Roll Top Desk History

Executive Summary about Roll Top Desk by Chris Pierce

Long before computers became popular and facilitating them became the primary concern of desk hunters, the roll top desk was considered to be one of the classiest and most sought after desks on the market.

The roll top desk is actually a nineteenth century reworking of a previously popular type of desk called the pedestal desk The pedestal desk was a large, stand alone desk that was made up of a simple working surface (typically rectangular in shape) that sat upon either small, stacked drawer cabinets or on pedestals.

The inventor of the roll top desk took the design of the pedestal desk and went two steps further. This piece was fixed to the top and back of the work surface and contained shelves, storage compartments, nooks and drawers - all for storage.

Many likened this extra piece to the Carlton house desk or the Bureau a gradin. The piece de resistance of the roll top desk however, was the slatted wooden cover that rolled or slid down through slots that had been carved into the desk’s raised sides.

The slatted rolling top led people to compare it to the cylinder desks that were popular in the eighteenth century, though it is actually related to the tambour desk - a desk that also featured a closure piece of wooden slats.

The roll top desk quickly found popularity because it was easy to produce. In the late twentieth century, however, steel desks became more popular and filing cabinets made the drawers of the roll top obsolete.

Features of the Modern Roll Top Desk

The classic roll top desks still have a stylish place in the traditional home office today.  If a new desk is in your future, we have the features to look for to ensure your classic style will accommodate your modern day work habits.

1. Room for a Computer Monitor

Many of the roll top desks of old do not provide the space for a full-sized computer monitor. However, the newer designs will provide ample room between the cubbies and drawers on the hutch to allow for a full sized monitor in a convenient location.

2. A Place for the Keyboard

A keyboard may be necessary but it doesn’t have to be visible when you are not busy typing away at your desk. Many modern roll top desks offer a place for the keyboard underneath the monitor that can be hidden away behind a faux drawer front.

3. Location for the Hard Drive

One of the biggest pieces of computer equipment that will need to be stored inside the desk is the hard drive.

4. Interior Lighting

Some of the current roll top desks will even include luxurious features like interior lighting to help illuminate the work space.

5. Upgraded Drawer Hardware

While antique roll top desks provided plenty in terms of elegant style and storage, the hardware that was installed on these pieces was not always designed to last. Handles might break and drawers might stick, detracting from the beauty and the functionality of the desk.

With many upgraded features to accommodate the modern technology of today and the classic beauty of the antique desks of old, roll top desks can be a lovely, functional addition to the traditional home office.

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