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.

Marquetry Roll Top Desk

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Writing Desks Marble Top

19th Century French Cylinder Desk

Bureau Cylindre Louis Xvi

French Louis Xvi Desk Marquetry

18th Century Dutch Desk

Cylindre Desk

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

$61,538

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

Furniture of the 19th century, Antique Collectors Club, 2013, p. 111 This roll-top desk is after a famous

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Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

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Louis XVI Style French Marquetry Roll Top Bureau De Damme

$21,880

H 42.92 in W 35.44 in D 18.51 in

Louis XVI Style French Marquetry Roll Top Bureau De Damme

Located in London, by appointment only

Violette marble top, above a marquetry roll top opening to a fitted interior, green leather sliding writing

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Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Desks and Writing Tables

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Marble, Bronze

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

$61,476

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

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk

$6,995

H 78 in W 55 in D 27 in

Antique Austrian Baroque Biedermeier Marquetry Roll Top Tabernacle Cabinet Desk

Located in Portland, OR

drawers with the original gilt bronze pulls. The base with a tambour roll top desk with six drawers each

Category

Antique 1820s Austrian Baroque Secretaires

Materials

Elm, Fruitwood, Ebony

Roll Top Secretary Desk, French Walnut with Marquetry Inlay

$2,940

H 39 in W 29 in D 19.5 in

Roll Top Secretary Desk, French Walnut with Marquetry Inlay

Located in Toronto, CA

Elegant Edwardian Cylinder Roll Top Secretary Desk, French Walnut with Marquetry & Parquetry Inlay

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20th Century English Edwardian Secretaires

Materials

Hardwood

Louis XVI Roll Top Desk, France 1780

$14,000

H 36.62 in W 35.04 in D 20.48 in

Louis XVI Roll Top Desk, France 1780

Located in Belmont, MA

This unique Louis XVI Roll Top Desk was made in France around 1780. The outside of the secretary

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Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Secretaires

Materials

Kingwood, Yew

Recent Sales

Italian Secretary Rolltop Desk

Unavailable

H 42.5 in W 46.25 in D 23.25 in

Italian Secretary Rolltop Desk

Located in Stamford, CT

An Italian neoclassical kingwood, tulipwood, fruitwood and ebonized marquetry roll top desk from

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Desks

Materials

Kingwood, Tulipwood, Fruitwood

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

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Biedermeier Desks

Materials

Wood, Cherry

Dutch Neo Classic Marquetry Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 39.5 in W 45 in D 21 in

Dutch Neo Classic Marquetry Roll Top Desk

Located in Westwood, NJ

A fine Dutch Neo Classic marquetry inlaid roll top desk with leather top sliding writing surface

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Dutch Desks and Writing Tables

Japanese Art Deco Marquetry Roll Top Desk Hutch

Sold

H 25 in W 17.75 in D 14 in

Japanese Art Deco Marquetry Roll Top Desk Hutch

Located in Austin, TX

A masterful Japanese Art Deco period marquetry desk hutch with two roll top doors. The interior

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Art Nouveau Cabinets

Materials

Hardwood, Softwood

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

Category

Early 20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

18th-19th Century Bombay Dutch Marquetry Cylinder / Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 45 in W 45.5 in D 23 in

18th-19th Century Bombay Dutch Marquetry Cylinder / Roll Top Desk

Located in Manhasset, NY

18th-19th century Bombay Dutch marquetry cylinder desk. Having an open desktop that measure 18.75

Category

Antique Late 18th Century Dutch Colonial Desks

Materials

Wood

Country French Louis XV Style Ladies Roll Top Desk or Bureau à Cylindre

Sold

H 47.5 in W 39 in D 24 in

Country French Louis XV Style Ladies Roll Top Desk or Bureau à Cylindre

Located in Birmingham, AL

Charming Country French Louis XV style ladies tambour roll top desk or bureau à cylindre of walnut

Category

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

Materials

Walnut

A very fine 19th century French Louis XVI roll top desk by Francois Linke

Sold

H 42 in W 45 in D 25 in

A very fine 19th century French Louis XVI roll top desk by Francois Linke

By François Linke

Located in Dallas, TX

A very fine 19th century French Louis XVI mahogany and gilt bronze mounted roll top desk by

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Louis Philippe Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Secretary Desk

Sold

H 97 in W 44.5 in L 97 in

19th Century Louis Philippe Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Secretary Desk

Located in Winter Park, FL

A 19th century Louis Philippe period French bureau à cylindre, or roll top secretaire with bookcase

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis Philippe Desks

Materials

Brass

19th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 43 in W 48 in D 24 in

19th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk

Located in Winter Park, FL

A fine early 19th century Louis XVI period bureau à cylindre, or roll top desk, made of solid

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

18th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 48.5 in W 45 in D 24.25 in

18th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk

Located in Winter Park, FL

A fine 18h century Louis XVI period bureau à cylindre, or roll top desk, made of solid walnut with

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

18th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk

Sold

H 45.75 in W 43 in D 23 in

18th Century Louis XVI Bureau à Cylindre or Roll Top Desk

Located in Winter Park, FL

A fine 18th century Louis XVI period bureau à cylindre, or roll top desk, made of solid walnut with

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

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

Sold

H 49.61 in W 38.98 in D 20.08 in

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

Located in Wrocław, Poland

floral motifs and a figure of a young man, perhaps a young hunter. When pulling up the rolled top, the

Category

Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Secretaires

Materials

Wood, Walnut

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$3,039

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Located in Suffolk, GB

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Impressive Louis XV Desk/Reception Table, After F. Linke, Paris

$9,349

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Located in Berlin, DE

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19th C. Neo Classic Large Bed With Gilt Work & Painted "Boucher" Style Cherubs

$16,888

H 76.78 in W 150.01 in D 86.62 in

19th C. Neo Classic Large Bed With Gilt Work & Painted "Boucher" Style Cherubs

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Italian 17th Century Louis XIV Period Baroque Giltwood Mirror

$35,500

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Located in West Palm Beach, FL

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$10,500

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Located in Dallas, TX

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Rare Pair of 19th Century Cabinets by Grohé with a Noble Italian Provenance

$198,289 / set

H 44.5 in W 30 in D 19.5 in

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Located in London, GB

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Pair of neoclassical Italian chests of drawers in inlaid wood, XVIII century

$71,129 / set

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$67,500

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Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss Sculpture

$37,606

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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 ...

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French 18th Century Large Louis XVI Marquetry Desk or Bureau à Cylindre

$16,400

H 51.58 in W 52.76 in D 25.2 in

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By Jean Kisling

Located in Berlin, DE

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Bronze

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Marquetry Roll Top Desk For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the marquetry roll top desk you’re looking for. A marquetry roll top desk — often made from wood, metal and hardwood — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer marquetry roll top desk, there are earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A marquetry roll top desk made by Louis XVI designers — as well as those associated with Neoclassical — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made marquetry roll top desk over the years, but those crafted by Gervais Durand are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Marquetry Roll Top Desk?

The average selling price for a marquetry roll top desk at 1stDibs is $10,750, while they’re typically $2,400 on the low end and $62,484 for the highest priced.