A roll top desk is a desk with a sliding top that can be closed over the work area and locked when the desk is not in use. The top roll-up hatch of the desk can be rolled up and down. The hatch is made from narrow slats of wood and glued to a flexible material, such as strong cloth or leather, with the wooden slats sliding along guides or slots embedded in the top edges of the desk.
Rolling desks were very popular in the 19th century and were favored because they were highly functional desks. These desks were in high demand because they had a variety of custom cubbies, drawers, and shelves within easy reach, and one could lower the top and store important papers and documents when they weren’t using the desk. People found them very useful to work with and safe, and the large number of compartments was a good way to store things. Some roll top desks even came with hidden compartments where special items could be stored out of sight.
The roll top desk design evolved from three different types of desks. The designs of the Carleton House Desk, the Cylindrical Desk and the Drum Desk were combined to make the Roll Top Desk.
Rolling desks were very popular in the 19th century. They were first introduced to England from France in the late 18th century and by the 19th century the roll top desk was being produced in mass quantities and had become a common fixture in many work offices and homes to this day. final. twentieth century. The roll top desk could easily be mass produced because the top’s wooden slats could be made quickly and easily.
As the 20th century progressed, the use of rolltop desks declined because more offices held a greater amount of paperwork and documents, and storage in the small compartments and drawers of the rolltop desk was limited. People started buying larger steel desks to meet their workspace needs. Also, when computers became more popular and commonly used in offices and homes, the demand for roll top desks decreased dramatically due to lack of space. (There is little room to fit a computer tower under the desk, and a monitor and keyboard on top of a desk with all the nooks and crannies.)
There are some roll top desks that have been cleverly converted to accommodate computers, however this conversion still results in a very cramped workspace, with people greatly preferring a much larger workspace due to more space and convenience for storage, making roll top desks more comfortable. an item sought after by antique collectors today. Well-made antique roll top desks are very valuable and can cost several thousand dollars.
Today, roll top desks are a great antique for collectors. People who just strictly want to do paperwork can also use them. Since computers take up a lot of space on desks, people opt for a more practical and spacious workspace, choosing larger desks with more space to place their documents and computers. The sliding top desk serves as a nostalgic, popular and classic piece of our history that was once highly favored and highly desired.