How tall is an antique roll top desk?

Antique roll top desk with slide out writing surface that includes an angled writing slope (if desired), fitted interior and 2 lower drawers, stands on 4 turned legs, 104 cm high, 115 cm wide, 51 cm deep approx A German Biedermeier cylindrical roll top desk having fitted interior. 114 cm high, 107 cm wide, 37.5 cm deep

Who was the first person to make a roll top desk?

The antique roll top desk is a favorite item amongst antique collectors of all ages. With its sturdy good looks, and multiple nooks and crannies for organizing things, the roll top is a classic piece of furniture. The First Roll Top Desk. The very first patent for the roll top desk was given to Abner Cutler in 1850.

What kind of wood is used for a roll top desk?

The early roll-top desks were typically constructed from cherry, mahogany or black walnut, while oak was often used after 1900. Mahogany is strong and dense because it lacks knots and holes in the grain of the wood, while cherry has a distinctive reddish appearance. Solid black walnut has a natural dark brown hue with attractive grains.

How can you tell the age of a roll top desk?

Each desk featured a rolling door that slid up and down to reveal or conceal built-in pigeonholes, shelves and a flat writing surface. The exterior facade of a roll-top desk as well as its construction can provide visual clues as to its age. Trustworthy resources can help confirm your age calculations.

How to determine the age of an antique roll top desk?

Trustworthy resources can help confirm your age calculations. Take a good look at the type of wood the roll-top desk is made of to help you determine its age. The early roll-top desks were typically constructed from cherry, mahogany or black walnut, while oak was often used after 1900.

What kind of roll top desk do you have?

Mahogany roll top cylinder bureau, with a carved three quarter gallery with gadrooned fore-edge above a cylinder top opening to a configuration of pigeon holes and drawers. With a pull

How tall is a French oak roll top desk?

A French walnut cylindrical roll top ladies writing desk on square tapered legs fitted with drawers. 108 cm high, 64 cm wide, 47 cm deep. A French oak roll top desk, single pedestal, the roll top enclosing drawers and pigeon holes, with a slide and three drawers below.

What kind of desk was made in 1900?

Mahogany, teak and cherry also appear in old desks, but from 1900 on, most desks were oak. A desk made from cherry after 1900, for example, would have been a special order or the work of a local craftsman.

How many drawers are in an antique desk?

The lower half usually has three to four drawers or, occasionally, shelves behind two doors. Dating from the late 18th century, and continuing in popularity for the next 100 years, this desk usually reflects predominant furniture styles of the period in details such as the feet or ornamentation.

What kind of desk is a school desk made of?

Vintage Wood & Steel School Desk. Gc – Vgc. English Antique Secretary Desk. Made From Oak.

Where did the escritoire type desk come from?

Developed in the early 18th century, the escritoire grew out of—and the term may still apply to—a writing box or small cabinet with a drop-front and drawers or shelves dating from the Middle Ages, most likely from Spain. This popular type of desk, also known as a drop-front, originated in Spain in the 16th century as the vargueño.

How much is an antique secretary’s desk worth?

The desks are highly sought after by collectors and can be quite expensive. Authentic antique secretary’s desks range in value from $500 to more than $30,000, but you may be able to find one at an online auction site or a local estate sale for $200 to $400.

Where can I find an old school desk?

Where to Look. Country estate sales, antique shops, within an old school itself–if allowed–auction houses, all are places to find antique school desks. Online auctions tend to have a variety of affordable types of antique school desks starting around $50.

What kind of wood are antique secretaries desks made out of?

Antique secretary’s desks were made in numerous sizes and styles including Chippendale, Victorian and French. Typically these desks were made from hard woods like oak, walnut or mahogany, which were known for their durability.

When did the rolltop writing desk come out?

Born out of well-heeled Victorians’ demand for bigger desks to outfit their expanding homes, the rolltop desk first surfaced around 1870. Rolltop desks instantly dwarfed dainty writing desks , offering spacious writing surfaces that were encased in a bank of small drawers intended for corralling writing instruments, letterhead, and stationary.

What kind of wood is roll top desk made of?

Antique roll top desks are generally 100% solid wood. If you spot drawer bottoms made with engineered materials, such as MDF or composite wood, the piece is a reproduction. Look for photos showing brand stamps on the wood or hardware, as this will allow you to research the manufacturer.

Can a rolltop desk be used as a secretary?

With a little ingenuity and a willingness to employ one in a space other than an office, an antique rolltop desk can feel wholly 21st century. Antique rolltop desks tend to be shorter than secretary desks, meaning that they don’t introduce quite the same dynamism to a room.