What is the difference between a cylinder desk and a roll-top desk?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but strictly speaking a cylinder desk has a solid quarter-circle shutter that slides in a single curved arc, while a roll-top has a flexible tambour of narrow slats. Both conceal an organised interior, but the cylinder is the earlier and generally more formal form.

What does an antique cylinder desk cost?

Expect to pay between £700 and £2,500 for a sound 19th-century example. A genuine Louis XVI piece in rosewood or mahogany with original bronze mounts and an ébéniste's stamp can reach £8,000 to £20,000 or more, depending on quality, maker and provenance.

How do I date an antique cylinder desk?

Study the bronze work (hand-chiselled before 1830, industrially cast after), the timber species (Cuban mahogany before 1850, Honduran thereafter), the carcase construction (hand-cut mortise-and-tenon versus machine joinery) and any ébéniste's stamp on the back of the drawers.

How should I care for an antique wooden cylinder desk?

Feed the wood twice a year with a thin coat of natural beeswax polish. Keep the desk away from direct sunlight and heat sources, which cause the wood to move and veneers to lift. Apply a little plain wax to the cylinder runners to keep the action smooth without staining the timber.

Can an antique cylinder desk be shipped internationally?

Yes. Most professional dealers work with specialist fine-art carriers who can crate the piece with individual protection for the bronze mounts and cylinder mechanism. For international shipments, a customs broker may be required; always clarify shipping terms and insurance with the dealer before purchasing.

Antique Cylinder Desks

63 objects found

Condition

Period

No matching tags

16th century and before 17th century 18th century 19th century 20th century

Style

No matching tags

Art Déco Art Nouveau Contemporary Design Directoire Empire French Regency Gothic Louis XIII Louis XIV Louis XV Louis XVI Louis-Philippe Medieval Modern Art Napoléon III Orientalist Renaissance Restauration Transition

Category 1

No matching tags

-Corner cupboards

-Four doors cupboards

-One door cupboards

-Small cupboard

-Two doors cupboards ▸

High cupboards

Antique jewelery

Antique mirrors

Antique mirrors ▸

Mercury mirror Murano mirror Trumeau venitian mirror

Antique Photography

Antique tables ▸

Card Table Consoles Farmhouse tables Low tables Monestry tables Occasional tables Pedestal table Round tables

Antique tapestry

Antique textiles ▸

Lacework

Antique wheapons

Antiquites industrielles

Architectural elements ▸

Bathroom elements Doors Fire places Flooring Garden furniture Stairs Tiles Wood panelling

Bedroom suites ▸

Beds Bedside tables

Billiard

Bookcases

Bronze ▸

Animal bronzes

Cabinets

Cartonnier

Ceramics ▸

Chinaware earthenware Pottery 亚洲陶器

Chest of drawers ▸

Commode arbalete Commode sauteuse Commode tombeau Military chests Pine chests of drawers

Chests

Clocks ▸

Clocks Wristwatch

Curiosities & Collections ▸

Antique Canes Antique Fans Archaeology Freemasonry Medals & Decorations Numismatics Objects of Curiosity Philately Tobacciana & Opium

Decorative furniture

Decorative objects

Desks ▸

Bureau cylinder top desk Flat top desk Slope top desks

Dressers

Dressing tables

English furniture ▸

English chests of drawers English wardrobes

Fairground art

Fishing-Hunting

Glassware

Glazed cabinets

Hallstand

Kitchenelia

Lighting ▸

Chandeliers

Miscellaneous ▸

Advertising aeronautica Folk Art Miniatures Musical instruments Old tools Sport memorabilia Taxidermy Vineyard antique

Nautical antiques ▸

Model boats Objects

Oeuvres d'art ▸

Primitive Art Sacred art

Old documents ▸

Antique Drawings Livres anciens

Old Frame

Old toys

Oriental furniture ▸

Oriental cupboards Seating

Oriental objects

Painted furniture

Paintings

Pens & writting ▸

Writting box

Pewter

Posters ▸

Advertising posters Cinema posters

Pottery

Scientific instruments ▸

Antique barometers Chronometers Globes Octants Sextants

Sculptures

Seating ▸

Armchairs Chairs Chaises longues Fauteuil bergère Fauteuil cabriolet Fauteuil chesterfield Fauteuil crapaud Fauteuil dagobert Fauteuil voltaire Leather armchairs Sofas Stools

Shop fittings

Sideboard

Silverware ▸

Argent massif Métal argenté

Tableware

Vineyard antiques

Vintage luggage

Wardrobes ▸

Armoires Pine cupboards Wedding armoire

工业古董

Material

No matching tags

Paper

Verre ▸

Cristal Verre moulé Verre soufflé Verre taillé Пат де верр 乳白玻璃彩色ガラス

Дерево ▸

Bambou Bois doré Hêtre Noyer Palissandre Оливковое дерево マホガニー乌木彩绘木彫刻木橡木漆木白蜡木野樱桃木

Камень и минералы ▸

Ardoise Алебастр Гранит Янтарь オニックス大理石孔雀石珊瑚石灰岩

Композитные материалы ▸

Bois & marbre Маркетри 布勒镶嵌（玳瑁与黄铜）木材与铜bronze 纸浆塑形纸浆板

Текстиль ▸

Laine Tapisserie Лён Хлопок レース丝绒刺繍彩绘布絹

有機素材 ▸

Corne Écaille de tortue Ivoire Nacre 羽毛蜡骨

金属 ▸

Bronze Laiton Métal argenté Золото Цинк Чугун スチール銅银锡锻铁镀金金属镀金银

陶磁器 ▸

Delft Majolique Фарфоровый бисквит Фаянс Эмаль 炻器瓷器赤陶

革・皮革 ▸

Золочёная кожа モロッコ革皮革羊皮紙

Geographic Origin

No matching tags

Франция ▸

Alsace Bretagne Île-de-France Languedoc Savoie Бордо Лотарингия Овернь 勃艮第巴斯克地区普罗旺斯诺曼底

Europe du Nord ▸

Autriche Дания スウェーデンベルギー佛兰德斯德国斯堪的纳维亚瑞士荷兰

Oceania ▸

Australia

Азия ▸

Perse インドシナ中东中国印度日本

Америка ▸

Amérique du Sud Antilles Северная Америка

Африка и Средиземноморье ▸

モロッコ埃及撒哈拉以南非洲突尼斯阿尔及利亚

Южная Европа ▸

Espagne Naples Portugal 威尼斯意大利托斯卡纳

东欧 ▸

Hongrie オスマン帝国俄罗斯波兰波希米亚

英国諸島 ▸

Irlande Англия Шотландия 威尔士

Sort by

No matching tags

16th century and before 17th century 18th century 19th century 20th century

No matching tags

-Corner cupboards

-Four doors cupboards

-One door cupboards

-Small cupboard

-Two doors cupboards ▸

High cupboards

Antique jewelery

Antique mirrors

Antique mirrors ▸

Mercury mirror Murano mirror Trumeau venitian mirror

Antique Photography

Antique tables ▸

Card Table Consoles Farmhouse tables Low tables Monestry tables Occasional tables Pedestal table Round tables

Antique tapestry

Antique textiles ▸

Lacework

Antique wheapons

Antiquites industrielles

Architectural elements ▸

Bathroom elements Doors Fire places Flooring Garden furniture Stairs Tiles Wood panelling

Bedroom suites ▸

Beds Bedside tables

Billiard

Bookcases

Bronze ▸

Animal bronzes

Cabinets

Cartonnier

Ceramics ▸

Chinaware earthenware Pottery 亚洲陶器

Chest of drawers ▸

Commode arbalete Commode sauteuse Commode tombeau Military chests Pine chests of drawers

Chests

Clocks ▸

Clocks Wristwatch

Curiosities & Collections ▸

Antique Canes Antique Fans Archaeology Freemasonry Medals & Decorations Numismatics Objects of Curiosity Philately Tobacciana & Opium

Decorative furniture

Decorative objects

Desks ▸

Bureau cylinder top desk Flat top desk Slope top desks

Dressers

Dressing tables

English furniture ▸

English chests of drawers English wardrobes

Fairground art

Fishing-Hunting

Glassware

Glazed cabinets

Hallstand

Kitchenelia

Lighting ▸

Chandeliers

Miscellaneous ▸

Advertising aeronautica Folk Art Miniatures Musical instruments Old tools Sport memorabilia Taxidermy Vineyard antique

Nautical antiques ▸

Model boats Objects

Oeuvres d'art ▸

Primitive Art Sacred art

Old documents ▸

Antique Drawings Livres anciens

Old Frame

Old toys

Oriental furniture ▸

Oriental cupboards Seating

Oriental objects

Painted furniture

Paintings

Pens & writting ▸

Writting box

Pewter

Posters ▸

Advertising posters Cinema posters

Pottery

Scientific instruments ▸

Antique barometers Chronometers Globes Octants Sextants

Sculptures

Seating ▸

Armchairs Chairs Chaises longues Fauteuil bergère Fauteuil cabriolet Fauteuil chesterfield Fauteuil crapaud Fauteuil dagobert Fauteuil voltaire Leather armchairs Sofas Stools

Shop fittings

Sideboard

Silverware ▸

Argent massif Métal argenté

Tableware

Vineyard antiques

Vintage luggage

Wardrobes ▸

Armoires Pine cupboards Wedding armoire

工业古董

No matching tags

Paper