The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

The inventive talents of David Roentgen are evident in this exceptionally refined desk. The monogram "DR" inlaid beneath the keyhole on the lower drawer indicates the cabinetmaker's satisfaction with one of his most mechanically ingenuous creations: a single key inserted at different depths unlocks the center drawer, releases the rolltop, or releases the hidden side drawers; if a button is pressed on the underside of these drawers, each swings aside to reveal three other drawers. Above the rolltop, the rectangular structure consists of a single wide drawer. The artist's creativity is evident in the chinoiserie marquetry scenes, created by using minute pieces of naturally colored exotic woods that have a painterly effect.

See Collections to learn more about this desk.

This desk is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10702 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16956 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3033 views

Barbara Reihing

Hans Kels the Younger (German, 1508/10–1565)

Date:: 1538
Culture:: German, Augsburg
Medium:: Boxwood
Dimensions:: Diam. 2-1/8 in. (5.4 cm)
Classification:: Sculpture
Credit Line:: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number:: 17.190.472

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 520

Description

This is a model for a bronze medal. The subject was the wife of Georg Hermann of Kaufbeuren.
Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription: BARBARA REIHINGIN VXOR AETATIS AN.XXXXVII (On obverse, along edge); IN.DOMINO.CONFIDO.ANNO.M.D.XXXVIII (On reverse, along edge)
Provenance

Frédéric Spitzer ; Baron Albert von Oppenheim ; J. Pierpont Morgan (until 1917; to MMA)
See also
Who
Hans Kels the Younger (4)
What
Sculpture (24,355)

Wood (9,286)

Medals (3,075)

Medallions (828)

Miniature (767)

Boxwood (240)
Where
Europe (150,115)

Germany (15,991)

Bavaria (994)

Augsburg (409)
When
A.D. 1400-1600 (20,612)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,264)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Central Europe (including Germany), 1400–1600 A.D.

WHAT IS MYMET?

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

Barbara Reihing

Hans Kels the Younger (German, 1508/10–1565)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store

WHAT IS MYMET?

Already have a mymet account? Sign in

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

Related Content

Barbara Reihing

Hans Kels the Younger (German, 1508/10–1565)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store