The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Chinese musician (Malabar) (one of a pair)

Art Object

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

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
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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16792 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3020 views

Chinese musician (Malabar) (one of a pair)

Meissen Manufactory (German, 1710–present)

Modeler:: Friedrich Elias Meyer (1723/1724–1785)
Date:: 1760–65
Culture:: German (Meissen)
Medium:: Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions:: H. 12-1/2 in. (31.8 cm)
Classification:: Ceramics
Credit Line:: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number:: 64.101.45

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: Crossed swords (in underglaze blue at back of base)
Provenance

Burdett Coutts ; Thomas G. Cannon (until 1927; sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, January 11–14, 1927, no. 552); Eli B. Springs (until 1934; sale, American Art Association-American Art Galleries, Inc., New York, November 19–24, 1934, no. 1151); Irwin Untermyer , New York (until 1964; to MMA)
See also
Who
Meissen Manufactory (941)

Friedrich Elias Meyer (10)
What
Ceramics (29,320)

Clay (23,649)

Faience (11,698)

Porcelain (11,369)

Figures (5,008)

Hard paste porcelain (2,917)
Where
Europe (148,586)

Germany (15,865)

Saxony (4,043)

Meissen (3,862)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,179)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Central Europe (including Germany), 1600–1800 A.D.

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

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Chinese musician (Malabar) (one of a pair)

Meissen Manufactory (German, 1710–present)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store