rolltop desk

rolltop desk

      desk with a sliding roll top, or tambour, that encloses the working surface of the upper part and can be locked. The portion of the desk that gives the form its name is constructed of narrow slats of wood glued to some flexible material, the slats running along slides or grooves fitted into the upper edges of the desk.

      First introduced into England from France in the late 18th century, the rolltop desk had become a standard piece of office equipment by the end of the 19th century and was mass-produced in large quantities. Its popularity waned, however, with the development of Bauhaus-inspired modernist furniture, only to reappear in the 1960s with George Nelson's “action office” and again in the 1980s as a “country antique.”

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Rolltop desk — A rolltop desk is a 19th century reworking of the pedestal desk with, in addition, a series of stacked compartments, shelves, drawers and nooks in front of the user, much like the Bureau a gradin or the Carlton house desk. In contrast to these… …   Wikipedia

  • rolltop desk — noun Date: 1887 a writing desk with a sliding cover often of parallel slats fastened to a flexible backing …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rolltop desk — see roll top desk …   English dictionary

  • rolltop desk — ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun : a writing desk having a sliding cover made of parallel slats fastened to a flexible backing …   Useful english dictionary

  • desk — /desk/, n. 1. an article of furniture having a broad, usually level, writing surface, as well as drawers or compartments for papers, writing materials, etc. 2. a frame for supporting a book from which the service is read in a church. 3. a pulpit …   Universalium

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  • desk — n. counter 1) (in a hotel) a front (AE), reception (BE) desk department 2) (at a newspaper) a city; copy desk table for writing 3) to clear one s desk 4) a cluttered desk 5) a rolltop; writing desk USAGE NOTE: In AE copy desk means local news… …   Combinatory dictionary

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  • Tambour desk — A tambour desk is a desk with desktop based drawers and pigeonholes, in a way resembling a bit that of a bureau a gradin. The small drawers and nooks are covered, when required, by reeded or slatted shutters which usually retract in the two sides …   Wikipedia

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