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.

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

Cup and saucer

Meissen Manufactory (German, 1710–present)

Date:: ca. 1740
Culture:: German (Meissen)
Medium:: Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions:: Cup (.169): H. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) Saucer (.170): Diam. 5 1/8 in. (13.0 cm.)
Classification:: Ceramics
Credit Line:: The George B. McClellan Collection, Gift of Mrs. George B. McClellan, 1941
Accession Number:: 42.205.169, .170

This artwork is not on display

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Hidden Doors and Secret Drawers: Furniture by the Roentgens

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Meissen Manufactory (German, 1710–present)

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Hidden Doors and Secret Drawers: Furniture by the Roentgens

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Cup and saucer

Meissen Manufactory (German, 1710–present)

Met Media

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Met Store