Antique of the Week: Roll Top Desk

Roll top desks originated in the 19th century. Now, an antique roll top desk is available for sale at .

With cubbies to hold correspondences and drawers for easy storage, the desks were ideal for life in the 1800s when the main form of communication was letter writing. The top of the desk, which rolled down, also served as a barrier that provided privacy for the user of the desk. It could even be locked into place.

Erik Organic, a custom furniture site, explained the appeal of roll top desks:

People found them to be a great use for working and secure, and the large amount of compartments was a good way to store things. Some roll top desks even came with hidden compartments were special items could be stored out of sight.

Roll top desks fell out of heavy use as the need for more space increased. Cheaper, larger, more spacious desks became the desks used more often in offices and in homes. Today, roll top desks are popular antique collectibles or accent furniture pieces in homes.

The particular roll top desk available at The Red Collection features the traditional sliding top and inner cubbies. One long drawer is fitted under the main desk area with two square drawers on the side. One cabinet underneath the drawers opens and shows three divided sections for storage.

The desk was originally priced at $450 but is now on sale for $315.