The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Madonna of the Lillies

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.

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

Madonna of the Lillies

Workshop of Benedetto Buglioni (Italian, Florence 1459/60–1521 Florence)

Date:: ca. 1500
Culture:: Italian (Florentine)
Medium:: Glazed terracotta
Dimensions:: Diam. 20 in. (50.8 cm.); Gr. Depth 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm.)
Classification:: Sculpture
Credit Line:: Gift of Ann Payne Robertson, 1966
Accession Number:: 66.41.1

This artwork is not on display

Provenance

[ Seligmann and Co., New York ] ; Philip M. Lydig ; Rita de Acosta Lydig (until 1913) ; [ American Art Galleries and the Plaza, New York, April 4, 1913; sold to Seligmann & Co.) ]; [ Seligmann and Co., New York (from 1913) ] ; Ann Payne Robertson (until 1966; to MMA)
See also
Who
Benedetto Buglioni (5)
What
Sculpture (24,350)

Clay (23,649)

Terracotta (8,373)

Medals (3,076)

Glazing (3,020)

Medallions (829)
Where
Europe (148,586)

Italy (20,983)

Tuscany (1,162)

Florence (506)
When
A.D. 1400-1600 (20,545)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Florence and Central Italy, 1400–1600 A.D.

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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

Madonna of the Lillies

Workshop of Benedetto Buglioni (Italian, Florence 1459/60–1521 Florence)

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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

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Madonna of the Lillies

Workshop of Benedetto Buglioni (Italian, Florence 1459/60–1521 Florence)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store