19th Century Venetian Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A painted Venetian secretaire with shelves and drawers on bottom portion of body.
Category
Venetian Secretaire
Impressive 18th Century Italian Venetian Walnut Secretaire
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressive and unusually tall Venetian black walnut and burled walnut secretary. The mirrored top cabinet doors opening to reveal a multi drawer fitted interior, having a drop fro...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Venetian rococo 19 th century bureau/secretaire hand painted
Located in Houston, TX
This fine quality Venetian secretary is beautifully carved and finely Painted in pale teal and rose hues. The bottom is carved in a bombe Shape and has four drawers that slide easil...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
1960’s Italian Inlaid Secretaire
Located in Bradenton, FL
An Italian inlaid Venetian-style secretaire, circa 1960. Decorated throughout with walnut veneers, the drop front desk and two serpentine drawers are inlaid with satinwood marquetry ...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Italian Venetian Secretary, 18th Century
$16,000Sale Price|36% Off
Italian Venetian Secretary, 18th Century
Located in CH
Italian Venetian Secretary (Secretaire / Bureau Cabinet) 18th Century An 18th-century Italian Venetian Baroque secretaire, crafted in burl walnut and walnut veneer, exemplifying the...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Victorian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Paint
Venetian Style Chinoiserie Decorated Parcel Gilt Secretary
Located in Rio Vista, CA
The bottom case has a slant or fall front secretaire desk with a large writing table and fitted drawers with cubbies for storage.
Category
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Italian Venetian Pink Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Cabinet
$3,120Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Venetian Pink Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Cabinet
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Italian Venetian Pink Chinoiserie Secretary Desk Cabinet. It is beautifully hand painted with yellow inside and pink outside. It comes apart in two pieces for transport. Made in Italy.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
20th Century Wood Venetian Bureau Desk, 1950s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian bureau from the mid-20th century. The furniture is curved front and sides, veneered in walnut, burl, maple, and fruitwood. The bureau desk has three generously sized externa...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
20th Century Wood Venetian Trumeau Desk, 1950
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian trumeau from the mid-20th century. Curved furniture, carved and veneered in walnut, burl, beech, and fruitwood. Double-body trumeau with two external drawers and a lower dra...
Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Secretaires
Materials
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. The piece features a beautiful...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint, Glass
20th Century Painted Wood Venetian Bureau Desk, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian bureau from the second half of the 20th century. Beautifully designed furniture, pleasantly lacquered and hand painted with floral decorations. High leg bureau equipped with...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
20th Century Wood Venetian Double Body Trumeau Desk, 1960
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian trumeau from the mid-20th century. Moved furniture and veneered in walnut, burl, cherry and beech of excellent quality. Double body trumeau equipped with three external draw...
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Revival Secretaires
Materials
Bronze
Fantastic Paint Decorated Faux Marble Interior Venetian Secretary Desk
$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...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Venetian Rococo Style Walnut Secretary Lacquered by Ira Yeager
$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.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
Materials
Brass
Niccolini Venetian Rococo Hand Painted Bombay Secretary Desk Signed 20thC
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Niccolini Venetian Rococo Hand Painted Bombay Secretary Desk Signed 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
This distinguished Niccolini Venetian Rococo secretary desk, originating from the 20th century, is a testament to exquisite Italian craftsmanship and decorative artistry. The piece i...
Category
20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
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 coral and gilt interior makes such a vibrant statement. Each panel of the serpentine f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Poplar
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. Standing tall and elegan...
Category
Vintage 1920s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
CIRCA 1900 VENETIAN CHINOISERIE DECORATED PARCEL GILT BUREAU BOOKCASE DRAWERs
$8,764Sale Price|20% Off
CIRCA 1900 VENETIAN CHINOISERIE DECORATED PARCEL GILT BUREAU BOOKCASE DRAWERs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made Venetian Secrtaire Bureau Bookcase made in the Chinosierie taste with a parcel gilt fi...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Hardwood
Mid-Century Italian Venetian Coral Gilt Hand Painted Chinoiserie Secretary Desk
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a beautiful piece! This is a mid-century hand painted Italian secretary desk with elaborate hand painted chinoiserie scenes. The bombe front features three paper lined drawer...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Wood, Poplar
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. This antique 7.75 feet tall (approximate) cabinet from Venice, Italy, boasts a beautifully hand-painted and embellis...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Original 18th Century Venetian Secretary Desk Bookcase burled walnut with inlaid
By Bassano's Ebanisteria
Located in Vigonza, Padua
What makes this piece unique and special is its originali twist to the characteristic Secretaire, a must-have object among Venetian aristocratic families that could not be missing in...
Category
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Baroque Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
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...
Category
Antique Early 1900s Italian Neoclassical 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 piece that blends European craftsmanship with exotic Chinoiserie decoration, creat...
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
20th Century Lacquered and Gold Chinoiserie Wood Venetian Trumeau Desk, 1940s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Rare Venetian chinoiserie trumeau from the mid-20th century. Double-body furniture, curved in richly carved, lacquered and gilded wood with chinoiserie figures and oriental genre sce...
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Unique Venetian Italian Paint Decorated Secretary Desk with Bookcase Circa 1890s
$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. Exuding the opulence a...
Category
Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Secretaires
Materials
Walnut
Venetian Trumeau Green Lacquered Hand Decorated Secretary with Writing Desk 1976
Located in Prato, IT
Venezia, Italy, handcrafted production from 1976 In Venetian style Louis XV Painted and decorated in gold Upper part with two doors with two beveled mirrors depicting a Lady and a...
Category
20th Century Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Mirror, Wood
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 ...
Category
2010s Italian Other Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Venetian Louis XV Walnut Bureau Secretaire
Located in Vo', Veneto
Shaped Venetian Bureau Secretaire in Walnut Wood Type: Walnut and walnut burl Period: Mid 1700s Origin: Venice – Veneto Dimensions: Centimeters Height: 114 cm Width: 120 cm Depth: ...
Category
Antique 1740s Italian Louis XV Desks
Materials
Nutwood
Recent Sales
Venetian Secretaire
Located in Santa Rosa, CA
Beautiful venetian secretaire with three drawers and a fitted interior and two door bookcase above.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Small Venetian secretaire-bookcase
Located in San Francisco, CA
A small Venetian rococo polychrome and floral painted drop-front secretaire-bookcase of serpentine outline, the top with broken-arch pediment above two panelled-cabinet doors, the ba...
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Rare 18th Century Venetian Polychrome Secretaire
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare 18th century venetian polychrome secretaire of exceptional quality and condition with three long drawers, a fitted interior compartment, two domed doors and surmounted by a mo...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Incomparable 18th Century Venetian Chinoiserie Secretaire
Unavailable
H 93.75 in W 46.34 in D 24.75 in
Incomparable 18th Century Venetian Chinoiserie Secretaire
Located in San Francisco, CA
An incomparable 18th century Venetian chinoiserie secretaire with full shaped domed cornice above two doors, opening to reveal a red polychrome and parcel gilt interior of shelving, ...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Venetian Etched and Mirrored Secretaire-Bookcase
Located in Blacksburg, VA
Venetian Etched and Mirrored Secretaire-Bookcase. Beveled mirrored sides and front with scroll and foliate etched decoration.
Category
20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Glass, Giltwood
18th Century Venetian Burled Olivewood Secretaire
Located in San Francisco, CA
An 18th century venetian burled olivewood secretaire, the shaped pediment surmounted by carved giltwood acanthus leaves and a mirror plate etched with an image of a harlequin flanked...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
18th Century Venetian Lacquered Secretary Bookcase
Located in Natchez, MS
Exceptional 18th century lacquered secretary bookcase with mirrored doors. The lacquer features snake charmers and a chinoiserie scenes with children. This came from an important P...
Category
Antique 18th Century Italian Secretaires
Venetian High Palace Secretary Desk, circa 1945
Located in Liverpool, GB
A palace-like, tall Venetian secretary, with a light olive-colored polychrome, beautiful gilding and hand-made floral paintings, characteristic of the so-called "Bright furniture" in...
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Neoclassical Secretaires
Materials
Wood
VENETIAN BOMBE SHAPED BURL OLIVE WOOD SECRETARY
Located in New York, NY
VENETIAN BOMBE SHAPED BURL OLIVEWOOD SECRETARY
Category
20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Olive
Handpainted Venetian Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Secretairie, having mirrored double cupboard doors surmounted by shaped pediment, over slant front desk and single frieze drawer, raised on cabriole legs terminating in hoofed feet; ...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Mirror
Venetian Secretaire Cabinet in Hand Painted Yellow Lacquer
Located in Kent, Dover
A late 19th Century Venetian secretaire cabinet in a striking yellow lacquer, with beautifully hand painted decoration throughout.
Category
Antique 1880s Italian Cabinets
Materials
Brass
A Fine Painted Venetian Secretaire With Bronze Mounts
Located in Sheffield, MA
The piece is decorated throughout with wonderful details. In two parts the upper section with a crest over two cupboard doors opening to several shelves inside, over a lower section...
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
19th Century Venetian Painted Secretaire
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Venetian Painted Secretaire Please see additional Secretaires and other items at www.jacquelineadamsantiques.com .
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Etched Venetian glass mirrored secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Venetian glass etched mirror secretaire with four doors and drop down shelf featuring floral and figurative motifs.
Category
Vintage 1930s Italian Secretaires
Materials
Glass
Venetian Chinoiserie Painted Secretaire, Wood, Mid-19th Century, Italy
Sold
H 41.5 in W 38.75 in D 18.5 in
Venetian Chinoiserie Painted Secretaire, Wood, Mid-19th Century, Italy
Located in Astoria, NY
Venetian Chinoiserie Painted Secretaire, with figural and landscape scene motif, and fall front writing surface opening to four short drawers above two frieze drawers on tapered legs...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Chinoiserie Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Italian Hand-Painted Secretaire
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Decoratively painted Venetian style cabinet or secretaire.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
19thc Venetian Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully Painted and Decorated Italian Secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Venetian Painted Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pale green and silver and gold gilt, fall front secretary with a fully painted interior embellished with floral motifs.
Category
Late 20th Century Secretaires
Materials
Gold, Silver
19th c. Venetian Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Petie Painted Secretary
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Venetian Style Painted Secretary
Located in Essex, MA
DOUBLE DOME TOP OVER A PAIR OF DOORS ENCLOSING A FITTED INTERIOR,THE BASE WITH SLANT LID DESK WITH FITTED INTERIOR OVER THREE DRAWERS,BRACKET FEET.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
c.1900 Venetian Secretary
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dramatic, burl wood and walnut secretary with scrolling crown and hidden and serpentine drawers.
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Secretaires
Materials
Burl, Walnut
18th century Venetian Secretay
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully painted five drawer fall front secretary
Fitted interior with original paint
Category
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Secretaires
Painted Venetian Secretary or Desk
Located in Winter Park, FL
Venetian secretary with original hand painted finish and lovely floral design. Opening to 26" deep.
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Secretaires
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.
Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Adam Style Secretaires
Materials
Wood
Venetian Walnut Bookcase circa 1940
Located in Doylestown, PA
Venetian walnut secretary bookcase, broken arched pediment with mirrored cartouche above double domed mirrored doors, double serpentine base. Italian circa 1940. The interior now fit...
Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Baroque Revival Secretaires
Antique Venetian Painted Secretary Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Venetian painted secretary bookcase showcases the flair for the dramatic that characterizes artwork, sculpture, and furnishings from Venice. This example, with bold double cr...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Secretaires
Venetian Painted and Gilt Decorated Secretary
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Venetian Louis XV style painted and partial gilt two part secretary desk, made in Italy, circa 1980s.
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Louis XV Secretaires
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
19th Century Venetian, Olive Wood Bureau
Located in Hixson, TN
This is a 19th Century Venetian burr olive wood bureau with a slant top and lid which opens to reveal a writing surface. There is also a fitted interior revealed when in the writing ...
Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Rococo Secretaires
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Venetian Secretaire For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the venetian secretaire you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, glass and paint, every venetian secretaire was constructed with great care. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer venetian secretaire, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A venetian secretaire is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Rococo, Neoclassical and Louis XV styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made venetian secretaire over the years, but those crafted by Baker Furniture Company are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
How Much is a Venetian Secretaire?
Prices for a venetian secretaire can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $750 and can go as high as $78,000, while the average can fetch as much as $8,200.
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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