoiserie / Georgian Style Red and Black Secretary Desk

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 with rounded corners and a black top with red trim and painted genre landscape sce...

Category

20th Century Georgian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk

Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk

Sold

H 42 in W 38.5 in D 18.5 in

Chinese Red Lacquered Secretary Desk

Located in Delray Beach, FL

Experience the allure of the Red Lacquered Chinese Secretary Desk. Meticulously crafted with vibrant red lacquer, this desk showcases intricate gold detailing and hand-painted motifs...

Category

20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Lacquer

Early 19th century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase
Early 19th century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase

Early 19th century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase

Sold

H 79.75 in W 36.75 in D 18.75 in

Early 19th century Chinoiserie Secretary Bookcase

Located in Charlottesville, VA

An early 19th C. English red lacquer and gilt-decorated Chinoiserie secretary bookcase.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century English George III Secretaires

Materials

Mirror, Wood, Lacquer

19th Century Italian Lacquered Secretary with Raised Chinoiserie Design
19th Century Italian Lacquered Secretary with Raised Chinoiserie Design

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. Beautiful Asian images on the outside of the cabinet and also on the inside.

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Fine 18th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary
Fine 18th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Secretary

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 painted and decorated interior.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Queen Anne-Style Chinese Red Chinoiserie Desk and Bookcase
Queen Anne-Style Chinese Red Chinoiserie Desk and Bookcase

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 gilt decoration, a drop-front desk / writing surface, a scroll bonnet top / pedime...

Category

Mid-20th Century English Queen Anne Bookcases

Materials

Wood

Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Sold

H 96 in W 44 in D 21.5 in

Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Located in Tarrytown, NY

1990s red chinoiserie secretary. Eight feet high. Hand painted.

Category

1990s Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Red Chinoiserie Secretary/Desk
Red Chinoiserie Secretary/Desk

Red Chinoiserie Secretary/Desk

Sold

H 86 in W 34 in D 18.5 in

Red Chinoiserie Secretary/Desk

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Striking chinoiserie secretary with exquisite hand-painted surfaces by the Isabel O'Neil Studio.

Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk
John Widdicomb Signed Red Chinoiserie Secretary Secretaire Desk

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 top and a bottom.

Category

Vintage 1970s American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

George III Style Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
George III Style Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Secretary Bookcase

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 rosettes, over panel doors decorated with a pavilion and figures, opening to reveal ...

Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Chinoiserie Sideboards

Materials

Oak, Lacquer

Impressive 18th Century Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Drop Front Secretary
Impressive 18th Century Chinoiserie Red Lacquered Drop Front Secretary

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 hand painted decoration Original glass doors.

Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Harewood

Chinoiserie Decorated Ebonized, Gilt, & Red Lacquered Secretary Desk
Chinoiserie Decorated Ebonized, Gilt, & Red Lacquered Secretary Desk

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 broken arch pediment over a cast with double doors opening to vermillion red lacquered ...

Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

18th Century English Red Lacquer chinoiserie Secretary
18th Century English Red Lacquer chinoiserie Secretary

18th Century English Red Lacquer chinoiserie Secretary

Located in Essex, MA

A William and Mary Chinoiserie decorated secretary 18th century, the superstructure with two bevelled glass doors, verso with two large figures, one on each panel, above the lower ca...

Category

Antique 18th Century Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Lacquer

Baker Red Chinoiserie Japanned 1593 Venetian Secretary Desk Collectors Edition
Baker Red Chinoiserie Japanned 1593 Venetian Secretary Desk Collectors Edition

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.

Category

Late 20th Century American Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Bombe' Italian Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Bombe' Italian Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Bombe' Italian Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Sold

H 40 in W 37 in D 19 in

Bombe' Italian Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Located in Natchez, MS

19th c. Venetian Red Chinoiserie Secretary. Very exagerated Bombe' form.

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Paint

Red Chinoiserie Secretary 20th Century Reproduction
Red Chinoiserie Secretary 20th Century Reproduction

Red Chinoiserie Secretary 20th Century Reproduction

Located in Stamford, CT

English red chinoiserie secretary with mirrored doors, circa 1980's  

Category

20th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Hand-Painted English Red Chinoiserie Secretary
Hand-Painted English Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Hand-Painted English Red Chinoiserie Secretary

Located in Stamford, CT

Exceptional hand-painted English red chinoiserie secretary with mirrored doors and multiple hidden compartments.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Secretaires

Materials

Mirror

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Red Chinoiserie Secretary", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Red Chinoiserie Secretary For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the red chinoiserie secretary you’re looking for. Each red chinoiserie secretary for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, paint and brass. There are many kinds of the red 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. A red chinoiserie secretary, designed in the Georgian style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. You’ll likely find more than one red chinoiserie secretary that is appealing in its simplicity, but John Widdicomb and Baker Furniture Company produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Red Chinoiserie Secretary?

Prices for a red chinoiserie secretary start at $2,250 and top out at $50,000 with the average selling for $12,500.

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.

Read More

37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name

Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.

The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home

Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.

What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?

The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.

This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once

Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.

Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition

Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.

Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way

Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.

Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture

In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.

These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project

From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.