What is a roll top desk?

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.

What era are roll top desks from?

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.

What is a roll top desk called?

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.

What is the point of a roll top desk?

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.

How much is a roll top desk worth?

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.

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.

Empire Roll Top Desk

Empire Mahogany Writing Desk

Antique Roll Top Desk Mahogany Bureau, 1880

$1,954

H 50 in W 31 in D 17 in

Antique Roll Top Desk Mahogany Bureau, 1880

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Classy French Empire roll top desk in mahogany Plenty of storage with all the cubby holes and drawers Writing surface revealed by opening up the roll top section Circa 1880 on thi...

Category

Antique 1880s Desks

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Empire Writing Desk With Roll Top, Nutwood, Austria ca. 1800

$14,900

H 37.402 in W 50.787 in D 28.346 in

19th Century Empire Writing Desk With Roll Top, Nutwood, Austria ca. 1800

Located in Lichtenberg, AT

According to the previous owner´s story who owned the castle where we found this outstanding looking, valuable Empire roll top desk, this antique kneehole desk was especially made on...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century French Empire Style Roll-Top Desk

$6,081

H 44.49 in W 33.08 in D 24.41 in

Early 20th Century French Empire Style Roll-Top Desk

Located in London, GB

Early 20th century French Empire style roll-top desk French, Early 20th Century Height 113cm, width 84cm, depth 62cm This charming roll-top desk is crafted from ormolu mounted hardw...

Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Empire Style Mahogany Roll Top Desk with Bronze Gilt Trim

$24,500

H 47 in W 43.5 in D 22.25 in

French Empire Style Mahogany Roll Top Desk with Bronze Gilt Trim

Located in Queens, NY

French Empire style (19th Century) mahogany roll top desk with bronze trim.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Empire Style English Roll Top Desk with Bronze Mounts

$95,000

H 52 in W 77 in D 41 in

19th Century Empire Style English Roll Top Desk with Bronze Mounts

Located in Queens, NY

19th century Empire style English dark-brown wooden desk with roll top that opens to reveal drawers and letter holders and a gold embossed leather desk surface, topped with a bronze-...

Category

Antique 19th Century Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Large French Neoclassical Roll-Top Desk

$24,500

H 50 in W 65 in D 27 in

Large French Neoclassical Roll-Top Desk

Located in Troy, NY

French Mahogany Empire Desk of stately proportions, with a roll top, revealing a double row of total six drawers under an open shelf, as well as a sliding writing surface with inset ...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany, Pearwood

French Restauration Antique Mahogany Cylinder Roll-Top Desk circa 1830

$15,000

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

FINE RESTAURATION PERIOD ORMOLU-MOUNTED FLAMED MAHOGANY BUREAU À CYLINDER France, circa 1830 Item # 403ZGP18C An exceedingly fine bureau à cylinder from the Restauration period in F...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Empire Desks

Materials

Marble, Brass, Ormolu

Recent Sales

A Russian Neoclassical Roll Top Writing Desk

Unavailable

H 49.75 in W 55.5 in D 27.75 in

A Russian Neoclassical Roll Top Writing Desk

Located in New Haven, CT

A most elegant Russian Plumpudding mahogany cylinder desk, circa 1810. Raised on four tapered legs the lower case holds seven drawers and two sliding shelves with leather tops that e...

Category

Antique 1810s Russian Empire Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Finest quality 19th century French Empire roll top desk

Sold

H 46 in W 46 in D 22 in

Finest quality 19th century French Empire roll top desk

Located in Dallas, TX

Finest quality 19th century Empire mahogany and gilt bronze roll top desk. The drawers lined with a green silk.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Roll Top Desk, Munich, circa 1800-1810

Sold

H 44.1 in W 41.34 in D 20.87 in

Roll Top Desk, Munich, circa 1800-1810

Located in Belmont, MA

Beautiful roll top desk, Munich 1800-1810, bleached mahogany veneer. Rectangular body with three drawers. The writing surface is covered with a green leather (later). The inside of t...

Category

Antique Early 1800s German Empire Secretaires

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Empire Rolltop Desk

Sold

H 45 in W 44 in D 24 in

Antique Empire Rolltop Desk

Located in Pasadena, CA

Antique Empire Style Roll Top Desk from Belgium. Oak with all Original Brass Hardware Circa-1820

Category

Antique 19th Century Belgian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

1940's Custom-Made Walnut S-Curve Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 50 in W 68 in D 34 in

1940's Custom-Made Walnut S-Curve Roll Top Desk

Located in Lafayette, IN

Wonderful 1940's vintage Roll top desk. Desk features S-curve tambour roll, solid brass hardware/feet, raised panel drawers, Empire styled details and grand scale!

Category

Vintage 1940s American Empire Revival Desks

Materials

Brass

Empire roll top desk

Sold

H 74 in W 45 in D 22 in

Empire roll top desk

Located in St. Louis, MO

Fine Empire burr arborvitae cylinder desk, the upper section with two glass doors opening to adjustable shelves; the cylinder desk opening to an interior with a pull out slide with a...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Secretaires

19th Century French Empire Period Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 49 in W 49 in D 24 in

19th Century French Empire Period Roll Top Desk

Located in Chamblee, GA

Rare French Empire Period Flame Mahogany roll top desk of exceptional quality with original marble top over a frieze holding three drawers.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

19th Century French Empire Period Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 49 in W 49 in D 24 in

19th Century French Empire Period Roll Top Desk

Located in Chamblee, GA

Rare piece used in the third of three "Hunger Games" films! French Empire Period Flame Mahogany roll top desk of exceptional quality with original marble top over a frieze holding ...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks

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$145,000 / set

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Located in Queens, NY

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French Empire Style Bronze and Mahogany Desk Leather

$2,681

H 29.53 in W 33.86 in D 64.57 in

French Empire Style Bronze and Mahogany Desk Leather

Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Very decorative French desk in the empire style. Structure in solid mahogany and veneered, it is composed of an empire green leather under hand, three drawers with double handles and...

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Venetian Italian Style Polychrome Secretary Bookcase

$3,315

H 83 in W 31 in D 18 in

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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...

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Swedish Gustavian Period 1790s Painted Slant Front Secretary with Three Drawers

$4,950

H 40.5 in W 35.1 in D 19 in

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$2,250

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$8,500

H 55.75 in W 40.5 in D 18.25 in

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Located in Houston, TX

French first Empire period Secretaire à Abattant, also known as a drop-front secretary, fall front or cantilevered desk. Under the dark grey marble top is a secret, entablature drawe...

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Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk

$2,575

H 36.23 in W 27.96 in D 17.72 in

Antique Chippendale Style Walnut Drop Front Secretary Ladies Writing Desk

Located in Miami, FL

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$187,500

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Adams Style Mahogany Half Cylinder Secretary Writing Desk Hutch Curio 92"

$2,100Sale Price|30% Off

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Located in Dayton, OH

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

$1,459Sale 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 SMF Svenska Möbelfabriken Bodafors, Egon Ostergaard

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...

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Alexandre Chevrie, Museum French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Royal Executive Desk

$347,200

H 29 in W 60 in D 32 in

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$4,960

H 46.5 in W 39 in D 20 in

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Late 18th Century German Louis XVI Secretary, Walnut, Marquetry, Cylinder Desk

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Located in Greven, DE

Louis XVI cylinder desk with marquetry Germany (Westphalia) Walnut etc. Classicism around 1795 Dimensions: H x W x D: 118 x 116 x 62 cm Description: Beautiful writing fur...

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$2,290Sale Price|22% Off

H 39.75 in W 21 in D 19 in

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Located in CHARLESTON, SC

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Empire Roll Top Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the empire roll top desk you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each empire roll top desk for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, mahogany and metal. Your living room may not be complete without an empire roll top desk — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. An empire roll top desk is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Empire styles are sought with frequency.

How Much is a Empire Roll Top Desk?

Prices for an empire roll top desk can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $6,100 and can go as high as $100,000, while the average can fetch as much as $29,500.

Questions About Empire Roll Top Desk

What is a roll top desk?
1 Answer
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.
What era are roll top desks from?
1 Answer
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.
What is a roll top desk called?
1 Answer
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.
What is the point of a roll top desk?
1 Answer
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.
How much is a roll top desk worth?
1 Answer
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.
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.

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