The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

Hidden Doors and Secret Drawers: Furniture by the Roentgens

Wolfram Koeppe, the Marina Kellen French Curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, discusses the intricate furniture designs created by Abraham and David Roentgen. The father-and-son team created innovative designs that were combined with intriguing mechanical devices to revolutionize traditional French and English furniture types.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens, on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013.

The exhibition and catalogue are made possible by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation.

David Roentgen: Long-Case Clock
(00:00:52)

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10652 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16792 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3020 views

Pair of andirons

Benjamin Pyne (active 1693–1727)

Date:: 1697–98
Culture:: British, London
Medium:: Silver, iron
Dimensions:: H. 21 3/8 in. (54.3 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968
Accession Number:: 68.141.155a, b

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: [1] Britannia; [2] Lion's head erased; [3] b, London date letter for 1697-98; [4] PY, cinquefoil above, crowned, maker's mark for Benjamin Pyne Location of marks: [1]-[4] on cylindrical body of vase; [2] on flat of pedestal; on neck of vase; [4] on finial of vase; [1],[3],[4] on face of pedestal near applied cartouche
Provenance

Sir Giles Sebright (until 1936 and 1937; sale, Christie's, May 20, 1936, no. 130 and sale, Christie's, May 5, 1937, no. 97)
See also
Who
Benjamin Pyne (5)
What
Metal (59,364)

Metalwork (14,716)

Silver (14,056)

Iron and iron alloy (6,952)

Iron (3,753)

Andirons (147)
Where
Europe (148,586)

United Kingdom (25,557)

England (9,102)

London (2,006)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,179)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
English Silver, 1600–1800

Great Britain and Ireland, 1600–1800 A.D.

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Hidden Doors and Secret Drawers: Furniture by the Roentgens

Pair of andirons

Benjamin Pyne (active 1693–1727)

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Hidden Doors and Secret Drawers: Furniture by the Roentgens

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Pair of andirons

Benjamin Pyne (active 1693–1727)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store