The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Circular dish with cover (part of a dining service)

Art Object

Demonstration of the Roentgens' Dressing Table (Poudreuse)

See how this desk converts into a dressing table.

When closed, this table may not seem like one of the most complex pieces of European furniture ever made. However, once opened, its concealed drawers and hidden features are exposed, and the entire piece transforms into a dressing table, orpoudreuse. Scholars believe it was commissioned as a wedding gift from Abraham (1711–1793) and David Roentgen (1743–1807) by Friedrich August III, Elector of Saxony, to his bride in 1769.

This table, from Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt, is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

Images courtesy of Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt.

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 11562 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 18147 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3152 views

Circular dish with cover (part of a dining service)

Martin-Guillaume Biennais (1764–1843, active ca. 1796–1819)

Date:: ca. 1805
Culture:: French (Paris)
Medium:: Silver gilt
Dimensions:: H. 5-1/2 in. (14.0 cm.); Diam. 7-1/4 in. (18.4 cm.)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Gift of Audrey B. Love, in memory of her husband, C. Ruxton Love Jr., 1974
Accession Number:: 1974.378.8a, b

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription: [1] Biennais Orfévre [sic] de S.M. l'Empereur et. Roi à paris (on inside cover) [2] BIENNAIS (on underside of dish)

Marking: [1] a B, 2 pellets, a monkey, in a lozenge (maker's mark of Biennais) [2] Head of Apollo with numeral 1, in an oval (unofficial assay mark for first standard silver, 1794-97) [3] A cock, flanked by A and I, in a vertical octagon (official assay mark for first standard silver, 1798-1809) [4] A man's head, flanked by numerals 8 and 5 reversed and inverted, in a circle (excise mark for medium-sized work, 1798-1809) Location of marks: [1]-[4] underside of dish [2]-[3] inside cover [4] outer rim of cover
Provenance

Mrs. Hamilton L. Hoppin ; Erving and Van Rensselaer Pruyn ; Audrey B. Love (until 1974; to MMA)
See also
Who
Martin-Guillaume Biennais (27)
What
Metal (59,483)

Metalwork (14,681)

Silver (14,046)

Gilt (9,077)

Dishes (6,708)
Where
Europe (150,372)

France (49,614)

Paris (2,005)
When
A.D. 1800-1900 (80,488)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,228)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
France, 1800–1900 A.D.
MetPublications
Search for related Met publications

WHAT IS MYMET?

Demonstration of the Roentgens' Dressing Table (Poudreuse)

Circular dish with cover (part of a dining service)

Martin-Guillaume Biennais (1764–1843, active ca. 1796–1819)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store

WHAT IS MYMET?

Already have a mymet account? Sign in

Demonstration of the Roentgens' Dressing Table (Poudreuse)

Related Content

Circular dish with cover (part of a dining service)

Martin-Guillaume Biennais (1764–1843, active ca. 1796–1819)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store