How do I know if my antique roll top desk?

A variety of factors can determine the exact age of an antique roll top desk. Some things to look for is the type of wood and craftsmanship used to create the desk. Typically, older desks will be made from heavier wood. You can also check for a maker’s marks to determine the age. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your roll top desk. You’ll find a variety of expertly vetted roll top desks on 1stDibs.

How do I know if my roll top desk is antique?

To tell if a roll-top desk is an antique, look closely at the materials. Real antiques feature hardwoods like cherry, mahogany and black walnut. If you detect the use of engineered woods, the desk is a reproduction. Also, early pieces show off irregular dovetail joints. Joints that appear perfectly uniform indicate that a roll-top desk is a more recent mass-produced piece. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted antique roll-top desks.

Antique French Ormolu Roll Top Desk

19th Century French Marquetry And Ormolu Table

Riesener Furniture

Louis Xv Ladies Writing Desk

Bureau Du Roi

Jean Henri Riesener

19th Century French Cylinder Desk

Louis Xv Roll Top Desk

Ormolu Mounted Marquetry Side Table

Antique French Ormolu Mounted Roll Top Desk in the Style of Riesener

$61,454

H 47.25 in W 57.49 in D 28.75 in

Antique French Ormolu Mounted Roll Top Desk in the Style of Riesener

By Jean-Henri Riesener

Located in London, GB

Antique French ormolu mounted roll top desk in the style of Riesener French, 19th Century Height 120cm, width 146cm, depth 73cm This magnificent 19th-century bureau à cylindre, als...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry Roll-Top Desk Attributed to P. Bernard

$61,273

H 42.13 in W 45.67 in D 25.99 in

Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry Roll-Top Desk Attributed to P. Bernard

By Jean-Henri Riesener

Located in London, GB

Literature: Christopher Payne, European Furniture of the 19th century, Antique Collectors Club, 2013, p. 111 This roll-top desk is after a famous model by Jean-Henri Riesener which w...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French Vernis Martin Decorated Louis XIV Mahogany & Ormolu Lady’s Roll Top Desk

$1,960Sale Price|20% Off

H 42.5 in W 30.5 in D 21.25 in

French Vernis Martin Decorated Louis XIV Mahogany & Ormolu Lady’s Roll Top Desk

Located in Big Flats, NY

French Vernis Martin Decorated Louis XIV Mahogany & Ormolu Lady’s Roll Top Desk Measures - 42 3/8" x 30 1/2" x 21 1/8" This antique French Louis XIV style lady’s roll top desk, dat...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

French Restauration Antique Mahogany Cylinder Roll-Top Desk circa 1830

$11,250Sale Price|25% Off

H 52.63 in W 54.75 in D 25.38 in

French Restauration Antique Mahogany Cylinder Roll-Top Desk circa 1830

Located in Shippensburg, PA

Extraordinarily pleasing. The desk presents with a very old and likely original gray marble top projecting slightly over a full-width top drawer over a cylinder roll-top that easily...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Empire Desks

Materials

Marble, Brass, Ormolu

French Desk Bureau A Cylinder Roll Top Roi Louis XV

$7,852

H 59.1 in W 33.9 in D 20 in

French Desk Bureau A Cylinder Roll Top Roi Louis XV

Located in Potters Bar, GB

A very decorative French Louis XV style bureau à cylindre, finished in richly figured mahogany veneers and mounted throughout with extensive ormolu bronze mounts Bought from a dealer...

Category

Vintage 1980s Louis XV Desks

Materials

Ormolu

Bureau De Roi - French Roll Top Desk Louis XV Monumental

$10,918

H 60 in W 63 in D 35 in

Bureau De Roi - French Roll Top Desk Louis XV Monumental

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Stunning French Louis XV style desk - or Bureau Du Roi - hand crafted from kingwood This is based on the original as found in the Palace of Versaille and is an astounding work Hopefu...

Category

Vintage 1980s Louis XV Desks

Materials

Kingwood

Antique French Louis XV Cylinder Marquetry & Ormolu Bureau Writing Desk 1880

$4,995

H 48.75 in W 46 in D 23 in

Antique French Louis XV Cylinder Marquetry & Ormolu Bureau Writing Desk 1880

Located in Portland, OR

A very elegant antique French Louis XV style inlaid Kingwood cylinder bureau, desk, circa 1870. This very fine serpentine or bombe shaped desk is finely inlaid with parquetry panels ...

Category

Antique 1870s French Louis XV Desks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Marquetry, Ormolu and Jasperware Bureau du Roi by Beurdeley

$1,906,290

H 59.45 in W 74.81 in D 39.38 in

Antique French Marquetry, Ormolu and Jasperware Bureau du Roi by Beurdeley

By Emmanuel-Alfred Beurdeley

Located in London, GB

Flanking the central roll-top panel are finely cast ormolu figures of Apollo and Calliope, each supporting a twin-light scrolling acanthus candelabrum.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Recent Sales

Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany, Amaranth and Walnut Parquetry Roll Top Antique Desk

Sold

H 41.34 in W 45.67 in D 25.2 in

Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany, Amaranth and Walnut Parquetry Roll Top Antique Desk

By Roger Vandercruse dit Lacroix

Located in London, GB

Of transitional style in the manner of Roger Vandercruse dit Lacroix, the cylinder opening to a gilt tooled brown leather writing surface beneath eight small drawers and a filing com...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Louis XV Style Tulip & Rosewood Marquetry Roll-Top Writing Desk

Sold

H 44 in W 37 in D 22.5 in

Antique French Louis XV Style Tulip & Rosewood Marquetry Roll-Top Writing Desk

Located in Chicago, IL

Antique French Louis XV Style Tulip & Rosewood Marquetry Roll-Top Secretary Writing Desk This luxurious antique desk imported from Europe would be a breathtaking and functional furn...

Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French Roll Top Desk Louis XVI Inlay Bureau

Sold

H 50 in W 49 in D 28 in

French Roll Top Desk Louis XVI Inlay Bureau

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Stunning antique French roll top desk in the Louis XVI manner Main structure of desk is in kingwood with exotic fruit inlays Ormolu fixtures are also original and well cast Desk o...

Category

Vintage 1920s Desks

Materials

Kingwood

French 19th Century Louis XVI-Style Mahogany Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 43.63 in W 43.75 in D 20.63 in

French 19th Century Louis XVI-Style Mahogany Roll Top Desk

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A gorgeous mahogany roll top desk, done in the Louis XVI style, from 19th century, France.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble, Brass

Louis XVI Desk - French Bureau Du Roi Roll Top

Sold

H 56 in W 60 in D 35 in

Louis XVI Desk - French Bureau Du Roi Roll Top

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Please come and view in our Herfordshire antiques warehouse just 20 mins north of London Stunning French Louis XV style desk - or Bureau Du Roi - hand crafted from kingwood This is b...

Category

Vintage 1980s Desks

Materials

Wood

Antique French Style Marquetry Kingwood Satinwood & Burl Barrel Roll Desk 20th C

Sold

H 39 in W 29.25 in D 20.5 in

Antique French Style Marquetry Kingwood Satinwood & Burl Barrel Roll Desk 20th C

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique French Louis XV style ladies desk offers deeply striated kingwood construction with barrell roll top opening to interior with pull out writing surface having satinwood mar...

Category

Early 20th Century Louis XV Desks

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Regency Louis XV Bureau De Pente Ladies Writing Desk

Sold

H 39.13 in W 32 in D 22.13 in

Antique French Regency Louis XV Bureau De Pente Ladies Writing Desk

By Vernis Martin

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique French Regency Louis XV style bureau de pente roll top ladies writing desk In the manner of Vernis Martin France, Circa 1920s Mahogany, with hand-painted scene,...

Category

Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique French 19th Century Louis XVI Walnut Ormolu Marble Cylinder Desk, 1880

Sold

H 44 in W 31.5 in D 20 in

Antique French 19th Century Louis XVI Walnut Ormolu Marble Cylinder Desk, 1880

Located in Portland, OR

A good quality antique French walnut ladies Louis XVI cylinder/ roll-top writing desk, circa 1880.

Category

Antique 1880s French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Regency Louis XV Ladies Writing Desk and Gold Gilt Desk Chair

Sold

H 39.13 in W 32 in D 22.13 in

Antique French Regency Louis XV Ladies Writing Desk and Gold Gilt Desk Chair

By Vernis Martin

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique French Regency Louis XV style bureau de pente roll top ladies writing desk with petite Italian gold gilt desk chair In the manner of Vernis Martin France and Ita...

Category

Vintage 1920s French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Mahogany Louis XVI Lady's Desk

Sold

H 43.5 in W 35.5 in D 20 in

French 19th Century Mahogany Louis XVI Lady's Desk

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A remarkable roll top lady's desk, done in mahogany, from 19th century, France.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Marble, Brass

French Louis XV Bureau Du Roi Roll Top Desk Inlay

Sold

H 60 in W 63 in D 35 in

French Louis XV Bureau Du Roi Roll Top Desk Inlay

Located in Potters Bar, Herts

Please come and view in our Herfordshire antiques warehouse just 20 mins north of London. Stunning French Louis XV style desk - or Bureau Du Roi - handcrafted from kingwood. This i...

Category

1990s Louis XVI Desks

People Also Browsed

Antique Late 17th Century Antique Franco-Flemish Verdure Landscape Tapestry

$425,000

H 152 in W 172 in D 1 in

Antique Late 17th Century Antique Franco-Flemish Verdure Landscape Tapestry

Located in New York, NY

This late 17th century Franco-Flemish verdure tapestry, signed RAET, worked in fresh colors, depicting animals in a wooded river landscape with a bird of prey attacking a rabbit in t...

Category

Antique Late 17th Century Belgian Baroque Tapestries

Materials

Tapestry, Wool

French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Figural Ormolu Clock Garniture, Raingo Frers

$38,950Sale Price / set|48% Off

H 34 in W 22 in D 13.5 in

French 19th Century Louis XIV Style Figural Ormolu Clock Garniture, Raingo Frers

By Raingo Frères

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A very fine and palatial French 19th century Louis XIV style figural ormolu three-piece clock and candelabra garniture suite, comprising of a gilt-bronze clock and a pair of ten-ligh...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XIV Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Side Chair

$22,687

H 37.01 in W 20.48 in D 20.48 in

Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Side Chair

Located in London, GB

Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze side chair French, late 19th century Measures: Height 94cm, width 52cm, depth 52cm Crafted from mahogany, this unusual side chair is mounte...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Side Chairs

Materials

Ormolu

Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze & Baccarat Chandelier

$285,000

H 60.5 in Dm 48 in

Fine French 19th-20th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze & Baccarat Chandelier

By Cristalleries De Baccarat

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A very fine and palatial French 19th-20th century Louis XV style gilt bronze (Ormolu) and fitted-Baccarat crystal (cut-glass) twenty-six-light figural chandelier with five large cher...

Category

Antique Early 1900s French Belle Époque Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Campaign Day Bed

$12,450

H 44 in W 78 in D 55.5 in

French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany & Gilt-Bronze Mounted Campaign Day Bed

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Fine French 19th Century Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt-Bronze Mounted "Lit en Bateau" Officer's Campaign Bed. The "Boat Shaped" frame, surmounted with columns with Empire style gi...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Revival Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode Médallier

$56,025Sale Price|55% Off

H 37.75 in W 72 in D 26.25 in

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode Médallier

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Fine and Impressive French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany and Parquetry Commode a Vantaux, after the model Antoine Gaudreaux's 'Commode Médallier du Roi Louis ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Mid Century 1960s Scandi Roll Top Bureau / Desk in Teak by Egon Ostergaard

$1,470Sale Price|20% Off

H 38.59 in W 35.44 in D 19.3 in

Mid Century 1960s Scandi Roll Top Bureau / Desk in Teak by Egon Ostergaard

By Egon Ostergaard, SMF Svenska Möbelfabriken Bodafors

Located in Markington, GB

sought after unusual Secretary in teak with locking roll-top door, a selection of small drawers and storage compartments as well as a hidden pull-out black worktop. Also features thr...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Desks

Materials

Teak

Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mantel Clock by Henri Picard & Fedinand Barbedienne

$46,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 27.25 in W 22.5 in D 27.25 in

Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mantel Clock by Henri Picard & Fedinand Barbedienne

By F. Barbedienne Foundry

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Very Fine French 19th Century Gilt-Bronze Figural Mantel Clock, Horloge à Poser, by Henri Picard and Fedinand Barbedienne - ‘F. Barbédienne & Cie. / A Paris’, after the model by É...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss Sculpture

$37,444

H 33 in W 34 in D 16 in

Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss Sculpture

By Antonio Canova

Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Psyche revived by Cupid’s kiss. After Canova. Beautifully carved in fine statuary marble. The winged young man who has just landed on a rock where a girl lies unconscious, is the ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Statuary Marble

Fine 19th Century French Louis XV Rococo Style Giltwood Wall Console with Marble

$6,999

H 35.5 in W 45.5 in D 14 in

Fine 19th Century French Louis XV Rococo Style Giltwood Wall Console with Marble

Located in Birmingham, AL

A fine 19th Century French Louis XV Rococo style giltwood wall mounted console having the original Rouge Royal marble top above a giltwood frame with rounded corners. Featuring an in...

Category

Antique 1880s French Louis XV Console Tables

Materials

Marble

Rococo Style Parcel-Gilt and Painted Three-Fold Screen

$11,573

H 59.26 in W 51.97 in D 1.58 in

Rococo Style Parcel-Gilt and Painted Three-Fold Screen

Located in London, GB

Painted to the front and rear with outdoor scenes of nature, with courting couples and winged cherubs, in the typical Rococo style.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Rococo Screens and Room Dividers

Materials

Giltwood

1750 Venezia Italy Blue and Green Lacquered Wooden Engraved Commode with Flowers

$765,058

H 34.65 in W 56.89 in D 25.4 in

1750 Venezia Italy Blue and Green Lacquered Wooden Engraved Commode with Flowers

Located in Brescia, IT

There are a few pieces that can be called rare and extraordinary and this piece it can be. This is one-of-a-kind and unobtainable commode coming out from an Italian gentleman privat...

Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier

$18,000

H 45 in Dm 30 in

Late 19th Century French Gilt Bronze and Crystal Chandelier

Located in New York, NY

A late 19th century French gilt bronze and beaded crystals chandelier with 12 lights

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

‘Grand Psyche’, Monumental Art Nouveau Mirror by Maison Millet

$612,736

H 106.3 in W 66.93 in D 22.45 in

‘Grand Psyche’, Monumental Art Nouveau Mirror by Maison Millet

By Claudius Marioton, Maison Millet

Located in London, GB

‘Grand Psyche’, monumental Art Nouveau mirror by Maison Millet French, c. 1900 Height 270cm, width 170cm, depth 57cm This exquisite antique mirror was crafted around 1900 by the e...

Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Floor Mirrors and Full-Length Mirrors

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Fine Pair of 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Commodes

$139,850Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 35.75 in W 56 in D 23.5 in

Fine Pair of 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Commodes

By François Linke

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A very fine and impressive pair of French 19th century Louis xv style gilt bronze-mounted kingwood, satinwood and tulipwood floral marquetry two-drawer bombé commodes attributed to F...

Category

Antique 1890s French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique French Gilt Bronze and Mahogany Bed by Paul Sormani

$88,506

H 70.08 in W 69.3 in D 84.26 in

Antique French Gilt Bronze and Mahogany Bed by Paul Sormani

By Paul Sormani

Located in London, GB

Antique French gilt bronze and mahogany bed by Paul Sormani French, c. 1870 Height 178cm, width 176cm, depth 214cm Decorated with various ormolu (gilt bronze) mounts and beautiful...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Ormolu

Get Updated with New Arrivals

Save "Antique French Ormolu Roll Top Desk", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Antique French Ormolu Roll Top Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal antique French ormolu roll top desk for your home. Frequently made of wood, metal and ormolu, every antique French ormolu roll top desk was constructed with great care. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect antique French ormolu roll top desk — we have versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. Each antique French ormolu roll top desk bearing louis xv, Empire or Louis XVI hallmarks is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one antique French ormolu roll top desk that is appealing in its simplicity, but Emmanuel-Alfred Beurdeley produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Antique French Ormolu Roll Top Desk?

An antique French ormolu roll top desk can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $21,269, while the lowest priced sells for $2,595 and the highest can go for as much as $1,931,797.

Questions About Antique French Ormolu Roll Top Desk

How do I know if my antique roll top desk?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A variety of factors can determine the exact age of an antique roll top desk. Some things to look for is the type of wood and craftsmanship used to create the desk. Typically, older desks will be made from heavier wood. You can also check for a maker’s marks to determine the age. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your roll top desk. You’ll find a variety of expertly vetted roll top desks on 1stDibs.
How do I know if my roll top desk is antique?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
To tell if a roll-top desk is an antique, look closely at the materials. Real antiques feature hardwoods like cherry, mahogany and black walnut. If you detect the use of engineered woods, the desk is a reproduction. Also, early pieces show off irregular dovetail joints. Joints that appear perfectly uniform indicate that a roll-top desk is a more recent mass-produced piece. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted antique roll-top desks.