Roll-top Desks Photos

Roll-top or cylinder desks have flexible covers supported above the writing surface fixed in tracks on the desk's side-walls. When slid open, covers disappeared into a hidden compartment. Those invented in late 1700s had round tracks, but starting late 1800s, most tracks were wave shaped.

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Cylinder desk in grand bureau at Nissim de Camondo Museum. Paris, France.Cylinder desk by Jean-François Œben in Salon des Huet at Nissim de Camondo Museum. Paris, France.Hand-painted English mural wallpaper with desk in upstairs hall at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Cylinder-top desk by David Roentgen of Germany & miniature chest of drawers by Jean-Antoine Bruns of France at Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh, PA.
Cylinder desk (1780) in grand bureau at Nissim de Camondo Museum. Paris, France.Cylinder desk (c1780) by Jean-François Œben in Salon des Huet at Nissim de Camondo Museum. Paris, France.Hand-painted English mural wallpaper (18thC) with desk in upstairs hall at Jeremiah Lee Mansion. Marblehead, MA.Cylinder-top desk (c1785) by David Roentgen of Germany & miniature chest of drawers (c1798) by Jean-Antoine Bruns of France at Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh, PA.
Ormolu mounted roll-top desk at Rosecliff. Newport, RI.Louis XV roll-top desk at Rough Point. Newport, RI.Portrait over inlaid desk in drawing room at Rienzi house museum. Houston, TX.Rolltop desk in library at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.
Ormolu mounted roll-top desk at Rosecliff. Newport, RI.Louis XV roll-top desk (mid 18thC) at Rough Point. Newport, RI.Portrait over inlaid desk in drawing room at Rienzi house museum. Houston, TX.Rolltop desk in library at Manderston House. Duns, Scotland.
Roll top desk made by Joseph Stockel of Paris plus collection of globes in Michigan period library at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Roll top desk at Cattle Raisers Museum of Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. Fort Worth, TX.Unique mechanical desk acquired by John P. Hale , co-founder of WV State Museum at West Virginia State Museum. Charleston, WV.Young boy's desk at Clinton Birthplace Home. Hope, AR.
Roll top desk (1775-1803) made by Joseph Stockel of Paris plus collection of globes in Michigan period library at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Roll top desk (1860s) at Cattle Raisers Museum of Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. Fort Worth, TX.Unique mechanical desk acquired (c1870) by John P. Hale , co-founder of WV State Museum at West Virginia State Museum. Charleston, WV.Young boy's desk at Clinton Birthplace Home. Hope, AR.
Office desks at Bidwell Mansion house museum. Chico, CA.Roll top desk with Olivetti typewriter at Bidwell Mansion house museum. Chico, CA.Railway roll top desk & equipment at Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Council Bluffs, IA.Roll-front writing desk in Oaks House Museum. Jackson, MS.
Office desks at Bidwell Mansion house museum. Chico, CA.Roll top desk with Olivetti typewriter at Bidwell Mansion house museum. Chico, CA.Railway roll top desk & equipment at Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Council Bluffs, IA.Roll-front writing desk in Oaks House Museum. Jackson, MS.
Roll-top desk in dining room in Powell House at Old Bethpage Village. Old Bethpage, NY.Roll top desk at Capt. Charles Schreiner Mansion. Kerrville, TX.Rolltop desk with bookcase displaying porcelain in parlor at Neill-Cochran House Museum. Austin, TX.Rolltop desk in library at Fyvie Castle. Turriff, Scotland.
Roll-top desk in dining room in Powell House at Old Bethpage Village. Old Bethpage, NY.Roll top desk at Capt. Charles Schreiner Mansion. Kerrville, TX.Rolltop desk with bookcase displaying porcelain in parlor at Neill-Cochran House Museum. Austin, TX.Rolltop desk in library at Fyvie Castle. Turriff, Scotland.
Parlor with black stone fireplace & roil-top desk in Reid farmhouse at National Museum of Rural Life. Kittochside, Scotland.Slatted closing desk & large coffee grinder at Bird Cage Theatre. Tombstone, AZ.Roll-top desk in museum of Wells Fargo Bank. Tucson, AZ.Office with bookcase & roll top desk at Davis House Museum. San Diego, CA.
Parlor with black stone fireplace & roil-top desk (1907) in Reid farmhouse at National Museum of Rural Life. Kittochside, Scotland.Slatted closing desk & large coffee grinder at Bird Cage Theatre. Tombstone, AZ.Roll-top desk in museum of Wells Fargo Bank. Tucson, AZ.Office with bookcase & roll top desk at Davis House Museum. San Diego, CA.
Roll top desk at Davis House Museum. San Diego, CA.Desks in office at Empire Mine State Historic Park. Grass Valley, CA.Late 19th C office desk of Boston Hotel now Astor House Museum. Golden, CO.Doctor's office desk at South Park City. Fairplay, CO.
Roll top desk at Davis House Museum. San Diego, CA.Desks in office at Empire Mine State Historic Park. Grass Valley, CA.Late 19th C office desk of Boston Hotel now Astor House Museum. Golden, CO.Doctor's office desk at South Park City. Fairplay, CO.
Former office of governor in old State Capitol with 1902 roll top desk by M. Ohmers & Sons of Dayton, OH. Tallahassee, FL.Doctor's desk & book shelves at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. County Clare, Ireland.Presidential desk of Grover Cleveland at Warp Pioneer Village. Minden, NE.Carving detail of Grover Cleveland desk at Warp Pioneer Village. Minden, NE.
Former office of governor in old State Capitol with 1902 roll top desk by M. Ohmers & Sons of Dayton, OH. Tallahassee, FL.Doctor's desk & book shelves at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. County Clare, Ireland.Presidential desk of Grover Cleveland at Warp Pioneer Village. Minden, NE.Carving detail of Grover Cleveland desk at Warp Pioneer Village. Minden, NE.
Buffalo Bill's roll top desk at Scout's Rest. North Platte, NE.Pigeon hole desk in Jewett House at Oberlin Heritage Center. Oberlin, OH.President McKinley's desk & bookcases in his study at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.President McKinley's study at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.
Buffalo Bill's roll top desk at Scout's Rest. North Platte, NE.Pigeon hole desk in Jewett House at Oberlin Heritage Center. Oberlin, OH.President McKinley's desk & bookcases in his study at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.President McKinley's study at Ida Saxton McKinley Historic House. Canton, OH.
Roll-top desk in office at LBJ Boyhood Home. Johnson City, TX.Upstairs hall with desk from Judge Cochran's law office at Neill-Cochran House Museum. Austin, TX.Roll top desk at Fort House. Waco, TX.Roll-top desk at East Terrace House. Waco, TX.
Roll-top desk in office at LBJ Boyhood Home. Johnson City, TX.Upstairs hall with desk from Judge Cochran's law office at Neill-Cochran House Museum. Austin, TX.Roll top desk at Fort House. Waco, TX.Roll-top desk at East Terrace House. Waco, TX.
Wood file cabinets & cubbyhole desk in office at Verdant Works Museum. Dundee, Scotland.Office desk with cubbyholes in farm house at Billings Farm & Museum. Woodstock, VT.Rows of roll top desks in House chamber of South Dakota State Capitol. Pierre, SD.
Wood file cabinets & cubbyhole desk in office at Verdant Works Museum. Dundee, Scotland.Office desk with cubbyholes in farm house at Billings Farm & Museum. Woodstock, VT.Rows of roll top desks in House chamber of South Dakota State Capitol. Pierre, SD.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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