The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Set of four saltcellars

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).

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Set of four saltcellars

Paul de Lamerie (English, 1688–1751, active 1712–51)

Date:: 1737–38
Culture:: British, London
Medium:: Silver gilt
Dimensions:: Each Diam. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm) or 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: The Jules Bache Collection, 1949
Accession Number:: 49.7.95-98

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: [1] Leopard's head crowned; [2] b, London date letter for 1737-38; [3] Lion passant; [4] P L, with crown and star above, pellet between letters, fleur-de-lis (?) below (maker's mark, Paul Lamerie, ent. 1739) Location of marks: All on bottom of each saltcellar
Provenance

Jules S. Bache
See also
Who
Paul de Lamerie (69)
What
Metal (59,364)

Metalwork (14,716)

Silver (14,056)

Gilt (9,043)

Salts (283)

Saltcellars (129)
Where
Europe (148,586)

United Kingdom (25,557)

England (9,102)

London (2,006)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,179)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Great Britain and Ireland, 1600–1800 A.D.

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

Set of four saltcellars

Paul de Lamerie (English, 1688–1751, active 1712–51)

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration

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Set of four saltcellars

Paul de Lamerie (English, 1688–1751, active 1712–51)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store