The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Écuelle with cover

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) 10702 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16956 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3033 views

Écuelle with cover

Daniel Garnier (active ca. 1690–97)

Date:: ca. 1690–95
Culture:: British, London
Medium:: Silver gilt
Dimensions:: W. across handles: 10 5/8 in. (27 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968
Accession Number:: 68.141.274a, b

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription: Inscribed on cover and on side of bowl: monogram and date: GMT(?), 1694 below. Inscribed on bottom: "23-2"; "4029", scratched below.

Marking: [1] DG, fleur-de-lis above between 2 pellets, crowned, maker's mark for Daniel Garnier (partial strike lower edge) Location of marks: On bottom of bowl; on inside of cover at middle.
Provenance

Private Collection (until 1901; sale, Christie's, July 18, 1901) ; Sir John Noble (until 1967; sale, Highly Important Old English Gold & Silver, Christie's, London, December 13, 1967, no. 29); [ S. J. Phillips (until 1968; to Irwin Untermyer, February 15,1968) ] ; Irwin Untermyer (in 1968; to MMA)
See also
Who
Daniel Garnier (2)
What
Metal (59,619)

Metalwork (14,693)

Silver (14,061)

Gilt (9,068)

Dishes (6,713)

Écuelles (56)
Where
Europe (150,115)

United Kingdom (25,745)

England (9,106)

London (2,008)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,675)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,264)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Great Britain and Ireland, 1600–1800 A.D.

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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

Écuelle with cover

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The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet

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Écuelle with cover

Daniel Garnier (active ca. 1690–97)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store