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).

Video/Audio (4)

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10679 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16910 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3027 views

Mantel clock

Honoré Pons (recorded 1807–50)

Artist:: After a model by Jean-Jacques Feuchère (French, Paris 1807–1852 Paris)
Date:: 1840–50
Culture:: French (Paris)
Medium:: Case: bronze, gilded and patinated; marble; wood; glass. Dial: gilt brass and enamel. Movement: brass and steel
Dimensions:: Overall: 21 1/4 x 15 1/2 x 7 1/4in. (54 x 39.4 x 18.4cm)
Classification:: Horology
Credit Line:: Gift of David and Constance Yates in memory of Robert Isaacson, 1999
Accession Number:: 1999.253

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Marking: J, G.M, and 141 (incuse) (on the bezel for the lens). J (incuse) (on the back of the bronze group and on the bronze frame of the base). MEDAILLE D'OR 1827/Pons (stamped within a circle) (on the back plate of the movement).
Provenance

David and Constance Yates (until 1999; to MMA)
See also
Who
Jean-Jacques Feuchère (4)

Honoré Pons (1)
What
Metal (59,364)

Copper alloy (16,630)

Bronze (11,628)

Gilt (9,043)

Wood (7,651)

Iron and iron alloy (6,952)

Brass (3,505)

Iron alloy (3,389)

Steel (3,119)

Marble (2,128)

Cases (1,751)

Timepieces (1,121)

Clocks (611)

Dials (94)

Movements (73)

Mantels (54)

Mantel clocks (14)
Where
Europe (148,586)

France (52,276)

Paris (2,025)
When
A.D. 1800-1900 (80,185)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
France, 1800–1900 A.D.

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

Mantel clock

Honoré Pons (recorded 1807–50)

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Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation

Related Content

Mantel clock

Honoré Pons (recorded 1807–50)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store