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The Roentgens' Rolltop Desk

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Art Object
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The Roentgens' Rolltop Desk

Program information

Watch as this desk's hidden features are revealed.

The richly embellished surface of this rolltop desk conceals a wealth of mechanical surprises and features, including a spectacular arrangement of almost forty compartments and drawers. Abraham (1711–1793) and David Roentgen (1743–1807) designed this table not just for writing and reading but also to function as a dressing table, or poudreuse.

This table, from Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in Washington, D.C., is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

Learn more about this object: http://trio.hillwoodmuseum.org/detail.php?t=objects&type=related&kv=13072

Footage courtesy of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens.

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

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Adoration of the Kings

Design attributed to Bernard van Orley  (Netherlandish, Brussels ca. 1492–1541/42 Brussels)

Artist:
Elements of the central group are devived from Tommaso Vincidor (Tommaso di Andrea) (Italian, Bologna ca. 1517–ca. 1536 Breda (?))
Maker:
Possibly woven in the workshop directed by Pieter van Aelst the Younger (Flemish, active 1509–55)
Date:
ca. 1530–35
Culture:
Flemish, Brussels
Medium:
Wool, silk, silver, silver-gilt thread (20 warps per inch, 8 per cm.)
Dimensions:
H. 4 ft. 2 in. (1.27 m.), W. 5 ft. (1.52 m.)
Classification:
Textiles
Credit Line:
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number:
14.40.706

This artwork is not on display

120007397

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