The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

The Roentgens' Rolltop Desk

Watch as this desk's hidden features are revealed.

The richly embellished surface of this rolltop desk conceals a wealth of mechanical surprises and features, including a spectacular arrangement of almost forty compartments and drawers. Abraham (1711–1793) and David Roentgen (1743–1807) designed this table not just for writing and reading but also to function as a dressing table, or poudreuse.

This table, from Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in Washington, D.C., is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

Learn more about this object: http://trio.hillwoodmuseum.org/detail.php?t=objects&type=related&kv=13072

Footage courtesy of Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens.

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10523 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16384 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3001 views

Standing salt

Date:: 1581/82
Culture:: British, London
Medium:: Silver gilt
Dimensions:: H. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968
Accession Number:: 68.141.93a, b

This artwork is not on display

Description

The finial and its supporting structure may not be original.
Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: [1] Leopard's head (London assay office mark) [2] Lion passant (London assay office mark) [3] D in shaped shield (date letter for 1581–82) [4] indecipherable within an oval outline (unidentified maker's mark) Location of marks: [1]-[4] on half dome of base near junction with vertical mid-section of stand
Provenance

Courtenay Vivian ; R. W. M. Walker, Esq. (until 1945; sale, Christie's, July 11, 1945, no. 229)
See also
What
Metal (59,364)

Metalwork (14,716)

Silver (14,056)

Gilt (9,043)

Salts (283)

Standing salts (3)
Where
Europe (148,587)

United Kingdom (25,557)

England (9,102)

London (2,006)
When
A.D. 1400-1600 (20,545)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Great Britain and Ireland, 1400–1600 A.D.