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Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

Biedermeier Roll-Top Desk, Cherry Veneer, Brass, Ink, South Germany circa 1820
Biedermeier Roll-Top Desk, Cherry Veneer, Brass, Ink, South Germany circa 1820

Biedermeier Roll-Top Desk, Cherry Veneer, Brass, Ink, South Germany circa 1820

Located in Regensburg, DE

High-quality early Biedermeier Roll-top or Cylinder Secretaire or Writing Cabinet from South Germany around 1820. Very thick cherrywood saw veneer on softwood and solid cherrywood. E...

Category

Antique 1820s German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Biedermeier Cylinder Roll Top Desk with drawers
Biedermeier Cylinder Roll Top Desk with drawers

Biedermeier Cylinder Roll Top Desk with drawers

By Biedermeier

Located in Pasadena, TX

A fine example of a classic Biedermeier design desk. Clad in fine mahogany veneer and sophisticatedly book matched, the roll top is just the beginning.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood

Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk
Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk

Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk

Located in Portland, OR

A rare & unusual antique Bohemian inlaid marquetry Elm tabernacle cabinet and desk, Austria, circa 1820. The cabinet in two sections, the top with an arched pediment, the sides of th...

Category

Antique 1820s Austrian Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Elm, Fruitwood, Ebony

Recent Sales

1820s Modern Design Biedermeier Roll Top Desk
1820s Modern Design Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

1820s Modern Design Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

Unavailable

H 37 in W 37 in D 35 in

1820s Modern Design Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

Located in Long Island City, NY

This very piece is illustrated in a reference book from 1991. Only one second roll top desk I came across in 47 years and which I sold 25 years ago in NYC, illustrated in a reference...

Category

Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry, Ebony, Maple, Pine

Early 19th century roll top desk
Early 19th century roll top desk

Early 19th century roll top desk

Unavailable

H 37.01 in W 37.41 in D 19.69 in

Early 19th century roll top desk

Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur

Roll top opening by 4 drawers and 2 little doors ,on cabriolet leggs. Cherry and marquetry of flowers and attributs

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Desks

Materials

Wood, Cherry

Biedermeier Rolled Top Desk
Biedermeier Rolled Top Desk

Biedermeier Rolled Top Desk

Sold

H 48 in W 48 in D 25.5 in

Biedermeier Rolled Top Desk

Located in Sheffield, MA

Extremely handsome rolled top desk with 3 sided gallery top, 6 drawers under rolled top and 2 large drawer beneath.

Category

Antique 19th Century German Desks and Writing Tables

19th century French Walnut Roll Top Secretary Desk Henri II Biedermeier
19th century French Walnut Roll Top Secretary Desk Henri II Biedermeier

19th century French Walnut Roll Top Secretary Desk Henri II Biedermeier

Located in Choudrant, LA

19th century French Walnut Roll Top Secretary Desk Henri II Biedermeier ~Direct from France~ ~Beautiful antique French walnut secretary with fabulous detailing throughout and hin...

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Antique 19th Century French Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables

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Austrian Biedermeier Figured-Maple Roll-Top Antique Writing Desk circa 1830-1850
Austrian Biedermeier Figured-Maple Roll-Top Antique Writing Desk circa 1830-1850

Austrian Biedermeier Figured-Maple Roll-Top Antique Writing Desk circa 1830-1850

Located in Shippensburg, PA

Biedermeier figured maple roll-top desk Austrian, circa 1830-1850 Item # 007HQP30L With rich and vibrant figured-maple veneers throughout, this fine Biedermeier writing desk feature...

Category

Antique 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Desks

Materials

Baize, Maple

19th Century German Biedermeier Roll Top Desk
19th Century German Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

19th Century German Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 51.97 in W 49.61 in D 31.11 in

19th Century German Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

Located in Dusseldorf, DE

An exceptional Biedermeier roll top desk or secretary from the 19th century.

Category

Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Mahogany, Walnut

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Roll Top, Walnut Marquetry, Germany, 19th Century
Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Roll Top, Walnut Marquetry, Germany, 19th Century

Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Roll Top, Walnut Marquetry, Germany, 19th Century

Located in Wrocław, Poland

This beautiful Secretary comes from Germany from the beginning of 19th century. The piece is made of coniferous wood, veneered with extraordinary walnut veneer, with very detailed ma...

Category

Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Antique 19th Century Biedermeier Roll Top Walnut Secrétaire, Desk, 1870, B2257
Antique 19th Century Biedermeier Roll Top Walnut Secrétaire, Desk, 1870, B2257

Antique 19th Century Biedermeier Roll Top Walnut Secrétaire, Desk, 1870, B2257

Located in Vancouver, BC

Antique 19th century Biedermeier roll top walnut secrétaire, writing desk, continental 1870, B2257 Continental, 1970 Solid walnut and veneer Original finish Three quarter open galle...

Category

Antique 1870s Unknown Biedermeier Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

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Biedermeier Secretary Desk, South German, 1820
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Biedermeier secretary desk, South German 1820. This unique and very beautiful secretary desk dates back to the early phase of the Biedermeier style. It has a beautiful walnut veneer ...

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Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Desk, Veneered, Restored, Circa 1840
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Located in Greding, DE

Biedermeier secretary desk veneered in walnut, featuring three lower drawers, a flat fall-front writing surface, and a top drawer. The pilasters are designed as columns with baluste...

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This is an important antique Dutch walnut and marquetry bureau bookcase, circa 1780 in date. It has been made from the finest burr walnut with fabulous marquetry decoration depicti...

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Located in London, GB

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Biedermeier birch cylinder desk, circa 1830. With a black lacquered rectangular top, below is a drawer with a shield shaped escutcheon, a cylinder that when opened has a prospect doo...

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Antique 18th C Baroque Burl Wood Tabernacle Writing Cabinet.

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Biedermeier Roll-Top Secretary in Cherrywood, Saxony circa 1835
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Located in Greding, DE

Biedermeier roll-top secretary raised on block-mounted square legs and fitted with three drawers in the lower section. Above is a pull-out writing surface concealed by a quarter-cyli...

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18th Century Nutwood Baroque Cabinet With Inlay Works , Austria ca. 1770
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Located in Stahnsdorf, DE

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A Close Look at Biedermeier Furniture

The authentic Biedermeier furniture on 1stDibs is representative of the first modern European decorative style not dictated by the tastes of the aristocracy. Following the Napoleonic wars, a growing, wealthy urban middle class in the German-speaking states of Central Europe began to demand rights and privileges once granted only to nobles. To avoid trouble, the upwardly striving confined their political discussions to one another’s homes. And so the salon was born.

Cabinetmakers in cities such as Vienna, Berlin and Mainz began to offer goods that reflected the tastes and needs of the new class. The makers of Biedermeier chairs, tables and other furniture used little or no gilding, silver hardware or other lavish ornament. Ebonized trims are common on Biedermeier cabinetry, and neoclassical elements — lyre-shaped chair splats, carved scrollwork, table supports shaped like Greek columns. But the strongest aesthetic statement came from the wood — richly-grained, honey-colored, often book-matched veneers of walnut and fruitwood.

There are two iconic Biedermeier furniture forms, both made to outfit rooms designed for conversation. One is the sofa, deeply upholstered with a strong, architectural wooden frame. The second is the circular pedestal table, which stood at the center of the room, offering a surface on which to place coffee and cake services; or to roll out a map, or sketch out ideas on paper.

“Biedermeier” was originally a derogatory term — it derives from the pen names of two German magazine writers who mocked bourgeois manners. Looking at the elegant and refined antique, new and vintage Biedermeier furniture offered on 1stDibs, that is now an amusing irony.

Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces 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 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. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, 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 Biedermeier Roll Top Desk

  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A roll top desk is a piece of furniture that has a wooden cover that can be pulled down when the desk is not in use. Shop a collection of roll top furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Sometimes, roll-top desks are called tambours, sliding roll desks or roll-up desks. However, roll-top is the most commonly used name. The style of desk became popular during the 19th century. You can find a range of roll-top desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A roll top desk kept small essentials and paperwork organized. The roll top design was ideal for business people to secure their desks at the end of the day without filing away their work. Browse a variety of roll top desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Roll-top desks are originally from the late 18th century in the Georgian era of England. By the middle of the Victorian era, they were found in most offices and produced on a large scale. Shop a range of antique roll-top desks on 1stDibs.
  • 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    A roll top desk can be worth anywhere between $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the condition, materials used and time of manufacturing. Roll top desks are expensive, as they are very popular on the antique furniture market and are considered timeless collectibles. Shop a range of antique and vintage roll top desks on 1stDibs.
  • 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.