Antique Roll Top Desk

The Antique roll top desk or also known as the Tambour front desk was first designed in the Late Victorian period usually in Walnut or Mahogany. During the Edwardian period these became extremely popular and good English Oak was used in their construction. This design was built throughout the early 20th Century with companies like Waring and Gillows, Lebus, Inglesants (who also made good quality stacking bookcases) and Angus of London. The antique roll top desk always had a single or twin pedestal, each having graduating drawers with a pull out writing slide and the tambour slatted fronts were in a D or S shape. The interior would usually have interesting compartments, like pigeon holes, letter racks, small drawers and often they would have a locking mechanism. The top rolls down and automatically locks all the drawers when the tambour front was closed and locked with the original key. The sides and backs are are panelled providing the option of placing it in the centre of the room if one desired and these antique desks split into several sections, making transportation and positioning that bit more simple. If you are interested in buying a roll topped desk please visit our desk category as we do get some wonderful examples in stock and if we do not currently have any available, please email us to be added to our wanted list. We also have a few examples for sale below along with previously sold designs.

Styles of Antique Roll Top Desks

below are some fine examples that we have previously sold, so you can see the types we regularly have on offer –

This delightful tambour fronted antique desk dates from around 1910 in the Edwardian furniture period and is made from oak. The roll top is in an ‘S’ shape which when opened reveals an interior with two small drawers, several pigeon holes, letter racks and pen holders. It has a single drawer over the knee hole while the pedestal has two smaller drawers over a single deeper drawer, all with the original handles. The writing service is full of character after years of use in times when using pen and ink were the main way of recording events and communicating!

Fine quality compact Edwardian Oak Roll Top / Tambour Front Antique Desk stamped “Angus London”.  The locking mechanism is stamped “Angus London” and still works, locking all the drawers when the top is closed. The sides and back are attractively paneled and the whole desk oozes charm and character.

This Quality Oak Edwardian Tambour Front / Roll Top Antique Desk with the original brass key escutcheon stamped Lebus Desk, central drawer and over knee hole. A fabulous feature of this desk is that the roll top has to be fully opened to access the drawers.

Dated 1905, this Edwardian oak antique tambour front desk is a lovely quality. It displays a silver presentation plate describing how the desk was presented to a Mr Henry Robinson on behalf of India Mill’s of Stockport. At its height the mill employed around 1500 people in the cotton industry. This particular desk has a slatted tambour front top with an ‘Angus, London’ stamped working lock with key. The Edwardian desk has panelled sides and back so maybe placed in the centre of a room if so desired (it could be the perfect reception desk maybe?).

S Shaped  Edwardian Solid Oak Antique Roll Top Desk.

Edwardian Oak Antique Roll Top Desk stamped Inglesants Of Leicester.

This quality Tall, Large Edwardian Oak Antique Roll Top Desk is full of beautiful charm, character and has the original moulded handles.