ROLLTOP DESK

desk with a sliding roll top, or tambour, that covers the working surface of the upper part and can be locked. The portion of the desk that gives it 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, shortly thereafter.