The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

Discover the hidden features and intricate interior of this cabinet.

One of the finest achievements of European furniture making, this cabinet is the most important product from Abraham (1711–1793) and David Roentgen's (1743–1807) workshop. A writing cabinet crowned with a chiming clock, it features finely designed marquetry panels and elaborate mechanisms that allow for doors and drawers to be opened automatically at the touch of a button. Owned by King Frederick William II, the Berlin cabinet is uniquely remarkable for its ornate decoration, mechanical complexity, and sheer size.

This cabinet, from Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

Footage courtesy of VideoART GmbH and Kunstgewerbemuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 11524 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 18103 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3147 views

Paten

Adam Pijart (born 1579, master 1610)

Date:: 1625–26
Culture:: French (Paris)
Medium:: Silver gilt
Dimensions:: Diam. 6-1/2 in. (16.5 cm.)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
Accession Number:: 32.100.224

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 532

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: [1] Crowned fleur-de-lis, 2 grains de remède, A P, device a double-headed eagle (maker's mark) [2] Crowned E (Paris warden's mark, 1625-26) [3] E T (Paris mark for gold and silver imported from countries without customs conventions, 1864 to present) Location of marks: [1], [2] on underside [3] below lip and on rim
See also
Who
Adam Pijart (2)
What
Metal (59,497)

Metalwork (14,681)

Silver (14,047)

Gilt (9,077)

Patens (22)
Where
Europe (150,419)

France (49,644)

Paris (2,005)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (67,116)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,228)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
France, 1600–1800 A.D.
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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

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Adam Pijart (born 1579, master 1610)

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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

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Paten

Adam Pijart (born 1579, master 1610)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store