The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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
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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
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Sugar bowl

James Tait (adm. 1704)

Date:: 1727–28
Culture:: Scottish (Edinburgh)
Medium:: Silver
Dimensions:: H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Purchase, Gift of Irwin Untermyer, by exchange, 1983
Accession Number:: 1983.133a, b

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: [1] IT monogram in shaped punch (maker's mark); [2] X in square (date letter for 1727-28); [3] E P in shaped punch (mark of assay master Edward Penman); [4] another; partial strike (three-towered castle Edinburgh town mark) Location of marks: [1]-[4] on underside of body inside foot ring.
Provenance

Major Ian Shaw of Tordarroch, M.B.A. (until 1983; sale, Christie's and Edminston's, Glasgow, March 29 , 1983, no. 83)
See also
Who
James Tait (1)
What
Metal (59,364)

Metalwork (14,716)

Silver (14,056)

Bowls (5,014)

Sugar bowls (284)
Where
Europe (148,586)

United Kingdom (25,557)

Scottish (1,835)

Edinburgh (22)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,179)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Great Britain and Ireland, 1600–1800 A.D.

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

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James Tait (adm. 1704)

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

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Sugar bowl

James Tait (adm. 1704)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store