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).

Video/Audio (4)

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10613 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16640 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3015 views

Pair of ewers

Date:: 18th century
Culture:: French
Medium:: Bronze-gilt, hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions:: Each 9 in. (22.9 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Bequest of George Blumenthal, 1941
Accession Number:: 41.190.62, .63

This artwork is not on display

Provenance

possibly Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck ; George and Florence Blumenthal (before 1930–32; sale, George Blumenthal collection, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, December 1–2, 1932, no. 90, pl. XLV; pair sold for fcs. 28,000; after 1932–1941)
See also
What
Metal (59,364)

Clay (23,649)

Vessels (21,921)

Copper alloy (16,630)

Metalwork (14,716)

Faience (11,698)

Bronze (11,628)

Porcelain (11,369)

Gilt (9,043)

Hard paste porcelain (2,917)

Plate (2,675)

Ormolu (1,683)

Ewers (562)
Where
Europe (148,586)

France (52,276)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,179)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
France, 1600–1800 A.D.